With 800 rupees, we could buy all sorts of useful things like... love!

I am in England now and am going through some reverse culture shock alongside my jet lag. I think that reserve culture shock involves things you are surprised by and notice suddenly in a familiar culture that before you wouldn't have looked twice at. Also it can be missing things from the experience you just had, such as friends or food or cultural aspects, and wanting to tell people about it but getting the impression that they don't really want to know beyond "How was India?" "Good.." "Cool." So far what I am characterizing as reverse culture shock has been more surprising and interesting more than shocking, and indeed much of it has been rather pleasant surprises rather than things that have made me feel out of place or disturbed.

Reverse culture shock/observations:

-EVERYONE says "to be fair" - all my British friends, and often, more so than me!!! (Lily and Shlayma always made fun of how often I said that)

-You can drink tap water! You can cook with tap water! You can wash a tomato and eat it even if there is still water residue on it!

-I spent 10 pounds on my first meal here, which is $20, which is 800 rupees.

-My friend described another girl as "stark raving bonkers." gotta love it.

-Electric tea kettles! Tea quickly! Tea English style!

-Getting used to not being afraid of any kind of physical contact with the opposite sex - hugs, brushing, just in general not having taboos about accidental contact.

-Mini skirts! So much skin showing! People making out in clubs! These things have actually been the most shocking for me.

-Left hand usage - getting used to using my left hand.

-Feet - I'm afraid of offending people with my feet, and am feeling offended by other people's feet.

-There's toilet paper everywhere! I don't have to bring it in my purse! Amazing.

-Lettuce! Sweet beautiful lettuce! Not just in salads - as sides with other dishes! Wow!!!!

-And in England - sunset around 10:30pm! Holy shit! In India it gets dark around 6-7!

-I had a conversation with an Indian about culture and Indian food and we made each other food and I felt a strong identity with him, like we really understood where we were both coming from.