Weird question number one: “How was China?” I often got asked this after I came home for my month long holiday home from Japan. I would just smile and reply, “It was good, thanks”, to which someone else will correct them or I just ignore it and go about my day.
Weird question number two: “Why did you come back to America if you don’t like it?” Um… I’m American through and through. I was born and raised here and like the next American, I love my country dearly. In fact, if you cut me open, I’ll smell like freedom and bleed the Star Spangled Banner. Just because I left America doesn’t mean I don’t like my country. I went to Japan to experience something different instead of vegetating in my small corner of the earth for all eternity.
When I tell you my life was rough, it was more difficult than necessary. When I cancelled my phone in Japan, it took about 50 minutes and there were problems with leaving the service (big shocker there). Ironically, another guy in the AU store was having just as many problems and complained buying a car in America took less time than that.
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1. Ease of Transport
Okinawa had terrible public transport. The buses are always late and the only “train” we have is the monorail. I can easily go anywhere I please in America. Chicago has got great public transport! Buses, the “L”, you name it, we’ve got it! My family has been great with driving me around and I also have a bike I take around for exercise. Besides my family testing my patience at times and being a typical annoying, loving family, I’ve been great.
2. Food
What a relief to actually eat delicious and non bland food. I did notice Americans eat so much food! I can’t even finish my portions anymore. With a lot of food, comes a lot of fluff. This is the first time in awhile I’ve seen fat people. In Okinawa, I was used to seeing buff military guys and even if their wives were “bigger” they most certainly were not fat.
3. Family
It’s been great spending time with my family. I’ve been to Starved Rock and I’ve caught up with friends near and dear to me. Why wouldn’t I enjoy that?
4. Clothes
I can finally walk into the store and buy clothes that fit. Bras, underwear, pants in so many different styles and sizes there’s something for everyone! In Japan, I got tired of seeing the same thing over and over again. Frilly stuffed bras, baggy t-shirts and coochie shorts… Not my style. Can we get some variation please?
5. Bigger is Better
It’s so good to take shower and have enough room to stretch my arms and wrap a towel around myself. On the road, there’s enough space for large cars and I don’t feel like I’m gonna crash or I’m too close to someone. Since Okinawa is a small island, there isn’t much room, but I would appreciate a little more room when I drive. The appliances are so much bigger too! Not saying that bigger is better, but I do enjoy watching an HD movie on a large flat screen. 😉
Have I experienced any culture shock after living in Japan three years and returning home? I can communicate in Spanish and English so nothing is far from my reach. I went into the AT&T store and got a pay as you go phone in less than 20 minutes with a phone number and all. So in short, no I haven’t. I’m happy to be home because my life in Japan was rough and my life in America is the opposite.
Maybe I’ll get reverse culture shock later, but for right now, I feel at home and happy. Having been abroad for so long, I have noticed some things about America I never took into consideration before. Okinawa was great, but I’m happy to be home where I don’t have to go through miles of paperwork just to exist. 😉 Has anyone experienced reverse culture shock after repatriating? I’d love to hear what you have to say!
6 Comments on Reverse Culture Shock After Japan?
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Glad to hear you’re back safe and sound and feel “right in the zone”! I agree with your points except the “public transportation” one. Chicago might have great public transportation but the majority of the US is not very well connected. I remember public transportation in San Diego and Cincinnati being relatively messy.
Anyhow, I can’t wait till you come to Korea and we can finally hang out <3
For sure! In my experience, the bigger cities have good public transport, but I realized in Texas, a car is for survival. I’m here! Let’s hang out! <3
The first time I read your opening line I thought, “Gina took a trip to China??” and I was very confused! Hahaha. After reading it two more times I realized that you were talking about people who called Japan “China”. ^^;
I’m glad that you are having a good time back in the US! You might feel some reverse culture shock later (or not! who knows!), but I definitely can relate to the whole “omg food! omg family! omg clothing! omg everything I can’t get my hands on in Japan!!” feeling. I’m actually going to visit my family next month so I just made a huge Amazon purchase of a bunch of stuff I can’t get (or can’t get for at least 3x the price) here.
I actually find it interesting that in your experience public transit is better in the US. I grew up in Miami and the public transport there is pretty terrible (and dangerous… a few people I knew got mugged) so having a car is pretty essential for a lot of jobs and whatnot. With other areas of the US, I’ve found that transport is good but in a very limited scope. Japan (the mainland, at least), on the other hand, has the best public transport I’ve ever experienced. Sure, if you go into the rural areas (and some suburbs) you get into the “must have a car” thing, but overall the buses and trains run on time and I can use trains or buses to get almost anywhere on the mainland. I mean, obviously it’s easier to get that kind of infrastructure on a small island than a large continent, but it was a bit surprising to find out that Okinawa doesn’t seem to have the same standard of transport as the mainland.
Anyway, how long are you planning to be in the US for? Are you still working on the Korea stuff?
Hahahaha. Nice. 😉 I was making a joke about how silly some people are sometimes.
I experienced absolutely no culture shock while in America. In fact, my self-esteem was restored because I got compliments on how good my tan was. I was so excited! Finally! No one told me I was ugly because I wasn’t Snow White! I hope you’re enjoying your trip back to the states! Family, food, and clothes are definitely the highlights. Amazon is also the shizz. What did you get on Amazon? I bought shoes, shoes, shoes.
I definitely agree that transport in the big cities is really good. The only downside is that it’s expensive. Small rural places definitely get the car survival card for sure! Okinawa, unfortunately, has terrible public transport. The roads were built before the trains and I think it would be pretty difficult to build trains now with how many roads and cars there are.
I just made it to Korea yesterday! Come visit if you want. 😀
Lol How was China? Sure….it was great. 😛 I can just imagine how those conversations went. Seeing the world is great, but it’s nice to be in the comfort of your home with family. Then once you’re tired of home you get ready for the next adventure. XD
Hahahaha. Yup. You can already imagine my expression. 😉 I loved home for the month I was there! I didn’t want to come back, but I’m glad I did.