When I first got into Japanese culture (not Anime), I felt that there was something special about Japan and that I'd meet people here that would forever stay with me. I can confidently say that my heart wasn't wrong. Hopefully, I even found my soulmate while here, but that's something you'll have to ask me in person about. Without further ado, here's my life the past few months. After this, I'm going to talk about the things I loved most about Japan and the things I hated the most about Japan as well as comparing Japan to home sweet home.
My trip to Matsumoto:
Haha, don't ask
Cherry blossoms:
Trip to Gion (Kyoto):
And lastly, Kanazawa/Wajima trip:
I made these! They're candy! SOOO GOOD!
My room. It's a traditional Japanese room and we got to sleep on the floor. It was surprisingly comfortable!
My (disgusting) traditional Japanese food.
Guh...fish ball... Yes, it is as disgusting as you think it is... I have a video of me trying to eat it...
AwesomeI'll start with the bad and go from there. Things I hated most about Japan:
1) Hypocrisy. Without a doubt, the most infuriating thing about this country. I cannot take the lack of people taking responsibility and curting around corners. They say foreigners are rude when they are actually just as rude. There are times when it's AMAZING courtesy, but other times it was more rude than back in the States.
2) STARING. This actually caused me to develop a nervous tick. Now when people stare at me, I scratch my arms. It's really bad. My Japanese friends constantly told me it's nothing bad and Japanese are staring at me because I'm beautiful, but I find this hard to believe when I can understand them, leading me to point 3.
3) Talking about me when I'm right there. I understand most foreigners are tourists and we do it as well, but I cannot stand hearing children and adults alike saying the most disrespectful things about me when I'm standing right there. During my time here, I eventually would confront someone when I heard them or stare back. I make it a point to let the Japanese know that not all foreigners are "dumb" or "ignorant" and don't have "the mentality to understand Japanese". Yes, I've heard all of these from people standing RIGHT NEXT TO ME. This one lady scoffed at me when I was wearing my yukata for the first time saying I looked hideous and an American (how she knew I was American is my 4th point) should never wear a beautiful Japanese outfit. I changed my conversation into Japanese and said, "Isn't it amazing how polite Japanese are, but I know they're rude too and say so many mean things about foreigners when we haven't personally done anything to them." She shut up instantly and left the store.
4) Treating Americans differently. It's kind of a love-hate relationship Japan has with America at the moment. In cities like Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya, Japan has a big crush on America and loves to be ANYTHING America. Hell, in Osaka there's a small part of downtown called America town and it's EVERYTHING American. There's even a small statue of liberty in Tokyo near Disneyland. But in the other parts, like my smaller town or even places where there are not a lot of foreigners, ANY foreigner is instantly seen as an American. It sucks for my friends from England, Canada, or even France when they take great offense to it. Not because they hate America, but because they don't enjoy being grouped as a foreigner equaling America. It's almost as if half of Japan doesn't know other countries exist. My host family told me that's the case because most of Japan doesn't care. They think England=ONLY America despite how close Japan is with England, France, China, and other countries. It's really sad and I REALLY hate that of Japan.
5) MONEY. It's SO expensive here. I can't believe the prices of food or things. I thought it was amazing that a bus ride straight to the train station was only 2 bucks, the train ride into the city was 2.90, and that it was all so simple. But that shit adds up quickly, especially since that's only one way and you gotta go through that again going home. Add in the fact that I don't have a job and rely on my income only ONCE a month and that goes quickly. This past month, we were given our entire scholarship. In 3 weeks, I spent half of the 800 bucks, mailing things home, paying for insurance (which is hypocrisy AGAIN by Japan), and paying MORE money to school that they didn't charge me for yet. It's...taken a lot out of me.
And 6) Transportation. It's fine walking these days, I probably will walk to the store and such now, but it's a BITCH to walk 15 minutes UPHILL to a bus that takes 10-45 minutes (depending on traffic, time, or if it's Sunday), and then a train that takes a half an hour to get in the city. It's a little obnoxious after awhile and I tired of it quickly. If only the stores in Japan weren't SO ADORABLE! Leading me into the things I loved most about Japan.
