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bowing
December 2009 
Part 2 - Impressions of Japan - not being prepared
Posted on Dec 11th, 2008
by 
Nicole
Nicole
Before I go on to talk about more that I saw and did in Japan, I thought I'd step back and talk about the lessons I learned about preparing, by arriving headlong without doing so.
The company sent all of us who were going on the conference a very detailed file full of helpful tips on what to do before going, etiquette tips while there, and useful phrases in Japanese.
Of course, I read it after I was already there.
Exchanging money:
The file explained that it was important to arrive with enough yen to see us through the time we were there as it was difficult to find ATMs that accept foreign cards. I won't tell you how much time my friends and I spent chasing around reinforcing this point, or how many yen I still have because I panicked and overcompensated by getting too much when I finally did gain access to funds.
This process was not helped by the fact that our Canadian dollar, after being very strong much of the year while I was planning the trip, was at rock bottom.
Weather:
It is still autumn in Japan, though winter here in Montreal, so because I did not pay attention to this, I spent a lot of my time there galumphing about overly warm in my fuzzy winter boots, and a heavy coat. The coat did come in handy at times, though, as I chill easily. I even needed my gloves one cool day.
Etiquette and using chopsticks:
I have managed to get this far in life without any discernable proficiency in the use of chopsticks. Too bad, since for many meals these were the only utensils available. We ate at a number of authentic Japanese places, and at one, besides being hilarious inept at using the chopsticks in spite of the best of help from my friends, I made the mistake of leaving the chopsticks sticking upright in my bowl of rice for a while. Apparently this is a big no-no.
One is also supposed to eat everything, down to the last grain. As usual, I left too much food, spectacularly at two meals - one, where I started to crack what I thought was a hard-boiled egg and found it was raw, and another where I ordered what I hoped was a vegetarian meal and it was covered in greasy pork.
(Being a vegetarian is difficult in Japan, even for the initiated. I spoke to one of my friends later in the trip about it. He had lived there for 10 years, and confided that he had had to go back to eating meat, though he began as a strict vegan at first, because it was just so difficult. Staff tried hard to help me at restaurants, and were very kind, polite and helpful as always, but I was chagrined by their perplexed looks and consternation as they racked their brains trying to think of menu items that might work.)
There is a lot of etiquette around bowing of course, too, and I'm quite sure that in spite of my best efforts I did not do well in that regard either. I just couldn't stay focussed enough to bow to everyone who bowed to me, and I'm not sure I bowed the right way.
I didn't manage to master the full thanks, and used the informal "arigato" most of the time when it would have shown more respect to do otherwise.
No camera, no watch, no...
As I mentioned in my last blog, not having my Blackberry meant I didn't take any pictures, but more importantly, I rarely knew what time it was, and it often mattered, so I was always asking someone. I could have bought a watch early in the trip, had I felt more comfortable about the cash I had on hand. Instead, I ended up buying the watch, which was my gift from Japan for my youngest, at the airport on my way home.
The result?
Well, the result was that I felt a little off-balance the whole time I was there, which tinged the whole experience with a certain dizzyness and feeling of uncertainty.
Live and learn, eh?
The company sent all of us who were going on the conference a very detailed file full of helpful tips on what to do before going, etiquette tips while there, and useful phrases in Japanese.
Of course, I read it after I was already there.
Exchanging money:
The file explained that it was important to arrive with enough yen to see us through the time we were there as it was difficult to find ATMs that accept foreign cards. I won't tell you how much time my friends and I spent chasing around reinforcing this point, or how many yen I still have because I panicked and overcompensated by getting too much when I finally did gain access to funds.
This process was not helped by the fact that our Canadian dollar, after being very strong much of the year while I was planning the trip, was at rock bottom.
Weather:
It is still autumn in Japan, though winter here in Montreal, so because I did not pay attention to this, I spent a lot of my time there galumphing about overly warm in my fuzzy winter boots, and a heavy coat. The coat did come in handy at times, though, as I chill easily. I even needed my gloves one cool day.
Etiquette and using chopsticks:
I have managed to get this far in life without any discernable proficiency in the use of chopsticks. Too bad, since for many meals these were the only utensils available. We ate at a number of authentic Japanese places, and at one, besides being hilarious inept at using the chopsticks in spite of the best of help from my friends, I made the mistake of leaving the chopsticks sticking upright in my bowl of rice for a while. Apparently this is a big no-no.
One is also supposed to eat everything, down to the last grain. As usual, I left too much food, spectacularly at two meals - one, where I started to crack what I thought was a hard-boiled egg and found it was raw, and another where I ordered what I hoped was a vegetarian meal and it was covered in greasy pork.
