Family and friends have been asking me about Japan all week, mostly curious to hear my thoughts about a country so appraised by the rest of the world.

There had been plenty good to say like the initial thrill of eating  ( comparatively ) cheap Japanese food every meal and the decorous nature of their people.

But, like a magic spell that wore off I slowly became disenchanted. Little things that amused me to no end, like said politeness became stifling. Having Japanese food every meal, everyday became staid and I longed for Pho and Olive Garden. Previously, the language factor was only mildly annoying limited to my linguistic inability to read cosmetics label. But exhausting attempts at getting the right directions to Ginza for an interview turned out to be a little more than trifling. Just so you didn’t forget exactly where you were, everything is in Japanese after certain train stations. English speaking Japanese are rare and consider yourself fortunate if you meet the few who can.

Another thing to gripe about is the phenomenal retail prices. $180 usd for a pair of random Japanese branded shoes is ridiculous when you consider the same price for a pair of ferragamos in the US at the outlet mall. Much to my horror, I wear a size M here because their women here are frail, and with size C cups it is a little hard to look professional in a size S buttoned up blouse which would otherwise have fit to the T.

But inspite of myself, I am thankful that we live so close to the base. That indeed, we HAVE the base to shop at with cheaper prices and a wider variety of foods. It is refreshing to walk around on base, without hulking over random passerbys. Or the ones that stare — another national trait of Japanese. Funny that in a nation so obsessed with decorum that staring is perfectly acceptable.

Japan is very much like Singapore and this is why I don’t see why Singaporeans are so besotted by Japan. So their toilet seats are very comfortably heated and their girls are RUMORED to be beautiful ( a huge fallacy ), but aside from all this Singapore can boast so much that Japan can never offer. And I’m perfectly not biased saying this because I’d rank the US over Singapore ( mostly because the shopping is fucking awesome and the weather is great there ) then Singapore and Japan last. I see myself not spending a dime on shopping here if I can help it.

2 more weeks to Singapore.