teh Forum

For everyone that has spent a large amount of time in Japan, what was it that you found unfamiliar, shocking, or head shakingly bizaare the first time you came home?

Everything here seems so beautiful. From the green everywhere, to the blue blue lakes and sky. There aren't buildings everywhere. The houses all seem so nice.

People look at me different. So many more people here make eye contact. Like they are really looking at me. I know it is ridiculous, but it feels like they are thinking, "hey there goes that guy that was just got back from Japan..."

Why are the people in shops so rude? I want a big loud "IIIIRASHAIMASSEE!!" dammit!

I have adjusted to the car way of life though. Today, when going from place to place I got in my car and drove 100 yards and parked again.

So what have you guys noticed in the past?

I am interested in your thoughts too, Jonathan.

I have decided I definitley prefer to just get on a train to get to where I want to go. So much more human interaction! No traffic jams. And of course you never have to worry about grabbing a beer before heading home. I do miss drinking on the street.

I have really noticed how big American women are compared to their Japanese counterparts. Frightening.

Anyone got anything to add to this?

I certainly notice how big the women are back home when I visit. Especially in the breasticle region.

I guess it's even more noticeable here, though, like when a lone thirtysomething American woman is walking through Shibuya. Absolutely frightening. I'm afraid the behemoth might step on one of the pretty young things flittering about in it's path.

Yea... when compared with all the put-my-head-through-a-wall cute girls running around shibuya, the american girls don't stack up well. It could also be just that only the ugly one's visit japan...

...but I also do remember hot chicks coming out of the woodwork in NY during the summer.... It's been a while since i've seen that phenomenon...

Could be that all of the women visiting Japan are from the Midwest? They look pretty grain-fed to me.

yeah, summertime brings out the best on the sidewalks. I certainly did alot of rubbernecking in NYC all the time...winter too. It gets a bit rough when you get out of the cities, but I guess that's true most places.

I couldn't get over the service when I went back to Blighty. There's none of that stupid shouting = service crap SHAIMASEEEEEIIIIIII.

Instead some bloke says, "Oh you want the cheapest running shoe. Well in your size sir/mate, we have this one, this one, and that one. Personally I use that one, but this one isn't bad either. Yes, the one I use is a little cheaper. Wait while I go and thoughtfully get a spread of sizes for you to try on in case one size might not fit. Have a seat mate." I kept waiting for him to scratch the back of his head and say something annoying and unhelpful, but he kept on doggedly trying to get me wanted I without any bullshit.

In the end I left with the impression that English shops have complete geniuses working there.

I also fell heavily in love with some lissom teenager in the next car sitting in London traffic . I think my brother in law noticed. She was as delicately puripuri as any Japanese wahine, but with much more in the bosoms section.

I was expecting crushing reverse culture shock after some 5 years, but I actually felt quite at home.

Wow, 5 years without being home is a serious chunk of time.

I know exactly what you mean about shop workers. It is like pulling teeth to try to get useful information. Example - looking for the new Nikon SQ digital camera at maybe 5 or 6 different shops across a couple months always produced identical responses.

me: "excuse me, do you have the Nikon SQ?" (usually had to show them the brochure that was in their store)

clerk: (slow deep inhale) "don't think that is available right now"

me: "when do you expect it in"

clerk: (looks at brochure) "it says that a release date hasn't been set"

me: well I realize it says that on the brochure, but have you heard anything maybe since these were printed 6 months ago?"

clerk: ... (deer in headlights)

me: (adamant about getting some kind of answer)

clerk: ... (goes and asks his equally disinterested buddy) ... maybe soon ... maybe next month.

me: (this is what I have been hearing for months) any idea on the price?

clerk: ...blink blink...

So I went into a camera store here and asked a guy about the SQ. Immediately he knew exactly what I was talking about. In fact he had actually played with one when the Nikon rep had brought a sample by. He told me all about how they had some sort of problem and why it kept getting delayed. He knew how much it was expected to cost. He offered to let me pre-order one and even said he could give me a call when he had more information.



Now that is what I was looking for.