PDM II
Well, there was more info I learned in Brussels and that will be posted here. But first let me say that yesterday’s BBQ was a grand success. The thunderstorm passed and left me wanting to wear shorts. It was actually quite warm enough without slaving over a smoldering heap of coals. This was mostly done by my sisters man-in-servitude Gijs, but I helped out . . . a little.
Seeing the (almost) entire family was fun. Meeting the latest additions was great, and somewhat overdue to be honest, should’ve gone to see ‘em way sooner. Finn and Yannick however, seemed in good health and cheerful, paying little attention to all those monoliths moving above them and playing with my old toys. . . . and gravel.
After having spent time in Brussels it was rather hard to reiterate what I had heard. Mostly coz it was a non-stop torrent of information for 2 days, but talking with the family it all came back.
Some people would worry for me going to japan. Yakuza, snakes, spiders and flying cockroaches . . . some people might be daunted by all of this. Having spent a year in a country with 7 of the top 10 raking “most dangerous spiders” I wasn’t that worried myself. But I was somewhat surprised with the description presented at the PDM. Japan was characterized as the “safest country in the world”. People abide by rules, big rules, small rules.
I’ll illustrate. A former participant lost his laptop in the metro. Twice. He got it back. Twice. Japan is a country where one can put a ghetto-blaster out in front of the store to do some advertising . . . and it’ll stay there. You won’t find (cigarette)filters in the street because it’s illegal to litter. Here we can’t keep smokers to keep within 5 metres of the “smoking poles” and there they just won’t do it at all. Take a look at this Wiki and compare the robbery rates. My sister has a 177 times bigger chance at being robbed where she’s going. This was in 1990 and I’m sure it’s changed somewhat . . . But I doubt it’s increased that much.
This is due to many different factors, of which one is directly tied into why “The centre discourages driving in Japan”. Japanese will follow rules, explicitly. While we are taught to drive in a manner somewhere between what the rules say and the way people actually do it. And then there’s the downward slope from there to reality. Whereas the Japanese adhere to the rules. In driving, in robberies, larceny and murder. Well, most of ‘em anyway, seeing as people are still killed/robbed/etc. there. Just not at a rate remotely comparably to ours.
Oh, have I mentioned I’ll have a “Japanese-style toilet” ?? I’m tempted to google it, but to be honest I’d like to just experience it fresh for the first time without having read up on it. I just hope Japanese plumbing isn’t comparable to French toiletry. Or worse: Kenian. /shudder
Oh well, lots of information still coming when I actually get to “Nippon”. And I won’t be presenting you with statistics, but with actual experiences and photos to prove it. The current link to “Japan” on my photopage still being somewhat barren.
For now, I have to go apply for a visa and then get back to my studies. Oh yeah, these last 6 weeks will just fly by studying for exams 