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August 25, 2008 19:26 JST, although I haven’t stepped foot into a McDonalds in several years, nor have I wanted to, I am not only sitting in McDonalds, but am also sipping on a small Coke of which I have not been so keen on drinking in the past.  Apparently Narita airport closes at 23:00 meaning that I grudgingly have to be grateful that this McDonalds is 24 hours.  I have been forced out into Japan, and again I am huddled in a corner peeking over my screen at the various adolescents munching down their pseudobeef and bread.

I’m not hungry myself.  My hunger has been dissipating.  Dissipating as I’ve felt myself dissipating.  I seem to get lost in the crowds of people.  I don’t really know my exact identity any more.  Now, when I look around, people pretend I don’t exist.  It is near impossible to make eye contact with people.  I expected this situation; however, while I logically know, I still feel emotionally jarred.

The one thing that does give me identity is money.  When I spend money, I get polite attention.  I almost want to spend money to get the overwhelmingly cute voices of Japanese girls to speak.  I’ve heard Japanese girls speak on television and in person before; however, the experience of actually being in Japan and hearing some of these voices–in particular the Japanese girl who served my pastries this morning–is completely astounding.  I didn’t know anything could be so cute.  The cuteness seems so contrived, yet at the same time so natural.

Cute Japanese girls, we will get to that later.  For now, let me say that there is much more to Japan than cute Japanese girls. Later I will also discuss foreigners who come to Asia with little respect for culture.

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