Dave Barry Does Japan Analysis

Engaging and connecting with unfamiliar cultures can sometimes be terrifying. But from the stories Dave Barry Does Japan, An Indian Father’s Plea, and Going to Japan, one realizes that important values can be learned from interacting with other societies. Cultural elements such as communication approach, family values, and social expectations greatly influence a person’s and view of the world when interacting with contrasting cultures and social environments. In the satire Dave Barry Does Japan, Dave faced the puzzling situation of communication with the people of Japan. He struggled with the pronunciation of common Japanese phrases. Furthermore, he was perplexed by the fact that even though English is all around Japan, it is simply there for decorative purposes. However, certain English words can have completely different meanings in Japan, in which Dave Barry came to the conclusion that “The Japanese tend to communicate via nuance and euphemism, often leaving important things unsaid…” (Barry, pg. 119, para. 7) This very much contrasts with American-style English, where words are directly said and stay true to its meaning. From the satirical descriptions of his trip, the reader can conclude that Dave Berry’s American communication approach resulted in his misunderstanding with Japanese culture. …show more content…
The Native American son, Wind-Wolf, grew up in a culture that was remarkably different from American culture; it showed in his performance at school. Wind-Wolf’s father begged to differ that “He is not culturally ‘disadvantaged,’ but he is culturally ‘different’” (Lake, pg. 111, para. 2) He informed the teacher that his son grew up learning Indian values and not Western society education. Wind-Wolf’s influence from traditional family values affected his experience with Americans, in which he perhaps viewed them as narrow-minded or quick to

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