Reverse Culture Shock

There are many difference between American and Japanese culture. I felt them during the study abroad period has through study abroad experience. First, it is the toilet private room door. American toilet door has a gap above and below. Japan, on the other hand, nothing a gap. I didn't think the toilet style was different and I felt discomfort and worried that someone could see myself from the outside. So, I like the Japanese toilet more than the America toilet. Second, is the food . American food is very oily and large quantity but Japanese food that there are mainly vegetables food. I like both food, but I was not used to American food. So I missed Japanese food a little while in the United States. Third, is the personality. Japanese people feature is shyness but American people is friendly. I was impressed by the kindness of Americans. Finally, is the home culture. For example, in America, wear shoes at home, but in Japan remove shoes. In this way, there are many cultural differences between the United States and Japan. I think both cultures should be attractive and respectful.

           

Reverse Culture Shock

By Tomoka

Reverse culture shock appears when people feel the difference between countries, but if they respect that difference, they will not feel like that.  In fact, I didn't feel any reverse culture shock when I returned to Japan. There are two reasons.  First, I wasn't able to much time in the United States by the result that coronavirus spread through in here. We intended to stay until the end of May, but we had to return to Japan at the end of March. Therefore, I couldn't really touch or experience American culture directly, and most of what I could do was a cultural difference that I knew originally. So I wasn't surprised or upset by the cultural differences. And, I hadn't been in here long enough to feel a reverse culture shock after returning to Japan. Second, I respect American and Japanese culture and can accept cultural differences. There are a lot of cultural differences between Japan and the United States, such as food culture, language, communication style and lifestyle. For example, in Japan, we don't have much physical contact when we greet, but in the United States, we take a lot of physical contact. I think Japan is polite and the United States is friendly and has a good culture with each other, so I will not be shocked by such a difference. For these reasons, I don't have a reverse culture shock because I think cultural differences are important.

Revers Culture Shock

I have some reverse culture shock when I returned to Japan. First, the size of house is small. Of course, there were 25 people in my dormitory, so it was very big. When I was in Japan, I had never felt that my house was small, but I felt my house was a little small when I came back to my home because my dormitory was very big. Also, the furniture are very big, too. I liked a big and fluffy sofa that can sit 4 people. I want to sit and lie in the sofa again. Second, all voice that I can hear in my life and traffic signs are all Japanese. Of course, it is obvious because I am in Japan. It was very hard to translate everything when I was in America, but I got used to it and I felt my English skill was improving little by little. Also I was happy because I could find new vocabulary and new phrase everyday in my life, so I am a little confused because I can understand all word very easily without looking up words now. Third, I am in Japan. I was very looking forward to study abroad, so I was so happy to stay in the U.S, but I returned to Japan when I got used to stay in the U.S. It was a dream time for me and I had very good time in Spokane, but I was returned to reality. I realized I really came back to Japan. I was happy to meet my family, but I wanted to stay in the U.S more! I am surprised that I have some reverse culture shock.

Reverse Culture Shock

   I really wanted to enjoy life in the United States a little more, but I'm sorry to return to Japan. There were various reverse culture shocks whem I returned to Japan.

Japan and America

 I have three reasons. First, when I talk to someone in person, I often find it difficult to see my  opponent. For example, In a one-on-one situation, even though I was looking at the other person's eyes and listening, I felt that the conversation often progressed with the other person's gaze at hand or away from her eyes. In the United States, eye contact was a matter of course, but in Japan it is rare to make eye contact. I was used to making eye contact in the United States, so it was very strange not to do it in Japan. Second, the impression of Japanese clothing was that there were many calm colors in general. For instance, many people in the United States wear colorfully designed shirts or fluorescent clothes, but rarely in Japan. Although there were variations in color, I felt that there were many dark tones overall. I thought that I couldn't wear clothes that I could usually wear in the United States because I felt too flashy in Japan. In the United States, personal expression is important, but the Japanese hate being conspicious. Third, as I was used to the size of the United States, I felt again that Japan was a very small country. For example, Spokane had many trees, but Japan has few trees. In addition, while American roads usually have three lanes, Japan has only one lane. There are lots of parking lots in U.S. stores, but there are no more than 10 in some stores in Japan. The area of Japan is smaller than of the United States, so it can't be helped, but I was able to really feel how small my comany is. For these reasons, I was shocked by culture.  It was a good opportunity to learn again what kind of country Japan is. 

When Life Gives Me Lemon

     This study abroad program is lemons for me because some bad things have continuously happened.  First, our trips were cancelled.  Second, all other events which I was looking forward to, such as home stay, shock football game, shrine circus, and blooms day, were also called off.  Finally, we will have to go back to Japan on Tuesday.  Corona virus is spreading both in Japan and in the U.S. and each government has started restricting those who enter the countries.  Though I know I must receive this bad situation, I’m extremely sad and disappointed.  If we were able to continue studying English at MFWI, we could learn more about American culture and real conversation.  Unfortunately, we can’t do that anymore, which is too bad for us.  However, if we give up now, we will waste the time when we stayed at MFWI with our RAs and teachers, so we must continue studying English hard.  In Japan, I intend to keep studying English in the same way I had been studying at MFWI, and I will touch real English.  For example, I will watch a lot of movie in English and BBC news, keep studying TOEIC exam, and speak English as much as possible through contacting my teachers, my RA, and my friends.  Therefore, life is giving me lemons just now, so now is the time when I make lemonade out of lemons.

Reverse Culture Shock

     There are three things which I realized after I came back to Japan.  First, in the airport, I was really relieved to meet my family and I realized that my parents and relatives were extremely worried about me.  This is because they had heard corona virus was spreading rapidly in the U.S.  In fact, the number of corona patients in the U.S. got the most in the world on March 26.  Second, I got tired of Japan in a few days.  Though I love Japan and I’m happy to stay with my family, I feel a little bored now.  This is because I can’t feel stimulated in Japan.  While I stayed at Spokane, I could learn a lot of new things about American culture and vocabulary every day.  Third, the dampness in Japan annoys me because the dampness causes a lot of trouble.  For example, my hair is easy to receive bad influence from moisture, so the dampness makes my hair messy and makes me feel unhappy.  On the other hand, Spokane is very dry, and the dryness had a bad effect on my body.  However, my skin cream could stop my body from getting dry, so the dryness didn’t make me uncomfortable.  In short, I’m happy to see my family but I miss MFWI and Spokane.

When LIfe Gives Me Lemons

    I have been facing various problems until now. For example, I was belong to tennis club when I was junior high school  student. My club was many people and teachers was too strict, so every practice was very busy. My tennis club was doubles and we participated in the tournament many times. We often played the same opponents every time when it was important in the tournament. That opponents were very strong. When we played them for the first time, we completely defeated. We were very sad and thought that we want to win them someday. We studied them thoroughly, also we practice many times. Next tournament, we played them again, of course we couldn't win them, but we got more points than last time, that encouraged me. I thought that I want to be stronger more. When my retirement approached, we played them again. At that time, I was in good shape, so I continued to attack. As a result, we could win them finally, and we were said that " You're really strong." by another junior high school teachers. I was very happy to hear that. I learned I need to be mentally strong to win and I have to keep trying.