I am still here

Dear all,

Apologies for the lack of post action lately. Don't worry, I haven't been taken by ninjas, I have just been terribly busy in the days before leaving the country, trying to wrap everything up as you can imagine. I do have plenty more stories to tell: strange food, drunken Japanese, what the television is like, J-pop etc and the finale of the Bog Blog that you don't want to miss! So once I get back onto British soil, I'll wrap thing up.

Peace,
Max

Bog Blog 3: Environmentally-friendly American

I found this beautiful creature in my friend's apartment. It is a modification of a standard American-style toilet. Simple yet ingenious, not only does it save water by allowing you 2 different flush volumes, it adds a basin and creates a tap out of the water that is used to refill the tank so that you can wash your hands!

Of course, a real sink is also needed, otherwise you would be wasting water by needing to flush the toilet all the time just to brush your teeth or wash your face.

Meh.

So over the past week all the glands around my neck decided to swell up like marbles. It is difficult and painful to swallow and sleep, and feels like a permanent headache all around my neck. I joked about how this could be due to the lack of certain things in my diet since being over here (pizza, Snickers, Crunchy Nut Cornflakes, beer etc.), but I think it is the ghost of my previously-infected but now extracted tooth coming back to haunt me again. It already caused me great pain in Germany a few months ago, and now it is back for more. Thankfully this time I do not look like a hamster.

I went to the doctor on Monday morning (and if Max goes to the doctor, you know it's serious). A women from the accomodation office where I am staying (who spoke good English and literally had just got into work) accompanied me to the university health service to be my interpreter.

After filling in a small form (not a 10-page life history like in America) and having my temperature taken to ensure I wasn't an infectious fever monster, I sat in what would be called a waiting room, but it was more of a very long bench against the wall. I soon understood why they did not need such a large waiting space though, as I was seen within 5 minutes of my arrival - score.

The doctor could speak good English too, and was very thorough. Ended up giving me 6 days of a penicillin-type antibiotics and told me to come back if anything got worse. I went to reception but was politely told to leave after I looked confused at not having to pay a fee. I think the uni health service is free but I am not officially a visiting student or staff member...

Here's to hoping the drugs will work. Since it is St. Andrews day, I am going to celebrate the great Alexander Fleming! Tomorrow: more toilets!

Food, Part 2: the store (again) and other observations

So last time I told you a little about what I have been using to sustain myself. Here are some things that you might find surprising. Going back to the store...

Bread is pricey and with little variety: just like middle America, it is all white. The only choice you have is thick or thin, and made from wheat or rice flour.

Aside from the obvious green tea which gets its own shrine-like section, there is a depressing lack of other tea: usually one or two brands of nasty black tea, and then some flavoured black tea. What the heck?! Thousands of years of tea ceremonies and this is what we get?!

What is the staple Japanese food? Rice, and it comes by the kilo. However one kilogram of rice is at least £8. OK, so it is very nice rice, but to justify that price it should give you magical powers.

(Edit: turns out this is a big political topic, because other countries want to sell much cheaper rice to Japan, but Japan is holding out because it is worried that everyone will stop buying their rice).

Out and about:

There are vending machines for drinks literally everywhere, containing everything from soft drinks, hot coffee and tea, energy drinks and beer!

I like green tea, and I like ice cream, but green tea ice cream is disgusting. Save your Yen and just trust me.

Japanese cooking is actually pretty nice and seems pretty healthy, but does noticeably lack substantial vegetables. Maybe that is why they drink so many vitamin-infused beverages. However they do know how to keep a trim figure.

Differences between Japan and the West: No. 6)

Only 1% of the population appears to be something resembling overweight.

Restaurants often have a outside display of what food is on offer, and what it will look like when it arrives on your table

A Japanese seafood restaurant...or should I say, "see"-food?.

There is a strange enjoyment of all things raw: from fish, to horse meat to the many dishes that are finished off with a raw egg on top. I think they get away with this because everything is very fresh. Despite their weak immune system they must have some pretty good digestive enzymes!