I Don't Like THIS Part of the "American" Lifestyle
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- Опубликовано: 16 дек 2022
- Returning to Hawaii / the US is quite an adjustment, especially from Tokyo, Japan. There are good and bad points, but THIS is something about the lifestyle that I don't like and don't think is good.
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I agree with your observations. As someone who grew up in the US suburbs and relied on my parents to drive me everywhere, there was a huge sense of isolation and it very much affected my mental health as a teenager. Now I live in Europe with bus stops, grocery stores, bakeries and restaurants just outside my door; it is so easy to pop by the shop every other day and grab the freshest bread or produce. Every day I see children and teenagers taking the tram by themselves and going to museums, shops, cafes and libraries independently and I'm so envious of the freedom of their upbringing!
That is an interesting take! It’s funny because in the US we associate cars and the driving lifestyle to mean more freedom but you’re right, there is an isolation and loneliness that comes with it. Being in a walking environment where people commute on foot and public transit is actually more freedom in a sense!
I do agree with you. Ok, regarding Parking: We park at farthest parking space- so we don’t stress looking for a space, we like walking & less dings on our car door. Food: I made a veg garden for some of my favorites & gardening is soothing for me. Hang in there. Thank you for sharing.
This. I try to park farther back as well, usually close to the return cart area so that I don't have to go far to return the cart...mostly because I don't like walking around in parking lots as too many people are distracted nowadays.
Yeah that's a good idea, I've been slowly learning to stop trying so hard to find a "good stall". As long as it's not a dangerous area or anything, the extra steps and the fewer car dings are good benefits!
I've only lived in the US and I just wish I could walk to a cute little market... I shop at Aldi because it's a smaller store, fewer options, better experience, but I still have to drive there, and I hate the traffic. I hope I can get more produce from 'farmer's markets' and apparently you can buy directly from farmers these days, but the timing doesn't match up with my work schedule.
Yeah, I don't know where you live but traffic in Honolulu isn't that great. There are small shops here and there but same as you, you have to drive there first. There are some farmer's markets that pop up so I've been checking them out as well. I've heard of Aldi but haven't been. Sounds good!
I am truly sorry you don't feel well and that's no joke. You are going thru a big adjustment to live on our side of lAmerican society and well it's not very pleasant. In Japan you lived in a place that encouraged walking and very transportation friendly. You may or may not receive such care here. I think you had many local shops that just focused on meat, vegetables from local farmers and such. To be honest I don't like huge stores either. However it is true when we shop, we stock up because our time feels limited. It's OK if you have gotten sick because you and your wife are adjusting to a different country, you have my support 🙂🙂🙂 Take care
Hey I appreciate that! It'll take time and I know I'll get adjusted and not think of these things so much, I just wanted to document the transition and phases that I go through. Both places have their good and bad points of course, I think it'll be fine once things get normalized for me. Thank you though! 😁
This is such a weird phenomenon, but it makes a kind of sense. In my village in central Scotland we have two small corner shops, and one medium-sized supermarket. Other, bigger shops are a ten minute drive, but most people order supermarket delivery.
Sounds pretty good!
I live in a walkable area of LA and we chose this neighborhood specifically for that fact. Most of America is just huge suburbs which weren’t built i with walking in mind. This is also why cities like DC (where I’m from) NYC, Boston, Chicago, etc are SO expensive to live in. People love being in places where they don’t have to waste time in traffic and can be a part of their communities.
Definitely. Sounds like you made a good choice of area in LA!
We couldn't agree with you more, Barrett! Car culture makes us sick, but I do find my stress level diminished while driving by listening to podcasts. At least I am learning something when stuck in traffic.
Ah I should try! Good move to turn it into a positive, productive time!
Yeah, the car centric culture is something I remember all too well from my time in HI & CA (and also here in NZ). Have you checked out the local neighborhood farmers markets? I feel like that’s a way things are changing a bit and a good way to get fresher produce from a more convenient location.
There are a few I can see on Google that are out HK side (can’t say I’ve ever been to any of them lol)
Yeah totally. I hope NZ traffic isn't as bad though!
