Back in Milwaukee - The US of A!

I have just made it back here to the United States. Of course there is a big difference between America and Japan...but I didn't feel like I was back in America until I remembered some of these things.

The differences I had forgotten about after coming back to the States:

• People speak English. I can understand everything that people say to me!!
• There are not convenience stores lined up at every corner like in Japan...
• There are no vending machines every 10-20 feet
• Drinks all come in a minimum of 20 ounce bottles. In Japan, they regularly come in sizes about 1/4 or 1/3 of that size
• You don't have to worry about driving in other people's way on the road...you have your own space
• You can hop on the highway and get to far places quickly! And the highways are free!! Except for tollways which are still minimal in price. In Japan, it can cost up to 10 bucks just to drive on the highway for only 20 minutes

Although all my life I had considered myself American, I know that on the outside I look Japanese. I have faced this many times before and all my friends and people in school in the States had come to understand that I was born and raised in the states just like them, but my parents were both from Japan, which is why I also look like I am of Japanese descent (which I obviously am). But it was funny because in Japan, people get confused. I look Japanese. I can speak some...and understand some...but not alllll...and can't speak completely fluently. So when I talk to them, they ask, "Wait, are you Japanese? Or where are you from?" It's been a fun road and very interesting journey explaining to people that I am in fact Japanese in blood, but was born and raised in America. However, when I landed back in the states, I guess I fooled everybody just the same.

As I was walking through the terminal toward customs, one of the employees was waving people to the "Visitors" line and the line for "US Citizens." I naturally started walking toward the US Citizens line because I am one. Then the employee looked at me and said "Visitors" line is over here! I thought, "Ohhhh....she must think that I am a Japanese citizen because obviously I look Japanese..." Hahahaha.. I thought that was interesting and had forgotten about that. Then I proceeded to quickly tell her that I was in fact a US Citizen and she felt a little embarassed.

Then a little bit later, we had to recheck in our luggage...which is always a pain. It takes time and is annoying, but that's how it is. Apparently, you're not allowed to have your cell phone open at that area...no one is allowed to use them, but I was just checking my messages and that isn't even allowed, so one of the employees had told me to please close my cellphone. But, she asked me in Japanese!! Haha!! Once again, I have them fooled! She was an American but had probably learned a few key phrases in Japanese in case there were foreigners that might not fully understand English. But little did she know I was a US Citizen and actually understand her English much more than her Japanese, but I thought that it was very interesting and hilarious. I didn't say anything except, "ohh" and then put my phone away. Fair enough, I guess on the outside it can be easy to make assumptions and knowing that a flight from Japan had just come in, I don't blame either of the 2 employees for what they did. It's only natural to guess that someone who looks Japanese would belong in the foreigner line and would understand "Please put your cellphone away" in Japanese.

Well, long day of traveling and I am ready for some rest. Bring it on, Jetlag!!