Random Party

Rushen and I only went to town to go to the travel agents (me to collect my tickets, and him to buy some), but we somehow ended up at a random party full of Japanese people. James had met a man at Rainbow Plaza who wanted foreigners to come to a party for lots of people who were all flying off to a combination of England, Germany, and Denmark in November. So we ended up going.

It was a pretty cool evening, with them all paying for everything: all the food and drink. Though I did feel a bit guilty about that, but you take what you can get! We had to do a little presentation on our country: about the education system, health system, and ecology and weather. That seemed to be about their only link: they were all interested in those subject, not that many of them paid much attention.

The rubbish system is quite different in Japan than in England. They seem to be very environmentally friendly - even the businesses require little legislation to reduce their waste output. It just seems to be built in to them; maybe from Shintoism, which has its foundings in a respect for nature. Anyway, the main difference in Japan is that they charge for refuse collection in an effort to reduce people's waste output. Instead they encourage recycling, and everywhere you go in Japan there are different bins for cans and glass, than for "burnable" rubbish. I think it sounds like a good system.

The only annoying thing about tonight was that the guy who had invited us all kept calling me "Matt Damon". Supposedly I look like him, and I've been getting called it for the last five years. I don't mind if someone says it once, but he was just introducing me to everyone as "Matt" and not even mentioning my real name. Oh well.

Talking to the Japanese was quite interesting. I tried to explain what "Queen's English" was, and taught them about cockney rhyming slang. I think they understood. We got a few of their numbers and some business cards, and I think they want to meet us again next week at an English bar that they know of.