Picture originally posted by Vince
Stars & Stripes: Course helping Americans get accustomed to Japanese homes
Setting up house in a Japanese home has been “an adventure,” says Navy spouse Pamela Zimmerman. She’s come up against humidity, mildew and the distinctive aroma of tatami ― and she’s pretty sure the family is being left out of the neighborhood garbage rotation due to language and cultural barriers. “Foreigners have lived in this house for a while,” Zimmerman said of her home south of Yokosuka Naval Base. “I’m pretty sure the community just passes us over.” Spouse Chris Fry got to Japan less than a month ago. Her pre-move jitters include: “freezing to death” and “doing something dumb out of ignorance.” “I want to have a good relationship with my neighbors,” Fry said. These questions, observations and more drew them to “Your Japanese Home” ― a course devoted to off-base living held by Yokosuka’s Fleet and Family Support Center. The class tackles various aspects of life in Japan ― from train travel to typhoons ― but it focuses on the misunderstandings that arise when Americans cross the threshold of their new home and community...“It can be frustrating,” course instructor and intercultural relations training technician Nao Aoki said of the language and cultural barriers between Americans and their Japanese neighbors. He’s heard the horror stories ― about the Americans who put their king-sized beds in the tatami rooms, which damages the tatami, and accuse the garbage collectors of anti-American garbage discrimination when their trash wasn’t sorted correctly. “But don’t stress out,” Aoki said. “The more you know, the better you like it”...more...
