Oh beans... I'll have to watch my grammar... being hyped up on sugar isn't the best of states, methinks...


In any case...

I'm pretty sure I'll be traveling a good deal since I'm going with my cousin.

In terms of home, I mean home-home. Home-here.

And... that another stake to the heart. Seriously... people like taking shots at my ego, as of late...

I didn't know that we have a particular way of walking, though? Clothing-wise... I'm rather plain... I doubt I can be identified as much? And, the hair... it's... straight and long, and dark brown...? I think I'll be able to blend in...

Check out these cook books. They are pretty good:

VERTICAL

I hope I didn't take a shot at your ego.

Yes, westerners have a particular way of walking. It is different from how Japanese (or at least urban dwellers) walk.

Your hair is down to your rear, right? And your clothes may be plain, but they will be different. Not that there is anything wrong with that.

Japan as a country is roughly a good way to being half the size of Europe. It's maybe small compared to China, but it's still big, and considering you're only going for 2 weeks or so, disorganised traveling will eat up all your time and waste it.

My Canadian friends survived and they were all from Calgary. You'll be fine.

BZZT. Wrong! There are lots! Look around in big bookstores in Tokyo or Kyoto and there'll be at least a handful of translated books; some are even dual language. I bought several while I was in Japan.

It's more common than you might find somewhere landlocked, but it's by no means unavoidable, unless you're actually full on allergic when you might have more issue with trace seafood. Contrary to popular believe, some japanese people hate seafood too, and they survive just fine.

Sweet, English cook books (hopefully they'll be sweeter).

Vertical? There are tall Japanese people? They're probably of mainly Korean/Chinese descent... if there were a pureblood Japanese person taller than I... my Japanese half wouldn't mind... but heck... the black and white ego in me would have shrunk two sizes too small.

Ie, ie. Don't worry about it, I just like joking around. If it was that easy to take shots at my ego, I'd be one pessimistic person.

A way of walking... hm... I shall need to study this "Japanese-way of walking"...

And, yes... my hair is down to my rear. Well... my upper thigh...




I still can't get it through my head that Japan is actually pretty big... I mean... if you look at everywhere else, it's... squint-worthy.

Calgary? It's hot over there... heck... I was dying during the summer over here.

The question of seafood... I'm not allergic to it... so I suppose I could try some seafood dishes... if I like the stuff and get addicted to it, like teriyaki, I shall blame you...

I wonder if I'll need more things for backpacking...

I think I should probably have a plan, too...

I agree with MMM, I'm an American, and my Japanese teacher tells me that no matter how much I study about Japan and learn Japanese, I will automatically be labeled as a 'gaijin,' which I've come to terms with. Just like when Japanese girls huddle in groups, and giggle at every small thing they come across, and take an insane amount of pictures, Japanese will be able to tell you are a tourist. I mean, you just walking around with a backpack and nothing else is a sure sign. And living in a Ryokan, as well as hotels, is also a sure sign.

And Japan is pretty large. I was surprised about that too, but it's roughly the same size as California. In Tokyo, you probably want to take the subway. I mean, I'll be staying in Asakusa, which is kinda near the center, is a 42 minute walk from Akibara, which is about 3.4km away. And Shinjuku, Shibuya, and everything else is much farther away. You can get an all-day rail pass to use the subways all day, no matter how many times. This is pretty convenient.

I'm also staying in Japan during April, going from April to the beginning of May, and I'm staying near Kyoto, Osaka, and Nara. Hope to see you there!

Japan is about the same size as California. Would you walk everywhere in California? Here are some pictures of urban Japan:



Cities can stretch as far as the eye can see, and can be a confusing tangle of unlabeled streets that all look similar. I walked and biked quite a bit in Japan, but it really isn't a minuscule country... the trains are vital for getting around.

Vertical is the name of the publisher. Otherwise I have no idea what you are talking about.

Several feet longer than 99.9% of non-homeless Japanese men.

Where in the world are you looking? Squint-worthy? If you think it is that miniscule, why are you going there in the first place?

Ack... I guess it really is pretty big... that's not daunting, in the least...

As for being a foreigner... I suppose it isn't too bad if I attract friendly attention... I guess I'll make the most of being a foreigner.

What are you saying Nakamura? We could go together! (Everyone knows that if I go alone, it'll be MegaTokyo all over again...)


As for my hair... do you think there are many/any Japanese people with hair that long?



My reason for going to Japan - I'm not going because it's big. I'm going because it's awesome. It'll be a good prelude to my studies during my stay and about Japan.

What can I say? I'm adventurous.

I have definitely seen guys and girls with hair that long in Japan, not common, but they are out there....

Trust me, they can spot a foreigner from miles away. I speak the language, although may not be proper grammar, but nevertheless, I speak the language. I dress like they do... and as a bonus, I am oriental. BUT, they can still tell I am not locals.. even without talking to me. People who do walk up to me (Sales people) either start speaking mandarin or English to me........

You're joking, right...?

That sounds like a sixth sense for foreigners...

Hopefully my hair will grow a bit more over the next year...