Culture Observations

When I came to America, I found many differences between Japan and America. Most are very interesting, but some are strange I think.

First I would like to write about restrooms. When I use a public American restroom, I am surprised, because there is a small crack between the door and the side, even if we close the door. Sometimes when I enter a public restroom, I make eye contact with someone outside. In addition, there is a big space between the bottom of the door and the floor. I heard from my RA that sometimes children enter the restroom from under the door. I asked my RA why the door is too short in American restrooms, but she does not know either. During my visited to Seattle, my friend used the public restroom at Pike Place Market. The door was too short and too low, so when she stood up in the room, her face went out from the door and she had eye contact with someone. I was really surprised and shocked, when I heard the story. Why are public restroom doors so short? Is it to find someone who falls down in there and help them? I do not know and I wonder why.

In Japan, we take off our shoes, when we enter the house. On the other hand, many Americans wear shoes when they enter their house. Some Americans take them off, but some people do not care, which means both are ok, taking them off or keeping them on, it is up to you.

Japanese anime is famous and popular in America, but there are some differences. My friend’s RA knows a lot of Japanese anime movies, more than me, and I almost don't really know her favorite one. Sometimes I watch an anime show on TV here. It is a little strange because I was accustomed to hearing voices in Japanese. I heard one interesting difference between Japan and America from my friend. It was about the anime show “One Peace”, which is from Japan. One of characters is always with a cigarette in his mouth, but he does not have a cigarette in America. Instead of it, he always has stick of candy in his mouth. It is maybe because children will not imitate smoking. I think it is good for education of children.

There are many differences between Japan and America. It is so interesting for me to learn the differences, and sometimes I feel they are strange. While I am at MFWI, I want to learn about lots of American culture.