Carlos second week
16 Feb 2005
Grocery store story gets funnier; I thought I wouldn’t get tricked a third time, wrong…. This time is was salt instead of sugar. Coffee with salt is not something I would recommend, is tasted horrible! I do have a positive experience with the supermarket, they sell DUVEL, my favorite Belgian beer. I could only get 2 bottles, but experience taught me that is enough for me. So yesterday I enjoyed two lovely Duvels, all that is missing are the real glasses (hint).
I told you earlier that there are tunnels on the road to the office. It is in total 10 km. These tunnels are really scary. They are well lit, but two lanes with only small reflector sign separating them. Especially at night it is kind of scary, the tunnels are narrow, oncoming traffic sometimes has blinding lights and to make things worse, your brain refuses to accept that you have to drive on the left side. All in all, too little space and an uncomfortable drive, nowadays I take the long way home, with only one tunnel.
Last Monday it was very misty, of course it is clear in the tunnel, but when you exit the tunnel you enter a wall of mist and wonder whether traffic behind you will notice you. My colleague Rachid had an even worse experience. He came back from Kumamoto and had to leave the highway, because of the fog. Luckily he had a navigation system in his car and was accompanied by a Japanese colleague. After they left he highway they entered their destination into the navigation system and went on their way. The navigation system led them into the mountains, where it was even foggier. They couldn’t drive faster than 10k/h and after 3 hours were back in the valley. They arrived safely but were badly shaken.
At the moment we have a long weekend because of Japan Foundation Day. On top of that there is a Lantern Festival in the Chinese quarter. About 750,000 visitors from outside Nagasaki come to town for this festival. The Chinese quarter is decorated with lanterns in all kinds of shapes and forms. It is really pretty. After a walk through China Town I went to look for someplace to eat, but each restaurant had a huge line. I stood in the shortest line, for a sushi restaurant, little plates on a conveyor belt pass you by, and you chose what looks good.
I gave my name to the waitress and after 15 minutes I was called. Japanese often pronounce my name as Kaalos. She brought me to my seat behind the conveyor belt. An old guy, wearing a Juan Pablo Montoya cap, sat next to me. After about 10 seconds he asked me where I was from. Full of pride I say: Colombia! No reaction from the man, no sign he connects Juan Pablo Montoya and me coming from the same country. He asks me what I do in Nagasaki, whether I have a wife and kids etc. After some silence I start talking about Formula 1, Montoya and the cap he is wearing. Formula 1?.....Cap? Ohhhh, I always wear this cap when I go for a run….
He ordered a beer for me and some specially made sushi and says “present from me for you”. How can you not like somebody like that? 10 Minutes later he again orders the same for me, which I found a little bit too nice, but he refused to let me pay the second round. After a difficult conversation with a Japanese phrase book and hands and feet, I found out that he is a retired doctor, has four children, four grand children and one of his daughters lives in NY. I also have his address and phone number, I have to visit him with my wife…. which we will certainly do. The integration process has started.
I told you earlier that there are tunnels on the road to the office. It is in total 10 km. These tunnels are really scary. They are well lit, but two lanes with only small reflector sign separating them. Especially at night it is kind of scary, the tunnels are narrow, oncoming traffic sometimes has blinding lights and to make things worse, your brain refuses to accept that you have to drive on the left side. All in all, too little space and an uncomfortable drive, nowadays I take the long way home, with only one tunnel.
Last Monday it was very misty, of course it is clear in the tunnel, but when you exit the tunnel you enter a wall of mist and wonder whether traffic behind you will notice you. My colleague Rachid had an even worse experience. He came back from Kumamoto and had to leave the highway, because of the fog. Luckily he had a navigation system in his car and was accompanied by a Japanese colleague. After they left he highway they entered their destination into the navigation system and went on their way. The navigation system led them into the mountains, where it was even foggier. They couldn’t drive faster than 10k/h and after 3 hours were back in the valley. They arrived safely but were badly shaken.
At the moment we have a long weekend because of Japan Foundation Day. On top of that there is a Lantern Festival in the Chinese quarter. About 750,000 visitors from outside Nagasaki come to town for this festival. The Chinese quarter is decorated with lanterns in all kinds of shapes and forms. It is really pretty. After a walk through China Town I went to look for someplace to eat, but each restaurant had a huge line. I stood in the shortest line, for a sushi restaurant, little plates on a conveyor belt pass you by, and you chose what looks good.
I gave my name to the waitress and after 15 minutes I was called. Japanese often pronounce my name as Kaalos. She brought me to my seat behind the conveyor belt. An old guy, wearing a Juan Pablo Montoya cap, sat next to me. After about 10 seconds he asked me where I was from. Full of pride I say: Colombia! No reaction from the man, no sign he connects Juan Pablo Montoya and me coming from the same country. He asks me what I do in Nagasaki, whether I have a wife and kids etc. After some silence I start talking about Formula 1, Montoya and the cap he is wearing. Formula 1?.....Cap? Ohhhh, I always wear this cap when I go for a run….
He ordered a beer for me and some specially made sushi and says “present from me for you”. How can you not like somebody like that? 10 Minutes later he again orders the same for me, which I found a little bit too nice, but he refused to let me pay the second round. After a difficult conversation with a Japanese phrase book and hands and feet, I found out that he is a retired doctor, has four children, four grand children and one of his daughters lives in NY. I also have his address and phone number, I have to visit him with my wife…. which we will certainly do. The integration process has started.