I’ve been in Okinawa for a few days now and it really does feel like a different country from Japan sometimes! The Okinawan culture is blend of Japanese, Chinese and American cultures with a generous helping of island spirit. And whilst on the one hand Okinawa has been the object of international disputes for hundreds of years, it feels like a little island that no one’s discovered before.
When I first arrived at the airport, I noticed that everything was so amazingly clean. Riding the monorail to the centre of Naha I don’t think I would’ve been surprised to see people eating off the pavements! That side of Okinawa was very Japanese; the cleanliness. Once I arrived in Naha at my hotel, I began to see a bit of a more different side to Okinawa.
The budget hotel I was staying at was in a very non-touristy shopping area around Heiwa Douri (Peace Street). The shops seemed pretty basic and were run, for the most part, by little old ladies. As I walked around Heiwa Douri a lot of people were looking at me with what seemed like a mixture of curiosity and hostility. I’ve been around a lot in Japan but I’ve never been the object of such looks. I don’t know whether it’s because I’m a foreigner in a small city, or because they think I’m one of the many American soldiers stationed on the island (or perhaps because I’m just so damned good-looking!).
Last night I was walking to the beach and walked past a house which was really a bit of a shack. Inside the tv was left on and there was an old woman lying down who’d obviously just fallen asleep with the door open on to the road. It reminded me a lot of a kampung house in Malaysia.
The weather is really hot and really humid; again a bit like Malaysia. I suppose Okinawa is so far south that it’s not surprising it reminds me of South-East Asia in a lot of ways.
Tags: Japan, Okinawa, personal
It looks beautiful there. Makes me wish it was summer again, as it’s winter here at the moment and quite cold. Can’t wait to here more of your adventures!
あぁ、がんばってください！ Just comfort yourself with the thought of me being too hot and sweating (whilst laying by the beach with a cocktail in hand, lol).
really clear and nice photos u took! so..i guess u feel like a rock star there? looool no one would give u such a glance in uk , no? enjoy the stardoom ;P
Lol, right. Who would look at lil ol me? Hehe.
Man, seems like you;’re having major fun over there. i’m seriously thinking about doing it for the winter. Are you thinking of doing it then too?
I thought about doing boobooSKI but I don’t think I will. I want to move to Tokyo and set myself up there for a bit. Also, I don’t like living with English-speakers because I’m not practising Japanese as much as if I was living with Japanese people. But it’s great fun for a few months and the bosses are perhaps more understanding of your poor Japanese than if you were to work in a store in Tokyo.
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Thanks for the comment! I’m glad you like it.
Now that you’ve mentioned ‘Malaysia’, I’ve become very interested. Anyway, when were you here in Malaysia, and what was the occasion?
I lived in Malaysia for 5 years (went to the Alice Smith School) and was there because my mum and stepdad married and my stepdad’s lived and worked in KL. Loved it and can’t wait to return someday. =D
i love okinawa~~ (probably because that’s where i’m from~~)
about the whole “strange look” thing….i get that too, when i visit, being half okinawan/japanese. okinawan people are not too happy with the american military presence on their island, and i don’t blame them. it just kinda hurts when they automatically assume that you’re from a base when really, your parents met because of some other reason!! rantrantrant!!
i hope you enjoyed your stay in okinawa!!
Yeah, it’s a bit annoying. When I’m elsewhere in Japan I feel proud to be travelling independently and practising my Japanese. When I’m Okinawa (especially in Chatan where there are lots of Americans) people assume I’m the snotty kid of a soldier and I speak to Japanese. Bit annoying but the shop assistants are always happy to hear me speak to them in Japanese. Thanks for the comment!
Hey, love your site.
I’d love to do the same thing, but not before I learn the language. . . Do you find Japan to be a more considerate society than those of the west, or is that a popular misconception espoused in anime? Your haircut makes you look much younger, it’s pretty good for something you’ve done yourself though. How was your area effected by the tremor? Are you ok?
You should definitely try a working holiday in Japan, and you should definitely attempt to learn Japanese first. (It will make job-finding a lot easier if you speak Japanese!)
Is Japan more considerate than the West? Um, I don’t think it necessarily is. I think on the surface it’s a lot more polite and there are polite phrases and polite language. Ultimately, everyone (whether Japanese or Western) is selfish and working for their own means. Because Japan is very polite on the surface, I think there is more backstabbing than in the West. In the West, you generally know if someone doesn’t like you.
I say that, but I don’t know enough yet to really understand. Ask me again in a few months!
And we didn’t get the earthquake here in Okinawa, but we did get a typhoon. I’m just about to write about that. Thanks for the comment!
It’s odd you say the cleaniness of Okinawa is very Japanese..
I’m so glad I found your blog! I’m really interested in doing boobooBEACH next year so I look forward to reading more of your updates! On the booboo website it said internet access might be tricky, but seems you’re not having too much trouble. I really hope you’re having the time of your life!