tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1644988468035103405.post4454910164847916863..comments2009-09-09T17:54:07.785-07:00Comments on Toc toc toc Japon: Kamakura sous la pluieEve Martelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07992171898000268141noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1644988468035103405.post-31206430871219254062009-05-16T00:47:00.000-07:002009-05-16T00:47:00.000-07:00OMG great story Monique! (Sorry for the late reply...OMG great story Monique! (Sorry for the late reply, I just realized people were leaving me comments! I'm such a nerd!)Eve Martelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07992171898000268141noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1644988468035103405.post-80705683365412090242009-05-09T19:17:00.000-07:002009-05-09T19:17:00.000-07:00Ah, Japanese gift fruit! Let me tell you a story.....Ah, Japanese gift fruit! Let me tell you a story...<br /><br />So, my mom comes to visit me in Japan. We head to Kyoto and have a wonderful, if not whirlwind experience walking everywhere. as night falls, before heading to our Ryokan, my mom gets it into her head that she wants to eat an orange. I try reasoning with her. I don't know where we might find a supermarket open at this hour. How about some orange juice from the convenience store? No, mother wants an orange. SIGH. Mother cannot understand why I am put out (she is used to living one block from a supermarket open until 11 pm.). Then, spotting a gift fruit store, my mother feels vindicated. She was right! The very civilized Japanese sell fruit late at night. Of course they do! <br /><br />"No, mom. Please, don't go in there."<br /><br />Determined, she pushes ahead. Then, immediately marvels at refined Japanese packaging. This doesn't look like the inside of a Safeway produce department. Not even remotely. Mom hands me 5000 yen and says "Here, you pay. I don't know what to say."<br /><br />"Errr... Mom, you don't understand." <br /><br />I then explain that the oranges have to be bought in groups of four, for the equivalent of $30. <br /><br />Then, much to my horror, and the shopkeeper's annoyance, my mother starts laughing so hard she first chokes then cries. Then takes out her camera and snaps photos of the price tags. <br /><br />Eventually we left, and I bought her an orange juice at the convenience store.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15953471567284649553noreply@blogger.com