Change in location, change in psychology of people?
The change is in you
Its all in the mind!
They say people change with time, but do people change with location, too? Maybe yes, maybe no, maybe its just another reversible psychological change. I am an Indian who went to the United States for spending two quality years in Grad school, and now I am back to my home country. Here are a few changes I noticed appear in people when they relocate from India to the US and vice versa.
From India to the US:
- Exaggerating the use of Thank you's and Sorry's and Excuse me's.
- Following traffic rules blindly (except for speeding when no cops are around).
- Ignoring/accepting public display of affection.
- Driving used sedans, and dreaming of owning a Porsche!
- Regarding family back home as the most important thing in life.
From the US to India:
- Mentally converting Rupees to Dollars during every single financial transaction.
- Complaining about the roads, traffic, population, pollution, etc.
- Savoring every bit of junk food sold on the road-side stalls while complaining about food in the US.
- Catching up with old friends, but secretly missing friends and the lifestyle back in the US.
- Moving around with a 'I have lived in the US' air but secretly feeling proud to be back to one's own soil.
Oh, and this hub does not intend to offend anyone. Psychological changes vary from person to person, and not everyone may relate to the points above. It is just for a good laugh!
Comments
- Author
Glad you agree Ishwaryaa. Have a nice day.
An interesting hub with an intriguing title! I agree with the points listed by you as I travelled to London for vacation last year and stayed there for 10 days. I felt that some psychological change had occurred within me when I returned home from London. Well-said.
Thanks for SHARING. Interesting. Voted up
- Author
Thanks for the visit Eddy, have a good one.
Very interesting and yes you make many valid points .
Thanks for sharing and here's to so many more to share on here.
Take care my friend and have a great day.
Eddy.
- Author
You are absolutely right vespawolf. Thanks for reading, and sharing your own experience.
We have definitely experienced psychological changes as ex-pats living in S. America. We are influenced by our environment and experiences, and those change when we move, especially outside of our culture. But I think it also gives us a more well-rounded world view which is always a positive!
- Author
Thanks Vinaya for sharing.
I have never traveled to two different cultures. But your explanations was interesting. By the way, I divide my time between my farm and city. And I feel psychological change when location changes.
- Author
I agree, these psychological changes are more often than not positive, and only make a person see things more clearly.
Though I've never been to India, I have had the pleasure of working with some Indian natives and have been glad to help them become citizens of the U.S. Changing countries usually does result in changing cultures, so it's fair to assume that there will be some psychological consequences.
In my personal (and very biased) opinion those effects tend to be positive. It's more of an exchange of cultural ideas which opens our minds to new possibilities rather than something that may cause emotional harm.
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