I think our real world serves as a perfectly fine example of how things would also be in Eorzea; you have minor culture shock-
Minor:
+Someone who grew up on a farm their whole life, visits a city (or city-state) for the first time.
+Someone who's never traveled outside their own country visits a land where things are run much different.
These people would be a little awestruck, a little out of their depth, a little touristy, but would in most cases be able to blend in after awhile. Then you have medium culture shock;
Medium:
+Cultures such as Eskimos, Amish, Buddhist Monks! - groups that live among us, have contact with us, yet also keep themselves apart, fighting to hold on to their traditions and beliefs.
I expect the same sort of thing would happen in Eorzea; groups of races that are fully aware of the outside world, of the greater civilization, but mostly try to keep themselves out of it, other than for trade and news. If such a person were suddenly thrust into a city-state longterm, their adjustment would be much rougher than a case of mild culture shock. Then you have major;
Major:
+Aboriginees, Bushmen, Cannibals! - those who live in very remote areas, and have had little to no exposure to 'culture'. Just like in real life, these types would suffer from major culture shock, when exposed to a slice of 'culture'.
tl; dr In the end, it doesn't matter (imo). Whether you be city slicker, country bumpkin, isolated traditionalist, or relic from a lost time... all can be realistic and enjoyable to rp with
... however, though I do echo your thought about being 'normal' normal is in the eye of the beholder. Someone with deeply rooted tribal beliefs might consider themselves to be perfectly normal. But it is easy and very tempting to try and give your character too much. Too make them TOO interesting, and too complicated;
I like to quote Pixar's the Incredibles in these cases;
(Syndrome): "When everyone is super... no one will be."
Minor:
+Someone who grew up on a farm their whole life, visits a city (or city-state) for the first time.
+Someone who's never traveled outside their own country visits a land where things are run much different.
These people would be a little awestruck, a little out of their depth, a little touristy, but would in most cases be able to blend in after awhile. Then you have medium culture shock;
Medium:
+Cultures such as Eskimos, Amish, Buddhist Monks! - groups that live among us, have contact with us, yet also keep themselves apart, fighting to hold on to their traditions and beliefs.
I expect the same sort of thing would happen in Eorzea; groups of races that are fully aware of the outside world, of the greater civilization, but mostly try to keep themselves out of it, other than for trade and news. If such a person were suddenly thrust into a city-state longterm, their adjustment would be much rougher than a case of mild culture shock. Then you have major;
Major:
+Aboriginees, Bushmen, Cannibals! - those who live in very remote areas, and have had little to no exposure to 'culture'. Just like in real life, these types would suffer from major culture shock, when exposed to a slice of 'culture'.
tl; dr In the end, it doesn't matter (imo). Whether you be city slicker, country bumpkin, isolated traditionalist, or relic from a lost time... all can be realistic and enjoyable to rp with
... however, though I do echo your thought about being 'normal' normal is in the eye of the beholder. Someone with deeply rooted tribal beliefs might consider themselves to be perfectly normal. But it is easy and very tempting to try and give your character too much. Too make them TOO interesting, and too complicated;
I like to quote Pixar's the Incredibles in these cases;
(Syndrome): "When everyone is super... no one will be."
