Acculturation

In thinking about "culture shock" recently I said this:

I guess I have had culture shock on two drastically different levels, being an MK/TCK and coming "home" to a different culture than I was used to, as well as now leaving the "family bubble" and meeting the big, bad, ugly world.

I think depending on how prepared you are for it, and how your outlook is, it can be a good thing.  For instance, leaving home I knew I was going to be shocked on multiple levels, so hearing people talk crassly about sex and use cuss words I expected and I can blush deep red and go on with life.  I am expecting all manner of horrible things to happen, because part of the "Bubble Curriculum" is informing children about how terrible everything outside the bubble is and how it would destroy anyone without a similar bubble *queue a handful of sad examples.

On the other hand, coming to the US was very difficult for me...  All I really knew about this place was that it was "different" and had cold winters.  I had been here for a couple months in 2002, but I had gone about it with the air of a visitor or tourist, never imagining that in two years I would be living here "forever."  It took me almost 3 years to adjust and get to the point where I was "ok with" (not comfortable, but not intensely afraid) going around, meeting people, and the general tone/atmosphere of the country.

I also noticed after I wrote it that I have been taking steps to deliberately acculturate myself.  Watching TV and popular movies, listening to pop music, and allowing people to do things around me that would normally be an affront to my standards. (Oh, and explain a lot of things to me.  Like what a certain word or gesture means....*hem)
It is a pretty embarrassing process.  And I keep trying to find a balance.  I don't mind being innocent of a lot of stuff that other people never got to not know.  But I don't want to be innocently stupid, either.


An update about reading the Message:
I am enjoying Romans.  I flipped through the OT, and wasn't too interested.  I tried the Gospels for a couple pages and could not stand it.  I don't talk that way.  I don't read that way.  I mean, I grew up reading Les Miserables and The Robe and The Count of Monte Cristo.  I decided not to force myself, so I went on.  Acts is over-read and I don't care to read about doctrinal/church issues, so I landed in Romans.  It is interesting, seeing it as a paragraph in a chapter.  The lack of verses I really like.  I am going slowly, and most people would probably say I should read daily, but I don't.  When I remember I do.

In other news, I almost have my GED.  It has taken me an absurd amount of time and effort jumping all hoops and time requirements and assigned times.  I don't know my scores, but the proctor sure got to know me!  I finished reading before she expected (15 minutes) and in writing the day before I finished first as well.  I purposely took a long time in math, because I didn't want to be the first one done.  I sat and thought and wrote out a ton on my scrap paper and once one person finished I reviewed my figures and finished up. I was the 3rd.  Today is the final leg of tests.
Everything is pretty easy.  I should totally pass..... should.....