Culture shock

I knew returning home would be a shock in some way. It's now been 48 hours, so I'm better understanding what culture shock means to me. It's a two-part shock, part culture, part lifestyle.

The culture part has been interesting. It took about 24 hours for my brain to go back to mostly English thinking (though I still switch back to Spanish sometimes). I was, at least yesterday, finding that I wanted to have on the Spanish radio and tv stations. And when I went grocery shopping I bought more Mexican food than any other cuisine. There was just something comforting about still being around Mexico. Hearing a song, or even just a certain note on a guitar or trumpet, could transport me back to the Plaza de las Armas; seeing a package of Gamesas at Walmart could take me to a walk along Zarzamora. Beyond that, I just found things that I really enjoy that I want to incorporate into life here (two words: aguas frescas). I even made guacamole for a Memorial Day barbecue last night, putting in what I had learned I liked (Mexican cooking lesson #1- lime juice makes everything better) and what I don't (my host mother's recipe was just peculiar). It'll be interesting to see what stays in my life and what fades, just as my memories start to fade.

Lifestyle was easy yesterday, but is harder today. Of course, yesterday I was with family and friends, while today the pressures of grad school are back. I am trying to keep the person that I was in Mexico with me here, trying so hard. And today hasn't been a bad day by any means. I've just had to work hard. It's reality. And after three weeks of being away from it all, it's not easy. Not that Mexico was a vacation, because I definitely had my trying times there too. But the crash down from the highs to where I am now is frustrating, and I have to figure out how to do what I have to do in the USA while being the happy, fun, calm, content person I finally found in Mexico. I will have to really work at it, I think. It's all about priorities...