Campus Conversations

Observations of Japan and Familial Contact

April 27, 2012

Blogger: Miranda Sieg

Soooooo Japan is awesome. Over the past three weeks (wow, has it already been that long!?) I've been sort of observing my progression along the road of culture shock and in-so-doing have come across some glaring dissimilarities between Japan and America. I'll give a short taste then move on to what's new this week below. Observations

  • What you think is a wide sidewalk is actually a third lane.
  • There is no such thing as sarcasm.
  • Girls wearing skirts you'd get arrested for in America are a) normal, b) not thought of as 'slutty', c) can call someone out for touching them without judgement.
  • Cute things are everywhere, including adorning my host brothers' backpacks and phones.
  • People say Japan's population is declining. I say, try riding the train.

While Japan is beautifully confusing and oxymoronic (...) I can't think of any culture that isn't. Anyway, so I've been having lots of fun with Oxy people, Study Abroad people, and a group of rambunctious Japanese freshmen who think we're the weirdest people they've ever met. (The feeling's mutual.) They're very interested in American slang, which is some of the most difficult vocabulary to explain but, talking to them is so much fun, and our mutual misuse of each others languages often incites hilarity.

 

Today I had a pleasant surprise; I'd written letters to my family living in Kyushu and Osaka (areas in Japan south of me) and today my great-aunt, my grandmother's older sister called me back! She and her son grilled me for about half an our about my studies and when I was coming to visit them and made me promise to call and write again. My uncle also wrote me an email basically saying the same thing, and how

 

I was a 'precious relative,' which was really sweet. I'm excited to meet them when school gets out in August!

So yeah, that's me. Good luck with finals and summer plans! Wishing everyone the best possible everything from sunny(-ish) super-awesome Japan!