Jeff, it's spooky scary how easily retaliation creeps into your mind when a loved one is getting hurt.
But off that subject, I found a great tackle shop this evening. The owner said "striper" when he saw my photos
. When we got to the Keys pics, he knew most of those fish as well. He went to the Florida Keys for his honeymoon
My daughter was there to translate, but I told him I would be back to buy and look around his shop. One day while she is in school, I'll go back and root through all his stuff to see what I can bring back. I wonder if Sampo Swivels are cheap in Japan
Not much is cheap over here, that's for sure. Again, I can't get over the culture shock. The kids are so well behaved. Nobody would consider cutting in line for the damn escalators. They all line up and patiently wait to step on the moving stairs. In the USA kids would be knocking you over. There are no gang "tags" on any walls. The store owners leave there goods and wares out all evening without anything getting stolen.
We did have a 2.0 earthquake. My first
. I was with Don fishing when the one in Maryland hit a few years ago. Because we were on the water, we never felt a thing.
I have never walked so much in my life. Everybody walks or rides bicycles to a store 5 miles away. Fuel is pretty expensive, about $1.75/liter. My daughter says that's down from near $3/liter not long ago.
Mopeds, motorcycles, and small cars are the norm. I know most cars wouldn't pass the USA crash test. Just about every gas station has a car wash. I asked my daughter how come. She said they wash their cars almost daily. If you have a dirty car, that's a reflection on you and how you treat your possessions. If you have dirty possessions, you must be dirty too!
That reminds me, you rarely see women smoke (men yes). A woman seen smoking is a wild woman with no morals. I keep watching out for a pretty woman who smokes
. I hope she speaks English
If you forget your change, they come running out of the store to find you and give you your money. If you buy something from a "Mom and Pop" type family store, they follow you to the door, bow, and thank you for your business.
Most every store has a little tray next to the cash register. You always put you money in the tray, never hand it to them. They in turn, place your change in the tray. Money to them is "dirty" and handing it to them is a bit of an insult.
There is NO tipping. When someone delivers packages to you apartment, no tip. If you try to tip, they realize you don't understand their culture. They will stand there waiting for you to take the money back.
They have such a high regard for whatever their job is. Whether its a window washer, a guy that lets cars out of the parking garage (in uniform and white gloves), or a corporate executive. It would be an insult to their family if they didn't give their best, no matter what job.
As you can tell, after just a few days, I'm amazed at how proud they are to be Japanese. Back home, everyone wants to be African-American, Mexican-American, Italian-American, Arab-American or whatever.
It's safe to walk the streets at night. Many Japanese work a 10 hr day, then go to dinner with the other office personnel, and arrive home late in the evening. The high school kids go to school all day, play sports after school, and take SAT Prep type classes at night to try to get into the best Universities; so they are coming home late as well.
Oh well, my wife says the snow is off the boat and better weather is on it's way. I hope the winds lay down to Light and Variable.
Have a good one,
5th