Do you EVER stop comparing?

I've spent enough time here now to really notice some of the smaller differences between cultures.. What bothers me, is that I still tend to compare everything to how it's done in America.  The pronunciation of words, foods, humor, price, clothing, holidays, adverts, everything.  Do you ever get to the point where you just simply stop doing this?  Sort of like converting money.. after a while it fades.. does this as well?  And if so.. when?  Because I'm sick of feeling like one country or the other is doing something wrong or backwards.  Can't I just separate the two in my head and think, "right.. that's how it's done, that's the end of it".. instead of.. "that's weird that it's done this way here, because in America...." or vice versa    When will the madness end 

Yep, it goes away eventually.  I don't really know when it went away for me....maybe a few months after getting here, but it did fade off.  Every now and then something comes up that I think is completely foreign to the way I'm used to it, but it's pretty rare now and when it does happen it's just, "Eh", shrug the shoulders and deal.

It will darlin'! Just hang in there! I've been here 4 years and still have a few things that aggravate me but I just have a moan either on here or with the DF and carry on!

The constant comparisons are normal but they will fade with time!

i am so glad that i am not the only one who keep comparing things all the time....my boyfriend knows it by now...i always starts with "in the States, we do it....". I feel bad sometimes but i just can't help it!!

I've been here nearly six years and yes, whilst some of the comparing fades or you just ignore the differences, there are certain things that I find I still compare (note: money is not one of them!).  It would take a very strong and focused person to never compare again.

Yes, you stop comparing.  First you stop caring and then you forget things and then you've been gone so long that you can't compare-things change and when you go back to the states for a visit you'll find yourself saying 'but in the  UK, we do it this way........'.   

Ive been here 2 years and Im STILL comparing things. Its in my nature I guess. I reckon if I stayed in England Id always be comparing. A lot of my conversations involve at least one or two "but in the US..." or "in the US they ..." And I ask a lot of questions about England too - "why is it like that?" "what does that mean?" "how does that work?". Theyre always questions my husband just cant answer! He's developed selective hearing. 99.9% of what I say is tuned out. He figures if its really important I'll say it again or yell at him

It's pretty normal to compare things. It is when you let the comparasions take over the enjoyment of life that you get into trouble.  Fact is every place and every situation that happens in life has good sides and bad sides. 

I remember way back when reading an article that talked about bread.  Now you'd think that it was silly to have an article about bread and being an expat, but what it mentioned is that how you know you are starting to adjust to a country is when you can go into a store and know how much a loaf of bread is supposed to be in that countries currency without converting or thinking of the bread that once was.....

It's really quite a step towards knowing you are on your way to life in a different place.

I honestly have never stopped comparing things.  I find I do it more when I am upset or not happy with something that has occurred in my given home. I will frequently say well in such and such a place this is done this way..... the key is that I do not necesarily make a judgement call as to it being better or worse -it's just different. 

I will tell you that it does fade over time and that if it doesn't then you need to take a long hard look at why you are living where you are.  For some people it takes days or weeks and for others it may take years before you feel at home.  You just have to be careful of falling into the "grass is always greener" thought pattern. 

My hubby and me were together in the states for 10 years.  Though he didn't convert the currency any more he still did compare.  I think with time it is not so much "why isn't it done like it is in America" but more of an interesting difference.  He never go over comparing the fact that you started with so much vacation time versus the states.

great post vnicepeeps!

Thanks Mars...

On another thought one way to appreciate where you are is to move someplace worse.   I did that a few times and believe me it makes you not so worried about certain things in life.  I hope to not have to use an old washing board to do laundry ever again.  Or use a washing machine that did not have a spin cycle so you had to run clothes through a pasta maker looking metal squegee thing.

Ah life... makes for some funny stories though.

It frustrates me so much because I don't want to do it, and overall I'm happier here.  I just wish I could take things as they are.  I don't convert money much anymore, but everything else is fair game.  Like VNP, I tend to do it more when I'm unhappy with something.. sort of almost to say, "America does it better"... I think I'm being spiteful when I do that. 

It's good to know it doesn't just happen overnight.  Also.. thankfully there are a few things that I can't remember which country does it which way.  I'll ask Sean, "what's the American word for aubergine"... "What do we call Hoover?"  I wish I could forget the origin on more things. 

I can tell over the 4 years I've known him that I've come a long way, because there are many British ways of doing things/words.. that at first I thought were stupid/wrong/backwards.. and now seem correct.  They seem to make more sense than how I was previously used to.  I guess it's all just keeping an open mind.

I hear ya. I think roundabouts are SUCH a good idea and I just cant figure out why there arent more in the USA.

I also forget American words for things too lol.

I constantly compared while I was living in England. Now I am back in the States and I compare the opposite way.   

Missy, I do the same! Especially when it comes to driving! New Yorkers are extremely agreessive drivers. I always mumble to myself, "In England, that car would have let me out onto the road. In England, that car would've used their turn signal." haha!

I didn't really compare England to AMERICA while I was there. Any comparison was to New York. That is where I grew up. I did not grow up all over in America and every part of America is so different... Also, I made sure to say these comparisons to my boyfriend alone unless someone asked me if certain things were different. He did the same while he lived here in America.