That’s right people, the pants are off, and I am RE-LAXED.
I’ve got my Japanese bank account organised, national health insurance and as of yesterday my very own Japanese mobile phone! Now, that would present a challenge, but my tutor decided it would probably be easier if it was all English. He’s right, I can read all the buttons but I feel even stupider since I don’t know how to use it. At least if it was in Japanese I’d have an excuse for texting slower than an octogenarian. But everyone knows the old people in Japan must be on some type of crack or something. However, I’m still waiting on my alien card though. For those of you who don’t know, foreigners staying in Japan longer than 90 days have to register as an alien and carry their card with them at all times in lieu of a passport, or face deportation and being hit on the ass with a giant paddle in a hilarious gameshow format. :)
Anyway, as I was thinking of entering this particular entry, I thought, apart from the language barrier, all the major stuff is the same. As for the language barrier luckily for me it isn’t horrendously bad, I still have no idea what people are saying sometimes but that’s just because I’m not listening, same as English.
I mean, wherever you go, there’ll be good people and bad people, rude people and nice people, people are people, it’s the culture that differs. Obviously the culture dictates the actions, habits, etc of the people, but that’s not the point. I mean, if I catch a bus I can go to McDonalds, if I go to the supermarket, I can buy groceries, if I forget to wear pants outside again I’ll get arrested, all the same stuff.
FOR ME, the interesting things are the little differences. I think it’s these little differences that make various cultures, places and people interesting. That’s why travelling is such a great experience, because after all the obvious things slap you in the face like a big, wet fish, it’s the little things you notice that make you chuckle.
WHICH BRINGS ME TO MY NEXT POINT! CAPITAL LETTERS ARE FUN!
Now, you probably won’t find this interesting, but I’m gonna talk about it anyway, because it’s my blog and I’ll whinge if I want to. In Australia, all the manhole covers are the same right? Of course, you say, why would you need a different manhole cover? Well, Japan’s found a reason. One thing I find quite amusing is that every city you go to has a different image on their manhole covers, usually something representing the town or place you’re currently in. As you can see in the picture below, in Shimonoseki, it’s a blowfish. Whereas when I was in Hirakata City, it was the city’s flower I think.
I’ve got my Japanese bank account organised, national health insurance and as of yesterday my very own Japanese mobile phone! Now, that would present a challenge, but my tutor decided it would probably be easier if it was all English. He’s right, I can read all the buttons but I feel even stupider since I don’t know how to use it. At least if it was in Japanese I’d have an excuse for texting slower than an octogenarian. But everyone knows the old people in Japan must be on some type of crack or something. However, I’m still waiting on my alien card though. For those of you who don’t know, foreigners staying in Japan longer than 90 days have to register as an alien and carry their card with them at all times in lieu of a passport, or face deportation and being hit on the ass with a giant paddle in a hilarious gameshow format. :)
Anyway, as I was thinking of entering this particular entry, I thought, apart from the language barrier, all the major stuff is the same. As for the language barrier luckily for me it isn’t horrendously bad, I still have no idea what people are saying sometimes but that’s just because I’m not listening, same as English.
I mean, wherever you go, there’ll be good people and bad people, rude people and nice people, people are people, it’s the culture that differs. Obviously the culture dictates the actions, habits, etc of the people, but that’s not the point. I mean, if I catch a bus I can go to McDonalds, if I go to the supermarket, I can buy groceries, if I forget to wear pants outside again I’ll get arrested, all the same stuff.
FOR ME, the interesting things are the little differences. I think it’s these little differences that make various cultures, places and people interesting. That’s why travelling is such a great experience, because after all the obvious things slap you in the face like a big, wet fish, it’s the little things you notice that make you chuckle.
WHICH BRINGS ME TO MY NEXT POINT! CAPITAL LETTERS ARE FUN!
Now, you probably won’t find this interesting, but I’m gonna talk about it anyway, because it’s my blog and I’ll whinge if I want to. In Australia, all the manhole covers are the same right? Of course, you say, why would you need a different manhole cover? Well, Japan’s found a reason. One thing I find quite amusing is that every city you go to has a different image on their manhole covers, usually something representing the town or place you’re currently in. As you can see in the picture below, in Shimonoseki, it’s a blowfish. Whereas when I was in Hirakata City, it was the city’s flower I think.
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| Look on the ground, is it a bird, is it a plane, NO! It's a puffer-fish manhole cover! |
Most people would probably think, what’s the point? Other people would think, what a wonderful way to make the roads more interesting. My first thought was some crazy bastard managed to make a fortune out of designing custom manhole covers for every city in Japan.
Anyway, that’s all from me for now.
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