Things That Make You Go Hmmmm.....

Living in a foreign country makes you very observant because you want to learn as much as you can about the culture. As much as we've learned in the short time we've been in Japan, some things just don't make sense to us Americans. Take for instance the bicycle...

* It's no secret that throughout Asia the bicycle is very popular as a means for transportation, not recreation. They've got all kinds of gadgets for the bicycle; bells so they don't run into people on the sidewalks, lights that generate electricity from pedaling, big baskets on the front to hold they're daily groceries. In Japan they even have rules for riding a bicycle posted in their testing booklet for getting a drivers license. One of those rules is to NOT ride your bicycle while holding an umbrella. Although, we've seen people riding a bike, holding an umbrella, and texting on their cell phone! As important as the bicycle is we just can't figure out why almost all of them in Japan look like they're from the 1950's! Hmmm....

* No central heating or air conditioning in most homes in Japan. Instead, electric rugs and blankets seem to be popular in the winter. Almost every home has at least one or two electric air conditioning units that can also be used as a heater, depending on how many rooms there are. Yet, it's still cold or hot between the rooms. A kind of Kerosene heat is also popular in the winter, if the smell doesn't kill you. And what really makes you stop and think is the fact that building insulation is almost non-existent, at least in the south part of Japan. We just aren't sure they're saving the money and energy that they think they are by not using central heating/air and insulation. Hmmm...

* Dish washing machines are NOT a hot item in Japan, but dish dryers ARE! Here's a counter top dish dryer.

* Most Americans think "green tea" when they are thinking about Japan. Even though having "tea time" is a social event after some kind of gathering, coffee is often served more than tea. But the name "tea time" hasn't changed. So don't be confused when visiting Japan and join in on a "tea time" without tea. In fact, we've become quite the coffee drinkers living here. FYI there's no decaf coffee to be found! Hmmm...

* In the kitchen of our church someone brought some big glasses that have been labeled "American size." One of the first Sundays we were in Japan Nick reached for one of them to drink out of. A church member made a strange face and said that she thought that the glass was actually a flower vase! The phenomenon is that you can never go thirsty in Japan because there is a vending machine on every corner. However, when you sit down to a meal everyone has to keep refilling their glass because it's so small! Hmmm...

* Speaking of vending machines. There are all kinds of them here. You can everything from hot/cold drinks to ice cream to cooked food to cigarettes to beer. I'd never heard of a public beer or cigarette vending machines before. The age for drinking and smoking is 18+ in Japan. Of course, there is a warning sign posting the age for buying them. I'm thinking...whose gonna stop them! We have heard that there are new ones coming out that check ID. Here's some pictures of just a few kinds of vending machines in Japan. I've heard there is now a human vending machine. I wondering what the purpose of this one is? Hmmm....

Beer Vending Machine

Cigarette Vending Machine

Fresh Egg Vending Machine

Fortune Vending Machine

Tennis Shoe Vending Machine

* The speed limit for side roads here is set at 40-50kilometers/hour or (25-30miles/hour). But, it seems that no follows it b/c if you speed the cops don't chase you down. Instead they set up certain spots that everyone can see then wave your car over and write you a ticket. Sometimes they clock your speed and other times they don't. I guess they just assume you're speeding b/c the speed limit is so slow. Another interesting driving tip to know about is the "red light." When the light turns red it's more like a suggestion. Almost every time we've seen 3+ cars continue driving through the obviously red light! You just have to keep a good watch and make sure everyone is finished driving through before you drive into traffic! Hmmm...

This list of things could go on and on... We just wanted to share a few things that we wonder about in the culture here!