フィリピンに戻って驚いた6つのこと：逆カルチャーショック現象
Having lived in Japan for six years now, I can go so far as to say that I am practically already a Japanese. I think I have already forgotten some habits that I had developed growing up in the Philippines; which is why every time I experience this phenomenon called reverse culture shock. This happens when one person lives abroad for so long that they have to readjust their behavior when they come back home. Here are the six things that shocked me:
日本に住んで6年になるので、これまでで私は実質ほとんど日本人化してるわけ。で、フィリピンで子供時代を過ごしたその過程で身についた慣習をほぼ忘れちゃってるんだよね。で、私はその「逆カルチャー現象」というのを毎回経験するってわけ。これは人が海外に長く住むと、母国に帰ったときの慣習にもう一度慣れなきゃいけないことで起きるんだ。というわけで、以下が私がショックをうけた6つのことです。
1. Filipinos take it easy at work
The moment I landed at Ninoy Aquino International Airport, I saw service staff sitting on wheelchairs with their eyes glued to their phones. They aren’t PWD (People With Disability). They seem to be just standing by in case someone would need their help. There’s nothing wrong to be totally relaxed at work if you are in the Philippines. You can expect Filipinos sales assistants in malls to be chatting and laughing away with their co-workers during work. I even saw three salesladies practicing the latest dance craze in the Philippines entitled Tala. It is currently topping the music charts in the Philippines and it is popularized by Sarah Geronimo, a Filipino popstar. The ladies were juggling both attending to me and practicing their dance. I wasn’t appalled, or anything. In fact, I was amazed because I don’t think I would ever see this behaviour in Japan. What I like about Filipino staff though is their sincerity and warmth. They made me feel very comfortable and relaxed in their presence. They weren’t persistent and they didn’t pressure me or offer me too many things. They focused on my needs and not on making the sale.
1. フィリピン人は仕事に対して楽観的
2. Filipinos make time for you
My family and friends literally cancelled everything just to hang out with me. My cousins going to school in the afternoons came to my house every single morning that I was there. My mom and dad’s friends came to the house to bring me food that they wanted me to try, not only once a day but three times! They came with a different offering every time. They brought fruits, my favorite morning bread, desserts or dishes that they had cooked at home. I never had an empty stomach while I was there.
2. フィリピン人は人に尽くす
滞在中、私の家族や友人は文字通り、ただ私に会うために時間を作ってくれた。午後に学校に通ってるいとこは毎朝私に会いに家によってくれたわ。母や父の友人は私に食べさせたい料理があって3度も誘ってくれた。みんな毎回それぞれ違うことで私の相手をしてくれたの。フルーツ持ってきてくれたり私の好きな朝食パン、デザート、家で作った料理とかもってきてくれるのね。わたしはフィリピンにいる間、いつもおなかいっぱいだった。
3. Security guards open doors for you
I have heard from my students who have visited the Philippines that seeing security guards in a building made them feel scared because they carry guns. I feel quite the contrary actually. I felt very safe in their presence. They greeted me with beautiful smiles and even open doors for me. Every single one of them performed duties which were not expected of them which I greatly appreciated.
3. 警備員が扉を開けてくれる
フィリピンに行ったことがある生徒さんから聞いたんだけど、ビルのセキュリティーガードが拳銃を所持しているのを見てゾッとしたんだって。私は実は違う風に感じてるの。彼らがいることでとても安全。素敵な笑顔で迎えてくれるし、扉も開けて迎えてくれるんだもの。一人ひとりが求められている義務を遂行していること、私は素敵に思うの。
4. Filipinos are terrible drivers
In Filipino roads, you will hear nonstop honking. Roads are congested with too many cars and motorcycles. You will see cars switching lanes haphazardly. You will see PUVs (Public Utility Vehicles) dropping off passengers anywhere they please. Pedestrians cross at any road. They don’t wait for the lights to turn green before crossing. I was there for two weeks and I had seen 5 traffic accidents. Traffic rules don’t seem to hold enough power over motorists.
4. フィリピン人の運転はひどい
路上ではクラクションの音が鳴り止むことはない。車やバイクでいつも渋滞。レーンを無視してめちゃくちゃなのを目にすることでしょう。PUVという乗り物が乗客をどこででも下ろしてるのも見かけるかな。歩行者はどこでも道を横切るし、信号が青になるのなんか待ちやしない。私が滞在した2週間のうちに5回交通事故を目撃したわ。運転手たちは道路上のルールを軽視してるってことね。
5. The Grab application
Grab is a P2P (Peer-to-Peer) application which allows passengers to find a driver at any place and at any time. All you do is download the app through your smart phone and type in your destination. The app will search the nearest Grab driver for you in seconds and you’ll only wait 10 minutes for the driver to arrive. All Grab drivers are very pleasant. I can’t reiterate enough how convenient traveling was for me with the help of Grab drivers.
5. 「Grab」というアプリ
「Grab」はP2Pアプリで、乗客はいつでもどこでもドライバーを探せるの。スマホにアプリをダウンロードして目的地を打ち込む。アプリは一番近いGrab登録のドライバーをすぐに探し10分も待てばドライバーが到着する。ドライバーはみなとても親切よ。Grabドライバーのおかげでどれだけわたしの旅が便利だったか語りきれないくらいね。
6. Filipinos are comfortable speaking to you in English
My Korean cousins came to visit the Philippines with me. At first, I was concerned whether they would feel uncomfortable communicating with my friends and family. To my relief, they communicated so naturally and with ease. I almost forgot that Filipinos are great English speakers. I saw my cousins laughing and having a great time.
6. フィリピン人は英語を上手に話す。
韓国在住のいとこたちが私とともにフィリピンを訪れたの。最初、彼らが私の友達や家族とコミュニケーションとるのが大変かなと気にかけていたの。でもそんな不安をよそに彼らは自然にコミュニケーションとっていたわ。そう、フィリピン人って英語が上手なの忘れちゃってた。いとこたち、笑いながら楽しいひと時過ごしていたよ。
The Philippines will always be my home country, but Japan is my home now. I live here now. I interact with Japanese people every day and I can’t imagine not being here anymore. I’m sure there will be more episodes of reverse culture shock for me. But in hindsight, not being in the Philippines makes me appreciate my home country even more.
フィリピンはいつでもわたしの母国、そして日本がわたしの家ね。わたしは日本に住んでいる。毎日日本のみんなと交流があり、ここに私がいないってのは考えられないことになったな。逆カルチャー現象、他にもいろいろあるんだけど、あらためて思うと、フィリピンにいないことで母国のことをより理解してるんだよね。
