Whacky Japan

A warning found at Kamakura 

For years and years I've been reading news sites and, when in America, sometimes watching the news, and around 99 percent of the time Japan is covered in the news, it's because Japan has done some crazy, outlandish thing that merits news coverage.



Yes, Japan has lots of inexplicably strange things. But I would argue that every culture has really strange elements to it. I have been looked at strangely by people from other countries for eating fruit roll-up, for example ("It looks like you're eating plastic. Why would you eat that?").



Since I feel that there are too many web sites devoted to the craziness of Japanese culture, and too much of the news covers only the stranger aspects, I am going to try and cover what makes Japan "normal" in the following entries.



If you feel the need to tell me about some new crazy thing someone in Japan did, I will do my best to counter it with some example of a crazy thing an American has done that made the news.

Tips to Avoid Culture Shock

A temple in Nikko

When I was in sixth grade I did a home-stay in France for three weeks without speaking a word of French beyond, "Merci."

I walked away from that experience with the knowledge that the entire world beyond my house does not, in fact, live like I do. I wanted to see more.

Since then I have studied in England for a year, lived in a Welsh home for two weeks, traveled to Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Ireland and other places in France. I also studied in Japan for four months before coming to live here.

All of these experiences traveling have taught me a lot about culture shock, as well as how to prevent it. Culture shock varies per person, just as a warning, so these aren't going to work for everyone. These are what worked for me.

Hayama

1. This is not your home. 
    Remember when you first stayed over at someone's house? You probably realized that your friend's parents don't make macaroni and cheese like your parents do, or that they don't even believe in having a dinner that comes out of a box.
    Maybe you started to notice other things, and proceeded to point them out to the parents of your friend, or to your friend. "That's not how we do things in my house." Your host would then reach a breaking point and retaliate with, "Well, this isn't your home."
    This is true when you are going to a different country. You will find that no matter where you go, how much you think the culture is like yours, it is not. This isn't where you grew up; this isn't the only thing you know.
    If you go into the experience with this in mind, I think you'll be less shocked when you realize that you aren't in your home country anymore.

A summer festival in Tokyo

2. Learn the language. 
   If you are going to a country where they don't speak your native language, then at least a year before you go try your best to take an intensive language course (a course with lessons at least three times a week).
   There are many companies in Japan, for example, that promise you that you don't need to know Japanese to get by, and they are somewhat right, but "getting by" and "living" are completely different things. There are only so many times you feel like calling up your company because you want to mail a package home or go visit the local doctor.
   There are also all the social interactions you will be missing out on, and you won't be able to watch most of their TV programs or movies. Not speaking the language is throwing a huge wall up between you and everyone else around you, which will, naturally, make you feel isolated.
   Day-to-day chores will also weigh heavily on you and stress you out if you don't know how to speak the language, and you won't feel connected to the culture without knowing the language, so get cracking on it.

Ebisu Garden Place

3. There is no perfect country. 
    A lot of people seem to come to Japan with the idea that this is some sort of utopia, and then they live here for a few months (more or less) before disillusionment sets in and they have to go home. Some Japanese people feel this when they go to France, too, apparently. They watch movies about Paris and think it's this romantic utopia, and then they go there and are harassed by rude waiters and Parisians, in general, and come back in tears.
    Every single country on this earth is full of problems. There is no country that is "the best country on earth." Please realize this and save yourself the heartbreak.

A cafe in Nikko

4. Before going, immerse yourself in the culture
    Before you go on your trip, research the local dishes of the country you're going to, and start eating them while you're still at home. Learn how to make them, learn how to enjoy them. Do this often and as soon as you can for as long as you can, because food is the bridge connecting you to feelings of home. If you can add on to your own bridge with food from the country you're about to go to, you will already feel connected to the country before you even leave.
    Watch TV programs from the country; watch their movies. Learn the names of the actors and actresses and learn their faces. When I first flew into Kansai International Airport everything was overwhelmingly different until I saw an ad featuring a Japanese actor I knew, and loved. Then things didn't feel so scary anymore. In Japan, they use their actors and actresses to advertise everything, and it's nice to be surrounded by familiar faces on the trains and when walking down the street.
    Listen to their music. A lot. Ever notice yourself humming along to a song while in the supermarket? That would be because you know that song. Other countries do the same thing, and you will feel right at home humming along to a Japanese song in a supermarket in Tokyo.

Yokohama

5. Make friends 
    Try to make friends from the country before you go or while you are there. At some point while you are in your country, you may explode at the country and say that they are all terrible, terrible people. To counter this outburst will be that friend you have. It completely quiets down your illogical outburst.
    I have found that if you make friends with only other foreigners, you will all sit around and talk about how different the country is from your home country every single time you meet. The more you sit around talking about the differences, the larger those differences will feel and the more you will feel like going back to your home country. Don't do this.
    Please note: It's important to make friends with people because you want to be friends rather than, "I want a local friend." Don't ever make friends for superficial reasons like that. Your goal is to set up your own little community in the new country, and that means making real friends.

Yokohama Summer Festival Fireworks

6. Hunt down food from your country 
   At some point you will crave food from your home country, and I say embrace it. Learn where you can get your monthly fix of tacos or good spaghetti and take comfort in the knowledge that it's available to you. Nothing like some comfort food every now and then.

Shinjuku Gyouen Park

7. Stay in touch with world news and news in your new country 
   It always helps to know what's going on around you, whether it's the latest election in your new country or the latest civil war happening abroad. Feeling ignorant leads to feeling scared, so be informed.