Blogger Plus?

So Blogger updated and expanded and tricked me into switching my blog over to the new, savy version. It wasn't really a trick (it said "do you want to switch accounts? yes or no?") but I wish I hadn't anyways. The differences are minor and I'm sure I'll like this one better after I get used to it and explore the features, but actually, I don't care much for features. I just want to say what I have to say and for the lovely readers to read what it. I don't need sound effects or flashy lights. Just this little text box is fine.

But the changing over process wasn't exactly difficult or anything, so I shouldn't complain. One thing that's incredibly annoying is that I have to sign in every time I come now, instead of the site remembering me. There's a button that says "remember me" and I check it every time, but it still makes me sign in. Bah.

Anyways, about Japan. Japan. Uhm, yeah, Japan is cool. Really cold. I feel so stupid complaining about the temperature because it's practically spring outside and I'm not living in the mountains anymore, like I was at the last house. But insulation is just nonexistant and I feel it for sure.

My mom's coming to visit in about two weeks, which I'm pretty excited about. I haven't been homesick but there's just something about being away from my mom for so long. I know I'm supposed to grow up right about now and be prepared to do everything on my own and I am prepared, but mom's are a good asset and I would prefer not to spend so much time away from my own. Usually, whenever I get frustrated, it's not because I can't make myself understood, but because people don't react the way I want or expect; sometimes they just flat out don't believe me. For example, if I told my last host mom about an extra kendo practice scheduled on Saturday, she would wait until I went upstairs, then call my kendo Sensei and ask if there's a kendo practice scheduled for Saturday. My Japanese has certainly progressed to the point where I can understand "practice, Saturday." If my family has a question for my teachers, instead of telling me to ask my teachers, they write a letter and tell me to give it to my teachers. I usually tear up the letter and ask myself.

The thing is that this is just a different place and the actions can't be compared to Americans. What I mean to say is that they aren't trying to insult me and don't necessarily thing I have wrotten Japanese. Let me explain.
One of the huge, fundamental differences between Japan and America (there are many) is the difference in the amount of ethnic varieties. America, of course, is made up of a whole gaggle of peoples from all over the world. Sometimes the Japanese admit to me ashamedly that they can't the difference between Americans and Canadians and Germans and French. Don't worry, we can't either. There virtually is no difference. The essence of America is it's diversity and most Americans can claim at three or four ethnic heritages. I think that I'm Scottish and British and would you believe me if I said Portuegese? Were virtually all foreigners in America. While diverse heritage is celebrated and many people take pride in theirs, Americans are also known for their nationalistic and American-centric way of thinking. A bit ironic. That means we love America. We want America and American ideals to succeed and we strongly believe we are right. Well, usually we do anyways.

In terms of language, that means that English is the Way, golden, beautiful, and awefully important, not only in America, but (as I'm finding) in the world. We have little tolerance to foreigners who blindly stumble into America without taking the time to at least learn the darn language. Perhaps it's because with so many ethnic groups to draw from, we have very little we can actually call "American". I can't tell me how many times I've been asked "So what exactly is American food? Hamburgers?" But it's not. It's spaghetti and burritos and tater tots and all sorts of foods that are associated with other parts of the world. But we darn well have a language, even distinctly different from other "versions" of English around the world. Maybe Americans insist on English because losing English is symbolic of losing our culture and values to foreigners.

I was staying at a hotel with a friend once and the guy at the front desk had a thick Mexican accent. As we were walking away, my friend said vehemently "What's he doing here if he doesn't even know the language?" Such comments are not rare in America and many Americans would agree with her assement in a second. In America, we have many minorities and a vibrant cultural background. We have many distinct values that separate us from our European parents, but little tangible evidence of our culture. No costumes (unless you count the Native Americans) to parade in, and our only culinary work of genius has been the McDonald's Big Mac. But we have a language and that brings us all together and more importantly, acts as a symbol of what we consider to be our culture.

If America is a melting pot, Japan is a blob of oil. Nobody comes in, and those that do don't mesh. Foreignes aren't expected to learn the language. With blond hair and blue eyes, you'll likely never not be a foreigner in Japan. If course Japan also has a culture to defend, which it does fiercely, but all of the cultural symbols aren't rooted in one thing (the language) like in America. In America, foreigners are accepted, but often suspiciously. They are here to take our jobs and raise the crime rate. In Japan, foreigners rarely come to stay. They bring money and business to the touristy cities and then return home with pictures and postcards. They are in no danger of losing their language to the mass amount of foreigners simply because the foreigners go home. In Japan, the burden of translation is on the native person. Or to be more accurate, on the Japanese person. When I walk into a temple, even if I'm with my Japanese family, I'm handed a brochure in English. When I buy a drink at the convenient stores, the shopkeeper points the screen instead of saying the price and finishes with a choppy "Tank you! Come again!"

If a man who appeared Mexican walked into a 7-11 in average America and the storekeeper attempted to communicate with him only in Spanish, it would be offensive. It wouldn't happen, excpet maybe in California.

I'm a foreigner in Japan, and while they love me for it, they wouldn't want or let me be anything more. They're always going to give me the Japanese pamphlets and assume I don't know any Japanese. They don't mean to offend me, but they want me feel welcome and they want my business. So strangers who don't remember their English classes in high school frantically turn the other way when they see me coming. I walked into a store once and asked a lady if they carried scissors. She told me to wait a second and called a cooworker who had done well in English in high school to communicate with me.

Man, all that just to say that my host mom gives me letters to take to school instead of talking with me.