I have been back for about a little more than two months now and its been interesting adjusting back. When I first moved back home after my time in Korea, I had a pretty hard time adjusting back to life in the US, living with my family again, and just dealing with being in a limbo of undecided, joblessness with no real direction before I decided to go to Vietnam.
There was a grace period, a "honeymoon phase" if you will, of about 2 months where things were great! I was enjoying being back home and getting to see my family and eat all the food that I was not able to have while I was abroad (or have for cheap abroad). It was good while it lasted, but then by month 3, the glamour started fading away and I was feeling annoyed and put off with my surroundings. Things that, a few months earlier, I found comforting and entertaining, I was finding to be obnoxious; cars were unnecessarily big, food out in restaurants grossly overpriced, people back home were coming across so closed minded and selfish. I was finding it harder and harder to be excited and happy about being home. Luckily, it was around this 3 month mark that I decided to move to Vietnam a month later, so my last month in the US consisted of me excitedly (and a little nervously) getting ready to move abroad again.
This time around, things have not been as emotional and "honeymoon-esque". I really did not do what I had originally planned to do while I was in Vietnam, so did not have as much money coming home as I did when I came back from South Korea. This meant that I needed to find a job while I was home to start earning a wage to pay off student loans and credit card debt. Last time I came home, I basically was unemployed for 4 months, but not this time. It has only been about 6 weeks since I have been back home and I was able to get find a job to help pass the time while I am looking for more permanent work and figure out if I want to head back out in the world or try working domestically for once in my life.
I am living with my parents right now and that is working out well since I don't have to worry about rent or a car, since they let me drive their extra car when I need it, plus I don't have to pay for food. I don't have to worry about insurance until next year because I am still allowed on my parent's insurance through this year. Basically, I really have the chance to save money and not have to worry about any expenses until I need to get gas for until 2020! In an ideal world, I would not be spending money at all, but I am not going to lie to you all and myself by saying that. But it is a good chance to bulk up my nest egg some more before I do anything.
But in terms of reverse culture shock, there has no really been anything noteworthy about being back. I think a large part of that is that I am working 40 hours a week while also looking for another job. Basically, unlike last time, I don't really have the free time that I did before when I came back from Korea to really process and notice the changes. Rather I am just working and taking things in stride and not really focusing on anything that does not revolve around my job or looking for my next adventure. I'm sure that something will come up in the near future, but so far my transition back into life here at home has been pretty smooth. My only worry seems to be about saving up enough money to move out again and hearing back form job recruiters.
But in terms of reverse culture shock, there has no really been anything noteworthy about being back. I think a large part of that is that I am working 40 hours a week while also looking for another job. Basically, unlike last time, I don't really have the free time that I did before when I came back from Korea to really process and notice the changes. Rather I am just working and taking things in stride and not really focusing on anything that does not revolve around my job or looking for my next adventure. I'm sure that something will come up in the near future, but so far my transition back into life here at home has been pretty smooth. My only worry seems to be about saving up enough money to move out again and hearing back form job recruiters.
