(some excerpts copied from www.okinawahai.com)
1. You find yourself bowing unconsciously instead of saying "Hi"!
2. You get a letter from a pal with eight stamps on it, and JAPAN in large letters across the bottom.
3. You thought you would never choose decor in an "Asian theme" and now your living room resembles a Tokyo hotel lobby.
4. You wish that the military could insert a barcode under your skin instead of having an ID card.
5. There's an earthquake somewhere in Asia and everyone thinks you must have felt something.
6. You sheepishly shrug (feeling undeserving) in your seat when a young Marine salutes your car.
7. You have no problem dropping 5,000 Yen at dinner. It still doesn't really seem like fifty bucks to you.
8. You can meet all your shopping needs, at 11 PM, at Family Mart, but wouldn't be caught dead in a 7-11 after dusk in the States.
9. I noticed that my soon-to-be 3 year old son (who was born on mainland Japan) had picked up some Japanese nuances….like when he plays with cars he makes them “beep” when they back up!
10. You return Stateside and find that you’re turning on your windshield wipers instead of your turn signal. And you almost find yourself on the left side of the road when you’re not chanting “right, right, right” in your head.
11. You say “hai” to everyone instead of yes. Hopefully they just think I’m being friendly. :)
12. When we returned to the States from living overseas the first time I was so programmed to show my ID that I tried to show it to the greeter in Wal-Mart!
13. People ask you if you know someone who is stationed in Japan or lives in Japan, but they live on mainland and they think Tokyo is just up the street. :)
14. You turn off your lights at night or early morning when you get close to anything resembling a gate
15. You graciously accept a little candy from a sweet local and actually give it to your child.
16. You think nothing of the same sweet lady holding or touching your baby
17. If you travel by plane for less than 12 hours and make only 1 connection…it’s a quick trip.
18. You consider spending $4000 on a car to be a lot
19. You take seeing the ocean every day for granted
2. You get a letter from a pal with eight stamps on it, and JAPAN in large letters across the bottom.
3. You thought you would never choose decor in an "Asian theme" and now your living room resembles a Tokyo hotel lobby.
4. You wish that the military could insert a barcode under your skin instead of having an ID card.
5. There's an earthquake somewhere in Asia and everyone thinks you must have felt something.
6. You sheepishly shrug (feeling undeserving) in your seat when a young Marine salutes your car.
7. You have no problem dropping 5,000 Yen at dinner. It still doesn't really seem like fifty bucks to you.
8. You can meet all your shopping needs, at 11 PM, at Family Mart, but wouldn't be caught dead in a 7-11 after dusk in the States.
9. I noticed that my soon-to-be 3 year old son (who was born on mainland Japan) had picked up some Japanese nuances….like when he plays with cars he makes them “beep” when they back up!
10. You return Stateside and find that you’re turning on your windshield wipers instead of your turn signal. And you almost find yourself on the left side of the road when you’re not chanting “right, right, right” in your head.
11. You say “hai” to everyone instead of yes. Hopefully they just think I’m being friendly. :)
12. When we returned to the States from living overseas the first time I was so programmed to show my ID that I tried to show it to the greeter in Wal-Mart!
13. People ask you if you know someone who is stationed in Japan or lives in Japan, but they live on mainland and they think Tokyo is just up the street. :)
14. You turn off your lights at night or early morning when you get close to anything resembling a gate
15. You graciously accept a little candy from a sweet local and actually give it to your child.
16. You think nothing of the same sweet lady holding or touching your baby
17. If you travel by plane for less than 12 hours and make only 1 connection…it’s a quick trip.
18. You consider spending $4000 on a car to be a lot
19. You take seeing the ocean every day for granted
20. Seeing motorcycles and scooters using the roads and sidewalks interchangeably doesn’t even phase you and they no longer startle you when out of nowhere they suddenly appear right next to your car.
21. At first you are amazed by all the drink machines every 20 feet, but before you know it you are using them all the time and panic when you don’t see on right away when really thirsty!
22. You stop mulling over purchases and start buying things you MIGHT need later (eg. space heaters, turkey roasting pans, etc) as soon as you see them, thinking it is better to return something you don’t need than to need something that is no longer available to purchase.
23. Remembering the "3 car rule" at intersections when you realize that you are more likely to go through a yellow light than to stop.
24. Going 80 kph on the expressway actually feels like you’re going really fast!
25. You use landmarks when heading somewhere new instead of relying on street names.
26. You live out in town and can hum along to the music played at 7:00am and 6:00pm every day.
27. You can buy a piping hot CAN of coffee from the vending machine!
28. You carry customs forms, sharpies, and mailing boxes in your vehicle
29. You automatically add 6 months to the expiration date on coupons
30. You know exactly when you’re Space A paperwork expires
31. Once you’re back in the States:
a. You visit people for the first time and your whole family walks in the house and automatically lines up their shoes by the front door.
b. The first grocery store you look for is an Asian food store.
c. Every time you walk into a Dollar Store you wish you had a 100 Yen Shop nearby!
a. You visit people for the first time and your whole family walks in the house and automatically lines up their shoes by the front door.
b. The first grocery store you look for is an Asian food store.
c. Every time you walk into a Dollar Store you wish you had a 100 Yen Shop nearby!
What a fun blog! You had me smiling through the whole thing. I especially liked #'s 5, 10, 11, 17 and 29. I shall try hard not to complain about long flights ever again!! All of mine have been VERY short in comparison to flying to Oki!
ReplyDeleteElissa, I can picture you doing #11 without thinking. Saying 'hai' to people instead of yes. Ha! You ARE a very friendly person. I vote that you continue saying hai intead of yes when you return to the states!
Love you both and miss you a TON!
Mom B.