Things I loved most about Japan:
1) THE STORES! Japanese fashion can be a bit...awkward and downright painful (God, why is floral print one piece in fashion?), but for the most part, it can have the most adorable and sophisticated looks ever. Most fashion in Japan is influenced by French and American designs. They love to splice them together and make something kind of awesome. My favorite stores would be Honeys and UniQlo. There is a UniQlo in the States, but only in NYC (of course), so I'm hoping that they ship. My favorite non-clothing store would be Loft, but unfortunately there is no website for them. DAMNIT!
2) The convenience. Sometimes there are things in Japan that are just so damn convenient, it makes you wonder why the hell Western countries (coughAmericacough) hasn't thought up this shit. Or if we HAVE thought it up, why don't we use it more often?! But then again, I know that some of the things would be taken for granted and abused.
3) Manners. Yes, there are the rude Japanese (mainly college kids), but there is this ideal in Japanese of treating your fellow Japanese in such a nice way that there is barely a moment of, "This was ruined for everyone because of one person". I think it's the fact that Japanese have balanced out the feeling of being independent (the younger generation has, at least), with the feeling of working with society. There are certain areas that is very much so not the case, but it's a nice start.
4) Nature. I have never fully enjoyed nature my entire life. I'm more a girl who likes the sharp and perfect points of modern design or the soft, homey feelings of the 50s. My dad says I'm jaded, and that's probably true given my circumstance. However, upon coming to Japan, I've come to REALLY love nature. It's a new type of nature I've never seen before. No more redwoods or those ugly trees with annoying prickles or pointy leaves. Ugh... hate them. But here, nature is softer and has blended in with the people, it's almost like the humans balance with nature perfectly. I've never seen anything like it and it really relaxes me...
5) The language. There's something about learning another language that makes you take a step back and examine your own. It's really eye-opening. I learned Japanese back in the States, but it wasn't until I put it into use and REALLY studied it that I realized how fucking HORRIBLE English is. My God, it makes no sense half the time. But it's home to my brain, so it's comforting. But there are times I prefer Japanese so much more as it is a set pattern. Yes there are rules (UGH transitive and intransitive are the BANE of my existence), but for the most part it makes the utmost sense. For example, to say "in public" in Japanese makes a lot of sense. 人前で is in public. You say it like, "hito ma-eh deh". Hito means person. Mae means before or in front. And de is like "in" (it has other meanings, but it's easy to figure out in this sense). Now I'm sure public is a Latin or French word that we stole, or something, but that just makes more sense to me.
6) Transportation. I know this is on the other list, but trains are SO wonderful. I've always enjoyed their simplicity and every time I got on one here, there was a story. From old man Sakae to the Dozo game, it was an adventure. And to anyone wondering, yes, I totally was shoved into a train to the point of breaking all rules of personal space. That was awesome, especially when drunk and on the last train. Walking home for 45 minutes after midnight while drunk was NOT so much fun (no, nothing happened. Nothing ever does in Japan).
7) Nothing happens. Crime wise, that is. Yeah, there's crime, but I take nightly conbini walks with my pals or even just myself after 10 at night and have never once felt in danger. It was a nice change to how it is in my area back home. I very much enjoyed myself.
The differences in Japan and America are astounding, but there are times I totally forgot I was in another country. I think it's because my mind is automatically understanding Japanese as easily as it is English. The other day, I was watching a movie in Japanese without subtitles and didn't even notice they weren't on. I then looked down and could write in English in a notebook while listening in Japanese. I never missed a beat. It's a very uplifiting and dream fullfilling moment when you realize that what you set out to do in this time abroad came true before you knew it. I'm going to miss Japan and will visit it again (though not Tokyo... just Kyoto or Osaka) and I'll miss all the amazing friends I've made here. I'll just have to come home, continue my studies, and aim for the chance to come back here. But I know that as much as a I love Japan, I know that I will only work in the States and do Japanese things, but will not move out of my messed up country.
Thanks for reading this for the entire 9 months I was gone. I hope it was eye opening and an adventure for you too. I apologize that so many of my later posts were summed up in this, but it just got to be a hassle to update all the time. I guess I'm not cut out for these kind of things, haha. Anyways, thanks again! See ya!
~星子☆
