Since coming back to Vancouver from Japan, I guess it’s inevitable to compare both places. It’s been six years since I last set foot on Vancouver soil and things have changed ever so slightly.
Where ever you go in this world, there are going to be good points and bad points and all of this is quite subjective.
Coming into Vancouver, I felt slightly empty. Of course, I was glad that my mother came to pick me up at the airport (she, of course, had to complain about the price of parking at the airport’s parking lot) but there just isn’t any wow! when you drive into Vancouver. It seemed as if nothing had changed.
It’s been a week since I arrived and I’ve been to the downtown area two times so far. This is where most of the action is in the city.
In the daytime there seems to be a lot of activity. There are so many people walking around from business men to students studying abroad.
What stands out the most about Vancouver’s downtown are the homeless people! Practically every block in the busiest areas have homeless people with their hats on the ground or in their hands. One homeless person was on his knees, crouched with his arms extended while holding his hat. I can’t remember what he was saying but his begging was so pitiful, I started to wonder how this person got into this situation. His performance was excellent but there was a sickening feeling in my stomach at how someone could degrade himself to that level.
Also to be noticed about these homeless people are the signs that they write. “H.I.V. positive”, “Surgery needed”... umm...
There are homeless people in Japan (quite a few in the big cities) but they don’t usually beg quite to the level of North America homeless people.
I’ve had to use public transportation quite a bit since coming back (I don’t have a car... yet) and I enjoy observing the people around me. Most people are quiet but then there are always obnoxious people that have to talk on their cellphones... it’s amusing listening to these conversations. On today’s bus, some woman was talking about her hickey with her friend while getting off the bus. These people really have no common sense...
I went to a bike shop today. The cheapest price of a bike was probably $500... I miss my mama-chari (Japanese bike -- I paid about $90 for it).
7-11 has to be the biggest rip-off over here. A big bag of nacho chips cost well over $4. A medium size drink costs well over $2. And I’m not even thinking about taxes... I don’t think I’ll be visiting convenience stores quite as often in Canada, as I did in Japan.
Well, I think I’m complaining a bit about Canada... maybe I should say some good points about Canada since people might be turned off from visiting glorious Canada.
I’ve had a few beers at home since coming to Vancouver. There are so many types of beer in the liquor store (government run liquor stores, mind you), and all I can do is gape. What should I buy? And wow! the prices are reasonable compared to Japan. So far, I’ve had a couple of types of IPA, a beer from the Netherlands and Harp lager (from Ireland). Beer is an important part of my life and Japan’s beer selection wasn’t doing a thing for my taste buds.
The workers in Vancouver tend to be friendly. I went to the bank and the clerk was talking to me in a very casual way. This wouldn’t be acceptable in Japan. I don’t notice any overly fake smiles over here... something you see too often in Japan.
The cost of fruit and vegetables are much more reasonable over here. My mother bought a 5 kg box of blueberries for $18. In Japan, this would probably cost well over $100.
Alright, I listed a few good things about Canada... but I’m still at the stage of why I left Japan. I enjoyed nine of the best years of my life over there but deep down I know why I left. 複雑だ
