I live in a quite neighbourhood, in a pretty high area, according to what I've been recently told. I like the idea of "pretty high", in case of floods (let's not call worse catastrophes). At night, I hear something that I've now decided is an old (possibly) woman coughing. At the beginning, I was not sure if that sound came from a human being or another being (a dog was my first assumption). It goes until late in the night. I wonder if that being ever sleeps... Sometimes, I go to bed at 3 in the morning, and I still can hear that muted coughing-alike sound.
The cats manage to get through the net set to 'close' the garbage area and have a feast at night. I've even heard them quarrelling on lonely nights.
Food. It's not about the cuisine itself, but about the size of the portions: smaller than in Western countries. Restaurants, supermarkets, convenience stores, all have smaller than Western meal portions. The yoghurt pack is also smaller (indeed!). I once read on one of the marketing books I have around, that one of the Western companies' yoghurt products didn't sell well in Japan when it first entered the Japanese market. They researched about the problem and they came to the conclusion it was because Japanese people have smaller hands and find the Western alike package inconvenient to their handling. Interesting.
Bicycles. Bicycles, bicycles... I've never thought I would ever ride this much in my life. But in Japan it is everyday stuff. I used to bike 8 kms. to go to university (no I ride half the way). Everybody bikes, and I have to admit I sometimes lose my patience with their careless way of doing it.
The elderly. They are on top of the society's hierarchy. I love seeing them commuting on their small motor cars. But the best is when they walk with something close to a small, compact baby stroller. That is meant to both carry their purchases and comfortably sit in the middle of the sidewalk when they get tired...
Umbrellas. As the weather is so unstable, I have an umbrella forming part of my bicycles decoration. It comes in handy when it starts to rain and I'm far from home. However, I scarcely ever use it, since I think it's very dangerous to bike and hold an umbrella at the time (because I have to take care of the Japanese who are biking and holding an umbrella as well). So my umbrella is always still in my bike, and if it happens to rain while I have my bike parked somewhere and I didn't take it, somebody will 'borrow' it. Umbrellas have no property. I've never been too keen on using umbrellas. I'd rather get wet. But here, you have to use it, or you'll be sick all year round. I still find it an inconvenient accessory. In Uruguay, I'd have never gone to a night club with an umbrella. This was my intention when I went to a night club in Osaka on a rainy winter night. I even thought of 'forgetting' the umbrella a few metres before arriving the place, but one of the foreigner girls told me it's very usual in Japan; and so it is! To my surprise, there was a kind of garbage bin holding hundreds of umbrellas whose owners where dancing indoors. Forget about looking for your umbrella when you're going back home. You take the first one you see close to yours.
Toilets. The Japanese style toilets are something that I hated at the beginning but learnt to like as time passed. You have to squat down, yet, far from the primitive Thai's toilet's.
Fashion. Another thing I disliked at the beginning, but really got used to it with the time. When I first came, I thought Japanese girls had no taste to combine their outfit (colours, patterns, etc). As time passed by, I've not only got used to it, but I have even found a pattern of combination for that crazy style. I now think I'm blessed being bigger than the average Japanese girls, otherwise I would be bankrupt buying all that stuff.
Shoes. Many styles, colours, patterns, materials, etc. There's everything for all different tastes. High heels, low heels, squared or round pointed shoes, stilettos; boots, and so on. Despite the variety, it's a pity Japanese girls can't sport them with all the grace such beautiful pieces deserve. Unfortunately, Japanese girls walk in a funny way, as a result of the traditional Japanese sitting style (and maybe also fashion?).
Friends. After being more than one year and a half, I'm still not used to some things... The other day, I went out from one of my lectures and I was talking to a Chinese friend when two girls approached us. Although I didn't know them, he told me the first girl was a friend of a friend of ours. The second girl just came to me and said:
-Hi, I've always wanted to talk to you.
-Oh, I replied.
-I want to be your friend, she continued.
I froze. I never expected such a proposition. It remind me of the kind of conversation kindergarten kids have. Nonetheless, I recognize the good will and friendly attitude. It's just that, from my point of view, friendship must be constructed upon trust (and other characteristics).
to be continued...
