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Originally Posted by mercedesjin
I've already heard some opinions on the matter from different friends, but I'd love to hear more thoughts.
What do you guys think is the average opinion of piercings in Japan? The younger people I've asked say that, especially in college, it's not a problem. However, it seems like the older, more traditional generations are against it. Here at my home, I've heard from many older people who have clearly expressed that they don't like piercings - and I've ignored them. But I don't want to go into another country (and another person's home, because I'm doing a homestay) and offend them by how I look.
So, since I already have a piercing, what advice can you guys give? Should I take it out while I'm in Japan?
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mercedesjin
And yet I'd hope they would understand that I don't come from their culture. I'd hope they would understand that, in the West Indies, we don't generally see our bodies as temples. We see are bodies as blank canvases, ready for expression through make up, costumes, piercings, hair, fashion, etc. That's a part of the idea of an exchange. I learn about their culture. They learn about mine.
You're being slightly judgmental, and you're also jumping to assumptions. I'm not asking my host parents to live seafood free. I'm asking my host parents to understand if I don't eat their fish, and to understand why I'm going to the store to buy beef and chicken. They can keep their diet easily. All I'm asking is that they not be offended when I don't eat what they eat, seeing that what they eat will make my physically ill. Also, why are you assuming that my host family wouldn't be proud of me? I don't know them. You don't know them either. You're assuming that, because you have basic knowledge of the Japanese culture, you know about every single Japanese citizen. That's stereotyping. Isn't there a chance that my host family might be open to piercings, and that they might even have piercings themselves?
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Mercedesjin, if you don't like the answers, then please stop asking the questions.
A cultural exchange is a Japanese family hosts you and teaches you about Japan and then you host a Japanese kid and teach them about the West Indies. I think you are assuming a little too much that your visit to Japan is a 50-50 exchange. I don't see it that way. Yes, of course you are going to bring some of your culture with you to share with them. I am going to guess you wear shoes in the house in the West Indies. Are you going to show that part of the culture, too? No, of course not. That would be offensive.
I am saying the same thing is true of facial piercings. You asked for advice and I gave it, do with it what you want.
Regarding seafood, If you say you cannot eat seafood, then the family is not going to eat seafood while you are there. Period. Especially if you say something so offensive as "watching them eat it will me you physically ill." That is the same as saying "I think you eat garbage." Never say that out loud.
Another thing you need to understand is you are not going to be going to the store to buy beef or chicken and make a separate meal from the rest of the family. I know no mother in Japan that would allow this to happen while a guest is in her home. You can get away with saying you are allergic to seafood, and the host family will adjust, but the mother is generally the king of the kitchen, and guests that stay in her home eat her food. How embarrassing for her would it be if the other host moms found out her guest was going out and eating on her own because she couldn't eat the food the mother presented? You need to look at things from her perspective, as you are the guest in her home.