Japanese Way of Life (Vol. 1)

Its not surprising that technology is an everyday part of Japanese life, but its the little touches, which really make me grateful to be living in the most technologically-advanced country in the world.

They have motion detection lights so when I walk into a public loo or to my room late at night, lights would switch on before me and turn themselves off behind me. No more stumbling around for the light switch. Another thing that has really impressed me is the computer we under our desks. Ordinary-looking desks, one flick and a sleek and stylish flat screen monitor slowly rises up; the keyboard is wireless, the mouse is wireless so no cables to trip on either. The picture is taken in my Japanese Law and Politics class, Kevin is in the foreground, then Loni (Elenora), and DJ doing the classic Japanese photo-taking peace symbol. Honestly, its seriously annoying, a camera comes out and they just cant resist. I have seen four photo albums all in one sitting with every single picture showing grinning Japanese displaying the peace symbol- damn that John Lennon!

The university has a series of strict codes and guidelines which we must observe, including sex segregation at the halls of residence. At the Ohmeikan, the boys live on the first through to the sixth floor, seventh and above are girls only. The official explanation is that the university respects religious diversity, and the belief that some religion advocates for the separation of unmarried men and women in living quarters. That explanation doesnt quite hold up considering that girls are allowed on the boys' floors, surely religious values apply equally to both sexes? There are security doors with access codes, and hidden cameras positioned by stairs and outside lifts to ensure that the boys do not, and cannot, get into Chastity Towers (an ingenius name the boys have coined). Its like living at Hogwarts. When Emma and I cooked dinner for Sven and George, the boys had to come up to the eighth floor to give us their plates so we could serve the food. But as soon as they got out of the lift, they could hear the mechanical whirring of the camera as it followed their every movement. Fearing that they'll be kicked out for violating guidelines, the boys quickly handed over their wares and never ventured back up again!

So even though I am allowed on the boys' floors, I still get suspicious looks whenever I get out of the lift at anything below 7. The presumption is that we immediately close the door behind us and have rampant sex, which is not the case at all! What happened to simple communication and interaction these days? Worse still, is getting the lift back up at three in the morning from, say, the fifth floor. In such circumstances, I prefer to climb the stairs than to face the amused looks and curious glances. Better to avoid gaining myself a reputation for coming up from a different floor every night!