So, what is it like to be in Japan and how is it different from home? The first thing you notice is how polite everyone is – the bow and say hello, and this continues no matter how many times you see them in the day. The Japanese also like to run (or at least shuffle along quickly) everywhere to help you!
Also with politeness you always have to add the polite ending to everything you say, for example, “Ohoio” is good morning but the polite ending is “gazai mass” – getting off the bus while everyone is trying the say that mouthful can take a while 😉
White driving gloves are really encouraged. The gloves don’t seem to make them better drivers (especially on icy corners or hills) but at least the driver looks the part.
Covid is still a really close monitored thing here so we have to wear masks all the time indoors. The only time we don’t have to wear masks is when we are teaching skiing or snowboarding when we have to wear a buff and be prepared to pull that up instead. Pretty tricky when you are speaking to or teaching people who don’t have English as their language and you have removed the ability to lip read! Also pretty taxing to do deep breathing in a Relaxation Yoga Class while wearing a mask (I discovered yesterday).
People think that you understand Japanese, for example, Pete and I went to a Japanese BBQ restaurant and were given a Japanese menu. We asked for an English one (as our boss said they had” to which the waiter replied “no have” and waited for our order. Google Translate was not being very helpful and we were just about to start oinking like a pig when an English menu appeared – phew! Once we were able to order, the food was amazing and not too expensive – Pete’s litre of beer was the most expensive item.
The Club Med regulars – there are guests who have been coming to Club Med Sahoro for years and visit several times in the season. They absolutely LOVE the “Crazy Signs” which are like action songs from all around the world and they are much better at them than the new members of staff. They rush up to the dance floor to show off their prowess. I am learning them all (eventually) and as we do them every night – I’m thinking it is a great way to burn off the amazing dinner we eat at the buffet each night. Meanwhile, Pete tries desperately to find a bloke to sit and have a beer each evening with instead (although some of the Japanese men love the Crazy Signs too). After the opening week, the guests are mainly from Singapore, Taiwan and Australia so they are not so keen on the dancing.
The Japanese are shy/not shy – so they are quite happy to get up and sing karaoke or dance Crazy Signs but can be pretty reserved at times and always hold a hand up over their face when eating or laughing. However they don’t mind soaking stark naked in a Japanese bath (Ofuro) or sitting in open showers afterwards (same sex only).
They love slippers – indoor slippers, heated USB slippers, toilet slippers….. you name it – they could have slippers for it.
We hope that as the season continues we will discover more about the Japanese and their culture. Maybe learn a bit more Japanese – after 2 Duolingo lessons I gave up trying to memorise all the symbols for the letters and also all the sounds so it will have to be just as we hear it from our Japanese colleagues and guests.
