“Does America Know That The Rest Of The World Doesn’t Do That?”: A TikToker From New Zealand Covers Culture Shock After Relocating To The US

Article created by: Vėja Elkimavičiūtė

It might be difficult to adjust yourself to a new culture. Whether it’s leisurely travel, work-related trips, or other voyages, immersing yourself in a new setting can bring up all sorts of emotions. They are part of the culture shock phenomena, caused by a sudden change in the environment after coming to a new location.

Each place takes time to get used to. And it doesn’t have to be a land far far away for you to feel culture shock. Differences as minor as unfamiliar hand gestures can cause confusion, let alone a new language, food, and climate, among others, that all require getting accustomed to. Research suggests that there are four stages of cultural shock that expats might encounter after relocating: the honeymoon phase, the frustration phase, the adaptation phase, and the acceptance phase. Some might be easier to bear than others, but in the long run, going through them makes the place more of a home away from home rather than a stop somewhere in between.

In some cases, it doesn’t necessarily have to be moving to a new place—a short-term trip can be enough to experience culture shock. That was Jazz Thornton’s case after relocating to the United States because of work-related reasons. A New Zealander at heart, she is a mental health activist, an author, and now—an unofficial connoisseur of everything that is unusual for foreigners in the US. She documented her journey of dealing with culture shock in the new destination and shared it with her followers on TikTok. The lighthearted videos quickly went viral, as she covered everything from specific foods to humorously large stores, which Jazz grew to love.

Read More: “Does America Know That The Rest Of The World Doesn't Do That?”: A TikToker From New Zealand Covers Culture Shock After Relocating To The US

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Image credits: Simon Kadula

“Does America Know That The Rest Of The World Doesn’t Do That?”: A TikToker From New Zealand Covers Culture Shock After Relocating To The US

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#2 The Tipping Culture

#3 Prices Being Displayed Before Tax

#4 Waiters Taking Your Card To Pay At A Restaurant

#5 The Measuring Systems

#6 Alcohol Being Sold At CVS

#7 Seems Like Everything Can Be Put In A Bag

#8 The Portion Sizes

#9 Toilet Stalls Having Gaps In The Doors

#10 People In La Can't Handle Rain

#11 Toothpaste Being Locked Up

#12 School Starts At 7.30

#13 Target Has Everything You Could Ever Need

#14 Id Being Required To Buy Nasal Spray

#15 The Obsession With Starbucks

#16 The Amount Of Stairs In New York Subway

#17 The Shelf Life Of Twinkies

#18 These Police Cars In New York