Cultural “Self” Awareness & “Self” Introduction

For me, self-awareness is about how I present myself to others. I tend to have a people pleasing personality but I am aware of it. I try my best to avoid over-pleasing others because I want to respect my own feelings. In conversations, I try not to say "anything is fine" or "it's up to you" too much. I believe that to earn respect from others, I must first respect myself and others while maintaining a good sense of boundaries.

When I first meet someone for the first time, I am naturally friendly. This isn’t fake; I truly want to get to know the person. However, I make sure not to ask many personal questions. I like to keep a comfortable distance and stop at the right point to make sure everyone feels at ease.

I find Conan O’Brien’s videos very humorous. However, I also feel that some of the humor is based on cultural stereotypes (maybe). It’s entertaining, but I try to look beyond those clichés to understand the real culture.

As a Malaysian, I feel our culture is generally more passionate and outgoing. People often expect Japanese people to be shy or reserved. However, the Japanese people I’ve met so far have been very warm and welcoming, so I don’t want to judge too quickly. I look forward to making more Japanese friends!

One thing we definitely have in common is the food culture! Whether it's in Malaysia or Japan, the food is incredibly delicious! おいしい！

Comments

  1. LiseApril 20, 2026 at 11:23 PM

    Your blog is lovely ! I love the respect you have when you are interacting with someone. I also like the fact that you are trying to erase the clichés to understand the real culture of the person you're meeting.

    ReplyDelete
  2. WeiJiangApril 20, 2026 at 11:24 PM

    As a Malaysian too, I also found that the difference self awareness between us and Japanese, but it is really fun when I get to know to each others and learn from their cultures. Also I agree with the food culture in both of the countries!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sleep and Rest in Japan and the World

In Malaysia, I never sleep on the train. I need to stay awake to watch my bag and stay safe. But in Japan, it is very different. Japan feels so safe that many people sleep soundly on the subway. Even though I haven't tried it yet, I feel I could sleep there without any worry if I were tired. It must be nice to feel that safe! The second thing that surprised me is fell asleep during work.  In Japan, if you fall asleep at your desk, people might think you are a great worker. They believe you are sleeping because you worked so hard and stayed up late. They call this inemuri. However, in my country, this is impossible! If my boss saw me sleeping, he would be very angry. He would think I am lazy, not hardworking. It is funny how one action can have two very different meanings. I love how safe Japan is, but I also think it is important to get enough sleep at home. In Japan, people are so busy that they have to nap in public just to survive the day. It shows that every culture has its ...
Read more

Inviting Guests in Japan & the World

Having experienced both Japanese and Malaysian cultures, I find that the way we give gifts shows a fascinating contrast in how we express hospitality. In Japan, a omiyage is almost an art form. It is usually a specialty item, perfectly wrapped in beautiful paper from a department store, showing deep respect and careful planning. In Malaysia, our love is much more casual and delicious. We often show up at a friend's door holding a simple plastic bag filled with fresh, local fruits. It is not about fancy packaging; it is about bringing something practical to share and eat together right away. This difference extends to the house itself. In Japan, guests step into a genkan. Malaysia does not have a genkan; we simply leave our shoes outside the front door or neatly by the main entrance. Punctuality is another interesting point. Japanese guests arrive exactly on time. In Malaysia, people often joke about "Malaysian time," where arriving a bit late is socially accepted so the h...
Read more