Culture Shock-Asaka Matsuda

The most noticing thing that has happened to me since I arrived to New Zealand is that people in New Zealand perceive time differently from japanese.

 The first day when I came here, I was really surprised that my host family went to bed at 8 pm and got up at 5 am. I thought that they were an early to bed and early to rise family and even strange because I went to bed at 11pm and got up around 9 am when I was in Japan. However, a few days later, I realized it was normal in New Zealand to keep early hours. Perhaps because of this custom, most shops are open in the early mornings and close early. Especially, it is interesting for me that almost all cafes are open from 7 am and are usually crowded in the mornings with people trying to have breakfast and a coffee because it is rare that shops are open and busy in the early mornings in Japan. 

In addition, it was new for me that it is common to work as little as possible on holidays. Here, on weekends and holidays, most shops are close early or are closed. Sometimes even buses do not run. I think people in New Zealand tend to make a clear distinction between weekdays and weekends. On the other hand, shops are open regardless of whether it is a holiday or a weekday in Japan. Some Japanese even think shops which are open on weekends can get a lot of customers because a lot of people go out generally.

 When I first came here, I was a little bit frustrated because I was a night owl, and I was disappointed that I couldn’t take buses on public holidays. However, while trying to get used to the early-to-bed and early-to-rise culture, I have noticed how healthy this custom is. Also, I have found some hobbies that I can enjoy at home such as reading and watching movies. I have noticed sufficient rest on weekends makes me active on weekdays. Therefore, I am overcoming the difference of the way of grasping time gradually.




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