Three things that freak me out about moving to Japan:
1. throwing up: every gaijin blogger makes some comment at some point about the drunk salarymen upchucking in the train stations. Some even post pictures. No…I’m not even going to link to that. The way I see it though, is that this is an opportunity to get over my fear…it’s a bit of a necessity if I happen to have a child in the future.
2. bugs: this fear applies pretty much anywhere new. I’m used to Canadian critters (sort of). Who knows what kind of surprises I’ll get.
3. having to eat a four-legged friend or risk offending someone (or starving): in the land of soy, people tell me it’s still extremely difficult to remain vegetarian. I’m hoping that my exception for seafood will help me out.
Three things that excite me about moving to Japan:
1. the food: the other night I was hearing tales of the incredible edibles - especially the sweetest strawberries and ginormous apples.
2. taking pictures: of everything different.
3. being foreign: even if it means I’m ignored.
Three things that are just awesome:
1. the end pieces on a block of cheese: the more they are imprinted by the plastic packaging the better.
2. the first time you use a new kind of soap in the shower: and you are not used to the smell yet.
3. listening to a new cd for the first time *tied with* taking the plastic covering off the screen of a new electronic device.
Hmm…the theme of that is new. Could it be that newness is one of the most pleasurable things in life?
groups of 3
Jeremy said,
Listen Meg, don’t listen to all that crap on Gaijin Blogger. Most of those posts are exagerations of the truth. True, Salarymen like to go out, and almost every night you will see groups of them stumbling to the train station. However, I have never been yelled at, called over, or attacked by a salaryman. If you ignore them, they won’t bother you….
well, the first night in Japan was an exception. I was peeing in a subway bathroom, and the old drunk salaryman peeing beside me peed on another guy when he noticed a gaijin was peeing beside him. He also scoped out my goods if you know what I mean. But, that aside, nothing else has happened like that. Just curiosity more than anything. I came here expecting most Japanese to hate americans (and people who look like americans!) because of what they suffered through during the war. The real truth is that very few hold a grudge, only the nationalists and some extremists and a handful of old people. The majority LOVE americans and canadians, and will bend over backwards to accomadate you. Well, except for speaking english, cause they are mostly pretty shy…. ANyways, don’t sweat it! things will go ok!
M said,
Hehe thanks Jeremy. That’s hilarious. You made a guy pee on another guy.
I’m not worried about what people think about me AT ALL. I’m also not worried about drunkeness.
No…I’m just worried about stomach contents ;)
Jeremy said,
There’s wayyy more puke everywhere every morning I walked to school in england than here. I have only seen one person puke on the street. that’s it. people are very very ashamed if they do that in public, not like in canada where there are events for such drunken activities :)
Jeremy said,
oh, and besides, there are hundreds of other things that you will be staring at, that you won’t even notice the puke! vending machines, cool lights, buildings, all the people…. it’s soo fun!
