Japanese Life is Still Life

And I don't mean that in the artistic sense.  It has occurred to me recently that I've abandoned my initial intent for this blog in the name of trying to connect myself back to American politics.  It felt nice to follow the news and feel that I have a tangible tie to the current American mindset, but the fact of the matter is that I'm an American but I'm simply not living an American life right now.  And, moreover, nobody likely wants to read my singular opinion that just piles on top of the heaps of rhetoric that are around now.  I've got more interesting things to say. 

Recently, I've been experimenting with my new, wonderful video camera.  The HD videos look great, and I am researching the best way to upload these videos for you in a time-efficient way.  This means that the pictures are far fewer than they used to be; I also don't have many photo opportunities that seem worthwhile.  However, I could probably take photos of the street, the gym, or anything to give a general picture of my surroundings, not just the breathtaking sights I visit.  How does that sound?  I can do that.  You can Google beautiful pictures.  But I am the connection you have to everyday life in Kagoshima, so I should help out on that front.

So, though I've been busy at work and the gym lately, I do have some stories to share.  Most of them are quirky facets of everyday life that I forgot to share until now.  First, I find it interesting that almost every Japanese worker immediately brushes his teeth upon finishing lunch.  It's a healthy practice, no doubt, but they tend to do it in a very public way.  For example, the teacher's office here features two communal sinks into which people can spit, and most people will migrate over after sitting at their desks and brushing.  I'm fairly sure that I've spotted a few people who brush without any kind of paste, and one man finishes his session with grotesquely obnoxious hocking.  It's just an odd phenomenon, and a number of people find it strange that I don't brush my teeth.  Difference in everyday life create interesting situations, and for this reason, I have to hope that I am a positive representation of America.  People who know no other Americans tend to assume that I am the apotheosis of the West.  Normal things I do quickly become perceived tokens of American lifestyle, and such perceptions are often reflected back against me.  I have been asked numerous times if I own a gun or if I eat, perhaps, an extra meal to slake my insatiable American appetite.  This last assumption is not entirely unfair; the amount of fluids most people take in is appalling to me.  Westerners, comparatively, drink a ton.

Let's flip it around!  How many of our stereotypes ("images", in the words of Japanese (yes, they use the English)) are typically true?  I won't comment on some of them, but a lot of them hold fairly well.  Are people here typically shorter?  Yes, but not to the extent that they likely used to be.  This may, in part, be due to diet and lifestyle change.  Are they usually thin?  Yes, and this is undoubtedly due to diet and lifestyle.  Are they poor drivers?  This is wholly subjective, but from my perspective, yes.  I have been a licensed driver for only a few months, but there are habits that I spot that are just unsafe; to be fair, being a Japanese driver seems to imply that you are aware of the following threats and take measures to avoid them.  First, stopping on the side of the road to make a phone call, check a map, or just about anything is fine, even if the shoulder on the road is about a foot wide.  If you throw your hazard lights on, you can force drivers behind you to avoid you by driving into oncoming traffic.  Maybe it's better not to drive while on the phone, but it's unsavory to come around a curve and find a truck waiting for you.  This is especially dangerous when, like me, you drive a moped and are required by law to keep within a meter of the shoulder and must make serious effort to avoid the car.  Also, I have had to slam my brakes too many times because a car comes to a sudden stop and turns without using the signal.  Oh well, that's life.

For the most part, the ways in which life is significantly different here are generally pleasant.  People tend to be very kind, and while it is sometimes difficult to interpret people's true intentions or feelings (due to masked language and the antecedent cultural compulsion to avoid confrontation), I feel that these relationships are typically genuine.  People are either impressed, relieved, or appreciative of my ability to communicate in their language, and this makes many people eager to converse.  Everyday interactions are made complex by a delicate interchange of expectations.  Most foreigners in Japan have distinct interest in the country, and the opposite is often true.  I occasionally get what I interpret as xenophobic stares, but there's often a lot going on in people's minds before they open their mouths to speak.  Imagine being in a supermarket and seeing an Asian or Hispanic person who looks terribly confused.  You may feel compelled to help them, but you will probably hesitate and wonder about a possible language barrier.  That feeling is magnified a great deal here.  The Japanese in Tokyo deal with tourists all the time and have no reason to expect that any foreigner will be apt at communicating in Japanese.  In Kyushu, the outsiders are few and far between, so it's a bit more clear why we're here and plausible to assume that we can communicate.  Many people introduce themselves to me and immediately know what my job is solely based on my location in the isolated countryside.  These introductions are not uncommon, as many people are interested in learning a bit about foreign countries.  And I may be one of the few chances they have for learning in a direct way.

There's more to say!  I have more stories and will post the things I think may be interesting.  In the meantime, what do you want?  What do you want to SEE?  What do you want to HEAR?  Stories and pictures are much easier to post if you ask.  See you next time, America.

Chris