West to East: 13 Ways I’ve Adapted to Asian Culture as a Western Expat

 My journey from West to East has been more than a geographical shift; it’s been a profound personal transformation.

Life feels so much better whenever I explore.

Somewhat surprising for most people, I became a Western expat in Asia at 20 years old. As a Westerner, this lifestyle switch was an exciting decision. Many people in my life at the time questioned my unsystematic reasoning for moving abroad so abruptly. 

I guess I just felt like it.

At the time of writing this blog post, I am 22 years old. I turn 23 in a month (Virgo queen). It is wild to think of how much has changed since then. 

How much is still changing.

But specifically, how much I’ve changed. 

If you are familiar with my blog, you may already know how I ended up in Asia.

I arrived in the East for the first time at the age of 20, just after graduating from university. 

My first port of arrival? Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Alone. To say it was an extreme culture shock would be an understatement. At the time, I only planned on traveling in Asia for three weeks and then returning home to Florida to continue running my small cosmetics business that I had started two years prior. 

One week later, I was sitting on the side of the road in Hoi An, Vietnam, eating Banh Mi. I had just made friends with a Vietnamese grandma called “Em Ma,” a somewhat shady character I trusted with my life. With my heart and mind open to change and new possibilities, I pushed my wanderlust a bit further and canceled my return flight home to the States. 

What was my plan? Oh, I didn’t have one. With a 45 Liter backpack and the beauty and confidence of being young, I trusted myself to figure that s*** out.

I won’t get into everything that has happened since then because that’s not what this post is about. I ended up “figuring it out.” I am different now, but I have changed for the better.

There are many ways I am different. I speak Thai, use local-style public transport, eat native foods, etc. Those factors are for survival. 

However, this post is about all of the surprising (and hilarious) ways that I have, consciously and unconsciously, adapted myself as a person to fit in with Asian culture. It’s the behaviors I didn’t need to incorporate but chose to adapt anyway.

So today, I am here to share with you the top 13 ways that I’ve adapted to an Asian lifestyle as a Western girl living out in the East.

Live in Asia and do as the Asians do. 

1. Eating ANYTHING with Chopsticks

…And I mean anything. Chopsticks are such a wonderful and versatile invention originating from Asian culture. I can eat everything without getting my hands dirty. Eating a bag of chips? Use Chopsticks. Chopsticks should replace any food typically eaten with hands or a fork. Using chopsticks helps me control the sizes of my bites of food, portions out the perfect bite of food, and slows my eating. It’s also just more fun than using a fork. Why would I ever go back to eating with clunky forks?

2. The Art of Squatting

Let’s be clear. The Asian-style squat is much different than the Western-style squat. The Western-style squat is typically on your toes with your knees pressed together when crouched. Western-style squatting is not a maintainable position. The feet and legs start to cramp, and balance is more challenging. The Asian-style squat, however, is much more practical. This position involves the feet being flat on the ground, the knees and legs open, and the arms in front of the legs. The Asian-style squat helps to maintain balance, as well as preventing cramps in the legs. If you can master the pose correctly, it’s super comfortable. You can stay in the squat for long periods. 

There are many reasons why using the Asian-style squat just makes sense. 

First, why would I ever let my bottom touch the ground or something potentially dirty in public? With the Asian-style squat, you can turn anywhere you want into a loitering area. 

Second, how the hell else am I going to hang out on the side of the road and smoke cigarettes?

Third, it’s good for your health and mobility. Let’s keep the legs working for years to come.

3. Bowing and All-Around Politeness

I love bowing and the all-around widespread respect for others in Asian culture. 

As an expat in Asia, I’ve learned a lot about body language awareness from living in Thailand, where many strict rules exist. Sometimes, I’ve learned the hard way, like when I accidentally crossed my legs in front of the headmistress at my old teaching job. But, thanks to bowing “rules and regulations,” I feel more well-rounded and polite when going about my daily tasks.

