What cultural norm have you observed while we were traveling that you would like to see adopted into U.S. culture and why? How easily would this norm be accepted, do you think, and why?
If I didn't believe in reverse culture shock before, I surely do now. The moment I returned back to the US and stepped into LAX, I could feel the harsh reality of Western culture after being immersed in Japan for 10 days. To be honest, going through customs in America is scarier than in other countries. I understand the pressure the US is under politically and socially, making security measures extremely strict in an effort to prevent threats at all costs. However, to be a native and feeling nervous the entire time you're going through security hoping that you don't do or say anything that may make you seem suspicious in the eyes of Homeland Security in your own country is startling. I know that there's not much that can be done to change the way things are in that respect, but it is worth it to think about.
Another major difference I noticed upon my return to the States is the level of customer service. I have always recognized when I am not treated like I believe I should be when I am requesting a service and have no problem making a complaint when necessary, but it was painstakingly obvious after being in Japan. There, the people working as servers, flight attendants and other service roles are genuinely happy to be in their job (or at least do a good job of pretending they are). "Please" and "thank you" is not only common, it's expected. However, service workers in America seem as though they are unhappy with their quality of life. Granted, this may be true, but I believe that how you view the world can greatly enhance or diminish your work performance. It is no secret that Americans are significantly stressed in their personal and professional lives, which results in lower job satisfaction and overall quality of life. If there is anything I would like to see happen in America that I observed in Japan, it's a visible happiness to contribute to society. As much as I would like to see this happen, I highly doubt that this will become a cultural norm here based on how deeply rooted our ideals are here, but I can do my part to try and bring my best self to my work.
There were several pieces of Japanese culture that I came to appreciate and immediately miss as soon as I re-entered the States. However, no matter how far we have to come as a nation, it is and always will be home. When we got back onto campus after a bus ride from the Charlotte airport that seemed never-ending, I kissed the wet ground in the parking lot, symbolizing my relief to be back in comfort and familiarity. Even still, I find myself yearning to return to Japan in the future, uncovering the "addictive" nature that Karen warned us about. Japan has much charm and a wealth of rich culture and history that I only began to scratch the surface of in my short time there. I will never forget the amazing, once-in-a-lifetime experiences I encountered.... but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't glad to be home. The Cookout tray I acquired at 1am shortly after returning to Elon was proof of that.
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