Preparing for Reverse Culture Shock

We officially have 8 more weeks in Japan. We have a fly out date sometime in the first week of April and will be packing our house up in mid-March. I can't believe it's time to leave already. Part of me is excited to return to the US and be close to family. So many things have happened in my family in the past three years and I could only be there for a fraction of the events. When people first move here (especially people without children) they find they fly back to the US often. Eventually though, as time wears on, it gets pricey and you have a life here in Japan you can't just up and abandon. So, the visits to the US become fewer and farther in between. The last time I saw my family was over a year ago. I'm definitely ready for a visit.

I'm also bracing myself to experience something called "reverse" culture shock, where people returning to the US are a little taken aback by things they aren't accustom to anymore. Now, I always giggle at people who claim they won't remember English words for certain things (it's going to take a lot more than three years in Japan to forget English, if that EVER happens). I'm talking about small things. Let me explain with a few examples:

1. Safety. It's not that Japan is safe (there's crime here like everywhere else), but people don't usually commit random acts of crime and thievery is almost as dishonorable and horrible as assault. I'm about to admit to something that I can get away with here in Japan -- ready? Try not to be horrified, my US readers:

When I shop at the Japanese stores, I leave my purse on the floor, under a rack and shop entirely down one whole aisle with my purse out of my eyesight.

WHEW. That was a confession. The horrifying thing? Last time I was in Target in the US (when I went to Hawaii),  I LEFT MY PURSE ON THE FLOOR AND WENT AROUND THE WOMEN'S DEPARTMENT! I didn't even think twice about it. I left it there and walked away! It wasn't until I thought about it that I ran back and remembered we can't do that in the US. How stupid of me!

2. Money. Japan still has a relationship with money that indicates cash is supposed to be handled honorably. As such, you typically never hand your money directly to a cashier. You put your money in a little tray and the cashier picks up the tray and counts the money.

Again, another story about my recent trip to Hawaii....I was checking out at a CVS and I had cash in my hand ready to hand to the cashier. She was busy bagging my items, so instead of waiting, I (without thinking) found a tiny, tiny space next to her register and tried to force the cash into the tiny space. Then, when I watched her trying to scoop the money off the little area, I realized how RUDE it was of me to attempt to put the money on the counter. I did it without thinking! I am so used to setting the money down next to the register, it has become a habit.


I'm sure there's other things that are going to become apparent like saying, "Hai." all the time when people are talking to you. Bowing for everything. Or giving a good loud, "SUMI MASSSEEEEEEN!" when calling a waitress over to your table (in the US, you would NEVER, EVER yell for a waitress unless you want spit food).

At any rate, John and I are ready to return to the US. Japan has been wonderful, but we're ready to be close to our families. I'm ready to have a job again. We're both ready to start investing money in things like a house to get our lives started.

More to come....