Nonverbal communication

By Takaaki Niikura (Nick)

I stayed in a host house in Hawaii for two weeks. I had been in Hawaii for a month to study abroad through a Japanese university. During the study abroad, I experienced a cultural difference.

The host family game gave me a room. The room was on the second floor. I always closed the door of my room when I was in my room. One day, my host family asked me why I closed the door. I didn’t have any reason because I thought it was usual. Then, the host family told me that Americans don’t close a door unless they don’t want to be interrupted doing something. Most Japanese close their bedroom’s door because we think rooms are a private space, so the door should be closed. Of course, it doesn’t mean we refuse everyone. If someone knocks on my door, I will answer it.

I think this difference comes from different ideas about privacy characteristic of Japanese and Americans. In addition, [This is really a second difference] Americans are more frank and open than Japanese. If my host family hadn’t told me about this, I would have missed the chance to talk to them.