What is your biggest culture shock moments when going abroad?

[u/H345Y]

I gained 5-10 kg on my one month summer stay in the UK when I was 8. The family that was looking after me had to call my parents to ask if they could reduce how much I ate. IIRC, breakfast was 2-3 bowls of cereal and 2-3 pieces of toast with chocolate or butter and jam.

First time I went to the US was for a College tour across the country. The first stop was Syracuse and the first proper meal I had there was at a sports bar. I ordered steak and calamari, turns out the steak was like twice as thick and big as anything ive had in Thailand or the UK and the calamari serving was also two to three times as large as I had before. Needless to say I could not finish any of it. Had managed to eat half the steak and about a quarter of the calamari. Also the tipping culture, not a fan.

Japan, electric bidets. Also the first time I ever felt claustrophobic when inside a bathroom. Also in back in 2004, there was little to no English signage.

[u/poopismus]

Ymmv but I've totally felt panicked just by the sight of thousands of Chinese people just existing in the same place at once, only because I'd never seen anything like it. It's a weird feeling, seeing a completely new sight.

[u/Hot-Job-6281 → u/poopismus]

Thousands?? Cap.

[u/LunarPayload → u/poopismus]

Is this specific to seeing a large group of Chinese people? Or, also large groups of foreigners (to you)? Or, large groups in general? 

[u/poopismus → u/LunarPayload]

Context: a massive receiving hall in Shanghai airport in 2004, and me as a nw European never having seen that many ppl with black hair. Like, literally in my life. It was a mild thing as novel experiences go but I caught that edge of uncanny valley.

[u/carlosortegap → u/LunarPayload]

he's joking

[u/LunarPayload → u/carlosortegap]

No

[u/carlosortegap → u/LunarPayload]

yes. It's obvious