You know you have acculturated to Japan when you think nothing of sorting your trash into eight categories. Three of which are plastic.

You know you have acculturated to Japan when you end every sentence in ‘ne’ regardless of what language you are speaking.

You know you have acculturated to Japan when you find yourself back in the U.S. marveling at just how much a dollar will buy.

You know you have acculturated to Japan when you still have 42 clear plastic umbrellas in your genkan, having donated 27 to taxis, department stores, and the local JR line over the last 6 months.

You know you have acculturated to Japan when you think all department stores must provide a condom for wet umbrellas.

You know you have acculturated to Japan when you eat what ever is in front of you regardless of whether or not you recognize the food group it belongs to.

You know you have acculturated to Japan when you think nothing of turning a corner in a remote rice field and discovering a hot and cold drink vending machine sitting there with no visible supply of electricity.

You know you have acculturated to Japan when you’re no longer surprised that said vending machine hasn’t been broken into or vandalized.

You know you have acculturated to Japan when that vending machine chirps in a high pitched voice, “arigato gozaimasu” (thank you) after your transaction; and, without thinking, you bow and reply “doitashimashite” (you’re welcome) in return.

You know you have acculturated to Japan when you think coffee tastes good out of a can from said vending machine.

You know you have acculturated to Japan when you think nothing of stuffing the equivalent of a ten dollar bill into said vending machine.

You know you have acculturated to Japan when you think the side dish to a hamburger should be corn soup.

You know you have acculturated to Japan when you find yourself bowing several times during a telephone conversation.

You know you have acculturated to Japan when your family asks why you keep interrupting their conversation with grunts.

You know you have acculturated to Japan when you find yourself moving through crowds using your hand in a chopping motion.

You know you have acculturated to Japan when you find yourself on a one lane road in the middle of a rice field, 4th in line behind an old farm woman with a wheel barrow full of cabbages; and you patiently drive ¼ mile behind her without becoming impatient or honking your horn.

You know you have acculturated to Japan when you find yourself turning onto a very narrow road with oncoming traffic and gutters on both sides just to avoid the traffic lights ahead.

You know you have acculturated to Japan when you find yourself racing through the shinkansen ticket line, through the wickets, onto the platform and dive through the train doors just as they are closing, well aware that the next train isn’t for another 15 minutes.

You know you have acculturated to Japan when you notice another westerner in a crowd and you move away because you just never know what they're going to do.

You know you have acculturated to Japan when you find yourself buying or giving things in odd numbers because buying or giving things in even numbers is unlucky.

You know you have acculturated to Japan when a perfect stranger pops his head in the front door to see if anyone's home and you're not surprised.

You know you have acculturated to Japan when you say "wow" at a women with a bust larger than 79 cm.

You know you have acculturated to Japan when you return from a weekend in Tokyo and complain that there were too many foreigners.

You know you have acculturated to Japan when you talk all winter about the coming spring with it’s cherry blossoms and talk all summer about the fall with it’s colors.

You know you have acculturated to Japan when you make a list of things that don't surprise you anymore.