There is this mysterious thing called reverse culture shock. It's when you're not used to what you naturally should be used to. Having ice in your drink, people speaking a familiar language, and sleeping in your own bed....this sounds absolutely beautiful... but for me, it seems so difficult to simply 'adjust'. Instead of sipping Guinness at a pub, you're taking tequilia shots before you hit all the annex fraternity houses. Conversations change from "how did you end up in Austria from Vietnam? What are you doing here and why are you all alone?" to "so..what's your major? have you seen the new business building? GTL?" You're not traveling to a different country every weekend and you aren't meeting people from all over the world. Alcohol isn't allowed on the streets and it sure as hell isn't cheap. Fraternity parties are just as crowded as they have always been and your clothes somehow have beer stains all over them when you leave a bar.
Even though you have only been gone a semester, people seem to have forgotten your name and how to communicate with you. Okay. It's not that bad but nothing seems to be the same. It seems like an awkward limbo that you're stuck in... where you want things to go back to the way they were when you first left but you, as well as everyone around you, seem to have changed too drastically to put your life in rewind.
It is a Sunday night. There is no class tomorrow because it's Martin Luther King Day and my entire house is out partying while I sit here writing in my blog. I actually attempted to go to a Sig Ep party around midnight but I just ended up coming back home, snuggling in bed and cruising the channels to find reruns of the Golden Globes. There were too many people at this party that I didn't know and since it was a party dedicated to the new freshman pledge class, I definitely had a hard time having fun. So I handed my liquid acid shot to some random girl with a peacock headband and shuffled my way out of the party. I quickly walked back home , took off my make-up, put my hair in a ponytail, and put my limes back in the frig.
The past two nights had been a little too rough and I thought that I should probably give my body a break. Seeing as how I have a bruise on my entire right leg from tripping over the sidewalk last night, I wouldn't say that it was the best decision to go out tonight. I ended up tripping over the sidewalk, falling, recovering, then falling again on my right leg/arm. Not only do I have insanely large bruise on my thigh but I can't bend my leg because it is so swollen.
On a peppier note, I now know what GTL is. And I am also in love with all of my house mates and our new pledge class. The girls that I live with are the most driven, intelligent, beautiful girls I have ever met at Miami and I am so honored to call them my close friends and sisters. They're not just a dime piece, they're a damn silver dollar. Even though this bullshit reverse culture shock is happening, I think it's easier because I have these amazing girls to talk to all the time and go out with. Being with them always guarantees a phenomenal night and amazing memories so I think it will be an easier transition that I originally thought.
And...most importantly... I have noticed this guy who always pulls up in the house next to ours. He drives this yellow mustang and has white sunglasses and always revs his engine because he thinks he's hot shit. Little does he know that everyone thinks he's a major tool/doucher. He should rethink his career path...perhaps try out for Jersey Shore 2?
You thought I was done with this travelblog but I am most definitely not. Next destination? Teaching English with my friend Joan in South Korea. Until then, I'll be writing small updates about my life in Oxford, OH.
J.
