Comments | roku_kyu: Roku Does Japan...soon

roku_kyu

Roku Does Japan...soon

Jan 23, 2007 23:14

Well, after swearing off air travel for the next 100 years following last summer's trips to Europe, here I am meticulously planning a trip to Japan. This spring, no less.

Yep, crazy I know, but there are very good reasons for me to go, the best reason being Family. Chasing down my heritage and having three generations of the Roku clan together in ( Read more... )

Comments 10

nekonezumi January 24 2007, 06:15:31 UTC

Ahh, another Roku Show waiting to happen. XD ( ... )

roku_kyu January 24 2007, 14:07:46 UTC

Thanks for the valuable tips. You'll probably laugh your hind end off at me, since I am currently in possession of Japanese language CDs that I'm going to play in my car.

Roku: (on the TriState) Wakarimasen. Watakushi wa namae Roku desu.

Other drivers: WTF?

jyuneen January 24 2007, 12:31:45 UTC

This is wonderful!!! You're going to Japan!! Its definitely one of the top three countries that I MUST visit in my lifetime, the other two being New Zealand (I'm an LOTR fan.), and Rome, Italy (because ever since the movie Sabrina Goes to Rome, ive been wanting to go there.

Huzzah! \o/

roku_kyu January 24 2007, 14:09:18 UTC

Thanks for the huzzah. New Zealand is pretty high on my list as well; looks beautiful! As for Rome--just don't go in the summer! Europe is unbearably hot and crowded from June-August.

yahnkehy January 24 2007, 14:51:47 UTC

YAY! I can't wait for stories of your daring doo, this promises to be quite a tale!

I've never been to Japan myself, but my brother is stationed in Kedena Okinawa so I'll just tell you what he tells me; They love english. It's a treat for them to practice with Americans and once they figure out that Roku-chan is American, they may ask you to allow them to speak english to you. Of course, having your heritage they may wonder why you aren't fluent... My brother is 6'2 and blonde, that could be why he get's away with not having to learn the language of the land...

Anyway, ganbatte kudasai Roku-chan! Have fun and don't sweat the small stuff!

roku_kyu January 24 2007, 15:14:06 UTC

Thanks for the good wishes.

I figure that the Japanese will spot me for gaijin right away; I'm only half-Japanese, and I tend to look more Hawaiian or Hispanic than Japanese. In fact, when I was in Mexico, the locals kept talking to me in Spanish, and I was embarrassed that I knew only a few phrases.

Uh-oh. What if the Japanese start addressing me in Spanish? Better buy more language CDs! ^ ~

lizstarsky January 24 2007, 15:56:42 UTC

"Gomen kudasai, eigo no menu ga arimasu ka?" <--"Excuse me, do you have an english menu?"

Also, because I know the Sequel's tastes, keep your eye out for american-style hamburger shops like Mos Burger and, of course, McDonald's. The menus are a little Japanified, but they have good french fries, and almost unfailingly have picture menus on the counter so you can point to what you want. Even the Japanese do this; I spent a minute or two practicing so I could tell the girl at Mos Burger that I wanted "chikin sando to furenchi furai potato," while the Japanese woman in line behind me just jabbed her finger at a picture on the menu, and this was good enough. :P

...don't let me forget to give you that Tokyo atlas, also. (^^)b

roku_kyu January 24 2007, 16:39:00 UTC

Thanks, I'm going to need all the help I can get! All these Japanese phrases from you and Nezumi are a godsend.

As for the atlas, since you're going a'Mitsuwa-ing this weekend, perhaps you could pass it off to Kris? Thanks!

I can't wait to tell the Sequel how to ask for "furenchi furai potato!" :P

panthera_felis January 28 2007, 09:34:06 UTC

Hey, hope you enjoy your trip to Japan~ I'm sure you'll enjoy it and have lots of wonderful adventures~

If you ever come to New Zealand in the next 6 years (I should still be somewhere around here), drop me a line~ I could probably pass you some stuff on sightseeing and if I can find it, that guide I had to the places where LOTR was filmed. If skiing and adventure/hiking/bungy jumping are your thing, I can definitely help out cause I do have a pretty good idea where all the things are.

Have fun~

roku_kyu January 29 2007, 16:18:05 UTC

Thanks for the good wishes! Yeah, New Zealand is definitely on my list of "Must See" places, especially after seeing LOTR and my particular favorite, "The Last Samurai." (NZ doubled for Japan in that flick.)

Skiing adventures are definitely for me, but bungee-jumping is out. You see, things have a way of going wrong for me when I participate in sports (my quest for athleticism is ruled by Murphy's Law), and unfortunately, when bungee-jumping goes wrong, the results are pretty much fatal.

I think I'll just stick to ocean-kayaking, scuba-diving, whitewater-rafting, and other sports like that. Note to Self: Must learn how to swim!