(Being a vegetarian is difficult in Japan, even for the initiated. I spoke to one of my friends later in the trip about it. He had lived there for 10 years, and confided that he had had to go back to eating meat, though he began as a strict vegan at first, because it was just so difficult. Staff tried hard to help me at restaurants, and were very kind, polite and helpful as always, but I was chagrined by their perplexed looks and consternation as they racked their brains trying to think of menu items that might work.)
There is a lot of etiquette around bowing of course, too, and I'm quite sure that in spite of my best efforts I did not do well in that regard either. I just couldn't stay focussed enough to bow to everyone who bowed to me, and I'm not sure I bowed the right way.
I didn't manage to master the full thanks, and used the informal "arigato" most of the time when it would have shown more respect to do otherwise.
No camera, no watch, no...
As I mentioned in my last blog, not having my Blackberry meant I didn't take any pictures, but more importantly, I rarely knew what time it was, and it often mattered, so I was always asking someone. I could have bought a watch early in the trip, had I felt more comfortable about the cash I had on hand. Instead, I ended up buying the watch, which was my gift from Japan for my youngest, at the airport on my way home.
The result?
Well, the result was that I felt a little off-balance the whole time I was there, which tinged the whole experience with a certain dizzyness and feeling of uncertainty.
Live and learn, eh?
Access: Public
that’s a very kewl trip –
Did you find out if the japanese really have a fascination with the paranormal? Also I heard that the eastern world ( including china) doesn’t have a concept for our { yes / no } conversation style. everything in america is either one or the other loosely based in our ownership of everything.
I didn’t see much about the paranormal but I wouldn’t be a bit surprised. I’m planning a blog about the whole area of religion and superstition in Japan so that would be a good thing to look into while preparing that one.
Conversations are very different in the East, true. So many totally different presuppositions including what you mention about ownership.
I enjoyed the noodles more than anything else when I visited there and China.
Fried Noodles are unknown in the States, and It’s kewl that you can slurp ‘em up.
I refuse to eat oriental food without chop sticks.
The noodles were wonderful. I discovered that one of the most economical ways to eat in Tokyo is at the noodle shops. They have these huge machines, like vending machines, where you choose what meal you want and pay for it, and in a surprisingly short time you pick up your order from the counter and eat your fill. Delicious, satisfying and only a few hundred yen!
You’ll have to teach me how to use chopsticks, you must be quite the expert.
Chopsticks are actually easier than western implements once you get past that initial oddness of pinching your food with sticks. Only takes a little bit of practice, honestly. At some point I decided to learn to use western flatware euro style, fork in left hand tines down, and it was much much harder than learning to use chopsticks.
I’m so envious of you and your trip. I’ve had a lifelong obsession with Japanese culture although they would never want me there, as I’m quite unruly and also far too tall. But I love it just the same. I used to wrap all gifts according to the rules for japanese giftwrapping and it made my life very complicated and then I just got over it and started handing people their stuff in a sack. Much simpler, really. Maybe I should also just eat with my fingers more often.
One day, I hope to experience the ease of using them the way you describe. Give me tines down fork use any day :) No, scratch that, sounds just as challenging at least. I’ll have to try it to be sure.
Gift bags were a great invention, IMO, I was always hopeless at wrapping gifts.
Speaking of complicated and Japanese folding, did you ever get into origami? One of the people traveling with me was very much involved in his local origami society, in New Jersey, and was keen to find out where the corresponding one was in Tokyo. I don’t know if he ever did find out…
You should go to Japan sometime, Tink. Tall? Unruly? You couldn’t be more disruptive than we were! One morning when we were eating at a McDonalds (yes, I know, it was just a lot easier than anything else and we were tired), I became painfully aware of the fact that everyone else in there was quietly and unobstrusively eating their meal and reading a paper, while we were loudly talking and laughing. Yet no one stared or indicated in any way that we were being annoying. They are so uber polite!
Yes, I love origami, turned my son on to it when he was small and he still loves it also. Think of Japanese giftwrap as origami with an object stuck inside and with additional rules about what’s appropriate. There’s nothing in between that and a sack for me. Unless maybe I just thrust naked gifts into people’s hands directly.
And, oh my, you don’t know how disruptive I can be. I managed to be disruptive in southern california. Just think what I could accomplish in Japan. But I’m sure everyone would try hard not to be obvious about staring.
wow! Japanese giftwrap sounds very very complicated indeed. my strategy of late (feeling I couldn’t just thrust naked gifts into people’s hands) has been to gift people by giving to charities. But my kids still get gifts, in gift bags :)
so, you managed to be disruptive in Southern California. That is a feat of monumental proportions, I’ve been to So Cal, and have heard stories from my friends who live there. I will need details sometime about how you do that!
