Tomorrow we return to the United States. I’m so grateful for all the wonderful memories, amazing opportunities, and beautiful friendships. Thank you to everyone who has followed my blog. It has made this experience even more special.
Happy Holidays and a Wonderful New Year!
–Ten Things Uniquely Japanese–
1. Innovation. Just about everything that can be thought of has been. Round water bottles so they don’t roll off a table. A button to push on your restaurant table to call the waiter over. Subway stops marked by numbers to you know exactly how many more stops you have. Bathroom mirrors with a heater behind them so they don’t fog. Warm toilet seats.
2. Opposites. Things that seem like complete contradictions to us. Men in business suits at the karaoke bar. Clean streets with no garbage cans. Cover shoulders, mini-skirts. It is almost impossible to find fruits and vegetables, but everyone is skinny.
3. Christmas in Japan. Every street corner is decorated. Christmas music is piped in everywhere. And it is very beautiful. It is simply different. As if someone tried to describe what Christmas is like to someone who’d never seen it. And then–like a game of telephone–they told the whole country how to decorate. Not crazy different. Just uniquely Japanese. For example the lights are mostly blue and white. Hotel lobbies with eight medium-sized trees instead of one big one. Chandeliers as tree toppers. And sometime sign say things like “Make yourself a Happy Christmas.” Also sometime they throw in other decorations, like pink Valentine’s day hearts. It is very sweet. And actually, it is celebrated as a holiday of love and romance, particularly Christmas Eve.
4. People smoke! Everywhere. Restaurants, hotel rooms, McDonalds, taxis, laundromats, dressing rooms.
5. Bikes are ridden everywhere. By everyone. Old and young. Once I saw an man in his eighties on his bike. And just about every other has a baby seat attached. They ride mostly on the sidewalk. And we can’t figure out the etiquette as to which side to veer when we see them heading toward us. I think all of us have almost been hit by a bike at least once and seen people flat-out wipe out. We have coined a new American term: “the bicycle freeze.” Which is what you do when you see one coming at you. Don’t. Move. A. Muscle.
6. There really is no white chicken meat. We found some once in a type of chicken salad on top of a small side salad. That’s it. We’re not sure what happened to it. They have a lot of dark meat. But I haven’t seen a boneless chicken breast since the last meal I ate with Jared!
7. Cuteness. The women here can be cute to the enth degree. They wear bows on the top of their head like Minnie Mouse. Carry pens with cartoon characters on them. Bring their teddy bears to the show. And they look adorable! Maybe they can pull it off because they are so petite and sweet. The American ladies of DOC keep speculating what people would say if we brought these trends back, started wearing Minnie Mouse bows in the states.
8. There is no word for no. There is. But it is never used. In fact, in the nearly three months I’ve been I’ve never heard anyone use it. Mostly because the Japanese tend to be very polite. However, we now speak fluent English-Japanese and have learned that the real word for no is “maybe.”
9. Uniforms. Sometimes it feels like we stepped into the 1950′s. Tailored matching skirt-suits with scarfs for the women, black suits and matching hats for the men. All over. Taxi drivers. hotel receptionists, store clerks. Polyester perfection!
10. Putting others first. Just about everyone you meet will drop whatever they are doing and help you if you need something. If you are looking for directions, they will take you there personally. If you mention that you are thirsty, someone may go get a bottle of water and bring it to you at your seat. They are the friendliest, warmest, most helpful people. I never fear getting lost or feeling abandoned. Japan is the world’s most considerate, warmest host. I am grateful to have been a guest.
Oh, there will be a Karaoke Blog Video, but for tonight I leave you with some pictures that capture just how much fun I had today on my 27th birthday in Japan! 
Tony, Me, Anne, Tim Booth
First birthday dinner at a local izakaya (like a tapas bar, but japanese food)…
Me and Ian
THEN… KARAOKE!!!
Malkia and me
Anne working the tambourine
Tim puts his feet up
In about 5 minutes (and I’m sure by the time this post goes up) it will be my birthday. In Tokyo, that is. Which I think means I got gypped 14 hours out of being 26…
Tomorrow we’re planning on jumping into a full-on traditional Tokyo birthday bash: Karaoke. I’ll update with a birthday blog!
So it’s now after midnight and Malkia, Anne, Brian, and Ian just knocked on my door and tossed 27 yen at me! (Which is a Japanese custom as of this October when we did it for Tim’s Birthday). They brought me a Choco Cro, which is the best chocolate croissant in the world. And I challenge anyone on that! And three bean paste treats. Because nothing says Happy Birthday in Japan like bean paste.
Thanks friends.
Here are just a couple photos from our great week in Okinawa:
This is the view from my room. We were spoiled this week and all have balconys overlooking the East China Sea.
This is from Okinawa World. You know how at Sixth Flags you can dress in Old Western clothing and get your photo taken? This is the Japanese version. We think maybe we accidently got married too.
We’re in beautiful Okinawa this week. It’s one of the many island south of mainland Japan. It’s much more tropical (it actually looks a lot like southern Florida). I took a day to relax today and look what I did… Oh the new tricks you learn when you are forced to enjoy that precious thing called free time.
Now that Thanksgiving is done (in this time zone at least…), the Christmas season has officially begun. To kick it off, here for your viewing pleasure is a Japanese “band” called U900 performing Sleigh Bells… like you’ve never heard before!
