Awesome things about Japan:
Vending machines with cans of hot coffee (and tea) for 100 yen on every damn corner.
Really starting to love the heated toilet seats...
Combinis (Japanese convenience stores, unlike in the U.S., sell real food)
Not so awesome things about Japan:
Everything is plastic wrapped and plastic wrapped things are wrapped in more plastic.
With everything you buy you get a plastic bag and maybe a paper bag for that bag, and public garbage bags are just about as scarce as vending machines are ubiquitous. I've learned the phrase fukuro kekko desu (No bag, thank you) super well.
Bit of cultural trivia/ Linguistic indication of Japanese working culture -
When leaving work, it's common to say "Osaki ni shitsurei shimasu", meaning, I'm sorry for leaving early (before you). The reply is often "Otsukare sama desu" which translates to "you must be tired", but this can be said when both you and your coworker are leaving at the same time as well.
Wow. It would take me a half hour to say that to all of the people at work when I book out early to avoid traffic.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, where is the blog background photo?
Not sure, actually. I just stole it from a google images search of "Tokyo at night".
ReplyDeleteAlso, you don't have to go say it to everyone, you just say it to those you'd normally say goodbye to. Also, the one that means you must be tired, is used sometimes out of the context of work and where it would seem (if literally translated) out of place. E.g. when I left a fitting room here, the attendant told me otsukare sama desu (you must be tired).