When government can print currency for fun, people pay with higher prices at the check out. Wages fall behind and tips are requested. The government is the only one having fun.

If you go to the major cities like L.A. or San Francisco, you see a lot of homeless people living in tents in the streets. Surely it’s quiet and looks peaceful, but be aware, mass shootings occur almost weekly anywhere in America. Police cars chasing criminals, road rage and drive-by shootings happens regularly.

If there is so much noise in a city it means that the economy is vibrant

I live in a high elevation (0.5km above sea level) provincial city. It's quiet and peaceful. There are good grocery and hardware stores, plenty of fresh markets, and absolutely beautiful weather (no typhoons). ATM fees are about a quarter unless you use an international bank. I can get to a mall in a bigger city in about 20-30 minutes. Organic vegetables and grass fed meats are plentiful. I never want to go back to the states. I don't get many cold weather vegetables, but I don't miss them. My US dollars exchange rate is way up here lately, so it's an advantage for Americans.

I am a Canadian expat married to a Filipina and living in Cebu in the provinces. I have been permanently residing here now for 4 years. I can imagine being back in Canada right now, especially that everything there went through the "COVID" thing. Many shocks you mentioned and more would probably overwhelm me, especially the inflation!

The lack of street life in America compared to SE Asia is the first thing one notices. While just about any street in an urban area of SE Asia will be bustling almost 24/7, even downtown and "busy" neighborhood shopping streets in America will seem deserted by comparison. I almost think to myself "Where is everybody...does anyone live or work here?"

Sharing everyone of Jesus Christ, He is coming back. We are spiritually saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ our Lord God and Savior .

my first trip to the Philippines was just 10 days, I'm not even home here in Canada yet still at an airport and I'm suffering culture shock. no warm or friendly people and everyone thinks they are a Kardashian. everyone is looking inward not outward.

tipping is out-of-hand.... self serve places now turn the display around when you order expecting tips. You get no service and self clean your area after. I am a generous tipper when I sit down and are served, but the expectations now are mind-blowing for doing absolutely nothing other than taking my order

The tip culture has gotten completely out of control here. Essentially it's businesses trying to underpay their workers and shift the burden that should be theirs, to the customers instead.

My mother recently visited from the UK and was shocked by how cheap day to day living is here in the Philippines. She compared a few items, & the UK was upto 150% more expensive on standard groceries!

Hey guys thanks for watching. The card about Inflation was misspelled by my editor and uploaded to the channel before I had a chance to watch. I caught it but decided to just let it go live with the mistake rather than take a day to change extract and reupload it. Saw a couple of others, but that is life on the road no time to review ahead of time.

Reverse culture shock is very real. I've always suffered it coming back from China or the Philippines to Australia. I used to live in China for long periods on and off. I think the main point about reverse culture shock is where you really prefer to be. Last November, when I returned back to Australia from the Philippines after 27 days there, it took me a month to get over the shock of being back in Australia, and I probably don't ever get over the shock of returning because I prefer the Philippines and Asia in general.

I retired in the Philippines just over a year ago. I will be going home to Texas, the DFW area, in October to see siblings, kids, and grandkids. They are all adults now. I’m really not looking forward to it because I will be around some of the reasons why I left in the first place. It will be nice to see family, but for most of the last 25 years I have always lived out of state and only saw them 1 or 2 times a year anyway. I try to keep up with what is going on in the US. I’m actually glad I left. Thank you for all the content you present. Keep up the good work.

The noise depends on where you live in tue Philippines.If you live in posh subdivisions.the homeowners associations prohibits noise like honking and even tricycles coming in and if they use karaoke they have to make sure that their houses are siund proof and won't disturb their neighbora.

Philippines has endless noise from Roosters crowing, dogs barking, music at maximum volumn and litter despite garbage cans inches away. 😊 If I moved back to the states I would have to get a full time job. Living retired in the Philippines my pension lasts All month with a few $$ going to savings. In the USA my pension would last 1 day.

For what I watched from other vloggers in the US most of the states had plenty of homeless people living in the sidewalk

My wife's first time in the states she was asking where all the people were and couldn't believe how clean everything was.

Discipline is our biggest struggle in the Philippines.

