Gosh, probably 3-4 years to feel like I wasn't an alien?? Even now, 9 years later, I randomly get confused and bothered by cultural differences (people wanting to order a Lyft instead of walking 2 miles, general public opinion on health care, getting a mild feeling of panic when an area isn't fully connected by sidewalk, prevalence of firearms, "what do you mean, the closest burrito place is 6 miles away??, etc.)

I moved to the East Coast for school, and by the time I finished grad school, the entire Bay Area had become wholly unaffordable for me. Plus I met a boy and all that, so I ended up staying. But, legit, when I had to go to a work location in the middle of nowhere, where it was all two-lane roads, no street lights, no sidewalks, open fields everywhere, I felt so panicked and uncomfortable the entire time, I had to leave a day early.

And now, my current city is being bought out by investors and foreign companies, but I'll live in a 500 sq. ft. studio before I get pushed out to the boonies any further.