I totally repressed this one somehow. Think it left my memory once I had realized I had taken the wrong train and, already extremely tired and hungry, would have a longer ride home.
A few weeks ago, maybe three(?), I was heading home on a Saturday around suppertime. At one station a group of maybe 8 American teenagers (maybe 15-17 years old) boarded. They were really loud and extremely aggravating. I felt like such an old fart for being frustrated with them but they were just nails on the chalkboard of a quiet Japanese train ride. There was a lot of swearing (I’m not opposed to cursing but please, keep it in quantities where the words can actually maintain their meaning!) and walking around, roughing each other up. At one point one guy pushed his friend who then fell into the lap of this very surprised woman. I really wanted to say something but didn’t.
Then I was completely shocked. One of the guys lost his balance a little and when he regained it, his shirt had lifted slightly revealing the grip of a gun he had tucked in his pants. A gun?!! Yes, it looked like a gun indeed but was it real? My first guess was that it was fake but…some kids think it is cool to carry guns don’t they? Then I became a little freaked out. Guns scare me, they totally freak me out. Not so much because they can kill but more because it scares me that people feel they need to carry them…and in Japan? It just seemed wrong and weird to me…am I totally naive and out of touch?
kid with gun on train
berns said,
Wow, americans never cease to embarass me. Embarassed that I am the same species as them. Here in europe we see it all the time… american tourists being… well, american tourists. I’m sorry if you have american readers who might be offended, but generalizations are the best way to… yes, generalize. And in general, americans are obnoxious, ignorant, and immature.
M said,
Yeah…I was trying not to generalize, or to think “oh those americans!” because not everyone is obnoxious, ignorant, and immature, but I did have a strong feeling of “oh please don’t do that” specifically because it was giving people a false impression of western culture.
I wonder if we are sensitive to it as well because we are from neighboring countries. I find that when I am in a foreign country I feel a stronger drive to distinguish myself as a Canadian. Is it because I am proud of being a Canadian or is it because I don’t want people to think I am American? I really don’t know. I guess you see that all over the world…people from neighboring countries with quiet competition between each other. It is funny but sometimes unfortunate. I am babbling.
Jeremy said,
Wow. that’s quite surreal. How was it that some kids from the states were running around japan all by themselves? I’m sure they weren’t real guns, but seriously have you seen the fake guns you can buy in this country?? Unreal. I’m suprised there aren’t more hold ups in this country. I honestly would shit my pants if someone pointed an AK-47 in my face, and really you don’t take the time to think ‘hey, I bet this is fake.’
I’m going back home for a couple of weeks from now, and can’t wait to re-immerse myself in white trash land.
M said,
It is highly possible that the gun was fake. But even so, like you said, some of those fake guns look very real and can also be used to scare / control people. The whole wanting to scare / control people is really scary.
