Quote:
Originally Posted by DesiredMess
And how are the people over in Japan different from American behavior wise?
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Like MMM said, there's lots of cultural differences -- some that will seem strange and some not-so-strange. For one thing, Japanese appear to be very reserved in public, but not quite so at the bar or at home.
For example, in an American hospital, you'll often see complete strangers chatting and talking with each other. In a Japanese hospital waiting room, everyone is dead silent. That doesn't mean Japanese people are cold or anything, though - once you get to know a person, they're very much more open and friendly.
There's all sorts of little things too. For example, it's perfectly acceptable to ask a person their weight (including a woman). It's also perfectly acceptable to slurp your noodles and make a bit of noise while eating them - it's considered a compliment to the chef.
I've spent over four years learning Japanese, lived there for 1.5 years (moving back next year for JET), studied abroad there and lived with a host family as well as in a dormitory at a Japanese university. I also interned at a law firm there for a couple months doing some basic translation work.
If you have any questions, just ask
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