Dad, how did you do it?

FOr those of you who don’t know, my father served twenty years in the US Navy.  As such, when I was a child, he would deploy for months on end… I have been here less than a month and I miss my family terribly.  For all of you who know my wife please give her a call and let her know your thinking of her… I wish I were with her every moment of every day.

So what’s been happening in this piece?  Well, if you can’t tell from the random posting, lots is going on.  First of all, let me thank　all of my gracious hosts, they have taught me much about Japan culture, and have been very accepting to me.

So, what about Japanese culture is different?  Lots.  My favorite is table manners, basically the way we eat in the US (sitting up straight, food to your mouth, no slurping, etc.) is called “eating like a dog.”  It is polite, and good table manners, to slurp your foods (hot or cold, noodles or soup), lift bowls to your mouth, and even hunch over bowls.  My Gran Martie, RIP, would have a field day here teaching people proper table manners.  Other differences… here it is risqee for women to show cleavage, but short skirts (think mini and then take off a few inches) are quite fashionable. 

My group is having fun learning about the japanese culture.  WE have been here just over three weeks and today we went to a district Rotary conferfence and it was a great time to wee old friends and recount good times.  I was able to see my first hosts, THe Kasahara’s, I don’t know if they will ever know how much I appreciated them and their hospitality.

Anyways, I have been blogging for a long while.  Tomorrow is my day off, so I get to visit a local high school’s English class, check out a local university, visit a historic town, and hopefully go to a hot spring.

Take care,

Barry