Reverse Culture Shock

Where to start?

It has been just over 2 months since I last wrote a blogpost and a month since I got back to the UK and so much has happened.

Before my inevitable return to the UK my final month in Asia was not without its adventures. I bathed myself in Japanese culture over the final few weeks, visiting temple festivals and taking part in shrine rituals. We even managed to hold a 30 person flat farewell party in our tiny little apartment. The last week went so fast and before we knew it, Liv and I were on our way to Singapore to embark on the ‘Grand South-East Asia Lilsa Adventure’. – Of course our farewell didn’t go as smoothly as we had hoped as I mistakenly left some chocolates behind and we had to repeat our good-byes.

We spent 2 days in Singapore, 4 days in Bali, 2 days on Gili Trawangan and 6 days in Cambodia before returning to Singapore.

Some highlights include:

The Future World exhibition in the Art Science Museum, Singapore.

Making silver jewellery in Ubud, amongst the rice fields. Befriending our dorm-mates and hiring a car and driver with them to take us around the waterfalls, rice paddies and temples outside of Ubud. Riding on the back of Mopeds through the Monkey Forest.

The crystal blue waters of the Gili Islands and a day exploring the tiny Gili Trawangan, resulting in over 20 compliments and comments on the colour of my hair, which was pink at the time – including ‘Hey there, Ice-cream hair!’.

Waking up at 4am to catch the sunrise at Angkor Wat. Travelling south on a Cambodian night bus to Sihanoukville, complete with chickens and screaming children. And Island hoping around the Thailand sea – swimming in bath-warm waters and sliding off the back of a boat to snorkel amongst purple coral and bright green fish.

Being welcomed back at Heathrow airport by my patient boyfriend and, as an added bonus, my best-friend (who had told me she was at work!).

All of this and more contributed to the perfect sign-off on my 5 month semester abroad.

Now that I am back in the UK, I have other things to think about, like furnishing mine and Jake’s new flat, finding a job and, embarking on my 3rd and final year at uni.

It feels like all of my adventures are a world away and yet I only got back yesterday. It’s such a strange sensation. I find myself continuously starting sentences with ‘When I was in Japan..’ or ‘When I was travelling..’ which must be getting on people’s nerves so I’ve tried to catch myself in the act and refrain. That’s why it has been great to stay in contact with the friends I made in Japan so that we can reminisce together.

The last 5 months have changed me for the better. I feel I have matured to a whole new level. I feel like Superwoman – I can do anything!