One of the great benefits of studying abroad is that it provides a more enlightened perspective on which to view the world. Etics, such as the need to eat, drink, and sleep certainly happen in every culture, but it may be naive to think that any activities beyond that aren't influenced by culture. My experience studying in Japan this semester is constantly challenging that which I once held to be universal truths.
Only now am I realizing how much my outlook on life is truly shaped by American culture. One interesting example of this is the "animal noises" in Japan. Previously, I assumed that all frogs went ribbit, all cats went meow, and all sheeps went baah, etc. Little did I know, that intercultural communication in Japan extends to animals as well.
Ex:
Dogs say "wan wan"
Horses say "hihiin"
Pigs say "buu buu"?
And perhaps the funniest one, frogs say "gero gero"
The following link has a list of some other Japanese sounds..
www.sljfaq.org/afaq/animal-noises.html
Monday, October 26, 2009
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Strange Things Seen in Japan
These are just a few photos taken from my phone that give an idea of the strange things a visitor to Japan will encounter on a daily basis. I would love to have been in the corporate boardroom when some of these ideas were being pitched..
This a notebook I bought from the bookstore on campus. In case you can't read the type it says, "College Plus for all sensuous people line :B. Authentic Necessaries for official and personal life scene."
Believe it or not, this is a package for condoms. Apparently this has helped sales..
This was on sale at the 7-11. "Excuse me, can you tell me where the bathroom is?" "Ya, just go past the malicious weaponry isle and turn left.."
Mm.. American cola, wish we had this back home
This a notebook I bought from the bookstore on campus. In case you can't read the type it says, "College Plus for all sensuous people line :B. Authentic Necessaries for official and personal life scene."
Believe it or not, this is a package for condoms. Apparently this has helped sales..
This was on sale at the 7-11. "Excuse me, can you tell me where the bathroom is?" "Ya, just go past the malicious weaponry isle and turn left.."
Mm.. American cola, wish we had this back homeMonday, October 5, 2009
Devin's Osusume (Recommendations for places to go in Japan)
Even though I have only been on this island for a month I have already amassed a fair bit of travel under my belt. The following pictures were taken at some of my favorite touristy and not-so-touristy places in Japan. So if you are brainstorming for travel destinations in Nihon, you might want to check some of these places out..
The Kamo River area is one of the most popular nightlife spots in Kyoto. On one side you have Pontocho Street, which is bar after bar after over looking the river and on the other side is the infamous Gion which is famous for nightlife in its own right..
Another obvious but necessary tourist destination is the infamous Kinkakuji, aka the Golden Pavilion.
If you can successfully make it past the thresholds of hungry deer in Nara, you might find yourself at one of the largest wooden buildings in the world, which also happens to be home to one of the biggest Bhuddas..
Round 1 Entertainment Center- Hirakata, Osaka, Japan
This place had literally every form of cheap amusement that you could fit under one roof, including; video games, billiards, ping pong, fishing (yes, fishing), shooting range, basketball, batting cage, tennis court, soccer court, badminton, roller skating, karoake, massage chairs, and my personal favorite.. mini-motorcycle races..
The Kamo River area is one of the most popular nightlife spots in Kyoto. On one side you have Pontocho Street, which is bar after bar after over looking the river and on the other side is the infamous Gion which is famous for nightlife in its own right..Another obvious but necessary tourist destination is the infamous Kinkakuji, aka the Golden Pavilion.
Beautiful yes, a little wasteful.. maybe.
If you can successfully make it past the thresholds of hungry deer in Nara, you might find yourself at one of the largest wooden buildings in the world, which also happens to be home to one of the biggest Bhuddas..
Koshien Stadium, Japan's most historic ballpark and home to the Hanshin Tigers, is a great place to watch baseball, down a few asahis, and let loose for a while.
Although a sobering experience, I highly recommend visiting Hiroshima to see the Peace Memorial Museum and the A-bomb Dome.
"Those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it."
-George Santayana
This link connects to the album I made of my first week traveling around Japan.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
