Culture Shock

I never thought I'd say this but, Boston just doesn't really feel like home anymore.

I had never thought of saying such a thing because Boston had always been home for me. All of a sudden the city and I don't flow, don't mesh, just straight up don't get along like we used to. What's up with that?

I'd bet my money on culture shock.

I feel great when I'm in my house in Brookline, relaxing alone or with the family. I will always consider home as where the heart is, if I may say so...

Before I begin with the whole new wave of culture shock I felt when I landed at Logan International, I will share an unforgettable experience I had in the Miami airport:

So, I was waiting to check in at the self-service counter, which was completely pointless, by the way, because after getting the ticket from the machine, everyone still had to wait in a long line to talk to a representative about baggage AND THEN drag the baggage to a special "baggage drop-off" location a ten-minute walk from check-in. Everyone checking in there was confused. Why? There were no signs, and most people did not speak English proficiently. Every single person that tried to check in at self-service messed up. Including me. In short, it was a mess. Thank you, American Airlines.

As I was waiting in line, a Spanish-speaking man and his family were walking by. In front of me stood a pretty a family I could safely label "gringos". The father was tall and upset about something. The daughters had super straightened, super dyed hair. The Uggs, the Northface, the designer handbag. The girls were spitting images of their mother. The Spanish-speaking man approached the white man, and told him that further down the hall it was possible to quickly check in and get the baggage taken care of at the same time. I assume he was talking about the regular check-in (which, I believe him now, must have been faster than self check-in). For self check-in you had to get this special white slip of paper (a waste of paper); anyways, all of a sudden the two men are in a yelling argument about the slip of paper and the right place to check in (I think both of them were right in what they were saying). The white man then said to the Spanish-speaking man, "So, then you're being stupid right?!" The Spanish-speaking man responded sarcastically/angrily, "Yeah, I must be stupid," and walked away. I couldn't control myself, and sighed, "Oh, America..." under my breath. The white man heard and growled.

Perhaps it was that I didn't understand everything everyone said to me in Ecuador, or perhaps it was the coarseness of the English language that I began to feel instantly when I landed in the States, but that moment in the Miami airport really stuck. In Ecuador, no bus driver had ever yelled at me. The first time I took the bus in Boston, the bus driver was giving me lip.

I know that I'm just angry and confused from "culture shock," but way too many people I interact with in Boston these days just seem rude. Maybe it's also the cold weather, or the economic crisis that's bringing out the bad in everyone. I'm not the only person to come back from Ecuador to share an experience of people in Boston being rude.


I don't know what shocks me more, the fact that no one talks to me in Spanish here or the fact that I'm no longer in a developing country. I miss the Spanish language dearly, mas suave. Though I hate to admit it (although I actually don't hate to admit it), especially as an immigrant, I am so thankful for being able to live in the United States (despite the occasional rudeness). I wouldn't have been able to see Ecuador if I were still living in Ukraine. Coming back from Ecuador has some benefits, too. I am shocked that I am able to walk around Boston alone, day or night. I am shocked that everywhere I go I can get change for a twenty-dollar bill.

Basically, every country has its problems. Coming back to the U.S., I really feel that I can see the world (a little) clearer. I have another piece of the bigger picture. And the effect of that little piece on my life is more drastic than I expected.

There is so much of Ecuadorian life I wish I could inject into American life, and vice verse. For instance, I wish I could just pop the personal space bubble that closes off too many Americans from each other. I wish democracy could work, really work in Ecuador. But, you can't have it all, I guess.

To sum up, I'm filled with many mixed feelings. As a result, I find myself walking around everywhere looking confused all the time.

I'm excited to leave for and get to Spain in exactly one week. I will miss my family, but maybe I need a little more time away from Boston to really miss it.