[edelweiss]

I know all about the seating for the elderly, I take great pains in following signs and apparent norms in other countries. When I sit in the middle section of a subway car, carefully seat myself so as not to touch the people next to me, legs together like a prim girl, set my small handbag on my knees placing my shopping bag on my feet I don't expect the person next to me to look directly at me and make a face like I just sat down like a smelly flatulent slob then tense her body and point her face away from me. Up until that seat cleared she had been sitting quite normally looking straight ahead. I also watch people while looking about and had noticed her nice shoes. Sure it could be a coincidence.

I think it's funny that people don't seem to believe that there are any natives in Tokyo who do not wish to closely encounter foreigners while going about their daily routine. If someone told me they encountered something similar in San Francisco I'd tell them they hit upon a rare instance but I wouldn't tell them it was impossible. People are funny, they have preferences. Who knows why they react the way they do.

The girl in the Micky Mouse ears was pointedly sneering, who knows why. The guys on the train were saying we were fat because we eat a lot of hamburgers. Each thing happened on totally separate trips over a five year period. But one odd occurrence or three does not color my view of a whole country. I just shrug it off and go on to the rest of my nice day.

I run across waaay more weird and random behavior riding the bus in my own city, my odd run-ins in Tokyo are rather innocent in comparison. After all, I didn't have to ride the subway with a half naked clown making suggestive balloon animals in Tokyo.