Things have been quiet around here lately, I know. But cut a sista some slack. Major life changes have been on the horizon, as you well know. One of which involved moving continents and shuttling myself fifteen time zones backward (yes, you read that right).
So I got here, in one piece, and my bursting-at-the-seams suitcases made it miraculous to Smalltown, USA without breaking open and spilling their contents. My plane ride from Seoul, Korea to Seattle, Washington was uneventful, except for being seated next to a large-bellied, middle-aged American man with a Texan-ish drawl who was a little too talkative for my liking. I mean, REALLY now, don’t you get that if I’m giving you monosyllabic answers and putting my headphones into my ears that I’m not interested in talking to you?!? This gentleman, nice as he was, kept on trying to talk to me, and while I don’t mind some good convo from time to time, I just wasn’t feeling it. He continued to persist until I pulled my book out and stopped responding to him. I didn’t want to do it.. But geez. Luckily, this happened at around the same time that the flight attendant was coming around with beverages and packets of honey-roasted peanuts (of which Mr. Texas had five)…
Anyhoo, the 9.5 hour flight passed without any real incident and I found myself in the U.S of A, horribly jet-lagged and not looking forward to being reunited with my 80+ pounds of luggage. After a harrowing moment at immigration in Seattle-Tacoma airport where I was mistakenly told that I couldn’t enter the country sans I-20 student visa (the immigration officer soon realized his error and I was free to go through), I went to the luggage carousel, spotted one of my suitcases, and promptly proceeded to pull a muscle in my back when trying to hoist it off of the conveyer (ouch). In terrible pain, I hunched like an old lady and went hobbling off about my business of catching my next flight, which would be to Spokane, WA.
It wasn’t until I started walking to the departure gate that it hit me. Hello reverse culture shock! Everybody was Western- there was nary an Asian face to be seen. Perfect English was being spoken all around me. Familiar fast food chains like Burger King and Popeye’s jarred my senses and made me straighten up my hunchback and take notice. My eyes quickly spotted my favourite chocolate bar (peanut butter Twix!!) and I snatched it up without hesitation, despite it being sold for an outrageous price (ummm… $1.50 USD for a freakin’ candy bar?! You gotta be joking).
I boarded the tiny plane to Spokane and precisely 46 minutes later we touched down. I picked up my heavy baggage for what would be the last time for a while and took a cab to my final destination, a podunk town of 10,000 called Cheney (pronounced Chee-ney).
What to say about Cheney. Well…*long sigh*… let’s just say that this town is farrrr from the glitz and glamour and fast-paced-ness of Hong Kong. This town is tiny, y’all. And it’s cold. I know that this is the Pacific northwest and all… But dang. Isn’t it the end of June already?! Why is the low here 48 degrees Farenheit? I have gone from sweating in Hong Kong to wearing 14 articles of clothing to bed here(because I was stupid enough to only bring little skirts and t-shirts thinking it would be way warmer).
Did I mention that I live in a residence hall and have to share a bathroom?! *shudder* I’ll tell more about that later.
Also, there is nothing. to. do. This is probably a good thing though, as I am already bogged down with school and assignments. I had 7.5 hours of class yesterday and 5.5 hours today. I have about four assignments due already, did a presentation for class today (whaaa?!), and will have to attend an all day seminar on Saturday (!). No rest for the wicked, huh?
So that’s the beginning of my American adventure in a nutshell. What’s been up with you guys? Anybody know this region and have recommendations of what I can do to make my stay more enjoyable?
52 Comments
Wow. I've heard reverse culture shock is even more, well, shocking, but I can't even imagine going from Hong Kong to a tiny town in the Pacific Northwest. Sounds like a good environment to hit the books, though. Good luck (bon courage!) with your new adventures. I'll look forward to hearing more. (You make your own fun in small towns, and sometimes that's kind of awesome).
Well, I don't know how far you are from the coast, but Seattle, Olympia and Bellingham are all pretty places to visit!! 🙂
Good luck with that reverse culture shock! I can only imagine it being even tougher, having lived in Hong Kong. Your story about the plane was funny. It's weird — I just don't understand WHY people would talk on a plane (but then I think about when I was a little girl and I used to make FRIENDS on the plane). So, go figure.
