Japan - first 2 months

Sorry guys, it took me some time to get back to blogging, not that I had no time (the usual westerners' excuse, usually a dishonest one), just didn't have much to say. OK, what I gathered from skyping with everyone it seems everyone wants to know how different Japanese life is from that of theirs. I have to say it's very different in some ways and quite the same in others. I'll just share some of my impressions, don't take it as a hard core truth, they're just my personal opinions based on observation and conversations (both with westerners and Japanese).
One of the strongest impressions I have is the never ending rules or conventions for everything... The way you dress, they way you appear, the way you eat, the way you behave in public... I'm glad we don't know much of the rules since we are foreigners and I really don't care to follow any even I know them :). For example, during the business meeting, there is usually tea served and one cannot take a sip unless their superior has already done so. What's up with that? Or, talking about keeping appearances (which is a national sport and preoccupation #1! here), mothers compete on who would make the prettiest bento lunch box for their kids (here's a link to pictures of those, Maiko, my Japanese friend sent them http://www.ffa.ajinomoto.com/recipe/chara/). Again, what the hell? Another thing that I despise here (mildly put) is the role of women. In this regard, Japan is way behind all the western world. Women don't seem to be treated equal to men. Job market is different for them and if they have a job, a lot of them quit once they get married. It's a pity that country that wants to be among the leading countries of he world doesn't even open a national discussion on how to use the potential of half of their population. Oh, and talking about national discourse, not sure such a concept exists here anyhow.
It may seem harsh what I'm saying, but again these are my personal opinions (which you know I never lack :)). On a more positive note, I love walking around Tokyo exploring nooks and crannies of the city. The architecture is really amazing! If I was an architect, Tokyo would be a city #1 to visit. For example in the middle of a super modern complex of apartments and shopping they put a garden! Also, I'm loving the variety of restaurants that are available here. Unfortunately some of them are very expensive, but at least there are endless possibilities for exploration!
Finally, we are starting to meet people that are slowly becoming our friends. I'm very excited about new friendships! Also, very keen on keeping the old, very dear friendships going. Please, please, please skype and write us! We miss you all very much!

Atsiprasau, bet uzeme biski laiko pratesti mano bloga. Tarp kitko ar nera lietuvisko zodzio ar pakaitalo angliskam zodziui "blog"? Nerasiau ne del to kad neturejau laiko, kaip zinia as jo dabar turiu nemazai (kuo labai dziaugiuosi), bet atrode, kad netruriu ka paskyti... Bet parasius angliskai supratau, kad vis delto turiu ka pasakyti ir galeciau dar daugiau... bet daugiau tingiu :)
Taigi, Japonija... Turiu geru ir blogu ispudziu! Pradesiu nuo blogu :) Japonijoje taisykles svarbiau visko! Cia labai svarbu kaip rengiesi, kaip atrodai, kaip valgai, kaip elgiesi (tiek viesoj, tiek privacioj erdvej), vienu zodziu kaip save pristatai yra svarbiau nei ka moki ir koks esi zmogus, kas man asmeniskai labai nepriimtina. Duosiu pora pavyzdziu kurie iliustruoja ka noriu pasakyti. Pavyzdziui, per verslo susirinkimus dazniausiai yra geriama arbata; taciau galima siurbteleti pateiktos arbatos tik tada kai tavo virsininkas ar bet kas uzimantis aukstesnes pareigas siurbteli pirmas, kitaip tenka laukti. Kitas pavyzdys, motinos daznai konkuruoja kurios pataisyti pietus vaikams bus grazesni (visi vaikai atsinesa savo pietus i mokykla), kai kurioms uzima 2 valandas padaryti visokia imantrybes!! Stai keleta pavyzdziu: http://www.ffa.ajinomoto.com/recipe/chara/. Mano reakcija, kas cia per nesamone? Vaikai per daug islepinti ir moterys nebegali normaliai grizti i savo darbus, net jei jos ir nori. Is viso elgsena su moterimis ir ju teisemis cia labai atsilikusi palyginus su vakarieciu salimis. Daziniausiai kai moteris isteka ji iskarto iseina is darbo ir sedi namuose, galima ir kuokteleti turiu pasakyti! Kita idomi puse, cia beveik nepriimta skustis ar bandyti kazka keisti kaip mes iprate, su demonstracijom, kalbom, laiskais laikrasciams... Visi sedi tyliai ir viskas.
Na is pozytivios puses, tai man cia labai patinka architectura. Visokie architecturiniai sprendimai tiesiog pasaka. Pavyzdziui, didelio modernaus kompleso viduryje yra pasondintas sodas kuris labai graziai ikorporuotas i besitesianti asfalta. Taip pat man cia patinka pabandyti ivairiausio maisto. Pat Japonu maistas gana nuobodokas, tik sushi skanu, bet uztat yra maisto is viso pasaulio, nors kartais jis labai brangus (5 bulves mums kainuoja 2$!).
Na ka, rasykit mums, mes labai laukiam, nes esam visu labai pasiilge!