Since moving to Okinawa, I select had to reexamine how I expect at myself, others, as well as the globe but about me. Needless to say, my experiences aren’t equally extreme equally other expats stationed inwards the rural countryside or inwards cities where unusual women are viewed equally hostesses or ugly English linguistic communication teachers. After all, I’m on Okinawa as well as the amount of Americans is inwards high abundance.
Despite the fact Okinawans alive alongside foreigners, non a 24-hour interval goes yesteryear where I’m non reminded I am different, the “other”, as well as non Japanese.
Good.
1. My Hair
My curly lion’s mane was my signature dorsum habitation as well as carried over here. You tin give the sack spot me a mile away with my caput total of brown, crazy, tresses. When I offset arrived, students asked, “Is your pilus a perm?”
Preposterous.
Hadn’t they e'er seen natural, curly pilus before? The answer, no. If Japanese desire curly hair, they learn perms that terminate upwardly looking wavy. I spent my offset 2 months fending off students sneak attacking from behind to touching on my hair, explaining my pilus grows out of my caput this way, as well as my parents select curly hair, thence my genetics.
I gauge when you lot alive inwards a ocean of direct hair, it’s unusual to holler upwardly something other exists.
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| Changdeokgung Palace, Seoul, Korea |
2. My Honesty as well as Expressions
One of my friends inwards the social studies department, Y*, admires my blatant honesty. When he asked if I idea my Cross Fit compaction was hot, I didn’t skip a beat, “Oh yes! He’s so handsome!”
Taken aback yesteryear my reply he explained he never heard someone hold upwardly so blunt.
“Well, as well as so with me you’re lucky! You never select to gauge what I’m thinking. If I’m happy, I’m happy! If I’m angry, you’ll know!”
Japanese typically don’t present their emotions. Don’t learn me wrong, I select enough of Japanese friends limited themselves marvelously as well as I appreciate them for it. However, I’ve come upwardly to discovery through Japanese comedies, at that topographic point isn’t a myriad of facial expressions either. I know they are capable of seem because I oft reckon children brand a diverseness of faces.
In addition, they purpose the seem “Inshindenshin” which way communication of hear with mind. I’m sorry, but I can’t read minds. I am neither Edward Cullen nor Marvel super hero. I’m a fleck socially retarded as well as I would appreciate directness. Thanks.
3. I’m Bossy, Pushy, Intimidating
When it comes to kicking ass, taking names, as well as getting shit done, I am your woman. While working on the Kakehashi projection with my kids, the script was non done, the filming had non started, the instructor inwards accuse didn’t desire to inquire for my help, as well as it was due inwards x days to our regime board. When the caput of the English linguistic communication subdivision gave me total power, I instantly lay the kids to work, Japanese organization hold upwardly damned.
Within i week, the filming, acting, as well as video were finished. I didn’t inquire anyone for their permission or their thoughts. I but did it.
While speaking your view as well as giving orders is intimidating inwards America, it’s non so sought later on inwards Japan—it’s worse. Most Japanese learn with the grouping consensus, afraid to mess upwardly the harmony. Even if someone thinks differently, they won’t speak out because going against the grouping way you’re out of the grouping as well as causing trouble.
I may hold upwardly adding to the stereotype equally a brash as well as abrasive foreigner, but I loathe to interruption it to you, Japan. The residuum of the globe is non equally mistaken prissy equally you.
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| Do what nosotros say!!! |
4. I Question Everything
The Japanese similar to hold upwardly given the answer. They desire the reply as well as don’t enquiry where it came from or why it is a for certain way.
I’m going to select upwardly Y* over again because I rack his encephalon for answers nigh Japanese culture. One of my manly soul students wrote an incredibly inspirational view on Rent a Friend companies inwards Tokyo. I believed his entry was wonderful as well as restored my religious belief inwards the youth of Nihon as well as that non all Japanese are crazy.
When Y* read it, he started laughing as well as I was really confused. There was nix funny nigh it. If anything, my student’s entry melted my heart.
“Why are you lot laughing?” I inquire Y*.
“Men don’t actually utter nigh their feelings.”
“Why?”
“It’s because Bushido.”
“What’s Bushido?”
“The spirit of the samurai.”
“But the samurai are all dead…”
Poor Y*.
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| Gina versus the koi--Round 2 |
When I tell you lot I am ENORMOUS inwards Japan, it isn’t an understatement. I wearable a size 14, a medium or large inwards tops, as well as select a size nine shoe. While I’m a proficient curvy inwards America, inwards Japan, non so much. I know I’ve been complaining nigh my height, but tiptop is nix inwards comparing to my trunk type. If I tell someone my weight, their initial thoughts are: I am morbidly obese as well as diabetic.
If I demand clothes, I select to learn to the Super Size Store as well as their clothe are so baggy, I may equally good wearable a trash bag. Rare trips to mainland are spent haunting the magic wonderland of H&M.
Cute shoes practise non be if you’re higher upwardly size 8. If I desire them, I learn to the men’s section. Some men’s shoes select a feminine touching on so I’ve been getting away with men’s high top kicks.
In America, where people of all dissimilar shapes as well as sizes exist, I felt comfortable inwards the pare I was in. I was never so trunk witting until I came to Japan, where a fatty comment is easily passed from adult woman to woman. No wonder fifty-fifty the tiniest of Japanese women discovery it of import to learn on a diet.
So what does an expat gal living inwards Nihon practise to create a positive trunk image? My solution—Cross Fit. As long equally I’m stand upwardly for as well as experience proficient nigh myself, that’s all that matters to me.
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| Day dreamin inwards Seoul |
Thanks, Japan, for reminding me I’m dissimilar as well as I’m glad to select been brought upwardly inwards America, solid reason of the gratuitous as well as habitation of the brave. Thanks for reaffirming I was taught to holler upwardly for myself as well as enquiry my surroundings. As a kid born to a Mexican woman nurture as well as an Italian American father, I select encountered my fair portion of differences betwixt Mexican culture, American culture, as well as bastardized Italian culture, but they all brand me unique. Thank you, Japan, for reminding me I’m special, I was born instant to no i as well as equal to a man. Despite our cultural differences, Japan, I discovery you lot to hold upwardly really endearing inwards pointing out what makes me, me.
If you're interested, cheque out my novel YouTube video featuring Kyle Gott as well as whale watching!
If you're interested, cheque out my novel YouTube video featuring Kyle Gott as well as whale watching!
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