I moved from Hawaii to the mainland United States. Here are 8 culture shocks I wasn't prepared for.
After living in Hawaii for 13 years, I moved to the continental US. It's come with many culture shocks, like more traffic and less meals made with Spam.
I relocated from Hawaii to the mainland United States, encountering several cultural differences along the way. After living in Hawaii for 13 years, I decided to move to North Carolina for my MBA in 2021. Moving to the mainland brought about a few adjustments, including longer commutes, daylight-saving time, four distinct seasons, and more frequent use of air conditioning.
On the mainland, I find myself spending much more time in my car compared to Hawaii, where everything was within a short drive. Rush-hour traffic is now a regular part of my daily life, and I regularly spend an hour commuting to work or visiting friends. While driving isn't my favorite activity, the ability to travel to another state in just a few hours has added excitement to our weekends.
Daylight-saving time has also been a new experience for me, as Hawaii doesn't observe this practice and remains on Hawaii Standard Time year-round. I still have to look up when daylight-saving time starts and ends, especially when referencing the time back in Hawaii. Nevertheless, I appreciate the synchronized time across cities, as it makes planning easier.
Living in a region with four distinct seasons has changed how I perceive the passage of time. I now eagerly anticipate seasonal transitions and the festivities that accompany each one. In contrast, Hawaii experiences only the rainy and dry seasons, which lack the variety and visual appeal of the mainland's seasons.
Air conditioning is more prevalent on the mainland, as many homes rely on air conditioning and heating units for climate control. Although I still need to carry a sweater when strong air conditioning is in use, having dependable air conditioning is a welcome relief during hot, humid summers.
Locally grown fruits are a summer staple in the Southeast, unlike Hawaii, where many fruits have multiple growing seasons due to the mild year-round climate. I now look forward to peach season and the long lines at local farmers markets. The unpredictability of weather on the mainland has also been a culture shock. In Hawaii, I could often predict the weather by observing the ocean and clouds, but in the mainland, I rely heavily on weather forecasts to plan my activities.
Lastly, the presence of billboards in the Southeast was surprising, as they are not allowed in Hawaii. The billboards in the mainland cities add a unique visual element to the skylines, and I find them intriguing when I return to Hawaii, where the landscape remains uncluttered. Additionally, I miss Spam musubi, a famous Hawaiian fast-food item, when visiting fast-food restaurants on the mainland, which typically feature chicken and burgers without Spam.
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