On Wed, 6 Sep 2000 16:20:32 +0700, Bjorn Vang Jensen
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>Living in Japan for 3 years was a rewarding experience with many bizarre
>aspects to it. Chief among the many surreal occurrences in a typical week

The words "bizarre" and "surreal" are indeed excellent choice of words
to describe many otherwise ordinary aspects of daily life in Tokyo, and
perhaps in all of Japan.  :-)


>was the Saturday morning supermarket visit. Checking out for a family of 3
>(veggies, bit of meat, rice, a bottle of wine or two, some fruit and bread)
>would rarely cost less than $1,500. On one memorable occasion, the most
>expensive single item on the receipt cost $150.
>
>- We stopped eating water melon after that...

No wonder I didn't see any water mellon in the Hilton breakfasts.  :-)
But speaking of FRUITS, I did see several ordinary fruits (such as pears)
priced at over $100 in a box of 8.  I think Tokyo will be a great place
for me to stay for a month or two for a NATURAL weight-reducing diet --
of NOT eating. :-)

The most sobering experience for me, as a naturalized Gringo, is to
realize that the Almighty English language (which is EXPECTED to
suffice for travellers in most countries or cities in which tourists
and visitors abound) could be soooooooo useless in Tokyo!

For example ... the subway and the JR (Japanese Rail system) -- which
are indispensible to get around the city/country.  The TICKET sellers
don't speak a word of English!  It took me many tries to many different
windows and STILL couldn't find out either the price or the schedule
of the "bullet trains" we rode just for the experience, until a lady
passer-by realized our predicament and stop to offer, "I have a few
minutes to spare.  Let me help you." and proceeded to look up the
SCHEDULE/price book that we were SUPPOSED to refer to, which was about
2 inches thick, all in JAPANESE.  ;-)

So, how did YOU manage in your years in Japan?   Did you learn to READ
Japanese?  (Obviously you would have to know how to speak in Japanese.)

-- Bob.