Local Shock

Anywhere and everywhere else the culture shock would have been less. There would be no need to identify with the local customs, fit into new fashions, even the law at times can be a variant- depending on the mess of the police and strength of ones embassy. Being foreign excuses you from all sorts of social compliance. And with that, your personal quirks are quickly mistaken for cultural quirks. Don’t disregard it, its get out of jail free card.

I had managed ok until this point. Leaving the job, familiar routine, and new family one creates as an expat, I arrived in Bangkok airport with my identity surprisingly intact. Coming from Cambodia, people were flashy and less tacky. Asian women wore spunky high wasted slacks and sophisticated understated shoes. Although a sizable number of these Thai ladies were with dooffie western lads, both were at the airport sustaining a relationship for something longer than a few romantic weeks, some with children, one even with the extended Thai family (had me looking twice).

Even where it was more than a mere a variation of Cambodia, with Middle Eastern representatives cruising about in burkas, the role I filled for the past six months hadn’t changed. I was just the funny foreigner with green eyes. It was only when boarding the Jet Star flight to Melbourne that I had momentary hyperventilating culture shock. University holidays coming to an end, a cheap flight back to Melbourne, there was an entire plane of Melbournite Scenesters heading back to ‘Uni’ after busting out in Bangkok. The people I grew up with.

They’re loose, slouchy 1980’s rock stars, and I’m in the bathroom quickly shaping up my hair and makeup to join them. It’s not so much what my planes’ thinking now, as much as what my networks back home will be thinking on hip Brunswick St. My foreigner excuse now gone, I was bowing my head hoping not to be recognized someone would have to explain myself to.

Yes, as a foreigner, there are language barriers and a whole load of miscommunications on whether you were insulted or complemented? Surprisingly however, we become more accepting of unusual behavior. Confused on what to consider a personal flaw or cultural attribute- social faux pas are not only excused but considered potentially legitimate behavior. Hey, if that’s how they do it in Chicago right?

Hoping that my scruffy rock star plane would also let slide my manicured look and toned down soft accent, I quickly began planning to escape to Flemington where the newly immigrated wouldn’t be so quick criticize my own quirks.