Timothy Folkins comments

Posted in: Can embracing Japanese culture make you forget your own? See in context

For long-term Expats in Japan there is a more serious risk. In Japan if you are "Gaijin" you are not expected to become a part of the culture or live up to normal cultural standards. Board a train without a ticket? Oh, he is a foreigner better just leave him alone. Come to work late and leave early? Haha, that silly gaijin must not know how to read a train schedule in Japanese even after 2 years. Not able to speak the language after 10 years? Will Japanese is too difficult for Gaijin to learn anyway!

After awhile you get used to not having to live up to cultural norms. When you come back to your own culture and people expect you to act responsibly, that is when real reverse culture shock sets in.

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