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I can sympathize. Whenever I come back to the US from Japan, I find myself bowing at the supermarket and persisting lots of little Japanese mannerisms. Sometime

I can sympathize. Whenever I come back to the US from Japan, I find myself bowing at the supermarket and persisting lots of little Japanese mannerisms. Sometimes for days. Japanese culture seems to demand more...commitment...than some of the other places I've visited and lived. Perhaps Japan is a stronger source of reverse culture shock.

bane 10y ago
Japan also is the source of a strange culture bound syndrome sometimes called "Paris syndrome" -- which is somewhat related to the lack of the kind of micro-ceremonies that are encoded in Japanese manners. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_syndrome https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_syndrome
greggman 10y ago
Bowing st the supermarket ? I've been in Toyko for over 10 years I've never seen customer bow at a supermarket. Is that a thing in some other part of Japan? What I notice going back to the USA is how it often feels like the 3rd world countries my dad would tell me about as a kid indirectly trying to tell me how great the USA is. Now I just see crime, corrupt police, etc. Came back for 6 months got my car broken into twice. Once in LA, once in SF. Try to hang out at a coffee shop to work but have to pack up my stuff and give up my seat to use the restroom because otherwise my computer will be stolen. I never feel safe riding public transportation in SF where as I never not feel safe riding in Japan. Another is convenience. After 9:30 in Venice Beach, if I haven't eaten by 9:30 nothing is open except 24 supermarkets in have to drive miles to. Compare to Tokyo where there's almost always a conveniece store within 5 minutes and they actually have reasonably good options. Food is bland and large. Americans seem to prioritize quantity over quality in general. At least in the suburbs. I could rant about Japan too but the topic is reverse culture shock.
- mixmastamyk 10y ago
  Venice beach closes, but there are quite a few places open late in Santa Monica, like Swingers. Unfortunately the Tommy's on Pico was turned into a Starbucks :(.
- verisimilidude 10y ago
  "Bow" might be the wrong word. More like the subtle forward nod/thrust that you make with your head when you thank or acknowledge someone. Most Americans might not even notice it, to be honest. I lived in Gunma for several years, for what it's worth. That was about a decade ago.

bane 10y ago

Japan also is the source of a strange culture bound syndrome sometimes called "Paris syndrome" -- which is somewhat related to the lack of the kind of micro-ceremonies that are encoded in Japanese manners. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_syndrome https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_syndrome

greggman 10y ago

Bowing st the supermarket ? I've been in Toyko for over 10 years I've never seen customer bow at a supermarket. Is that a thing in some other part of Japan? What I notice going back to the USA is how it often feels like the 3rd world countries my dad would tell me about as a kid indirectly trying to tell me how great the USA is. Now I just see crime, corrupt police, etc. Came back for 6 months got my car broken into twice. Once in LA, once in SF. Try to hang out at a coffee shop to work but have to pack up my stuff and give up my seat to use the restroom because otherwise my computer will be stolen. I never feel safe riding public transportation in SF where as I never not feel safe riding in Japan. Another is convenience. After 9:30 in Venice Beach, if I haven't eaten by 9:30 nothing is open except 24 supermarkets in have to drive miles to. Compare to Tokyo where there's almost always a conveniece store within 5 minutes and they actually have reasonably good options. Food is bland and large. Americans seem to prioritize quantity over quality in general. At least in the suburbs. I could rant about Japan too but the topic is reverse culture shock.

mixmastamyk 10y ago
Venice beach closes, but there are quite a few places open late in Santa Monica, like Swingers. Unfortunately the Tommy's on Pico was turned into a Starbucks :(.
verisimilidude 10y ago
"Bow" might be the wrong word. More like the subtle forward nod/thrust that you make with your head when you thank or acknowledge someone. Most Americans might not even notice it, to be honest. I lived in Gunma for several years, for what it's worth. That was about a decade ago.