Day to Day
The past month has been a whirlwind, but I have adjusted very quickly to life here. I decided to list a few things that are incredibly different about living here. Although I knew about them before coming, I did not know the extent of it, so I will give some examples.
1. Politeness- I enjoy going to the grocery store and various malls that are around, but I quickly learned, if you don't stop bowing, then you will be bowing all day, and continually lower. I realized this when we went to set up our bank accounts and decided to stop while I was ahead. The Japanese culture is so polite and correct, that things just seem more peaceful all the time, and going to stores is such a pleasant experience because of how kind everyone is!
2. Peace and Quiet- The subway, when completely filled, is still usually incredibly quiet. The majority of people listen to music or are on their phones, so you seem super out of place if you are loud. Many even fall asleep...
3. Work Ethic- Japanese society as a whole is filled with hard-working people who go to work to do a job. This means that you don't need to show much personality or personalize things; always be professional! Also, you don't tip the pizza delivery man, and it would be considered offensive to do so. After all, he is just doing his job!
4. Wasting- This is the only one that I am still really getting used to. Japan cannot afford to fill up landfills that they don't have the space for. So recycling is a must- plastic bottles, plastic packaging, anything cardboard or paper. Trash is only supposed to be burnables, like receipts, newspaper fliers, or food waste.
Overall, I do enjoy life here a lot. It is taking time to make new friends, especially since all the other new people that came with me live at other apartment complexes, and don't have the same schedule I do. Since I teach Premier School Kindergarten, I work 8-5. Most of the other teachers, who are Premier School Elementary, work 1-7 since they are the "after-school program". I have met all the students I will be teaching next year, and they are adorable and so tiny. Most of them know "My name is _________" and the colors, some animals, and numbers to ten in English.
In other news, Spring Break starts this week! I will make sure to post pictures on Facebook of places that I go!
1. Politeness- I enjoy going to the grocery store and various malls that are around, but I quickly learned, if you don't stop bowing, then you will be bowing all day, and continually lower. I realized this when we went to set up our bank accounts and decided to stop while I was ahead. The Japanese culture is so polite and correct, that things just seem more peaceful all the time, and going to stores is such a pleasant experience because of how kind everyone is!
2. Peace and Quiet- The subway, when completely filled, is still usually incredibly quiet. The majority of people listen to music or are on their phones, so you seem super out of place if you are loud. Many even fall asleep...
3. Work Ethic- Japanese society as a whole is filled with hard-working people who go to work to do a job. This means that you don't need to show much personality or personalize things; always be professional! Also, you don't tip the pizza delivery man, and it would be considered offensive to do so. After all, he is just doing his job!
4. Wasting- This is the only one that I am still really getting used to. Japan cannot afford to fill up landfills that they don't have the space for. So recycling is a must- plastic bottles, plastic packaging, anything cardboard or paper. Trash is only supposed to be burnables, like receipts, newspaper fliers, or food waste.
Overall, I do enjoy life here a lot. It is taking time to make new friends, especially since all the other new people that came with me live at other apartment complexes, and don't have the same schedule I do. Since I teach Premier School Kindergarten, I work 8-5. Most of the other teachers, who are Premier School Elementary, work 1-7 since they are the "after-school program". I have met all the students I will be teaching next year, and they are adorable and so tiny. Most of them know "My name is _________" and the colors, some animals, and numbers to ten in English.
In other news, Spring Break starts this week! I will make sure to post pictures on Facebook of places that I go!
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