An American in Japan
Life is very different in Japan compared to life in America.
First, Japan is very quiet! Everything in America is loud: the cars, the restaurants, and the people. Cars play very loud music as they drive on the street. Large families talk and laugh loudly in restaurants. And people tend to speak at a high volume. Life in Japan is much quieter. The cars make a little noise as they drive past, but very rarely honk or play loud music. Restaurants are quiet, safe places. And Japanese people tend to talk quietly to each other so they don't disturb the people around them.
Second, Japanese food is not sweet. Food in America has a lot of sugar! I did not realize this until I moved to Japan. When I arrived here, I thought that the desserts had no sugar! I could not taste any sweetness at all. However, the longer I lived in Japan, the more I was able to taste the sugar in Japanese sweets. Japanese sweets have a more subtle sweetness, which means they are only a little sweet when you eat them. Now, when I try to eat American desserts, I cannot finish the dessert because it is too sweet!
Finally, Japanese people are very polite. Americans are known for being "friendly". They will talk to strangers and help someone who is short or elderly grab items on the top shelf at a grocery store. But Americans are not always polite. They talk loudly on their cellphones, play loud music in their cars, honk at people on the sidewalks, and complain loudly to servers in a restaurant. Japanese people are very polite. They are very mindful of the people around them. They stay quiet in buses and trains. They do not play loud music or talk on their cellphones in public areas. And they respect the servers in a restaurant.
I have enjoyed life both in America and in Japan. But I have found that it is very different living in another country. And I have grown to really enjoy and admire life in Japan!
First, Japan is very quiet! Everything in America is loud: the cars, the restaurants, and the people. Cars play very loud music as they drive on the street. Large families talk and laugh loudly in restaurants. And people tend to speak at a high volume. Life in Japan is much quieter. The cars make a little noise as they drive past, but very rarely honk or play loud music. Restaurants are quiet, safe places. And Japanese people tend to talk quietly to each other so they don't disturb the people around them.
Second, Japanese food is not sweet. Food in America has a lot of sugar! I did not realize this until I moved to Japan. When I arrived here, I thought that the desserts had no sugar! I could not taste any sweetness at all. However, the longer I lived in Japan, the more I was able to taste the sugar in Japanese sweets. Japanese sweets have a more subtle sweetness, which means they are only a little sweet when you eat them. Now, when I try to eat American desserts, I cannot finish the dessert because it is too sweet!
Finally, Japanese people are very polite. Americans are known for being "friendly". They will talk to strangers and help someone who is short or elderly grab items on the top shelf at a grocery store. But Americans are not always polite. They talk loudly on their cellphones, play loud music in their cars, honk at people on the sidewalks, and complain loudly to servers in a restaurant. Japanese people are very polite. They are very mindful of the people around them. They stay quiet in buses and trains. They do not play loud music or talk on their cellphones in public areas. And they respect the servers in a restaurant.
I have enjoyed life both in America and in Japan. But I have found that it is very different living in another country. And I have grown to really enjoy and admire life in Japan!
