August 2006 Archives

So I'm back in Japan, with my computer returned (thanks for cleaning my computer AppleCare!) and my pore s are all excitable in the humidity. This last fact leads me to one of those contrasts every ethnocentric human needs to make to draw borders on a map geographically, culturally, whatever. My sweat-rags are all in the wash and I ran out of tissues for towelling myself down after getting home (I'm quite unattractive after striding uphill for 15 minutes). Fortunately, my mom (bless her) threw some Kleenexes in my suitcase before I left. I havent felt such luxury for ages! They must be 12 ply! I'm not absolutely sure why (though I have some random ideas), but tissues and toilet paper are all one ply here. If you can pardon my divulging of questionable information, going to the toilet back home was a little confusing. I just dropped some ash on the floor and I can't seem to pick it up...

Now, look at my workplace. If I give the students worksheets printed on Napisan fresh A4 paper, everyone freaks out. The whitest of whites is reserved for master copies - the kids get the recycled toilet paper. Even toilets require pre-purchased paper, or they are electronic George Jetson All-In-One Machines. People may complain of the crazy amount of disposable chopsticks Japan uses, but they've got their balance figured out. I was scratching my head in Australia trying to figure out how to separate garbage in just one bin.

So, I'm wondering if a bit of austerity could be exported. Is a fluffy puppy the message to be sending for bathroom hygiene? Enough pontificating. Back to trying not to smother myself with these pillow-like tissues.

Author note: Seeing as im not really experienced at prose, editorial comments are always welcome

Version: Draft 3.1