The Beginnings of Culture Shock

In the last two days, I have begun to feel the effects of culture shock. I sometimes feel like a pendulum swinging from feeling alone here to thinking that every culture should be like this one. I know I will eventually find a balance between the two and this is just the learning stage but you cannot help but feel effected by it. Yesterday was the first time I really felt like a minority. Sure, the honking on the streets and the leering are a little strange but that didn't bother me as much until we were walking across a larger university campus than our own, and realized we were taller than most people but also very white. It was an eye-opening experience, one that everyone should have. It puts you in your place when you realize that this is how a lot of people in Canada feel when they come to our country. I expect to feel this way for awhile, if not the whole trip, but I hope I can find some balance. I hope living with our homestays will help this balance take place, to really help us learn the culture in order for us to adjust and to be able to really love the place for what it is, and not just skim the surface.