Reverse Culture Shock: A Fil-Am Comes Home to the Philippines

Everyone expects culture shock when you leave the Philippines. Fewer people talk about the shock of coming back. Rod Rodriguez left Davao as a kid and finished high school in the US. When he came back, it started at NAIA: airport staff smoking in the open, the noise, and a stranger who snapped his photo and tried to sell it back to him in a frame for $10. Then came UP Diliman, the UPCAT he walked out of, and his childhood house, which suddenly looked small. Doc Vince and Rod also get into a struggle every Fil-Am knows: switching between American English and Pinoy English depending on who’s listening. Chapters: 0:00 Is there culture shock coming home? 1:15 Coming back with your old barkada still there 2:01 Landing at the old NAIA 2:45 The guy who sold me my own photo for $10 3:32 First look at UP Diliman 4:33 Why the old house felt so small 5:12 Davao’s slow pace vs. Manila chaos 7:12 Walking out of the UPCAT 7:36 The part of me that’s still American 9:53 The accent problem: Fil-Am English vs. Pinoy English 10:36 Code-switching depending on who’s listening Tags: reverse culture shock, balikbayan, coming home Philippines, Fil-Am, Filipino American, UPCAT, UP Diliman, Ateneo, Davao vs Manila, Filipino accent, code switching, Travel Lounge Podcast, Doc Vince #Balikbayan #FilAm #ReverseCultureShockWalk the World. Experience the Moment. Experience the world through original, minimally edited travel footage, immersive walking tours, and authentic destination experiences. Explore smarter travel options: https://inside-the-lounge.com/smart-t... ABOUT THE TRAVEL LOUNGE Original walking tours, destination experiences, hotel and restaurant reviews, and practical travel tips. Subscribe for more authentic travel experiences. AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE Some links may be affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.