The Value of Japanese-Made Products I Realized in Ohio | Appreciating the 'Ordinary' in Daily Life ⑤

The day after I arrived in Ohio.

My cousin said,
'You must be tired today, so let's start by meeting a neighbor,'
and took me to see her.

The person was
an American woman who spoke excellent Japanese.

After losing her Japanese husband, she returned to America with her children and has been living in Ohio.

She is also a very important person who was the reason my cousin's family moved to this area.

◆Her Japanese was truly excellent

When I actually met her, her Japanese was very natural and fluent.

The conversation felt completely natural as well.

For my cousin, who cannot speak much English, I immediately understood how significant this person's presence was.

I understood the reason immediately.

And there is a story from our conversation at that time that still leaves an impression on me today.

◆Things she buys in Japan every year to bring back

She says she goes to Japan once a year to let her children see their grandparents.

And she says there is something she always buys to bring back for her children every time.

That was Gunze underwear.

When I asked her why,

・The fabric feels good on the skin
・The sewing is sturdy
・The quality does not easily degrade even after long-term use

She said she highly values these points.

When you are in Japan, you tend to take this kind of quality for granted.

But for people living overseas,

The meticulousness and attention to detail of Japanese-made products become a special value.

It was at this moment that I truly realized that for the first time.

◆ The difference I felt at a local clothing store

In the afternoon, I went to a nearby clothing store with my cousin and her children.

It was to pick out a few clothes to wear during my stay.

Choosing clothes locally was a fun time, but what I felt while looking was
the difference in sizing and sewing.

Of course, I think it is also a matter of preference.

But to me, it felt like Japanese clothes were made more carefully down to the smallest details.

◆ I couldn't understand the conversation at the register

There was one other thing that left an impression during the shopping trip.

When we went to the register, the clerk started talking to us about various things.

But the speed was so fast that I couldn't catch it.

I called my cousin, but she didn't really understand either.

When we asked again a few times, the clerk had a smile on her face, giving off a 'don't worry, it's fine' vibe.

It seems that

it wasn't anything particularly important, just small talk.

I thought to myself that I had experienced this feeling somewhere before.

Because when I first went to San Francisco, I had felt the same kind of panic.

When I can't understand English,

'I might have missed something important.'

and I brace myself.

But in reality,

the other person is just talking in a friendly way.

This difference in temperature is exactly what I felt was very 'American.'

◆ Things you don't see as a tourist

Visiting tourist spots is fun, too.

But,

it is in everyday shopping and conversations that you can see the culture of the land and the sense of distance between people.

Life in Ohio was a series of
small discoveries.

And each one of those, when looking back later, becomes a very significant experience.

▶ Next time

I will write about how money is used in America and the 'coin strategy' my cousin devised at the supermarket.

And about the check culture at the time.

I would be happy if you read the next part too.😊
Your likes and follows are a great encouragement.

▶ Related articles

👉The reason I ended up going to Ohio | Why my cousin who couldn't speak English lived in America Part 1
👉Almost lost during my first layover | The story of panicking at Chicago O'Hare Airport Part 2
👉Shock on the domestic flight to Ohio | My first propeller plane and the mini-panic after arrival Part 3
👉The ordeal right after arriving in Ohio | The reality of 'American money' that confused me at McDonald's Part 4

I will continue to write about it realistically.
Your likes and follows are a great encouragement.😊

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