It has really started to sink in that I cannot tolerate spicy food as well as I used to. My spice tolerance level is probably equivalent to the average Japanese person now.
My taste/tolerance for spicy food has grown though.
Sidewalk rage..
A taste for shochu. I couldn’t stand the stuff when I first started living here but I developed a taste for it after I realized how many different varieties and recipes there are for it. Now I’m something of a shochu aficionado.
Alcoholism.
My tolerance for bad customer service is way down. When I go back to the States and go to any fast food place, I get stressed at just how they kind of lean against the counter and look like they would have preferred it if I hadn’t come in.
Also, Americans in general are so *loud* now. Fifteen years in Japan has completely rewired my brain.
Sushi and sashimi. When I first came to Japan I had to fight hard the gag reflex at every enkai where all that was on offer was sashimi, and my enthusiastic hosts wanted me to eat it. It was an ordeal.
Now, I can’t get enough of that shit.
Maybe it’s due to the timezone or all the bases here or many American tourists, but I seem to be interacting more with Americans on- and offline which also means interacting more with annoying Americans which subconsciously tells my mind “damn Americans” even though it’s generalizing
Saying sumimasen…
Wasting time on Reddit
Something unexpected is how many creepy weirdos come to Japan to be ALTs with no skill other than barely speaking English and watching anime. I always just thought that was a joke on the internet but no it’s real.
– Getting up immediately after finish a meal for other person to sit.
– Always waiting for someone to confirm the “right” way to do things.
I used to drink mostly water and coffee, now it’s pretty evenly distributed between water, coffee and tea.
As for spicy food – 7 years later and I’m still as tolerant as ever. Though I actively keep myself in shape by always ordering 激辛 or the equivalent (which sometimes is not spicy at all, but still). But then I’m Mexican so I don’t think I’ll ever completely lose it.
A liking for natto.
I shower in the evening now.
I’ve realized that a lot of us Americans use the word “fuck” in almost every sentence. Never thought about it before, until I saw a show make fun of it and now I can’t unsee it.
bowing instinctively
How I talk with people. Waiting for others to finish speaking more completely, offering small “ん” to respond that I’m listening, how I soften my responses at the beginning, etc.. I’m still not full Japanese with this regard, but it’s a stark contrast for how I used to speak–and now I do the same in English.
I’ve grown to have immense appreciation for crunchy foods. There’s so many soft foods in Japan you start to crave something that’ll cut your gums after a while.
Chlamydia.
I used to sleep on my side a lot, and as with most South East Asians, we have a bolster to hug while we sleep.
Sleeping with a futon has basically made me sleep on my back even with a regular bed now, and now I no longer hug my bolster at all.
drinking beer in broad daylight while walking. (in our country, it doesn’t make a good image of you.)
Rage at people talking openly on their phones on the train. I do not care that you had a disagreement with Barnaby in accounts.
I was once present for a full on screaming match on a London bus. One party got off the bus and we all breathed a sigh of relief. But then a phone began to ring… and the argument continued, one-sided.
Bowing on the phone and making the little karate chop/hand shark fin motion whenever I’m passing through a crowded area. Even if I’m simply passing by someone. And it’s super small, but I do it without thinking, reflexively.
Also, when I use English I’m so used to adjusting the speed and vocabulary down that my first day back home people think I’ve suffered a head injury.
probably a sense of quietness when im in my apartment, i’m not a loud person in general but this is something i would have not cared about 4 years ago
I used to not be able to eat most seafood and now I can tolerate most of it and even enjoy quite a few things. Fuck shishamo though.
Cooking and frying (supposedly) unhealthier foods.
One might think that I would’ve at least tried deep fried Twinkies while living in America and eat lean while in Japan, but alas, here I am enjoying katsus, tempuras or whatever else I can deep fry as well as enjoying non-lean beef, chicken, and pork.
Expecting the cashiers to bag my groceries at check out.
Bowing when saying thank you.
Saying hai to respond as yes or that’s right.
I went back to NYC for a month this year, had to think before doing quite a lot. When I met up with my friend I bowed and said hai when he suggested we should go paintball.
Backchanneling 50 times in a single conversation
Hay fever
When I first came and saw women covering their skin by using arm covers and parasols, I thought it was silly. Jokes on me because 10 years later and I get anxiety over having bare arms/shoulders in the sun and wear much more “conservative” clothing by western standards. I always use a parasol/scarf/arm covers and a crazy amount of sunscreen.
