Turning Japanese?

I've been here in Japan for over 3 years now... and I think I have pretty much decided that I'll remain here for one more year.

It goes to no surprise that living here for that long, I've adapted to a lot... including the culture, language... society even.

I look at myself now, and I am almost a different person altogether. Well, maybe that's a bit extreme... but, there is a big difference from the person I was.

I mean there are so many things right now that used to shock me when I first got here, and I just realized recently that these very things that used to shock me don't really faze me anymore.

I believe if you read some of my first entries on this blog... I might have mentioned how weird some of the relationship and friendships amongst some of my male students were. They would grab each other and be piggy-backing each other... basically a bunch of touchy-feely-too-close-all-up-in-my-personal-bubble deals.

Well... not only have I gotten accustomed to it... but, I rarely even think about it when some of my Japanese friends do it to me.

I know it sounds very weird for most... but, it's just how the Japanese people express their friendship and the way they behave. And, thing is... I think it has actually rubbed off on me. Returning home might be a harder adjustment that I could've imagined... and maybe some of my friends will need to read this as a preemptive advisory... just so they don't get the wrong idea... heh heh.

But, yeah... some of these things include like touching each other in times I would've never touched someone. And, I know that sounds weird... but, not in a sexual way... just to make sure.

I remember the first time I went to an onsen, I was so mortified about being naked in front of others. My friend (who actually wasn't Japanese but very accustomed to onsens) then tried to comfort me by patting my shoulder. I freaked out... seeing that I was in my underwear and he was in the nude. I told him it was a bit too much and to please not touch me... so, yeah... pretty much freaked.

Now though... I think it's ridiculous that I had made such a big deal on the matter. I know he didn't mean anything by it and was only trying to comfort me. Maybe it was the fact that I was born in Miami and come from a Hispanic background... I think for the most part we tend to have this stigma over males being too expressive or sentimental or I don't know what the word I'm looking for when it comes to dealing with male friends... or people in general.

I now frequently go to the onsen with my Japanese friends and I've realized that it quite common for them to stare at each others' bodies and even touch each other as they talk about how they've gained/lost weight... or how much their muscles have increased due to the recent training they've been doing. And, remember... this is all while being naked. Yeah it sounds really off to most, but that's because most of us were raised thinking this was weird. The Japanese, however, are raised with nudity not really being a big issue and being expressive on matters like this as the norm. It really isn't a big deal... but, I guess I'm biased since I've been accustomed to it. They even go on talking about each other's business and how it's bigger than so and so or about their foreskin or pubic hair. And yup... I have been a basis of comparison and it hasn't bothered nor freaked me out.

I know this is a weird thing to talk about and maybe too much information for most... but, again I want to point out how this is quite typical in the Japanese society and how it just takes some getting used to.

Of course there are some things that are hard to get accustomed to, but I (and others who wish to pursue a similar experience that I have) have to remind myself that this was something I chose to do with my life. I wasn't forced to come here nor am I being forced to take part of the culture and society. Japan, and all aspects that relate to it, have interested me for quite some time and I'm trying my hardest to learn all I can and enjoy all I can while I still have the opportunity to be part of it. We can learn a lot from trying to not only be surrounded by a background different than our own... but, also trying to take a part of... get a different perspective.

I think that slowly becoming accustomed to some of these things (and there are obviously a whole lot more of other things besides the extreme examples I've mentioned) has helped me feel accepted and become a part of the Japanese society. I've been told a couple of times and by various people how I come off as Japanese sometimes... and whether they mean that as a joke or mean it... I actually take it as a compliment.

I've heard many times how the Japanese society can be closed-minded when it comes to outsiders... but, this goes to show you that that is not true at all and how accepting the Japanese people can be.