What Foreigners Miss About Home

sina · Dec 11, 2005, 10:29

Hi! I'm a Canadian freelance journalist writing a story for The Japan Times about "What Foreigners Miss About Home." If there's something in particular you miss that you can't find in Japan (food, products, clothes, etc), I'd love to hear about it. If you don't mind, please tell what country you come from, your name, and let me know if it's OK if I might quote you in my story. Thanks a lot! PS - deadline is Dec. 15

Mikawa Ossan · Dec 11, 2005, 13:31

The only thing I ever miss is pretzels. You can find them if you look, but not the ones I like. Mostly you find the flavored ones, and they put on way too much flavoring!

I'm from America, and I never post my name on the internet.

ArmandV · Dec 11, 2005, 15:21

What I missed was more readily available American candies. I found peanut M & Ms at my hotel in Tokyo and Snickers at a 7-11 in Kyoto. Also, free coffee refills.

Mike Cash · Dec 11, 2005, 15:30

Catfish and Mrs. Sullivan's pecan pies

Other than that, nothing, really.

I'm one of those fortunate few who can honestly say he has never been homesick a day in his life.

I'm from Tennessee, and my name is easily deduced from my user name.

mad pierrot · Dec 11, 2005, 17:51

Besides the obvious, (food) I really miss the way classes are conducted in the United States. Ever attended a college course in Japan? No discussion whatsoever. Just one lecturer droning on and on while half the class sleeps and the other half plays on their cellphones. The atmosphere is so, so.... LACKING. At least in the states there is active debate, and students aren't afraid to stand up for their opinion.

mr.sumo.snr · Dec 11, 2005, 20:52

In no particular order of preference (I must say that the lack of which have never made me ever really wonder WTF I'm doing here...but anyway):

Wide open spaces, sidewalks, road junctions that make sense, railway bridges, urban planning, urban landscaping, a police presence that immediately commands respect, speed cameras, shops that open at 8.00 AM, rural pubs, real ale, live theater and opera, family doctors, free banking, 'streaming' in schools, size 12 shoes, and Welsh rugby!

--

Mike Cash · Dec 11, 2005, 21:21

Japanese urban planning is all the work of one individual, Nariyuki Makase.

**Uncle Frank** · Dec 11, 2005, 22:15

Being from New England, a good Italian sandwich and plate of spaghetti & meat sauce. Also a good fish chowder.

Frank

DoctorP · Dec 11, 2005, 23:28

There are plenty of wide open spaces in Japan if you get out of the city

**Carlson** · Dec 11, 2005, 23:50

not the same thow.. i could drive 200 miles in a straight line at times.. cant do that in japan... lol

UFSI · Dec 12, 2005, 01:17

Originally Posted by Carlson

not the same thow.. i could drive 200 miles in a straight line at times.. cant do that in japan... lol

You could buy a cheap fishing boat and head out to sea?

**Carlson** · Dec 12, 2005, 03:01

lol but then id never get back..

made me laugh though...

DoctorP · Dec 12, 2005, 12:21

Drive out to the mountains...it may not be a straight line, but you may forget you are in Japan!

advigilo · Dec 12, 2005, 20:32

im not i japan or never have been.
but when i go abroad for a long time i alway mis 'drop'

im such a sweet tooth sometime

advigilo · Dec 12, 2005, 20:33

this would be it

advigilo · Dec 12, 2005, 20:35

well not all the kinds of drop the have but some....

Bramicus · Dec 13, 2005, 02:03

Turkey!

Any breakfast meat that isn't pork.

Katrean Shard · Dec 13, 2005, 17:39

It is kind of funny and interesting that the things people miss the most are food! ^^ I haven't been to Japan, so I don't know what I miss about home. When I go away for a time, I miss my friends and family a lot.

**Pachipro** · Dec 14, 2005, 02:09

Originally Posted by mikecash

I'm one of those fortunate few who can honestly say he has never been homesick a day in his life.

I have to agree with Mike as when I lived there I was never homesick and never missed any food as most was available somewhere in Japan if you looked hard enough for it. Call me weird, but I am more homesick for Japan since I left than I ever was about the US while living there. Each year I count down the moons and days till I will visit again!

ArmandV · Dec 14, 2005, 03:44

Originally Posted by Pachipro

I have to agree with Mike as when I lived there I was never homesick and never missed any food as most was available somewhere in Japan if you looked hard enough for it. Call me weird, but I am more homesick for Japan since I left than I ever was about the US while living there. Each year I count down the moons and days till I will visit again!

