They say Napoleon was able to sleep anytime, anywhere. Stories depict the famous general able to sleep a few hours even before a battle. When the time came to lead he was fully energized and ready for anything. There cannot be an over emphasis on the value of such a skill. Since the beginning of Golden week on Friday I have been on a fun marathon of sorts, with far too many cheering of Kampie, money spent and sleep not being taken. But as a foreigner teaching, working, studying or simply traveling in another country it is somewhat of an unwritten obligation to take advantage of all the time you have. Myself, I enjoy to socialize and so this is my modus operendi when I have time off from work, such as now. But in context I have been to Japan twice in the past and have seen many of the sites and sounds that most come to see. If you are coming to Japan for the first time I recommend a healthy mix of the social scene of Japan in combination with the stereo-typical site seeing. One of the most fantastic things about the country is that the people are wonderful. The biggest obstacle is that english is a a rare talent to find here. I am lucky because I have alot of Japanese friends who are good english speakers. This again is a reason I am such a large supporter of AIESEC, which is how I got my internship here in Japan. AIESEC gives interns who are abroad a large support network from the day you begin living in a new country.
In my personal calendar for the near future I am planning to go golfing with my friend Tatsuro and his family. Golfing is very popular in Japan but primarily for older people, a similar situation to the united states. Per capita Japan has more golf courses than any other country. Prices are steeper to play a round than in America, about $60. However the technological advantages employed in Japan are above and beyond what is in the States. Supposedly golf carts follow a buried underground guiding cable and the cart moves via a remote you get to tell it to go or stop. In addition the driving ranges have a system of automatically bringing your balls to the T, making the old bucket-O’-balls method unnecessary. I am excited to see this in person, it sounds very Japanese :)
Onsen, or hotsprings are also a Japanese favorite. They love them here and many people vacation at such spots. Hotels are often built by natural hot springs and because of Japans volcanic tendencies they are located all over the country. I was supposed to go to one today with a friend but we couldn’t get a reservation on account of how busy it is during Golden Week. Japan has many forms of enjoyment to offer and I still have much to experience! Now if only I can survive my marathon of fun. Tonight should be the grand-finale, we are meeting up with Tatsuro’s high school and middle school friends in Shibuya, a favorite night life location.