There does seem to be more famers markets now, I don't remember having them before. I'm glad they have that kind of thing. I've checked some out usually will pick up some vegetables :)
Its mainly depends on the location...U.S. suburbs are located further from the business districts and usually you have to rely on transportation. Urban areas the stores and shops are within walking distances.
Yup. Most don’t live in walkable urban areas though, unfortunately, so it’s more single-use type of places that are spread out and needing cars.
It's the food, period. I travel constantly between Asia (Japan, Taiwan, China) and the US for my work. I eat way more in Asia because the food is tastier, and I always come back from my business trips weighing less. I go to the gym in the US but almost never do so in Asia (because gyms are harder to find in most Asian hotels). I started to look at the differences in search of a cause. My bit of daily walk in Asia burns less calories than going to the gym in the US, and no matter which angle I looked, it always leads back to the food. If you look at what we eat in the US - very heavily processed food - toxic chemicals to increase shelf life or appearance, and those things are almost never used in Asia. In Asia, you eat way more whole food than heavily processed junk in the US. And it's not just one or two things, even the condiments and sauces in the US are highly highly processed. It's also not the "greasy" food people think about. Let's be honest, Japan is a fried food heaven, everything is fried. The difference is the food item and oil. US cooking oils are generally not pure, and especially oil used in restaurants for fried food. They are designed to not oxidize and able to be reused many times before they are discarded and this again means a lot of chemical manipulations.
There is yet another thing and that's the water. US water treatment uses so much chlorine and minerals but they are less so in Asia. Just the 1 shower a day in Asia for 2 weeks, my skin and hair becomes so much nicer and smoother and I rarely get new/more blemishes, even under work stress.
Yeah unfortunate but I think a lot of what you said is true. There's a lot of emphases on fresh and seasonal fruits and vegetables in Asia, and it's ingrained into the culture of Japanese cuisine. Not as much in the US. I think water in Hawaii seems alright but places like California... especially LA...yikes.
Yeah Barret I agree on the differences between Japan and US. US you hit the key points - gotta drive, buy in bulk, and shop less. Versus like in Japan, the ease of going to the store and buy what you need and head back. The closest thing for me would be convenience store 10 min walk it won't compare to a Lawson's selection though. XD. US wise it depends on where you live chalk it up to zoning laws. Just how you said markets sort the items all chips, all vegetables, all drinks in their aisle this would be the same with zoning laws keeping residential and commercial businesses in their areas. An example, living in Little Tokyo apartments in LA there is Vons market and restaurants around. Public transportation. Then more variables when accounting for work location and other needs to the lifestyle. How to prevent this sedentary? Hit the beach and run on the sand? Surf? Dedicate to routine workout. Well in short US doesn't explicitly say but the sedentary lifestyle is there - its all up to the individual to make the best or improve their situation. Seeing how Japan (not sure about other countries) how they structured things and sociology (hive mindset) is a contrast with US living. You rely on the car at the US and Japan you can walk it. How are illnesses seen in Japan Barrett I can't draw a comparison. But for US - I would say if you are ill - people would still go to work even if means to possibly get others sick at the workplace. Individual and melting pot of views of US keeps it complicated. Japan I would like to guess, if you are sick - stay home until better don't risk others? or that's not the case (death from overwork still a thing)?
That’s interesting you brought up the zoning laws, I recently watched something on that as well. It definitely keeps things more separated. US and Japan are hard to compare, they’re so different… it’s just about learning to adapt to both I guess.
People in Japan still go to work if they’re sick, for the most part. It depends on the person/company though. But it’s not typical for workers in Japan to get sick days, so if they’re sick they have to use paid leave. Plus there is this thing called “meiwaku” which is kind of like causing a problem for others, so if you’re not able to work and someone else has to cover for you or your team can’t get things done because of you, you feel bad. Luckily my situation isn’t like that but it’s definitely a real thing.
