An American Professor in Japan
Dr. Ryan Eanes, Klein College of Media & Communication
There are relatively few things that I won’t eat (or at least try)–just ask my closest friend Claire, who I once dragged to Miya’s Sushi in Stamford, Connecticut just so we could eat their “invasive species” sushi dinner–so when, the other day, I was wandering around Life Supermarket and came across a little package of what looked like tiny purple squid in the seafood section, I was immediately intrigued.
So many little surprises that keep popping up, almost every day. It’s a delight. (Continued from last time…)
I am going to have to be a lot more disciplined to make sure that I adequately document my time abroad, but as I need to get to bed after a good (but long) day of classes and other tasks, here are more little differences I’ve noticed, continued from last time…
One of the many little things that you will be expected to do as a long-term resident (that is, someone on a visa that is valid for more than 90 days) is to register your residency. You may recall from an earlier post that I mentioned that upon arrival, you’re given a resident card (zairyū 在留) that is reminiscent of a driver’s license–this, along with your passport, must be taken to your local ward office (kuyakusho 区役所) to complete the registration process.
If you are accustomed to American bureaucracy, particularly the variety that thrives in places like the DMV or the Post Office, prepare yourself, because you’re going to experience something totally unexpected.
I thought it might be interesting to compile a running list of the little differences I notice as an outsider visiting a brand new cultural landscape. Note that none of these observations are meant as criticisms or critiques, as I don’t believe that there is necessarily a “right” or “wrong” way to simply be. Rather, my intention is to try and cultivate more mindful awareness of my environment, regardless of where I am, and challenging my own pervasive, preexisting notions of “how things are supposed to be done” seems to be a good way to do that.
Plus, it’s just fun!
In the United States, so-called “dollar stores” are often derided for any of a number of reasons–they’re frequently poorly stocked and organized, usually in various states of disarray, often carry merchandise of subpar quality or of dubious origin, and, probably worst of all, are frequently criticized as predatory (or even perhaps dangerous) to rural or impoverished communities.1Conservatives like to call these criticisms “elitist,” arguing that dollar stores provide much-needed retail to people who need it, despite growing evidence that these monolithic companies’ buying power simply cannot be competed with at a micro/local level.