This is pretty much my attitude. I never missed the U.S. while in Japan, just maybe a minor convenience or two. But I was never homesick. I am looking forward to a return visit next Spring.

MeAndroo · Dec 14, 2005, 05:54

Well, the much of what I missed was restricted due to my status as an exchange student, but I really missed driving. Getting in a car and going where you want, when you want is a great privelege and it's one I'll never take for granted again. We weren't even allowed to get scooters/motorcycles, which sort of put the kibash on one of my goals: a road trip from Hokkaido to Kyushu.

I also missed decent horrible-for-you mexican food. Growing up in LA, I had access to it pretty much anytime, and to go just 6 months without carne asada was kind of weird. The only decent taco I found was in Okinawa...there were attempts at places like Odaiba, but they certainly weren't up to par.

sina · Dec 14, 2005, 11:59

Thanks so much to everyone who has contributed their ideas! I understand if you don't want to tell me your name, but for those of you who haven't, could you please tell me what country you come from? Thanks again!

**Pachipro** · Dec 15, 2005, 04:33

Originally Posted by ArmandV

... just maybe a minor convenience or two.

Upon second thought I have to say about the only thing I really missed was authentic New York City Italian Pizza!

Originally Posted by MeAndroo

but I really missed driving. Getting in a car and going where you want, when you want is a great privelege and it's one I'll never take for granted again.

Ah yes, driving. I have to include that. One of my passions. Even though I owned a car in Japan I really missed the wide open spaces of the west and mid-west of the US. To be able to drive for hours on end, never stopping except for gas, with nary another car or city in sight was a delight.

Whilst in Japan I drove everywhere. My wife and I would take a week off every few months or so, get in the car and just drive around Japan with no particular destination. From Kyushyuu to Hokkaido we drove. We thought we drove a long distance, but after four years of driving, what I thought was alot of miles in Japan, and covering the entire country from Honshu to Kyushu to Shikoku and Hokkaido, we only put 37,000 km on the car (about 20,200 miles!). Very expensive also when you take tolls and gas into account. We mostly stayed in "Love Motels" as they were quite cheap. And Fun too! Here in the US I drive a minimum of 20,000 miles (33,000+km) in one year! And that is just going back and forth to work! Still, I love to drive and I now do it for a living.

Kinsao · Dec 15, 2005, 06:07

Originally Posted by Pachipro

authentic New York City Italian Pizza!

Has a kind of oxymoronic sound to it...........

Mike Cash · Dec 15, 2005, 17:15

Originally Posted by Kinsao

Has a kind of oxymoronic sound to it...........

Like "British cuisine".......

(I couldn't help myself!)

Dec 11, 2005, 10:29	#1
sina Sina Join Date: Dec 11, 2005 Location: Tokyo Posts: 4	What Foreigners Miss About Home Hi! I'm a Canadian freelance journalist writing a story for The Japan Times about "What Foreigners Miss About Home." If there's something in particular you miss that you can't find in Japan (food, products, clothes, etc), I'd love to hear about it. If you don't mind, please tell what country you come from, your name, and let me know if it's OK if I might quote you in my story. Thanks a lot! PS - deadline is Dec. 15

Dec 11, 2005, 13:31	#2
Mikawa Ossan 一寸先は光 Join Date: Sep 17, 2005 Location: 中西部 Posts: 3,520 Blog Entries: 51	The only thing I ever miss is pretzels. You can find them if you look, but not the ones I like. Mostly you find the flavored ones, and they put on way too much flavoring! I'm from America, and I never post my name on the internet. __________________ Chukyo Dai Chukyo bansai!!!!

Dec 11, 2005, 15:30	#4
Mike Cash Delusions of Adequacy Join Date: Mar 15, 2002 Location: Japan Posts: 5,417	Catfish and Mrs. Sullivan's pecan pies Other than that, nothing, really. I'm one of those fortunate few who can honestly say he has never been homesick a day in his life. I'm from Tennessee, and my name is easily deduced from my user name. __________________ Kiva: Loans That Change Lives

Dec 11, 2005, 17:51	#5
mad pierrot I jump to conclusions Join Date: Nov 22, 2003 Location: The world via Chi-town Age: 28 Posts: 1,333	Great idea.... Besides the obvious, (food) I really miss the way classes are conducted in the United States. Ever attended a college course in Japan? No discussion whatsoever. Just one lecturer droning on and on while half the class sleeps and the other half plays on their cellphones. The atmosphere is so, so.... LACKING. At least in the states there is active debate, and students aren't afraid to stand up for their opinion.

