A lot of people have been asking me, "so, what is Japan like?" Well, I could answer in a number of different ways here. Tokyo is the biggest metropolis in the world with almost 40 million people living here. So we are acclimating to "Big City" life for one. We walk and take public transportation everywhere, mostly because parking is such a hassle! I also must go grocery shopping at least every other day or so because I can usually only carry two heavy grocery bags full home with me. Gone are the days of shopping for the week in the "big city" of Denver, or going to Target and/or Costco and filling the back of the Jeep with a month supply or toilet paper, paper towels and diapers. I think I was a City Girl in a past life though because I actually really enjoy this change! I like going to the store and buying what looks good and going home and cooking it for dinner.
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| Fancy toilet buttons. Oh, and TWO toilet paper rolls! |
Here are a few other differences about Japan that I find to be fun and maybe even a little quirky. The first one, are the toilets. The toilets, you say? Oh yes, they are serious about their toilets here. They are so fancy! They are like regular toilets but have a thing called a Washlet on them that makes it so you can be sprayed when you're done going, if you'd like, and also so they flush automatically. Oh, and would you like a booty massage while doing your business? That's only a push of a button away. These buttons are not recommended to be utilized by children. Jackson was ah, surprised to say the least, when he got water sprayed on his little booty by accident! One time was all it took though - he hasn't touched the buttons since.
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| Just a neighborhood vending machine |
The second, are the vending machines. These bad boys come about 6 or 8 to a city block and can provide you with a refreshing soda, energy drink, cold coffee, fruit juice blend or even beer. Yes, Joe likes to enjoy a beer on his walk home from work once and a while. The idea though is to drink your beverage of choice while standing near to the machine and then throw the bottle or can in the garbage can next to it. The cans have holes specifically designed just for these objects so that they don't overflow with household garbage and also so they can be appropriately recycled. How is Tokyo so clean when there aren't any garbage cans anywhere? I'm still wondering the same thing, actually...
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| This one is a touch screen! |
Which leads me to the third fun fact, the recycling. This doesn't seem like it would be such a big change as we recycled in Colorado, but you have to recycle
everything here. We have four, yes, four separate garbage cans in our kitchen to separate our combustible garbage (garbage that can be burned like, food waste, paper, and diapers (gross, I know), recyclable plastics including plastic wraps, bags and trays, plastic bottles, aluminum cans and other metals, glass and even clothing! I know Joe and I have asked each other many times, "What kind of garbage is this?" This is still going to take some getting used to.
The fourth major change is that they drive on the lefthand side of the road. I say major because even though I'm not driving here, it can really throw you for a loop when the bus or taxi driving makes a right hand turn! Whoa! Because they drive on the left here, everyone also walks on the left. My instinct is to keep to the right because we are usually the slow ones and so that people can pass, but this is wrong! We have learned quickly to keep left!
We experienced our first earthquake on Monday morning... Boy, was that a weird feeling! It was the first of many though, we are sure of that! Oh, and I unknowingly bought scented toilet paper the other day. I was not expecting that!
Until next time,
Thank you so much for reading. I love you.
XOL