I just vacationed for only three weeks in Dauin and that was enough to experience a bit of reverse culture shock when I got back!😂 returning to mostly cars all neatly lined up in their lanes instead of trikes and motorbikes going every which way and constantly moving at 25-30mph, here you drive 50 miles an hour stop at a red light for 5 minutes and repeat. it seems like you cover the same distance either way. and since I’m from northern Indiana when I got back it was freezing even though the days are longer. several other things struck me but it was funny how quickly you adapt to the casual Philippine lifestyle.

My Filipina wife misses 3 things about the US. 1. The food, how much variety and quality there is in the US. 2. How quite it is in the US. You can walk on the sidewalk and not hear jeepneys and tricycles. 3. How good service is in the US. Going to a US supermarket, fast food or restaurant is such a good experience.

I'm from Philippines and i came from Dumaguete area, if you live in the city, there's a lot of noise. Our place in Dumaguete is closed to the beach we can hear barking dog but most is the wave of the ocean. If me and my Daughter is in Manila, i live in rizal areas in the mountain. By 9 no jeepneys well passed. Only few tricycles. Less noise pollution 😂 more tress a bit cool. But me and my Daughter here now in the US since 2021 because of the pandemic. Just saying

The biggest shock is when you return to the west. You'll understand more about the miserable behaviour of the neighbourhood 😊

Your so right about the ear hustling thing. I spent 6 months on vacation with my wife in the Philippines and when we got back I could not help but hear everyone's conversations. It was maddening to have my own thoughts invaded while trying to get things done with constant talking by people I did not even know.

Welcome back to the U.S., Dr. Laway! You will get over your culture shock in no time.

USA really is a nice and clean place. At least parts of it haha. I really do love it but getting so expensive

Woow!! This is the 1st time i've read about Reverse Culture Shock!! GLAD I HAVE THIS CHANNEL!!❤❤❤❤ Love from the Philippines

Well of course its different why? becoz Philippines is another different country, every time we go to a different place or country always bare in mind program yourself that things are not the same the way you used to back home, in that way culture shock will be lessen..... god bless

The P.I. are so beautiful it's heartbreaking to see all the trash. When I stayed there I recycled about everything but had to dig a very deep hole to bury the rest as I refused to burn it like many locals will.(mostly plastic) as there is no trash pick up where I stayed. I would also gather all the trash along the road leading to the house but would have to do that at least once a week as they throw every thing on the ground. I guess locals take for granted the beauty of the place while an outsider like me sees it differently.

Have you been to Seattle, parts of CA recently? It’s worse than the Philippines. 😢

yes, it's not so noisy and it's clean indeed (most of the time) in the US, with a few exceptions if you go in the ghetto or the wrong side of the tracks... I lived in Memphis - and I loved it - and there too are such areas, same as any other big city NYC, L.A. Chicago, Detroit, San Fran, Dallas, Houston, Phoenix, Atlanta, or any other metro area... that's my main concern for moving to the PH, in Davao initially, the noise pollution, the garbage situation, and the slow, very slow service, with long waiting lines everywhere you go... this is a quality of life that often in the states we take it for granted... but we pay heavily for it... about inflation, I'm living in the states, and me too I'm stunned, shocked... housing, the rents are double, utilities, groceries, gas, everything virtually is more expensive... hence homelessness is more and more a problem, and we all are just a few paychecks away from becoming homeless... and indeed, salaries are the same, no one increased the salaries, except maybe for the fast food industry, and they still can't keep the kids working there... while there are millions of immigrants, able and willing to work, but are not allowed to work due to their "undocumented" status... while the social security system will collapse soon because there is not enough input, to support the payments they need to make, often to white trailer park trash people, able but unwilling to work, complaining about the government that sends them a check... which is why I will move to the PH despite my concerns... my girl is waiting for me in Davao

When it comes to litter, it depends where you are. There's lots of trash here in New York. I live in Brooklyn and there's lots of garbage everywhere. Take a subway ride here and you'll definitely understand what I'm talking about. It also smells like weed almost anywhere. The trains also smell like urine especially if it becomes a sleeping area for the homeless.

Yes Sir, you are precisely right. Being poor is not an excuse to maintaining cleanliness and orderliness. It is a matter of awareness of the environment and love of country.

