Japan vs America

I haven't shared with you too much about the difference is in Japan. Most you probably know but for some it might be new to you. On a side note, I ordered a #2 at McDonalds an hour ago and understood all the Japanese that was spoken to me which was what drink do I want, is it for here or to go, and do you want a meal or not. I was pretty stoked!

First, driving is on the left hand side instead of the right hand side. Most cars are super small and the roads that look one-way are often two-way!! Yikes! Most bridges are very small and in some cases people have to back up to let people go. On top of super small roads everywhere there's something else in the way.

Biking: Everyone has a bike here. When I mean everyone, I mean the small kids to the very elderly. Everyone goes to the store with thier bike and has baskets. With the small streets with cars and bikes it gets very crazy. Bikes don't stay to the right side or the left side, they are on all sides! As well as pedestrians walking on both sides of the roads. There are side walks but they are also very small. I have been here for a week and a half about and I have seen many moms carry their kids in the basket and ride the bike! Most of the Japanese travel on trains daily so they ride thier bike to the station and pay about a dollar to keep it there. There are fields and fields of bikes at some stations!

Umbrellas: In America, or at least Idaho, I rarely see umbrellas. Well there are a lot in Seattle but other than that, who uses them? We get in our cars, drive to whereever, and get out. An umbrella isn't worth our bother. If you don't have an umbrella in Japan, you're crazy. I wondered when I got here why everyone was afriad of a little rain. Even when its not raining but cloudy looking people carry them. Well I learned the answer the hard way. I didn't have an umbrella, it rained very bad. I went home and.................... I didn't have a dryer. In fact. Most people don't have dryers. It takes up too much electricity there for expensive. They all have a line to throw it over in the back alley or yard. Or if they are in an apartment or lower level, something that holds it. My socks took a whole day to dry! grrrr.


Shoot, I added more to this but it didn't save. I'll add more later :)