Japan is very odd (yeah like you didn't know that already) and instead telling you the store is closing and to go to the nearest cash register over the speakers in a really bitchy annoying voice (ala K-Mart) they play auld lang syne. Not all places do, but I think most did. And I guess over time it became a learned behaviour that when I heard that song I had to leave wherever I was, immediately! Like, no messing about, leave the building RIGHT NOW now Sharnee! At first I didn't even notice that I suddenly had a strong desire to leave and then eventually I worked out why.
Japan also kind of made me paranoid about breaking the rules, which is a little odd because some of those crazy Japanese guys just don't follow any rules.
JAPANESE BUSINESSMEN ON AEROPLANES I'M LOOKING AT YOU. DON'T STAND UP WHEN THE PLANE IS ON THE TARMAC, FUCKER. ALSO THERE WAS JUST AN ANNOUNCEMENT SAYING TO PLS PUT YOUR SEAT UP AND I COULD UNDERSTAND IT EVEN THOUGH I DON'T SPEAK JAPANESE AND YET, YOU STILL DON'T OBEY! SHAAAAAME.
I am very good at following rule although I'm not exactly a goody-goody but I do like to observe rules and regulations. Well, sometimes. Well, ok, it's complex.
That music still gives me the creeps and I'm sure it raises my blood pressure whenever I hear it.
I hate it when daylight savings makes us move our clocks forward. I'm being robbed of my time! Of course I always DO get that hour back but I hate having to give it away (hey I'm not all weird and Queenslandy, I do like daylight savings, I just hate losing an hour).
I swear that there is no daylight savings in Japan because there would be mega mass confusion if they tried to implement it. Grannies would be the crux of the problem because they would not be able to comprehend such a change nor would they accept it. They would be all waiting at the doors of their favourite supermarket one hour early and be mega confused and beat on the doors "let us in, let us in" kind of thing. They would stress as to why they couldn't get into a supermarket at 10am - yeah, that's what time things open there - because they would need to buy their daikon or konnyaku or massive bread (aka: cake) and grannies would be passing out with pure confusion all the time.
It would be ugly.
I also think about if Japan were ever to have water restrictions (ok, I know it's stupid because they have, and will always have, shitloads of the stuff) but if they ever did have water restrictions like they do here - ie: you can only water yr garden on Wed between 5.30-7.30pm - IT WOULD NEVER EVER HAPPEN. Excuse me while I laugh myself into a coma trying to imagine Japan follwing any rules like that at all.
Stupid really because everyone thinks Japan is all polite and rule following.
Yes, they are. But they also ARE NOT.
It's hard to explain.
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I understand what your saying about the japanese contradiction of cultural politeness. They are odd aren't they, and it is hard to explain. Although I've not been to Japan (yet) my facination for the country and culture is never ending and through my experience living with numerous (I lost count a long time ago) exchange students whilst in high school and years after I came to the conclusion that what they say is not what they mean and what they mean is not what they say. haha I know you'll understand.
ReplyDeleteWe could do with their water-saving toilets!
ReplyDeleteI worked for Nova for three years, and it took me years to stop having nightmares about the bell (same bell they use almost everywhere in Japan to indicate start and stop to the day).
Shilo: Hell yeah I know what you mean!
ReplyDeleteJay: omg, I worked for Nova too (a while ago now) but I do remember that horrid bell. Urgh. I was thinking yesterday of how IMPOSSIBLE it was to try and write meaningful comments for everyone in that 10 minute break AND plan another lesson. But then they changed the book (it was shit!!!!) and gave 15mins between midday lessons - sorry you may know all this - I'm just having a reminisce.
Yeah I was there 2004-2006 - they changed the book sometime in that period and while it made things easier, it made me feel like even more of a fraud when it came to teaching! I heard some hilarious stories about new teachers using that book though; some older woman from the Northern Territory got into trouble because she'd fly through the lessons in 20 minutes and then give all the students an 'early mark', hahaha.
ReplyDeleteJay: oh my! that's so funny. where did you work? I was in Kyushu.
ReplyDeleteSharnee, totally off topic here, but I was wondering if you have seen the pacman jumpsuits at cotton on kids? I remember reading a post of yours seeing the little men's bedroom decor and I thought i'd let you know (if you already didn't). I bought one for Jules yesterday, radness x 10000!
ReplyDeleteHi Sharnee,
ReplyDeleteJust letting you know Ive changed the name of my blog and I think its changed the link or something, lol.
Its now
the-tomorrowgirl.blogspot.com
If your still interested in following. :)
cheers,
Meaghan
xxx
how strange... I don't think I would cope long term in japan, might be too much of a culture shock for me! ;)
ReplyDeleteI was in Nara! I did some travelling around Honshu but the only one of the islands I got to visit was Okinawa (... and Miyajima if that counts!).
ReplyDeleteThis made me smile -- I've no knowledge of Japanese culture, so it's all completely alien to me. I really liked the pictures you painted.
ReplyDeleteNew Year's Eve must be a real problem for you, though.
Sharnee, totally off topic here, but I was wondering if you have seen the pacman jumpsuits at cotton on kids? I remember reading a post of yours seeing the little men's bedroom decor and I thought i'd let you know (if you already didn't). I bought one for Jules yesterday, radness x 10000!
ReplyDeleteThis made me smile -- I've no knowledge of Japanese culture, so it's all completely alien to me. I really liked the pictures you painted.
ReplyDeleteNew Year's Eve must be a real problem for you, though.