A New Jersey man who has spent the past decade exploring the world, visiting over 30 countries before settling in Brazil nearly a year and a half ago, has shared the culture shocks he found when returning to the U.S.
In a thread on X with millions of views, Peter Worth, 31, shared the 13 things that stuck out when he went back to the U.S.
Worth explained that his experiences, and his relationship with his Brazilian girlfriend, have reshaped his understanding of the everyday norms in the U.S.
“Having a girlfriend from a different country makes your eyes open up to seemingly obvious things,” Worth told Newsweek. He recounted watching football when there was a deluge of pharmaceutical advertisements on TV. “To which my girlfriend replied, ‘Is this normal in your country?’” he said, noting how commonplace quirks of U.S. culture stand out in contrast to his current surroundings.
Among the notable so-called “American oddities” Worth noticed were frequent pharmaceutical advertising, expensive food, car dependency and the surprise of the sales tax.
It wasn’t all negative though, Worth acknowledged that some conveniences of American life are hard to replace. “I miss having gas stations full of protein and energy drinks—that was instantly recognized,” he said.
Still, his time in Brazil has encouraged a simpler, more grounded lifestyle. “Living on the beach in Brazil, life is a lot more simple,” Worth said. “In the States, I’d eat out every day, drive to the gym, sit in traffic… There was a lot of time wasted on things I didn’t really need. Where I live now, I walk to everything and cook at home. I’m a lot less distracted and don’t try to keep up with the Joneses, so to speak.”
Despite enjoying his life abroad, Worth plans to return to the U.S. in the near future. “Honestly, I’ll probably move back in a few years,” he said.
“I think things are so good nowadays that we tend to hyperfocus on the bad things. It’s fun to poke at the bizarre things—like bathroom stall gaps—but all in all, I miss the country, the landscape, and the incredible opportunities the U.S. offers. It’ll always be home to me.”
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