While I'm Thinking About It

While I'm Thinking About It

I had a free hour today so I sat outside and kinda just took some notes about what I saw - and thought back to some things that have stuck out to me in my time here. They are not in a real structure so I'll go in list-style. By no means is this all I've noticed but it's all I wrote down in my finite note-taking time.

- Diarrhea and the discussion of such is really not a big deal here. In America, it's almost a taboo discussion of what comes out of your business end...unless you're mentally an adolescent - happily, I am. Anyways, I have heard this mentioned a handful of times in regular conversation and it's still a little startling. At home, the very mention of diarrhea is met with some sort of reaction - a scowl, a pained awkwardness or a laugh...not in Japan, it just keeps flowing (pun intended!!!)

- There is no such thing as walking in a straight line here. People weave all over the place. It wouldn't be so noticeable, except you share walkways with other people and bicycles and, sometimes, cars. I'd liken it to the American grocery store at 2pm when the old ladies take control of the 6 ft wide aisle with their 1.5 ft frames...how does this happen?! So I thought you could empathize...until I went to the grocery store here around 2pm. Never fear, even halfway around the world, old ladies own the supermarket. Supermarkets here are much much smaller than in America...not only in sheer size but the aisles are narrower and sections are totally miniscule. The very small area for trafficking combines miserably with the old ladies moving in half time compared to American old ladies...and they weave twice as much!! It's maddening...there's no better way to describe it. When you have a certain amount of time to get in, get food, get out, eat, run some errands and be back at work - the last thing I need is to politely tip-toe behind a lady and then see an opening, go for it, and see the old lady weave to close my space and I have to strangely sidle past her while she curses me in her vacant stare.

- Bicycles are, by far, the most utilized transportation. People ride around on their bicycles that look like they were made in 1965 through the middle of the general population. I've recently started riding through crowds. At first, I was (and still am) fearful that I'll run directly into someone but it hasn't happened yet. If you've ever ridden your bike through the crowds at North Ave. Beach on a summer day - it's like that, only everywhere...all of the time. I could write for a long time about the biking here but I'll move along.

- Japan does not have many all-you-need stores a la Target or Wal-Mart. There are specialized stores for everything. I've bought envelopes at an envelope shop...and ridiculous socks at a sock shop. There will come a point where I want to be able to buy a tent, cologne, a magazine and an area rug from one place...but not yet.

- I think this applies mainly to my city but some of the tourists that wander this area are really weird looking. There are your standard socks and sandals weirdos...and then there are socks, sandals, giant cargo shorts, oddly-fitted shirted people who always have a professional camera hanging from their necks. My city has the most famous, oldest and most beautiful castle in Japan so it attracts 'history buff types' and we all know what kind of gems that brings. For the most part, people come and leave in the same day because there's not too much to see. That's a blessing and a curse at the same time. You get rid of the weirdos at night but different but equal weirdos come the next day - neverending cycle.

- It is considered very rude to walk around in public and drink or eat anything....but drinking alcohol in public is legal. I know they're not the same thing and you can very well sit down and drink without being given an evil eye but it's a strange paradox.

- At some point soon, I'll write much more about this but the English here is not only absurd but it's everywhere!!

- People that dress in what you would consider standard in America look out of place in Japan.

- There is way too much smoking going on here,,for a country that kinda prides itself on cleanliness and health, I've seen way more people smoking than I have at home but maybe I've just been paying more attention.

- It's not been spelled out for me but the darker the person, the more they are considered a lower class. Knowing that, people go to some pretty extreme measures to prevent the sun from touching their skin. Not only do they ride bicycles with umbrellas in the 90 degree, cloudless weather but women are out with elbow length gloves. They look to be made of silk and they have to be so hot! Most women riding bicycles have some combination of the umbrella, arm sock, canvas attached to their handlebars to put their hands in or giant plastic visors. What a sun of a bitch!

- The people here seem naturally ambivalent....towards everything! They wander around without appearing like they have any kind of plan for what they're doing. I'm willing to bet there have been many people who've gotten lost because they've zoned out during their walk and did not care one bit about a destination. Sometimes I am curious if they're just zombies.

- Squatting is popular. People don't just sit; they squat. It must be a form of punishment for dishonor or something, because why would you choose the least comfortable position? Yes, I know they probably feel it's comfortable. The man who fixed my bike tire just squatted down and repaired the tire for about ten minutes and did not need to stretch once - damn inflexible American body.

- This new thought of mine is gathering steam with each passing example - most old Japanese men do look somewhat like Mr. Miyagi

- I have 48 students...three of whom have names that end in consonants - and all of them end in 'n'.

- The morning of the aforementioned bike repair, I was late to work because I could not tell the man I needed to leave and that I would come back for the bike. So I waited and got to work four minutes late. I didn't miss a class or anything, just late. I think it would have been better received if I would have shot someone.

- All of the Japanese teachers in my school are remarkably composed and proper...until a bug appears. Holy shit!

- Fanny packs are still OK here...by the way, did you know that the word 'fanny' is worse than the c-word (rhymes with hunt) in England.

- Japan fashion looks like Urban Outfitters blew up and everything landed on everyone

- The few people I've talked to about Hiroshima have cited the wrongs of Japan's government beforehand and how much was changed following the bombings...definitely did not expect that perspective.

- A few food thoughts - Ramen is wonderful here...wonderful! Hamburgers have a bun, hamburgs do not. Izakaya is the Japanese equivalent of tapas. Okonomiyaki (literally meaning 'anything you want...grilled) would be a great drunk food. Picking from a fish and eating is great! I remember Kristin's family parties and being frightened of giant gutted fish and people digging away...well, no longer, it's carnivorously fun!

- Japanese really want lighter hair...the more they try for blond, the more orange it gets. There are also products to make your eyes more round.

- Everything here opens at 9 or 10 and closes at about 8pm. Starbucks hours are 10am-8pm...except McDonald's but I've explained that McDonald's is its own universe, not subject to regular earthly customs.

- People will rarely sit next to foreigners on trains. They'd rather stand.

- Pizza costs about $30 for a medium from Pizza Hut and movies cost $18 at the theatre - needless to say, I've not ordered a pizza or seen a movie...until The Dark Knight comes!

- Random porn on TV does not get old - it constantly surprises me

- The drunken Asian red face is not just a few random people - it's a pandemic.

- When you laugh at foreigners and wonder if they know you're laughing at them....they do. When Japanese people giggle, I know who they're laughing at.