Friday, October 26, 2012
Blog 10
You have been in the United States now for 2 months or more, so you are starting to become pretty familiar with American culture. For this weeks blog, think about American customs and tell us about one custom that you really dislike and one that you really like. For example, I really dislike the amount of bad, rude and insulting language I hear (on TV, in the political campaign, and just walking across campus). Sometimes I see T-shirts or bumper stickers (on cars) that I find offensive, stupid and insulting. On the other hand, I like the custom of helping strangers. I see a lot of cases where a person has an accident, gets lost, doesn't know what to do or just generally needs some help, and it seems like strangers are usually kind and willing to help them. What customs have you noticed that annoy/impress you?
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Hi everyone!! I would like to talk about one custom that I really dislike and one that I really like. Firstly, I really dislike smoking marijuana. Last spring vacation, I traveled to Shanghai. I made friend with one Japanese guy there. He was born in USA and grow up. He graduated from high school and college there. I was interested in American customs, so I asked him about it. And he taught me about marijuana. smoking marijuana is an ordinary scene for American high school. He had never smoked, but this is a commmon scene. Smoking marijuana brings them energy and motivation. I was really surprised and I could not say anything. Because this situation is completely different from customes of Japan. So I can not understand this custom. On the orher hand, I really like custom that people easy to talk to us. American people are very friendly, and when I gaze meet someone, he or she certainly make a smile! So I can talk to them easily. Moreover, American men are gentleman!! Almost all of Japanese men are not gentleman. So I want to them to be like American men!
ReplyDeleteRE: Karin’s post
DeleteI was really surprised to read your post. Because smoking marijuana is not so common in Japan. Is that like drinking energy drinks for American people?? And why high school students smoke it?? for what?? Do they have excessively stresses?? I don’t like the custom, neither!! I think that would be cause of health trouble. It would bring bad effect on their health in their future. It should be illegal like my country. As you think, American men are so kind for all girls. It is completely different from Japanese men!! Why there are differences?? I want to know how they grew up.
Marijuana is a big issue in Montana right now. Although the Federal Government declares it illegal, at the state level, Montanans voted to legalize it a few years ago to treat certain medical conditions (glaucoma, chronic pain, etc.) Now in Montana certain patients can get a special id card from their doctors which allows them to legally use marajuana. However, it is illegal to sell it, even in Montana, so for these patients, getting it is still a problem. And of course many people use it recreationally (that is 'for fun') without a doctors' prescription - which is illegal. It's a big issue!
DeleteHey guys. I will talk about American custom. Actually I really like American custom, yet I dislike the custom which people are smoking marihuana and not taking a bath. As Karin said, I was surprised that smoking marihuana is usual for the young, especially high school students or university students. I saw young people who smoke marihuana few weeks ago. They looked so happy, but I wasn't happy to see that because I don't understand the meaning of smoking marihuana. In Japan, if someone smoke marihuana, he or she would be arrested or pay a fine. Smoking marihuana is not custom for all ages in United States, but I dislike it, and I will not accept this custom. Moreover, I don't like the custom which American people don't soak in the tub up to their shoulders everyday. I do love not only to take a shower but taking a bath. I used to take a bath for 30 minutes (except for taking a shower) every night in Japan. I think it is usual for Japanese. There is no custom to soak in a bathtub or have a long bath in United States. It is too cold in Missoula, so I want to have a long bath in a bathtub!!!! When I go back to Japan, I absolutely go to a hot spring spa and take a long bath! On the contrary, I like the custom which people are very kind and friendly in United States. I have been spoken to by a woman or man many times since I came here. He or she asked me "Where are you from?" or "Do you like Missoula?". To tell the truth, I was surprised at that and I didn't familiar at first because it is seldom to be spoken to by someone in an elevator in Japan. However, I habituated myself to this custom. I am happy to talk with unknown people in Missoula. People who live in Missoula are kinder and more friendly than other States people, I think. I want Japanese people to be more friendly like people who live here!
ReplyDeleteI can certainly understand your missing Japanese baths! What a wonderful tradition! I visited some very beautiful onsen when I lived in Kyushu! Some Americans love to take a hot bath to relax, but most people take showers more often because it is faster. A shower is to get clean, but a bath is a whole experience, don't you think?
DeleteHello, everyone. Actually, I get accustomed to living in the US. All of experiences are important for me, so it's tough question what I dislike, but I think public space is dirty in university. Take restroom, for example when I go to a restroom in UC, I often feel bad because excretions remain in the restroom. When I met this situation for the first time, I wasn't able to say anything because I had never thought such a thing in Japan. Besides in my dorm, I feel discomfort sometime especially on weekend because someone drink and make floor dirty. I have stood, but if I expected, I would want everyone in my dorm to clean public space. On the other hand, I have many good impression of american culture. One of them is that as Lee Ann referred to, I live the people's characteristic of sociability. Of corse not every student might be sociable, but most of students look like friendly. For example, when I stay the laundry in the dorm, students struck up a conversation each other and sometime, I try to join it. It is good environment for me to practice English. Also, when I understand what they say, I feel happy. I show bad/good customs in the US but, finally, I want to give a word to myself “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.”
