ramblings 1

random thoughts...

- japanese packaging is ridiculous. for a country that is so conscious of its environmental well being (ie: the kyoto accord), they sure have some mixed messages on keeping the earth healthy. consider this: if you buy anything from a convenience store it will usually come heavily packaged...once you finally find a way to open the thing your efforts will reveal more wrapped packages. its impossible to refuse a bag, even if youre just buying a coke from circle k. theres hardly any trash cans anywhere. but their garbage disposal system...you have to buy 3 different types of garbage bags and separate your trash into burnable, non-burnable, and recyclable, all of which go out on a different day of the week. dont ask me the difference between burnable and non-burnable because i havent a clue (sidenote: mostly because i have not yet received a said "welcome package" from the housing agent and probably never will). i had severe sanitation issues until yesterday when i finally decided to get on with it and separate everything properly.

- japanese currency is also ridiculous. why a beer costs 300 yen instead of 3 yen ill never know.

- japanese billing is ridiculous. you get stuff in the mail and go pay at the convenience store...that is if you know what it is (as i have not yet received the "welcome package" from said housing agent to pay said bills). i got a landline phone bill and a tv bill and i dont own a landline or a tv. i even had a guy from nhk visit my apartment one time to try to tell me to pay for nhk (the free public broadcaster)...i had to prove to him that i didnt own a tv so that hed leave me alone.

- japanese food portions are ridiculous. youre never full. ever. for that reason it feels like im wasting away...its clear ive lost weight but i dont know how much yet. would it really hurt them to add a bit more rice to that bowl? another piece of sushi to that plate? a few more helpings of udon to that dish?

- japanese convenience stores are ridiculous. not in that theyre different from what id get back home, ridiculous in that theyre so many of them. its like the 2 starbucks on the corner on robson street in vancouver competing with each other. circle k, 7-11, lawsons, family mart, sunkist, ect...theres too many of them and i have no idea how they all stay in business. ie: near where i live in fukiage theres one family mart, you walk 1 minute down the street and theres another family mart. no joke.

sorry about the negative posting here...its minor stuff really, less than minor in some cases. must be in a foul mood today or something.

on the positive side, 3 days until golden week!