I was sitting in a Kagoshima, Japan, Starbucks yesterday enjoying my tall green tea frappuccino. Suddenly, a Japanese woman at the table next to me started talking to me in English (her English was quite good, by the way). This is not an unusual occurrence, as I’m often approached by Japanese people wanting to practice their English on a foreigner.
She asked me if I was a student or traveling. I told her I was a teacher. She asked if I was planning on coming to Tokyo someday. I told her yes, in August. Then, not three minutes into the conversation (before we even exchanged names), the women invited me to her house in Tokyo where I can stay with her and her two small children. She gave me her name, number, and email address. Wow…
I continued to talk to the women for an hour, so in the end I gave her my information as well. However, this got me thinking about how trusting people are in this country. How many of you would consider inviting a complete stranger to stay with you and your young family? Even after spending a year in this welcoming, trusting country, I was surprised by this woman. I mean, I could have been an evil person for all she knew. And what if I was? With the info she gave me after just a couple minutes, I could do a lot of damage. As it is, thank goodness I’m a fairly decent person.
This experience was yet another interesting example of how different the trust, people, and cultures are between America and Japan.
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i know what you me4an, i lived in misawa for three yeaes, and made friends while camping in amori. withint a day our families had arranged "homestays"
lol i love that country. They still have moals.
The past is the past, you can not change it. So don't dwell in your mistakes, Pick up the pieces, and instead learn from your downfall.
actually my family is very trusting...the last guy I was talking to lived an hour away and the first time my parents met him...or me for that matter...they offered to let him stay the night...and my current boyfriend (whom my parents have never met) is coming to spend a week at our house...I guess it's just because we've always had someone that doesn't live here staying here
That is a prime example of seeing the good in people. I believe that their culture is based on community and trust, they have learned to trust...which may have been why she found it so easy to trust you with her information.
In the American culture, I don't think you would find that too often. Most likely because it focuses more on individualism...every-man-for-himself type attitude. I would find it hard to trust someone that easily in this society. I think that somehow, the American society should break out of this type of mentality...somehow, we should be focused more on community and trust.
-Amanda-
My mom does that. She is an amazing, trusting woman, but it scares me. One time we were in Long Beach and she started talking to our waiter and by the end of the night gave him her email and our home phone number and said any time he was in the Bay Area he could stay with us. Luckily, he was a really attractive surfer so it didn't bother me so much but what if he was crazy?!
I wish that I could be trusting like that, but it is hard in the day and age.
Après la pluie le beau temps. ♥
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Well that's interesting. Perhaps the Japanese are not as cautious as we are? And maybe they don't have the same type of criminals we do, like the ones who want personal information to use against you.
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Also, another reason this occurred is because in Japan, teaching is a very honorable and highly-respected profession.
It is wonderful seeing how different cultures vary from one another, especially when one is halfway across the world. I have two penpals in Japan and one I keep in touch with every so often in Korea, and it is very surprising how different the methods of educational techniques differ. =)
That's true. Teachers are still highly respected. Times are changing in Japan the same way they are changing all over the world, so perhaps the teacher pedestal is a bit lower than it used to be, but it's still pretty high.
As a teacher in China, I have had random people on the street come up and invite me to their homes to practice English with their kids usually.
Just to eco some of the other comments, I totally agree that the view of a foreign teacher is key in these situations. My title here in China is actually "Foreign Expert." All kinds of people come up to me with all sorts of questions about English and America. I am one of the local foreigners in the community. This community concept is key as well. People tend to be more friendly and view each other as comrades, but not always. Not all the people who want to practice English have good intentions, at least that is my story in China. But overall, I love meeting new people and practicing English with anyone.
As for the crime in China, the penalties are so severe that I generally find that no one tries anything fishy. I can honestly say that I feel the safest here in China than anywhere else. The worst thing that can happen is that someone may steal your wallet while you're not paying attention. There are some other petty scams that people use on each other, but nothing serious. Society is peaceful with so little crime, so I believe people are more trusting.
www.progressiveu.org/blog/americangirlinchina
Here in Japan, I also feel far safer than I have anywhere I've lived before.
Oddly enough, I'm also in the same position as you. The most dangerous thing I've seen so far in China is a robbery in Beijing. Well, I didn't see the robbery so much as watched a bunch of people circle a guy and not let him out until the police showed up. Luckily, I had a translator there to tell me what happened.
People here are very trusting. They seem to give out their telephone numbers without thinking about it. Everyone has everyone's phone number. (Except mine. I keep it private.) I have not seem much crime here other than the one robbery and the high prices in some of the stores which my students tell me it as good as robbing the unsuspecting.
The sanity within is overwhelming.
Even when there is a crime, of course someone sees it. The people gather around to help solve the situation. I've seen this a few times in my city in Henan province when there were traffic accidents or one time their was a domestic dispute situation between a girlfriend and a boyfriend.
By the way, I love Beijing. I may even come up to see the Great Wall again next weekend.
www.progressiveu.org/blog/americangirlinchina
I would NEVER give my personal information away after just meeting them. Hell, I pay extra to keep my name from being published in the phone book!
