Driving

It took a long time, but as you probably can tell...I DID get my driver's license.

A few things that made it painstaking:
Everything about the Japanese driver system is still rooted in the 1950s:

• the building (which is way out in B.F.E.)- over an hour just to get there.
• the SCAN TRON sheet driver test
• the classroom where you take the test (only seats about 10 people - tightly)
• the eye test machine
• the cardboard box with the bell in it that rings when you put your application in (just so they know that someone is actually out there)
• and the FOUR hours it usually takes to have the test given and graded. 

and the list could go on.  But regardless of all this, I finally got my license.  Well, by default actually.
After taking the test twice - I almost gave up.
The test consisted of 10 questions, True and False.  Easy right?...um, NO.
They are trick questions.  If ONE WORD in the sentence is wrong...you are wrong.
Then if you miss 4 questions - you fail.  If you fail, they DO NOT tell you what you got wrong.  They DO NOT let you see your Scan-Tron.  They DO NOT help you - IN ANY WAY.
They let you take the test as many times as you want...but you have to come back on a different day every time and it is about $30 each time you take the test.  And if they decide that they don't want you to pass...you never will.  NO MATTER WHAT.
Lovely.

At the end of my rope - I finally told my husband to ask his company about me having a "International License"...if that would cover me on the insurance. No test, just my U.S. license and a paper from the U.S. saying 'International Driver's License.'
Well, sure-as-hell...they said it was fine.  All that trouble and time - FOR NOTHING.  Dammit.
But it will make for a good story for the rest of my driving life.

So - jump to present day...
The hubby comes home last week and informs me that he needs to take the car to work for its 6 month check-up.  I reluctantly agree to ride my bike again for a day and give up the keys.

Now you might wonder, how come we have a car and my husband doesn't use it to drive to work everyday???
It takes him one hour and 30 minutes to get to work via a bus, then two or three train changes.  A pain is the a$$, I know.
But he kept telling me it takes longer to drive than to take the trains.  I thought - yeah whatever big guy...I would be driving!


So he takes the car for the check-up.  It takes him almost two hours to get to work - in traffic at 7:30 am.
He gets home that night and tells me that he made it home in only ONE hour!
'Wow," I said, "Maybe you should start driving to work" - and then thought better of it because I would have no car anymore.  Luckily he said "nah, takes too long."


The rest of our conversation went like this:

ME:  Why after a full year, when I tell someone you work in Zama (a little town)- every time they go "ooooh"?              So how far away is Zama actually???
HIM:  15 miles.
ME:   Wait. What? 15 miles?
HIM:  Yep.
ME:  and it takes almost TWO HOURS to get there and back EVERYDAY.
HIM:  Yep.
ME:  and even in the car it takes longer to get there?  15 miles?  nooooo.
HIM:  Yep.

I sat there dumbfounded and speechless. I finally understood.  I finally realized that I could probably throw a rock and hit my husband in the head while he was working but it would take him almost two hours to get back here to ask me why I threw the rock.

No wonder he is ready to go home too!
That 45 minute commute to work in the U.S. has never looked so good.

~as I grab the keys and head out to drive on the wrong side of the road and terrorize the locals  !!!  =-)

Enjoy your day,
Deeds





     

Work Ethic

I was talking to my husband the other day and we ended up discussing his work...which is usually not a topic of conversation between us.  I know, strange since we are living in another country specifically for his job! But he has always been the type person to not bring his work home.  And to be honest - I probably wouldn't understand much of what he was trying to explain, him being a Chemical Engineer and all.

So in discussing his "office" and what happens when he is there 16 hours a day, I found out some things the Japanese do that I had no idea:

At lunch time (12 noon) they turn off all the lights in the building.  For one hour. Most eat at their desks and then sleep.  The hubby says you can walk anywhere in the building and there are people everywhere - dead asleep.

Sitting straight up at their desks and some face down on the desks. But most all are asleep.

At 1pm - the lights come back on and all go back to work.

I have heard from many Expats that nothing really gets 'started' until after lunch.  In the States everyone gets to work at the crack-of-dawn to get a jump on the day and hopefully get out of the office before they get caught in traffic. Here they stroll leisurely in at 9 and leave around 9.  I asked my Japanese tutor about this and she said that is the way it is here.  The men are gone all day and the women like it that way.  The women like to get their daily house duties done and then hopefully - go to lunch with friends and talk.  Then the kids get home from school, and the moms make dinner and take care of the kids and wa-la the day is done.  My tutor said the reason the women like the men to be gone is that when they are home - they get in the way.  

