Personal space

These strawberries were given to me by a friend, some of them are GIANT! I have never seem strawberries this big before all crammed together in a box...

The escapists paradise, I often wonder how so many people on such a small bunch of islands can live together in harmony. The basic laws of courtesy are strong and the Japanese are still miles ahead of any other country I know in terms of understanding and respecting each others personal space. When I first met my Japanese father in law I was admittedly nervous. I lurched toward him right hand outstretched for the customary handshake of introduction, I was surprised when he lithely took two large steps backward, dodging my hand, his head bowed slightly and his hands firmly by his side. I timidly tidied my lonely hand away and smiled sheepishly, remembering all too late that people don't touch each other here...

A simple afternoon in the local supermarket is another reminder of this phenomenon. People will go out of their way to get out of each others way and to maintain the harmony. Eye contact is strictly avoided and the emphasis is on minding your own business. To most people this may seem isolated and uncomfortable but the Japanese people have a way of going about their business this way with everyone, including fellow Japanese. When asking a shop attendant in my near perfect Japanese which aisle I might find a Lime in, her answer was, 'sorry, I don't speak English!'