It was a real culture shock.

Meaning

The experience of encountering a significantly different culture was overwhelming.

Examples

• John: Moving to Japan was... intense.
• Alice: <b>It was a real culture shock</b>, wasn't it? I felt the same way when I lived in Brazil.
• John: The language barrier was the hardest part.
• Alice: I totally get that. For me, it was the social customs. <b>It was a real culture shock</b> to adjust.