Reverse Culture Shock

By Michael Elliot Braun

In 2008, after a full year as an ESL teacher, I returned home to Chicago. My reverse immersion experience got a jolt of culture shock after a year in Korea.

As an independently educated student of Korean culture and language, I had gladly adapted to Korean lifestyle; eating local food, flying around Korea by scooter and train, dating a beautiful local girl, befriending several native and international teachers, camping and rock climbing with gracious Korean hosts. In one year, I'd traveled to six Asian countries and Australia and managed to acquire a savings account.

Results of this high quality of life lead many expatriate ESL teachers to identify Korea as their new home. However, others, much like me, choose to uproot themselves from Korea and transplant themselves back to their origins. I offer these few a contrasting glimpse of American life:

While national citizens can easily envision life back in America, sucking down ice tea or brewed coffee rather than Korean brown rice green tea or instant coffee in a queue, it feels odd chugging down fast food as an equal substitute to grabbing a healthy gimbap at a local dive.

Back in America, drinking options seem limitless ― though on a restricted time set by city regulations. I forgot about the great American pub venue that caters to city ordinances. In my local town of Athens, Ga., this liquor buffet cuts off service early; operations shut down at 2 a.m.

In Korean culture, one can expect weekday and weekend drinkathons in restaurants and bars that can last until morning.

A tired American economy with endemic inflation continues to shrink the value of my hard-earned paycheck. While I was overseas, I neglected to account for the large pay cuts taken by powerful lobbyists, Ivy Tower health insurance companies and an intrusive Uncle Sam (American taxes).

While in Korea, as a teacher, I remember being a cog of their growing economy. I got hold of more of my salary, and the cost of living is so much lower there. Being an ESL teacher paid off in dividends: An ESL teacher with an average first year salary earns an income that increases in substantial value after accounting for free housing, roundtrip airline tickets, cheap ― yet effective ― health insurance, and many moonlighting opportunities.

Americans continue to worship the automobile, even though gasoline moves steadily past $4 a gallon ($15.14 per liter) while cars continue to dominate the American transportation system without public transportation intervention in most major cities. I appreciate the convenience of being able to purchase many things at a whim; however, nearly everything lays a drive away.

In Korea, I found a deeper appreciation for massive public transportation that spans the country; providing accessible, affordable means of national transport. Public transport vehicles accept an overflow of passengers; nevertheless, people benefit from clean and safe rides.

Personally, I enjoyed using public transport for visiting friends, shopping, and mountaineering. And I fondly cherish the memory of Koreans, 16 to 60 years old, run to catch a bus or train.

In traveling back to America, I browsed several states rediscovering the beautifully diverse American geographical landscape. The diversity of American scenery shocked me at first glance.

This country appears to dabble in nearly every natural wonder. American states will have cities that go from having a booming metropolis, like Atlanta, to wilderness and quite, simple life.

Even though America has gorgeous mountains, like Korea, exploring this mountainous country with locals is a unique experience. A year of mountaineering felt tirelessly captivating. I became comfortable looking up, anywhere in the country, and immediately identifying a nearby mountain.

In Korea, unlike America, clear visions resurface of strolling through streets and stores with pale skin; vivid memories of attracting star-like attention and superior customer service linger in my mind.

And I can hardly forget how native speakers, be them American or British, commonly established a bond through athletic outlets or bar hangouts.

While rooting myself back in America, many distinguishable differences materialize in the mind; hopefully this information prepares others the potential of reverse culture shock returning home.

Michael Elliot Braun was an ESL teacher in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province. He has recently returned to the United States to work for the University of Georgia Hillel. He can be reached at mebrauns@gmail.com.