Culture Shock

I don't think culture shock is a good title, but it's better than the "differences between Japan and North America." I'm not going to bother with the obvious differences, like bowing and school uniforms, but the real differences that will take foreigners by surprise.

1. The kids are kids: The Jr High girls are sweet and innocent, complete with ponytails. If they're trying to be anything, they're just trying to be cute, unlike their North American counterparts, who are busy trying to be dirty be-autches.

2. Shopping: You pack your own stuff. Yeah, not too different from some places in Canada, but how they go about it is different. You bring your basket to the cashier, who takes an empty basket and puts it on the counter. They then take items out of your basket, scan them and stick them in the new basket. Once they're done that, they hand you a bag or two, you pay, and then you move down to the packing station. The packing station even comes with those little bags you use to wrap your veggies and fruit in. Also, when you're in a grocery store, if you buy anything that needs to stay frozen and cold, you're directed to a dry ice machine and you use to fill the bag with your frozen goods in it. It's so cool!

3. Taxi: Small fact, the taxi's have doors that automatically open and close. They look and work like a regular door, in the fact that they swing open, but the driver has a button he presses to open and close the door.

4. Bikes: Bikes seem to be the major mode of transportation here in the land of the rising sun, and man, do they have it down to a science. The kick-stand on my bike back home was not a sturdy or reliable device. In fact, I spent many weekends tightening it. Here though, the kick stand is not just a thin piece of metal that has to rely on physics to keep your bike from falling over. It's a larger piece of metal that goes under your back wheel and keeps the whole thing from tipping over. Then there's the bike lock. It's a little half circle that's attached to the back wheel that comes with a key that needs to be in the lock while the bike is in use. This is extra helpful to those of us who are prone to losing things. Like keys. Sorry if these wordy descriptions are not enough to paint a proper picture. I'll try and take photos of my bike tomorrow.

5. The blind: I have yet to see a blind person, but Japan is very helpful to the blind. They don't seem to have brail in odd places (like on the keys of a drive-though atm) but they do have it on the most interesting on places. For one, all the sidewalks have slight groves on them to help a blind person follow the path, and each street corner has small bumps on it. I'm not sure if all the merchandise has it, but shampoo has bumps on the side of the bottle so blind people can tell the difference between it and conditioner. Such a neat idea.

That's all for today, but as I explore this vast land, there will be more tales and other comparisons.