What No One Tells You About Living Abroad
Nothing can really prepare you for living abroad. It's an experience you have to live through to truly understand.
Reverse Culture Shock
People always talk about culture shock, but reverse culture shock is just as real. Whenever I visit my hometown of New York City, I am appalled by things I once thought were normal. Take the pharmacy experience, for instance— taking a prescription at Walgreens and waiting an hour or more for it to be filled. Not to mention the cost of medication, even with insurance!
I remember my first winter in Paris when I had a terrible head cold. I didn't have insurance at the time, so I braced myself for the sticker shock, but to my surprise, the doctor's visit was €25 (around $27 USD), and the amoxicillin? €6.25 (around $6.75 USD). The same prescription would have cost me $200 in the States.
How Nostalgic You Become....
Living abroad has made me appreciate the little things about New York that I once took for granted.
Spending Saturdays at Target, only to find myself at the register with a cart full of items totaling $148.38, wondering how the heck my total got that high when all I planned to buy was shampoo. I mean, Paris has Monoprix and it’s cool and all, but it ain’t no Target!
Making a Dunkin' run for my iced caramel latte and coffee roll or a classic glazed donut.
Getting takeout from my favorite hole-in-the-wall Chinese restaurant, where they recognize me and my usual order: chicken wings fried hard, cut up with hot sauce, and roast pork fried rice, or General Tso’s chicken with a hot & sour soup if I’m feeling fancy.
Those trips to the bodega with the bachata or merengue blasting from the speakers on 9.23 LA MEGA! Saying, "Papi, let me get a bacon, egg, and cheese on a roll" or "a turkey (Boar's Head), lettuce, tomato, and white American on a hero with salt, pepper, and vinegar." Then adding a bag of Wise potato chips and Linden's Butter Crunch cookies or, if no Linden's, a HoneyBun. If you know, you know.
I now realize how much these things define my sense of home. No matter where I live, I will always be a New Yorker at heart, holding onto these memories with a vice grip.
The Fashion
In Paris, no Parisian would be caught dead wearing sweats or yoga pants unless they're working out. Most often, the only people who dress down frequently are of North or West African descent or Americans. Here, people are often well-dressed just to go to the grocery store. Ripped or distressed jeans are a no-go, and it's rare to see chanclas or flip-flops. I don't do sweats, but I love a good distressed boyfriend jean, slim cut or mom jean. Overall, you'll know if you aren't dressed appropriately—you'll get that unmistakable Parisian side-eye once over.
I now cherish the familiar comforts of home while embracing new experiences and perspectives. The differences in healthcare, the nostalgia for New York's unique quirks, and the distinct fashion sense in Paris are just a few of the many contrasts I've encountered. These experiences have enriched my life and deepened my appreciation for both my hometown and my new home. Wherever life takes me, a piece of my heart will always belong to New York, while another will continue to embrace the elegance and charm of Paris.