Maybe you remember this post from before leaving for Japan. Well, time for an updated version. Being in Japan, I’ve learned a lot about what I actually really loved about America and Florida. That said, I’m about halfway done with my journey here, and I already know what I will miss from Japan. So, here’s three new lists: things I miss from home, things I decidedly don’t miss, and things I’m going to miss from Japan.
Things I Miss From Home
- I still miss 4Rivers BBQ. I miss real BBQ for that matter.
- Taco Bell
- Disney World and Universal Studios
- Western food and regional variety. If you eat at a “western style restaurant” it’s all caesar salads and spaghetti.
- Being able to read/understand everything
- Simple tasks like calling the phone company without a language barrier
- Central heating
- Healthy food options
- Bath and Body Works
- Victoria’s Secret (the undergarment stores here are not my thing)
- Target
- The spirit of Christmas
- English speaking doctors
- Paying with a credit card
- Effective deodorant and toothpaste (I get it shipped to me!)
- Peanut butter
- Luna bars
- Affordable gyms
- Girls that run being a normal, everyday thing
- Bookstores with chairs in them (the mindset here is buy it and get out)
- Movies/ movie theaters (I can’t afford it here, and all the movies come out late)
- Bed mattresses (I sleep on a futon)
- My family, friends, and pets (obviously)
Things I Decidedly Don’t Miss
- American drivers
- Holiday madness
- Huge portion sizes
- Bad fashion
- American convenience stores
- “Screw you” attitude
- Driving everywhere
- Knowing what there is to see within 100 miles in every direction
- Chain clothing stores (they exist here, but there is much more variety)
Things I Will Miss When I Leave Japan
- Convenience stores and how you buy anything from them
- Vending machines (it’s actually a bit love/hate)
- Japanese food
- “Think about others” attitude
- My tiny, fuel-efficient car
- All desserts here
- Seasonal candies (especially kit-kat flavors)
- 100yen stores
- Warm drinks in stores and vending machines
- Paying with my subway card (Suica)
- Rotating sushi restaurants
- Speaking Japanese
- Shopping in Tokyo on weekends
- Buying stuff I never knew I needed until I find it in the 100yen store
- Everything I own being adorable
- My students
- Real green tea
- Amazon.co.jp (it’s pretty amazing)
- Second-hand clothing/game stores
- Tsutaya (100yen 7 day DVD rentals!)
- My favorite Harajuku Starbucks
- Doing something new and exciting all the time
- Festivals
- Cherry blossom viewing
- Loft (Target of Japan)
The Girl In Translation 
I thought Japan was healthy eating. Fish. Veggies. Rice. Isn’t that why they live longer? =)
Definitely healthy eating, but what most people like to eat (curry, pastries, pasta) definitely isn’t! The food here is really amazing though.