If there were less Americans around, would you behave the same way?

[ja_Patriot]

*
The US military presence in a country in French West Africa where I found myself for several years was a marine guard detachment providing security for the US embassy & diplomatic residence(s).

Fridays were TGIF at the marine house hosted by the gunny and the international expat community usually joined in the fun. BX was by mail order. There would be a small commissary in places like Abidjan. There weren’t too many Americans around.

Your own version of a foreign language, French in this case, was never criticized, and you had to speak the language (read and write to an extent) to cope with the routine run of things.

You followed the laws, traditions and customs of the land, including the rules of the road, car registration, visa formalities and general decorum with respect to local people and expats.

You learned about nuances. Being married to a local or a French citizen would be a plus, but not such a big deal. The “Froggies” tend to stick with one another; same with the Anglos and the Yanks. You somehow get used to being called “patron” or “masta”.

Have any of you experienced any of that?

Mais, ce n’etait pas tres terrible, n’est-ce pas?

---

Well, let’s say Okinawa were not as Americanized but just a typical southern Japanese city like Miyazaki where you won’t find too many people of your nationality, not necessarily American, - how would you conduct yourself?

Would you make a more concerted effort to at least speak Japanese and get more involved with the local people and culture?

Would you get by without or with little American food products or American brands? Would you change your eating habits and adapt to more local fare?

Would you have a quieter demeanor? Or rant just as much for trivial things such as the annoying way people drive in Okinawa (believe me, they’re not the worst) and how MPs get involved with keeping peace and order?

Would you adjust your behavior?

Or would you carry on in the same way you’re handling things now?

Would you rather just stay back home in your comfort zone?

Or Oki for you is just a station and you don’t have any control on how to determine your own lifestyle and attitude. You just go with the flow.

I think your answer could be key to your personal enjoyment of what the Okinawa experience and its people can really offer and mean to you, whether you’re passing through or here to stay a little longer.

As they say in Okinawa, “Nankuru nai sa!”


#

[dk]

I've lived down in Naha. It's not the outskirts of Japan, but where I lived in Naha I didn't know another foreigner who lived within a few miles of me. Now that I live in Urasoe City, I still don't know any foreigners who live near me. Back then, I made a habit to smile and be courteous to my neighbors. Here, I do the same. I try to be as outgoing as I can, but for the most part, I haven't had much success in making local friends. It might be that apartment buildings just aren't the place to spark friendships, or it might just be that I fail at making Okinawan friends. I've never had a problem making friends with mainlanders. It's only here that I've had problems with it. I'm at the point where I've stopped trying lately and have finally just resolved to hang out where the Americans hang out if I want to be social.

I have not adjusted my behavior much in any case. I work with Americans on a daily basis, but four years back I worked completely with locals on a daily basis. I haven't changed much aside from the fact that I'm not as young anymore and I don't have the freetime anymore that my old job had.

With me, there is no comfort zone. I'd much rather make local friends than military friends to be honest as local friends will be here more than for the next two years, but I take what I can get.

I love the island. I love the culture, but as far as the people are concerned, I have a better time when I'm around mainlanders for the most part. I've met quite a few friendly locals, but I have honestly met the greatest people in Tokyo. I guess their style of living just better suits me. This island makes me sleepy and slow.

No, I'm not complaining. I'm stating fact at least as far as I've experienced it over the past two decades. Don't take offense to this.

Oh, PS, to answer your question about the language, if I suddenly moved to mainland Japan, I would put in a much bigger effort to learn Japanese. I speak it decently to an extent and could positively learn to be fluent if I had the urge and the free time, but over here, I just don't feel the need.

[Muku]

Interesting topic.....
Personally in the town I live in now there are currently 3 Americans including me that are permanent residents. There are a couple of JET's and a couple of Mormon's as well that I know of. We "perms" know each other and have talked but do not go out of our way to socialize with each other, but we all are on friendly terms when we see each other but it isnt like we are neighbors either.

Would you make a more concerted effort to at least speak Japanese and get more involved with the local people and culture?

I did but not because of where I was living. It was for employment reasons that I needed Japanese. I got heavily involved in the local community thanks to the local PTA.

Would you get by without or with little American food products or American brands? Would you change your eating habits and adapt to more local fare?

