Reverse culture shock tips if you haven't lived in the U.S. for a really long time

[IMA_FARANG]

Medication......on my last trip (2014) at least half the people i knew were taking domr kind of "medication" for dome kind of "problem" they supposedly had.

This ranged from "allegies" to "attention deficency disorder"

When did tis nonsense start.....where evwetbody has some medication they must take regularly....most of the time from what i think are imagined "disorders" they supposedly have?

[IMA_FARANG]

Medication.

The last time i was back in the U.S it seems everyone was taking some kind of "medication" on a routine basis for what I think were imagined "problems" they claimed to have.

From allergies to inability to sleep.

And i am not talking about the elderly. I am taling about healthy people in their 30's.

Edited May 10, 2016 by IMA_FARANG

[craigt3365]

I agree about food being expensive especially eating out. Even Chipotle is $9 for a burrito and a drink.

Less than 300B. About what you pay here for a quality burrito. Which we don't have! Sadly.

[craigt3365]

Medication.

The last time i was back in the U.S it seems everyone was taking some kind of "medication" on a routine basis for what I think were imagined "problems" they claimed to have.

From allergies to inability to sleep.

And i am not talking about the elderly. I am taling about healthy people in their 30's.

If you have insurance, they are basically free. Too much medication.

[1BADDAT]

I agree about food being expensive especially eating out. Even Chipotle is $9 for a burrito and a drink.

Less than 300B. About what you pay here for a quality burrito. Which we don't have! Sadly.

A Chipotle quality steak burrito here would be at least twice as much. Like you said, it doesn't exist here. I spend 300 baht for Mexican food at lunch here with a water. Mexican food in California is one good reason for me to go back.

[OMGImInPattaya]

Medication.

The last time i was back in the U.S it seems everyone was taking some kind of "medication" on a routine basis for what I think were imagined "problems" they claimed to have.

From allergies to inability to sleep.

And i am not talking about the elderly. I am taling about healthy people in their 30's.

Keeps the population sedated and docile ?

[OMGImInPattaya]

I agree about food being expensive especially eating out. Even Chipotle is $9 for a burrito and a drink.

Am I the only one who doesn't consider $10 for a meal "expensive"?

[1BADDAT]

I agree about food being expensive especially eating out. Even Chipotle is $9 for a burrito and a drink.

Am I the only one who doesn't consider $10 for a meal "expensive"?

no

[BKKSnowBird]

I agree about food being expensive especially eating out. Even Chipotle is $9 for a burrito and a drink.

Am I the only one who doesn't consider $10 for a meal "expensive"?

no

It was only $7 for the same thing when I left the US in 2010. Thats a big increase in 6 years. Thats a good 5% increase a year. Compare that to the 0-2% increase in social security.

That is just one example of many. Rents have gone up by more.

Edited May 10, 2016 by BKKSnowBird

[1BADDAT]

I agree about food being expensive especially eating out. Even Chipotle is $9 for a burrito and a drink.

Am I the only one who doesn't consider $10 for a meal "expensive"?

no

It was only $7 for the same thing when I left the US in 2010. Thats a big increase in 6 years. Thats a good 5% increase a year. Compare that to the 0-2% increase in social security.

That is just one example of many. Rents have gone up by more.

you are obviously not an economist.

[BKKSnowBird]

It doesnt take an economist to see that the cost of living is rising faster than income.

[OMGImInPattaya]

I agree about food being expensive especially eating out. Even Chipotle is $9 for a burrito and a drink.

Am I the only one who doesn't consider $10 for a meal "expensive"?

no

It was only $7 for the same thing when I left the US in 2010. Thats a big increase in 6 years. Thats a good 5% increase a year. Compare that to the 0-2% increase in social security.

That is just one example of many. Rents have gone up by more.

Social Security wasn't designed or meant to support seniors quest for dining sprees at Chipotle or morning coffee at Starbucks. It is an income supplement or to provide a very basic income to its beneficiaries, who should be eating mostly at home, supplemented on occasion by the blue-plate special at the local diner down the street.

[Boon Mee]

Face it, that noodle vendor down the street selling you a 30 baht bag of Kway Tee Ow is a much better bargain than Chipolte anyhow.

[craigt3365]

Face it, that noodle vendor down the street selling you a 30 baht bag of Kway Tee Ow is a much better bargain than Chipolte anyhow.

Health wise, I'd talk Chipolte any day...taste wise also. I'm done with 30 Baht noodles on the side of the road. But I'm lucky. My wife makes great noodle soup with top notch and fresh ingredients. And washes the dishes properly. LOL

[Jingthing]

In the U.S. for cheap and great food, I love Mexican dives where Mexicans go and no English is spoken ... usually it's more about tacos than burritos.

Edited May 13, 2016 by Jingthing

[Boon Mee]

Bad News, People: The Average Chipotle Order Contains Over 1,000 Calories

http://greatideas.people.com/2015/02/18/chipotle-menu-items-calories-fat-unhealthy/

I'll stick with the noodle vendor in yon Native Market. She throws in some chilies and extra corrender w/no charge!

[Jingthing]

Again, this thread is NOT about a Thailand vs. USA competition.

Many U.S. expats do repatriate. It is about that. What's on the USA side how that can be a hard adjustment if you've been away for a long time.

Cheers.

