Everytime I go back to Europe after living in Japan, I am subject to some sort of reverse culture shock, as I am no more used to how things are done in my own country. This time (I am writing from Belgium now) is maybe the strongest I have experienced so far.
- Going to the supermarket, the check-out assistant started chating with the previous customers for at least 2 whole minutes. I was waiting behind and already had my credit card ready, but she took no notice and continued chatting. This would never happen in Japan. I was on the verge of taking her name and complain to the direction for her lack of professionalism (but didn't as I had better things to do).
- I am always amazed at how Latin people (including French speaking Belgians) are unpreocupied about time. It seems normal to wait 10 or 20 minutes for someone when you had agreed on the time to meet before and they hardly apologise for being late. I just can't tolerate this kind of behaviour anymore. In Japan people get to appointments right on time (or a bit before) or at least have the courtesy to call if they are going to be more than 5 minutes late. The only exception is when they are the customers.
- My parents had to call the plumber to repair something. Not only can't the guy say with precision when he'll come (not just the time but even the day), but if we don't call him back 5 times he just forgets to come. Again, in Tokyo we call and the guy is there within the hour.
- In Belgium, it seems that the expression "the client is king" is devoid of meaning. I sensed that especially in restaurants where people are made to wait for 30min or 1h before being served. Apparently rather than recruiting more staff in the kitchen they prefer to make people wait so as to avoid additional costs. When you want to pay your bill, sometimes it takes an eternity before you can get the waiter to bring it to you (or get you change/credit card back). If they don't bring you the bill, the best solution is to get up and leave slowly. If they still don't come, just leave without paying. I have already done it once in a cafe as the staff really didn't seem to care. If they don't want to get paid, that's their problem after all.
- In Belgium, shops are almost all closed on Sundays (even big supermarkets or some bakeries !). Some even close on Mondays too. The rest of the week, most shops close at 6pm, except big supermarket that are sometimes open till 8pm. That's a big change from Tokyo where most shops are open all week till late and every neighbourhood has its bunch of 24h/7d convevience stores (forbidden in Belgium to protect small shop keepers and workers :angryfire: )
- it takes 2 weeks to 1 month to get an appointment at a specialist doctor's !
There are probably other things too, which we come back to mind later.
What about you ? Has any of you experienced reverse culture shock after living in another country (e.g. Japan) for several years ?
- Going to the supermarket, the check-out assistant started chating with the previous customers for at least 2 whole minutes. I was waiting behind and already had my credit card ready, but she took no notice and continued chatting. This would never happen in Japan. I was on the verge of taking her name and complain to the direction for her lack of professionalism (but didn't as I had better things to do).
- I am always amazed at how Latin people (including French speaking Belgians) are unpreocupied about time. It seems normal to wait 10 or 20 minutes for someone when you had agreed on the time to meet before and they hardly apologise for being late. I just can't tolerate this kind of behaviour anymore. In Japan people get to appointments right on time (or a bit before) or at least have the courtesy to call if they are going to be more than 5 minutes late. The only exception is when they are the customers.
- My parents had to call the plumber to repair something. Not only can't the guy say with precision when he'll come (not just the time but even the day), but if we don't call him back 5 times he just forgets to come. Again, in Tokyo we call and the guy is there within the hour.
- In Belgium, it seems that the expression "the client is king" is devoid of meaning. I sensed that especially in restaurants where people are made to wait for 30min or 1h before being served. Apparently rather than recruiting more staff in the kitchen they prefer to make people wait so as to avoid additional costs. When you want to pay your bill, sometimes it takes an eternity before you can get the waiter to bring it to you (or get you change/credit card back). If they don't bring you the bill, the best solution is to get up and leave slowly. If they still don't come, just leave without paying. I have already done it once in a cafe as the staff really didn't seem to care. If they don't want to get paid, that's their problem after all.
- In Belgium, shops are almost all closed on Sundays (even big supermarkets or some bakeries !). Some even close on Mondays too. The rest of the week, most shops close at 6pm, except big supermarket that are sometimes open till 8pm. That's a big change from Tokyo where most shops are open all week till late and every neighbourhood has its bunch of 24h/7d convevience stores (forbidden in Belgium to protect small shop keepers and workers :angryfire: )
- it takes 2 weeks to 1 month to get an appointment at a specialist doctor's !
There are probably other things too, which we come back to mind later.
What about you ? Has any of you experienced reverse culture shock after living in another country (e.g. Japan) for several years ?
