by findingbackroads

Thursday Thirteen #30 : 13 SIGNS THAT SAY YOU’VE BEEN IN JAPAN TOO LONG

13 SIGNS THAT SAY YOU’VE BEEN IN JAPAN TOO LONG

1. People stop complementing you on your Japanese language and start asking you where you had your eyes done.

2. You run into an escalator and stay on the left. In Japan, people who walk in escalators walk in the right. Those who prefer to stay put, stays on the left.

3. You find yourself bowing while talking on the phone.

4. Your favorite chocolate is called Melty Kiss and that phrase don’t puzzle you at all.

5. The Yakult lady at your previous office canteen knows you by name (and emails you from time to time!).

6. You miss your transparent umbrellas.

7. You develop a liking to Haagen-Dazs green tea flavored ice cream.

8. You notice you’ve forgotten how to tie shoelaces.

9. You are disgusted why there’s no hot beverages in the vending machines outside Japan.

10. You are not interested in TV shows telling newcomers “All About Japan”.

11. You talk to your brother who is also in Japan and converse entirely in Japanese (and you both enjoy it)!

12. You are back in your home country for a short visit and wait for the taxi or every shop door to open automatically.

13. You stupidly wait for a ‘kanpai’ at an all-foreigner’s party.

I have been in Japan for more than 10 years before relocating to Dubai and I thought about this while on my way to work this morning. I enjoyed doing this list, I might come up with another set. 🙂

21 Comments

  1. Great list. The escalator thing is also true in Australia. I spent a summer there and after coming home it took me a long time to remember to go to the right instead of the left. LOL.

    Happy TT.

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  4. yeah, in osaka #2 is the other way around.

    #14. You eat in a self-service restaurant in your country and you clean your table (trays and cups and plates) soon as you leave.

    #15. You bow while greeting someone (even when not in Japan). The gesture is automatic. 🙂

    amazed with #11!

    rose’s last blog post..the reason for her heartbreak

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  5. Stirlyn – “Kanpai” means cheers! The Japs always start a party by pouring a drink and shouting “Kanpai!” and clinking glasses. No one starts nibbling anything without the Kanpai part. 🙂

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  14. Here in Germany (yeah, I know–everybody’s commenting on #2!), it’s “rechts stehen, links gehen”–in other words, the opposite. I’ve been here off and on for 13.5 years, but sadly, I’d never be mistaken for a native.

    Darla’s last blog post..TT #86

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  16. I loved the list. And I’d love to live anywhere that all the doors opened automatically. I’m not opposed to opening doors, I just don’t particularly care for the folks who sneeze on their hands, then open the door. Ah well, for those of us state-side, we just need to carry a bottle of GermX.

    Thanks for sharing the snippets of Japan.

    Sandra’s last blog post..More mom musings

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  19. Gosh, it’s amazing how moving to Japan is like moving to Colorado – although Denver is the most “unfriendly” city in the country!

    Sorry I missed this yesterday. I’ve been distracted…. sigh.

    You know, I don’t actually know what country is your home country.

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