In the Land of the Rising Sun

Well, I've been here for over a week now and I've just experienced my second earthquake whilst sitting on my futon on the floor of my apartment in Okazaki. It was not as bad as my first earthquake encounter which occurred while I was on the 9th floor of head office in Nagoya. What an experience, at first I thought I was getting dizzy and about to pass out because I was swaying and then our trainer told us it was an earthquake and that's when I realised it wasn't me that was moving but the actual building. The whole building was swaying and rocking and it felt like standing in an airplane during turbulence. Pretty scary stuff. By now you all know that the earthquake and following tsunami have caused mass destruction and death and Japan is working through one of its biggest tragedies in history but where I am it's business as usual. I am concerned about the nuclear reactor and radioactive fallout. I don't want to be here if that is going to pose a threat.

Yesterday I said goodbye to my fellow trainees which was a sad moment because we'd all bonded during our intense week of training and because I'd be on my own until I'd established friends in Okazaki, hopefully we'll all get to together soon and visit each other regularly. I'm getting a spare futon for my apartment so they will have somewhere to sleep when they visit.

I haven't really had a chance to form an opinion on Japan yet as I really haven't had a chance to see it with all the work I've been putting in. Surface observations are these but ask me again in three months:

1. Speaking Japanese and being able to read Hiragana and Katakana would be a real bonus. I got really spoilt in Nagoya with other trainers translating stuff for me. I'm now completely useless bar a few common phrases which only go so far.
2. You don't realise how good the non-smoking rules are in Oz until you get to Japan. They have the most odd rule. There are designated smoking areas on the street outside where you are only allowed to smoke but its a free for all in the restaurants where you are eating. Smoking is popular here so the restaurants are full of smokers. It sucks and stinks and all your clothes and hair smell like cigarettes when you leave.
3. They have hardcore recycling rules and as a result there are hardly any rubbish bins on the street therefore everytime you eat or drink something you end up hanging on to your empty container, by the end of the day I have a handbag full of crap! You then have to methodically sort it into about 4 different piles for putting out. At least they are doing their bit for the planet.
4. The food is good and there is a lot of interesting and tasty stuff to choose from but after a week of Japanese food you are starting to think about steak, steamed veges, lamb roast, cereal, salad and all that stuff your body is used to. My body hasn't coped too well with the change in diet but now that I've gotten to my school I've been able to get to a supermarket and get some fresh fruit, veges etc. Today was the first day I've eaten healthily and I feel so much better for it. Hopefully, I will continue to eat better foods at home and just go out occasionally for a restaurant meal.
5. The Japanese people are amazingly efficient, orderly, and polite. They are friendly and try to assist you as much as possible. Quite a few speak English in Nagoya and we've had some fun on the street late at night with brave, young guys getting the courage to say a few words. We Gaijin also get quite a few stares on the street because we are not common. In fact I've found myself staring at Westerners also because you don't expect to see them and you wonder what they are doing here.
6. The train system is awesome. They even have rules for waiting and embarking which require you to stand in a certain spot before you get on. Can't wait to try the bullet train (Shinkansen)
7. Some of the TV ads are hilarious, so cheesy. I love the one for Gatsby (which I think is like an aftershave) with all these guys dancing in a group like a Backstreet Boys film clip as well as one for breath mints, flavours include Breath Shower, where a lady opens her mouth and a bubble escapes from it.
8. The Bidet toilets are the bomb! The Japanese are on to something here. I love the heated toilet seats and the warm spray of water to clean your bits. So civilised.

I got my 'Inkan' the other day which is my official signature in Katakana for use when doing official things like opening a bank account etc. They engrave your name in Katakana on the bottom of a small stick like thing which is about half the size of a regular pen and slightly wider. You press the stick (Inkan) onto an ink pad and mark your name. The Inkan come in all sorts of colours and patterns with fancy little cases that hold it and the ink. I chose one with cherry blossoms all over it.

Enough for tonight. It's late and I have an earthquake to get over.

Until next time.

Cheers,

Renae...