My first impressions

This country is amazing so far! My first impression of the Japanese people came the minute I landed in Tokyo. Every employee in that airport recognized the fact that I probably won't know any Japanese so they would approach me and, with broken English, offer assistance. Could any of you see an American gladly offering help to a Japanese visitor, or any other visitor for that case? Negatory. Everyone is extremely polite and Fukuoka is spotless! If someone walks by trash on the floor (which is rare) they pick it up whether it is theirs or not. Kids look at you like you're an alien, or Godzilla.

Every road is a toll road with a fee of 600 yen, about $5.50. A country of many smokers and not a single butt on the floor. Men in collared shirts walk the streets sweeping and cleaning gutters. Everyone, I mean almost everyone, rides bikes! There are parking lots just for bicycles and they are PACKED with them. None of them locked to a pole - very trusting people. It's hard to find trashcans around the city, and when you do there are different types because they are big on recycling here. Vending machines are everywhere. There are no paper towels in restrooms (you call them toilets here). Speaking of toilets, there are not many "Western" style ones. Most of them are squatters if you catch my drift. But there are urinals, so that's sweet. Then again, us guys can go anywhere.

Bikes everywhere!

There's the toilets for you, ladies. Not sure if Asian women are as attractive to you guys anymore imagining them using these. Or maybe they're more attractive - whatever floats your boat, sickies.



The vending machines are everywhere. Even ones that sell cigs. Middle of parking lots, sidewalks in neighborhoods, even in the prostitution houses (uh, some guy told me), kidding of course.

Everyone bows to you, and every employee is a model employee. There is NO TIPPING! No one will accept it and some people say it's almost an insult to even try. Like I said about model employees, they are better servers and more polite than any of us without working for tips! Same with cab drivers, no tipping and they'll stop on a dime to pick you up. The taxis are cool, the driver has a lever like a bus driver that opens your door for you and closes it. The cab drivers also dress like chauffeurs, complete with hat and gloves. All the cars are cool out here actually, we need these cars in America, though I have seen one Bentley, a Chevy Tahoe, a convertable low rider out of a Dr. Dre music video, and a Maserati. I have learned very little basic Japanese phrases already so that I can order food or pay for merchandise. I'm sure I'll learn a lot more in these next two weeks. I also have a cell phone that has three translators in the phone book that will help if I get stuck or lost somewhere.

This country is very green; trees everywhere, but it's hotter than shit. Humidity is through the roof and it rains whenever the hell it wants to for a minute or an hour. There is a cloud cover almost all the time and I have used my sunglasses only once. My parents are out here with me for three more days so we'll do some sight seeing together. I'm taking these first days to adjust to everything, and it's going well so far.

P.S. Everyone is an excellent driver out here! Who would of thought that? Ignore the sterotype.