There is nothing quite like the feeling of stepping off the plane in Japan for the first time. From the blinding speeds of the bullet train and the soaring heights of Mt Fuji to the craziest street fashions and the freshest fish you’ll ever taste, Japan awakens the senses like few countries I know.
After awhile however, it all starts to feel normal, which is of course your first warning sign that you’ve been in Japan for too long.
Think you may have Japanophilia?
Can’t remember what your family, friends and country look like?
Forgetting your Eng(r)ish?
(Didn’t read yesterday’s article?)
You’ve been in Japan too long when…
…you can’t have your picture taken without your fingers forming the peace sign.
…when you forget how to spell simple words like “wear”
…when you think one kind of rice tastes better than another kind.
…you return the bow from the cash machine.
…when you rush home from work to catch the last few minutes of sumo.
…you can’t find the “open” and “close” buttons in the elevator because they’re in English.
…the TV commercials make sense to you.
…when you think that coffee goes perfectly well with squid pizza.
…you fully understand the concept of ‘cuteness’
… you think cod roe spaghetti with chilled red wine is a typical Italian dish.
…you run for the subway, pushing people left and right and, jump on the train holding the doors open to let your bag follow you on simply because you know there will not be another one for at least a minute.
…you find yourself apologizing at least three times per conversation.
…you buy an individually wrapped potato in the supermarket.
…you think that “Lets SPORTS yOUNG gAY CluB” is a perfectly normal T shirt logo for a middle aged lady.
…you have to pause and translate your phone number into English before telling it to someone.
…you order a ‘bottle of draft’ in a pub.
…you are speaking in English but all references to money come out in Japanese.
…you think sushi at a baseball game is perfectly normal (also applies to “too long in California”).
…your idea of a larger home is an extra 10 square meters.
…you leave your office mid-morning and go to a coffee shop in order to get some work done.
...you go for a drink with friends back home and start pouring everybody’s beer.
..when when you draw a sharp distinction between ‘English’ and ‘English conversation.’
…you are disappointed when Dominoes doesn’t have corn pizza, and the driver is disappointed when you forget the tip.
..you buy tickets to a Tokyo Giants baseball game and spend time practicing the cheers.
…while back in your home country for a short visit you patiently wait outside your taxi for its door to spring open for you.
…when you vow to honorably do your best before every little activity you engage in.
…lunch is yesterday’s leftovers out of a Hello Kitty bento box.
Think it may be time to go back home?
** This list is courtesy of Will at http://web2.iadfw.net/will/japan2long.html