25 responses

  1. Trudy
    July 6, 2013

    Hi!

    It’s really interesting that reverse culture shock, we got that a bit after a few months in Asia and coming home to Australia. Especially having spent nearly a month in Myanmar. Whenever things get shit we say to each other, how lucky we are to have been born here and the opportunities we have to see the world…

    If you get up to Brisbane please let us know, we’d love to meet up and show you both around 🙂

    Reply

    • Talon Windwalker
      July 6, 2013

      Thank you! We won’t be able to this trip, but we’ll be back in Oz for sure at some point.

      Reply

  2. Andrea
    July 2, 2013

    Sigh…the cost of living in Oz definitely takes some getting used to! Enjoy =)

    Reply

    • Talon Windwalker
      July 2, 2013

      Especially after SE Asia!

      Reply

  3. Charli l Wanderlusters
    July 1, 2013

    I love your comment about not having to pre plan your toilet paper needs! Brilliant!! What a treat we are in for when we finally make it over to SEA. We found Sydney to be a real financial headache, we were house sitting in the affluent North Shore suburb of Turramurra and although the area was stunning it was almost twice the price to buy milk at the local deli than in the next suburb! Madness.

    Reply

    • Talon Windwalker
      July 1, 2013

      Oh yes, you don’t travel in SE Asia or Latin America without carrying toilet paper with you. In big cities like Bangkok, you’ll have better luck, but even then I always have some in my pocket just in case.

      I can believe it about Sydney! Those prices were amazing. We’re in a village outside of a small town about 1-1/2 hrs from Melbourne now, and things are more reasonable. Well, Australia reasonable. LOL It’s still crazy, though.

      Reply

  4. Wheres Sharon? (Sharon)
    June 28, 2013

    interesting post!! it must be very bizarre to be here after so long in asia. It is definitely way too expensive in australia, but it does make it great for us aussies whenever we go pretty much anywhere! There are also definitely many of the same problems here with chasing the bigger house, more money, etc here as in the US. We are shocking people at the moment as we are choosing to go back to being renters (and basically prioritising lifestyle over the so called dream of owning a home on a 1/4 acre block – like thats actually possible for anyone with the price of property in melbourne!!). So ridiculous

    Reply

    • Talon Windwalker
      June 28, 2013

      House prices up here in Ballarat are MUCH more reasonable. I was blown away by the prices in Sydney. Basically a shack goes for $600K in a meh neighborhood. My friend rents a townhome that was $800K when they bought it a while ago. Can’t even imagine what it would sell for now. Absolutely insane. Can’t blame you for renting!! While I know owning is a good investment, when you can afford it, I really like the freedom of renting so I can just up and go.

      We’ll actually be visiting Melbourne next week. Looking forward to it.

      Reply

  5. Adam @ SitDownDisco
    June 28, 2013

    Interesting comparison to the USA. I can see that for me living permanently in any Western country would also take me back into habitual norms and a pretty routine lifestyle. Don’t want it. But it is nice to visit these places every once in a while!

    Reply

    • Talon Windwalker
      June 28, 2013

      I wonder the same about Europe long term, but when we were there it felt very different for me. Australia feels and seems more like the US in many ways. I plan on spending more time in Paris next year as I want to see if I still enjoy it as much when I’m there for a longer period of time. I wonder if it will have a similar effect. I definitely have no desire to return to the old ways long term.

      Reply

  6. Sam
    June 28, 2013

    The thing about being able to understand EVERYTHING EVERYONE says without trying is really so weird. It hits me every time I’m in an English-speaking country. The other stuff, that all makes sense, but I’ve never really thought about it; interesting to read other people’s reverse culture shock experiences!

    Reply

    • Talon Windwalker
      June 28, 2013

      It never occurred to me either. I’ve met up with English speakers in the past and enjoyed being able to communicate more deeply, but to be surrounded by it everywhere was such a different experience. I kept feeling uncomfortable in restaurants and things and wasn’t sure what it was until it finally hit me that I could understand EVERYTHING, even the chatter happening in the kitchen. Before it was just all white noise to me. Really surprised me.

