ADVERTISEMENT

Different cultures have different ways of communicating and doing things. In some cases, they can be quirky but amusing. Like "La Mordida" in Mexico, smashing the face of the birthday person in their birthday cake. Others are much more nuanced, like the respect for personal space. At least that was the thing I had to get used to when I came back home: people standing extremely close to me in a queue.

As Reddit is a melting pot of people from different regions and cultures, they surely have experienced similar confusion while traveling. That's why when one person asked "What's the biggest culture shock you've experienced when visiting another country?", over 5,000 people decided to share.

And what about you, Pandas? Have you ever experienced culture shock in another country? What was it like? Check out people's answers and don't forget to share your story in the comments down below!

Bored Panda reached out to a professional traveler from Melbourne, Australia James Clark. He's been a digital nomad since 2003 and started his blog Nomadic Notes in 2009. We asked James to tell us more about the culture shocks he has experienced throughout his many years of traveling and what his tips are to overcome them. Read our conversation with him below!

This post may include affiliate links.

#1

30 People Share The Biggest Culture Shocks They've Ever Experienced Abroad I was in Myeodong, South Korea in the spring and it was raining. The Myeongdong bus stop to the airport has no shelter, it’s just on the side of the road, but when it rains, somebody, I’m guessing the nearby store owners, leave umbrellas for the bus goers to use, which the bus goers use and leave hanging on the railing when they board the bus. There were so many pretty umbrellas hung along the railing and nobody stole them. They were just there for anyone to use and that was a huge shock for me..

Ok_Shame9410 , Said Report

Final score:
155points
Add photo comments
POST
View more commentsArrow down menu
#2

30 People Share The Biggest Culture Shocks They've Ever Experienced Abroad Very trivial, but we sat at a table in England for an hour after finishing our meal, waiting on our bill. The kind server took pity on our poor sweet American asses and told us we needed to ask for the check, since it was rude for the server to assume we were ready to go.

ProperlyEmphasized , cottonbro studio Report

Final score:
154points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#3

30 People Share The Biggest Culture Shocks They've Ever Experienced Abroad In 2019 i was in Turkey and the way men are staring at girls (me) is frustrating. i don’t want to visit muslim countries anymore sorry.

Life_Course_7865 , Michael Jerrard Report

Final score:
135points
Add photo comments
POST
katieandrews avatar
Katiekat
Katiekat
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Fiftysomething woman here, and I was shocked at being catcalled in Morocco. I ignored them so hard, I hope they doubted their own existence. Not fun, just sloppy, stupid, backward. Doesn't ever make me want to go back. Of course I wasn't bothered at all when I had a male tour guide. Solo female traveler here, 29 countries, NOT a newbie at all to world travel. Some places are better than others.

Vote comment up
117
117points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu

James Clark travels extensively in Southeast Asia, so his most memorable cultural difference – squat toilets – comes from there. "I encountered squat toilets on my first trip to India, which was an intimidating experience for someone who is not good at squatting."

"One day, I arrived at a guest house that was listed in a guide book. The manager showed me the room before I booked, probably knowing that as a Westerner I wouldn't want a room with a squat toilet."

Knowing what lies ahead, he decided it's best to learn how to use it since it might come in handy in future travels. "I figured I should take the room and learn how to squat, so when I am on the road with no other option, I would be better prepared," James tells Bored Panda.
#4

Georgia (country ). its like visiting grand ma for holidays. everyone wants to feed you by inviting to their table. very very hospitable people. stray dogs clean and all of them have tag on the ear indicating vaccinations.

pinkyminniemouse Report

Final score:
118points
Add photo comments
POST
dfmbruno7777 avatar
ThisIsTheRealBruno
ThisIsTheRealBruno
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Fun fact: Charlie Brown's family was NOT (initially, anway) Snoopy's! Snoopy started off as a sort of community dog, something which used to be fairly common in America. Not a stray in the sense that there were definitely people watching out for him... but not owned exclusively by anyone or any family. Same goes with Pete from Li'l Rascals.

