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I paid a visit to the dentist yesterday. It was my first time driving in America for about a year. All went well - I didn't even mix up the turn signal and wipers as I pulled out of the dentist's office - and was quite proud of myself for being so alert through my jetlag. Glancing out of the passenger seat window I thought to myself, "Huh, that's weird. Since when are left turn lanes to the right of the straight through la--OMGAJKDSADFOIAS!!!"
Other notable moments of culture shock:
And the best of all, my father keeps insisting that I smell different. I assumed he was ripping on my host family, who refused to do my laundry because it didn't "smell right," but apparently he's for real. I can't win.
That will be all.
Other notable moments of culture shock:
- Manners.
- I still cannot get over how breathtakingly rude US customs officials are.
- I still cannot get over how breathtakingly rude US customs officials are.
- Food
- American food is sweet.
- American portions are large. I still eat the same amount in Japan as I do back home, it's just that it's spread out more. I take four or five meals a day in Japan. Three is enough to do me over here.
- American food is sweet.
- Money
- American money is tiny.
- I'm not used to handing money to clerks when I buy things. (That is considered rude in Japan. One puts the money in a little tray or on the checkout counter instead.)
- I'm not used to being back in a credit society. I usually keep anywhere from $300-$900 on my person in Japan. People here freaked out when I paid for my $100 tooth cleaning in cash.
- American money is tiny.
- Driving
- Roads are wide and speed limits fast. (The freeways speedlimit in Japan is about 50mph, I believe.)
- I'm actually surprised by how naturally I readapted to Western driving. Aside from the one slipup above, I've been error free.
- Roads are wide and speed limits fast. (The freeways speedlimit in Japan is about 50mph, I believe.)
- Computing
- It's insanely difficult to type on Western keyboards.
- I'm going crazy without access to computers that let me read, let alone type, in Japanese.
- It's insanely difficult to type on Western keyboards.
- Body Language
- I got strange reactions from bank tellers the other day when I pointed to my nose to indicate myself.
- I do the bow.
- I got strange reactions from bank tellers the other day when I pointed to my nose to indicate myself.
And the best of all, my father keeps insisting that I smell different. I assumed he was ripping on my host family, who refused to do my laundry because it didn't "smell right," but apparently he's for real. I can't win.
That will be all.