I arrived in Shanghai in late August 2017 and was greeted with humid, hot and tropical temperatures, the likes of which I had never before experienced in the UK. I was working my first day as an English teacher in a Chinese public school. Feeling dehydrated and tired, I asked a colleague in my office where I could find the water fountain.

She kindly guided me out of the door and along the corridor toward a large machine, which she pointed out, signaling me to get a drink. As I pressed the button, I felt the warm water fill my bottle. Confused, I looked toward her and said "Sorry, I meant the cold water." She smiled, with a bemused expression and said "We only have hot water here." This was my first "culture shock" encounter.

Culture shock is a feeling of anxiety that results from being removed from your familiar surroundings when living in a foreign country. However, no one ever had mentioned to me the idea of "reverse culture shock." In my experience, the culture shock I experienced upon returning to the UK was just as profound as the one upon my arrival in China.

I moved to China at the age of 21, after graduating from university, and stayed there for three years. During my time in China, I interacted with and became accustomed to the rich cultures that run deep throughout the country. Returning to my home forced me to reevaluate cultural norms while adjusting to large changes, whether it be diet, language or transport, everything in the UK seemed "different."

Railways play a crucial role in China; the country has constructed over 146,000 km of railways, including nearly 40,000 km of high-speed train track, making for the longest train network on Earth. When traveling around China, I would always choose to travel by train if possible. On my journey from Shanghai to Xi'an in the northwest, I was fascinated by the vast spans of countryside and small farming villages that lay between the brightly-lit, densely populated cities. The cultural interactions on the train also provided me with a taste of what life was like outside China's major metropolises. The trains were always extremely punctual, leaving on time, automatic ticket barriers and QR code systems ensuring your journey would be easy and efficient.

This story leads up to my first encounter with the concept of "reverse culture shock." As I attempted to take a train for the first time in the UK, I was met with cancellations, delays and expensive rail fares. I was left feeling deflated, after one year in China, I had become accustomed to traveling via convenient and cheap public transport. I reflected on the railway development in China which helps link people and places, promotes economic growth and ultimately is accessible to the people who reside in such a large country.

Even in the remote rural villages of China, scanning a WeChat or Alipay QR code to pay for anything was nearly always possible and very commonplace. When visiting a local shop in the UK, I automatically reached for my phone—forgetting I cannot use mobile payment. I was forced to rush home and get my purse. Similarly, when eating out in restaurants in the UK, I not only had to adjust to the different tastes again, but I was surprised I ended up missing the spicy, fragrant and diverse flavors of Chinese cuisine.

It was fascinating to perceive my home through different eyes after years of living in China and wholly immersing myself in the culture. I learned that every culture has different aspects and while it is tempting to stay in your comfort zone, exposing yourself to new people and thoughts is vital for personal growth.

Even though I am currently based back in England, I now always drink warm water. Wherever I am. 

The author is a British citizen who previously lived in China

Copyedited by Elsbeth van Paridon

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