A Moniker in Japan!: Observations

Classes are picking up pace(midterms in 2 weeks!), and the regular Gaidai kids returned to campus on Monday. It is now a truly crowded and lively campus! There are about 10,000 of us total, which is HUGE compared to Oberlin. Since the campus is pretty small, however, it really does not seem like *that* many people.

I am VERY happy to report that it is FINALLY getting a bit cooler, with the wind blowing (no leaves falling just yet) and sunshine but less humidity.

I thought I'd list a few things I've come to realize over the past month...

1. It really is safe in Japan:
Every day I see young school kids dressed in their uniforms ride the trains all by themselves---kids around age 7 and up! That would definitely not go over well in US, putting your kid on a train to travel between major cities alone...yup.

2. Japanese people do not apologize for little things, and they don't even know why:
This sounds pretty ambiguous, eh? What I am referring to is when someone steps on your foot, or if you get shoved over in the process of getting onto a train, etc...Or if someone is coming your way on their bike or motorbike and they swerve in front of you, completely startle you and barely miss knocking you over! There is never "watch out! coming through!" or "SORRY, I have to cut in front of you because I have no patience, I'm in a hurry, and the car next to me won't move! (ok, so don't believe that one!). You get the idea; it really is starting to bother me! Mainly because, as a people, I find the Japanese to be one of the most kind and helpful. They will go out of their way to help you if you need something at a store, the common courtesy of saying hello, goodbye, welcome (to my store, etc), and they have huge respect for the elderly. On Wednesday we had a discussion about this in one of my Japanese classes, and my teacher, matter-of-factly, said, "I don't know why [we don't apologize for that kind of thing]...(thinking about it)... We just don't." It's just another one of those things I have to say to myself, ok, I don't get it, but it's weird, and it's Japan!

3.Public transportation is EXPENSIVE!
As much as I love the trains and the fact that I can get pretty much anywhere in the Kansai region within a few hours, it really is eating up my wallet. There are no discounts for students, not even if you buy a monthly or yearly pass; it's all the same as if you were purchasing 3 months worth of tickets. I am going to Nara on Sunday, and guess how much I will be spending on transportation alone? About 1800 yen---a little less than $18. Crazy!

4. Japan should be renamed Land of The Vending Machines
So, really, how many vending machines do you need in one country? I've seen plenty to know that you can buy more than just a bottle of Coke from a vending machine around here. The one I happen to wonder about are the cigarrette ones, seeing that, although they note than no one under 20 yrs. old can buy cigarrettes, anyone can just put some coins in the slot and get any pack you want! I will count how many I see from my house to the train station and let you know next time. Perhaps it would be more interesting if I tallied how many I pass in one day!

I'm sure there are things I am forgetting at the moment. I'll post more of these ramblings when my brain is functioning properly again. It's hard to think in English right now.

Here are a few pictures, including the okonomiyaki we ate for dinner tonight :-) Okonomiyaki consists of a thin layer of crepe-like batter at the bottom, topped with cabbage, noodles, and meat, perhaps an egg also, then cooked all together for about 10 minutes, then topped with a special sauce and sprinkled with nori (seaweed---dried, seasoned, and finely cut) and spices. Makes for a good dinner, I tell you!

Ready to eat!