wha??

People watching especially on the trains can be entertaining. Sometimes though I get irritated by the lack of manners some have...

If you ride the train in Japan, one thing you should try to do is keep your packages on your lap or on the rack up above and not on the seat next to you.

Even if you've bought a lot, there are others that probably would like to sit down.

Plus, sitting is safer than standing.

If you ride the train in Japan, please put your "face" on before boarding the train. I know we Americans do this while driving in our cars during morning rush hour, but when you're on public transportation...we're face to face.

Though it is pretty interesting to watch you use 4 different types of mascara during a 15 minute ride and I often wonder how long it will take you to take all the mascara off at the end of the day.

Or the guy who concentrates on zhooshing his hair, which no matter how much he touches it, still looks like he's just woken up.

Sometimes while people watching, you come across some interesting fashion choices...

If you're a guy, I think you should know that M.C. Hammer went out with the 90's....so why would you want to dress like him now??

I just can't understand how comfortable it is to have your crotch hang by your knees.

And even if plaid is in, why would you want to wear all of them together??

Oh and leggings and skirts are apparently in for guys too...

(this skirt photo is from the internet).

While I don't knock men who wear kilts, when your "skirts" are from a shop called "cross gender" but you profess that you aren't...

I caught this guy crossing his legs on the train and could only think of one thing....ow!

People watching....fun, yeah??

culture shock

There are a lot of people in Japan who ride bicycles. I don't because I am afraid I will be run off the road or broadsided by another bicycle or car. (I have actually seen many people broadside or clip each other with their bicycles.) If you've ever ridden a bicycle in the area where I live, you'll realize that there are no road rules.

Walking through the shopping arcade can also be quite scary, people are supposed to get off their bicycles and push it through the arcade, instead, they speed through and think that by clanging their bicycle bells we'll have time to jump aside...just get off your bicycle and push it.

The other night, Satoshi and I were walking before dinner. Most areas in our neighborhood do not have sidewalks, so we have to "share" the road with cars, other pedestrians and bicycles. So, as Satoshi and I walked, a high schooler came behind us on his bicycle. There was lots of space to go around us, but no, he wanted to go straight. So he came really close behind us and clicked his tongue and gave us a "tsk" and a sigh...because we were in HIS way. As he pedalled on, I was yelling at him in Japanese, "Dude, doesn't your bicycle have a bell? I guess you don't have a mouth either." Cowardly, he sped off, looking back every so often. I figured if he came back, I would then yell at him in English.

When I studied here during college many moons ago, I was amazed at how many Japanese said "please", "excuse me", "thank you" and "I'm sorry"....they had manners! Nowadays, I am truly saddened. No one uses their mouth anymore, they just push their way off the trains and buses. No "excuse me" I need to get off the bus, no "I'm sorry" for stepping on your foot, "thank you" for letting me pass...nothing. It is sad that people are in such a rush or involved with text messaging/cell phone/hand held games that they do not have time to at least be civil with each other.

It is also sad that they only think about themselves. Like when riding an escalator, as soon as the person in front gets off, they stop and talk to their friends or just stand there. They don't think that maybe they are in other people's way, that there are others behind them riding the escalator...get off and step away from the escalator...and when you do realize that you are in the way, at least say, "sorry".

Getting on and off the trains are the same way. Once I had to shout and push someone out of the way to get onto the train because as soon as she got onto the train, she stood right in front of the door...move away from the door and move in towards the back of the train car! there are others behind you that want to ride the train too!

This type of attitude is quite a shock for me because growing up, I was often told, "if you want something, ask, you have a mouth". So, I use my mouth to say "I'm sorry" when I bump into someone, or "excuse me" when I want to get past someone, or "thank you" when someone lets me pass.

I could go on and on. I guess I'll just keep using my mouth and hopefully other will catch on and start using their mouths too.