Reverse Culture Shock

Many people told me that upon landing in the US that we'd experience reverse culture shock. I can't say that it has been a "shock," but we have DEFINITELY noticed the MANY differences. For instance
Today during the church service, I had to reach a foot away from me to even touch Doug, where as in Costa Rica the chairs in our church were so close our shoulders always touched.
There is no garbage on the streets here.
There are no bars on the windows.
We don't have any keys. That one is weird. To have no keys means really no responsibility for anything. Very weird!
People actually greet each other on the street. I was litterally shocked that some lady wished us a Merry Christmas as she passed us on the side walk.
We drive a mile to WalMart, not walk. (Although Doug and I did walk the other day for "old" times sake.)
The houses are so much bigger here. Especially the bedrooms!
There is a mail system! In Costa Rica they don't have street names or addresses. For instance, we lived in San Franscisco of 2 rivers, in the bario of The Pacific, 450 meters east of the pharmacy in a house that was directly across from the Day Care Center Step by Step. Our house was salmon colored with white bars on the left hand side. Try writing that in a small space that asked for your address. Praise God there are addresses in Chile and a postal service!!!
We are gradually adjusting to the changes and know that this is all just one BIG transition. We hope and pray that wherever we are we will never take the little things for granted!
We are also VERY thankful this Christmas season that Christ was willing to experience "culture shock" by coming here to earth.
May God bless you and your families this holiday season!