I was considering writing a post about how despite the fact that I have done a bit of complaining about being back in the states, it is not really that bad. However, in attempting to find examples, I realized that I have too few to make a good argument. Not that America is bad, I just can't think of anything amazingly wonderful about it right now.

So, to continue my homesickness for Japan: I was priveleged to get to have lunch today with a student from Kobe, Japan. He goes to school where my mother teaches and has only been in Indiana for 7 days. And he was desperate to speak Japanese. So we went to Wendy's and spoke Japanese for 2 hours. It was wonderful. We were both very happy to be speaking Japanese despite the stares. And he gave me some Japanese rice, some senbei (rice crackers) and some dried squid. Ureshii!!! (Happy!) Made me want to be back in Japan.

Although there were definitely things that I needed to get used to when I returned to America, I didn't feel like I really had Culture Shock when I came back to Fort Wayne. Just little things like wanting to turn into the left lane and doing little bows of apology. However, I went to Chicago this weekend and, believe it or not, that's when the Shock hit. Here I was in this big city with lots of people walking around, the majority of which were not Japanese and not speaking Japanese. I found myself constantly listening to people as I walked past, and being surprised that almost every conversation was in English. And the fact that I was surprised was surprising. Why didn't I feel this in Fort Wayne? This is a mystery that I know not how to solve.

My school sent me one of those "Reaquainting yourself with America" booklets so that I could "learn to fit in again" after having studied abroad. Two of the things it said I should keep in mind is that "no will really understand your experience" and "some people won't want to hear about it." I was thinking if these statements are really true, and in my case, they are fairly accurate. Here's a typical conversation I have when I meet someone for the first time in a year:

Them: Hey Laura! How was Japan?
Me: It was great!
Them: Are you fluent?
Me: Not quite..
Them: Did you wear a kimono?
Me: A few times. But it's not normal dress.
Them: Oh. What about the food? Did you eat raw fish all the time?
Me: The food was amazing! I loved it. And the fish, raw or cooked, was delicious.
Them: I can't believe you ate raw fish! That's so..gross.
Me: No, it's good, really.
Them: Okay, if you say so. Glad you had a good time.

That conversation covers the three points about Japan that American people think.
1. They speak Japanese. (okay, this isn't a big surprise)
2. They wear kimono all the time.
3. They eat raw fish (which Americans call "sushi") all the time.

Now, if I had the time, energy, and attention of any of the people that I talk to, I might be able to explain how some of these are misconceptions. But I don't, and most people don't really care anyway. It's really sad that some people have the opportunity to learn about life farther than their front yard and don't take it.

I'm back. After 11 months and 2 weeks in Japan, I have safely arrived in the United States of America. It took less than 3 hours for me to wish I was back in Japan. Reasons:
1. People in America are rude. I first flew into the LA airport and had to go through customs and claim my baggage before transferring to my next flight to Chicago. Those airport people were ridiculous. Yelling in condescending tones, no pleases or thank you's, having only 6 officials working when 15 flights arrived at the same time...I desperately miss the Japanese clerks who use polite language, literally run to help you, and are always smiling. Maybe I was spoiled..
2. You have to drive everywhere. Maybe this only strikes me especially since I am in Indiana, but if I wanted to go anywhere from my house, I would have to drive. There is no way that I could walk or bike somewhere. Everything is so far away! (Don't get me wrong, I love space, but I love convenience too.)
3. Food. Sitting at the airport waiting for the next plane (having missed the first one due to an insanely slow customs line) I was craving Pocari Sweat and Anpan (sweet bean filled bread). Luckily I had imported 2 bottles of my favorite beverage, but anpan is nowhere to be found. I went to an oriental grocery store and found some Japanese rice (grown in California..) and seaweed, but this is not going to be enough.
4. The constant stream of the Japanese language in the background. It is so hard to think in Japanese when I am surrounded by English! Where are the TV dramas, the j-pop, the annoying high school girls?
5. Clothing. Why must the Americans insist on showing as much of their bare body as possible. Again, could be because I am used to the "no shorts" rule for women in Japan, but American girls' shorts are just way too short. Ridiculous.

So, basically, I want to go back to Japan. Three weeks would be a nice amount of time for visiting, but seriously, I wish I was going back to Japan after that. I think I'll begin the countdown now..1 year and counting. How fast can one year fly by? Quickly, I hope.

I have now less than 5 days in Japan. When I say it like this, it sounds like I have lots of time. But I feel rushed, like there is so much I need to do and so little time to do it. I finished up the last of the research that I will do in Japan yesterday. I stood and copied an entire book at the library (probably breaking some copywrite laws) because I don't think they would have it in the States. It's amazing to think that in a short time (hopefully) I will actually be able to read this entire book with a decent amount of ease.

I would love to go walking around Kyoto and biking to far places that I haven't been to yet. However, summer has really hit, and it is never less than 35 degrees during the day. Don't ask me what that is in Farenheight, I don't know. It's hot. Give me 30 seconds outside and I am perspiring heavily. Yesterday there was a thunderstorm. As soon as I saw the first drops of rain outside my window I put on some dark colored running clothes, my old running shoes, and took a nice long run in the pouring rain. It was wonderful! It's the closest thing I get to swimming, and the coolest I've been in a while (not including shopping in air condioned places). It's funny, but a women told me a few days ago that all the Japanese tourists avoid Kyoto in the summer because it's too hot. Too bad the foreign ones don't do the same.