Umm what are American brands....I seem to have forgotten.

Would you have a quieter demeanor? Or rant just as much for trivial things such as the annoying way people drive in Okinawa (believe me, they’re not the worst) and how MPs get involved with keeping peace and order?

This took time, because of my circumstances and living situation at the time I often got PO'd about a lot of little crap. But now I have mellowed to the point that I honestly can not remember the last time I honked my car horn. At one time I actually considered installing a Mack Truck air horn on my car just to scare the crap out of the people around me. (Damn we need an "evil" smilie here)

Would you adjust your behavior?

I would say I adapted. Probably semantics but adjusting means that I still would be keeping many of the traits I had before. Most of those traits are long gone.

Or would you carry on in the same way you’re handling things now?

Refer to my previous answer please.

Or Oki for you is just a station and you don’t have any control on how to determine your own lifestyle and attitude. You just go with the flow.

Only if I allowed it. I think that over the years I have created my own lifestlye and attitudes about many things. Age also plays a factor as well imo.

As they say in Okinawa, “Nankuru nai sa!”

Or in French as you know C`EST LA VIE or Should I say Que Sera Sera!
Oh and btw that is about the extent of my French

[DougP]

I guess I would probably act the same as I do now. I'm rarely around Americans at all even though I live in Chatan. Except for at home the majority of my conversations are in Japanese. I've been making an effort since the day I got here to learn the language and don't plan on stopping even if my fellow Americans leave this island. I don't feel at all influenced by the presence of the military here. Really unless I start working on base again I don't see their presence big or small having any real affect on my life.

It is always nice to sit down and talk with my American friends in my native language. Funny thing is usually once there is one or more Okinawan friends present we all switch to speaking Japanese. Its pretty funny when two Americans are engaging in a conversation in Japanese.

[Fonze]

I would think you'd have to. And not by choice.

[ja_Patriot]

dk,

You’re right. Local folks aren’t as gregarious or outgoing as Tokyo or Osaka types. Take my nephews and nieces (in law). Six are about the same age. 3 who studied in Tokyo and thereabouts initiate conversations and even try to speak and learn English. The other 3 who studied locally are polite but reserved, and only answer questions when asked.

Japanese never really write letters and meet family only so many times a year (obon & bounen-kai). No birthday celebrations, no anniversaries.

My inter-action with bros-in-law is limited to the occasional round of golf and an evening out at the izakaya. I probably speak more with my neighbors from Tokyo and business friends.

As for language, you’re right again. I guess it’s part of the experience of where you’re at, and proficiency does come with necessity.

I’ve been married for so many years to my Japanese wife and only now do I find it necessary to master the language since we’re actually in Japan. In the meantime, I learned several European languages out of necessity.


#

[ja_Patriot]

Muku,

Same here. I know of gai-jin folks in the neighborhood but will I ever go fishing or golf with them? Besides, not too many people can stand the occasional cigar.

As for language, believe it or not, I envy your command of it. Should have started to be serious about learning my wife's maternal language a long time ago.

American brands? Well, I like McDonald's fries. Always liked them. But I prefer my own juicy hamburger, for example.

Many are adapted as Japanese brands, i.e. Knorr, Hunts, Hornel. But I've never felt the need to go looking for specific American brands.

The first couple of months I did toot the horn. Can't really blame someone who's spent a long time in Miami where people don't use directional blinkers, among other things.

My wife would give me the "Where's the fire, what's the hurry look". So the old dog learns.


#

[ja_Patriot]

Doug P,

Same as you, I try to live a Japanese life. I'd be as comfortable with Japanese as with Americans or Frenchmen or Spaniards or Aussies or Thais or Filipinos for that matter.

I actually have fun doing it. I tell my wife "I have to teach them how to say, "Naha City" and "not Naha Shi-ty" and it's not "Shi-ty Bank" either. It's "CO 2" not "Shi-Oh-tsu". My wife gives me the old "When in Rome do as the Romans do" line, when I was trying to teach her English.


#

[Muku]

Besides, not too many people can stand the occasionally cigar.

I can...

We are really going to need to do a JU meet. Maybe one for the "south" and one for the "north".

I'll bet the south people have more fun! Particularly since dk will have to buy the first round.

[Fonze]

what do you consider north?