Confused

I have been back in America for a week now.

There are many things that I find much different from when I was home in December.

Here are some more things that I am noticing this time around.

1. Every time I go to sit on the toilet… I feel like I am going to fall down. It just seems way lower than the toilets in Japan. Also… I always feel like I slam the toilet seat cover when I put it down because the one in my apartment is S.L.O.W.

2. Sometimes I get really nervous when I am in the car and I see a car make a left turn. I always think that they are going to smash another car head on. SCARY.

3. I confused people even when I talk in English. I forget words. I then end up rambling on and on about something because it is so exciting to be able to talk about whatever I want with whoever.

4. At church on Sunday, I was having a hard time singing the songs. I wasn’t moving my mouth fast enough and I wasn’t opening my mouth. I guess I have gotten used to singing songs in Japanese and English… but the English is slower.

5. I was watching television with my sister the other day and she was wanting to skip through all of the commercials. I told her to stop. I haven’t seen them so it was fun to watch them. WHO AM I? I always hated commercials.

This weekend I get to hang out with my bff and my two other bffs come into town next week.

I need to start taking some pictures. :/

 

English Everywhere

Today is now the 2nd full day that I have been in America.

Here are a few things that have shocked me since being in America.

1. Restroom Stalls. In Japan, they go all the way to the ground and they don’t have huge cracks in between the door and the stall. I was concerned that someone would grab my purse or my backpack, since there were no hooks on the door. Or, that they could grab my ankles. Scary.

2. Style. I have realized that I am a true American in Japan. I like to be comfortable but I also enjoy dressing up. In Japan, you will hardly ever see someone walking around in sweats. Now that I am back in America for a short time, I am noticing how sloppy Americans are. Like wearing sweatpants (which I am a huge fan of wearing… just not out in public anymore.) or their jogging outfit into the store. Also in Japan, it is an unwritten rule that you don’t show your shoulders or upper arms. So, this is a slight shock to me… since I now feel like I am wearing hardly anything if I am just wearing a t-shirt and no vest or cardigan.

3. White people. I don’t know why, but I am shocked at looking up and seeing mostly white people everywhere. I am just expecting to see Japanese or Asian people everywhere.

These are just a few of the things that I have noticed since being back in the home country.

Oh America.

23

In 23 hours I will be hugging my family and my friends.

I am so excited!!!!!!!!!!!

Question

What is the most exciting thing that you have looked forward to?

It cannot be getting married or having a baby.

Mine… besides moving to Japan, it is getting on a plane to go home to America in 24 days. I tear up every time I look at my countdown.

24 days and counting

Little things #2

Living in Japan I get excited about the little things that remind me of home.

Things like:

1. Going through the drive thru at McDonald’s. I have only done this twice.

2. Finding goldfish crackers.

3. Baskin Robbins.

4. Apples on sale for 50 yen. Which is about 70 cents for 1 apple.

5. Finding an American shopping cart.

6.Standing in the restaurant, Subway.

7. Tasting how good WHOLE WHEAT anything is.

Just a few random things that I love from America.

Americans

The 4th of July is my favorite holiday.

This has been my 3rd time that I have not be able to celebrate this marvelous holiday IN the USA.

2007: Flying into LA from Hong Kong.

2008: I was in South Africa and we were given 1 sparkler and the restaurant played Born in the USA for us. It was fantastic.

2010: Japan. This year my friend Logan and I decided that we needed to be the party planners and bring all of our American friends together. Logan and I made a cake. It was almost a disaster but then it turned out not looking too bad. See for yourself:

We also bought eggs and fireworks and we paraded ourselves to the park. Of course we were all wearing Red, White and Blue. So you can only imagine all of the stares that we got from the people that drove past us. At the park we had an egg toss. T’was a lot of fun. Then we shot off fireworks. I have also decided that shooting off fireworks is very very dangerous when you have no idea what the firework is supposed to do. But I had fun blowing things up anyway.

I am proud to be an American. Even though most of the time I say that I am ready to abort the USA but it is the mother land. Everyone deep down inside loves the USA.

Today I will be celebrating the 4th of July with my 2nd graders today. I am very excited. :]

Love from Japan,

Mallory-san