I’m back in the UK and experiencing some reverse culture shock:
Bowing every time I say thank you or sorry.
Mourning the lack of vending machines.
Pleasantly surprised at everyone’s politeness.
Seeing differently coloured naturalhair
Marvelling the open size of the bins on the street
Seeing cherry blossom on the street
Admiring the general greenery. Even in London.
Trying not to say, “Ah there’s a foreigner over there”, every time I see a Western-looking person.
Feeling the gap before I start eating where I should be saying “Itadakimasu” (I humbly receive)
Taking off shoes the moment I enter a house.
Shocked at paying the same price for a drink in pence in England as I paid in yen in Japan.
I’m also infuriating myself and I’m sure many other people by starting every statement with, “In Japan…” or, “When I was in Japan…” I guess that I have little knowledge of daily British affairs recently that I am compelled to do this. I hope Japan interests my friends enough that they don’t tell me to get over myself.
But I’m glad to be back.
Was good to speak to you again sir. Looking forward to seeing you at the weekend.
Enjoy your Bangers and mash!
I had that reverse culture shock when I got home from my six week trip to Japan in 2001. In the airport I was like, “Whoa, look at all the white people!” (And since I live in the US, I was also thinking that everyone seemed really tall and overweight :/)