The grocery list

So I have been doing a bit of thinking and I decided that I haven't given my readers much daily insight to my life here. Or what it is really like here. I have talked about things on a pretty general basis, going into detail with outings and events more than anything, so I would like to take this time to describe some general, everyday things in Kumamoto, Japan.

What got me started on this tangent of thoughts was a question a friend asked the other day. I had told him that I went to the grocery store and he asked, "what does one buy at the store?" and so I began to tell him. I don't know if he reads this, but if so, I must confess that I kind of lied. I told him there were no meats or cheeses, which is not true. What I thought he meant was if I bought any, which I didn't that time. Japanese super markets are one of the things that are an experience in themselves. Upon walking into one you initially think they are no different that your local King's or Safeway. But that is just the first few steps. Then you begin to realize the noises and smells are surely not those of your local market.

The two that I usually frequent in my town are not just super markets but clothes stores, arcades, 100 yen shops, flower shops, randomanythingyoueverwanted sections and of course, the food section. I have heard stories of foreigners entering grocery stores and breaking down crying because of the overwhelming and constant stimuli. Well folks, welcome to Japan. The first grocery store I went to was in my town my my home stay "mom" and her sister. Although I was overwhelmed (and about to gag from the intense fishy smell), the most noticeable thing was the incredible amount of stares I got. This happened everywhere I went, but the grocery store was the worst. The stares have since died down, at least that or I stopped looking at other people, yet people aren't afraid to check out what you are buying in line or what you are looking at in the aisle. To be honest, I love the grocery store. I always have and I always will. Even Japan can't change that. Most know that I am not a big shopper, but when it comes to food, I enjoy it. With that being said, I can't spend too long there or I'm in trouble and out of money.

On sale days the stores are as loud as an amusement park in the summer. The intercoms are set up by each different product shouting out bargains and annoying little tunes to catch your attention. So you can imagine what it sounds like when they are hooked up at ALL of the stands. Headache central. Japanese grocery stores have close to nothing you would find in America. The snacks are different, the meat is different and they have a whole extra section for, well, what else? Seafood of course. Fish, octopus, squid, shrimp, more fish, eel, strange mushy ocean matter, seaweed, kelp, sushi, sashmi, fish eggs and more fish. As I said, the smell was quite repulsive at first, but now that I have gotten (mostly) used to it, I don't mind it. I have even been brave enough to venture over and buy some of that oh-so plentiful fish. These grocery stores also have an ENTIRE section devoted to pickled things. Now, if you have never tried pickled vegetables consider yourself lucky. These nasty little things are among a list of perhaps three things that I do not like in Japan. Making for probably a total list of five things I do not like period. I can't describe them besides saying that they are sour and cold and crunchy. Sometimes they are squishy. And they come in very questionable colors such as bright yellow, dark red and a lovely gray. Yum. Needless to say, I try to stay far away from that section.

Other sections are more like stores at home like the fruit section plus or minus a few regional fruits and plus a few extra hundred yen. Just like home, fruit is not usually cheap. They have a candy section (although, as you might have guessed, it is not near as good) as well as a meat section (with your usual red meats). There is an entire curry aisle, a aisle of dried noodles and mixings for soups and other strange concoctions. And then you can't forget the rice. Pounds and pounds of it. There is a bakery section which I think must be new, perhaps in the past 20 years. Kids these days love the sweet breads, something that Japan has done without for centuries.

Sadly though, the smallest section in Japanese grocery stores is the dairy. Which means cheese. Being that this is my favorite section back home, I was immediately crushed when I saw they had about 3 different types of cheese, none of them being very flavorful. Although this is good for my stomach (I have had very few stomach aches since I have been here), it has been bad for my heart. I desperately miss a good slice of cheddar or a nice, warm quesadilla. Made with the real stuff. I have been dealing with it though, buying what I can to substitute for now. And there is always Costco when I am up for the adventure. On a happier note, they do love their ice cream, so even though it cost me an arm and a leg for about two bites, there is always some when I need it. And if you like to buy gallon milk, well forget that. Nothing that big exists in dairy form in Japan.

