Category Archives: Culture Shock

Fast = Good

Posted on March 26, 2014 by Andrea Voyer

Reestablishing the infrastrucure of everyday life is one of the most annoying things about moving. In my experience, it takes about a year in a place before you have settled in with friendships (if any), weekly routine, apartment layout, grocery … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture Shock, Musings, New York City | Leave a comment

Today I am THAT parent

Posted on September 19, 2013 by Andrea Voyer

Dear (Teachers), Thank you for the hard work you do teaching our child… An issue arose when she was working on the heritage assignment due Friday. I wanted to let you know about this issue so (child) is not penalized … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture Shock, Ex-Pat Parenting, Interculturalism, Multiculturalism, Musings, New York City, Parenting, Race, Schooling | Leave a comment

Privacy, New York Edition

Posted on August 6, 2013 by Andrea Voyer

I have written before about my belief that privacy is not a fact or a right but is, instead, a social convention established when we grant each other the opportunity to be not seen (that is, we don’t look) and, … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture Shock, Musings, New York City | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Stepping in it: preface to a risky post

Posted on March 27, 2013 by Andrea Voyer

A little over a year ago I was conducting my first research interview in Sweden. My research there focuses on the way that school principals mange the diversity of their student populations (most schools were at least 50% first or … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture Shock, In Guangzhou, In Sweden, In Vermont, Interculturalism, Musings, Sociology | 1 Comment

Newtown, Anytown USA

Posted on December 16, 2012 by Andrea Voyer

Twenty children and seven adults kids gunned down by a developmentally disabled kid who acquired access to his mom’s legally purchased assault weapons. He had hundreds of rounds on him so, in addition to acts of heroism on the part … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture Shock, In Vermont, Musings, Schooling | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Inside “Socialized” Medicine

Posted on October 12, 2012 by Andrea Voyer

Here’s how it works. All legal residents of the country have full access to the national health care system. Shortly after arrival newcomers like me are sent paperwork to fill out. They are asked for some of the details of … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture Shock, In Sweden, Musings | Tagged | Leave a comment

Primitive and exotic

Posted on July 7, 2012 by Andrea Voyer

Many people put significant effort into the cultural exchange in which our guests students are participating. In addition to the many host families who spend their time and resources caring for the students, by my count there are about 10 … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture Shock, Ex-Pat Parenting, In Vermont, Interculturalism | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Culture Shock: cultural exchange edition

Posted on July 6, 2012 by Andrea Voyer

For 2 weeks we are hosting 2 guest students from China. They are 13 and 15 years old. We did the same thing last summer and I swore that I wouldn’t do it again but then, right before I left … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture Shock, In Vermont, Interculturalism, Speaking and Learning Chinese | Leave a comment

You know you’re in Sweden when…

Posted on June 28, 2012 by Andrea Voyer

On June 28 you receive an automated email response that says the person will be out of the office until after August 6. *and, yes, I am not actually in Sweden, just emailing Sweden, but still…

Posted in Culture Shock, In Sweden | Tagged | Leave a comment

So emotional

Posted on May 22, 2012 by Andrea Voyer

I’ve noticed that folks here tend to be pretty even-keeled. There have been several instances in which I expected that folks to be disappointed or angry or resistant but instead they appeared indifferent. This was most striking when we moved … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture Shock, In Sweden | Tagged , | Leave a comment