late wakeup & pale (from fear or ill health)

I don't know, if this expression works in English, but I can explain the Finnish expression. It is actually a humorous expression based on religion. Beginning from the 18th century there was so-called wakening movement in Lutheran church. And its message was (simplified): You will not be salvaged by just being a member of the church; you must awaken and behave better. There were several waves of this awakening movement and the earlier ones were called 'varhaisherännäisyys (early awakening)' and later 'myöhäisherännäisyys (late awakening)'.

For some decades already the expression 'myöhäisherännäinen' has been used humorously indicating that the speaker was late in beginning sth or appreciating sth and (maybe) feels having lost sth for that.

If he is wanting to say that he does not feel up to the pace of the city's culture etc., then saying that he feel's e.g. "a bit behind the game when it comes to this city" might be the way to go.