japan

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Few expect vending machine hunting to be one of the more exciting aspects of tourism—those few who do have probably been to Japan.A few years ago, one of my friends returned home from a visit to Japan. I asked him what he remembered best about the country, and he replied, “Vending machines.”This—for my anime-obsessed, devourer-of-Eastern-culture friend—was somehow the first thing out of his mouth.“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I replied. “Vending machines?”“Listen,” he said. “You don’t understand. They are everywhere in the city. To escape, I went to the country and visited a rice patty. Rice patty here, rice patty there, rice patties everywhere. And in the middle of it all? A vending machine. In the dirt. I have no idea how it got power or where it got restocks from. But I could buy cigarettes, alcohol, and underwear out in the boonies.”You never know what sort of bizarre and completely unexpected conveniences you might find while traveling. In case you find yourself randomly needing a puppy while traveling in Japan, but don’t have time to go to browse a pet store, here are six bizarre and unique vending machines to keep an eye out for.(I) First stop: Akihibara. If you like the quirky and unique, and you feel like making your hunt for vending machines easy, this should be your first stop.Not far from the Akihibara train station there is a hidden corner full of vending machines. Possibly most exciting are the two milk vending machines—both packed to the brim with completely unique milk products from across the country, some of which can only be bought from these vending machines. Help yourself to some ice-cream drink, different kinds of milk, or even milk coffee.But if you’re lactose intolerant (or otherwise not interested in cow juice), while your friends browse, you can amuse yourself by exploring the passive-aggressive signs that litter the area. One threatens to immortalize you forever on the internet if you use the corner as a bathroom—yikes!(II) That’s not all that Akihibara has to offer. Near the KFC is a vending machine known as the “treasure box.” If you think of yourself as a bit of a pirate—or really lucky—don’t miss this imposing, golden machine.This treasure box is a mystery machine—you put in your money, and you get out a random package. The contents can range anywhere from Nintendo’s newest video game system to a tiny coin purse. Are you feeling lucky?(III) After Akihibara, travel to Sendagaya to find a more personal vending machine—a proposal vending machine. You read that correctly. A proposal vending machine.Managed by the company “Jam Home Made,” this proposal vending machine sells rings, with real diamonds, for only nine thousand yen (plus tax)—about US $83, which is a steal.An added perk for those feeling homesick, the slick white walls of the room that hosts the vending machine makes you feel like you walked into an Apple store. If I feel the sudden urge to propose to someone while traveling Japan, I know where to go.(IV) Before I reveal to you our next location, imagine the situation: You’ve been sent by your company on a big business trip in Japan. You have your nicest suit on, and you aced your makeup. But while you’re standing at the train station it starts raining—pouring—and you realize the rain is going to ruin your outfit and makeup.If you ever find yourself in this sitution, hopefully you’re at the Suidobashi station, mildly famous for its umbrella vending machine. Maybe get two, just in case you lose one of them. Our last two vending machines can be found all over Japan if you have a keen eye.(V) We’ve all been there—after a few days of long travel, you’re having the time of your life, but you can’t quite shake how badly you miss your furry friends back home, and petting your travel companions is weird (not to mention trying to play fetch with them).In such a crisis, you need a puppy vending machine. Many pet shops in Japan can provide you with one, and don’t worry about the puppies—it’s perfectly humane. They each get a brightly-lit container with clear walls and some toys, and for your convenience, the price of each puppy is printed on their individual container. Who can say no to a puppy?(VI) Most vending machines sell drinks—which isn’t particularly impressive—but how many vending machines sell Coke slushies?You might need to search around for a bit, but Coca Cola has a few vending machines that sell sodas that freeze when you turn them upside down. Perfect for a hot day or a tired traveler—but my one question, why haven’t these been brought to the States yet?That’s just a small taste of the vending machines that you’ll encounter in Japan—and I didn’t even mention the canned bread vending machines or the fresh fruit vending machines, among countless others. For almost literally any need that you can imagine, Japan has a vending machine.And odds are that it’s just around the corner.—David 'Boo' Ludlow

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The stereotypical nagging parent says, “Keep your elbows off the table and chew with your mouth closed.”From a young age, all of us have been taught the “correct” way to eat. It’s a surprise to no one that the rules we learn (no elbows on the table, don’t slurp your soup/noodles/drink) are more a product of culture than any universal law.If you ate the way that is culturally appropriate in the United States, would it still be appropriate in other countries? Let’s take a little trip and find out. Japan Japan appreciates noisy eaters. Especially when eating noodles, you should slurp to show how good they are. One tip: it’s easier to slurp when you eat with chopsticks. If the idea of eating with chopsticks is intimidating, don’t worry—most Japanese restaurants and households also have forks available.Remember to pick up the bowl to eat when you can. You won’t make as much of a mess, and if you’re using chopsticks, you don’t have to work nearly as hard. In general, avoid leaning over your dish. The Japanese think it makes you look like an animal.Chopsticks are not always the utensils of choice. The Japanese use spoons with soups or with rice dishes that are paired with sauce. For example, both curry on rice and fried rice would be dishes eaten with a spoon. Brazil In Brazil, use utensils for everything—even for foods you would normally eat with your hands. If you have to eat without utensils, make sure to wrap yourfood in a napkin so your hands don’t make contact. Also, never eat and walk. If you buy something from a street vendor, stay there to eat it.Brazil has a very family-centered eating culture. Even the poorest family in Brazil will throw food parties for family events. When you take a bite of Brazilian food, taste the love cooked into it. India While they do have utensils, Indians believe that the flavor of their food is best enjoyed when eaten with their hand. However, when eating, be sure to use only your right hand. The left hand is considered dirty.In rural areas, they sit on the floor to eat. But at restaurants, they use chairs. Indians show their appreciation for a meal by cleaning their plate. As such, if you put something on your plate, you need to eat all of it. Otherwise, you signal that you do not like the food. Somalia Somalian food culture is highly influenced by its religious culture. In Somalia, the majority of the population is Muslim, meaning they follow some rigorous dietary restrictions. There are two main groups of food: halal, or accepted foods, and haram, or forbidden foods. Similar to the Jewish culture and religion, the main forbidden foods are pork products, blood, and animals which are not killed correctly.When visiting Somalia, generally avoid discussing food and food preparation with men, as they consider food to be a womanly topic. However, if you get the chance, compliment the person (likely the woman) who made the food—the various pancakes and fried breads of the Somalian diet are delicious. Italy Italians expect food to be eaten the way it is “meant” to be eaten. Unlike in restaurants in the US, where it is normal to ask for substitutions, the idea of changing a traditional food can be offensive to Italians. Those of you with food allergies and intolerances be aware of this. Italian meals are often com-posed of multiple courses, and even in Italian homes, each course is served on a different plate. They do not want the dishes to mix. A Final Thought This is just a brief overview of cultural food practices, but when you travel, do your research. You’ll find plenty of new ways to eat that you may never have considered before.—Sarah Birdsall

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