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Integrating Two Worlds: Life in America with an Indian Twist

By: Jennifer Kumar

It was cold in the middle of summer, food was too bland, too many choices in the grocery store, the dress code was different, calling elders by their first names was preferred over ‘Sir’ and ‘Ma’am,’ and on top of all that I almost got myself killed by driving on the left hand side of the road!

These are just a few challenges I had in readujsting to life in U.S. after living in Chennai, India as a graduate student for two years. This period of adjustment is called ‘reverse culture shock’ or ‘re-entry shock’. It is similar to culture shock, but is experienced by a person upon returning to their home country. [Click here to read more Integrating Two Worlds: Life in America with an Indian Twist.]

Thank you, Brice for recommending this forum. Because of citations in the article, I hesitate to reproduce the entire article here.

Author Jennifer Kumar was blessed with the opportunity to be the first and only American student to enroll and graduate from Madras Christian College, Chennai India with a Master’s degree in 2001.

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Posted by Jennifer at 5:34 am on June 26th, 2008. Comments
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  • Shaheema
    OMG... Another one of us! LOL... Now I'm kinda wondering if I'll go through reverse-cultural shock if I go back to California or Hong Kong or Japan. What if it's all changed and I'm like some pre-historic remain of that civilization!? I just graduated with an MA in English Literature from Stella Maris, and a B.Sc. in Interior Design (I know, tell me about it! :P) from SIET/JBAS College. MCCers are pretty cool, but usually stoned. (A rumor I heard. I know some of em, and they're pretty chill.) They say that about IITM too. The stereotypes people come up with, I tell ya!
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