Dec 11, 2005, 22:15	#8
Uncle Frank You SPAM/We BAN ! Join Date: May 21, 2003 Location: State of Maine Age: 59 Posts: 6,715	Food was always my empty spot. Being from New England, a good Italian sandwich and plate of spaghetti & meat sauce. Also a good fish chowder. Frank __________________ TAKE WHAT I SAY WITH A GRAIN OF SUGAR !! I USED TO BE FUNNY, BUT MY WIFE HAD ME NEUTERED!

Dec 11, 2005, 15:21	#3
ArmandV Five times to Japan. Join Date: Oct 18, 2004 Location: Tarzana, California Posts: 2,327	What I missed was more readily available American candies. I found peanut M & Ms at my hotel in Tokyo and Snickers at a 7-11 in Kyoto. Also, free coffee refills.

Dec 11, 2005, 20:52	#6
mr.sumo.snr Gavin Gives Italian Ducks Join Date: Jul 19, 2004 Location: Iida CIty, Nagano Age: 43 Posts: 320	In no particular order of preference (I must say that the lack of which have never made me ever really wonder WTF I'm doing here...but anyway): Wide open spaces, sidewalks, road junctions that make sense, railway bridges, urban planning, urban landscaping, a police presence that immediately commands respect, speed cameras, shops that open at 8.00 AM, rural pubs, real ale, live theater and opera, family doctors, free banking, 'streaming' in schools, size 12 shoes, and Welsh rugby! --

Dec 11, 2005, 21:21	#7
Mike Cash Delusions of Adequacy Join Date: Mar 15, 2002 Location: Japan Posts: 5,417	Japanese urban planning is all the work of one individual, Nariyuki Makase.

Dec 11, 2005, 23:28	#9
DoctorP Regular Member Join Date: Jun 3, 2004 Age: 39 Posts: 1,793	There are plenty of wide open spaces in Japan if you get out of the city

Dec 11, 2005, 23:50	#10
Carlson gunjin Join Date: Oct 30, 2005 Location: Tokyo Age: 23 Posts: 1,069	not the same thow.. i could drive 200 miles in a straight line at times.. cant do that in japan... lol __________________ => picturetokyo.com => picturetokyo.com/gallery Courage Go to the edge of the cliff and jump off. Build your wings on the way down. Is often lack of insight, whereas cowardice in many cases is based on good information.

Dec 12, 2005, 01:17	#11
UFSI You know who's wife Join Date: Oct 28, 2005 Location: Maine Age: 55 Posts: 48	Originally Posted by Carlson not the same thow.. i could drive 200 miles in a straight line at times.. cant do that in japan... lol You could buy a cheap fishing boat and head out to sea?

Dec 12, 2005, 03:01	#12
Carlson gunjin Join Date: Oct 30, 2005 Location: Tokyo Age: 23 Posts: 1,069	lol but then id never get back.. made me laugh though...

Dec 12, 2005, 12:21	#13
DoctorP Regular Member Join Date: Jun 3, 2004 Age: 39 Posts: 1,793	Drive out to the mountains...it may not be a straight line, but you may forget you are in Japan!

Dec 12, 2005, 20:32	#14
advigilo crazy Join Date: Oct 28, 2004 Posts: 794	im not i japan or never have been. but when i go abroad for a long time i alway mis 'drop' im such a sweet tooth sometime

Dec 12, 2005, 20:33	#15
advigilo crazy Join Date: Oct 28, 2004 Posts: 794	this would be it

Dec 12, 2005, 20:35	#16
advigilo crazy Join Date: Oct 28, 2004 Posts: 794	well not all the kinds of drop the have but some....

Dec 13, 2005, 02:03	#17
Bramicus Irregular Member Join Date: Apr 8, 2005 Location: New York City Posts: 146	Turkey! Any breakfast meat that isn't pork. __________________ - In alio peduclum vides, in te ricinum non vides.

Dec 13, 2005, 17:39	#18
Katrean Shard kakera Join Date: Dec 1, 2005 Posts: 7	It is kind of funny and interesting that the things people miss the most are food! ^^ I haven't been to Japan, so I don't know what I miss about home. When I go away for a time, I miss my friends and family a lot.

