Impressions of daily life in Japan
When returning to Japan after our two-week holiday in Belgium, we got our first taste of winter in Japan. It has gotten cold (maximum 5° C at midday) and it even snows occasionally. But I was very surprised to see flowers blooming even in this weather. While I normally associate autumn and winter with barren... Continue Reading →
Whenever I run into a fellow gaijin my attention is drawn towards them. They (we) just stand out so much among the mass of dark-haired, small Japanese people. But this guy on the train stood out more than usual. I name him 'The Sailor Man', as he seems more at home in a sail boat... Continue Reading →
Christmas is not a traditional Japanese holiday. Only about 1% of the Japanese population is Christian. New Year is a lot more important in Japan and is celebrated with many traditional Japanese rituals. But Japanese people never turn down an oportunity to have a festivity or festival, so just like Halloween and Valentine's day, Christmas... Continue Reading →
People living abroad often experience 'culture shock'. I find it hard to describe culture shock in just a few words, but simply put it refers to the process we all go through when coming into contact with a culture different from our own (see below for scientific definitions of culture shock). One of the most... Continue Reading →
Buying a cell phone couldn't be easier in Europe. They practically throw the things at you. But what is normal in Europe, often isn't in Japan. In Japan, buying a cell phone and registering for a phone number is serious business. It's best to set aside the better part of a day to do it.... Continue Reading →
Since Starbucks has been fueling my JLPT (see previous post) cramming efforts for a few days now, it seemed like the right time to write something about Starbucks in Japan. In Belgium I wouldn't be caught dead in a Starbucks since there are so many nice and locally owned coffee bars. Besides, there are only... Continue Reading →
The Japans 