My Japanese family

I met my Japanese family sister a few days ago. She was adorably lost trying to find the room we were to meet in and I enjoyed watching her run back and forth while all the other brothers and sisters were getting to know each other. This is the Japanese Home Visit program that a family has agreed to take me in for the semester and show me Japanese life. Since Makiko and her parents live in Kobe, which is three hours away, she has invited me to stay in their house overnight! In Japan it's custom for the host to plan the day and so far what I've heard is that they're going to adopt me for the day and show me the sites of Kobe and then we'll go back "home" and eat a tradition meal and sleep! Then, the next morning I'll venture back to campus without getting lost. I'm very excited for that weekend to come because after meeting Makiko for thirty minutes I think she was meant to be my true oniisan.

Late at night, during the day, and pretty much anytime, a car will go by with a speaker on the roof and speak Japanese. I thought it was a political statement but according to some of my friend these cars are just asking us to buy a certain type of Clorox or Tissue Paper. I wonder how well that would go over in the United States.

I figure I should make a list of what is different in Japan than we're used to in Amerika (United States in Japanese, not egocentrism!). First of all, we bow at everything! I can't do the correct bow and I don't know who should receive it, so I merely bow my head at any Japanese person I come into contact with and respond with an, "Ohayo Gozaimasu, Konnichiwa, or Konbonwa" based on where the sun is in the sky. I primarily do this to the guards I walk by to get to the campus gates.

Another custom is that to order or to pay for food sometimes we need to say, "sumimasen," which means excuse me or I'm sorry, or they'll keep filling up your water glass.

Busses you pay when you get off at your stop, talking is allowed on the subway (London it isn't common), and bicycles have the right-of-way over pedestrians. They also like to ring their little bell to make you move out of their way. Bicycling is known as "light transportion" and many accidents and deaths occur due to reckless biking because helmets aren't necessary over here.

The drinking age is 18, but those beer vending machines don't card so it's not upheld.