Managing Differences

 Adapting to living in Japan

I believe that visiting Japan for one to two weeks would be pretty easy and enjoyable. I would actually love to travel in Japan for about two weeks one day! Japan is a very popular place to travel to and lots of people from the United States visit there every year. To live in Japan for one or more years would be a lot more challenging for many different reasons. One major challenge for me would be dealing with homesickness. I'd be living in a country on the opposite side of the world with none of my family close by. I would have a very hard time adjusting to being so far away from family and having such a large time difference between them. I would also face challenges adjusting to the nonverbal and verbal communication norms in Japan. For example, bowing is a nonverbal communication norm in Japan that I am not very accustomed to. The language barrier would also act as a great challenge for me if I were to move to Japan for a long period of time. I am relatively unfamiliar with the language and with Japanese characters. To make these cultural adaptations less difficult I can start by researching nonverbal communication cues in Japan so that I am more familiar with them. I can also take the time to start learning basic phrases in Japanese. Working on my Japanese language and pronunciation skills could help me to adapt to Japanese culture with less struggle. 

Intercultural Ethics

Intercultural ethics refer to moral principles and values that are applied to communication across cultures. These principles ensure respect, understanding and responsibility in diverse interactions . Cultural ethics involve having respect for cultural differences, finding mutual understanding, having self awareness, and taking responsibility and accountability. To internalize these ethical components and apply them to cultural exchanges I can first start by simply learning more about different cultures. Being aware of a culture's norms and customs through reading or watching documentaries can help expand one's cultural awareness. Another way to internalize these ethical components can be done through reflecting on one's own cultural biases. It's important to be aware of stereotypes and biases that you might be placing on a certain culture. Understanding this can help someone to have a more open mind.

One way that I can continue to engage with Japanese culture while being in the United States is continuing to proactively learn about Japan. I will continue to read articles about the culture and current events taking place there. I can also watch Japanese shows and documentaries that will allow me to engage with Japanese culture. I plan on visiting Japan one day, so I might as well start planning early for that adventure!