A culture I'd really like to learn more about is Japanese culture, especially the everyday side of it rather than the famous things like anime or sushi. I'm a twenty-eight-year-old nurse in Kathmandu, and I'm actually thinking of applying for a care-work programme in Japan in the future.
At the moment I know only a little. I know people bow instead of shaking hands, that they take their shoes off indoors, and that politeness and punctuality are taken very seriously. A colleague of mine, Sita, worked in a care home in Osaka for three years, and she's told me how carefully people sort their rubbish and how quiet the trains are.
I'd like to learn more in a few ways. I've started a beginners' Japanese class two evenings a week, because I think language is the key to understanding how people think. I also watch documentaries about rural life, and Sita has promised to introduce me to some Japanese volunteers who run a cultural centre here.
The main reason I'm interested is practical, because if I work there I'll be caring for elderly people, and I want to understand their values and what makes them feel respected. But it's also personal. Some parts of Japanese culture remind me of Nepal, like respect for elders and the importance of family, while other parts are completely different, like how indirectly people say no. I find that contrast fascinating. I think if I understand it properly, I'll be a better nurse, and probably a more patient person too.