We expect to go through culture shock also. When we return from the Philippines in September, we would have spent 11 1/2 months over there. We will visit relatives and take care of our home before we travel back to the Philippines.

If you go to the high end urban areas in Metro Manila, you hardly see trash.

I go to The Philippines a lot, I am Australian, although you made me chuckle a bit because what you say is pretty true, there is some missing bits, come to Australia and you will see critters, not litter, not tips, no atm fees. And the cost of items in The Philippines is expensive , especially cars and electric items. Where bouts in the Philippines are you staying? If you haven't visited Mindoro, it's not too bad. OK happy travels.

So true, I didn’t even know it’s reverse culture shock what I experienced, went to Philippines for 2 months, when I came back it’s was so weird that there were very few people in my neighborhood no matter what the time of the day, took me like a week to get used to it. Where I stayed in the Philippines is as soon you get into the streets just so many people and lots of cars, so a live

Gone for two years and he's culture shocked? I've been away from America for ten consecutive years now. I probably wouldn't recognize it anymore. It's been so long that the thirty years I spent living in America feels like a distant dream.

I was fortunate to have worked in the US for a few years. It’s a very beautiful country, I mean just the area where you are now, to me is very very relaxing. Then you have brooks or whatever those small bodies of water are called (I like lakes too but I love the sound of running water).. very very beautiful. I’m not a fan of snow though, but spring, fall.. so so beautiful

I was laying in bed with my wife when she arrived here in the USA she said "I can't sleep it is too quiet"

Enjoyed it because I know when and if I decide to retire there. There will be a few things I'll miss.

If you want peaceful communities, try the gated, exclusive villages in South Luzon. Rent in some areas range from US $400-700 a month

I had lived in the Philippines for 3 years and came back to the U.S. a couple months before the covid ordeal struck and I definitely experienced the reverse culture shock. Along with the overall change in understanding the language, it was the change in the noise levels. Over there, I was living out in the province and there were roosters crowing constantly and dogs barking, with the ever present flow of scooters and motorcycles and the beeping of horns. One big shock that took me a while to readjust to was driving here in the U.S. There, you make your own lanes, drive at whatever speeds you need to and of course, the chaotic flows of overcrowded roads and intersections. For some time, I found myself almost passing slower traffic in lanes that I should not be in and would likely go to jail in doing so! I think the biggest thing I found was that of actually feeling like a stranger in a strange land, even in my old homeplace that I had spent most of my life in. Yes sir....reverse culture shock is a big time real thing!

Just returned to Texas after 6 months. Biggest shock to me was cost of grocery. Crazy increase in cost in only half year. 2nd biggest of course was driving. No people in the middle of the street.. stop signs, lights, and traffic police. Wow!! complete open roads and no traffic.

My sister gives me regular updates on the costs of things. I don't complain about the price of my ground coffee at S&R anymore. I'm not sure where I'd start if I had to go back. I'm sure the condition of the roads aren't the only difference. Traffic has to lighter and more orderly.The background looks familiar, is that Panther Creek State Park? Stay safe.

Yeah that English thing was something I never knew would be so strong when coming back into Australia from being in Thailand. Even with the extra noise in a place like Bangkok. You can tune out and concentrate on your own thoughts. But back in Australia. You hear everyone's conversations, the quiet streets is actually scary when you first notice it. Couple times I felt like I was in post apocalyptic world back in Australia. They animal thing. Is two ways. Back in Australia you go, "where are all the dogs and cats" oh inside houses and as for wildlife. Thailand has quite a few wild things in the street, as in Australia. In a city like Bangkok you get used to seeing giant lizards and the odd snake compared to Australia in the city it's rare. But in Australian cities you see more birds as there is more parks and trees in cities. But what I noticed more of Asian cities are hawks etc. Especially in Hong Kong

Hi Dr. Laway. If u experience cultural shocks and reverse cultural shocks, feel good because you are normal. Specially USA vs. PI

#CultureShock🤔😄 Sometimes better when you can 'tune-it-out', and just be you in any culture. The language is in the common humanity that you care about people, if only a smile. Hard to find in the US, and everywhere in the Philippines☺

Great video!