At your local store, after you pick out your eats you have to buy them. So you get in line and bring your basket to the check-out counter. Japan is just the same. But here is where everything goes crazy. The people working at the store tell you how much EACH item you bought costs and they place it ever so nicely in your basket. They make sure everything is nicely set up, handling your food like it was priceless crystal. Then they ring up the total, tell you how much and give you your plastic bags on top of your basket. Yes, that's right, you bag it up yourself. The first day I went shopping I was utterly confused on why this is the case, but thereafter I decided it wasn't so bad. Which it isn't, but lately I just find it obnoxious--especially when you are in a hurry. I guess it shouldn't be expected to have them bag up your stuff, but being so used to it, I can't help but sigh and give into the grunt work. They have special bagging tables complete with tape so you can tape shut your plastic bag. God forbid anything being left open to flap in the breeze. I do admit though, I always tape my bags even though it is utterly ridiculous and unnecessary. Although they don't bag your groceries, they bag everything else. They love taping your little purchases, they wrap and package everything so you feel like it is your birthday when you get home. And so you can just rip it open and throw it away. With all of the recycling they do I have just started to accept the contradictions and not ask questions.

So to answer the question, "what does one buy at the grocery store?", with "one" in this case probably meaning me, I buy the usual. So sometimes cereal ($$), yogurt, sometimes milk, apples, bananas, soup, ham perhaps, some wrapped cheese, occasionally salmon or chicken, some frozen dinners of which I usually don't know what they are until I eat them, tuna, salad things sometimes, eggs and mayhaps some some sushi or a lil' chocolate treat of some sort. The bread is tempting but the slices are about two inches thick and all white, so knowing that cannot be good for me in any way, shape or form, I try to avoid it when I can.

There is the list you never knew you wanted to know! Sounds like I have been eating healthy, but it can be assured that somehow I am not.

So there is your slice of Japan for the week: the rundown of the Japanese grocery store. Stay tuned next week for the streets of Japan with the main question pulsing in the mind of the American, "how do I get around with no street names?" Which, in all honesty, I cannot answer since I am B.O. (biker only). All I know is that it is very confusing and the driving is a bit...unusual. Lightly put. Very lightly put.

In other news it is Thursday and I am glad because this week has been tiring. I haven't had too much to do but I definitely got hit with something and have been feeling quite sickly all week. Although it puts a damper on my workout plans, I tried to do some other things around the house until I couldn't take it anymore and went swimming yesterday. I don't think it made me feel better, but I don't feel worse...

The teaching is going very slowly, and I am at a utter loss of how to get students interested. I did drink coffee the other day before teaching a usually uninterested and unmotivated class, and since I was so wired they seemed to get into it a bit more. For like five minutes, but hey, I'll take it! I was practically shouting the vocab in a ridiculously excited fashion and cheering like it was some sort of football game. If nothing else, I amused myself.

It's not all bad though, when I talk to students I am usually amused, and although we don't always understand each other somehow they can say what they want to ask. The kids are always wanting to ask me questions, and as I try to ask them it becomes quite an entertaining conversation. I have become accustomed with Japanese words like "hurt" because everyone is shocked and amazed at my ear piercings and used to hearing 'cute-o or beautiful'. Although I do think it is a bit strange, especially when the boys say it, being that I am their teacher, I guess there is nothing I can really do but say thank you. Last week a boy in my class even gave me flowers and some girls were amazed with the fact my eyelashes were indeed real and not fake like they initially suspected...So I guess you really never know.

Let's back up a few ticks to the glory of last weekend, shall we? The highlight was the infamous "Australia Day", which turned out to be a success. Jess was a bit stressed, but once everything was ready to go the party started and was enjoyed by many a folk. There was singing and dancing and BBQing and everything that comes along with a good ol' fashioned Aussie day in Japan. My Australian mate did a great job and we have some great pictures and videos from the day. I think I will take it upon myself to celebrate it every year from now on in honor of Jess because it was just that grand.

This weekend I am going to rest after I head into the city to get my "teeth picture" taken. Long story, but I was basically asked to have my teeth photographed since I haven't had a cavity and they need a nice smile apparently. So that should be an interesting experience. Aside from that I hope to see a movie, maybe get my nails done and just relax.

This will all be after another day of teaching though, so first I have to mentally prep myself for that. I should think of something other than directions because if I have to do another direction lesson I might just keel over. Take a little dirt nap. I can say that my patience is at an all time high and I have no doubt in my mind that I will be able to endure almost anything after this teaching experience. Minus disciplinary actions, I am still at a loss with that one.

Being that this is the longest entry in many moons, I will end it. I hope it served as a little bedtime story.

Sweet dreams and happy wakings.