I bow when crossing in front of an older adult or someone conversing. I bow to say thank you or show appreciation. I bow when giving money to a cashier (giving cash with both hands, of course). In Thailand, I put my hands together in a Wai to greet someone and say thank you or goodbye. This body language is just so satisfying; It feels so polite. A simple “thank you” or nod does not show enough appreciation and regard. 

4. UV Rays are Public Enemy #1

In case you didn’t know, umbrellas aren’t just used for rainy days. Around Asia, umbrellas are most commonly used on sunny days to protect you from the scorching sun! 

These people genuinely know every beauty secret in the book for aging gracefully. And it all starts with protecting your skin from the sun. From some of the best-rated SPF lotions in the world to UV gloves, Asian culture has taught me the importance of caring for my skin. And with that comes my new infatuation with carrying around umbrellas in the sun. Protecting the skin from the sun is a trend I would love to make it out to the West!

5. Inside vs. Outside Shoes

As a Western expat, I find Eastern standards of cleanliness peculiar. General clutter is always deemed okay. But, absolutely do not wear your “outside shoes” inside the house. 

There are shoes for the outside and shoes for the inside. In the West, we may even call them house slippers, but it’s still okay to wear your shoes into the house. I know I even used to wear my house slippers outside on occasion when growing up. That would be an absolute atrocity and disgrace here in Asian culture.

However, once you start with the no-outside-shoes-inside policy, there is no turning back. Shoes coming off just outside the door feel necessary, and anything else feels unsanitary.

6. Rice for Breakfast

I fell victim to this one long ago: Yes, as part of Asian culture we eat rice at every meal. And yes, that includes breakfast. The stereotype about eating rice at every meal is entirely accurate, and I love it.

Nothing beats a mound of rice topped with a creamy omelet and chilis for breakfast. I’m sure other expats in Asia can relate.

7. Obsession with Kawaii (Cute) Things

Don’t be mistaken; I have always been a very feminine lady. Growing up, I had a hot pink bedroom and a dozen Barbies. But my love for kawaii(cute) things has reached uncharted territory since becoming an expat. 

The Asian culture of loving cute things is much different than in the States. Many stores here are decorated with cute cartoon character art and stuffed dolls. Everyday products like tissue and cleaning supplies are Sanrio-themed. Even businesspeople carry briefcases with a cute clip-on stuffed keychain. It’s a cuteness epidemic.

Once I arrived in Asia, Hello Kitty obtained a new biggest fan. I regularly sport Hello Kitty socks, a pink Hello Kitty watch, a Hello Kitty phone case, and more. 

The cuteness doesn’t stop there. Hairbows are not just a trend; it’s a lifestyle. I haven’t worn hairbows since grade school, yet I started again when I saw a businesswoman with suits rocking hairbows as part of their everyday accessories.

8. Mysterious Meats from Markets and Convenience Stores

I’ve refused to eat at McDonald’s for the past two years, but I have no problem eating mysterious meats off the side of the road. 

Last Friday, I went to the night market. I watched a grandma push a rolling cart of raw squid with no packing or protection—no health measures taken, originating from an undisclosed location.

I queued in line for the squid immediately. 

My lunch today? Raw salmon from Don Don Donki convenience store. 

If you had told me two years ago that I would eat raw meat off the street or from convenience stores, I would never have believed you. But now it’s normal for me. I eat raw meat from anywhere that sells it.

I don’t think these dining practices would stand a chance against food safety organizations in the USA. But Westerners are missing out on the joys of night markets and the food. 

Yes, I’ve had food poisoning once. And yes, I continue to eat raw fish from the market. It’s a tasty lifestyle risk that I am willing to take for the sake of delicious cuisine.

9. Queueing Culture

I used to avoid a queue like the plaque. Nothing could be worth minutes or hours of standing in a line. But East Asians have it down to a science. It goes as deep as culture out here, as they are taught patience and politeness from a young age. Also, remember, “losing face” is not an option. 

I’m still learning to love the queueing lifestyle. A few weeks ago, I went on a date to the night market, and my date wanted to stop at any food stand that had a queue. I’m unsure if it’s the prolonged wait for the meal or the excellent company, but all the food was mouth-watering…

It turns out people do queue for a reason.

