Land of Oz — #kabers

Above all else, the experience of our first week here was colored by delightful little discoveries. I think this is a common theme for those visiting Japan for the first time. Japanese people are truly thoughtful and detail-oriented beyond any I have ever experienced. I consider myself detail-oriented and most of the things below I could not have even imagined. Don't get me wrong, I love, love, love the US and it is and will always be home. Some things rub me the wrong way and they aren't the same here and it has really been amazing. I really felt like I was walking around in the Land of Oz.

10 Magic Discoveries

1 - Hair Dryers - Quality Isn't (Necessarily) Expensive

Disappointed that I could not use my very nice hair dryer which my (hair stylist) sister gave me in Japan (its motor makes a not-so-good sound...), I set about explaining this to the Japanese lady who did hair as a previous career in hopes she could point me to its counter part in Japanese brand-hair dryers. She told me about a hair dryer which was around $30... I started to feel like she was missing my point when she continued to explain that that was what most stylists she knew used and she took it with her to Canada for her 7-year stint there because "Japanese hair dryers last forever." I started to realize that here in Japan, quality isn't necessarily a function of price like it is more often than not in the US. I didn't even realize that that was a possibility! Two assumptions challenged with one hair dryer: 1. Everything in Japan is NOT expensive. 2. Higher price is NOT equal to higher quality in a country where generally everything is well made. I don't think Japanese walk around saying, "You get what you pay for."

2 - Heated Mirrors

It took me a few days to notice the mirror not being foggy over the sink after a shower. The first time I did notice it, I immediately said, "Aww, Justin, did you come in here and wipe the mirror off for me?" LOL! He said,"No, it's heated!" Foggy mirrors for two people getting ready in the morning is one of the reasons Justin and I want separate bathrooms when we get a house back in the US. Most homes in Japan have only one bathroom (toilet, sink, shower/bath are in separate rooms), but if your bathroom has this, you only NEED one bathroom. Which is more expensive? Having two bathrooms or just heating the mirror of the one bathroom? Very smart indeed...

3 - Quiet: Hotel, Coffee Shops

Upon arrival in warm, humid weather to a hotel room with the a/c turned off, Justin and I panicked a little when we turned our a/c on in the hotel room and nothing happened. Or so we thought. Turns out it was just so whisper-quiet, it WAS on and working, we couldn't hear it, even in the silence of the late night. We were happy it worked and shortly thereafter quite disappointed because how were we going to sleep? We usually rely on the jet-engine decibel level of hotel air conditioners to drown out the banging of doors and noise of people above, below, and around us that is inevitably heard through the walls. I am a terribly light sleeper. A month later, I can tell you that I have almost slept every single night without waking and without having the loud A/C because people here are quiet and respectful! This is unheard of for me in hotels in the US and most other places. Anyone that knows me, knows that this marked the point at which I began to love Japan. The same for coffee shops. Most of the time in the US I have to bring in-ear headphones to drown out the "broadcaster types." The people here just don't do that and it isn't even necessary.

4 - Man Hole Covers

My favorite thing about traveling is the completely random things you come across that you notice because you are in a new place. Walking by, I noticed there was some design on the man hole covers that looked swirly. At first I thought it was an alien. Looking closer, I realized it is one of those bugs that can walk on water. This is one of the cutest things I have found yet. Every time I walk by a man hole cover I notice it still. Being in a new city/country/culture makes me feel child like in lots of ways. This is one of them! I just love it!

5 - Bowing Construction Men in White Gloves

On one of the first few days here, when it was still a novelty to see the very lovely custom of bowing, Justin and I were riding around in the car with the woman helping us with our apartment search. We drove up to some construction blocking our lane. A man in a blue uniform and white hard hat stepped out in front of our car and held his arm out to stop the traffic in our lane. He was holding an orange stick that was lit up (similar to the ramp staff guiding planes). His hand had a white glove on it! When we stopped, he bowed in our direction! It was amazing to see. Similarly, the lady doing our apartment tours when another car slowed to let her into traffic, she would wait for their eye contact and then bow to them from inside the car while seated. What a wonderful custom.