Vote comment up
30
30points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#5

30 People Share The Biggest Culture Shocks They've Ever Experienced Abroad India. Bangalore specifically. I couldn’t believe the dichotomy between wealth and poverty. The poverty was the absolute worst I’ve ever seen, and the wealth the most opulent. It really changed me as a person, seeing how an entire people could live in such a horrible hypocrisy.

binarymax , Kelly Report

Final score:
111points
Add photo comments
POST
michaelpperthaussieguy avatar
Michael P (Perthaussieguy)
Michael P (Perthaussieguy)
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would say it is to do with the caste system that's been around for so many generations, it's ingrained into the culture

Vote comment up
51
51points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#6

30 People Share The Biggest Culture Shocks They've Ever Experienced Abroad How late Italians stay up. All night. Every night. Dinner doesn't start until 9pm. Neighborhoods would have big meals that ran until 2am over drinks. You'd sit out eating gelato on a Friday night and see toddlers running around until midnight. Very safe, very friendly city. This was in Tuscany for reference. .

KittyKatOnRoof , Pixabay Report

Final score:
107points
Add photo comments
POST
drdlyamamoto avatar
BoredPossum
BoredPossum
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

All Italian cities aren't safe though. But they do stay up late.

Vote comment up
31
31points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu

For newbie travelers, James recommends just accepting the fact that there's no shortcut to getting over culture shock. "If you are new to travel, then nothing can really prepare you for culture shock," he says. "Apart from getting your travel logistics in order, it's better to not overthink things too much. Part of the joy of travel is to experience the differences in culture."

ADVERTISEMENT

Clark also admits that his many years of traveling has changed the way he views his own culture. "Having lived overseas for decades, my perspective has changed. I usually go back to Australia once a year, and I experience what is called 'reverse culture shock.' For example, I've lived in Asia for many years, so I now find it weird to wear shoes inside. I take my shoes off in Australian homes, even if everyone else is stomping around the house in their outdoor shoes," James tells us.
#7

I remember being in Tokyo and seeing people leave their bags unattended in cafes while they went to the restroom or ordered more food. No one touched them. Coming from a place where you guard your belongings closely, that level of trust was mind-blowing.

CutierossesAria Report

Final score:
105points
Add photo comments
POST
tymej007 avatar
Justin Tyme
Justin Tyme
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Japan has a "shame culture". Crimes are committed, but not openly. That's why there is a problem with various types of fraud.

Vote comment up
48
48points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#8

30 People Share The Biggest Culture Shocks They've Ever Experienced Abroad People throwing trash out of car windows in the Balkans, including people on buses. As if it magically disappears once you drive off?

batteryforlife , George Becker Report

Final score:
92points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
#9

Was visiting a resort in Jamaica during college

The bartender kept hitting on us and we were trying to nicely get him to stop. I told him sorry I had a boyfriend

He said where’s your boyfriend?

A girlfriend of mine came up to me at that point and I said jokingly - here he is! While hugging her.

His smile abruptly stopped. He sternly said “we don’t do that here” and stopped serving us.

Totally scary. Coming from Canada, I took for granted that at home this would be fairly normal. I forgot that Jamaica is so anti-gay.

Fearless-Panda-8268 Report

Final score:
91points
Add photo comments
POST
viimatar avatar
viimatar
viimatar
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's so strange, in a way. It’s bigotry, as it's totally okay to hit on someone's girlfriend or wife and have casual s€x encounters with women, but a committed, closed and monogamous same-sex relationship is seen as the equivalent of some horrible nonconsensual act, or worse. The rules aren’t the same for everyone.

Vote comment up
55
55points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#10

30 People Share The Biggest Culture Shocks They've Ever Experienced Abroad Probably how chatty Americans get when they hear you have a foreign accent.

We're pretty introverted when out in public here in Scandinavia, so it was a big culture shock to have strangers strike up conversation. It was nice, most of the time! But very strange.

PM_UR_NUDES_4_RATING , Tim Douglas Report

Final score:
89points
Add photo comments
POST
drdlyamamoto avatar
BoredPossum
BoredPossum
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Frankly, as a Swede, that sounds awesome. We're way too scared of talking here.

