Living in japan
As I told you before I have lived here about 1,2 years and I thick I’m getting the hang on how to live in Japan.
I started fresh as you always do at first in a new country, with kids a eyes looking astonished by all things the wore different, commercial signs the size of building, shop owners screaming from all directions “-Irashaimeseee!” in different ways they seem fit, vending machines where ever when ever you feel like drinking something. And of course the language that was like from another planet with thousand of symbols any ware you look.
I was also quick to learn about the Japanese service and hospitality as I tried to find out ware I lived the first time. I got there but it took a few questions before I got to the right spot. Its not easy to find head or tails from the streets here I can promise you. About the service I can tell you that I never experienced anything like it any ware in the world before, the staff is literally forced to talk to you politely in a way that would make you feel very uncomfortable in your mother tong. And I must say it was strange at first but once you get home to your own country you realize how inefficient and bad service it has (at least Sweden have).
At first In Japan it was all fun fore months Akihabara was my second home when I was not studding Japanese.
Slowly as my Japanese language skill became better I got more confident and started to be able to actually order by not pointing at a picture at the restaurant. It was not painless tough, often you tent to have a accent on your Japanese especially on the English loan words that you thick you pronounce correct but the sound ends completely different, it is times as these you wish the Japanese people at least cold hear what you mean. But noo way some times I think they get so nevus when you order so they forget to rely listen.
Like this one time I wanted to order a “Hotdog” but the staff was so confused even tough I knew my pronunciation in Japanese was not bad. She gave me a coffee..
Perhaps I looked as a coffee type of guy I will never know because I was tired and I did not have the time to take a new order :p it was kind of fun when I told my GF that I met up with 5 min later, she is Japanese so I asked frankly in the same manner -What does “Hoto dogu” mean? -Hotdog of curse! (Hoto dogu , is the Japanese version :p)
What else can I tell you about Japan? Well it’s a very efficient country that have some problems with English I told you. Its also a very cool country high-tech gadgets are every ware but perhaps not so much as you might think with all the rumours going around about Japan. Well the heated and automated toilets are true but when it comes to computers I must say that Japan seems behind Sweden, especially at hardware standards. Ps I’m a geek so my standards are perhaps insane I’m used to all my fiends being able to play top demanding pc games so :p
And yes I know Japan is a console country and at that front I’m not disappointed fore a second.
Well this post is getting to long so time to wrap it up.
Please take all stuff I write with a grain of salt :p I men its very easy to make yourself understood in Japan as well if you know some basic farces like -thank you (arigato) and -excuse me (sumimesen) -this please (kore kudasai)
If you know those farces you can probably live in Japan somehow hehe, body language and pointing is always a life saviour .
