The Reality of Culture Shock

So many elements about life in India is in full contrast to Japan. Like a full 180. We expected this somewhat when we were booking our travels, but to live it and see the boys experience this world of culture shock…oof.

Let me start by sharing my love of India. This is my third time visiting India, which is wild when there are so many countries I’ve never had the chance to see. I keep coming back for a reason. I’m enthralled by the ways in which people live and thrive amidst what seems like chaos. I love the ability to exist in states of uncertainty, where a head shake can mean yes or no. I love the full-bodied connection to spirituality, the rich beauty of the fabrics, the extreme flavors, the aesthetic of temples and mosques in which the flourishes have flourishes, more is more. 

Compare this to our time in Japan, and each of these extraordinary aspects of Indian culture can be flipped on its head. 

… the chaos is exhausting when compared to Japan’s quiet, orderly structure 

… the uncertainty is overwhelming when rules and roles in Japan are so strict and defined

… the Japanese aesthetic is captured in straight lines and streamlined profiles rather than the embellishments of India

… the perfect Japanese dish is measured by a quiet subtlety, whereas Indian food celebrates its complexity and nearly everything is super spicy

I appreciate so much the contrasts, but there is something unfair about showing a 10-year-old and a 13-year-old these two countries, back-to-back. They moved from an easy, orderly existence in Japan to one filled with organized chaos, extreme heat and tummy troubles in India. I hope some day they each return to India on their accord and lose themselves in the sense of wonder that I hold for this place.