Overdue

It's been four months since I left Japan. Aaron n I've been busy with--

*moving into a new aparto
*planning and holding a wedding reception
*finding jobs
*family vacation
*catching up with old friends

But who cares about that? Everyone wants the scoop on how we're adjusting back to US life, culture shock, enlightenment, etc. So...

Reverse Culture Shock hasn't really been a problem. I didn't expect to return the exact person who left. I expected friends, family, life in general to have marched on without me. Just as when I'd visit home from Uni, many things would be the same, but there were always plenty of little changes. Also, 2 years away didn't wipe away 24 years of American culture.

Some little things that did stand out when we returned---

*There are plenty of non-Asians around, and the odds are high that I do not know the person. As part of the foreigner pool in Hyogo, if I saw a foreigner, odds were good that I knew him/her. It took me a few days to realize that I probably don't know that redhead over there.

*So many body types and personal styles.

*People talk too much and about incredibly inane things. I'm sure this was true in Japan, but it was easy not to listen in on others' convos. But since Ams tend to talk loudly [and I'm fully fluent in Eng], I hear EVERYTHING.

*American serving sizes are ridiculously large.

Privatized!

Ha Ha! The Japanese Post Office was privatized a few months ago. I don't know how that exactly played out in terms of changes, but I am comforted imagining a new improved Post Office humming along efficiently.