I get hit with reverse culture shock everytime the plane touches down in LA…and I only moved to Australia, can't imagine! enjoy the twix. IC brought me back some American lollies from his work trip. nom nom nom
Welcome to the U.S.! I wish I could say that I know something about the Pac NW. It's an area of the country that I've never seen. I've heard wonderful things about Seattle, and of course Vancouver is not too far away, if you are pining for Canada. I'm sure your schoolwork will be enough to keep you busy. 🙂
omg I've been away from home too long…peanut butter twix??? Gotta get me some in August!
I look forward to following you during your next adventure! (following as a friend and blogging buddy..not as in a creepy stalker way)
Yup, happenend to me too in MoBay. I was in Jamaica for about a month and one day I went into town with my mother and my aunt. It was when I saw 'them' that it hit me: a white couple (obviously tourists) going into the bank. I realized that I hadn't seen a white person in weeks! It was so weird.
Anyway, good luck with everything. Hope to see you in July.
Welcome to Washington State, glad to have you here. It's been a really cold spring and summer this year isn't looking any better. I'm in Seattle and it's been cold here, yesterday first day of summer it was 75 degrees but who knows with this place. If you'd like something a little more semi-fast paced because Seattle definitely is no Hong Kong but it's close enough to big city and diversity and certainly not podunk Cheney. Let me know but remember to bring your jacket, it's can get chilly in Western Washington. Good luck with school.
Well well well…why do I get the feeling that your reverse culture shock is going to be even more of an adventure than going to Hong Kong 🙂
But hey, little towns are good in their own way, don't knock small town life until you try it!
So I'm trying to help a sista out. Here is the link to 'things to do in Cheney, Wa'..http://attractions.uptake.com/washington/cheney/307999503.html
Now, the Anthopology museum sounds pretty interesting, but if you make it to Droop's Dawgs, I wanna hear all about it! LOL
Welcome [back?] to the States! lol @ at man on the plane. I'm going on a limb and say he's a Southerner, lol. I live down here all my life, and I can't even count the number of times that has happened to me. No matter where I am, random people would just chat me up, telling me their WHOLE life story. And no we [Southerners] can't take a hint lol.
Hey Onika,
Find fun places to hang out there in WA, like where they shot Twilight…tee hee. If you make I down South to GA email me and I will gladly host you:-) I have experienced reverse culture shock many a times and differences in times zones and jet lag…woooo! Good luck out here in the States gal:-)
@parisimperfect: Hit the books I shall! Have a great trip.
@Naomi: Thanks for the recs! I think I'm going to Seattle next weekend!
@Erika: You know! I guess they figure it's a long flight so they might as well get to know their neighbour…
@Deidre: LOL @ your 'nom nom nom'… My sentiments exactly!
@Terri: I am DEFINTIELY busy with schoolwork! It's actually making me feel a bit depressed lol.
@Crystal: You are far from creepy LOL… But thanks! I'm excited for your next adventure (and for our meetup)!
@Tanya: I can't even imagine what that must be like! My mom grew up in Jamaica and I asked her what it was like to be a minority, but she says that she can't remember LOL
@Flaming: Thanks for the info!! You are definitely the person to ask lol. The weather IS crazy here! Somebody told me that it's been known to snow in June in Western WA!
@tanya.lamere: Thank ya, darling!!! Don't know about Droops Dawgs, though LOL…
@Afromorena: He was a Southerner for sure, with his broad accent! You know what, though, I can't fault him for being nice… But I just wasn't in any mood to talk to anyone!
@TravellingNomad: Thanks for the invite!! I haven't been to Georgia in over 20 years (which I guess means I haven't really even been because I was too small to remember it)!!
What is your 3 week course in? It will pass soon…good luck!
Welcome to the eastern side of WA State homegirl! LOL. Spokane/Cheney is always 10 degrees cooler than the Tri-cities where my home is. It's also less diverse and uber Po-dunk. Count your blessings you are only there for three weeks. 🙂
Side note: My ex (Persian) went to Gonzaga law and sniffed out many of the cultural spots, good ethnic eateries, and chill spots in Spo-kompton during his time there. Let me know if you'd like suggestions.
@Patricia: I'm finishing up my M.Ed in French Education!
@joycey4: LOL at Spo-Compton! Is that a sign? Can you believe that I've been so bogged down with school work that I haven't even left the CAMPUS?!?! Sigh…
Wish I could say (and mean): "you poor thing". But I don't!. It's simply because, I'll be heading to Washington State next year, looking around to see if it's a place I'd like to eventually retire…..so am a bit jealous of you right now……
PS: Am reading your post assbackwards…….lol!
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