Its funny you should ask me that. The word for surprise in Japanese is “bikkuri”. And Japanese people often ask me what was the thing that suprised me the most. My response has usually been the same. There was no one big thing, but there are lots of little things. The big things you prepare for and know about going in for the most part. Especially in today’s global society and since I studied about Japan in school. But lots of the daily living stuff and the stuff that people take for granted because they assume its “common sense” though it is not really common at all, especially when you go across cultures. Even after living here for 10 years, its still like peeling back the layers of an onion - small bikkuri’s still keep popping up.
But Japan, and Tokyo especially, is a very modern city. So many things about living in any large modern city in an industrialized nation holds true - just like living in New York City, London or Paris. Its very expensive place to live, but its also very clean, comfortable, organized and convenient.
I have been listening to the daily boost every day on my iPod, while riding the train. Its a great way to keep me inline with my goals. That and I also listen to David Allen’s “Getting Things Done” and “Ready for Anything”.