You see? With that kind of talent, Japan really needs you! :)
Oh, gotta velcro myself outta here, nearly time for work… sigh
Wassup Wasabi what’s work ?? :-)
Beautiful description and writing Nicole. I read it, read it again, and savored it. I would like to experience that dizziness and disorientation. I so love new cultures.
Thank you for writing this!
Ben
Lars, I hate to break it to you but -
work (noun) - a place where many of us go to earn money to pay for things, like internet time so we can hang around for hours in our free time on Gaia :)
That’s quite a video. You manage to find such hilarious ones!
Zennie, here, you take the dizziness and disorientation - you are amazing to want to have them! So, speaking of travel, any luck getting to Montreal in January? Is it exotic enough here? It sure is cold this time of year, hope that you pack your earmuffs and warm gloves if you do manage it!
Love you both, lots and lots!
Nic, me again!
As a fellow traveler I have only recently, in my opinion, got my priorities right with respect to proper planning. Now I travel ‘light’ just about everywhere and overpack with currency so I don’t disturb my flow with finding things on arrival. Culture shock and integration are the fulltime job in a new location. I also check the weather closely days before I travel. Coming from tropical locations, I have to mentally prepare for temperature shocks even as I am on the plane, which hits quite low temperatures at high elevations, most noted especially outside the tropics.
Preparation is, like you’ve shown, absolutely critical or you miss so much of the good stuff of a destination!
Nonetheless, I have a good feeling that you have retained unconsciously some important impressions which will show their value to you more and more over time. I look forward to hearing more of it as you go on!
Blessings and sincere regards,
Sherri
That’s excellent, Sherri.
Speaking of traveling light, some of my friends discovered firsthand how really really awkward it can be to pack too much when you’re traveling around on bullet trains and underground trains…
These stories are just fascinating! It is amazing how much is involved in other cultures - that we even take for granted - like the politeness and respect of a bow or a utensil form!
What a learning experience it must have been - I hope to read more!
*Hugs*
Wow, fascinating trip. I have always dreamed of going to Japan, to see the the cherry blossoms, and experience their way of life. I have a dear friend from Kyoto. She is a nutritionist, and doctor of oriental medicine. The Japanese are very healthy, mainly because of all the sea vegetables they consume. The American diet has a lot of processed soy, and people do not eat nori and other sea vegetables to counter balance the biochemistry. Soy can inhibit thyroid function, and must be combined with seaweed which enhances its function…or obesity.
In North America we are not even one of the 30 healthiest countries.
Thanks for sharing your experiences Nicole :)
Hugs,
J
Yes, obesity - almost totally unheard of there, and yet here in North America so many of us are overweight. That was another difference of which I was very aware as we moved around in our group, how heavy we all were, except for those of us of Australia or Asian background. It’s a huge problem.
Very good descriptions of your trip, Nicole.I was particularly drawn to the your descriptions of uncertainty and being off balance. I imagine this would be the same for all of usdeeply interacting with a different culture and I suppose it highlights our cultural conditioning.
Maybe we should be prepared to be unprepared or work to attain a certainty of our uncertainty? LOL.
Maybe we should seek to be thrown off balance more oftenand learn to enjoy the dizziness?
It seems we do tend to work hard at preparing forour predictions of what life will bring. I have been wondering if this in some way obstructs what life CAN give. Maybe we need to discard preparation altogether?
Greatdescription of your trip!(glad to have you back, though!)
Peace Angel,
mikeS
I agree with you completely that we should be prepared to be unprepared in some ways - and that was the part of my trip that I did feel ready for, to meet a new culture, and enjoyed the unexpected very much.
I think, though, that I could have been more open to the newness had I not been distracted by simple practical details of unpreparedness. As in so many aspects of life, it’s a juggling act, isn’t it?
Thanks for dropping in on my blog, Mike, it’s always great hearing from you.
Japan is filled with energy.Visiting Japan and spending sometime in the culture is a life-changing experience. I know its has a special meaning to you now. Thanks for sharing Nicole.
Love,
Hal
Thank you so much, Hal!
Ok, now I feel for you being “getting cold” easily and remembered our jaunt to Golden Gate Bridge. LOL
I imagined Japan to have lots of vegetarian cuisine, I am wrong. Thank you for all this culture explorations. How about a travelogue? You can write all your experiences in a book. Just give me a good writeup for my part. hehehe : )
S
Oh, yes, Samme, you remember me shivering so much, and it was summer! LOL! Thanks for stopping by! Hugs!