Ms. Yoose is a teacher at MHS. She teaches upper level math and AP physics. She did a homestay study abroad program in Japan for 4 years. And then she went back to work there for 6 years. It was an amazing time in her life.
“I thought it would be interesting to go back and work there as an adult,” said Ms. Yoose.
In the United States when you say ‘bless you’ after someone sneezed that would be normal. Your friends, your family, even someone you don’t know would say that. It is a way to show politeness and manners. Some countries might say other words, for example in German they say ‘Gesundheit’ it means health. When Ms. Yoose was in Japan, she sneezed and no one said anything. She thought no one cared but then she learned that they don’t have the same customs as The United States in order to react to that.
“I would sneeze in Japan and nobody say anything and it was shocking,” remembered Ms. Yoose.
Japan is one country that has good public transportation. Most people travel by railways. Japan also has bus, taxi, walk lanes, and bike lanes for people to travel comfortably. She said all of her friends didn’t seem to have a car because they didn’t need it and they could use public transportation.
“Everything is either walking or the bus or the train or the subway,” said Ms.Yoose
One festival that you should not miss in Japan, if you go there at the end of the year is ‘Japanese New Year’. It is a favorite holiday for many people. What they do is like a mystery bag, also known as Fukubukuro. The merchants will make grab bags filled with unknown random contents and sell them for a substantial discount. Ms. Yoose said you can buy this bag for 20 dollars and it could be 200 dollars for the stuff inside. It’s very 
worthwhile. She had fun and really enjoyed it.
“I really like Japanese new year, that was really fun. You get a week off and they have like sales all over the place and the sale room. It was really really fun,” said Ms. Yoose
What Ms. Yoose would like to share more with everyone about Japan is food! When we talk about Japan What do you think of? Probably food or cartoons. Famous Japanese food that many people know is probably sushi and ramen. Ms.Yoose loves Japanese food. Sometimes she can’t find some food so she has to make it by herself and it’s hard for her.
“Japan has the best food. Everybody thinks Japanese is just sushi but it is not. They have things like “okonomiyaki”, “yakisoba”, and “barbeque.” And all of these yummy yummy food that I can’t find in the States and I have to make it myself, ” said Ms. Yoose
Stepping out from her comfort zone and venturing into the outside world allowed her to see many things, encounter new people, and view things from various perspectives. Ms.Yoose has had many experiences and has shared them. The clear differences in culture between America and Japan have enabled her to learn many things and apply them to her life until now.
“It was really interesting living someplace that I could like looking and see what the United States looks like from the outside,” said Ms.Yoose
