**** Culture Shock ****

Culture Shock, I get it every time I come back to the US and when I go back to the UAE.

and so my famous LISTS:

1. First Shock: Why are people staring at me, and then give me a smile? weirrrd.
2. Traveling domestically is a pain in the @$$!! The service is horrible too :/
3. I ran into a girl I knew in grade school at the airport, that is just soo random. I haven't seen her in years, and what is she doing way across the US?
4. People talk slowly when they first see me,and I give them a big smile and talk super fast. ;)
5. The speed limits are so low and people just drive so slowly, It drives me crazy.
6. COPS ARE EVERYWHERE, WATCHING YOUR EVERY MOVE.
7. You actually have to come to a complete stop at stop signs. YES COMPLETE STOP. or else you'll get a huge ticket fine, I mean HUGE $$$$$$$.
8. Around town, people will wave at you. They don;t know you, they are just being friendly. I always have to remind myself to wave back instead of wondering if I know them.
9. You get major discounts for being a college student, even if you are studying overseas.
10. A drunk man asking the waiter to read the menu for him because he can't read. I actually started laughing.
11. In the bible belt of America, homosexuals actually proclaim they are homosexual. THATS A HUGE CHANGE.
12. Renting a movie is so cheap (compared to the UAE).
13. GAS IS SOOO EXPENSIVE. People are about to sell an arm or a leg. Last summer the prices were $1.60, now its $2.60. I remember one summer, about 7 years ago the price of gas was $0.60. NO JOKE.
14. Super markets are so strange to me. I haven't grocery shopped for my parents in the longest time. There is just too much variety.
15. Electronic Stores don't have the latest electronics. haha.
16. Sex is always the topic on American TV.
17. Gossip Magazines are everywhere, and they follow the same people around everywhere. GET A LIFE.
18. I ran away from a thunderstorm yesterday. Literally, I saw black clouds approaching and lightning.I was at the neighborhood basketball courts. I was running at full speed, I was about 15 minutes away from the house. Right when I entered the house, I heard the loudest crackle of lightening and thunder!!!
19. Little kids here are so social and talkative!! (Mashallah).
20. And the last culture shock is that Food is everywhere here, you cant escape from it, its just too damn good. I didn't think I could hold down all that junk food. My friends were shocked that someone that tiny could eat that much, and not throw it up later!! ;)