Jun 12 • General discussion
Returning to the U.S. to Visit Family After a Year Abroad 🇺🇸➡️🇪🇺➡️🇺🇸
After spending a year living in Europe, coming back to the United States has felt a little like visiting a place that's familiar... but somehow different at the same time.
Here are my Top 5 culture shocks after returning home:
1. Everything is HUGE
The roads are wider, the parking lots are bigger, the trucks are bigger, and somehow even the grocery carts seem oversized. After getting used to walking through medieval streets in Europe, America suddenly feels supersized.
2. The Portion Sizes
I forgot that ordering a "regular" meal in America often means receiving enough food to feed a small village. Europe taught me that it's possible to eat less and somehow feel just as satisfied.
3. Everyone Drives Everywhere
In Europe, walking to the bakery, pharmacy, café, and grocery store becomes part of daily life. Back in the U.S., I found myself getting in the car for things that were only a few minutes away.
4. The Pace Feels Faster
People seem more rushed. More schedules. More deadlines. More "go, go, go." One thing I appreciated about Europe was how much value was placed on simply enjoying the moment.
5. Seeing Family Again Hits Different
The biggest surprise wasn't cultural at all. It was realizing how much can change in a year. Parents get older. Friends move on with their lives. Kids grow up. The time with family suddenly feels more valuable than it did before I left.
Living abroad changes your perspective. Sometimes the biggest culture shock isn't Europe—it's seeing your own country through new eyes when you come back.
What was the biggest thing that surprised YOU when you returned to the United States after living or traveling abroad?
Share your story below 👇
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Returning to the U.S. to Visit Family After a Year Abroad 🇺🇸➡️🇪🇺➡️🇺🇸
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