E41 Culture Shock Is Real: what surprised us about life abroad - Advanced level listening practice for English-language students

English and Beyond: Advanced English for Fluency & Communication

Have you ever experienced culture shock - that strange, unsettling feeling when you're suddenly living in a completely different country? 🌍 In this episode of English and Beyond, César and I share our real experiences of living abroad and how it affected them emotionally, practically… and even gastronomically.

🎧 I will tell you about moving to Spain, despite speaking the language and knowing the culture well - and still being surprised by how challenging it felt. Meanwhile, César reflects on reverse culture shock after returning to Spain from 10 years in the UK.

Together, we talk about:

• What really causes culture shock
• Why it’s not the same as going on holiday
• The unexpected emotions of moving “home” again
• Food, supermarkets and missing oat/old milk! 🥲
• The unique challenges of living in Germany, China, the US, and the UK
• BUREAUCRACY 😩 and why it might be the biggest shock of all

Whether you’re preparing to move country now or are just curious about what it’s really like, this episode will help you understand the emotional ups and downs of building a life somewhere new.

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