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DeleteHi Genki. When I read your comment, I was persuaded it. Certainly, I hate a public space where is so dirty and smelly. Especially on Friday and Sunday morning, there is garbage such as an empty can in an elevator. It is because someone drank too much threw away. I can't believe its sight. A bathroom is unclean too. ( I do agree to your opinion Genki.) In Japan, bathrooms always keep clean because people use a bathroom cleanly and people engage in cleaning wash a bathroom every time. We should thank to them. As you said, however, I love American custom especially, friendly people. That's why I really enjoy American life at UM.
DeleteIt is strange that you should mention dirty bathrooms. When I was living in Japan, I was mostly impressed by how clean things were, but the bathrooms at my university (Kumamoto Daigaku) were terribly dirty. They smelled so bad that sometimes I would go home to use the bathroom and come back to work. Strange! But I can believe the bathrooms in your dorm here in Missoula are dirty too - yuck!
DeleteHello everyone! I will talk about American customs that I really dislike and that I really like. First of all, I don't like the custom that American don't take a bath but they only take a shower. In Japan, most Japanese people take a bath once a day. I used to take a bath at night, and I could get rid of fatigue. However, there is no bathtub in the doors, so I can't relieve my fatigue. When I wake up in the morning, I don't feel good. Next, I like the custom that American people are really friendly. When I first went to Albertson, I was suprised. A chashir said. " How's it going?" and " Have a good day!" There is no custom like this in Japan, but I like it! In addition, When I walk past someone, I greet and one also greet in spite of not knowing each other. As for foods, I like hamburger, and I can eat hamburger at Food Zoo every day, so I'm happy, and it's delicious. Customs are dirrerent from country to country, so there are likes and dislikes. However, I think that you can get used to it if you live. Actually, I'm getting used to it!
ReplyDeleteYou make a good point about liking and disliking customs from country to country - its all interesting, isn't it? I'm glad people have been friendly with you. Maybe people in places the smaller towns and in the western US are friendlier than people in the big cities on the east coast (who are in more of a hurry). Just my opinion
DeleteHello my friends, American's culture is one of the best cultures in the world. As an answer to the question above, I like how people deal with other people with sincerity and honesty. This makes the community free of fraud dramatically. Another thing that I like is how the people are friendly here, I don't know if the people in all states like that or not, but Missoulian are so kind and friendly. For example, if you walk in everywhere you will see people smiling to you. In other hand, I really dislike the group of people that called hipsters. I'm wondering why they live their life like that. For example, they dont shave or take a shower for a long long time, and this act will cause them diseases soon or later. But in general, American's culture is very good.
ReplyDeleteHey, Mof! I agree with your opinions. I thought Americans were friendly before I came to Missoula. Actually, they are really friendlier than I have expected. But at first, when I met with her eyes, and she smiled to me, I was surprised and couldn’t smile to her. In Japan, it’s really little, so I couldn’t smile. Now, however, I can smile when I meet with one’s eyes. Also, international students are friendly, so I think that American culture makes us friendly! That’s why I agree with you, and I’d like to bring this American culture to Japan. It’s so fun!
DeleteThanks for your kind words about American culture - I'm so glad you are having a good experience here. There are all kinds of fashions in the US and certainly some people like to dress in messy clothes or have messy hair, etc. I think it is all a way of saying "I'm different and I'm grown up now - I can do as I like." For many young people its just a stage and after a few years they drop the style and dress like everyone else.
DeleteHello. First of all, my favorite American custom is to spend much time with family. When I was in Japan, I lived alone. Then I met my family just 3 times a year on long vacation such as summer, winter, and spring vacation. I’ve thought it is comfortable number of times to meet with my family. Also, my family had never come to see me, so I always went back to meet them. However, almost of Americans’ family spend time together. I was surprised because one of my American friends has been with their family every weekend. They have loved each other. I envy them because I don’t and couldn’t do that. That’s why I love this custom. However, I don’t like American custom that young people are noisy at night, especially on Friday night. Around cigarette space, there are many people at night, and they dance, sing and scream. I know what they want to scream, but it has a limit. Some of people have exceeded it. When I stayed at my friend’s room, not only outside but also inside was too noisy at over midnight. Everybody was out of their mind. Because of them, my friend and I couldn’t sleep well. I don’t know whether it is American custom or not, but I’d never faced these situation until I came here.
