My husband has a moment of culture shock back in the US
I thought I would share this with y'all because it's something I think about and see everyday.
My husband just got back from spending a month in the United States and he was shocked at how rude many people are in the States compared to Japan. I immediately understood what he meant. From listening to some of his stories he did run into a couple of genuinely rude folks but as for the rest, things are just done differently back there.
While at the Detroit airport, my H was behind a Japanese guy in line at a snack bar. The Jp fellow was trying to use his credit card to buy something but it was declined. The Jp guy said, "That's strange, because I just used it on the other side of the airport," and the cashier literally raised her voice at this guy and said, "LOOK! It was declined!" Then the manager came out and gave him a hard time as well even though this poor guy only muttered one sentence. Finally they ran it again and it worked fine. My H was shocked and felt sorry for the Jp guy. That would NEVER happen in Japan as store employees are always super polite.
Tips are considered rude in Japan. If you ever come out here never give a tip at a restaurant. Jp people get paid to do their job (their own opinion)- which includes being helpful and nice to the customer. People in the US expect a tip even if their service sucks. Everyone from the lowest-paid Starbucks employee to presidents of large corporations treat you with the utmost respect over here.
Now on the road? As far as driving goes people are just as rude no matter where you are I think ;)
My husband just got back from spending a month in the United States and he was shocked at how rude many people are in the States compared to Japan. I immediately understood what he meant. From listening to some of his stories he did run into a couple of genuinely rude folks but as for the rest, things are just done differently back there.
While at the Detroit airport, my H was behind a Japanese guy in line at a snack bar. The Jp fellow was trying to use his credit card to buy something but it was declined. The Jp guy said, "That's strange, because I just used it on the other side of the airport," and the cashier literally raised her voice at this guy and said, "LOOK! It was declined!" Then the manager came out and gave him a hard time as well even though this poor guy only muttered one sentence. Finally they ran it again and it worked fine. My H was shocked and felt sorry for the Jp guy. That would NEVER happen in Japan as store employees are always super polite.
Tips are considered rude in Japan. If you ever come out here never give a tip at a restaurant. Jp people get paid to do their job (their own opinion)- which includes being helpful and nice to the customer. People in the US expect a tip even if their service sucks. Everyone from the lowest-paid Starbucks employee to presidents of large corporations treat you with the utmost respect over here.
Now on the road? As far as driving goes people are just as rude no matter where you are I think ;)
Comments
I'm used to it here now, it doesn't stand out as much as it did when we first returned.
I'm glad I found your site, it helps me keep in touch. I do miss the place.
Love your blogs!
Yes, we are very rude here in states. It's a shame it is getting so bad that those of us who are used to it see the problem. Then again working in customer service I see how it happens. I would imagine in Japan the customers are far more polite as well? :p Here I have to deal with some extremely rude customers. I do my best to be polite though. Rude customers-> rude service->vicious cycle.
At first I thought all of the smiling and helpfulness was very creepy but then after you've been here for a while it becomes contagious. Like you finally get it. I admit putting on a smile for a store employee can get a little tiresome especially after a long day when all you wanna do it get the hell out of there but I think it does something good for everyone's karma. On the other hand I find myself dishing out smiles to Americans that I pass by and you just get strange looks like they wanna fight or something. Americans sometimes look at kindness as a weakness but I just think it makes you a better person.
Lynne