29 comments
A mild pollen allergy, after ca. 15 years.
My taste/tolerance for spicy food has grown though.
Sidewalk rage..
A taste for shochu. I couldn’t stand the stuff when I first started living here but I developed a taste for it after I realized how many different varieties and recipes there are for it. Now I’m something of a shochu aficionado.
Alcoholism.
My tolerance for bad customer service is way down. When I go back to the States and go to any fast food place, I get stressed at just how they kind of lean against the counter and look like they would have preferred it if I hadn’t come in.
Also, Americans in general are so *loud* now. Fifteen years in Japan has completely rewired my brain.
Sushi and sashimi. When I first came to Japan I had to fight hard the gag reflex at every enkai where all that was on offer was sashimi, and my enthusiastic hosts wanted me to eat it. It was an ordeal.
Now, I can’t get enough of that shit.
Maybe it’s due to the timezone or all the bases here or many American tourists, but I seem to be interacting more with Americans on- and offline which also means interacting more with annoying Americans which subconsciously tells my mind “damn Americans” even though it’s generalizing
Saying sumimasen…
Wasting time on Reddit
Something unexpected is how many creepy weirdos come to Japan to be ALTs with no skill other than barely speaking English and watching anime. I always just thought that was a joke on the internet but no it’s real.
– Getting up immediately after finish a meal for other person to sit.
– Always waiting for someone to confirm the “right” way to do things.
I used to drink mostly water and coffee, now it’s pretty evenly distributed between water, coffee and tea.
As for spicy food – 7 years later and I’m still as tolerant as ever. Though I actively keep myself in shape by always ordering 激辛 or the equivalent (which sometimes is not spicy at all, but still). But then I’m Mexican so I don’t think I’ll ever completely lose it.
A liking for natto.
I shower in the evening now.
I’ve realized that a lot of us Americans use the word “fuck” in almost every sentence. Never thought about it before, until I saw a show make fun of it and now I can’t unsee it.
bowing instinctively
How I talk with people. Waiting for others to finish speaking more completely, offering small “ん” to respond that I’m listening, how I soften my responses at the beginning, etc.. I’m still not full Japanese with this regard, but it’s a stark contrast for how I used to speak–and now I do the same in English.
I’ve grown to have immense appreciation for crunchy foods. There’s so many soft foods in Japan you start to crave something that’ll cut your gums after a while.
Chlamydia.
I used to sleep on my side a lot, and as with most South East Asians, we have a bolster to hug while we sleep.
Sleeping with a futon has basically made me sleep on my back even with a regular bed now, and now I no longer hug my bolster at all.
drinking beer in broad daylight while walking. (in our country, it doesn’t make a good image of you.)
Rage at people talking openly on their phones on the train. I do not care that you had a disagreement with Barnaby in accounts.
I was once present for a full on screaming match on a London bus. One party got off the bus and we all breathed a sigh of relief. But then a phone began to ring… and the argument continued, one-sided.
Bowing on the phone and making the little karate chop/hand shark fin motion whenever I’m passing through a crowded area. Even if I’m simply passing by someone. And it’s super small, but I do it without thinking, reflexively.
Also, when I use English I’m so used to adjusting the speed and vocabulary down that my first day back home people think I’ve suffered a head injury.
probably a sense of quietness when im in my apartment, i’m not a loud person in general but this is something i would have not cared about 4 years ago
I used to not be able to eat most seafood and now I can tolerate most of it and even enjoy quite a few things. Fuck shishamo though.
Cooking and frying (supposedly) unhealthier foods.
One might think that I would’ve at least tried deep fried Twinkies while living in America and eat lean while in Japan, but alas, here I am enjoying katsus, tempuras or whatever else I can deep fry as well as enjoying non-lean beef, chicken, and pork.
Expecting the cashiers to bag my groceries at check out.
Bowing when saying thank you.
Saying hai to respond as yes or that’s right.
I went back to NYC for a month this year, had to think before doing quite a lot. When I met up with my friend I bowed and said hai when he suggested we should go paintball.
Backchanneling 50 times in a single conversation
Hay fever
When I first came and saw women covering their skin by using arm covers and parasols, I thought it was silly. Jokes on me because 10 years later and I get anxiety over having bare arms/shoulders in the sun and wear much more “conservative” clothing by western standards. I always use a parasol/scarf/arm covers and a crazy amount of sunscreen.