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far away,stand-up noodle shops, writing hiragana
Entry 51 of 74 | show all | print this entry |
One clear-cut reminder that I was far, far away from where I had been in the previous decades was quite obvious on Mother's Day. I stopped off at the Shinagawa train station to have sushi for dinner. Took a small stroll around the station. Saw many beautiful flower arrangements. Thought -- and wanted -- to purchase some for my mother. Then it was confirmed that these flowers cannot be delivered to the United States -- or sent via a flower shop there, a similar arrangement requested to be made and delivered overseas. It was an impromptu wish to send 'em right away, but had to remember that I was thousands of miles away.
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Many aspects of Japanese society are arranged to get this done right away, and for people to move on and keep things going. This is how it's got to be, really.
Too many people in one place would mean it'll always be too crowded.
Examples: At train stations, 1 and 5 yen coins are not accepted to purchase tickets? This saves time for people making the purchase, keeps the lines moving, and speeds up the process of counting all those coins later on for the workers.
Numerous restaurants operated under a speedy mind-set, too. Instead of having waiters or waitresses take orders, there are vending machines near the entrance of eateries. Make your selection and get a ticket. Hand it to the cook or wait staff. Eat, and be on your way. Make room for the next hungry person.
In busy noodle shops, often jam-packed at lunch and dinner hours, there are a few seats, there are also several tables for stand-up only eating. Get your noodles, slurp 'em down and hit the road. Think of it as fast food to the second power. But it makes sense. Japan is crowded. Do what you gotta do, and then let others do the same.
Restaurants and cafes keep this concept evident by not typically offering refills for most drinks. This cuts down on people staying for a long, long time. After all, there are usually plenty of people waiting to take the next available seats.
Another practical way to keep things moving is at grocery stores, where customers pay for there wares and then move over to a nearby counter area to bag their groceries. They are handed bags to put their things in and then be on their way.
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Here's one hint that I've been in Japan for more than a few days now:
I have remembered that in several dreams now I can recall hearing and saying dialogue in Japanese, and images of hiragana writing has appeared as well.
Speaking of hiragana, the syllabic writing style for 46 basic characters, it is improving on a daily basis for me. I've been scribbling these symbols at home, on the train, on lunch break, etc.
Some signs I am able to decipher now the basic meaning, but with kanji (Chinese characters) in the mix, there are many blank spots in my comprehension. Still, it's an ongoing adventure, a satisfying feeling to become more acclimated to a growing number of words around me.
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| 51. | far away,stand-up noodle shops, writing hiragana - Tokyo, Japan May 20, 2007 |
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