6 - Toilets

(Sorry - I can't leave this one out) - My first experience using the public restroom at the airport was a slightly anxious one. I couldn't find the flush button (I am not used to looking along the walls!!) and I was worried I would press the wrong one and spray myself! Most public (PUBLIC!!) toilet seats are heated. In addition, there is either music or the sound of waterfalls which plays automatically when you sit down so that no one hears what you are doing. The toilet at our hotel here sprays water down in the toilet when there is weight on the seat to make a noise for the same reason. There are other features which I had dismissed as unnecessary and for the rich until I have stayed in Japan. Now, I want to install only Japanese toilets in whatever house Justin and I end up.

7 - "Cribs"

While sitting at the bank waiting for the bank clerk to set up our accounts, I noticed a small "crib" next to the desk. I thought that is nice, something for a baby or a small dog when the mom needs her hands free. This will make it obvious that I am not a mom and that I haven't spent much time around babies... Turns out most businesses/restaurants have little boxes or "cribs" for you to put your belongings in so you don't have to put them on the dirty floor, or take up a seat next to you, or hang them from your chair. I laughed harder at this discovery than any others so far when I was corrected on the true purpose of the "crib!" I have forever disliked putting my purse or backpack on dirty floors or my chair so this was another thing that is so nice to have, but I would have thought was "unnecessary" or just me being too picky about my stuff.

8 - Ogura Toast, A Nagoya Specialty

My favorite meal of the day is breakfast. One of the first things I did when looking into living in Japan was investigate their breakfast food. I was saddened to see only white bread. Somewhere along the line, someone mentioned the "amazing bread they have in Japan" to me. I became curious, as everything else so far had been a delightful surprise. I was willing to believe the same about their white bread. I had also heard about the "Dispens Paks" they have here. So, I was delighted to be able to try both at our hotel breakfast buffet. The bread is white, but it is lightly sweet and two or three times the thickness of one slice of bread in the US. There is a red bean paste (slightly sweet) and margarine dispense pak that you bend to pop open and squeeze folded in half on your toast. No sticky mess on your hands and the toast tastes like lightly sweet coconuts and butter. I LOVE IT!!!! I might venture to say I like it more than donuts! (gasp!)

9 - "Baby Kitty Delivery"

This falls into the same category as the man hole covers. A shipping company here in Japan (similar to Fedex or UPS) has a logo that might be my favorite logo of all. It is an image of a black mother cat carrying a kitten in her mouth. It isn't a logo that any US company would ever use - but that is why I love it. I think it speaks volumes to the difference in the two cultures. Companies in the US go for something tough and "slick" looking. Your box will arrive looking like it fell out on the highway and got ran over a few times (if it arrives at all). To me, the black cats logo means that they will take care of your package as well as a mother would take care of her baby. A much more tender and careful thing. I am thinking I will be very surprised if my packages get smashed here.

10 - Food Vending Machines & Hair Cut Vending Machines

Justin and I were investigating our future neighborhood and went into a small abura soba restaurant and waited to be seated. What I did NOT expect was to be pointed to the "vending machine" we were standing next to to order our meal! It is nice because you can specify exactly what you want and the cooks know what meals are coming up in very small, full establishments before you even have a seat yet. If there is a line out the door, you can give them your ticket and wait your turn. Also, the cook staff does not have to handle money. Justin "ordered" his hair cut at the barbershop the same way. Very cool!

11 - BONUS: Auto Doors on Cabs

On one of the first few days here, we used cabs to get around doing our errands. When I got out of the cab and didn't push the door closed hard enough, I was reaching to reopen/close it, it scared me to death when the door reopened and shut itself! It was a scene straight out of Harry Potter! No minivan necessary :-)

What have you enjoyed while visiting Japan or other countries?