kaitou | Sneaky, sneaky Japan (Reply)

I like watching those 'World's Best Commercial' TV shows. I admit, they're no masterpiece theatre, but lots of small bits of funny packed together are still good, in my opinion. Anyway, there's one that sticks out in my memory for a brand of asprin. There's a man and a woman in bed, and the man tells his wife that he got her the asprin especially, and goes on about how good it is and all that, how quickly it will get rid of her headache.

Woman: But I don't have a headache.
Man: (sly grin) Good.

Then he jumps into bed and turns out the light.

Japan is a lot like that when it comes to peer pressure. Sneaky. Last night was the goodbye party for the teachers who are transferring, and the Vice Principal came to pick me and the Science teacher up.

Vice Principal: How are you feeling? Is your cold all better?
Me: Oh, I'm fine now.
VP: Good, then please drink a lot tonight. You have to drink a lot tonight. Lots of 'kanpais' for the teachers!

Since I don't like beer, I was pretty much limited to sake at the first party. There's really no way to know how much you have drunk, because as soon as you've had a sip, someone's there to refill your cup. I even tried fleeing to the other side of the room to talk to another teacher. But the waitress brought my cup over to me and filled it up, and left the bottle so the other people could make me drink more.

And then there was the second party..... I managed to sneak home after second party, didn't have to go to third our fourth.

So I'd just like to say, Congratulations Japan, It's taken you almost two years, but you've finally managed to peer pressure me into a hangover.

Pass that asprin please.