Northern Japan

Thank you so much!

I have read several cultural guides and have one on order from Amazon, but hadn't read so far about the chopstick thing.  One of the cultural things that I love is the idea of having some sort of disposible flip flops outside the bathroom so people (who take off their shoes when visiting in your home) won't have to wonder what their bare feet are touching when they use your restroom.  I'm visualizing having a basket of those flip flops like at pedicure places.  :-)

 Several local nationals will be working for me and teaching classes to help people acculturate, so that will be a nice to resource to have at hand.

It is so true that thinking ahead of time is awesome and helpful to the experience one has.  Our family lived overseas for 9 years (on Guam and in Spain, the Netherlands, and Turkey) and I have to say that Spain was really hard in large part because we didn't want to go and went set to think it was a bad place to be.  When we got over ourselves, it was a terrific experience!

Janice

You may want to check these videos out, they're pretty funny and poke a little fun at some Japanese traditions (these are done by Japanese comedians, they're hilarious if you're into Japanese humor which can be subtle but very sarcastic):

The Japanese Tradition: apologising (note: read the english translation subtitles)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqZcEwHBAk8

The Japanese Tradition: chopsticks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEQlR2NxJWw&feature=related

The Japanese Tradition - Sushi
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0b75cl4-qRE

The Japanese Tradition -Onigiri-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeaN4pJeIfk&feature=related

Japanese Dating Tradition
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fmq_E1ItzJQ&feature=related

Don't ask what you're eating.

Awww come on, monkfish liver is good... Well, if it's prepared correctly. I also hear crab-gut sushi is tasty.

I'm not a fan of the eyeballs or testicles either, but when you visit, it's apparently fun to see what weird stuff they can get you to eat. 

I don't actually like any seafood, so it was hard for me to find stuff I liked there.

My son is in the Air Force and is currently stationed at Misawa AFB in Northern Japan.  He LOVES it.  He has been there a couple of years but will come back stateside February.

Have a wonderful time!!!!!

That is precisely where I am going .... will be in Airman and Family Readiness.  Maybe I'll get to meet him at least when he outprocesses.  Thanks!

Janice

Good luck on your new adventure.  I lived in Japan for 7 years and really enjoyed it.    One of the first bits of advise I would give you is to find out if you will be living on the post or on the economy.  That will make a huge difference in what you should/can take with you.  Realize that even on post accomodations are usually small to don't bother to take a bunch of stuff that you don't really need.  Please feel free to ask me anything if you have any questions.  I will do my best to help you.

Karen

Thanks, Karen! 

Where in Japan were you at?

I have very few household goods, so think I will be fine either way.  I am emergency essential but single, so it is hard to say what the Housing Office will allow.  Still waiting to hear.  :-)

Janice