Hi!
To those of you who answered last week's questions: thanks! I really enjoyed reading about the cultural issues you deal with on a daily basis here in the U.S. At the same time, having lived in Ecuador and S. Korea, I can relate to some of the various cultural challenges that you have encountered (and may continue to encounter) during your stay in the U.S. If you have any questions about these issues that you'd like to ask me, please feel free to do so. At that, I'll leave you with a quote that Madoka said (and that I think works pretty well wherever you are in the world): "When in Rome, do as the Romans do."
For this week's question, we're going to go to the opposite side of the cultural challenges spectrum:
You are all living and studying here in the U.S. Therefore, you are all (to some extent) forced to eat American food, listen to American music, interact with Americans, watch American TV shows/movies, etc. I'm sure a few of you may very well enjoy eating American food and listening to American music on a regular basis, but it is probably also true that a number of you miss your home country's food, music, social interactions, and so on.
Which part of American culture do you enjoy/appreciate the most? Why?
I look forward to reading your responses!
Josh
While I miss the Japanese food, like sushi, gyudon, and so on, I enjoy eating American food the most. There are three reasons for this: amount of food, color of food and rare food we can not eat in Japan.
ReplyDeleteThe First reason why I enjoy eating American food is the amount of food. Basically, we can eat a great amount of food. When I ate in McDonald, the size of juice was bigger than Japanese one. In addition, I usually have meals in Food-Zoo. In this, we can eat as much as we want. Although there are some concerns about weight increase, I have meals more nicely rather than disconcertedly.
The second reason why I enjoy eating American food is lot kinds of color about food. When we go to supermarket, we can see a variety of colorful sweet stuffs and cakes. I like these colorful foods because these look beautiful and delicious.
The last reason why I enjoy eating American food is that I can eat rare food which I can not eat in Japan. Of course some food that I can eat in Japan can not eat in the U.S, however, the number of food I can eat in Japan but can not eat in the U.S is less than I can eat food in only the U.S.
We can eat pizza, big lump of meat, many kinds of cake, fruits and vegetable, and so on. When I go to restaurant, I often think that I am in the jewel of island or jungle.
For these reasons, I enjoy eating American food the most in my American life. Therefore, I always look forward to the eating time!
Hello,
ReplyDeleteI like American bookstore best as the fowling reasons..
First, in the bookstore, I have no witness but my book, and I can image the picture that the book describes. No can interrupt me.
In addition, there are many chairs and sofas that I can sit to enjoy the time. It is better than Chinese. I seldom see this kind of bookstore in China. They are always very busy but almost no bookstore no bookstore has chairs for readers. I often felt too tired standing to focus on my book. So, I seldom read in Chinese bookstore later.
However, in the U.S., I can even spend the whole free afternoon in the bookstore. No matter how the weather outside is, I am just in my little world due to its quietude. For instance, when I was in New York, I went to a small bookstore one day. I chose a book which is both English and Chinese. I sat in a corner. It wasn’t very hard for me to understand the book. So I was so addicted to it that I didn’t hear my cell-phone vibrating. After I finish the book, the sun had already fallen. When I went out of the bookstore and checked my phone, there were seven missed calls!
Finally, sitting in a place that the book is all around you is so cool. It makes me satisfied. Many times when I am confused about something or feel upset, I go to the bookstore by myself and find this is the best to resolve my conflicts, enjoy peace and meditate.
Hi,Josh.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy American fashion the most. The first time when I went to Caras park, I was surprised that people had been wearing really casual clothes and I had never seen such a scine in my country. There are two reasons why I enjoy American fashion:it can make my feelings more relax and it is easy to choose my clothes.
Actually, I sometimes imagine the time I talk to business man or career woman sho is wearing suits, and I guess that I will be upset. So, I noticed American's casual fashion make their appearance more kind, outgoing and easygoing. It also make me relax and active.
Another reason is it's easy to choose clothes what I want to wear. I prefer wearing casual cloth while thousands of girls in Japan prefer dressing up, because it take a long time to decide my cloth when I try to dress up. Besically, casual cloth is simple and it's usually has no print. Therefore, I don't have to spend waste of time.
Because of these, I enjoy American culture of fashion.
Hi Josh and everyone in class.
ReplyDeleteAt first, it's sure to miss Japanese food and want to take a bathtub but I really enjoy life in university because of convinience and ease to make frends. Well, I'm answering each reasons specifically.
