Crossing the language barrier

Cavorting around a country that doesn't even use your alphabet-of-origin is a constant experiment in cuisine flexibility. Last night we found a dive near the convention center, and optimistically hypothesized that the six pictures we saw outside would be sufficient to order food that we could in some way recognize. Then came the daikon salad with gesticulating seaweed, the Special Chicken, and....some more gesticulating seaweed!

But really, it was a splendid evening at the chicken restaurant. (I don't know if that's what it's called, but there was this cute little chicken logo everywhere...) and about halfway through, the manager sat down with us and thought we could actually have a conversation! Between the 6 of us, we had "Where is the subway?", "Do you speak English?" and "The sushi is delicious!" Still, she didn't seem to believe we didn't have something to talk about. So she just sat there, smiling very sweetly and gesturing to various plates on our table.

This evening was very cool too. I am always asking Trevor to tell me more about Ubiquitous Computing, and somehow, that's the last thing he wants to talk about during dinner. ;-P So tonight, we went to a Fashion Show...and that explained everything! Ok, maybe not. But it was still fascinating. There were all these models blinking every which way...laptop bags with lace, for going to the opera--or your own wedding (because that's what I'm going to be doing at the altar--checking my email?!?) The saddest part is that the girls get all these high tech clothes, and what do the guys get? Vests that change color in different lights! Ohhh boyyy!!! I'm so glad I'm a girl.

The other part of the future I saw was the picture booths at the Sega video game arcade. Good heavens. Funky music and different curtains coming down all the time--and a camera that does about 20 frames per second. This makes it slightly difficult to guage which pose is caught and which pose cut off Trevor's head. And so what do we have to say for ourselves? Pictures of Trevor and Beth as stickers. Ohhh, stickers!! Those of you who knew me in childhood know how exceedingly exciting this is. Look for them on the envelope flap of your Kwanzaa card!

Tomorrow I must decide between Universal Studios Osaka, and the town of Nara, where they have the largest Buddha statue in Japan. I will flip 50 yen and decide that way. Tune in next time for the answer: Flowers or kanji?