Culture Shock
October 23rd
Culture shock is the feeling of disorientation by someone who is suddenly subjected to an unfamiliar culture, way of life, or set of attitudes. I am still going through the emotional ups and downs of adjusting to life in a small town in Iowa. Yesterday I was up but today I'm down really down, it's been cold and rainy here all week and this time of year in Japan is always so beautiful, my favorite time of year. Right now I feel like I'm in hell. I've got to start painting again.
On the other hand last weekend we had beautiful weather. My daughter and I went to a park and saw a natural sculpture exhibit. We walked for about 3 hours.
This is the natural sculture exhibit we visited.
We walked around this lake.
This is how bad my culture shock is, when I first saw this I thought it was another sculpture but no it's a bike rack. Duh.
Every time I go to a park here I see someone getting their picture taken. Americans apparently like having their picture taken outside for different occasions such as an engagement announcement, wedding, new baby or a high school senior graduating. I was making fun of this and asked my daughter to take a high school senior picture of me outside but my daughter calls these my senior citizen pictures.
Graduating in life my senior citizen pictures. Somebody please help me.
Culture shock is the feeling of disorientation by someone who is suddenly subjected to an unfamiliar culture, way of life, or set of attitudes. I am still going through the emotional ups and downs of adjusting to life in a small town in Iowa. Yesterday I was up but today I'm down really down, it's been cold and rainy here all week and this time of year in Japan is always so beautiful, my favorite time of year. Right now I feel like I'm in hell. I've got to start painting again.
On the other hand last weekend we had beautiful weather. My daughter and I went to a park and saw a natural sculpture exhibit. We walked for about 3 hours.
This is the natural sculture exhibit we visited.
We walked around this lake.
This is how bad my culture shock is, when I first saw this I thought it was another sculpture but no it's a bike rack. Duh.
Every time I go to a park here I see someone getting their picture taken. Americans apparently like having their picture taken outside for different occasions such as an engagement announcement, wedding, new baby or a high school senior graduating. I was making fun of this and asked my daughter to take a high school senior picture of me outside but my daughter calls these my senior citizen pictures.
Graduating in life my senior citizen pictures. Somebody please help me.
New Life
October 13
I returned to America last month and am now living in a small town in Iowa. My life has change completely from the one I had in Japan. In Japan I lived in a city surround by mountains with a view of Mt. Fuji. I had a home, two cars, a cute little dog and a great job as a teacher. In Iowa I live in a city surrounded by flat farmland. I have a small apartment, no car, no dog, no job but I do get to live with my daughter. My daughter wanted to experience high school in America and I came here to be with her. Even though I'm American I lived in Japan for twenty-one years and feel more comfortable in Japan than America. I am suffering from culture shock everytime I try to do something, today I tackled the complexities of grocery shopping. The shopping cart is hugh, the food unfamiliar, the store is too big it takes too long to find anything and how does one check out? Luckily the people here have been kind and helpful on the whole making my transition a little less stressful.
I had my 51st birthday this month and I deserved this slice of double fudge chocolate madness supreme cake.
I returned to America last month and am now living in a small town in Iowa. My life has change completely from the one I had in Japan. In Japan I lived in a city surround by mountains with a view of Mt. Fuji. I had a home, two cars, a cute little dog and a great job as a teacher. In Iowa I live in a city surrounded by flat farmland. I have a small apartment, no car, no dog, no job but I do get to live with my daughter. My daughter wanted to experience high school in America and I came here to be with her. Even though I'm American I lived in Japan for twenty-one years and feel more comfortable in Japan than America. I am suffering from culture shock everytime I try to do something, today I tackled the complexities of grocery shopping. The shopping cart is hugh, the food unfamiliar, the store is too big it takes too long to find anything and how does one check out? Luckily the people here have been kind and helpful on the whole making my transition a little less stressful.
I had my 51st birthday this month and I deserved this slice of double fudge chocolate madness supreme cake.