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So it's been only 3 days since I've been back and I'm already wishing that I was back there. Now I am not sure if it is because I really missed or liked Japan or just the fact that I was away from everything and in a different place??? Which ever it is, I wish I were still there. I was much more carefree and open to the world around me. My hearing was tuned into everything and I notice the smallest little things that was going on around me. What is it that happens to us that makes us get so settled into our lifestyles. I know that there must be stability in everything... you have to have a job that will sustain yourself, you have to have a place or city to call home, you have to have responsibility. Does this mean that you have to become a lemming and just be sick of everything that you do and wish that you were somewhere else. Why can we be as alert at home as we are on Vacation. Why cant everyday feel like laying on the beach sipping pina coladas.

I must admit, Japan was a very different culture than what we are used to here in North America. I still not used to some of the changes yet. Things that were interesting...

1. You get greeted and thanked at lease 10 times in every store you go into. The second you walk into a store everyone that sees you screams out a greeting... and when you leave, you get a "good bye and thank you" from everyone. Tipping is not standard in Japan and is sometime considered Rude. No tipping and great service.... hmmmm

2. The Japanese love western culture. Everything about it. They have their Hip Hoppers, grunge, punk, ravers, Latino look-a-likes, ballers, bad asses... every type of person you can find here, they have there. The only difference is that I think it is just a look for them and not a true lifestyle. They still have there Japanese culture in them but have this crazy look that they pull off. Another sign of this is in music. They love Western or European Music. I barely heard any of the Local Japanese Pop, or J-pop. It's always weird going into Wendy's and hearing Snoop Dogg playing.

3. Honor is top priority. It's funny to see how many people leave their bicycles unlocked there. Japan is such a honor based society that much of what they do has to measure up to some particular bar or they will find it dis-honorable. You can see it in everything that is there. There are ghetto's and bad neighborhood but you never really feel threatened to walk down a dark alley at night. I guess mugging is really shameful for the person doing it.... not to say that it never happens...

4. Trains are amazing. The rail system in all of Japan is great. You can actually set the time of you watch to exactly when a train is arriving or leaving. They have so many in each city. It gets really confusing which one you have to take because it looks like a big spider web. They also have to Bullet trains that go as fast as plane. You feel like you are about to take off.

babbing too much........