Top Ten List: 10 Things No One Thinks to Tell You About Japan
I have been in Japan just over a week so far. In one sense, I feel like I’ve been here for ages. I already ride the train to school like I’ve been doing it all my life, and it’s getting easier to chat with my housemates in Japanese. In another sense, however, I know so little about this country in which I now live. I’m learning mountains of new and exciting things every day, but I know that even after 4 months here, I won’t know all there is to know about my neighborhood, much less Osaka or all of Japan.
Some of this stuff I knew before I came here, because everyone told me so. Like how the cultural homogeneity can be overwhelming, or how there are vending machines everywhere, or how strange the TV shows are (to me, anyways), or how they drive on the left side of the road.
BUT! There are a few things I do know, that I did not know only two weeks ago, because no one had thought to tell me. And so, Dear Reader, I give you:
10 Things No One Thinks To Tell You About Japan
1) The tea here is wonderful and delicious and EVERYWHERE. At the grocery store, served in restaurants, available hot or cold from vending machines on the way to school. Yummmmm.
2) No one jaywalks. EVER.
3) Netflix doesn’t work here. OH DARN I HAVE TO PASS THE TIME DOING EXCITING THINGS LIKE EXPLORING JAPAN.
4) The Osaka accent is hilarious to hear and also really fun to emulate.
5) The manhole covers are beautifully decorated.
6) The Japanese people are not only really eager to practice their English with me (you’ve probably heard about that), but also eager to help me improve my Japanese. Even the store clerks and people on the street are willing to slow down and explain things more clearly if I ask for help.
7) Japanese bakeries are full to bursting with a fantastic variety of delicious things. Also, they are incredibly easy to find because you can follow their smell from a block away. Two words: Melon Bread.
Being bombarded with Japanese all day every day (watching TV and talking to my roommate, but also reading ads on the train and eavesdropping on conversations in the hallway at school) can be overwhelming, but has already helped my language skills immensely. Like, IMMENSELY.
9) When you first sign in to facebook in Japan, it’ll ask you if you want to add your train station and blood type to your profile info. And the ads are in Japanese.
10) DID I MENTION THAT THE FOOD IS SO DELICIOUS???? But I’m sure someone told you that already…
Now you know 10 more things than I did before coming to Japan. Hooray!
Love from 日本,
~Malika
CET Academic Programs
1 Comment
Mutti - February 3, 2012
I was looking for any kind of link on the CET website to recommended hotels in Osaka, because my clever daughter was to be sending me that sort of info, when I spotted the 10 things I should know before coming to Japan, and lo and behold…..there you were, the one who wrote it! You go girl! (and send your mother some recs, OK?)