RE: The next sandwich
Do you like Tokyo @emmabritt? Yes yes, working there and going for holiday are very different experiences. And I was very lucky then. Even though it was just 2 weeks, it was interesting to see the life of the people there. Example, in the office I was in, there was no dustbins at all and all employees bring their trash home. If I am not mistaken, even the streets do not have any trash bins but there were hardly any trash! So disciplined. But I heard it was due to a few incidents of people using the trash cans as their act of terrorism. And the men would not go home after work. They rather hang out in the office and go for drinks, dinner until late because there was a stigma whereby men should go home late to show they work hard. But that was long ago, not sure if it is still the case now.
Ah after the morning rush would have been much more relaxing. Hehe.. I have seen such passengers before. Even when 1 passenger was talking loudly on the phone, or have their phone volume up, most passengers (including myself) would give a side eye too hahah. But I don't blame your travel companions because they most probably were so immersed in their conversation that they did not notice hehe.
I'm curious about your routine there for those two weeks. Did you eat out often? Because there are so many ready-to-eat meals everywhere, and you can practically have a feast right from their convenience stores!
Yes, I love Tokyo so much, too, and I wish I could visit again in the future, though next time, I'd want to explore completely different parts of Japan.
You're right about the dustbins; we had to keep our trash with us until we got home, which sadly started because of security concerns.
But when you think about it, it's amazing how clean they are without those public bins, whereas back home we have so many of them and people still litter everywhere.
Did you get to join your colleagues for those drinking sessions? I know some of them can make it really difficult to decline.
The Japanese work ethic is crazy—either they go out for drinks to avoid going home early, or everyone feels pressured to stay at the office.
As for my own travel companions, nah...they were the inconsiderate, hillbilly type. They didn't care about manners at all and were totally the sort to abuse their rights.