At the beginnig, its convineince to live in on-campus is one of the most for me in the US. Even though some of my friends in Japan don't live in the houses where aren't close to university, they spent 1.5~2.5 hours going to university by train. It seems very inconvenient to study, work part-time-job and meet thier friends. But in the US, almost university students live in on-campus, especially in university dormtory, and they are in convinient situation to study and eat meals. Moreover, we don't spent much times going to university by train. It's better to study and learn comfortably than Japan.
Second reason is about ease to make friends. In Japan, many students live in off-campus so that students have only less chances to meet different major people. However, many American university students can meet different major people, even if I meet a person whose major is liberal arts in dormitory, they'll be friends and I experenced such as example. In addition, we can see each other whenever we want in dormitory. Actually, I was really worried about that I can make friends, at first, but situation of dormitory helps me to make friends easily. I'm glad to greet and talk each other in dormitory.
So, I can say I enjoy living in on-campus the most by above two reasons.
Thank you.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteOf course, I miss Japanese food, TV, life,etc. However, I used to American life, so I do not want to go back to Japan. There are two part of American cultures I enjoyed.
First, Everyone is so friendly and kind. For example, American people always say "hi" and "how's it going?" so it is easy to communicate with many people. I really like this part. in Japanese university, if I know the people, I talk with them, but if I can not meet my friends, I sometimes don not talk all day. that is a sad point in Japan.
Next, I really like dancing, so I'm happy I can dance here because there are many kinds of dance in UM and there are some different points between American and Japanese. Studions are big,teachers are friendly, and not so formal. There are many workshops, and then they will invite great guests too! I like dancing here! it is a good environment for dancers.
For these reasons, I enjoy American life!
Hello Josh and everyone!
ReplyDeleteI want to answer your question.
I think I can used to another places easily because when I went to foreign countries, I had a great time there. Some of my friends missed Japan so much, and they couldn’t enjoy the travel like me. That was bad for them. I believe I have a power to overcome many difficulties. The reason is because I am just curious about other cultures.
First of all, I like the American greeting culture so much. I mentioned it before. I hope I might meet with my future best friends from the greeting sometime. This is really good culture because the greeting always makes me happy. In Japan, we can’t greet to strangers, so I prefer this greeting culture.
Next, I like the casual conversation style at school in the U.S. In Japan, there are a lot of polite words and mannars. We never call our professors just only first name. These polite words express our feelings of respect, while it is too much rules for me sometimes. In American classes; however, if we have a question, we can ask the professor without thinking too much. Sharing opinions and asking questions are great opportunities to know our understandings in academic places. That’s why I like the conversation style at school in the U.S.
Thank you very much,
Mai Negishi
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI remembered at first time when i came here to the U.S I missed the food, but after while I used to like American food but sometime i cook Saudi food.
Also i missed my friends and my family. Her in the U.S i did some change of that i found new friends that what i usually do in Saudi Arabia when i go to some new places such as work or gym. There is no big change of the culture for me. Because in Saudi Arabia we can't study with girls in same classes. And i studied some classes in Bahrain at the university the teacher were men and women. And i have some girls in my classes. for the music i listen to American music the most and i didn't miss that. i like watching American movies and tv shows. all of that i appreciate being here in the U.S to know more about American culture or i can say to adopt the culture.
Hey guys
ReplyDeletewhen i come to the U.S was very hard for me because i did not have friends, but know i am ok because i have so many, and i can go out with them when we can,and the food.in Mexico we eat tacos,tamales,menudo,and totillas,we have the most hoteds foods. for me not to eat the type of food is sooo sad,but so far i can say that i am ok thanks to the zoo food,hahaha.
Ok but now i love americans music, i like music no matter what leaguages is i think that all type of music is sooo cool, i see the some movies so i dont miss them.
on the other hand, for me the culture is something that i am not in, but i will get ther soon.
Hi
ReplyDeleteThe best part of being in America is to be able to eat delicious grapes. Of course we have grapes in Japan, but it's little bit different to Japanese one. I really like to eat American grapes because there is no seeds and I can eat peel too!! Grapes in Japan has same kind of grapes, but we normally don't eat peel. This is one part that I really like to being in America. However, I miss Japanese food a lot these days, especially food which my mom makes. I love my mom's food, and I can't eat it even if I try to make same Japanese food in America. Also, I miss my family and friends sometimes even thought we can keep in touch by email or call. I sometimes really want to see them. Otherwise, I like American music or movies, so I am so happy to be here in America!!
Yui Onodera