      Reply

  7. Alyson
    June 28, 2013

    It’s so expensive! One of the reasons we left, that, and being “over” kangaroos. Have fun, I’ll be interested to read how you go.

    Reply

    • Talon Windwalker
      June 28, 2013

      Very similar to US prices. Thankfully, the USD is stronger than the AUD right now so that’s helping a bit. Definitely a little tough going from $3 meals to only being able to buy a drink for that price. And I’m missing inexpensive booze!

      Reply

  8. Lis
    June 28, 2013

    Ouch $25 is bad even for Australia! You’ll find NZ a bit cheaper (but certainly not Asian prices!) I hear you about reverse cultural shock. I can recall walking down the street and noticing no one was staring at me – I was no longer the only blonde around!

    Reply

    • Talon Windwalker
      June 28, 2013

      That $25 breakfast was really pretty large, but still insanely priced to me. That isn’t the norm for sure.

      My son is especially loving that part of it. In Vietnam, he wore a Vietnamese conical hat, and they just couldn’t resist him. They have no sense of personal boundaries when it comes to touching you, and they were always hugging on him and pinching his cheeks and stuff. Here he just blends in with everyone else.

      Reply

  9. Natasha
    June 28, 2013

    It’s very interesting to note your level of comfort you had grown so used to and not know about it until now in Aussie. I loved the feeling of always knowing that my dollar was stretched a very long way in Thailand . When I came to France – looking at our grocery prices is a bit unnerving at times. I think you may have grown use to that wham in your face culture intensity that may be lacking in Aussie? I could be wrong. Europe is still very much different from Canada but should I visit a country similar to Canada – I may feel the same as you do . Lovely post Talon ! As usual you keep it real .

    Reply

    • Talon Windwalker
      June 28, 2013

      Parts of Asia are definitely much more “in your face” for sure. And they have a different concept of politeness. While almost always friendly and helpful, there are things like standing in a line, walking down the street, etc., that are considered very rude by Western standards. It took a bit to adjust to those, and now I’m having to adjust back. LOL

      Reply

  10. Donna McNicol
    June 28, 2013

    Guess who and what post got featured in my blog today? Fun read!

    Reply

    • Talon Windwalker
      June 28, 2013

      Cool, thanks!

      Reply

  11. Dyanne@TravelnLass
    June 28, 2013

    Glad you’re enjoying the differences (if not the breathtaking prices!) between Asia and Australia.

    As I spent a near month there in Oz not long ago – two of your initial observations especially struck a chord w/ me:

    “I hadn’t realized how blissful it actually was to be in a room where I didn’t understand the language.”

    Indeed, nearly 2 years here living amid a sea of Vietnamese gibberish – a surprisingly lovely and peaceful sea. When I arrived in Oz it was suddenly like I could hear every blessed conversation within miles around me – it was verily DEAFENING! I must say, I too rather enjoy my state of linguistic “bliss” here in Vietnam. 😉

    “We also don’t stick out like a sore thumb”

    Oh my goodness, YESSS! Speaking of “bliss” – the fact that I was suddenly no longer a gargantuan physical spectacle as I lummoxed down the streets of Sydney – was absolutely heavenly. It took me awhile to realize that… why NOBODY’S gawking and snickering at me! 😉

    Reply

    • Talon Windwalker
      June 28, 2013

      Deafening is a great description for it! I just had not realized how much peace I had by not being able to understand the language. Really surprised me.

      And it is SO nice to be able to walk down the street without being hassled!

      Reply

  12. Nicole @ Suitcase Stories
    June 27, 2013

    How interesting to hear about the culture shock of returning to the western world. And yes, Australia is super expensive. Even as an Aussie who is used to those prices, I look back now and wonder how I afforded the life I once had there. Nether the less, I hope you have a wonderful time there with lots of amazing experiences (well, hopefully they will be amazing with what they will cost you hehe)

    Reply

    • Talon Windwalker
      June 28, 2013

      On the flip side, the wages are good enough to make things livable it seems.

      Yes, am definitely enjoying Australia, though. Some really beautiful towns and cities, and the people have been so wonderfully friendly.

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top
mobile desktop