Posted by G on April 30, 2000 at 21:47:31:
In Reply to: Re: we're back... posted by John Kathy on April 21, 2000 at 23:12:25:
Never been out of the country. In fact unless something special is going on, I can't get out of Pasco county. If I tried to go church, i'd have to leave at 4 in the morning, if my bicycle didn't fall apart on the way. hey, I enjoy being fat, rude and cocky.
: : : : : At least physically. How's it going?
: : : : I never really know. I was waiting for you to get
back to tell me. Guess I'm outta luck again...
: : : : Oh well... Welcome back anyway. ;-)
: : : That's cool, we were pretty clueless in Japan as
well, so we're used to it... you know it's kind of weird
when you hear a public service announcement flashing on the
TV and have absolutely no idea what it's about.
: : That must be wierd. Was that the oddest part of being
in that culture for that length of time? It seems like the
language barior would be a harsh, but I'm sure you met some
cool folks nonetheless. How's Alissa?...welc'm back
carter...
:
: : //(.
: : \\ >)|
: : \(*
: :
: Actually the language was quite comfortable. We have
found that we prefer to be on that side of the language
thing. The worst part about culture shock wasn't going, we
fit right in, it was coming back to this place where
neither of us have ever really felt at home. All the
things we hate about this country come glarring back at
once, and only minutes off the plane. Namely the loud,
obnoxious, fat, rude, and cocky people that this place
breeds.
: The most different thing about Japan was that it has all
of the comforts of modern Techno-man life in a serene and
extremely friendly atmosphere. People don't complain about
everything, they don't expect everyone to owe them
something, they are quick to apologize and always consider
the needs of others before themselves. I know this sounds
like unrealistic prattle to Americans, but it really is
that way, even the hardcore punks and the rich business men
and their wives. This was the culture shock. I fear we
may be expatriates in the making... but we missed our group
of friends who often embody these things that we admire.
It is the mass populace that irks us. If we could just
move all of you there, we'd be great. Oh, and whatever
stereotypes you may have of Japan and its people are false.
They are not all short, not all black-haired, not all
uptight, not all hard-working. I was totally shocked at
how wrong our conception of them was.
: Please forgive MY complaints, I won't mention them again.