This made me laugh.

Here the work day (for most everyone) doesn't begin until 9 or 10 am.  

Most retail stores and restaurants 11 am. 

When we first moved here we were told that "the Japanese work crazy hours" - and they do.  The professionals and factory workers.  

The retail stores are open from 10 am (most 11am) until around 8pm.  The restaurants stay open until 11 or 12.

After the sun goes down here - there really is not a whole lot to do. There is always Tokyo and clubs - but that has never been my destination for two reasons:

1.  Husband at work (till 10 pm every night) and a four-year-old at home, are not real conducive to a jaunt to Tokyo to party.  

2.  Tokyo is about 45 minutes away (by car) - longer by train. After having a few cocktails, you pretty much  want to change your clothes and fall into bed - and an hour ride just to get home...is not fun.  Especially on the train. Especially with a buzz.

If you have ever had a few drinks and gotten woozy just from a car ride home...the train is much worse.  Granted you don't have to drive or worry about any of that, but the stop and go, the constant clack of the tracks, the side-to-side constant motion of the train...

makes for even a seasoned veteran to have flashes of woozy. I found this out the hard way.

This must happen quite a lot here because I was told that they have a term for this: platform pizza.  I know, its gross.  But, as I stated in an earlier blog, here the drunkness is accepted.  Most believe that if you have had too much to drink - you probably had a very hard and stressful day at work and you deserve to be drunk. I guess if I was working 16 hour days - I'd need a drink too.  

What's in a NAME?

• Since we have been trying to get life straight after our long journey back to the States - - I have decided that this post needs to be an easy one and the result is a list:     the names of some of the cars here.  (Since I have been keeping a list now for months - literally, a piece of paper in the glove box).

As you would guess - there are different TYPES of cars all over the world, but I have also learned that some of the same TYPE cars just have different NAMES in different countries.  I guess they sell better?!  In the States people are preferring the numbers & letters while here not so much.  Take a look!

As you will see below...some of the ones here are
ABSOLUTELY HYSTERICAL!
(all of these should probably be prefaced by "THE" - makes it even funnier!)

I have taken the liberty of highlighting MY favorites...

Enjoy ~ ~ ~

MOVE                                                                           CLIPPER RIO
TOYOACE                                                                    HIACE
LA FESTA                                                                     PINO
LEGRAND                                                                    PAJERO
FUGA                                                                           VELLFIRE
STAR                                                                            STREAM
GLORIA                                                                       SUCCEED
HINO                                                                           NV200
AIRWAVE                                                                   SKYLINE
STAGEA                                                                      SUNNY
ELF                                                                                SPACIO (which is SO tiny)
ROYAL SALOON                                                 FUSO
LIFE                                                                               TIIDA
NOTE                                                                            SIENTA
EXPERT                                                                        RACTIE
VOXY                                                                           WINGROAD
RETARDER (no kidding)                                         FIT
FREE                                                                               MARCH
OPA                                                                                CAMI
CHARIOT SUPER EXCEED                                      REGIUS ACE
CEDRIC                                                                     HOMY
SCRUM                                                                      
STARLET TURBO  - This one, I feel I should have been driving in high school!!!

AND THE OVERALL WINNERS:

• HIGH LUXE NAKED
• TOPPO - BJ
• JOY POP TURBO                                       

Ever since I started noticing the different names...I almost break my neck or wreck the car EVERY TIME I am out and about!...as if driving on the wrong side of the road isn't enough for me these days!!!!

Enjoy your day in your JOY POP TURBO!

Deeds

Trying to understand the Japanese

After living here for almost four months now...I still do not fully understand the Japanese culture, nor do I think I ever will.  They are a fascinating people and sometimes frustrating, but all in all - very nice and polite IF you can actually get one of them to speak to you!

I have gathered some things, observations mostly, along with some tips from others Expats who have been here much longer than me.  These have helped immensely in understanding why no one will help you if you fall down or have a problem in public.  Why no one will look you in the eye.  The shyness, drab colored clothing, no talking on the buses or trains, side glances at us Americans (ALWAYS), and the general calm, quiet demeanor of the Japanese people in general...

The Japanese all work very hard at "being average" or futsuu.  No bright colored clothing, no standing out in a crowd or anything that will make them different.  This philosophy comes from a society where 'the nail that sticks up - gets nailed down'. Only when they know someone better will the let a little of their individualism shine through.  The most important thing for them is to not be the annoying nail that sticks up!