Why do you think people in Japan are more trusting? What are their crime rates out there? It's strange to think of people not being paranoid about all of the strangers out there....
Japan is a very respectful society and is in general very trusting. People in my city often leave their bikes unlocked, and even leave bags of purchases in their bike baskets while they run into another store. I'm sure people are a bit more cautious in Tokyo.
Crime rates in Japan are incredibly lower than in the USA. Everything from murder to petty theft occur much more seldom here. It's a very safe country. I can walk anywhere I want whenever I want without having to worry. I think it has a lot to do with the traditional values of the nation... especially respect.
Domestic violence, however, I don't believe is very low in this country. However, that is a crime that is rarely reported.
What do you think accounts for the difference? Is it that they just raise their kids to respect others better than Americans? Or maybe it has something to do with the punishments for crime?
It would be so awesome to live somewhere like that, somewhere one can actually feel a decent level of safety and security.
Kids are raised to respect people. That's the way it is. It's not something that is questioned by the young people... showing respect to people such as teachers is something as natural to most of them as breathing.
I think it is how the kids are raised, and how everyone is just surrounded by a society built on respect. Most Japanese people are followers. They'll do what the crowd is doing. The crowd is respectful, so that's they way everyone wants to be. Being such a homogeneous society, people like to blend in.
Do you have many discipine problems in your classes? I don't have much trouble, but other foreign teachers in China, including my husband, have a really hard time getting the students to respect them and listen in class.
www.progressiveu.org/blog/americangirlinchina
I've only had trouble with one class ever... and those problems were mild compared to some of the issues I had teaching at a middle school in the states. Other than that, I've had absolutely no trouble ever with my classes regarding discipline. At times it's actually a bit boring when I'm not challenged by disruptive students! Most of the time, though, I count my blessings. None of the other teachers I work with have problems either. However, I have heard a few "horror" stories here and there, but generally, Japanese students seem to treat teachers pretty well.
I don't know anything about Japanese Culture and I won't pretend that I do.
But your blog brought to mind a study by Robert Putnam, a well regarded and influential Harvard Political scientist that showed that the greater the diversity in a society the less the trust.
Study paints bleak picture of ethnic diversity
The core message of the research was that, “in the presence of diversity, we hunker down”, he said. “We act like turtles. The effect of diversity is worse than had been imagined. And it’s not just that we don’t trust people who are not like us. In diverse communities, we don’t trust people who do look like us.”
Prof Putnam found trust was lowest in Los Angeles, “the most diverse human habitation in human history”, but his findings also held for rural South Dakota, where “diversity means inviting Swedes to a Norwegians’ picnic”.
Again I don't know anything about Japan but it would follow logically with Dr Putnam's research that in a highly homogeneous society like Japan that trust would be very high.
That's an interesting study. I agree that the homogeneous society here in Japan probably has a great deal to do with the high trust levels.
Harumph! Can't trust 'em.
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/ediblewoman
I think part of the reason why we Americans don't trust people so often is because of all the crimes we have in this country. We can't even leave our doors unlocked. In my country the buildings had flat roofs and people would sleep on them because its a hot country. If it weren't for all them serial killers, stalkers, robbers, and school shootings, maybe we would trust eachother a little more.
Exactly. We need some way to stop all (or at least most) of the crime in the U. S.
I don't know, maybe the progressiveu community should look into that concept...
-Amanda-
I keep suggesting the death penalty.
same here.
The death penalty won't help crime rates for crimes such as theft. Also, if someone really wants to kill someone else, the death penalty isn't going to stop them.
I think harsh penalties have worked for other countries such as China because the penalties are used strictly and forcefully. The prisons in China are freaking scary. The people accept the policies.
It wouldn't work for America because we are used to our freedoms. If all of a sudden the government started killing people harshly, what kind of stability could we really hope for? Loads of people would die by the hands of the government if such a penalty would truly become effective and many would die in resistance to such policies. I think we'd have an anarchy on our hands.
www.progressiveu.org/blog/americangirlinchina
That sounds like some sort of rebellion thing going on. We already have the death penalty in this country. We just need to make it universal within all states of America. American studies show that crime rates decrease when such penalties are made. I don't think there would be a rebellion because the government isn't going to sentence just anyone to capital punishment. They are obviously going to have records, files, documents, witnesses (although I don't know the accuracy of a witness), and such to prove the case valid. So as long as you don't go around murdering people, or causing such ridiculous crimes, you won't have to worry about the death penalty. I don't think the death penalty should be used for crimes such as robbery though.
Actually, studies show that the death penalty does NOT reduce crime rates. For example, look at the state of Texas. They're some of the nation's leaders in capital punishment, yet the murder rates in that state are still above the national average.
As a general rule, crime rates are not reduced due to the death penalty. Sure, capital punishment may knock off a few people who may aim to kill more in the future. However, it does not prevent new offenders from carrying out their criminal intents.
