At my English Conversation Class a few weeks ago, we discussed global warming. I am always interested in how Japanese people perceive global problems and compare and contrast it to how American people think. At my class, it seemed all the members in the conversation agreed that we are experiencing global warming and that it is a bad thing. They all agree that we need to take actions to prevent the rapid increase. One thing that I told them is how I feel that Japan already takes measures to prevent it.
Here are a few major differences in Japan that will help prevent global warming if implemented in America:
Recycling. Japanese people recycle EVERYTHING. I mean everything. I still don't understand how to get rid of some of my “garbage.” This is to the point that at lunch time – all students clean their milk cartons, cut them with scissors and are dried out and recycled by the school. There are several different disposal bins – not just garbage cans. This allows people to recycle everywhere – at the convenient store, grocery store, at school, etc not only at their homes.
Electricity. You know how anywhere public you go to – lights are on everywhere? For example, in bathrooms, changing rooms, hallways, etc. Well, in Japan, lights are turned off until you need them. Public restrooms in schools or restaurants aren't left on constantly like in America. At my gym, the exercise room and the changing room lights are off until someone goes in to use it. However, once that person is done with using it – they will most certainly turn the lights off as well. In addition to this, electric appliances are not left on, either. At school, the copy machines are left off. At the gym, all the machines are in switch off mode until someone uses them and then turns it off when finished.
Transportation. People don't drive short distances. Where I live, many people use bikes. School buses are quite rare – students ride their bikes to school, some incredibly long distances. There is a good mass transportation system. Most areas have trains serving them.
Water. Toilet bowls use less water than the toilet bowls in America.
These are just a few examples of how I perceive Japan to be more environmentally friendly in a way that could help global warming if America used some of these ideas.
Global warming in the news:
Al Gore's Suggestions on how to help
After all that environmental propaganda, allow me to inform you of my latest nature adventures. The first one reveals the benefits of global warming. This benefit is none other than a beautiful hike in February. Granted, I am more south than New York State, but even the locals in this area claim that this year is incredibly warm compared to the past. Therefore, in February I rewarded my eyes by going on a hike in an area called Ohtakamori. The weather graced us with clear, blue skies, perfect hiking temperature and sun the whole way through. I had done part of this hike in September; however, this time around, we went all the way around the peninsula. I feasted on beautiful colors of the ocean, blue-greens, high cliffs where the island meets the ocean, and my favorite part – a bamboo forest! The hike was an interesting one- at
first, hiking up a hill to get the views followed by nature trails with a few uphills and downhills following the ocean, a walk past men mending fishing ships, through a small fishing village into the bamboo forest followed by a dirty beach up some more nature trails and back to the car on the side of the road for about 20 minutes. And of course, followed by an onsen.
The next adventure is from last weekend – we went SNOW MONSTER HUNTING! Brian, Meg, Katie and I headed down South to our friend Maria's place. She lives close (I envy her) to a quasi national park named Zao. We got down there Saturday night but headed to Zao the following day. We went to the “other side” of the park which brings us to our neighboring prefecture of Yamagata Ken. Yamagata Ken reminds me a lot of the Adirondacks. Large, beautiful mountains covered in coniferous trees and snow. I miss the mountains.
We found ourselves in a ski town and stopped to get directions from the information center. We took a gondola up to the top of this mountain to find our snow monsters.
You're probably thinking to yourself, “What in the world are snow monsters?”
Snow monsters areeeee.....
In winter, on top of mountains, it snows sooooooo fast and it's soooooo cold that the trees up there become completely covered in snow. Ideally, you wouldn't be able to see that there is a tree that exists underneath all that snow. Therefore, you would have all these trees, covered in snow – but what it looks like to you as an optical illusion is nothing other than a snow monster – or if your imagination isn't up to par- a towering mound of snow.
With it being March and with the weather being unseasonably warm – we weren't sure if there would be much of any snow monsters left. We were in luck, we got to see our snow monsters! While, most weren't covered entirely in snow – it was still an amazing thing to witness.
The day was really warm – so we got to take our time looking around without being too cold. The summit of the mountain was a hazy fog, so we couldn't really see much of what was around – nothing but the towering snow monsters.
Just imagine dozens upon dozens of looming snow things around you! We played with the monsters for about two hours before heading back down. It was a successful trip.
Click on the crazy gaijin (foreigners) for all the pictures to Ohtakamori
1 comment:
While we're in 18 degree weather and it's snowing, it's nice to see someone having fun with snow. Not wishing it would go away already!!! I'll look for snow monsters on the way home. They'll probably be cars that didn't get cleared off by their drivers, on the expressway blowing snow all over the road and everyone else. Take care. Aunt Chris/Rochester NY
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