ReplyDeleteIt is nice to hear you talk about spending time with our families. I think there is a stereotype in some places that Americans don't care about their families, but as you point out, its not true. Everyone in the world cares about their families,right? We just show it in different ways. And I can understand your frustration with noisy students! For most kids who are living in the residence halls, it is their first time away from home, and some of them cut loose and get CRAZY! When I was in college, most students only lived in the residence halls for one year. Then they moved off campus into an apartment or a house with friends where they could have a more normal life.
DeleteHello everyone. It has been two months since I came to The US. So far I learned a lot of American culture. I would like to write about American customs. First I would like to write about what I like in American cultures. American people are friendly. I really like this. They always say “hello” to people when they meet. In addition they introduce themselves so friendly. In Japan people don’t do that so friendly. It is very good customs to say hello and introduce myself friendly. On the other hand I dislike tattoo. In here so many people have tattoo on own body. In Japan tattoo have bad images. Usually, mafia and gangsters put tattoo on their body in Japan. That’s why I have bad images about tattoo. I know tattoo is one of the fashions in here and sometimes I think it is cool. But person who has a lot of tattoo on his/her body often makes me scary or feel offensive. Also to get a tattoo on own body need so much pain. It is not good. Tattoo is sometimes cool but at the same time, makes people feel not good. So I don’t like too much tattoo. I think some people have cool tattoo though.
ReplyDeleteI dislike tatoo too. In Japan, people espacially elderly people understand that "yakuza" tatoo on their own body. Yakuza is Japanese Mafia. But now, tatoo has recognized that one of fahion among young people. However, I don`t think so. Tatto makes me upset and uncomfortable. Moreover, tatoo has many disadvantges. People who tatoo on their body can not take a hot spring bath and pool. Because it makes other people unhappy. Of course, Japanese culture and American culture are different. But I don`t have affirmative opinion about tatoo. By the way, except tatoo there are so many fantastic custom in USA! I want to know about thses during I stay here!!
DeleteI TOTALLY agree with you about tattoos! I have seen a few that are rather nice, and I'd say they look good on someone like Captain Jack Sparrow... but mostly, I think they look pretty tacky. When I was a child, only sailors and maybe prisoners had tattoos - now it seems like everyone gets them. I don't like this trend either.
DeleteHi everyone! I would like to talk about my opinion of this thesis.
ReplyDeleteFirstly, I’m doing to talk about American customs I dislike. It was already passed two months since I came here. Because before I came here, I learned some American customs, I didn’t get socks from differences of it. But I was surprised by Friday night!! Most of young people go out to somewhere at Friday night. I think it is nice and cool!! But somebody makes noises at midnight with driving car and screaming!! It’s so noisy!! Because every time they are drunk, they can’t think about other people. Having fun at Friday night is good, but making bad noises is what I can’t accept. Forever, there are many good customs in here!! For instance, when I walk toward the door and into the building, someone in front of me keeps opening the door for me to enter. In Japan, few people do such behavior. I think it is a one of wonderful American costumes. Moreover, when I take a walk, somebody speaks to me even though I am a stranger. It makes my heart warm. Totally, American people are friendly. Japanese should it be model of customs.
Hey Ayaka, I agree to your opinion about American culture. I enjoyed friday night, but actually some noises make me irritated. In especially,on weekend students go to downtown and drink and about 2am or 3am, I wake up because of the noises outside my dorm. I think it is important for students to take a break, however, they must not cause trouble to others. Incidentally, I think American students are gentle person. I want to tell a my experience. When it past three days since I came here, I went to Albertsons. It was the first time that I went shopping in Missoula. I didn't know how to shopping. I continued shopping with anxious face, and a man struck up a conversation with me. I don't forget his kindness.
DeleteHello, Ayaka. I agree with your opinion because I thought the same thing. Friday night is a special day in America. I’d never heard it, but when I came here, I realized that everyone goes outside on Friday night, and I wondered. Having fun is a good, but some people don’t care about other people, noisy, and scream. I think they have to know manner, so I don’t like it. However Americans are so gentle, I think. Japanese people don’t keep opening the door, but Americans always open the door and wait us to come. When I experienced at first, I was surprised and felt happy. I love this custom!
DeleteIt is really nice for me to read how many of you have had good experiences with American friendliness - that warms my heart! And I know what you mean about the noise on Friday night. Actually, if you are living on or near campus, you are in about the worst place for Friday night rowdiness: it is always the worst in college towns and on college campuses on Friday nights. When I lived in Japan - where so many people live so close to each other - I was always impressed by how considerate everyone was of each other in public spaces. In fact, I thought maybe the reason strangers didn't say "hi" to me as much in Japan was because they were respecting my privacy, even in public places. What do you think?
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