Cultural Differences in the US and Abroad Essay Example

home country, I was proficient in Urdu and had some knowledge of English but lacked fluency. The new culture and education system in the U.S were overwhelming, making me feel like a beginner who couldn't hear or speak well. Dealing with the language barrier proved to be both challenging and unforgettable throughout my experience as an international student in America.

Before coming to the U.S., I lacked English speaking skills and had no experience conversing with native English speakers. Wearing traditional Pakistani clothing among my fellow students was uncomfortable due to the stark contrast between Muslim attire and American dress codes (Malik, pg. 182). These cultural aspects, particularly communication methods, have posed a challenge for me. Having lived in America for five months now despite being Korean by birth, one noticeable distinction between Korean and American cultures is that Americans do not ask direct questions as we do in our country.

In Pakistan, we typically ask direct questions with specific phrasing. I struggled to grasp and adapt to these different communication methods, which made it challenging for me to adjust quickly. Another issue I faced was the tipping system, which was unfamiliar to me in my country. Similar to Tang, I also had difficulty with the tipping system (Gardner, pg.).

39). In Pakistan, it is not customary to give tips after paying for a service. Our religious customs designate Friday as the holy day for worship and everything remains closed. This is different from the U.S.A, where Sunday is the designated worship day. Adapting to American culture was difficult for me.

As a Muslim, I faced the duty of praying five times daily. However, attending classes made

it challenging for me to fulfill this obligation as I had to skip them in order to pray (Malik, pg. 34). Living abroad had an impact on both my lifestyle and personality. It caused me to experience a sense of longing for reminders of my family and hometown in Pakistan. This feeling of homesickness often distracted me from my surroundings since I was separated from my loved ones while residing in a foreign country. Additionally, adapting to the customs and traditions of the United States proved to be a significant hurdle for me. Incorporating myself into another society and culture on a day-to-day basis posed as quite the challenge (Jong, pg.).

191). Finally, the other most critical effect was personal development as well as learning a new language

Work cited

1. Jong, E. (2009). Culture and economics. London: Routledge.
2. Malik, I. H. (2005). Culture and customs of Pakistan. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press. Gardner, P. S.

(2008). New directions: Reading, writing, and critical thinking. New York: Cambridge University Press.