Getting Bitten! (Over and Over Again…)

Hi there! I know my experience it’s quite little, but I’ve been in Japan(Tokyo) for a brief 9-days trip at the end of January, all alone, my first time flying etc etc And it was just amazing! But don’t fall for the “all Japanese people are kind” prejudice. They’re not mean of course, and most of them will gladly help you out finding a place or such, but not so many know English, even if they’re willing to help…
Anyway, on the last few nights I’ve always walked home from downtown to my little hostel up in Taito-ku(I like to walk, definitely), and nothing bad or even scary happened.
Good luck for your teaching experience!

i’ve given into the travel bug bite ages ago. no matter how much i try to itch it, it simply doesn’t go away. so i figure, go with the flow. thanks to it, i get to appease my addiction.
i have to say though, sometimes it is dormant in me. the longest has been two years, but then i’m right back into itching it so fiercely it’s silly to ignore.
The Travel Expert(a) and an Expat with a Twist

Mushi Mushi means “bug bug”. Japanese say moshi moshi on the phone.

To respectfully greet people for the first time, you say “Yo parateh ru”.

Ganbatte!

This morning I started scratching some notes about things done differently in Japan. I’ve lived here probably half my life, so, I’d probably make a lousy Expert on travelling Japan.
Besides driving on the wrong side of the road, we take our shoes off at the door, buy metric dozen eggs (10 in a carton), take a shower before jumping in the bathtub, brush our teeth at the kitchen sink, have arse-washers on the commodes,..etc. I’m in my office and left the damn list at home !

Here’s one for you, though and make sure you don’t forget it; extremely important- Never pass food to someone else and expect them to recieve it, from your chopsticks to theirs. I’d been taught this rule years ago, but never realized how important it was until last year when my mother-in-law passed away. After the cremation everyone, including myself, and even the deceased’s great-grandchildren , picks up the bones with chopsticks (one at a time) and passes them to a priestess’ chopsticks. She then places the bones in an urn. Betcha don;t forget that one !

If you get a chance, see a Bullfight. It’s nothing like what you’d expect. I’d love to see someone do a story comparing a Japanese Bullfight with that of Mexican or Spanish one. By the time you finish your Asian travel, I should have around 100 Okinawan Bullfight pictures left for you to choose from, if you’d like.

Have a fun trip !