Random things I've learned about Japan over the past year

Its hard to believe its been over a year since I made that leap of faith to the land of the rising sun. At the same time its amazing to think of all the random things I've learned about Japan. Here's a sample:

(WARNING the list is completely random)

• There is no such thing as a garbage can outside. That thing that you think is a garbage can right outside of the store is actually a place to put the cover for your wet umbrella. Made the mistake and not even 2 minutes later our trash was gone. 
• Japan is the land of umbrellas. Like Toby the Fire Truck (grapeseed humor) they are used in the sun rain or snow. 
• If you  don't look Japanese you will be stared at everywhere you go.
• Its very quiet on the subway even at rush hour.
• There is no such thing as insulation so your apartment will always be freezing and you can hear your neighbor breathe.
• Japan has the best fruit ever created especially the peaches, strawberries and apples. They are 10 times better than anything you can find in America.
• Don't Tip the waiter
• If you park in someones spot in an apartment complex you might as well have ran over their pet poodle. I just learned this the other day. Literally 10 people were standing outside including a lady holding a baby waiting to yell words we dont understand at us. 
• Japanese people as a whole are honest. Probably the only place in the world you can drop your wallet downtown and have the police get it back with everything in it a day later. Also after the earthquakes, I heard there was little to no looting. Compare that to hurricane Katrina.
• The local bank ATMs close at 7PM. If you want to get money out later you need to go to a convenience store. If you want Japanese money you better do it before 10PM. 7/11 is pretty much the only place to use an international debit card.
• Life stops at 9PM unless you go to out to eat. Good luck finding grocery stores open much past 8PM except for Max Value. Even the random ones open past 8 will be nearly cleared out.
• Meat is the cheapest right before grocery stores close. 
• Wheat bread is hard to find later in the day comes in packs of 3, YES 3. 
• Japanese is nothing like English
• When in doubt its prolly got Mayonnaise on it.
• Beans are a "delicious' dessert
• In summer time "Coolish" is the sweet nectar of the gods
• Most businesses have English words on them only because it looks cool. Once inside the place, most things are not in English and most people that work there speak very little English (at least in Sendai).
• If you want to get full you gotta pay a lot more.
• There are 4 days  a week for trash and it may be the most confusing start of your life in Japan. Luckily they have a novel that explains everything.
• If you want a good burger, go to Mc Donalds. Its tastes better than back home. Also I recommend the Shaka Shaka Chicken with the cheesu sauce.
• Most schools and youth hostels have less ambiance than Guantanamo prison.
• Except for Meysen. That school looks Great!!

I could prolly go on and on. Its been an interesting year to say the least. Can't wait to see what I can add to the list.

Surviving the Drivers Test in Japan

 American people that have lived in Japan for a while always seem to have stories about the times(plural) they took their Japanese test.

First rule of thumb is that you probably will fail no matter what the first time if you are from America. I don't care how you good you think you did. They will find something wrong. I read somewhere that about 35% of foreigners pass the drivers test the first time. Is it really that difficult? No. They just fail you (because you are an American) to teach you that you should not become too overconfident in driving.  Also, they make money everytime you re take the test. Here is the step by step process for anyone that plans to take the test. I'll roughly translate the money into USD.

Step 1: Give about $40 to get your American license translated and wait about two weeks.

Step 2: Go to the DMV at 1PM (yes only then) fill out obscene paper work. The DMV itself  looks like a huge prison cafeteria. People are lined up a million different directions. Basically, organized chaos.

Luckily, we had a translator. They literally go through every single stop on your passport and check every single time you enter and leave any country. I have no idea why this is pertinent to your driving ability.
Secondly, they go over your driving history. I had to answer questions like: When did you take your drivers test? Who taught you how to drive? How much did the  test cost? How many questions were on the written test? What kind of vehicle was it? What was a passing score? What did you get?  For me this was about 10 years ago so I just made most of it up. I felt like one of those kids that just likes to make patterns on their test answer sheet.

Then you wait... for about an hour. Then you get to pick a date to take your test.

Step 3: You come back on your designated day at 1PM. You pay $30 to take a written test. Its pretty common sense but isnt translated the best.  Then you go back  to the counter and pay about $40 to take your drivers test. Then you go back in the room and take an eye test. Then you get a number. Then you wait about 90 minutes.

Step 4: Finally, you get to take the test that you will probably fail. You get loaded up like sardines in a converted taxi as the instructor who speaks only Japanese takes you around the onsite course. The only Japanese you really need to know is the numbers and lefts and rights though. Then you get to take the road test usually with another person. I got to go second so I saw this random guy from Michigan take the test. I actually thought he did well but he failed.

I then got in the car. Basically, you have to be beyond cautious. You have to look out for random ghosts to cross when you have a green light. A lot of it is basic turn signals and normal stuff you should know. The infamous part is the CRANK. Picture trying to get a hummer to navigate through a  go-kart track at the local putt putt course. You have just enough room for the car to make 90 degree turns through this short maze. If you hit a bumper on go off the road you automatically fail. I actually had no problem with this but I hear a ton of people do. I must have just gotten lucky.

Once you make it through the course the instructor tells you everything you did wrong. For example, I made effort to get close to the middle line when turning right (its opposite of America) and the corner when turning left but it was not enough. Also I went slightly over the white stop line when breaking. FAILURE.

Rinse and Repeat Steps 3 and 4 until you pass. Once you finally pass. You have to go back to the office and take your blue ticket to the people. Then you go pay about another $40 for your drivers license. Then you wait about 2 hours until you get your picture taken. Then another 30 minutes to have it processed.

Yatta! youre finished.


For me, it was a little nerve wrecking especially knowing I was going to fail the first time. Before my second time another teacher passed after her second time. Since I'm sexist (jk) I would feel horrible about my manhood if I failed after she passed. Luckily, I nailed it and got the pass to move on.

Also, the bad part of this whole thing is that I have to be at work at 2 everyday so I constantly am missing some work for this test. Its a huge pain. To top it off, since I got my new drivers license less than two years ago they interpret that as I'm a new driver. Therefore, I have to put a special sticker on my car everytime I drive to warn people that I'm a new driver for the next year.

Ironically, I've been driving a year without any real Japanese drivers license besides the international drivers license. But after a year, I now have to prove that I can drive, which makes no sense. Also, British, Australians, Koreans, Canadians and some others dont even have to take a drivers test. They just take a written test and get their license. Discrimination I tell ya! 


All in all its a huge pain and waste of time to jump through these hoops but it feels like your 16th birthday when you get that license.