Japanese Potpourri

Our first 6 days in Japan have been a whirlwind, to say the least. We're enrolled in a week long AOB-ICR class, which stands for Area Orientation Brief - Inter-Cultural Relations class. Between our personal experiences and our classes, we've already learned quite a bit about our new home country:
 

• Kamikaze pilots flew from NAF ("naval air field" aka "the base") Atsugi in WWII. They were all young because older men had already died in the war. It was a desired position because dying for Japan was considered honorable and returning home an embarrassment.

• Skype works here!

Even Sierra is on board with our new methods of communication!

• General Douglas MacArthur landed at NAF Atsugi at the end of WWII. He took action to save and preserve the Samurai training building which is now the base's chapel.

• The Japanese people keep to themselves out of respect, which is often confused with being standoffish by Americans.

 

• Japanese people are extremely patient and have no problem standing in line for hours.

• Quote of the week: "Using a Japanese toilet is like joining NASA." - Justus

"NASA" toilet, complete with heated seat!

• Japanese people are cautious about hurting others' feelings and will "beat around the bush" and lead with reasons before reaching a conclusion in conversation. Americans tend to get to the point and then defend it with reasons.

• Typical Japanese ovens are extremely tiny and fit about one fish (which is causing some minor issues during our house hunting).

Yes, that envelope-sized rectangle beneath the stove is the oven.

• The Japanese people are very courteous and honest. The commanding officer of the base presented in our class and said it would be totally normal for a local to find your wallet in a taxi and stand outside the base gate in order to return it to you. (Unfortunately no one has returned John's glove, which he did in fact leave in a taxi.)

• Japan is extremely safe and children ride the trains by themselves to school when they are in Kindergarten. There are many children out and about, unattended by adults.

• The public transportation system in Japan is sprawling, but we're told we'll become experts and we can go anywhere by train.

• Japan is 99% Japanese. (Haha, we're finally in "the 1%").

• 1% of Japan is Christian. Most of the country practices Buddhism (worship of ancestors) and Shintoism (worship of nature).

• Japan is about 5% the size of the USA but has about 50% of its population, all of whom occupy only 15% of the island nation's land. Bottom line...high population density, especially in Tokyo and the surrounding areas. (In fact, we now live in the most densely populated 30 miles in the world!)

• Evidently John has an ear for languages. Jennifer will be buying index cards for flash cards tomorrow.

Ok, that is all from us today. Class field trip tomorrow :-)!