Reverse Culture Shock: Adding In + Taking Away

Reverse culture shock is setting in. The negotiation phase between Copenhagen culture and Vancouver culture is now taking place as I begin to add and subtract things into my life – re-inventing what is “normal” again. Some moments I love it, other times, not so much.

In Vancouver, I’m adding in:

• Friends. Holy wow. If there is one area of my life I feel abundant in right now its with the people I love. Beach days, seawall walks, movie nights, sweat dates, random catch ups, and “family dinners” are filling my calendar and I love it.
• Helmet laws. Grrrr.
• Sweaty gear. Always. I was reminded this past week that we take the whole “sweat once I day” thing seriously at lululemon. I’m adding in some CrossFit and Spinning into the workout regime this fall to keep me nice and sweaty. And boy do I sweat!
• A new Canadian phone number! After 8 years with the same number, 10 new digits are in my life. #feelsfresh

And I’m taking away:

• Well-dressed men (straight and homo alike). Great style has been forgone for blue jeans and a black v-neck to be the evening uniform.
• A scheduled life. In my MBA, our daily schedule was known (by the hour) months in advance. Now, I don’t know what I will be doing (or where I will be living) weeks down the road. It feels good to have that freedom and adventure back in my life again.
• Drinking in public. Dear Sommersby Cider on a beach – I miss you.
• Grains + Dairy + Processed Foods + Refined Sugar. As I start a 6-week Paleo challenge today, I am removing certain foods from my diet to see what effect they have on my body and on the relationship I have with food. I’m intrigued to see how it goes.

This addition and subtraction process is helping me reconstruct a life I love here in Vancouver. As I say, the more life changes, the easier change becomes. And this time, it’s feeling pretty good.

 
Pick of the Post: Lukas Graham – Drunk in the Morning

Related posts:

1. Abundant Gratitude
2. Finding My Cadence
3. Happiness Hangover