Initial thoughts

The blog was created after I went to Japan, so I couldn't write about my first impressions... and I really don't remember them anymore. But I can write something about my impressions after returning to Brazil.

• It's a little strange hearing everyone around you speaking Portuguese again... But it's nice to understand (read, listen, etc.) everything (or most things) around me again. And I sometimes put a word in Japanese or English in the middle of a sentence. My sisters already gave me some weird looks because of that...



• In Japan, most people at least look like Asians. So, it's kinda natural to "spot gaijin". In Brazil I have to get a little used to not having so many people no-Japanese-looking around...



• I heard (and said) some things about the strange English pronunciation that many Japanese people have. But while picking my luggage at the airport, I heard an announcement in English with a very strong Brazilian accent... Well, I could understand that, since that's Brazilian accent, but that got me to think what foreigners, especially those whose first language isn't English, would be able to understand.



• Good to be back home, where my room only is bigger than the entire cube I lived... But this abundant space makes people use it a little recklessly... I notice that better now.



• Gotta watch out for the local currency. I still had some JPY inside my wallet when I went to a barbershop cut my hair (it was way longer than usual because I waited until my return because it's chaper in Brazil... comparing the two countries I'd pay in Brazil less than 25% of what I paid in Japan), and almost gave him some yen instead of Reais (Brazilian currency).



• Still about services. Some people hate the tone some attendants say "irasshaimase" (would be roughly translated as "welcome" used when a customer enters). My reaction was neutral, but I miss the energy it was said, unlike the apathy of some here...



• Another thing I got less used to. When buying things, in Japan the shop assistants usually wait leaving one to decide by him/herself and only help if asked. When buying some clothing here I forgot that one shop assistant is expected to approach one sooner or later after entering a shop (sometimes even before that) and "help" the customer... and of course recommending tons of things... Nice if you want to buy a thing and not really in the mood to look for yourself, but annoying when they start to push you into buying too many things you really don't want or need...



• I still feel a little lost here. Some things changed, even inside home... and having lots of things to unpack and organize and some paperwork to do doesn't help...



• Typing on the keyboard is frustrating me... some symbols like @, _ or ' are in a different position in the Brazilian keyboard. I realized that I'm used to the Japanese keyboard, so I'm making mistakes when inputting those symbols almost everytime...



• My cousin's husband is British, and he used to complain about the speed Brazilians drive. I didn't believe that much until now. Now I start to think too that people drive too fast here...



• Once I woke up thinking that it was a dream and I was still in Japan... More than once I got myself thinking about things or friends there...



• Of course, it's good to see family and old friends again!