Whether you are studying abroad or have moved to a new country a while ago, there are some moments that all of the people who grew up abroad can relate to. Admit it: you might speak English fluently now, but there's something you can never lose or get used to.
1. You're more familiar with a different measuring system.
No matter how awesome you are at converting, you still miss using Celsius and metric system.
2. You can't join your friends when they are singing to their middle-school hits.
You actually fear road trips with your friends because you're the only one who doesn't know all the words to songs by Destiny's Child or Backstreet Boys.
3. You know some Disney songs in a different language.
But you also worked hard to learn the English version of it because you don't want to miss singing in the car with your friends again.
4. You're always the last one to get jokes.
"What is the longest word in the English language? SMILES: there is a mile between the first and last letters!" OK, I JUST TOLD YOU I'M MORE FAMILIAR WITH THE METRIC SYSTEM, UGH!
5. You get angry when you see your culture is being Americanized.
Sushi is all about enjoying the good fresh fish. If yours is covered in spicy sauce and the crunchy shit, don't even call it sushi, you can't even taste the fish! Do not get me started with the California rolls, and that flowy thing you're wearing over a tank top and jeans is NOT a kimono.
6. You are good with languages.
Learning a language and picking up a language are two different skills. Once you learn how to pick up a language, even though you might have no idea what the rules are, you can kind of understand a language that's completely new to you.
7. You're not so much of a picky eater.
In fact, you love trying new food. You are definitely adventurous when it comes to trying new foods in a country. You kind of had to be adaptable to live in totally different places, so you might as well enjoy it and appreciate the difference!
8. You can cook pretty well.
When you miss foods you used to eat when you were a kid, there is no restaurant that can make that for you, so you end up learning how to make them.
9. You haven't lost your accent completely.
It may have been 10 years since you moved here, but once in a while you still say things differently from the way your friends do. You also have a love-hate relationship with your accent because you are embarrassed that it's different, but also proud that it makes you unique.
10. You have a very unique skill that none of your friends have.
Maybe you know how to hula dance, play the bagpipes, play chess super-well, or ride a unicycle like it's no big deal because it was a normal thing to do where you lived.
11. You never got used to all of the weird sayings.
How am I supposed to know that "cutting cheese" means farting? Why do people keep telling me to break a leg before I go on stage? No, I am not breaking my legs, thank you.
12. You have friends all over the world...
...not only from where you previously lived, but because you know what it's like to be away from home, you can bond with people who have similar experiences.
13. You never judge people.
Because you know so many people from different cultures and appreciate the differences of people, you never judge others. You also don't judge yourself for being different from others, you just own it and are proud of it.
