Things NOT to do in Japan
Days 1488 - 1494
Sunday, April 15 - Saturday, April 21, 2012
Day 1488 ( One Piece Museum )
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Went to Roppongi in Tokyo today to check out this museum that a friend of mine told me about. It is a temporary museum with stuff about my current favourite Japanese animation, One Piece. At this museum, they showed the progress of One piece from its beginnings in 1997 until now. The story gets more and more interesting as time progresses. They also showed us some information about the creator of one piece, Oda Eiichiro as well as random clips from the anime.
After looking around the museum for about 2 hours, I bought some One piece merchandise.
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Day 1489 ( First Day 2012-2013 / Things NOT to do in Japan )
Monday, April 16, 2012
First Day 2012-2013
Today was my first day of work for this school year (2012-2013). I had 5 classes and had to do a speech for coming back. All I said in Japanese was "I am happy about coming to this school again. Please treat me well this year also."
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Things NOT to do in Japan
This list of things NOT to do in Japan is not exhaustive but are simply the ones I can think of now. There are many more taboos.
Don't - Make too much noise in your apartment
I occasionally do this while either talking with friends on the phone or in person. Sometimes while playing Modern Warfare as well. At times I will hear a knock on the wall from the neighbors. This is not good though, because I can get kicked out of your apartment quite easily, especially because I am a foreigner.
To be honest though, foreigners have a nasty reputation where noisy apartments are concerned in Japan.
Don't - Talk on cell phone in trains
This is considered bad manners. Some people still do it but at the risk of people staring them down, whether Japanese or foreigner. This thing has been stomped in my mind so deeply that when I was in Malaysia and Singapore, I didn't even bother to turn on my phone while in the trains. I think this has something to do with the elderly Japanese and their pace makers, and the cell phone possibly can mess up their pace maker.
Don't - Call to "SOME" of your students/team teachers out of work
If you don't want to be embarrassed, then when you see a student/former student and some teachers you know, then just keep your head straight and go about your business. Some will call to you but others.... They will totally ignore you.
This has happened to me quite a few times where your students/former students and some time teachers act like they don't have a clue who you are in the supermarket. Even this morning I saw some of my favourite students from last year (now in Jr. High ), who I would jump around and have fun with, all turning their heads away from me when I tried to wave to them. It of course broke my heart but what to do? This is Japan!! I have to keep reminding myself. Again it is not all of them who are like this, just quite a few.
Don't - Wear your outside shoes, inside someone's apartment/house
Even schools and some other places have special slippers for inside. Other persons have their special inside shoes or slippers. I am not quite sure where this practice came from. I think it has something to do with keeping the inside clean and or respecting the building.
NEVER - Say or hint to Japanese people that they resemble Chinese or Koreans
Even though we still can't really tell them apart, DO NOT under any circumstance even hint to a Japanese that they resemble a Korean or even worst a Chinese. Well that is if you want to be friends with them. Every time I say to a Japanese person that many Japanese think I am African, but we in Jamaica think they are Chinese, the air suddenly becomes uncomfortably silent. A few are open to it but the vast majority aren't.
Don't - try to stop a fight if you happen to see one
If you do, the possibility exist that you and the fighters are going to go to jail. And if you can't speak Japanese, then you are in big trouble.
Try not to leave food in your plates
The custom here is to eat every grain of rice and every piece of vegetable or meat given to you. You are excused only if you are allergic to something or if you indicated earlier that you don't like a particular food.
Don't - Ever Ever Drink and Drive
If you do this you will probably be deported or at least go to jail. If you are lucky, you may get off. There is a 0% tolerance for drinking and driving here, even drinking and riding is a crime.
Don't - stick Chop Sticks in the rice
This indicates that the food is for a dead person.
Don't - pass your food from chop stick to Chop Stick
This is also a funeral custom where cremated bones of a family member are passed down from one person to another using a chop stick.
Don't - Be late
We Jamaicans have a very bad reputation where this is concerned. But in Japan, we have to try our best to be early.. Not even on-time is acceptable. EARLY!!
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Day 1490 ( The Hit list )
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Played some games after work today then watched a movie called the hit list. The story was strange and seemed unlikely. The acting was mediocre to bad. It was also a bit predictable. So I didn't really like it. I give it a 4.5/10. While watching the movie, I was actually rearranging my apartment. I switched where the bed used to be as well as some other stuff.
Maybe the woman below would have been a better actor for the hit list movie.
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Day 1491 ( )
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Spoke with my evening student today mostly about my trip to Malaysia and Singapore.
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Day 1492 ( )
Thursday, April 19, 2012
I was to come on TV today with about 50 other foreigners. But apparently it is next week. I'm still not sure though. I waited up for the show but it was actually 50 famous persons in Japan.
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Day 1493 ( )
Friday, April 20, 2012 ( 4 Years 1 Month )
Had only 4 classes today which ended at about 12. But I stayed until 3 because the principal didn't send me home. After work I again played loads of Modern Warfare.
