I wanted to go on this study abroad to experience a new culture so different from my own. I’d heard so much about Japan and South Korea and I wanted to see the culture and history for myself.
When we first got out of the airport I was amazed at how tall the buildings were in Tokyo. Everything seemed to tower above us, pointing up, up, up to the sky. Despite the visual clutter everybody was so much quieter than in the US. Even the airport and busy hotel lobby had an air of peace and quiet dedication. However, as I would soon come to find, drunken and joyful Japanese people in restaurants were equally loud (if not louder) than us Americans. At those
same restaurants, I’d later be surprised by the ordering system. A waiter didn’t come to our table to take our order, but instead we ordered food off of a tablet or from a QR code.
On our business-related excursion, we learned about Japan’s business culture. Our presenters discussed the polite and hierarchical structure of Japanese businesses, as well as a rigidity and resistance to new changes to their operations. This seemed quite different from the US, where more collaborative and innovative policies are encouraged. Additionally, walking around Tokyo and Kyoto, I was amazed at how formally the native residents dressed. Many women walked around in dresses suitable to be our Sunday best and men often wore suits or collared shirts. When in more casual attire, many younger people wore fashionable outfits much more elaborate than often seen in the US.
Another thing that surprised me about Japan was the prevalence of smoking. At restaurants, in train stations, and along the streets, people lit and smoked cigarettes. The packed smoking areas in stations, and the labeled non-smoking cars on the bullet trains surprised me, especially since almost everywhere is a non-smoking area in the US.
Overall, I was struck by the orderly, polite culture and the beautiful buildings and country side. While it shared some similarities to the US, the level of decorum and technological integration seemed to be much higher than in the US. I’m excited to continue this trip into South Korea, and to see how their cultures, fashions, and business differ from both America and Japan.