Vote comment up
38
38points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#11

30 People Share The Biggest Culture Shocks They've Ever Experienced Abroad Visiting America from Australia, the number of people who couldn't understand my Australian accent. I'm not even that broad! I had multiple people tell me "sorry I only speak English" which I had to reply "... Me too!"

Ended up having to put on a truly atrocious American accent sometimes which made my sister nearly wet herself laughing. This happened at a few airports too, I would have thought they're used to accents there!

WelcomeRoboOverlords , Polina Zimmerman Report

Final score:
89points
Add photo comments
POST
mariannekraus avatar
Marianne
Marianne
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Accents are hard. I'm German and went to Texas for a school exchange when I was 16. I had been learning English for 5 years and thought I was able to communicate, but man did these people have an accent! It took me a week until I could have a conversation with them.

Vote comment up
68
68points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#12

When I was taking a taxi in China, I put extra yuen out for tip. Thank goodness my friend was there to say "NO, that's offensive" before we got out the right change.

Being from the US, I yearn for a livable wage for everyone and not having to subsidize someone's salary. I despise tipping after being in other countries.

rararainbows Report

Final score:
84points
Add photo comments
POST
adrian_5 avatar
Adrian
Adrian
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A tip should be for exceptional service. Not an expectation so employers can avoid paying a minimum wage.

Vote comment up
62
62points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#13

30 People Share The Biggest Culture Shocks They've Ever Experienced Abroad Friend from US visited me in Germany. He was dead confused when we went for a walk in the park and I pulled out two beers. Apparently public drinking like in Germany isn't allowed in the US.

PsychologicalWhole86 , Wil Stewart Report

Final score:
82points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#14

When I came to England I heard this conversation:

Girl 1: hey y'all'right?
Girl2: I'm good, and you?
Girl1: I'm good.
Girl2: that's good!

And then they walk off.

I'm from the Balkans. I had a cultural seizure, not just a shock.

Neuro_User Report

Final score:
80points
Add photo comments
POST
tocm_1 avatar
Toby
Toby
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The English can be going through the most traumatic crisis but will still always answer ”yeah, good" when asked by an encountered acquaintance how they are.

Vote comment up
57
57points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#15

Rural Scotland. Just how *early* everything closes and how limited things like fast food and convenience stores were. We were driving back to the AirB&B around 10 and it was like everything but the pubs had pulled up shop, even the gas stations. The flip side is how absolutely safe I felt wandering around after dark as a single female in a foreign country. Washing machines in the kitchen. How small/cozy the houses were (that's not a complaint, mind you).

Honestly, the real culture shock was in coming home and how absolutely *busy* things are in the US.

bpdish85 Report

Final score:
80points
Add photo comments
POST
rachel_raynor avatar
Rachknits
Rachknits
Community Member
5 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I live in the Western Isles, Scotland and EVERYTHING (except churches) is shut on a sunday. No supermarket, petrol station, cafe, nothing. Plus you don't work. Even if you're not a church goer. We don't put out any washing on a Sunday firstly out of respect for local customs but also because we would become public enemy number one!

Vote comment up
47
47points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#16

30 People Share The Biggest Culture Shocks They've Ever Experienced Abroad People telling me I'm getting fat in China and then being surprised that wasn't happy to hear it.

Robot0verlord , Towfiqu barbhuiya Report

Final score:
79points
Add photo comments
POST
rubee avatar
Ru Bee
Ru Bee
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is common since the famine many Chinese don't great each other by saying good morning but instead by saying have you eaten today. The famine was very recent and there is still deep seated trauma in the population related to it.

