October 26, 2004

Funny OT: You know you've been in Japan too long when....

I was recently cleaning up a forgotten corner of the house and found this list that I got a long time ago from a coworker. I didn't understand all of them at the time, but now I do... totally hilarious if you get it. Here are some of my favourites:

You know you've been in Japan too long when:

1. You don't think it's unusual for a truck to play "It's a small world" when backing up.
2. When in the middle of nowhere totally surrounded by rice fields and abundant nature, you aren't surprised to find a drink vending machine with no visible means of a power supply.
3. You have mastered the art of simultaneous bowing and handshaking.
4. You find yourself practicing golf swings with your umbrella on the train platform.
5. You buy an individually plastic wrapped potato (tomato, green pepper, carrot etc..) in the supermarket.
6. You use the "slasher hand" and continuous bowing to make your way through a crowd.
7. Back in your home country for a short visit you wait patiently outside your taxi for its door to spring open for you.
8. You start bowing on the telephone when you end the conversation.
9. You find it saves time to stand and retrieve your cabin baggage while the plane is on the final approach.
10. You have developed an uncontrollable urge to follow people carrying small flags.
11. You're not surprised when three men show up with a ladder to change a lightbulb.
12. You can't have your picture taken without your fingers forming the "peace" sign.
13. You run for the train pushing people left and right, jump on the train holding the door open to let your bag in.... because you know there won't be another train for at least a minute.

14. You understand all of the above.

Totally funny stuff to me as I've been here about 8 years now and these "quirks" of Japan are normal life now. I used to be amazed at some of the customs and behaviours but not anymore (or at least not as much). As for the taxi one, I've done that... :D I laughed at myself and then opened the door, but it did take me a few seconds to realize you open the door yourself.

If you have some funnies concerning a foreign country you live in or your own country stick 'em in the comments. This is most certainly not a culture bashing, just funnies on the difference in customs and normal everyday actions we all take while living our lives in whatever environment we are in. I'd have to say this is one of the coolest things to experience when living in another country.

Posted by Graeme at October 26, 2004 03:04 PM
　



Comments

You know you've been in Japan too long if you feel no qualms about taking an hour-long nap in your idling car on the side of the road.

Posted by: Chester Campbell at October 27, 2004 12:15 AM

Since I nodded in confirmation and understanding with each item on the list without laughing, I guess I have been here too long...

You know you've been in Japan too long when ..

You don't think it odd to pick up the phone and order sushi.

You no longer think potatoes, squid, shrimp, mayonnaise, octopus, mochi, etc. are strange pizza toppings.

Don't think twice about speeding down a "road" that requires you to hit the switch that pops in your side mirrors so they don’t get sheered off.

You wouldn't even consider entering a persons house with your shoes on.

You arrive in the airport in your home country and keep saying "sumimasen"(while making the hand waving motion) when attempting to get past (non-Japanese) people to retrieve your luggage.

You feel clumsy eating with silverware...

You are in a another country and find it hard to believe that you cannot find green tea in a vending machine.

Posted by: Kris at October 27, 2004 03:14 PM

You know you've been in Japan too long when..

You have gotten used to the idea of Christmas Cake.

You dont find it strange that vending machines might have Beer, whisky, CDs, DVDs, socks, hot food that should not come out of a vending machine, etc.

Posted by: Kris at October 27, 2004 03:20 PM