I think that depends on the study done and the accuracy of the study. My source came from a school sociology textbook, which i consider accurate otherwise it wouldn't be used. It is also a new addition, so the information is up to date.
I am not saying you are wrong though. I also think there are more crime rates in Texus, however, i do think with strict laws RULED BY PEOPLE WITH COMMON SENSE as to what they are doing, can manage really well in an economy.
The source I am mentioning states that crime rates decrease with harsher laws; it did not necessarily state capital punishment. If i have written that, that must have been my own interpretation of it.
The cause of a rebellion would be if our president was a Hitler or Saddam Hussein. However, I do note that Saddam used harsh methods to keep his people under control, and it worked. Even if it was only because people are afraid of him. Actually the people of the countries with rulers like these don't rebel, its the outside world that jumps in. (This is my personal opinon because i just noticed as i was writing this comment that neither Hitler nor Saddam had a revolution or anything because of their own countries). So i guess i just contradicted what i just mentioned.
Anyways there would be no reason to rebel because as i said in a previous comment, as long as you're not out comitting rediculous crimes, theres nothing to worry about.
I want to say one more thing, i am clearly tired as i am writing this so i may fix my views later given that whatever you have to say to me is convincing.
In my opinion, I don't think the death penalty, by that I mean a universal government mandate, would be effective enough. To be effective and see the results we would like, I believe we would have to take it to an unethical level and that's not a place a I think America would go.
www.progressiveu.org/blog/americangirlinchina
What do you mean by "unethical level"
If America has the death penalty, what more can they do? I think this is the ultimate punishment for the expectations of this country. I don't think we would go beyond that.
I'm talking about being harsh and killing people to set the level of discipline. If you set it high and use the death penalty extensively, you start riding an ethical borderline where some people who don't deserve to be killed by the hands of others are anyway. It is my opinion that to make the death penalty work in any country, you have to throw away your morals and ride or cross this line. For this reason, I don't support the death penalty. I advocate for more rehab programs.
www.progressiveu.org/blog/americangirlinchina
Think critically about your textbooks. They all have a money making agenda, and the agenda doesn't always leave room for accurate information. Look at how we all learned American history when we were young...how many "heroes" from our history were actually marauders, thieves, and murderers? Many. I use textbooks as a jumping off point for further research. I trust very little of what they have to say.
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/ediblewoman
I agree with this. Some textbooks are better than others, but I wouldn't bet anything valuable on the information being truly accurate in any one of them.
So as long as you don't go around murdering people, or causing such ridiculous crimes, you won't have to worry about the death penalty.
Tell that to all the people who turned out to be innocent who ended up on death row...
~C
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That's a good point. It's pretty sad how often that happens.
I also said "strict laws RULED BY PEOPLE WITH COMMON SENSE as to what they are doing" so in your case, the people in charge don't apply to my view,
so I can't tell innocent people who are murdered why because they are dead and if they were still alive and the idiots in charge knew they were innocent, they wouldn't have died. If this makes no sense, feel free to ask me to re-word it or something.
What i am basically saying is the death sentence should be applied within given amount of time to PROVE someone guilty, with evidence and reasonable research. If that is not available, I am against it.
I wasn't talking about the dead people. I was talking about the people who spent years on death row, only to find out that they were innocent all along. Despite the fact that there was reasonable evidence to PROVE them guilty in the first place (as an appeal is required for any capital punishment case).
And if they're getting put on death row, what makes you think making the death penalty more prevalent in the states is going to increase the common sense of the people in charge enough to prevent this from happening in the first place? And surely, you'd have to offer some sort of compensation to someone put on death row for years of their life when they didn't do anything to deserve it, instead of just forcing them back into the 'real world'.
~C
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"you'd have to offer some sort of compensation to someone put on death row for years of their life when they didn't do anything to deserve it, instead of just forcing them back into the 'real world'. "
I agree on this.
As for your death row statement, I had misunderstood you. And the only way I can defend a resonable sentence is when the evidence is accurate. As I said before, if it isn't accurate, I disapprove of it.
I wrote a post on serial killers so I am going to explain why I support capital punishment: If a serial killer is proved to have committed the crimes, I would not just want to arrest him and sentence him to life. If I was a member of the family affected by the murder or a friend of the person, I deserve revenge. That person (PROVEN) guilty should be sentenced to death.
I also said that I disagree with capital punishment under crimes such as theft. I don't know if i posted that here or under my blog "Why Is America Different?".
I just don't think people who commit murder deserve to live (under some circumstances) unless it was self defense, or years of revenge (as in the case of physical abuse over years) - I know people are going to quote me on this, but this is strictly my view.
They probably don't have as many criminals there as we do in the U.S. But that's a good thing sometimes and its nice to hear about things like that. It makes you feal welcome. Hehe, i hope you had a great time in Japan (How was it? Maybe i'll have to there sometime lol :)
Japan is outstanding. You should definitely try to come here someday!!!
I'm currently living in Japan. It's a fantastic country with a rich history and culture.
I think this could also be due to Asia's hunger for American culture.