For example, I’m a white Jewish guy but I’ve adopted the Japanese practice of keeping dedicated house slippers at the front door.
I started sprinkling “fighting!” into my vocabulary thanks to South Korea. Or alternatively “gambare!” thanks to Japan.
I learned to love sparkling water in Germany, I even bought myself a soda maker to always have carbonated drinks at home.
I got a bidet recently, and it’s been a life changer. I guess they are becoming more popular now in America, but nobody had one growing up.
I bought the Tushy. It’s nothing crazy fancy, but works amazingly. It’s one piece that you install between the water line and the tank of the toilet. Very quick install. For new users, I’d suggest keeping the water pressure low (the little knob you turn to activate it) that way you’re not getting water up your butt when you’re not expecting it. It’s a weird sensation at first, but you quickly get used to it. Now I swear by having a bidet.
I’ve lived in Japan for a long time. I make a lot of Japanese noises now.
I was raised in an extremely conservative Southern Baptist Christian tradition, but I often recite the Hail Mary and/or the first line of the Shema (in admittedly very poor Hebrew) when I pray. There’s something about knowing that the same prayer has been prayed by millions and millions of humans through history that makes me feel more connected.