Vote comment up
42
42points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#17

30 People Share The Biggest Culture Shocks They've Ever Experienced Abroad I spent a long time in Brazil. One thing I picked up is standing close to people and being a little touchy. That people of Ohio did not love it when i came home. Although the kiss greeting caught on.

ooo-ooo-oooyea , Mental Health America (MHA) Report

Final score:
78points
Add photo comments
POST
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#18

30 People Share The Biggest Culture Shocks They've Ever Experienced Abroad Berlin. I was shocked when no one would cross the street unless the walk sign was on. It could be 1 AM, no cars on the road, and no one would cross the street. Whenever I did, people stared at me like I had three heads.

maxd0112 , Ono Kosuki Report

Final score:
78points
Add photo comments
POST
juliajuhas avatar
JuJu
JuJu
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not in front of the police (who is at every touristic spot) or a child, but it happens a lot.

Vote comment up
29
29points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#19

30 People Share The Biggest Culture Shocks They've Ever Experienced Abroad Rural Romania around 2012. Small houses without indoor plumbing or a formal bathroom, with a satellite dish out on the roof. It's like they skipped some steps on the road to modernity. The food, though, was delicious and the people I met were real sweethearts.

dwane1972 , Liv Cashman Report

Final score:
73points
Add photo comments
POST
ayrincharles avatar
AyrinCharles
AyrinCharles
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hahaha yeah, some of our houses can seem weird for foreigners. While it is true that for the older generation (think grandparents) they didn't have the means or resources to create those types of bathrooms and they got used to outdoor facilities, the rural young generation (think people in their 50s-40s) absolutely has indoor plumbing and bathrooms.

Vote comment up
32
32points
Vote comment down
reply
View more commentsArrow down menu
#20

30 People Share The Biggest Culture Shocks They've Ever Experienced Abroad When visiting a very Muslim part of Indonesia and working at a scuba dive shop there, it was their view on dogs. In most Sunni Muslim societies, dogs are seen as unclean. It is forbidden by the Quran to keep them as pets and the only time Muslim people would keep dogs was for protection of the home or livestock, not for companionship.

I heard a lot of stories about locals shooting and poisoning street dogs like it was a perfectly normal thing to do for "pest control"

That would never happen in the West.

Tronn3000 , Evan Clark Report

Final score:
71points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#21

30 People Share The Biggest Culture Shocks They've Ever Experienced Abroad When I went to use the restroom in a restaurant in Tajikistan and I walked in to see two guys squatting next to each other with absolutely no dividing wall. I left.

LyleTheLanley , happierpanda2020 Report

Final score:
71points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#22

I've been all over Europe, South America, parts of Africa and South East Asia, lived in Vietnam for a year and never felt culture shock until one tiny detail of moving to Switzerland.

In the UK, we get into a lift (aka elevator), avoid eye contact, look at the floor or ceiling, and say nothing. In Switzerland they greet each other as they get onto the lift, and then wish each other a good day as they get off. As a Brit I was mortified.

ElGoorf Report

Final score:
70points
Add photo comments
POST
ondrejmacak avatar
Ondřej Macák
Ondřej Macák
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We do this in the Czech Republic too and honestly? I find it stupid. You don't greet random people in other scenarios, so why when riding a lift together? Nevertheless a I do the lift greeting thing too not to seem rude...

Vote comment up
5
5points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#23

How far everything is in the US. Coming from an Asian country, there were lots of little shops and corner stores a walk away (especially if you’re in the city area. Here in America, everything is a car ride’s away, especially if you don’t live in the downtown areas (which most people don’t).

Also, I still haven’t been able to crack it, but I feel wildly uncomfortable being out at night in the US. Whereas, in my home country which isn’t necessarily the safest in the world, I’d have no problem feeling safe walking or coming home at 3AM. I think it’s something about it being so quiet with no one around at night that makes me feel scared. Back home, there would still be people around and public transport going in the middle of the night so it never felt too scary to be out.

memesandthensome Report

Final score:
70points
Add photo comments
POST
ivonash avatar
Ivona
Ivona
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In the U.S., you're not likely to be walking at 3 am or at any other time because you need a car to get pretty much anywhere.

Vote comment up
28
28points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#24

30 People Share The Biggest Culture Shocks They've Ever Experienced Abroad Terrain changes. i’m from Chicago, Illinois which is pretty much entirely flat so i get excited at even slight elevation changes in nearby states like Wisconsin or Minnesota but i recently went to the Tatra mountain range in Poland and was absolutely blown away.

commanderalpaca06 , Nina Uhlikova Report

Final score:
66points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#25

30 People Share The Biggest Culture Shocks They've Ever Experienced Abroad I (american) lived abroad for several years in various areas, predominantly SE Asia region.

