“Please ask me any questions you may have.” I reminded my client, although I had already told him several times over the phone interview. Today’s client was a Japanese executive who moved to the U.S. for work several months ago. “Any question is really Okay?” He looked as if he was assessing my words. I … More A cultural speculation on why Americans are … plump
When my daughter was in preschool, teachers said at various times, “Your daughter is very independent.” At first this sounded positive. After hearing this a few times though, I started to wonder. So, the next time I heard it, I decided to ask. “Does that mean that she’s not listening to you?” “Oh, no no! … More Positive reframing
It took three messages from angels for me to read one book. I visited my son’s English class for a book review presentation, where fourth graders were dressed like a person from a biography and told the story from that person’s point of view. I saw an Einstein, a Helen Keller and a Frederick Douglass. … More Unbroken to broken, and a new hope
When I first came to the U.S. in 1992, many people asked me “Are you Christian?” My husband’s friends would look at our wedding picture with me in a white dress, and assume that I was Christian. “No, I’m not. It was simply the cheapest way to get married.” My frank response startled them. So, … More Life and harmony and a missing part
I was in a car with two women, who also work in the intercultural field. One of them said, “Our clients are all surprised by the size of Americans.” Newcomers to the U.S. encounter overweight people everywhere they go; therefore, they assume it is cultural. She then described her view of the root cause, “Obesity … More You don’t know what it’s like
The sun was already down; the days get much shorter in September. I walked through a soccer field to go to another field in the back. Boys were scattered around the field, but as I walk closer, they gathered into a tight circle. I thought the practice was already over, but I heard the head … More A lukewarm soccer mom
I was having dinner with one of my business partners. He ordered his regular drink, his version of cosmopolitan with detailed instructions. “No problem.” The waiter answered and left. “I always feel strange about this. ‘No problem’ seems to imply that I gave him a problem.” He shook his head. I felt the same way … More No problem!
Occasionally, I get surprised by Americans’ verbal attacks. The other day, for example, I was standing on a subway platform in Manhattan that was crowded with commuters. The New York subway is a world beyond imagination for Japanese, who are used to clean subway platforms. In New York, the platform is narrow, dark and smells … More Kind Japanese
I grew up in tatami rooms. My mother cleaned tatamis, first wiping them with a wet cloth and then drying them with a dry cloth. Carpets could be changed easily, but tatamis remained there for a long time. I loved tatamis, but I would wonder how clean they were. When my parents built their house … More Be clean and feel clean
A CEO who had just come to the U.S. made a comment, “Everything is big in the U.S.” I nodded, “American’s physiques, houses and the amount of food they consume are all big.” He looked away, and added, “Well, those are big for sure, but I mean, some Americans tell barefaced humongous lies, don’t you … More Tell a lie, you’ll be a thief (a Japanese proverb)