Working outside the home helps me with my step count because it’s easy to get up and out when I’m feeling restless. That’s harder to do when you’re WFH. I also run on the treadmill most days (5+ days/wk). My step count ranges from 10k - 14k depending on the day. But I’m short, so it takes me more steps to get places. 😂Maybe you’d enjoy living in the Ala Moana area since it’s a more walkable area. This is all I know, so it doesn’t really bother me. 🤷🏻♀
To be fair, the babies are walking germ balls now that D is in preschool and catching all the things. 🤣 Don’t let that dissuade you, tho! It’s just a natural part of immunity building for kids when they get out into the world.
lol I get restless but I’m not disciplined enough to go on a treadmill consistently 😅 Ala Moana/Ward area would be good if there’s 💵, for now I’ve realized that Ala Moana Shopping Center is the best for getting some steps in haha
I haven't lived in Japan, but I have visited a few times. I noticed that there are a lot of smaller grocery stores near the train stations and it looked like it was very convenient to stop on the way home. Yeah, we in the US don't do a lot of walking in our daily lives unless you go out and specifically go somewhere just to walk. I do a bit of walking at work, but nothing like when I visit Japan. I see you got some Keolu Dr on your video... You can walk that, it's about 3 miles and relatively flat.
Yeah, it’s really just about needing to intentionally walk or drive somewhere to walk a lot of times. Very different from just walking out of your daily commute.
I remember having between 5-15K steps a day during my trip to Japan....it was crazy for me but I might have actually lost a little weight despite eating all the ice cream and loads and loads of carbs.
As for public transit in the US pretty much the only place I've been that is similar or better in coverage to Japan is NYC with its close to 500 stations. Course it's nowhere near as nice or clear or safe but it is pretty cheap.
But here on Oahu just wait 5 to 10 more years and you can ride the choo choo train with it's...20? stops. Yeah, no thanks.
lol yeah the train... oh boy. I'm curious to see how it ends up running and how it'll impact development, but I've learned not to hold my breath already.
That is why I buy local and farmer's market
We get some stuff once in a while at farmer’s markets but I think a lot of what’s sold there aren’t grown locally. In Hawaii it’s some fruits and maybe lettuce at times.
The closest thing to Tokyo in the US is NYC - I Live here and we walk everywhere. Whole Foods in a 12 min walk and another market is 5 min away so I rotate between the 2- why didn’t you consider living in a big cosmopolitan city when you came back to the US?
Yeah NYC is like that for sure. I think I would’ve considered there or somewhere back on the US Mainland if I were younger (or had some amazing opportunity), but I only truly considered somewhere we had a lot of family.
Long lasting food items are freaky. Many things in the food items in the US are banned and illegal here in Europe.
Yeah I bet, same with Japan. Before I had left the US, I hadn’t really noticed this or paid attention to it. I’m sure that’s still how many are.
I’m long aware of this problem in the US. Junk food and car-centric lifestyle is a recipe for disaster. I just try to exercise more and keep eating Asian food for as long as I could, which has more vegetables and less calorie heavy in general
Yup, definitely have to make more of an effort to do so!
Well, houses in America are generally bigger and allow you to have the space to stock up…unlike Japan, you do more frequent trips and buy less every time…
Yeah, plus most of the US cities are based around cars and don’t have the greatest public transit or transit oriented development, so it’s kind of a stock and store way of living.
Do not stock your pantry with large quantities!! adjust your lifestyle back to walking. eating fresh and food that is alive for you!!
I wish… it’s hard not to lean on stores like Costco, Target, etc., especially in Hawaii where the cost of living is so high. I’m also currently in a suburb of the city, so even if you walk, it’s just to walk as there’s no real destination to walk to.
When I lived in California, we had a FoodMax, 7-11 stores, and restaurants within walking distance. Very nice. Our mild winters allow us to do a lot of walking. The one issue with many California folks, is simply over eating. If you go to buffets and eat 7 plates of food, you're going to end up looking like a sperm whale. Fact of life. Take care everyone!
haha very true! Sounds like you were in a good area in California!
I wish I was living in Japan it’s much safer, cleaner and people seem to be for the common good. This place makes me sick but it’s mostly the people.
