My STEP Signature Project was an architecture study abroad to Japan. Throughout the trip, we travelled all over Japan, observing architecture and landscapes. We were able to see both modern buildings and landscapes in addition to ancient temples and gardens.

While completing my STEP signature project, I was surprised to recognize that I was not so quick to adapt to a new culture as I had originally thought I would be. Before going on this trip, I thought that I would fully embrace the culture, especially the food. I realized quickly that this was not the case. Although I liked certain aspects of the cuisine, I missed my own familiar food enormously. The food was not the only culture shock I experienced. Basic Japanese etiquette and simple ways of conducting day-to-day life, like walking and driving on the left side of the street, was difficult to grasp in the short two weeks that we were in the country. Recognizing my own inhibitions when it came to acclimating to a new culture has allowed me to see more clearly how set I am in my own ways. This experience has increased my ability to realize when I am being too rigid in my behaviors. I could benefit from a little flexibility in my life.

There was not one outstanding food-related experience abroad that forced me to come to terms with my insufficient ability to adjust, but rather a culmination of meals. Fish is eaten widely and often in Japan, which I was aware of before travelling. However, simply being aware did not completely prepare me for how nearly unavoidable it was. If there had been more options of things to eat besides fish, I like to think I would have had an easier time with the cuisine. However, because most of my diet is fruits and vegetables, this was not the case. There was lack of fresh vegetables in Japan, and when the vegetables were fresh, they were likely mixed with either pork or fish. A common meal was a rice bowl with an assortment of pickled vegetables on top. At first, this was a delicious and interesting choice. After so many rice bowls, however, I was longing for something filling that didn’t have a pickled or fishy aftertaste.

Another part of Japanese culture that I found challenging to adjust to was the simple act of walking on the left side of the street. There were plenty of instances in which I thought at first that I was the polite pedestrian and people coming the other direction were out of control, when in fact it was I who was walking on the wrong side of the street. Escalators were another setting in which I accidentally impaired the movement of the those around me. In Japan, people who wish to stand on the escalator do so on the left side, and allow those in a rush to scale the stairs on the right. Repeatedly, I found myself standing wherever I pleased on the escalator, with people behind me trying to get by.

Besides the mostly-clear rules regarding which side of the street to walk on, there are several subtler forms of etiquette in Japan that I was

slower to grasp. For instance, I was unaware until halfway through the trip that it is impolite to talk on the train. Even after I had learned this piece of information, it was something that I would frequently forget, being wrapped up in the excitement of traveling abroad. The Japanese attitude towards jaywalking was also exceedingly difficult to come to terms with. In the United States, people typically will cross the street whenever there are no cars coming, even if there is a “do not walk” symbol. This is not the case in Japan. If the sign says not to walk, people will not walk. Those who do are “publically shamed” according to our tour guide. Despite initial difficulty, I, for the most part, succeeded in resisting the urge to rush out onto the street with no walk signal.

By recognizing my own weaknesses regarding acclimating to a foreign culture, I’m slowly seeing how these faults could manifest in my day-to-day life. The trouble I had adjusting to the Japanese way of walking down the street could have been minimized if I had been more aware of the people around me. Being more observant of my surroundings would help me academically especially. Not only would I be able to pay better attention in class, but I would also be more attune to upcoming deadlines and happenings around campus.

Professionally, I believe that acknowledging and acting upon my own shortcomings when it comes to adapting to unfamiliar situations will be an enormous help when I obtain my first professional job. I know that, whatever the job may be, it will be exceptionally different than the academic environment I’ve grown accustomed to. I will have to navigate my way through uncomfortable situations, just as I did in Japan. I will need to adjust to routines and expectations that which I’m unfamiliar. Although I’m sure that my trip to Japan has not fully prepared me for this steep learning curve, I believe I have a more comprehensive understanding of what lies ahead.

Shonandai Cultural Center

Ginkakuji Temple