Hello again (Ammin blogging here),
Life in Japan has its little nuances that we in the US do not normally get to experience. First, and most importantly, I'd like to say that the Japanese are profusely polite and willing to help whatever the situation. Last week when taking the train, a uniformed young women at the train station (she worked there) insisted on helping us carry our massive double stroller up and down stairs that took us over to the platform we needed for our trip. Japan is absent of many accessible features those in wheelchairs and we with massive strollers have come to appreciate in the states. I wasn't too sure that the young lady wasn't going to hop the train with us just to ensure we made it to our destination OK. And, she appeared to be genuinely happy about helping us. We have yet to encounter any rudeness during our time. Most conversations, no matter how brief or how little we understand of it, will be sprinkled heavily with arigatoo gozaimas (thank you very much) by the Japanese along with some respectful bowing.
That politeness also has a way of extending itself into the bathroom as well. A polite gesture in Japan is to fold the ends of the toilet paper into a point in consideration for the next person. I don't know if this helps in any way the actual function of the toilet paper, but you will actually find instructions on how to fold it under the flap of the toilet paper holder. Think I'm joking?
Western toilets are available in Japan but still must be uncommon enough to the average person that instructions for using the western toilet can sometimes be found under the lid. Think I'm joking?
Trash day is pretty unevently for most Americans (except for those who live in California and must recycle everything...which is a good thing.) In Japan everyone must sort their trash into various categories. Those of us who live on base have it relatively easy. We only have 4 bins to sort our trash into. Combustable, non-combustable, bottles, and cans. Those who live out in town in the Japanese economy have approximately 12-15 different bins to sort their trash and if its not sorted it doesn't get picked up.
Eating sushi in Japan is not expensive and also a fun dinner outing...even with a 4 year old and 2 year old...most of the time. We've eaten at one of those "conveyor belt" sushi places with the different colored plates indicating the price of the sushi a couple times and have really enjoyed it. However, there are some surprising menu items. Sure, we're all familiar with the old standard freshwater eel, sea urchin roe, red squid, and shad, but what about other long forgotten selections like raw horse and raw chicken? In a way these items should make a family from the mid-west feel at home...perhaps riding it and breaded and fried with 11 secret herbs and spices, accordingly. We just let those beauties make their laps on the conveyor and helped ourselves to some more eel and squid.
Life in Japan has its little nuances that we in the US do not normally get to experience. First, and most importantly, I'd like to say that the Japanese are profusely polite and willing to help whatever the situation. Last week when taking the train, a uniformed young women at the train station (she worked there) insisted on helping us carry our massive double stroller up and down stairs that took us over to the platform we needed for our trip. Japan is absent of many accessible features those in wheelchairs and we with massive strollers have come to appreciate in the states. I wasn't too sure that the young lady wasn't going to hop the train with us just to ensure we made it to our destination OK. And, she appeared to be genuinely happy about helping us. We have yet to encounter any rudeness during our time. Most conversations, no matter how brief or how little we understand of it, will be sprinkled heavily with arigatoo gozaimas (thank you very much) by the Japanese along with some respectful bowing.
That politeness also has a way of extending itself into the bathroom as well. A polite gesture in Japan is to fold the ends of the toilet paper into a point in consideration for the next person. I don't know if this helps in any way the actual function of the toilet paper, but you will actually find instructions on how to fold it under the flap of the toilet paper holder. Think I'm joking?
Western toilets are available in Japan but still must be uncommon enough to the average person that instructions for using the western toilet can sometimes be found under the lid. Think I'm joking?
Trash day is pretty unevently for most Americans (except for those who live in California and must recycle everything...which is a good thing.) In Japan everyone must sort their trash into various categories. Those of us who live on base have it relatively easy. We only have 4 bins to sort our trash into. Combustable, non-combustable, bottles, and cans. Those who live out in town in the Japanese economy have approximately 12-15 different bins to sort their trash and if its not sorted it doesn't get picked up.
Eating sushi in Japan is not expensive and also a fun dinner outing...even with a 4 year old and 2 year old...most of the time. We've eaten at one of those "conveyor belt" sushi places with the different colored plates indicating the price of the sushi a couple times and have really enjoyed it. However, there are some surprising menu items. Sure, we're all familiar with the old standard freshwater eel, sea urchin roe, red squid, and shad, but what about other long forgotten selections like raw horse and raw chicken? In a way these items should make a family from the mid-west feel at home...perhaps riding it and breaded and fried with 11 secret herbs and spices, accordingly. We just let those beauties make their laps on the conveyor and helped ourselves to some more eel and squid.
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