After a fairly short plane ride from new york city, irving found himself on a dusty road with goats, chickens, and motor scooters, rather than cars. food, clothing, and carpets were being sold by street vendors, some of whom worked from a cloth spread on the ground, in no order that he could recognize. irving was experiencing ethnocentrism. culture shock. a step back into history. contact with people who shared none of his values.