Culture Shock in the Philippines: Fat People, Fat Cheeks and Not-So-Fat Wallets

photo credit: http://thestylesunltd.com/

I was shocked at my own culture.

I know there's really nothing shocking about this. Lots of people living abroad experience being culture-shocked at their own culture. Still, I was shocked at myself for being shocked. Shock! Shock! Shock!

I went to the Philippines for the winter vacation. This is my third time going home after I started living in Japan. I didn't experience culture shock the first two times probably because I went back too soon. It took me 16 months before this third homecoming so maybe that's why I got bewildered.

How did I get culture-shocked? Let me count the ways...

1. People are spilling all over the place

There are about 100 million Filipinos all over the world. I shouldn't be surprised if there are a gazillion of people when I got home but I was. I was overwhelmed by the number of people in the airport, on the streets, at the malls, at the spa, on buses, on trains and on just about everywhere. When I went to a government office earlier this month, there were about 10,000 people gathered in that office. How that office contained us is a mystery.

My place in the Philippines is similar to where I live in Japan. Both are on the edge of bigger cities. They're not as exciting as the big cities but not as sleepy as in the rural areas. But my once quiet hometown is no more. There used to be less children, less people and less dogs in my neighborhood. Now, my neighborhood feels smaller and suffocating with all the people and dogs and even chickens living there. Where did all the people and animals come from? In Hamamatsu, I only see crowds during the Hamamatsu festival and on fireworks Festival. Even with these big festivals, the number of people in Hamamatsu seemed irrelevant compare to the Filipinos flocking the malls daily.

Even when I visited the smaller cities in the provinces, people are still in every corner. The Philippines seem to be bursting at the seams with people. It's ironic why it doesn't feel like this in Japan. Japan has 120 million people but they must be hiding in their houses and offices.

My Kakizome for 2015

There's a Japanese word for the first writing of the year. It's called kakizome. People used to write traditional proverbs or short poems related to peace, love, happiness, prosperity, youth or whatever the calligrapher wants to have in the new year. Modern kakizome just used kanji characters.

(More on kakizome here)

Now, I can't write kanji. I can't do calligraphy. So obviously, I can't do kakizome. I'll just use this first post of the year as my very own and personalized kakizome. 

Here's my kakizome for 2015: 

photo credit: travelingscarf.blogspot.com

I've been so used opening the year with a bunch of things-to-do, and annual goals. I spend the last days of the previous year planning on things I have to accomplish.  I like to think of myself as a go-getter, someone who's in constant pursuit of goals and dreams. I like being busy learning new things, developing skills and growing with people. I like filling my days writing, observing, talking, cycling, planning, travelling and hanging out. I like being physically and mentally mobile. 

However, before 2014 year ended I realized that I spent too much time being on my feet and less time being on my knees. I'm running after life when there's really nothing to hurry about. I'm doing and thinking a hundred things when only a few really matters. I'm trying to play god when I can barely control my own life. 

So this year, I'm making a conscious decision to take things easy, to let go of things I have no control, to take longer coffee breaks and naps, to savor sunsets and sunrises and to spend unhurried moments with people. I'll be still this 2015 and just let life happen.

How about you, what words will you use in your kakizome? 

Want to know more about New Year in Japan? Check out these informative and wonderful sites:

What Japanese eat on New Year's Eve

New Year's in Japan

Shogatsu- Enjoy New Year Celebrations in Japan

Nengajo: How to Send a Japanese New Year Postcard

Making the Most of New Year in Japan

It Snowed in Hamamatsu!

prints on snow

*Originally intended for posting on Dec. 18

It snowed in Hamamatsu! Yay!

I've lived here for almost 3 years and this is  the first time I saw a considerable amount of snow. It snowed enough to cover the grounds in thin white blanket. When I walked to school this morning, it looked winter-picture perfect. Soooo lovely and a little slippery. 

Snow Surprise

Hamamatsu is on the coast of the Pacific so it rarely snow like this. It doesn't snow in Shizuoka prefecture actually. Most cars in Hama are not equipped to deal with slippery roads. The result? Heavier traffic than usual. Even the buses are slower than their usual turtle pace so they are late. Because the bus was late, I was late in going to school. It was just for 5 minutes though so the vice principal didn't mind it. Other teachers were late too. 

This is the snowfall data from Current Results. See, it doesn't snow in Shizuoka where Hamamatsu is. 

Chūbu

Average annual snowfall

Days	Place	Inches	Centimetres
25	Aikawa, Sado Island	46.9	119
13	Gifu	18.5	47
50	Kanazawa	110.6	281
63	Nagano	103.5	263
6	Nagoya	6.3	16
54	Niigata	85.4	217
0	Shizuoka	0.0	0

This sudden snow explains why it has been terribly cold the previous days. Winter is cold but it's too early to be this bitingly, chillingly  and inescapably cold. Here's a tangible effect of climate change, I guess. Even other parts of Japan had an earlier snow fall than usual. It's expected that areas which usually have snow can expect heavier snow fall. It's gonna be a snowy winter in Japan. 

Snow and School

I pity the students. Japanese public schools in Hamamatsu don't use heaters in the classroom. Only the staff room is heated. How do the students can study in this weather is a mystery to me. I noticed that students come more often to the staff room to ask something or pass something in winter. Then they would linger and hang around. Talk to me sometimes. I bet they want a taste of warmth!

Two days ago there was a school announcement. The announcement goes something like this in English, "If it's too cold, no school." The temperature dropped to 2 then 1 then 0. Still, we have classes. Students even have club activities on the cold windy school grounds. How they manage to do that is another mystery to me. A third mystery is what does "too cold"  mean for the school. It would be nice to have an extra day just snuggling. Especially in this weather. Classes will be over tomorrow so maybe that "too cold day" will be for next year. 

Sweet Sayonara

It's funny what this snowy day did to me. It reminded me why I love living here. There are four seasons, all lovely. I've lived most of my life in the Philippines where summer is eternal. I'm actually flying there tomorrow and won't be back til next year. I'm excited to see my family and friends but Japan is home, too. In fact, the more I stay here, the more I feel this is my home. The snow today feels like a sweet goodbye... for the meantime. The snow made me smile and made me remember to come back.