Legendary Culture Shock

Now, I expected this sort of thing, but not of such magnitude.

I should begin by explaining why there have been no entries for the last few too many days. The answer, hard to believe as it may be, is actually fairly simple.

I have no internet.

And when I say I have no internet, I don't mean just that my room has no internet, no no no.

Perhaps the most immediate culture shock of them all; there is a CRAZY lack of available internet in Japan. In my few days in Sapporo I only found only one single restaurant that has wifi, pardon the McDonald's which requires an iPhone to use. Snazzy.

This is an astounding revelation; because, by contrast, it seems these days in America that almost too many restaurants have Wifi, almost always free.

It seems then, that the actual use of internet in Japan via laptop seems drastically smaller than Americans. Aside from home internet use, there seems to be zero.

That is, unless you include the cellphone, but that's an entirely new phenomena I'm not going to get in to.

Alas, culture shock. Why doesn't this totally industrial nation have Wifi?? Waaaaaaah!

In other culture shock news: Men wearing Uggs.


Indeed, culture shock is vicious.

Pre-culture-shock culture shock

We all know the story. Foreign guy goes to far away unknown place. Culture in this land is significantly different to him, and he freaks out. Culture shock.

But have we ever heard of it happening before the actual arrival in said country?

Welcome to my life folks.

I keep thinking ABOUT all the expected things I won't enjoy. Which is somewhat selfish I know; most people would kill for such an adventure.

For instance, my last meal :


Deep dish from Chicago. I'd be hard pressed to find a better pie in Japan.

Now this sounds TOTALLY outlandish. What sort of fool am I to dislike the obviously impossible variety of food that I crave in japan? If anything the styles of food and composition are in many ways BETTER than in the States. But I suppose we all have some favoritism.

But what all about high context issues you aren't fully capable of understanding? I 'unno mannnnn....

And let's not forget about clothes! Yikes! I doubt I'll fit anything I buy there!

Ehem, but let me compose myself.

I suppose the most of my worries comes from the unknown. There's always a level of uncertainty that I need to get used to in any traveling. Being comfortable with the unknown will help with enjoying my time abroad.

And soon... it won't be unknown anymore.

Pre Japan Orientation Blog

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, BOYS AND GIRLS.

My name is Mike.

Yes, Mike. Simple really.

And in fact, the purposes for making this blog are rather simple.

I have enjoyed the wonders of cultural differences between Japan and America for a good 6 years, and now, it's time to take this completely different lifestyle head on. I will be studying abroad at Hokkaido University, arriving in Japan on September 24th, 2009. Using this blog, I will document the intricacies of daily life as a foreigner in the sprawling landmass known as Hokkaido.

I mean what in the world could be so different huh? Yeesh!

Naturally I will make sure to keep everything intellectually accessible to all audiences, not just those studying or familiar with Japanese. Such things would be unfair, right?

Honestly the idea of making a blog was questionable to me; there are tons of "gaijin in japan" blogs out there, a vast number of foreigners showing the same photos of Japanese Big Macs and sushi served on conveyor belts. It's somewhat hard to imagine my perspective would add much to the already deep pot of knowledge from the outsider perspective.

But perhaps this blog is more for my own desires; a diary or sorts to track things I find interesting, unique, vivid, wild, astounding, and just plain fun.

But in regards to the name of this blog, what does any of that mean right?

どうも、マイクで〜す！ Doumo, Maiku Desu! Is really just a corny way of me introducing myself in Japanese, much like saying "Heyyyy, I'm Mike!" . And this first blog is my introduction.

I hope you all will enjoy reading my rambles as much as I will enjoy writing them.

- Mike