No, I’m not referring to ‘squitos, ants or bees here, but rather to that elusive slinking creature that is the Travel Bug. You think it’s gone dormant, burrowed deep in a wall in the place you’re calling home, and then suddenly it’s upon you and you’re caught up in a whirlwind of passports and planning and swooning over distant seas and mountains.
This happened to me this week. My parents came down to Oaxaca for a visit and I was smacked into seeing the city anew again. I saw bromeliads in the Sierra Norte and broken turquoise balconies on the second floor of crumbling buildings.
Photo: Sarah
The flavors of tortillas jumped out at me again and I remembered just how good the cappuccinos at café Nuevo Mundo are, and how good it feels to sit for hours there under a sky bluer than blue. I also remembered, seeing my family see, feel, and process the city, just how overwhelming and transformative travel can be.
Photo: Sarah
And then I found out that I’m going to Japan. I’ve been offered a three-month position training teachers in Nagoya. So right on the tail of a big family visit, still swept up in all the renewed enthusiasm for Mexico, I got bit again—hard—by the travel bug.
I can’t wait to get back to Asia and to see Japan. I’d be forever grateful if you, readers, would offer your experiences with Japan and Japanese culture. Anyone taught there? Lived there? Traveled there? Advice? Insight? Sound off below!
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I lived in Japan for almost three years, I now live in California. One of the most important things to remember is respect. especially toward the elders. It is also very important to say hello/Good morning. Lived out in town the kids who where in highschool would knock on my door asking me to teach them english. It is mandatory for them to know english. Emmerse yourself in their culture take trips on the weekends all over the place, eat Japanese food, go shopping talk to your neighbors, some may feel uncomfortable at first, keep a smile on your face they warm up really fast. learn some Japanese it really comes in handy. You will notice depending on where you live that certain areas never sleep most Japanese only sleep about five hours top per night. My neighbors little girl did not speak english, but she was so enthralled with everything we did, at christmas we gave her a santa hat she was so excited she thanked us in Japanese ran to her house and brought us back a gift. That was a wonderful experience. You will also notice that being American we are very fast paced, the Japanese are not they get a lot done, but at a slower pace. You will see that the Japanese students will be so excited to learn English and all they can about America, Bring lots of pictures, books etc, you will see your students flourish when you do this. I did not charge the students who would knock on my door to learn we would invited them in and teach them, they were so thankful. Don’t play loud music, Don’t dress in short shorts or tank tops the japanese dress more moderately. You will absolutely love I did the memories will be with me forever. If you have specific questions just email
Happy travels. One more thing when you call or answer a phone in Japan the person calling will say Mushi, Mushi, that is like us saying hello?hi↵ -
i’ve given into the travel bug bite ages ago. no matter how much i try to itch it, it simply doesn’t go away. so i figure, go with the flow. thanks to it, i get to appease my addiction.
i have to say though, sometimes it is dormant in me. the longest has been two years, but then i’m right back into itching it so fiercely it’s silly to ignore.
The Travel Expert(a) and an Expat with a Twist↵ -
Hey, congrats Sarah! That’s so cool. I was in Japan when I was, oh, 9 years old and my experience was pretty much limited to Disneyland Tokyo and Expo ‘85, so I won’t offer you any advice (except that It’s A Small World After All is annoying no matter what country you’re in – my wife would disagree).
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Hey all!
Sarah here (logged in as admin-gotta fix that!). Thanks for your comments.
@ Eleonora – I’ve found people are kind in most places I go, and inevitably there are the exceptions. I actually haven’t heard anything about Japanese people being particularly kind (or mean!) Guess I’ll have to see when I get there.
@ Judy – Thanks for the advice! Can’t wait to hear “mushi mushi.” Interesting that the Japanese are night people…I wouldn’t have thunk it for some reason. Although Haruki Murakami characters (to make a biiiggg generalization here) are always staying up till 3 in a Denny’s somewhere.
@ Marina – We’re never safe, no? I feel like no matter how dedicated I am to watering my plants, and how much I may start feeling like yes, here I am, this is my place…there is always the possibility of getting bitten.
@ Carlo – Thanks! But I resent you for getting It’s a Small World After All in my head and bringing back unpleasant memories of fifth grade choir. You should come up and visit–Melbourne is a stone’s throw from Japan!
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Tim here, logged in as admin gotta fix that
Sarah!
Japan!
Yes!
That’s great news. And I totally feel you about getting bit again. A few days ago I was sort of dragging….now everything is new and fresh and ripe for exploration…I want to climb every mountain in Laos.
Funny how the travel bug bites hardest after the stomach bugs finally die….
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Mushi Mushi means “bug bug”. Japanese say moshi moshi on the phone.
To respectfully greet people for the first time, you say “Yo parateh ru”.
Ganbatte!
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Tim, come on now! haha
I would not recommend his advice on greeting people…unless you’ve been out drinking.
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This morning I started scratching some notes about things done differently in Japan. I’ve lived here probably half my life, so, I’d probably make a lousy Expert on travelling Japan.
Besides driving on the wrong side of the road, we take our shoes off at the door, buy metric dozen eggs (10 in a carton), take a shower before jumping in the bathtub, brush our teeth at the kitchen sink, have arse-washers on the commodes,..etc. I’m in my office and left the damn list at home !Here’s one for you, though and make sure you don’t forget it; extremely important- Never pass food to someone else and expect them to recieve it, from your chopsticks to theirs. I’d been taught this rule years ago, but never realized how important it was until last year when my mother-in-law passed away. After the cremation everyone, including myself, and even the deceased’s great-grandchildren , picks up the bones with chopsticks (one at a time) and passes them to a priestess’ chopsticks. She then places the bones in an urn. Betcha don;t forget that one !
If you get a chance, see a Bullfight. It’s nothing like what you’d expect. I’d love to see someone do a story comparing a Japanese Bullfight with that of Mexican or Spanish one. By the time you finish your Asian travel, I should have around 100 Okinawan Bullfight pictures left for you to choose from, if you’d like.
Have a fun trip !
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