It's been 40 days since I left from Japan and this is the first post that I've ever been in the States. Apparently there has been nothing wrong with me, though the culture is different from that of Japan. But still, I sometimes dream of Japan, I just don't know why it happens but I wake up to find myself in the States and feel a gentle breeze of California. Thanks to the modern technology, I can contact with my family and local friends.the feeling of homesick surely will be disappeared in 10 years.
Ostensibly American characteristic is said to have been frank and cheerful, but I found that it is just a myth. They are exactly sarcastic and cheerful, but sometimes are calm, rational, and objective. The ethnic diversity appears here: Asian American guys make a fuss whenever they are together,but are so calm when they are alone,while European American is calm when they ( they basically act individually) come together, it seems to me that Japanese, if anything , are close to Asian American. My Japanese friends in UCLA also say "we are actually Asian, and I have much Asian American friends than European ones." But they don't have Asian American friends just because Japanese are Asian, To tell the truth, I have only a few Asian American friends, almost all of my friends are European American or exchange students from Europe.But as I wrote, Japanese is Asian, I'm not the exception. I think the difference between me and other Japanese students is, to say the least of it, the lack of Japanese knowledge:particularly pop culture one.
Ostensibly American characteristic is said to have been frank and cheerful, but I found that it is just a myth. They are exactly sarcastic and cheerful, but sometimes are calm, rational, and objective. The ethnic diversity appears here: Asian American guys make a fuss whenever they are together,but are so calm when they are alone,while European American is calm when they ( they basically act individually) come together, it seems to me that Japanese, if anything , are close to Asian American. My Japanese friends in UCLA also say "we are actually Asian, and I have much Asian American friends than European ones." But they don't have Asian American friends just because Japanese are Asian, To tell the truth, I have only a few Asian American friends, almost all of my friends are European American or exchange students from Europe.But as I wrote, Japanese is Asian, I'm not the exception. I think the difference between me and other Japanese students is, to say the least of it, the lack of Japanese knowledge:particularly pop culture one.
Last week, my room mate's uncle visited our room and questioned me that "are your parents, you know, traditional?," proving that the images of Japan for Europeans have been same as that of 19th century, that is, Orientalism, including video games, cars, and cartoons. To my surprise, Asian Americans has so many information about us especially singers and anime industry. But unfortunately, I have no idea about them. I love American and British music, and what is worse, I'm English literature major. So, I'd rather live in the society where Japanese images are Harakiri, Kamikaze, and Geisha than the society where Japan is cool.
I do want to study such a thing right now, but don't know the appropriate major. Sociology or Ethnology?
Hey Stingy! How's it going? What are you majoring in?
返信削除Best wishes,
RW
I'm pretty fine, though I'll have to go back to Japan in 40days. I'm currently majoring English but as I read my previous posts, I found so many mistakes in my post and I don't even understand them.
返信削除So since then I went to New York and England.London is such a city.