I went to DC early this year. I had heard that people in DC had repelling characteristics, but I assumed it was exaggerated in quantity and intensity. Nope! Not to me. It was soooo in my face. During the week I was there visiting an old friend, the locals I would meet would name drop famous people they're associated with and brag about their professional achievements within minutes. People didn't really care for art, philosophy, artistic hobbies, likes/dislikes, enjoyable experiences, etc. for their sake only. Things really led back to status through social association or vocational achievement. I acknowledge that maybe it was the specific people I was interacting with that were this way, so I understand it was a unique experience that wasn't representative of the local interpersonal culture.

Still, I had never thought I would miss Florida for its people, but I did. I came back and was soooo happy to hear people just talk about their regular lives without exaggerating anything while being happy with what they have, are working on, or have planned. There was no evident drive to imply one's status to the extreme that I saw in DC. The culture shock was definitely real for me.