I don’t think people realize what feeling safer and being in a cleaner environment does to stress, overall morale, etc. To not have to worry about those little things makes it a lot easier!
HK a all day jajaja ❤
lol yeeeah!
It isn't the only way to do things. You have moved to an area that relies on the large built out shopping areas...the California strip mall model. You could have chosen to move to the deep south or East Coast or farm country in the Midwest where shopping is very different. I shop for groceries once a week for my family. Meat not used immediately is butchered into dinner portions and frozen. Green leafy veggies last a week in a fridge. Veggies like carrots and onions etc...last for weeks. Everything stays fresh. I have ample access to farms that grow organic produce and raise animals for meat if I opt for that. Why would I want to shop every day when I can get it done in 2 hours once a week. Here's a point you really need to understand. When produce gets put out on Monday...do you think the stuff left at closing is thrown out? Leafy veggies are boxed up and refrigerated over night and put back the next day...if they are in a misting chiller display they will keep for days. Distributors get produce from many sources...they get shipments every day but they don't throw out produce that is perfectly healthy to eat. They rotate boxes so when buyers come in they get the boxes next up to go....like rotating milk in a dairy department.
You need to do some research on the topic of illness caused by big, long distance, and emotional changes in residence. This has been known for many decades. The stress born by individuals moving significant distance, even for really positive reasons, due to conscious and importantly unconscious misgivings, sadness, concern etc can wreck havoc with immunity. Add to that long days and nights packing and then unpacking...and all the little things like trying to find grocery stores you like did...takes a toll. Moving across the Pacific only magnifies these stressors. And guess what...you are sick. This happens with big moves across country. This happens to older people selling their family's home and moving to a hew community where they have few if any connection. This is life.
It not the food. Food in America is not poison...and you know that. If you rptruly thought that then you were a fool to move back. Your experience is not "AMERICAN". You clearly have little travel experience in the lower 48...because that is not how most people live. Are there shopping areas...sure. But ask yourself why. You are able to reduce the total area devoted to businesses and still provide most of the services the community requires. Otherwise, you are forced to use space that could be left in its natural setting or turned into community parks.
Regardless, whatever you are experiencing is natural. It will take months to get used to the changes. But you really should have thought about that before the big move...right?
They've moved countries before, so I'm pretty sure they 'thought about it' and are totally aware of culture shock, stress, etc. It's also possible that they are getting sick from other people. I'm in the US too and sometimes people literally cough over items in the store with no regard to hygiene or other people.
@@Karma20XX the comment was not directed at you...was it. And it is abundantly clear they are going through culture shock. But it is also abundantly clear that he has so little association with the US that he has failed to remember the sheer magnitude of cultural diversity across regions...there is no unique "American Lifestyle"...though there are those who want to say there is.
Wtf are you on about? American food products are much more harmful to people due to all the pesticides and chemicals that are illegal in many other countries. That along with being stuck with car culture without being able to walk in a daily basis creates a hugely unhealthy lifestyle for Americans.
Thinking and knowing about it and actually going through it are two different things. I've moved back to where I grew up, so it's not a shocker to me.
My experience IS American obviously, but since there is no universal American lifestyle and this video is about the American lifestyle I am experiencing, "American" is in quotes in the title. The thing that I'm highlighting as what I don't care for is two-fold: 1) The need to drive for essentials, 2) How food is shopped for.
This is documenting me, and I'm used to getting essentials the way it's done by most in Tokyo since I was living there for a while. It's done with efficient public transportation, excellent transit-oriented development, and very good transportation of freight. This leads to great access to fresh produce at good prices without the need to live near a farm.
I understand and expect that it'll take a while to adjust, but I also think that these issues will affect me less as time goes on. For now, I'm documenting my personal American experience.
Yeah, I've moved before and have lived in a few places in the US besides Hawaii. It's definitely possible that we've gotten sick from other people. A generalization, but I agree, there's definitely less thought or care about hygiene in the US versus Japan.
This was so fun!!! Do not miss out = p̶r̶o̶m̶o̶s̶m̶ !
Thanks!