P e r a m b u l a r e

Angling for Shade | by Samer Farha

I’ve been here a little over a day, and so it’s time to give my first impressions of this place.

Communication:
The conventional wisdom is that most people here speak English, and you shouldn’t have any problems communicating. I am finding that to be a complete lie. It’s difficult to get directions, information, and especially food. I do understand it’s better in tourist heavy areas, but for dinner on both nights, I’ve had to point to my food in order to get anything. Ordering drinks is even more funny.

Friendliness:
Despite the communication issues, the Japanese are unbelievably friendly. Trying to help you out, pointing out things, and when you let them offer you the best sushi they can make, they delight in it.

Oddness:
If you read about Japan in the West, you often get the impression that this is a truly odd place with strangeness oozing out of every street corner and shop. Maybe that’s not wrong, but I’ve seen very little evidence.

Sure, there’s the toilets that wash your ass for you (I’ve got one in my hotel). And there’s the fact that almost all the women walk around with umbrellas (smart, as it turns out). And you can’t walk on the elegant manicured lawns of the Imperial Palace, and thus you get heat stroke. And, sure, the few dogs I’ve seen have been dressed up (one in a t-shirt, the other in what I can only describe as a clown outfit). But I’ve seen more emo kids from the West here than I’ve seen pachinko parlors, and though I did see a Japanese cowgirl, she didn’t seem out of place.

Climate:
It’s as hot and humid as DC. End of story. Ugh.

That’s it for now. Tomorrow, I am considering going to Mt. Fuji. It’s expensive, and it’s early, so we’ll see if I manage it.