Eye Contact is a major issue here.The Japanese think it is impolite to maintain eye contact for long periods of time.  Many avoid eye contact COMPLETELY when they speak to someone new.  Also, you DO NOT make eye contact with strangers!  
I was informed that eye contact between male strangers that lasts longer than five seconds, is like a staring contest between two fighters at the start of a match.

**I was told over the 4th of July holiday by a co-worker of my husband's - who just happens to be on the "buff" side - that he was in a bar recently and a Japanese guy (who was also on the "buff" side) kept watching him every time he went to the restroom.  Well, typical American male, the co-worker finally just turned and walked up to the Japanese gent and asked if there was a problem...
the Japanese man stated that no, there was no problem...he was just wondering if he would like to ARM WRESTLE!!!!!!  Yes, arm wrestle.
So they arm wrestled, in the bar, for the rest of the evening!  My friend said it was about 40 times and finally the Japanese guy gave up - as he never won a match.  Or is it a "bout"?
So point of the story - if there is eye contact being made...something is up!

The Japanese have a very big tolerance for drunken misbehavior.  Now I don't mean drinking and driving - they have a very strict NO TOLERANCE policy here on that.  I am talking about drunken behavior in general.  A lot of Japanese people think that the more stressed you are from overwork, the more drunken misbehavior you are likely to get into.  Hence the photo in one of my albums of the guy laying spread out, completely passed out, in front of a very nice store.  I haven't seen much of that - but it does happen.
I have also heard stories of people going to work in the mornings having to travel through Roppongi (the night club, drinking area close to Yokohama) and many drunks just stumbling out of the bars going home.  Not that I haven't done this in my day - but it seems to be a little more obvious and looked over here.
As I stated before - I have many friends, past and present, that would fit in well here!


Japan itself is a very safe place.  Especially where we live.  My husband told me before we moved that he was seeing little kids, 4,5,6,7 - walking to school by themselves.  And I'm not talking two blocks away.  I'm talking a pretty good distance.  Taking the trains and buses - by themselves!
Now I am all for freedom and teaching your kid to be independent - but this seemed to be pushing it a little to me.
But low and behold, when we got here, and every morning since, I see little kids walking to school by themselves.  Taking the trains and buses, by themselves.  It is actually quite impressive - but no way in hell would I let my little one do that.
But this is all possible because there is hardly any crime here.  Granted there is crime - but not like I would have thought.
We leave our bikes out at night, strollers, etc.  I can walk to the store at any hour of the night and not worry.  Not that it would matter - I am taller than most of the guys here!
For the longest time - the guys would never lock the door when we left the house.  (I finally got my key and started locking it when we leave)  But all in all it is VERY safe.
This, from what I understand, is because the Japanese people are not used to doing what they want to do when they are in public. Example : if someone dropped their wallet - an American (or Gaijin...meaning foreigner) would not hesitate to pick it up.  Either stealing it or taking it to the station head.  But the AVERAGE Japanese person would never touch it.  Much less look at it twice.  Because they are so self-conscious in the 'public eye'.  That is why you can leave your purse, umbrella, back-pack, shopping bags, etc., and most likely it will be there when you realize you've left it and go back!
That is a great thing - especially if any of those contain your money!

I was also told that if you passed out on the sidewalk (I know, sounds strange, but we all know someone who's done it) - that this is when they might be apt to help you...getting your wallet, getting your address, hailing a cab and giving him money (out of YOUR wallet) and sending you on your way. (where was this in my 12th & Porter days??? - we'd have all been set!!!)

The not looking twice is a bad thing - when something bad happens:
My mom falling down in the park, couldn't get up - thought she had broken her leg, my son continuing to run across the street and no one would help mom get up!  A Japanese man walked RIGHT BY HER, literally, and never even looked at her!
A friend was walking with her two children through a busy cross-walk and a boy ran into and OVER her little boy with his bike - in the middle of the street/crosswalk.  Her son is screaming (to the point she thought he'd broken something) and the light is changing, she has her younger daughter in tow and not one of the 25 people walking across the street, in the same direction, helped her!
A neighbor informed me that she was in Homes (the equivalent to a Home Depot here) and her little boy wandered off.  She finally went into a panic and started yelling whatever the words are for son and missing - and no one really even looked at her - much less helped her find her son.
At home there would have been an all points Amber Alert in the store...which is GOOD.

