What habits or practies have you adopted from cultures besides your own?
For example, I'm a white Jewish guy but I've adopted the Japanese practice of keeping dedicated house slippers at the front door.
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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've learned from the Japanese phrase 'itadakimasu,' which is said before eating as a way to thank the person that prepared the food. I think in the west, a lot of us grew up learning to say things like grace before a meal, but that is too religious for me and gives God credit for peoples' hard work instead. I love the idea of ritualistically thanking the people who actually made the food. It was one of the things I appreciated while studying there that has stuck with me.
In my culture its common courtesy to thank a person after the meal, either the one who made it, brought it, or paid for it. But only if they're present. It ain't a ritual. Same-ish thing.
いただきます literally translates to "I humbly receive".