Returning to the U.S. after living abroad felt strange—like I was experiencing culture shock in a place I’d called home for 35 years. Is that even possible? It was difficult to explain, but many things that used to be normal now seemed different. Here’s a glimpse into my experience of reverse culture shock.
Safety Concerns: After spending over 1.5 years in Portugal, one of the safest countries in the world, I felt nervous returning to the U.S. Safety was one of the main reasons we moved, and my anxiety had significantly decreased in Portugal. But returning to the U.S. brought some of that anxiety back. Although I felt relatively safe in my hometown of Las Vegas, NM, flying into Albuquerque was a different story. The need to be hyper-aware and cautious returned immediately. I even experienced an anxiety attack on the freeway—a place I had driven for 20 years. The traffic was overwhelming, with 4-5 lanes in each direction and cars speeding by. Thankfully, my mom was driving because I don’t think I could have managed it right after getting off the plane, especially after my difficult journey back. In Portugal, traffic is much calmer, so this was a shock to my system.
Driving Differences: Beyond the chaotic roads, driving itself felt strange. My mom’s car, a four-door sedan, seemed enormous compared to my Smart car in Portugal. It was nice to have power steering, cruise control, and cup holders again—features I wish my Smart car, “Bubbles,” had! Another oddity was the abundance of red lights and stop signs. I’m so used to roundabouts now that sitting at a red light felt bizarre.
Food Portions: I had forgotten how much smaller food portions were in Europe. Every time I went out to eat I was given giant portions of food. I don’t think I was ever able to finish a meal out, I had so many leftovers in the fridge every day
Shopping and Prices: I was excited to go shopping while I was home—there are certain stores I miss, like Target, T.J. Maxx, Ross, Walgreens, and even Walmart. I missed the convenience of getting everything in one place and aimlessly wandering around Marshalls. In Portugal, options are more limited, and life is simpler because of it. But as a recovering shopaholic, I enjoy browsing through options, so I indulged in several shopping trips. I even brought home a lot of things that I can’t find in Portugal—I’ll be writing a separate post about that soon.
One major shock was the price of things. I kept hearing about rising prices in the U.S., but seeing it in person was surprising. Everything was more expensive than when I left, especially the groceries. Our grocery trips cost significantly less than they used to, I can’t even imagine how much more we would be spending if we still lived there. (click here for a typical grocery trip in Tavira.) For example, wine in Portugal is very affordable because it’s local—you can get a decent bottle for €4. In Albuquerque, I paid over $20 for one bottle. Another downside was the amount of waste, especially the excessive packaging. The plastic bags at Walmart were another shock—the cashier put only 1 or 2 items in each bag, leading to a pile of unnecessary bags. In Portugal, most people use reusable bags, and stores rarely offer plastic bags. If you do want one, they charge a small fee, usually around 10 cents.
Health and Physical Differences: I’m still recovering from long COVID, and moving to Portugal has helped immensely. One major factor is the elevation—being at sea level makes my body feel better. My hometown is over 1,900 feet above sea level, and I struggled with that. Breathing was difficult, and I had to use my grandma’s oxygen a few times. I also felt extremely tired due to the altitude.
Another unexpected change was my taste buds. I was really looking forward to drinking ciders—New Mexico has some great ones. But I didn’t like many of them this time; they tasted different, and I’m not sure why. It was a bit disappointing, but on the bright side, I consumed fewer calories than I expected!
Overall, my trip back to the U.S. had many more positives than negatives. I loved spending time with my family, but I wanted to share the reality of my experience. I was surprised by how much had changed in such a short time. I imagine it would have been even more intense if I’d been away longer. Have you experienced reverse culture shock after moving out of the U.S.? I’d love to hear about your experiences!
Be sure to follow my Instagram for more about my trip back as well as my daily life in Portugal: @vegas.to.portugal. 💙
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