Hometown Culture Shock

I must have underestimated the 'culture shock' factor that people always talk about when they move to other countries.

Even when I watched the best exotic marigold hotel, I didn't really think much about it.
Obviously you would get a shock when you are from a first world country such as UK and you come to a 'developing' country such as India.

But Singapore and Indonesia?
I adapted comfortably when I moved to Singapore 13 yrs ago.
It was only a matter of different language mainly.
The 'kiasuism' was not much an issue. Rather it was fun to observe.

I guess that was because geographically these two countries are close.
And Jakarta, despite being a mess traffic-wise, is actually quite a cosmopolitan city.

But now.. me, an Indonesian, who lived in Singapore for 13 years,
on my way back to my own country, my own town!
I can't believe it.
I am having a culture shock.

I think partly because I spent my 20s mainly in Singapore.
I suspect between 20-30, we are training ourselves to survive and thrive in the real world.
We learn how things work and we learn how to respond.

So.. when you spend those 10 years in one city,
one highly regulated city mind you,
it will be a culture shock when you move back to Indonesia.

We don't even need to talk about the corrupt part of the country.

The mindset of our own people,
I just can't believe that I actually don't 'get it'.
And how things work here.. wow..
I feel like a baby learning his first significant steps.