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Which foreign country or culture do you feel most drawn toward?

Posted on Oct 20th, 2008 by Mitsu : Manifester Mitsu
This is in Response to the Questions and Reflections for October 18, 2008:

I definitely feel torn between feeling more akin to my father's culture (Japanese) or my that of my mother (Irish).  I identify with the Eastern concept of serving being just as important as leading.  In the West, everyone is pushed to be a leader, which isn't a bad thing, but nothing is really said of the signicifance and equal importance of those of us who prefer or were born to serve.  I feel I was born to serve, and I feel like I'm contradicting the natural order of things, or my inherent tendencies, now that i'm desperately morphing into a leader. 

I also identify a lot with the reservedness and apologetic nature of Japanese culture.  When I'm around elders or highly esteemed people, I feel myself bowing and shrinking in stature.  In Japan, this is a sign of respect, but in the US it's viewed as a sign of weakness, and I think that's a big reason why I've always had a weak self-image. 

But with Irish culture, a lot of customs and mannerisms are more relaxed and so it's a lot easier for me (or anyone) to fit in and let loose and just have a good time among native Irish.  I recently visited my many relatives in Ireland this summer, and realized I could die happy there.  I am going to build a house there before I'm 35.  I just felt so at ease with everyone and their way of life.  With Japan, I feel like I can identify with their way of life and customs, but theirs are more strict or ritualistic, and i don't think i could handle that all the time.

I have half of each within me however, and I think I'll always flip flop between the two.

 
Access_public Access: Public 4 Comments Print views (158)  
Siona : Synchronicity Coordinator
34 minutes later
Siona said

That, or integrate them both into some beautiful and paradoxical synthesis. :)

Rina : Soul Child
38 minutes later
Rina said

That is incredible. I can understand and sympathise with what you're saying. The greatest thing you can do is embrace those differences and hold them close. They make you truly unique and they give you a better understanding of the differences that appear between cultures. You will be someone who will be incredible simply by being you. :)

~Matthew : Youthful Maturity
about 2 hours later
~Matthew said

When I'm around elders or highly esteemed people, I feel myself bowing and shrinking in stature.  In Japan, this is a sign of respect, but in the US it's viewed as a sign of weakness, and I think that's a big reason why I've always had a weak self-image.

I'm sorry to hear of the weak self image.  And I totally understand that cultural differences, though beautiful, can oftentimes be hard to adjust to.  But it sounds as though you have wonderful relatives in both places :)  I hope the home you build in Ireland serves you well!

Dianna L. Gunn : Writing Passion
about 3 hours later
Dianna L. Gunn said

Very intriguing. Japanese is one of the strictest cultures in the world.

I hope that you find a way to combine the two in order to be the happiest you can be.

~Dianna

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