Comments on: Japan http://www.shandinglu.org/blog/japan Meanderings on living in Southern Taiwan Tue, 16 Nov 2010 13:22:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Stephen http://www.shandinglu.org/blog/japan/comment-page-1#comment-202 Stephen Wed, 17 Sep 2008 12:44:53 +0000 http://www.shandinglu.org/blog/japan#comment-202 We should be thankful that the Taiwanese are able and willing to travel and discover the world around is not all karaoke and green tea. I cringe at the nationalistic ignorance those in the real middle kingdom have of Japan. That is interesting as I feel completely at easy with Taiwanese while I always felt like we were being judged in Japan. Specially with kids in public places, I always felt we were being carfully observed. But in general the people we met very friendly, accepting and quite worldly I found. Don't you love sterotypings! As much as I was tempted, we managed to keep the soap out of the bath. We should be thankful that the Taiwanese are able and willing to travel and discover the world around is not all karaoke and green tea. I cringe at the nationalistic ignorance those in the real middle kingdom have of Japan.

That is interesting as I feel completely at easy with Taiwanese while I always felt like we were being judged in Japan. Specially with kids in public places, I always felt we were being carfully observed. But in general the people we met very friendly, accepting and quite worldly I found.
Don’t you love sterotypings!
As much as I was tempted, we managed to keep the soap out of the bath.

]]> By: Kaminoge http://www.shandinglu.org/blog/japan/comment-page-1#comment-201 Kaminoge Wed, 17 Sep 2008 09:41:46 +0000 http://www.shandinglu.org/blog/japan#comment-201 At least you know the area is called Ikebukuro. I've had students come back from trips to Japan talking about "Daban" and "Beihaidao", seemingly unaware that the locals might actually use different names (such as Osaka and Hokkaido). And I don't know how many times I've heard Taiwanese express amazement at how the Japanese "use Chinese" in writing! A Middle Kingdom mindset still lives on with some folks! There are lots of unwritten rules in Japanese society, but usually people who are obviously foreign are excused from having to know them. Other than remembering to take your shoes off when entering a home, or rinsing all the soap off your body before getting into a bathtub, visitors are given a lot of leeway. Having lived in both countries, I would have to say Taiwanese are more face-conscious, and therefore I find I have to be more careful what I say, or how I react, to people here than I do in Japan. I always feel more relaxed around Japanese people in general (of course things vary depending on the individual), especially when beer and sake are involved! At least you know the area is called Ikebukuro. I’ve had students come back from trips to Japan talking about “Daban” and “Beihaidao”, seemingly unaware that the locals might actually use different names (such as Osaka and Hokkaido). And I don’t know how many times I’ve heard Taiwanese express amazement at how the Japanese “use Chinese” in writing! A Middle Kingdom mindset still lives on with some folks!

There are lots of unwritten rules in Japanese society, but usually people who are obviously foreign are excused from having to know them. Other than remembering to take your shoes off when entering a home, or rinsing all the soap off your body before getting into a bathtub, visitors are given a lot of leeway. Having lived in both countries, I would have to say Taiwanese are more face-conscious, and therefore I find I have to be more careful what I say, or how I react, to people here than I do in Japan. I always feel more relaxed around Japanese people in general (of course things vary depending on the individual), especially when beer and sake are involved!

]]> By: Stephen http://www.shandinglu.org/blog/japan/comment-page-1#comment-200 Stephen Wed, 17 Sep 2008 02:16:18 +0000 http://www.shandinglu.org/blog/japan#comment-200 It is not our first trip to Japan but was our first big travels with kids. But with a bit of flexibility in our routine it was fun and interesting. We still have lots of great traveling ideas. Please join us again soon. It is not our first trip to Japan but was our first big travels with kids. But with a bit of flexibility in our routine it was fun and interesting.
We still have lots of great traveling ideas. Please join us again soon.

]]> By: Stephen http://www.shandinglu.org/blog/japan/comment-page-1#comment-199 Stephen Wed, 17 Sep 2008 02:10:48 +0000 http://www.shandinglu.org/blog/japan#comment-199 The tour group was as much a Taiwanese cultural experience as a Japanese one! I too am not sure where we went but we did have a Chinese dinner in an underground resturant in Ikebukuro. Traveling with kids and in-laws is a whole different ball game to independent backpacking. The tour gave a good base start. Not quite as fun as your recent trip to Japan but fit for purpose with a family. The tour group was as much a Taiwanese cultural experience as a Japanese one! I too am not sure where we went but we did have a Chinese dinner in an underground resturant in Ikebukuro.
Traveling with kids and in-laws is a whole different ball game to independent backpacking. The tour gave a good base start.
Not quite as fun as your recent trip to Japan but fit for purpose with a family.

]]> By: Cindy Chih http://www.shandinglu.org/blog/japan/comment-page-1#comment-198 Cindy Chih Wed, 17 Sep 2008 00:47:50 +0000 http://www.shandinglu.org/blog/japan#comment-198 You all had a great time in Japan with family. I found out that you will have more activities in Taiwan than in Perth. Miss this chance with you, due to the time schedule. Wait for the next time. Cheers You all had a great time in Japan with family. I found out that you will have more activities in Taiwan than in Perth. Miss this chance with you, due to the time schedule. Wait for the next time. Cheers

]]> By: Kaminoge http://www.shandinglu.org/blog/japan/comment-page-1#comment-197 Kaminoge Wed, 17 Sep 2008 00:29:42 +0000 http://www.shandinglu.org/blog/japan#comment-197 Sounds like you had a great trip. Great photos too! But five days with a Taiwanese tour group?! For some of us, that would be an unspeakable nightmare! At least you were able to break free, and actually see some of Japan. I know of people who went on those tours to Japan, and came back not even knowing the names of the places they visited (and who maintained that Japanese cuisine tastes better in Taiwan!). Sounds like you had a great trip. Great photos too! But five days with a Taiwanese tour group?! For some of us, that would be an unspeakable nightmare! At least you were able to break free, and actually see some of Japan. I know of people who went on those tours to Japan, and came back not even knowing the names of the places they visited (and who maintained that Japanese cuisine tastes better in Taiwan!).

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