Stories from Matt.

Brickbats*

Not wishing to be (or appear) rude, I always avoid complaining about the country I've "chosen" to live in.

But I've got to be honest, Japan has it's annoying quirks, and can be an extremely difficult place for foreigners to go about their daily lives.

Language, obviously is the number one barrier for anyone who stumbles into Japanese life, without years of study, you simply cannot hope to converse easily, read a newspaper (actually anything, really), or conduct any but the simplest everyday business.

Reading and writing are the main barriers to learning. I suspect someone with a good ear (which sadly I have not), being surrounded by Japanese people, with no English speaker to translate or assist, could pick up enough of the local language to do well in a matter of a few months. Give that person a form to fill in, or even ask them to read any of the multitude of signs and flags that line the town streets - they'd have little hope.

Centuries ago, the Japanese adopted Chinas method of pictographic writing. Known locally as kanji, these elaborate "characters" have evolved along with the existing syllabary to form Japan's modern language. There is a distinct beauty to this method, and it allows complex ideas to be communicated in very short "sentences".

To the untrained foreigner, however, it is utterly indecipherable.

My own students, and other readers who know me well, will now be saying, "You should have studied harder, Matthew.". Well, yes.

Thankfully, I have my lovely wife to conduct my affairs for me. I'm able to avoid most of the more difficult personal and official interactions that would otherwise cause me hours of distraction.

Now, as to throwing bricks (or parts of bricks).

Japan's traffic is nightmarish, very politely, frustratingly, nightmarish. There is simply not enough space in this country for roads. Most towns and cities are built along the lines of the towns and cities that existed before them, most conceived long before the motor car came along.

The result is traffic lights, signals, signals, signals. On almost every corner. Stop signs in ridiculous places, almost no left hand turning lanes, and about three round-abouts in the entire country. Eventually, one gets used to stopping, but patience is often sorely tested.

So, Traffic. Also the cold winters. The usual complaints about things you can't buy (baked beans, for one). The television here is pretty awful. 

On a positive note, the people I've met and dealt with generally, have been most polite and friendly.