Dec 14, 2005, 02:09	#19
Pachipro JREF Resident Alien Join Date: Jan 19, 2005 Location: Goodlettsville, Tennessee Age: 54 Posts: 1,630 Blog Entries: 3	Originally Posted by mikecash I'm one of those fortunate few who can honestly say he has never been homesick a day in his life. I have to agree with Mike as when I lived there I was never homesick and never missed any food as most was available somewhere in Japan if you looked hard enough for it. Call me weird, but I am more homesick for Japan since I left than I ever was about the US while living there. Each year I count down the moons and days till I will visit again! __________________ Do What You Love And You'll Never Work Another Day In Your Life! KIVA: Give a Hand Up Instead of a Handout

Dec 14, 2005, 03:44	#20
ArmandV Five times to Japan. Join Date: Oct 18, 2004 Location: Tarzana, California Posts: 2,327	Originally Posted by Pachipro I have to agree with Mike as when I lived there I was never homesick and never missed any food as most was available somewhere in Japan if you looked hard enough for it. Call me weird, but I am more homesick for Japan since I left than I ever was about the US while living there. Each year I count down the moons and days till I will visit again! This is pretty much my attitude. I never missed the U.S. while in Japan, just maybe a minor convenience or two. But I was never homesick. I am looking forward to a return visit next Spring.

Dec 14, 2005, 05:54	#21
MeAndroo Regular Member Join Date: Jul 29, 2004 Location: Asago-shi, Hyogo-ken Age: 27 Posts: 776	Well, the much of what I missed was restricted due to my status as an exchange student, but I really missed driving. Getting in a car and going where you want, when you want is a great privelege and it's one I'll never take for granted again. We weren't even allowed to get scooters/motorcycles, which sort of put the kibash on one of my goals: a road trip from Hokkaido to Kyushu. I also missed decent horrible-for-you mexican food. Growing up in LA, I had access to it pretty much anytime, and to go just 6 months without carne asada was kind of weird. The only decent taco I found was in Okinawa...there were attempts at places like Odaiba, but they certainly weren't up to par. __________________ Go Trojans! Fight On!

Dec 14, 2005, 11:59	#22
sina Sina Join Date: Dec 11, 2005 Location: Tokyo Posts: 4	country please! Thanks so much to everyone who has contributed their ideas! I understand if you don't want to tell me your name, but for those of you who haven't, could you please tell me what country you come from? Thanks again!

Dec 15, 2005, 04:33	#23
Pachipro JREF Resident Alien Join Date: Jan 19, 2005 Location: Goodlettsville, Tennessee Age: 54 Posts: 1,630 Blog Entries: 3	Originally Posted by ArmandV ... just maybe a minor convenience or two. Upon second thought I have to say about the only thing I really missed was authentic New York City Italian Pizza! Originally Posted by MeAndroo but I really missed driving. Getting in a car and going where you want, when you want is a great privelege and it's one I'll never take for granted again. Ah yes, driving. I have to include that. One of my passions. Even though I owned a car in Japan I really missed the wide open spaces of the west and mid-west of the US. To be able to drive for hours on end, never stopping except for gas, with nary another car or city in sight was a delight. Whilst in Japan I drove everywhere. My wife and I would take a week off every few months or so, get in the car and just drive around Japan with no particular destination. From Kyushyuu to Hokkaido we drove. We thought we drove a long distance, but after four years of driving, what I thought was alot of miles in Japan, and covering the entire country from Honshu to Kyushu to Shikoku and Hokkaido, we only put 37,000 km on the car (about 20,200 miles!). Very expensive also when you take tolls and gas into account. We mostly stayed in "Love Motels" as they were quite cheap. And Fun too! Here in the US I drive a minimum of 20,000 miles (33,000+km) in one year! And that is just going back and forth to work! Still, I love to drive and I now do it for a living.

Dec 15, 2005, 06:07	#24
Kinsao Horizon Rider Join Date: May 8, 2005 Location: England Age: 30 Posts: 7,419	Originally Posted by Pachipro authentic New York City Italian Pizza! Has a kind of oxymoronic sound to it........... __________________ K to the core

Dec 15, 2005, 17:15	#25
Mike Cash Delusions of Adequacy Join Date: Mar 15, 2002 Location: Japan Posts: 5,417	Originally Posted by Kinsao Has a kind of oxymoronic sound to it........... Like "British cuisine"....... (I couldn't help myself!)

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