Biggest culture shock: one of my first travels, when I was a kid, was to Central Mexico. I remember a public toilet where you had to pay to enter. I was stunned and for the rest of the trip extra paranoid to make sure I always had change while also never had to pee.

Bonus: Americans are so freaking loud! (I say, as an american)

I could be in a super crowded public area and always ALWAYS tell when a pair of Americans was around because they would be the ones talking so loud you could hear them over everyone else like 50 yards/meters away.

chimininy , Nicola Barts Report

Final score:
64points
Add photo comments
POST
adrian_5 avatar
Adrian
Adrian
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Brit here, living in California. Yes, Americans are loud. Not sure why...

Vote comment up
26
26points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#26

30 People Share The Biggest Culture Shocks They've Ever Experienced Abroad People shopping without shoes in New Zealand.
All the bars on windows & razor wire in South Africa. Both incredible countries though!

Low_Matter3628 , kmill8701 Report

Final score:
58points
Add photo comments
POST
suuspuusje avatar
Susie Elle
Susie Elle
Community Member
5 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'll be honest, I don't get it. Everything that normally sticks to the bottom of your shoes, seen and unseen, will now stick to your feet. Yuckity yuck. Not that feet in shoes are clean, but at least I won't have dog urine residu on the soles of my feet.

Vote comment up
55
55points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#27

30 People Share The Biggest Culture Shocks They've Ever Experienced Abroad How bad the driving is in India. Our bus driver would pass cars by driving on the wrong side in traffic.

Ali-Sama , Mehmet Turgut Kirkgoz Report

Final score:
56points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#28

30 People Share The Biggest Culture Shocks They've Ever Experienced Abroad Evening culture for the whole family. Seeing people with little kids in Italy out having dinner at 9 pm, social events and public spaces coming to life in the Middle East, as a sleepy American who really likes a long coffee and breakfast morning it’s always such a funny culture
shock to look across the square or over to the mall at 9:30 pm in my jammies and see the place lit up with activity.

kkc0722 , Matteo Angeloni Report

Final score:
56points
Add photo comments
POST
acey-ace16 avatar
Ace
Ace
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Whatever you may think is strange about that, don't you consider that getting ready for bed at 9:30 is itself weird,, surely even by American standards?

Vote comment up
14
14points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#29

30 People Share The Biggest Culture Shocks They've Ever Experienced Abroad Got thrown out of a shop in Europe for not wearing shoes.

It’s normal in New Zealand to kick off your shoes in summer. Usually adults wear shoes or flip-flops/jandals, but it wouldn’t raise eyebrows if you walk into a shop barefoot, people just assume you’ve been at the beach or kicked off your shoes on a long drive. Kids are barefoot at school. It’s polite to take off your shoes when you enter a house.

Learnt the hard way the rest of the world considers shoes mandatory.

Hataitai1977 , [deleted] Report

Final score:
52points
Add photo comments
POST
drdlyamamoto avatar
BoredPossum
BoredPossum
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Taking off your shoes in someone's house is standard but in a shop? We have sanitary rules .

Vote comment up
57
57points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#30

30 People Share The Biggest Culture Shocks They've Ever Experienced Abroad Three year olds walking alone to Kindergarten in Switzerland.

buymorebestsellers , Pixabay Report

Final score:
50points
Add photo comments
POST
natalie-cilla avatar
Flamingo Croquet
Flamingo Croquet
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just a tiny correction - minimum age for kindergarten is usually 4. I know it's just a year but it makes quite a difference when it comes to knowing how to cross a street etc. Apart from that: Yes, kids often go to school alone/with their peers as it is safe enough and an opportunity to make friends.

Vote comment up
51
51points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu

Note: this post originally had 56 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.

Anyone can write on Bored Panda. Start writing!

Follow Bored Panda on Google News!