10. Ghosts are Real and Should be Respected

The East is all-around, being very in touch with their spiritual side. From ghost shrines to Buddhist meditation (which you can read about in my Vipassana meditation post!), there is no shortage of superstitions and all-around spirituality. 

Throughout my travels in Asia, I have encountered a wide range of peculiar spiritual beliefs and how they are celebrated. There are countless superstitions. It’s very common to believe that beautiful aspects of nature, such as mountains and rivers, have their own spirits. In Thailand, ghost houses are in front of every building so that the former property inhabitants can be at peace. There are countless hidden shrines in the mountains of Taiwan. 

I’ve caught myself incorporating these beliefs into my life. I now associate beautiful mountains with each being their deity for us to appreciate. In a way, it taught me to enjoy the natural beauty of nature better. A Buddhist lifestyle of following the eight precepts is also a solid belief. You don’t have to change religion or declare yourself religious to live a lifestyle of spirituality. The respect for spirits and other unseen beings in Asia is perfectly demonstrated through their culture of thoughtfulness, respect, and harmony.

11. The Love of Convenience

I never enjoyed my quality of life without fabric drink carriers to carry my coffee when I go on morning walks or coffee ice cubes from the convenience store to add to my iced coffees. It’s not necessarily about the products you need: Asian culture is about the products that make your life better.

I have countless, even minute, examples.

If you’ve ever had take-out food in Asia, you already know it is packaged to the gods. They would never dare to leave out every option of additional spices or raw vegetables for extra flavors. 

I wanted to give a special shout-out to 7/11 Asia stores (most famously in Japan).

I don’t know how to describe it besides a restaurant-style convenience store with many extra offers. They have everything you need, including prepared meals, snacks, and drinks. However, did you know you can also pay your bills here, pick up public transport tickets, print documents, renew your driver’s license, and more? At some 7/11s, you can even do your dry cleaning or send mail (transit to other 7/11s)! 

12. Saving Face vs. Losing Face

One thing about being Western is that we don’t care how we act or say in public. We just don’t give a s***. Before becoming an expat in Asia, I had always lived according to this lawlessness. 

However, Asian culture is all about “saving face.” Saving face means keeping your composure and appearance up in public so as not to embarrass yourself or your family. Any public display of dissatisfaction, anger, or upset is highly looked down upon. You can’t speak your mind as carelessly here as in the West. “Losing face” by something as simple as a raised voice in public could lead to a scandal.

I have (slowly but surely) been able to incorporate this mellowed behavior into my actions. I hate to admit it, but pieces of me feel much more disciplined with this newfound self-control. 

I think twice whenever I want to act up in shared settings.

13. I’ll Be at Karaoke on a Friday Night

Yeah… This one is exactly what it sounds like. 

I only did karaoke after coming to Asia. And now I’m addicted to it. 

Interestingly, Asian culture is to be remarkably shy compared to western standards. However, no Asians seem to be embarrassed about singing in front of everyone. Karaoke can commonly be heard in the streets until the early morning hours. It’s a familiar weekend outing for friends, colleagues, and even clients to sing some karaoke together over a few beers. The karaoke party never ends. 

I’ve made my fair share of trips to the karaoke lounges around Asia. It’s quite an icebreaker activity for a first date. I’ve even attended karaoke birthday parties for friends in Thailand. It’s impossible to be disappointed after a night of singing your heart out. 

Final Thoughts

Living as a Western expat in Asia has been a transformative journey, filled with unexpected adaptations and delightful discoveries. From mastering the art of chopsticks to embracing the karaoke culture, these 13 ways I’ve adapted to Asian culture and life reflect surface-level changes and a deeper appreciation for the rich tapestry of Eastern cultures. As I continue my journey as a Western expat through the East, I’m grateful for these experiences that have broadened my perspective and ultimately shaped me into a more versatile, open-minded individual. The beauty of cultural immersion lies not just in observing differences but in embracing them wholeheartedly.

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