I had been in Asia for 5 months but I don’t think I really experienced culture shock until Nepal. I loved it there, but to be actually living in a place that is so different from what I’m used to for a month was an experience to say the least!
Some of the major differences:
Meat– In Nepal it’s illegal to kill cows as they’re holy animals so you won’t find any Big Macs, but be sure to chow down on some buffalo burgers or more realistically buffalo momos, Nepal’s version of the dumpling.
Proof!: http://www.vagabondish.com/travel-activities-trouble-abroad/
Garbage– It’s everywhere. I’m not sure if their sanitation department is on strike (this is not sarcasm, strikes are a huge issue in Nepal) or if they just haven’t been able to control it with the expansion of the population, but there doesn’t seem to be any system in place for it. On the side of the streets it’s piled up everywhere and often the cows use it as their bed, seeing as cows are holy you’d think they’d at least get some grass to lie on!
Prices– Everyone knows that Asia is an affordable travel destination, especially compared to Europe, all you have to do is consult the Big Mac Index! However living in Nepal took affordable to a whole other level. When we finally got to Thailand, we actually found it expensive. I am literally afraid of ever travelling to France. Paying more than $1 for a fruit smoothie? No thank-you. In Nepal I could get an awesome curry, serving on naan and a soda in a BOTTLE for about $2. Yes, $2. And this was at a more upscale restaurant. I didn’t even go to the really small local joints (even though my stomach is quite hardy I’m not sure even I could have handled it after only 2 months) but there it’s even cheaper!
Electricity– This had never been a luxury for me before, rather something I always took for granted. Not anymore. In the dry season Nepal has rolling blackouts as they don’t have enough power to go around. When it’s 9 at night and the power goes off…you’re only real option is to go to bed. Even now my sleeping schedule hasn’t fully recovered, I’m still an early riser because I got so used to waking up at 5 a.m. after such early nights.