[mania]

In the U.S. for cheap and great food, I love Mexican dives where Mexicans go and no English is spoken ... usually it's more about tacos than burritos.

The drive thru must be tough to navigate for some

[Boon Mee]

In the U.S. for cheap and great food, I love Mexican dives where Mexicans go and no English is spoken ... usually it's more about tacos than burritos.

The drive thru must be tough to navigate for some

Yeah - the steering wheel is on the other side of the vehicle.

[Jingthing]

Taco Bell? Don't be trippin'. That's gross.

Anyway the driving is actually a real concern for me.

I haven't driven in about 12 years!

Is it something you forget to do?

[GinBoy2]

Taco Bell? Don't be trippin'. That's gross.

Anyway the driving is actually a real concern for me.

I haven't driven in about 12 years!

Is it something you forget to do?

Driving is really like riding a bike!

I'm almost at the end of a road trip; Los Angeles-San Diego-Rapid City SD-San Francisco, with various stops in between.

The only thing you may forget is the fact that in general people obey the rules, drive on the 'correct' side of the road, stop at lights etc etc, And you (well I did), have to adjust to the fact I wasn't constantly expecting someone to to something stupid. Stupid is the exception rather than the rule, reverse opposite of Thailand.

Oh, remember Cops? Yeah they do actually exist here and not not just at some checkpoint. They actually do patrol highways So in Thailand where you breeze by a cop at whatever speed, try to remember not to do that when you get home!

[OMGImInPattaya]

Taco Bell? Don't be trippin'. That's gross.

Anyway the driving is actually a real concern for me.

I haven't driven in about 12 years!

Is it something you forget to do?

Driving is really like riding a bike!

I'm almost at the end of a road trip; Los Angeles-San Diego-Rapid City SD-San Francisco, with various stops in between.

The only thing you may forget is the fact that in general people obey the rules, drive on the 'correct' side of the road, stop at lights etc etc, And you (well I did), have to adjust to the fact I wasn't constantly expecting someone to to something stupid. Stupid is the exception rather than the rule, reverse opposite of Thailand.

Oh, remember Cops? Yeah they do actually exist here and not not just at some checkpoint. They actually do patrol highways So in Thailand where you breeze by a cop at whatever speed, try to remember not to do that when you get home!

One of my favorite aspects of living in Thailand...the relaxed attitude of the city police and highway patrol. Makes for very relaxed driving trips.

[Jingthing]

I'm still uncertain about whether I've retained my driving skills. I may consider at least one session with an instructor.

Two areas concern me. Merging into freeways and parallel parking.

Edited May 16, 2016 by Jingthing

[GinBoy2]

JT, do you still have a drivers license?

I've always maintained that just for residency and emergency purposes.

It sounds like you have let everything lapse, in which case you're going to be doing a driving test no matter what to get a new license in whatever state you end up in

[Jingthing]

JT, do you still have a drivers license?

I've always maintained that just for residency and emergency purposes.

It sounds like you have let everything lapse, in which case you're going to be doing a driving test no matter what to get a new license in whatever state you end up in

Still do. That's a complicated topic for me.

[GinBoy2]

JT, do you still have a drivers license?

I've always maintained that just for residency and emergency purposes.

It sounds like you have let everything lapse, in which case you're going to be doing a driving test no matter what to get a new license in whatever state you end up in

Still do. That's a complicated topic for me.

Complicated how? Pretty easy to maintain, just requires being in the US every 5 years Edited May 17, 2016 by GinBoy2

[OMGImInPattaya]

JT, do you still have a drivers license?

I've always maintained that just for residency and emergency purposes.

It sounds like you have let everything lapse, in which case you're going to be doing a driving test no matter what to get a new license in whatever state you end up in

Still do. That's a complicated topic for me.

Complicated how? Pretty easy to maintain, just requires being in the US every 5 years

Maybe a DUI history or outstanding traffic warrants.

[Jingthing]

JT, do you still have a drivers license?

I've always maintained that just for residency and emergency purposes.

It sounds like you have let everything lapse, in which case you're going to be doing a driving test no matter what to get a new license in whatever state you end up in

Still do. That's a complicated topic for me.

Complicated how? Pretty easy to maintain, just requires being in the US every 5 years

Depends on your state. In my state you need to formally declare you're a state resident at renewal time.

[GinBoy2]

JT, do you still have a drivers license?

I've always maintained that just for residency and emergency purposes.

It sounds like you have let everything lapse, in which case you're going to be doing a driving test no matter what to get a new license in whatever state you end up in

Still do. That's a complicated topic for me.

Complicated how? Pretty easy to maintain, just requires being in the US every 5 years

Depends on your state. In my state you need to formally declare you're a state resident at renewal time.

That's why i became a South Dakotan. 1 night in a hotel every five years is all that the state requires, and it has a zero State tax. Allows me to register cars, drivers license, vote without any worry.

As a side note, although the winters are brutal the Black Hills of SD are seriously beautiful, and it really is a low cost environment. As a Californian, I shocked myself that I actually love the place, and if I do ever need to return full time, Hot Springs SD is gonna be my home

Edited May 17, 2016 by GinBoy2

[Jingthing]

Good. But I don't see doing that now. A good tip for people planning to expatriate. Of course such loose rules are subject to change.

Edited May 17, 2016 by Jingthing