I really am going to miss having to tip for service, though where I’m from in the states a dinner or lunch out is still cheaper after tax and tip than a meal in Tokyo.

I know the majority of the girls in my study abroad program were often distressed by the squat toilets (less common but they seem really common in train stations). I’m more outdoorsy so I didn’t really care, I think in general no matter where you come from/where your going you have to set aside the little things, because I found that it was the little things that drove me nuts (water saving mechanisms – the water turns off every 30 seconds- on the showers in my dorm brought me to tears many a time). The big things like language difference were more navigable because they are more obvious to all parties involved.

Capitalism mofo’, people think something costs less than it is, owner gets more money. There is no way you couldn’t “fathom” that without me explaining it to you, but it’s always fashionable to take a desperate shot at the United States, no matter how stupid the reason.