Yesterday I brought you a post about the 10 best things
about living in Japan in 2012…for me.
Today I bring you the 10 worst things about life for me in
Japan in 2012.
As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, this is a tongue-in-cheek (that means humorous) post so if you get upset about it, you have full permission to close this browser window
and never read my blog again! Again…full permission…please…don’t come back!
Ok, now on with the list. 10 Things that didn’t make me very
happy about living in Japan in 2012:
1. Earthquakes: Does anyone really like these things? (That’s a
rhetorical question)
2. Really crowded trains: I have to commute to work and there’s
nothing more disgusting than having to wedge into a train that smells of body
odor and in the mornings, old booze (no matter what day of the week).
3. Expensive beer: It costs a lot of money to buy the stuff at
bars, restaurants and eateries.
4. People who live in tiny apartments yet have large dogs: It’s
pretty common around where I live and it’s just mean. A Golden Retriever or
Siberian Husky is meant to run in wide-open spaces, not live in a one or two
room apartment in a big city. It’s just mean!
5. Subway Restaurants: Nice to have a little taste of home, but
have you had one? They TOTALLY skimp on the meat. MORE MEAT PLEASE!
6. Only one-way to skin a cat: In English, the saying, “There’s
more than one way to skin a cat” of course means that there is always more than
one-way to solve a problem. From my experience, for many in Japan there is only
one way to skin a cat and if that doesn’t work…uh oh! No one seems to know what
to do. Oh yes…they get stressed and panic!
7. Train pervs: So many of them in Japan and they all deserve
to have their groping hands removed with a rusty butter knife!
8. Intentional pigeon-toed walking: A very common thing in Japan.
Many high school aged girls and young women walk very pigeon toed (that’s when
you walk with your toes pointing inwards). It looks strange, awkward and uncoordinated.
Apparently, most do it on purpose because they think it looks cute.
9. YouTube Japan: I’ve been a YouTube partner since the early days.
Once upon a day they supported all partners. Now they tell foreign partners straight
up that they are no longer important…we don’t care about you and will not really
help you!
10. I wasn’t “Lost in Translation”: Suppose I’ve been living in
Asia too long for that. I do at times need a translator though!
You can follow me on Twitter @jlandkev.
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7 comments:
That is an awesome list! Love it! Keep it coming. You are definitely making me want to move back!!
Thanks a lot Andi! I appreciate the comment :)
I always wondered about the weird walking thing. Thanks for that even if it doesn't make sense from my pov. Also Subway here state side is also skimping out on the meat so it probably is just like home.
#6 is definitely the most frustrating for me.
As a male foreigner: What do you do when you're on a train and see a groper groping a woman?
I heard some women confront the groper. However, I thought if a male foreigner got involved the woman might actually feel embarrassed and dislike the chivalry attempt since it's a culture that avoids confrontation.
I can't really agree on all of that.
Earthquakes for example are only a problem when you live in regions that get a lot of earthquakes. I've been in Japan for 5 years and never experienced any that was stronger than 1 or 2 (= couldn't feel them really).
Same for crowded trains. I commute by car (previously by bicycle), I live in the countryside. You only have that problem in bigger citites.
I don't like beer, so that's also not a problem! ;)
Hi,
>Intentional pigeon-toed walking
I think you're right on this one.
Some of you might enjoy for your relaxation a novel located to a large extent in Tokyo.
I am the author of “Simon and Hiroko,” a dramatic love story that has gathered several appreciative reviews and blog interviews.
http://www.amazon.com/Simon-and-Hiroko-ebook/dp/B0092EYSIU
I wish you’d take a stab at it too, as impressions from current residents would be very special for me.
Available from Amazon and Kobo as an e-book.
Murakami lovers might like it.
BTW, I lived two years in Tokyo and I enjoyed the place very much.
Cheers.
Marius Hancu
Montreal
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6472280.Marius_Hancu
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