As our year abroad comes to a close, the transition back to living in the United States is going to be difficult. Here are a few differences I will notice once we're stateside.
1. Look left, not right, before crossing the street.
2. I'll no longer need to bow after saying thank you.
3. Tipping will no longer be considered an insult, but is required.
4. I can drive again. And get my hair cut, eyebrows waxed, nails done... We have a Prius, which is what they drive here, but the trucks are so tiny, they look like toys. Some are even purple!
5. I don't have to go to six different stores for the things I need.
6. I can actually hand my money to the cashier; or just swipe my card myself. I don't have to put it in the little tray.
7. Baseball games will be much less exciting. Each team has their own little songs for each player and some plays even. Also, they blow up balloons and let them go.
8. Use the entrance doors on the right, not the left. Same with walking on the sidewalks.
9. We won't be surprised when we want and get strawberry ice cream, instead of bean.
Yes, bean.
10. There will be more options than just a few shades of black/brown in the hair coloring aisle.
11. Hockey games will be on late at night, not the next morning.
12. It will take less than 5 hours to dry the clothes, because I won't have to hang up every single sock in the shower to dry.
13. Most every place is stroller-friendly.
14. I don't have to carry an Alien Registration Card (ARC) with me or have to go to the Ward Office to change our address in every city we live. On a related note, we will not need to apply and pay for re-entry permits for our passports for travel outside of Japan anymore.
15. I'll be able to buy women's shoes in my size. YAY!
16. Just a small section in grocery stores will be fish, instead of almost the whole thing. It will smell better as well. I like fish and cooking, but I don't know it well enough to know what it is without a label (or a sign in Japanese). This, on the other hand, I'll pass.
17. Japanese people LOVE their dogs, especially long-haired dachshunds! They are EVERYWHERE!
18. Popcorn isn't flavored with soy sauce. Bleck.
19. Income taxes.
20. Bigger apartments, which means a bigger bed! But no heated toilet seats with lots of buttons.
21. I will miss
Yoshinoya. Their beef and rice bowl is simple but delicious! Perfection.
22. We won't have the ability to see 10 random women wearing (beautiful) kimonos on the streets.
23. I will miss the accidentally funny t-shirts and reusable bags. Like, WHAAA?!?!
24. We won't be able to see 50 people (of all genders and ages) singing and dancing along to JPop videos on the street.
25. Japanese strawberries are the most exquisite tasting fruit I've ever had. I will miss those!
26. The nutso candy they have available, like green tea Kit Kats and Pocky!
27. No train system, therefore no Shinkansen. It was fast and very comfortable.
28. I'll be able to bake and decorate cupcakes. I will miss my cupcake maker tho!
29. I absolutely love the dichotomy of the traditional nestled in with the modern. Huge stainless steel skyscrapers sitting right next to wooden shrines. This is photo was taken in Shinjuku, and was not taken by me.
30. And the biggest thing I will miss is the attention Sophie gets from the Japanese women. I've never heard the word "kawaii" (cute) more in my entire life! I can't say they blame them!
I will truly miss this country and hope to have the opportunity to visit again!
