Thursday, July 7, 2011

Won't Miss #339 - the idea that I represent all foreigners


One of the things that I get tired of is the notion that I must not only behave well in Japan, but that I must be a paragon of human virtue because the Japanese will judge all foreigners by the behavior of the worst of us. If one foreigner neglects to do something properly, the rest of the community clucks their respective tongues and wags their fingers while moaning about how one bad apple makes us all look rotten.

The idea that I must behave better than the average Japanese person or be perfect at all times because any mistakes or human flaws I may exhibit will tarnish all foreigners is something I will not miss.