Great vid

good video👍

Your home town is like a dream land for me, so much cleanliness, so quiet, surrounded by nature plus the services are excellent. If I were you I will never again leave that beautiful place. Sadly I'm stock here in the Philippines, can't do much to change it, I was born and raised here. Lucky me.

I found it very interesting. I live in Bangkok Thailand for the past five years and will be traveling back to the Usa to see if my folks in California. They also live in a rural area.. I think I’m in for a bit of cultural shock myself. Btw.. do you want to see spotless, travel to Tokyo, Wow!!! 👍Thanks for the video. 👍

One that blew my mind was looking around and realizing I was surrounded by people who looked like me -- but I could no longer identify with them. I also learned that the reverse culture shock you experience during a visit is but a mild version of what will hit you when you commit to living there again.

You were very fortunate. ATM fees have been around as long as I can remember ATMs. Out of your bank there’s a charge. It’s been going up over the years as well, no surprise there. You bank at B of A, Wells Fargo, etc then use their ATM and no charge. 1996 is when they got greedy. Multiply a $3.00 service fee by a few million transactions a day CaChing $$$

Yeah, lots of restaurants try to get you to pay the tip up front. Before you've even received or tasted the food. Since the tip is for timely service, well prepared food, a clean table, and good service by the waiter / waitress., I always choose no tip. Then, If a tip is deserved, I will go back up and give one after the meal. Everyone needs to tell them how unprofessional it it to ask for a tip up front. I usually do.

Thanks for the thoughts on your return home !

In life there's just pros and cons. All we have to do or choose is wc one is the better option.

I've forgotten how things are in states, I left to Asia in 2012, and haven't been back, I am a chiropractor working in the Philippines. I hear how expensive things have gotten, its sad...Don't miss being there with the way inflation has hit.

enjoyed the video. i was expecting this to be a social decay culture shock

I haven't seen doubling here in NC. I'm starting to see some sales again, gas seems a bit stable, lumber fell back. It's mixed. Strategic shopping helps.

Everything changes😊

Beautiful looking nature there Dr Laway. What state are you filming?

Good bye, doc Laway! Take care!

Funny, these sounds actually makes me feel peaceful. 😅 If I go up in the mountains and don't hear people talking, 99% I am freaking out 🤣 Mas takot kame sa aswang kaysa sa tao. 😂😂

I can definitely identify with the language one... I had been living in Ukraine for a while and when I returned to UK I had a weird experience in London Airport. There was an announcement on the Tannoy, and I was asking myself, I wonder what language that is? Then it hit me hard: it was English! I didn't recognise my own language! I had become so used to hearing only Russian or Ukrainian. I hadn't even realised that when you begin using a foreign language for long enough, you even begin to think in that language and not your own language. It's five years since I returned from Odessa and I still catch myself sometimes thinking in Russian...

You have to visit Cities in California and Oregon to see how nice and clean places are

About the noise, I agree with that (I’m a local)..but, there are places where it’s not an issue, my home for example, I don’t hear any rooster. There are dogs but they are inside their home. Some may be uut but they don’t really venture out that much. Karaoke.. not in our vicinity. Depends on where you are I guess, but I imagine it is true for a lot of places

Yes discipline is one of the biggest challenge her in the Philippines

How can I reach you? I think you are near my town in the U.S. I moved to the Philippines a little over a year ago. We live on Samal Island now. I would love to speak with a fellow Tennessean. Thanks

Mass shootings, theft, etc. it’s unbelievable!!! It’s a good thing I live in a decent location.

The Philippines is an overpopulated Country! It’s a total opposite from the US, in so many ways... culture and so many aspects in life! Very much appreciated that you have a liking in staying in the Philippines😍

I'm back to U SA after 42 days in the Philippines. I noticed how quiet it is here.

I'm an American born Filipino and the cultural shock visiting the Philippines was that I was now surrounded by people that looked like me or rather I looked like them! Honestly, I've always felt like a second class citizen either here in my home country of the United States or when visiting the Philippines as I am told that I do not know what it is to be a "real" Filipino. My experiences though are what I have grown up to mildly accept. The only place I really felt accepted most was actually in the military. Love watching your videos...Aloha!

