Won't #421 - walking with my head down

After my thyroid surgery, my doctor asked me how my neck mobility was coming along after several weeks of restricted movement. He asked me to look up and I apparently could not look up as far as I should have been able to. One thing I realized when this happened was that I wasn't so sure that I could really look up very well before the surgery because I constantly walk around Tokyo with my head down. I hadn't though too much about this prior to this experience, but I do know why it happens. One reason is that I don't want to see people staring at me. Not looking up habitually has reduced the stress and frustration I feel at being treated like a freak. If I don't see them staring, I don't get angry. Another is that I've learned to avoid incidental eye contact as it often is seen as an invitation for people who want to get in free English practice to approach me. I now am making a conscious effort to walk with my chin level rather than down all of the time in preparation for returning to America.

To be honest, I think this habit of walking with my head down has had a negative psychological effect on me as well as possibly a physiological effect and I won't miss feeling the need to do it.

Won't Miss #395 - the chop and/or wave

Walk through any busy, crowded street or station full of commuters attempting to dodge each other and you will sooner or later run across the "chopper". This is a man who thinks that by putting out his hand and chopping through the air that the crowds will part before him and let him through. In fact, he expects that you will facilitate his easy movement through the throng at your own expense because of his hand gesture. In addition to the chopppers, there are the "wavers". These are people (again, almost always men) who think they can break rules and even endanger others by simply waving to signal their intention to do something reckless. It's as if they believe the wave places responsibility for the outcome onto others. This is very common with cars that cut-off or illegally pass or go around other cars at red lights and sometimes results in tragic accidents.

I won't miss these men who are so arrogant and selfish that they think the world should accommodate them merely because of a hand gesture.

Won't Miss #318 - teeth/wind sucking

You can't hear it, but that's pretty much what the face looks like during this maneuver.

Every culture has its body language tics and odd sounds associated with certain actions. I'm not a big fan of any of them, but one of the habits which is like nails on a blackboard for me is when people (usually men) suck air around their teeth in a particular manner. This is a habit which I never experienced back home, but frequently hear here. This sound is usually made when one is thinking over a particularly brain-teasing issue or as an expression of hesitation before offering up an answer that won't be favorably received. I may dislike this particular habit so much because it is one I associate with reluctance to be straightforward or simply because it's not a pleasant noise. It's probably a bit of both.

I won't miss this tendency to noisily suck air through ones teeth during moments of consternation, consideration or confrontation.

Will Miss #85 - Japanese body language

Despite having lived in Japan for about two decades, I'm still amused by some of the differences in body language (aside from the overuse of the peace sign in pictures). When an American points at himself, he will point at his chest. When a Japanese person points at herself, she will point at her nose. Additionally, when I count on my fingers for others to see, I start with a closed hand and raise each finger. Japanese people start with an open hand and draw each finger down toward their palms.

I'll miss these little differences in how we express ourselves with gestures and body language.