Sunday, May 3, 2015

Customs Delay

cultural jet lag


13 comments:

  1. When I moved from France to Germany and started kissing my new friends two times on the cheeks :/

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    1. Oh man, so awkward. The Germans don't like that very much

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    2. I come from England and one kiss on the right cheek is customary with and amongst women - I can't imagine many English men liking the kissing thing. Here in Spain it's two kisses, right then left - and I have at least one male friend I kiss like this. I'm told that in France it's the same but reversed: left-right. And when I meet my girlfriend's Swiss friends and relatives it's three kisses, right-left-right.

      I don't mind it, but that's a lot to keep in mind. :/

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    3. That's exactly it! It wouldn't be so bad if only the rules were consistent...

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  2. I always forget to stop shaking my head whenever I travel outside of India. That earns me a lot of odd looks!

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  3. I love how pleased he looks with himself after that burp.

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    1. It's the belching equivalent of "my sincerest compliments to the chef, good sirs!"

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  4. This is awsome and so true! I suffered from cultural jetlag when I came back to Brasil from Germany, some years ago. Now that I'm thinking of going back to Germany, I'll certainly suffer from it again

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  5. I just discovered your comics and I'm sure glad I did! I can empathise with many of your characters. When I go back to Europe soon after a year in China I'll probably sufffer from that cultural jet lag worse than the previous times I returned home.
    Wait, what? I can't spit on the floor in the bus?! Just kidding...I will never ever ever spit on the floor/ground anywhere. But getting back in the habit of separating waste and recycling will take some time.

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  6. Thanks Anna - glad to have you on board!

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  7. Oh yes! I don't make eye contact with men in the ME. But newly arrived in the States, and greeted by a salesman at Trader Joe's? Must yank brain (and eyes) some 4000 miles, and then look up and say "Hi!"

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  8. After I came to the US back from Japan, and Taiwan to see family, I had cultural jet lag for burping, slurping, and bowing to people, so many people thought I was supper uncultured when I returned.
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