Tag Archives: Culture Lesson

Tattoos – Today`s Taboo Topic

Posted on May 28, 2012 by Emily Cannell

Today`s taboo topic is the tattoo. There are two main reasons I don`t have any. I view the largest organ of the body as a blank canvas, thus my first major hurdle is the limited color palate from which to … Continue reading →

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Posted in Culture Lessons, Moving to Japan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 31 Comments

Hoist the Sails- Kentucky`s Not Just for Horse Lovers

Posted on August 29, 2011 by Emily Cannell

What do two tired middle-aged sisters do when faced with the dilemma of entertaining 4 kids each capable of rendering an adult speechless in under 60 seconds and too big for confinement within a dog crate? Hoist the sales and … Continue reading →

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Posted in Moving to Japan, Offspring | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 31 Comments

Hmmmm, Don’t Do This on Your Next Trip To Japan- Culture Lesson # 14

Posted on May 26, 2011 by Emily Cannell

Warning: Certain gestures, habits, and customs routinely incorporated in to daily life at home, residents on foreign soil may view as rude or insulting.  The Deacon sat waiting patiently in the library at a metal folding table, his chair on … Continue reading →

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Some Things Are Hard To Understand. Culture Lesson #14

Posted on April 8, 2011 by Emily Cannell

Anticipating the vast differences between Western and Eastern Cultures, Spouse and I studied like college crammers in order to prepare ourselves and the Offspring for what would certainly be a staggering change in the daily communication. Upon arrival, we all … Continue reading →

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“There’s no Excuse for Rudeness. Period.” Big Patti

Posted on March 27, 2011 by Emily Cannell

One of the values every child raised in the South learns at the foot of the family matriarch is good manners. Of particular importance to my mother, referred to in this blog as “Big Patti,” is the value of being … Continue reading →

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Posted in Moving to Japan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 38 Comments

Can Ouiser Walk the Walk? Culture Lesson #13

Posted on March 22, 2011 by Emily Cannell

My view of the beach. I lie loose limbed on the beach. Hammered. Spouse patiently pushes Offspring #2 to the start position surfing while Offspring #1 tests various versions of surfboards in order to find the one which will guarantee … Continue reading →

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Posted in Culture Lessons, Moving to Japan, We're Being Shaken and Stirred in Japan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 23 Comments

The Melter- You Just Made a Mistake- Culture Lesson #11

Posted on February 22, 2011 by Emily Cannell

Today I found myself the regrettable but most certainly deserving recipient of most noxious and withering look, the kind of which stops all life related activity dead in its tracks- I call it the Melter. So named because of the … Continue reading →

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Asking “No” Questions- How Could it be so Hard? Culture Lesson #10

Posted on January 30, 2011 by Emily Cannell

It is easier to draw blood from a turnip or shake millions from the money tree than to gain a negative answer to a question from a Japanese person. When faced with unusual, off-putting and uncomfortable Ouiser questions, many of … Continue reading →

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Happy New Year Japan Style- Culture Lesson #8

Posted on December 31, 2010 by Emily Cannell

Monks herald the New Year at Midnight in every shrine throughout Japan with the tolling of a bell 108 times. This Buddhist tradition symbolizes the 108 human sins and banishes each as the new year begins. So begins the biggest … Continue reading →

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Culture Lesson #7: Yet Another Culture Lesson Learned the Hard Way

Posted on December 13, 2010 by Emily Cannell

For the most part, Japan is a cash culture. One must be prepared to pay cash at all junctions where money exchanges take place. Finding an English-speaking ATM to give me cash was an all-encompassing quest and a source of … Continue reading →

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Posted in Culture Lessons, Moving to Japan | Tagged , , , , , , | 162 Comments