Comments on: Things I will miss about Japan

By: Christeph: On the Lam » Blog Archive » Back in the USSA

Christeph: On the Lam » Blog Archive » Back in the USSA — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 08:24:03 +0000

[...] I felt the old puritanical attitudes toward alcohol come flooding back as I sat in my favorite brewery, void of ID. Imagine my [...]

By: Chris

Chris — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 12:18:31 +0000

That’s weird. The post seems to have zapped itself. I’ve restored it from a previous draft.

By: Bobbi

Bobbi — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 04:18:52 +0000

So, what will you miss? I don’t see anything after “Here’s the stuff I’ll miss when I go…” ????? Cousin Bobbi again!

By: Bobbi

Bobbi — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 04:12:26 +0000

What an experience you’ve both had. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading about your adventures. I hope you’ll continue to blog wherever you go! Cousin Bobbi

By: Suzanne

Suzanne — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 04:51:34 +0000

These are entertaining and insightful posts, thanks for taking the time to write them so thoroughly. I remember discovering while living in Honduras the difference between the moral wrong and social wrong – revolutionary (people are not constantly pulling my guilt strings!) while at the same time disturbing (adultery is OK as long as no one finds out!). Like you said, it’s all a matter of what you get used to living with. Looking forward to seeing you when you return – don’t forget I’m still in Sac!

By: Papa

Papa — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 06:10:54 +0000

Thanks for this. I was one of your most interesting and insightful.
And, I am afraid that you will find it has gotten worse in your absence, at least as far as politics go. Liberals and conservatives seem to be ready to go to war.
I don’t remember this from my teen years or even in my adult life until the past 5 years or so. I hope it is a passing phase.

By: Eric

Eric — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 04:46:51 +0000

A great read, Chris. Thanks for sharing!!

By: Mitsuye Yamada

Mitsuye Yamada — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:56:41 +0000

I thoroughly enjoyed both of these “things I will miss and won’t miss” pieces! Thanks for your astute analysis of the Shinto religion in Japan. My mother-in-law (Yosh’s Mom who died about 15 years ago at age 101) kept huge Shinto and Buddhist shrines which took up about half of the space in her living room in Hawaii. She daily burned incense in both of them every day. I had always thought that Buddhism fulfilled her spiritual needs, while Shintoism kept her in close touch with her love of her birthplace, Japan (nationalism?) Your coments clarified a lot for me!

What a lifetime of memories you both will treasure forever!

By: mom

mom — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 19:15:44 +0000

I think this analysis is very penetrating. I enjoyed reading it, and I think you are absolutely right about American Puritanism. My family liked to pass judgments, and I later found that that habit didn’t allow one to think things through; in fact, it stopped all conversation, because after an absolutist judgment, there wasn’t anything more to say. This led for me to a fear of being judged wrong, or lacking, so I was afraid to develop my own thoughts, and support them with logic…a great handicap when one is going through graduate school. I think this habit of judging rather than analyzing is encouraged and supported by the churches and religions in the U.S. I love the distinction between a moral wrong and a social wrong.

By: Nik

Nik — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 13:31:57 +0000

*WOW* what a fitting testament to your amazing experiences! Loved both of these summaries.

Nik