1) Kill the Mukade with a butcher knife or a big pair of scissors. They are in the centipede family and love the hu
midity. Seeing as how unbelievably humid Japan is, they are proud residents. I learned that we must kill them by cutting them in half because if we squish them, a) it might not actually kill them and just make them angry, and b) the mukade will release its hormones and other mukade will not be too far behind. Now why, you ask, must we kill these insipid bugs? Because they are poisonous. Once they bite you, you can become paralyzed and apparently it's no fun. Luckily I'm told that there aren't very many in the area that I'm going to, but that I should still be aware of killing procedures.2) Drink, Ramen and Onsen. A JET alumni said that this was a staple of his. To go out in the evening, then on the next saturday or sunday morning to eat some ramen, then hit the onsen for an entire afternoon. Onsens are basically public hot springs. They are cheap to go to (some about 6$) and it is a natural hot spring. There are a TON of them al
l over Japan, and my lonely planet guide even ranks them. They are different ones for men and women and there are to be enjoyed after you clean your body (ie: not to be seen as a public bath) and after you stip yourself of all your clothes. Beats me why a nation of very shy and diplomatic people have no problem getting naked together. This is probably an activity which will take me some time to build up the courage to go to.3) Drugs are drugs and drugs are very illegal. Marijuana and coke among all the other drugs are not tolerated. You get caught, you get charged and interrogated and deported. Not to mention fired.
4) Speeding is bad, and costly. A JET alumni told an anecdote of someone he knew, how drove 30 kms over the speed limit and got a several thousand dollar ticket. The speed limit on the highways are 80km/h, so that ticket was for going 110km/h. I can just image the size of a ticket some of us montreal drivers would get. Note to self; drive the speed you would in a school zone.
5) Passengers can drink in a moving car, but the driver cannot. Zero tolerance for blood alcohol level, however anyone else in the car can drink as much booze as they want. But if the driver is drinking or has drank then everyone else in the car is just as accountable, legally.
6) Men and women are groped. A lot. This is something we are told to expect. Various defense tactics were shared as well, including screaming pervert.
7) Japan is a cash society. It is not uncommon to carry 500$ in cash everyday. Not to mention that Japan is one of the safest countries in the world. Of course we can't be stupid, but let's say we loose our wallet with 1000$ dollars in it, it would not be uncommon to have it mailed to you with all the money still there. Crime rates are low as well.
8) Most of us will be the town celebrity. With a 99.9% population rate whom are Japanese, we will stick out and people will talk about us and we will be stared at, even in the grocery store. It would not be uncommon to have our pictures in the paper and to meet government officials. Especially if you are in the inaka (countryside), we will be the only foreigner around for kilometers around. Thankfully I'll be in a small city, so hopefully this won't happen too much.
9) If you have a tattoo and someone sees it, they will most likely think you are in a gang. On the subway they may clear the space around you, you may not even be accepted into some onsen.
10) Thailand is cheap to go to for winter, about 500$ for a round trip. Guess where I'll be for christmas?!
and one more just because it's funny:
11) It is not uncommon at all for everyone to ask about your bowel movements. Enough said.
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