Reverse Culture Shock: Adapting to American Life

Since returning to the U.S. I find myself coping with a wide range of emotions. There’s the initial joy of being back to familiar foods and reuniting with the faces of loved ones. My family has enjoyed their handmade gifts from Ghana and I finally got to taste that iconic Popeye’s Chicken Sandwich I’d been craving for ages. Still, there are more subtle ways that I know I’ve changed, or rather, Ghana’s changed me.

Reintegrating into American life is something I’m more conscious of having been away for a little over two years. So in today’s post, let’s talk about reverse culture shock.

‘Culture shock’ as a term is most commonly discussed when people travel to a different place and adapt to that new environment. Yet, not many people discuss the barriers encountered when returning to their home country. The reverse happens. What was once familiar, can be seen with fresh eyes.

My Experience

Upon entering the U.S. at JFK airport I found myself nodding at people I made eye contact with. This cordial nod had become a reflex while in Ghana because the culture places huge importance on greeting people, even those you don’t know. It’s a simple sign of respect that goes a long way in building community and respect among people.

I was nodding my little heart out not realizing that the action didn’t match the context. People started looking at me crazy, looked away quickly, or purposefully didn’t nod back. It was all too personal for New York City.

A kind greeting, you ask?

Nah, people have places to be. In NYC the pace of life moves much too fast for a simple hello. This was my first realization that I was no longer in the land of cocoa and the calabash.

The second thing that caught me off guard was driving. Anyone who has driven in Accra knows how much of a feat it is to get around the city. There’s a plethora of potholes, men on motorbikes, hawkers selling everything under the sun, and traffic that’s unexplainable. If you can drive in Accra, you can drive anywhere.

In Accra, people drive bumper to bumper. It didn’t make sense to me at first, but if you leave even a sliver of open space between you and the car ahead, trotro buses and much larger cars will cut you off and bully their way into that space, almost as if you are in the wrong.

At first, I found this offensive, but after adapting I found that aggressive driving was just a means of survival on the roads. Driving isn’t something people look forward to in Ghana. It’s a focused task to be completed.

Fast forward to now, I’m driving on the roads in the U.S. on my way to Target and the space between me and the other cars seems so vast.

“What do I do with all that space? Won’t someone cut me off?”

I realized that I didn’t have to clench the wheel so tightly anymore. With America’s city planning and strict traffic laws, cars practically drive themselves. Driving on autopilot becomes second nature, especially in smaller cities and towns.

The final moment that struck me about being home, was grocery shopping at a huge Kroger. There was SO MUCH food and so many different choices. Was I excited? Of course! Still, beneath this surface layer of excitement lied a hint of distaste.

Most people don’t realize that America’s excess is a luxury. Going to the grocery and having fifteen distinct choices of Bbq sauce is not the norm worldwide. Two mega aisles just devoted to chips seem perfectly acceptable to most Americans. We have an abundant level of choices that we’ve become accustomed and even entitled to. We like having everything at once. Not having what we want seems unacceptable.

Tell shoppers there are no more Doritos, Lays, Ruffles, Pringles, tortilla chips, or butter popcorn and see how people pop off. We all witnessed how some Americans acted at the start of Covid. People were hoarding at levels that seemed rational on the ground, but ridiculous to those abroad.

In Ghana, the culture is much more communal. People will not let you starve if you are a part of a close community. Food is to be shared, not stored up. Even at small food stalls, you can buy meals according to the money you have.

Only have 1Ghs ? No problem, they’ll give you a serving of stew that’s proportional to that amount. People don’t segregate as much when it comes to food. Some of the food staples served at stalls by the road are even comparable in taste to food at restaurants.

Additionally, many Ghanaians shop at open-air markets for their food staples. For some, going to the grocery is not a regular practice. There are fruit stands nestled in every corner of the city in Accra where it’s easy to get fresh produce and even grains like rice and noodles.

There were multiple occasions where I forgot to get something at the grocery in Ghana. I could walk around the corner and pick up fresh tomatoes to add to my spaghetti without having to set foot in a store. It’s that convenience and affordable farm to table produce that I will miss. In Ghana the food culture is approachable.

I will miss greeting the lady at my local fruit stand who knew just how many carrots and banana’s I needed.

Returning to the U.S. is both beautiful and complex. I’ve revived my love for Amazon’s easy two-day shipping and buying clothing online. Still, living in Ghana has made me much less wasteful. I buy what I need and use what I buy. I find that I enjoy meals more when they are shared with people. I don’t mind looking people in the eye for fear of being rejected. I don’t take America’s infrastructure for granted.

Every country has its share of strengths and challenges. Remaining adaptable as I continue to combine the knowledge I’ve gained abroad is something I’m actively working on. With each passing day, I’ve learned to appreciate the best of both worlds.