165 - Chats with Shana: Culture Shock in the U.S. (Everyday Life)
May 18, 2024
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Topics covered in this podcast include culture shock in the U.S., differences in everyday life like eggs, air conditioning, driving, beauty standards, flags, portion sizes, and controversial U.S. bathroom stall designs. The host encourages listeners to share their own experiences with culture shock in the U.S.
Cultural differences in egg storage highlight food safety practices and regulations across countries.
US driving infrastructure reflects intentional design for easy navigation, showing contrasts with other countries like Brazil.
Deep dives
Cultural Reflection Through Everyday Life in Brazil
Living in Brazil leads to reflections on cultural differences, such as coffee portion sizes and social interactions. The significance of small details, like the size of coffee cups, prompts self-reflection on cultural norms and personal preferences, showing how daily routines can shape one's perspective. Interactions with locals in Brazil highlight differences in warmth and energy levels, prompting comparisons with cultural norms in the United States.
Cultural Variances in Food Safety Practices
The cultural variance in storing eggs reflects differing food safety practices across countries, such as refrigeration norms. While the US emphasizes refrigeration due to washed eggs, countries like Brazil maintain eggs outside the fridge due to a natural protective coating. Understanding these practices sheds light on the impact of differing food regulations and traditions on daily life.
Driving Cultures and Infrastructure in the US and Abroad
The historical context of US infrastructure development and driving culture underlines deliberate design for easy navigation and minimal distractions. Contrasting driving experiences in the US and Brazil reveal organizational differences in road layouts, infrastructure, and traffic behaviors, influencing perceptions of driving competence and safety between the two countries.
In this Chats with Shana episode, I'm going to reflect on various aspects of US culture. Although I talk about culture all the time on here, it's not often we talk about some basic things, like everyday life things that can cause culture shock. The truth is, I don't often think about the topics I'm going to discuss today; they're pretty random! We'll cover eggs, air conditioning, driving, beauty, flags, portion sizes and the one thing nobody can stand: U.S. bathroom stalls.
We all form our own opinions based off of our own experiences in life. This episode is full of opinions and thoughts, but I'd love if it weren't a one-sided conversation. Did you experience culture shock in the U.S.? Please share your thoughts on what you find strange or different in the United States! I'd love to hear from you. :)
Disclaimer: My third point in the audio WILL make some of you angry, I can feel it already. Please don't hate me, though! I like you soo much. Just think of the points I made here as conversation starters for your next English class; sometimes more controversial ideas lead to more in-depth language practice! :)
Premium Content for this episode is available with both of these:
Season 4 (Episodes 150 - 200) = Each episode includes a quiz, the PDF transcript (the text of the audio) with definitions of challenging words and the mp3 file.