Regarding tipping: It has changed; I think it's in response to the low wages some people are making in the service industry especially considering recent inflation. I don't think anything of throwing on a 25% tip or even a little more if the service was exceptional. Some friends of mine will even tip more...

I can relate with unintentional eavesdropping hehe

The Federal Reserves answer right now to inflation (might be a new dynamic now because of the prevalence of telework) is to raise interests rates. This hammers young people and people on the margins. Firms are not increasing their wages like you said, instead I think just more people are turning to debt to keep up unfortunately.

Everything doubled in price but we've only got 10% annual inflation according to the government. How they figure inflation is purely about the banks interests and not ours. Actual inflation is many times more then they claim

I’m on A bus leaving dumageta as we speak time to go back to Las Vegas 😢

Yes, parks are clean in the US, because there’s no people outside.

Had to come back to the US for a short stay. Was on the plane and had to listen to a fellow American on his cell phone talking to a co-worker. I had to listen to the whole bloody conversation for 10 minutes. So annoying! I had no way to tune him out! Why do my fellow Americans have to be so dam loud on their phones??

Felt it after 3 1/2 years in (then West) Germany in the Army, then transferred to Ft Ord, California. Going from Germany with it's pricing...to California and IT's pricing...was frightening. As for hearting the English around you...situational awareness. You've been subconciously seeking people you could converse with. Your brain began to passively (passive sonar), listen for your native language. As for wages...Tennessee is one of 5 states with no state min wage; so the min wage there is $7.25/hr in 2023, same as it was in 2009.

I thought your comments about the out of control tipping were revealing. I just ignore it except restaurants and traditional items like a transport driver or an Uber. When Starbucks is looking for a tip on the now $6 cup of coffee not going to happen. In the Philippines I always look on my receipt to see if there is already a service fee and if not I tip 10* Maybe I’m being cheap but I work hard for my money and am not handing out as a welfare provider

im from siquijor province have a nice day

Recognize these things all too well. To me it is always more of a culture shock to come home to Europe than too arrive in Asia or south America or even Africa. Nice video. By the way, I have a diagnosis now. Tropical sprue. It mimics celiac a lot. So I am nack on gluten again! And travel will be like before :-) :-)

A couple of things The tip thing has been a thing for at least 5 years in the Joplin Missouri area. In the Philippines, the only critters I seen were stray dogs 😢 and Farrell cats. I see lots of coon, fox, coyotes, deer, squirrel etc every day. After only 5 weeks in the Philippines I noticed the English conversations when I came back to the US. Love your channel and the content.

Prisoners have not been cleaning most of the roadways since about 2012. The tipping suggestions on Point of Sale, really started to pop up in 2021. TIP nothing. The workers do not get it.

My biggest reverse culture shock returning home from the PH... As soon as I planted foot in the US airport, it seemed all about me, me, me. As they say... It's more fun in the Philippines!

Hello again Dr Laway, I really enjoy listening and watching you. Where are you in Tennessee? I’m from Nashville. What’s the name of the that camping area you are now. Reason I’m asking, cause I love camping.

Yes

The emptiness of the streets feels sad aND STRange to me in the us

Most retired U.S employee live in Asia why it's because everything is cheap and it's more fun in here your pension last for many years if you spent it wisely but in Europe or America bro your money will not last for a year😂

ATM fees are normal if you're not pulling money out of your bank's ATM. Some banks will refund you the fees at the end of the month but if you don't have one of those banks, then yes, you'll be paying for the fees. Yeah, they expect to be tipped everywhere. I'm waiting for the day where cashiers at grocery stores and department stores have a tip jar out.

Go to Philadelphia, New York etc… depends on the US your at.. still lots of garbage and homeless…so sad

My first visit to the Philippines I noted, they have pretty much the same lines and markings on the roads that we have in the US. But in the philippines, no one pays any attention to them. They're just for decoration.

Home is where your heart is. USA is imperfect but it's the only home you've got.

Welcome back to the States!! What part of Tennessee? I am from Georgia.

Visited there in Oregon at the height of crazy inflation. I couldnt afford anything!

At times, I experience sadness when there is an excess of silence. I spent some time living in the United States but grew up in the Philippines. ahahaha

1:36 hahaha “ya’ll” like you never left TN