So basically you can do whatever you want - no one will look at you twice.
And while it is very safe - it can also be very scary.  No one really understands you, no one is going to help you and on the off chance they do - - - you thank your lucky stars!

a little disclaimer here:
we have had a few Japanese ask if we needed help finding our train and we had one lovely lady walk us all the way to where we needed to go in one of the larger train stations. But all in all - they keep to themselves, I THINK out of kindness and for your privacy (and theirs).


I just wonder what happens if I ever need an ambulance or need to go to the hospital???

Life Without a Car

I never really thought of myself as someone who had to have a car.  But living where I lived and having a small child...I "had to have a car!"  Add in the job and the trips out of state to see family and its a no brainer.
Once we decided to move to Japan...we sold both cars.  Let me say - a very unsettling thing.

Skip to today ~ living in Japan.
Things here are very different when it comes to transportation.  Consider - there are 127 million people in Japan.  We live in Yokohama, the 2nd largest city in Japan...3.4 million people.  The public transportation system is one of the best in the world, but that still doesn't make it easy to travel.  Actually, it sucks!

When I arrived in Japan, my husband had already been here almost 2 months.  He had already mastered the trains and buses because he had to take them daily for work.  He took me a on a few trips and then handed over some paperwork with bus numbers and schedules. So I pretty much started from scratch - learning without my husband because he works 16 hour days!  Trying to remember what bus goes where and then figuring out the time it will actually come to the bus stop...all the signs are in Japanese and everything is in military time here!  Of course - I am STILL counting from 12 o'clock forward on my hands to figure out what time it is!!!

So, to go anywhere - you have to take a bus (which is usually crowded) and then a train (which is also crowded).  By the time you get ANYWHERE - you are already tired.  It takes at least an hour to get anywhere.
Now throw in a stroller, a bag with extra clothes (while potty training), food and a drink, all for a 3 year-old who has never been on public transportation or shared a vehicle with anyone but his family and his dogs...and you've got a real treat brewing. Not to mention the bags that you have to carry back with you after you have been somewhere and made a purchase.
I must admit - my first MONTH of learning the public transportation system was terrible.  Now picture my son - jumping and grabbing the poles on the train and using them to slide down!  They love us here.

Which brings me to train and bus etiquette: DO NOT LOOK AT ANYONE AND DO NOT SPEAK!
At least that's what all the Japanese do.  We "loud" Americans...well, isn't the train and the bus where you are supposed to shoot the breeze and chit-chat to pass the time? uh, yea.  So needless to say, we get some very curious looks out of the corners of the eyes!
Kidding aside ~ do not look at your neighbor. Pretend there is no one there unless they actually need to scoot out of the seat beside you to get off the bus.  The only time you acknowledge someone else on the bus is if you are trying to give up your seat for a pregnant woman, a child or the elderly. Any other time - its likely you will turn to stone if you look someone in the eye. This is the Japanese way.

You also have to watch out for the elusive 'seat swapper' on the trains.  I read an article in Metropolis Magazine that stated the 'seat swapper' is something of an conundrum here...they are everywhere.  Moving even if no one else is sitting beside them.  Strange - especially after you start noticing how many of them there are.

They also have "pushers" - people hired to get on the buses (and trains) at the busiest times of the day, and push the masses closer together to get as many people on as possible.  They are dressed like any other person - so you can't tell them apart.
In America, it would be considered a safety hazard to have that many people on a bus or train while moving. People standing, people sitting, people crunched together like sardines.  Not fun.
I saw a train last week so packed with people - it looked like a clown car from a cartoon. Heads turned sideways, arms and legs everywhere.  Faces smashed against the glass. No joke.

Another curiosity - everyone sleeps on the trains & buses.  Heads hung, bobbling side to side.  I really don't know quite how they do it.  All the stops and starts. We all know how uncomfortable it is to sleep sitting up.  Much less while moving.
How do they not miss their stop?  Do they not sleep at home?  Is this the dedicated time to sleep?
I ask all this because there really are that many people sleeping on the trains and buses that it warrants investigation.  I'll have to ask my Japanese friend who gets all my elementary questions.

But we ended up getting a car.  Company provided.  The LaFesta!...its a beauty let me tell ya.  It helps for the trips to Costco (yes, they have one here) and for the day trips to places only 30 minutes to an hour away - which would take us 2-3 hours by train.
Beauty aside - the car is a joy.  I never thought I would be so happy to have a car. Now if I can only convince them to give me a Japanese driver's license - I'll be set!