Hello reverse-culture-shock
I was sitting in my new room (my sister's old bedroom) looking at my suitcase and coming to terms that I wasn't on holiday anymore when I heard the all too familiar droning of Brendon's car.
I had told him not to bother about picking me up from the airport because my flight was so late but he dropped by my house about 1am. Thanks babe, it meant a lot to me and made me forget about jumping on the next plane back to Japan.
Aren't I a lucky girl?
So what have I been up to since I got back? Not much.
I've been constantly cleaning, unpacking, washing, ironing and just relaxing and slowly settling back into Perth and the lifestyle here. Laying low.
Here are some food photos to keep you hungry hippos happy.
Mum made chinese dumplings
One night Brendon and I went out to dinner at a Vietnamese restaurant in northbridge.
Duck and mushroom noodle soup with stuffed chicken wings
Prawn dumpling noodle soup
This one is for you Sue-Yen...
Nandos!
posted by Christine @ 12:03 pm
7 comments
7 Comments:
Hi Christine!
Welcome back in Perth!
I thought it's about time I comment, since I've been reading your blog since Karen did a post about it!
I hope you settle back into Perth, or figure out what you want to do.
I think it's pretty normal to feel stuck between two cultures, a lot of people have it! (I've spent about half my time in Aus and half in the Netherlands, but luckily I don't feel this way. My mum does though).
Not that I'm saying you feel that way, but I hope you know what I mean!
Anyway, I could go on about this stuff forever...
Oh yeah, and it's funny that a lot of migrants to Australia (from the UK for example) think people are much friendlier here(this is relating to your other post, obviously :D ) It's all relative I guess, and yeah, everywhere has good and bad apples.
I think you should definetly keep posting, and definetly keep taking photos (though I'm sometimes a bit shy of taking photos in 'public' too).
Just in case you haven't come across them, you might like these to Perth food blogs:
http://www.abstractgourmet.com/
http://www.abstractgourmet.com/
Also, I'll be happily reading all your posts, even though I'm from Perth. I love the everyday stuff :D
And one final point: If you're not doing anything tomorrow (wednesday) night, you should come to the Brass Monkey for the monthly webloggers meet!
http://blog.meetup.com/14/events/
seeya,
Simone
Hey Christine!
I've been reading your blog for awhile now. I "found" it through your sister's blog. It brought back a lot of memories for myself since I went through the JET Programme too (1997-1999). It's too bad that I didn't keep a blog or a diary of my experiences like you have, it's a nice record of all the things that you did, all the places that you visited and all the great friends that you made during your time in Japan. Some of those friends you might lose track of over the years, but I know from personal experience that you do keep in touch with the some years after you have left Japan. Reading your posts about saying farewell to your school brought back a lot of memories for me. I could totally relate to that feeling of uncertainty about when or ever you will see those people again. Hopefully, you'll get a chance to return to Japan someday very soon (there's always private AETs, or other English language schools if you're set on returning to Japan). The whole reverse culture shock does take a week or so to get used to, but you're doing the right thing by getting reconnected to your life in Perth. Please continue posting, Perth may not seem exciting to you but to people who haven't been there it may be exotic. Who knows, you may start seeing quirky things around you in your everyday life. For example, I was driving by a restaurant the other day here in Calgary and I saw a sign for a restaurant called "the New Dynasty Restaurant", it's tagline was "A Most Unusual Restuarant". Now I HAVE to try it! Have fun in Perth! Keep posting!
What's in the Gucci box?
OH nandos.. u know it baby..did you enjoy it???
i'm so hungry :D hehe
simone - Thanks for leaving a comment. Ooh Netherlands, would love to visit there. Yeah, I guess it's all relative. Don't get me wrong, there are some really down-to-earth, beautiful people here, but I guess unfortunately the bad apples are the ones who leave the lasting, wrong impression. Or perhaps I just seem to be attracting them ;)
kevin - hey, great to hear from a JET! Thanks for the advice, I reckon the reverse culture shock will take more than a week for me. Yeah, Perth is a beauitful place - you just have to know where to look and I do hope my friends will come visit. So how was the 'most unusual restaurant'?!? Keep me posted!
It was something Guccilicious ;) Please use a name rather than anonymous. Even if you make it up. It feels more 'personal'.
hey sy! Totemo oishii yo! Don't worry, not long till you get back and we can get some peri-peri goodness hehe
xox
Hi Christine,
I just wanted to thank you for your blog. I only discovered it yesterday but it kinda drew me in. I have read some blogs about jets in japan yada yada, but your was the first one that made me jump when I opened a few of the entries. It seems we were virtually neighbours for some time in Japan. I lived in Kasumigaoka for 2 years until sep '05. You know when you walk from tarumi station past jusco heading towards Maiko up that hill? At the top of the hill there is Ma & Pa vege stand and a minimart. I lived behind that mini mart. I really liked Tarumi. I went to gym at Levante(?)(above the pachinko parlour) and even had my bike repossessed by the council for leaving it in front of the station. My favourite place in Tarumi was that Thai resutoran Asian Ichiba . You even had a photo taken in front of it. Did you know the Master there was an apprentice of Chef Sakai from Iron Chef? There was a photo of them together in the toilet. Had some great nights in there after getting off the last train.
I had so many great experiences in Japan. I find myself looking back so often even though I've been back a year. It looks like you have a massive social network in Perth, so Im sure you'll be fine. But reverse culture shock can be REALLY hard. If you think Perth is small/quiet, you should try coming home to Adelaide. HA!
I don't know if you are interested, but there is a great little podcast called Planet Japan, done by Amy Chavez and Doug Delong, the former who runs a little bar on Shiraishi, Okayama. Its been great listening to that. Natsukashii desu!
Thanks again
Brenton
brenton - Wow! how random. Thanks for leaving a comment. Yeah I lived up the mega steep hill where d;uc hair salon was.
Unfortunately I only discovered that Thai/Vietnamese restaurant about 2 months before I was leaving. But yes, I loved it too!
I still miss Japan and not a day goes by that I don't think about my experiences there. Thanks for the tips!
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