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Day 1494 ( 2nd Day at the YMCA )
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Today was my second time at the YMCA. The first 2 classes went well but there is a third class with some kids ages 2-3. Oh boy. Those who aren't running all over the place, are crying for their moms who are just outside. This is going to be a challenging one I think...
Sunday, April 15 - Saturday, April 21, 2012
Day 1488 ( One Piece Museum )
Sunday, April 15, 2012
After looking around the museum for about 2 hours, I bought some One piece merchandise.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Day 1489 ( First Day 2012-2013 / Things NOT to do in Japan )
Monday, April 16, 2012
First Day 2012-2013
Today was my first day of work for this school year (2012-2013). I had 5 classes and had to do a speech for coming back. All I said in Japanese was "I am happy about coming to this school again. Please treat me well this year also."
===================
Things NOT to do in Japan
This list of things NOT to do in Japan is not exhaustive but are simply the ones I can think of now. There are many more taboos.
Don't - Make too much noise in your apartment
I occasionally do this while either talking with friends on the phone or in person. Sometimes while playing Modern Warfare as well. At times I will hear a knock on the wall from the neighbors. This is not good though, because I can get kicked out of your apartment quite easily, especially because I am a foreigner.
To be honest though, foreigners have a nasty reputation where noisy apartments are concerned in Japan.
Don't - Talk on cell phone in trains
This is considered bad manners. Some people still do it but at the risk of people staring them down, whether Japanese or foreigner. This thing has been stomped in my mind so deeply that when I was in Malaysia and Singapore, I didn't even bother to turn on my phone while in the trains. I think this has something to do with the elderly Japanese and their pace makers, and the cell phone possibly can mess up their pace maker.
Don't - Call to "SOME" of your students/team teachers out of work
If you don't want to be embarrassed, then when you see a student/former student and some teachers you know, then just keep your head straight and go about your business. Some will call to you but others.... They will totally ignore you.
This has happened to me quite a few times where your students/former students and some time teachers act like they don't have a clue who you are in the supermarket. Even this morning I saw some of my favourite students from last year (now in Jr. High ), who I would jump around and have fun with, all turning their heads away from me when I tried to wave to them. It of course broke my heart but what to do? This is Japan!! I have to keep reminding myself. Again it is not all of them who are like this, just quite a few.
Don't - Wear your outside shoes, inside someone's apartment/house
NEVER - Say or hint to Japanese people that they resemble Chinese or Koreans
Even though we still can't really tell them apart, DO NOT under any circumstance even hint to a Japanese that they resemble a Korean or even worst a Chinese. Well that is if you want to be friends with them. Every time I say to a Japanese person that many Japanese think I am African, but we in Jamaica think they are Chinese, the air suddenly becomes uncomfortably silent. A few are open to it but the vast majority aren't.
Don't - try to stop a fight if you happen to see one
If you do, the possibility exist that you and the fighters are going to go to jail. And if you can't speak Japanese, then you are in big trouble.
The custom here is to eat every grain of rice and every piece of vegetable or meat given to you. You are excused only if you are allergic to something or if you indicated earlier that you don't like a particular food.
Don't - Ever Ever Drink and Drive
If you do this you will probably be deported or at least go to jail. If you are lucky, you may get off. There is a 0% tolerance for drinking and driving here, even drinking and riding is a crime.
Don't - stick Chop Sticks in the rice
This indicates that the food is for a dead person.
Don't - pass your food from chop stick to Chop Stick
This is also a funeral custom where cremated bones of a family member are passed down from one person to another using a chop stick.
Don't - Be late
We Jamaicans have a very bad reputation where this is concerned. But in Japan, we have to try our best to be early.. Not even on-time is acceptable. EARLY!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Day 1490 ( The Hit list )
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Maybe the woman below would have been a better actor for the hit list movie.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Day 1491 ( )
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Spoke with my evening student today mostly about my trip to Malaysia and Singapore.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Day 1492 ( )
Thursday, April 19, 2012
I was to come on TV today with about 50 other foreigners. But apparently it is next week. I'm still not sure though. I waited up for the show but it was actually 50 famous persons in Japan.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Day 1493 ( )
Friday, April 20, 2012 ( 4 Years 1 Month )
Had only 4 classes today which ended at about 12. But I stayed until 3 because the principal didn't send me home. After work I again played loads of Modern Warfare.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Day 1494 ( 2nd Day at the YMCA )
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Today was my second time at the YMCA. The first 2 classes went well but there is a third class with some kids ages 2-3. Oh boy. Those who aren't running all over the place, are crying for their moms who are just outside. This is going to be a challenging one I think...
Comments
Again, i love your blog and give nuff ratings for keeping it going all this time. Feel like me in Japan. You must hear me talk to people about Japan as if me knowledgeable but all my knowledge comes from your experiences.
Corrected the mistake... Rispek again mi bredrin.