Last weekend we went to the movies. This is very rare for us, since movies here in Japan are so expensive!!! Just how expensive? Well, considering the price of a regular ticket at AMC or Century Theaters at home cost about $9 (Last time I was at home), try doubling that! Yes, it costs about $18 for a regular price movie ticket here in Japan! So, for 2 movie tickets, 1 medium drink, and 1 small popcorn, and parking, it came to a grand total of about $50!!! Can you believe that?!?! Yes, you have to pay for parking almost EVERYWHERE in Japan!!! That comes out to about $25 per person. I can't imagine a family of 4 going to the movies!!! It would cost $100!!! Of course, if you were lucky enough to go on Lady's day (usually a Tuesday or Wednesday, when people are too busy working!) it would only cost you $10! Seems like a deal, right?
Well, we saw some Japanese movie about a windsurfer in Hawaii. In Japanese it is 天国で君に逢えたら (When I meet you in Heaven.) I was crying during the whole movie! It's a true story about a profesional windsurfer and his struggle with a rare form of cancer. (I'm really impressed as to how much my Japanese has improved, if I can understand a movie and cry!!!) I would definitely recommend it if it ever comes out in English!
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Sunday, September 2, 2007
Shopping Blues
For the past few days, I have been busy shopping for new school clothes. (by the way, I think I forgot to mention that I got a job teaching English at a jr. high school, so I'm looking for School-work clothes.) I hit the main department stores in Machida, Shinyurigaoka, and even the new La La Port in Yokohama (or "Ooh La La," as my sister would call it).
I just want to say that I never considered myself a BIG person, until I came to Japan. I know that I am about a whole head taller than the average Japanese woman, and my feet may be a little larger than the typical Japanese woman, but I didn't think it would be so difficult to find clothing in my size! Keep in mind, that back at home, I would usually be a 6 or 8 (small or medium) in clothing, and around 8.5 in shoes.
Keeping that in mind, it still seems that I am too big for even a Japanese women's large size in pants! It's depressing having to look at the bottom of the pile for the large sizes, and only to try them on and not have them fit! (it seems that a Japanese woman's large is the equivalent of a size 4 or 6.) Then the poor sales women appologizes that they are too small for me, and that it is the largest size they carry! Or I even had one salesman tell me how good the pants look on me, until raise my shirt to show him that I couldn't button the top! (then he only cheerfully told me, oh, that's the largest size we have, but please do look around the shop to see if there is anything else you would like!)
After searching in several shops, I discovered that there was also a Gap, Banana Republic, and Zara! Thank goodness for American and European brands! It's very comforting shopping in brand shops that you are familiar with! It's great knowing exactly what size will fit you. But, knowing the brands also has its disadvantages. You see, I know how much things should cost at Gap and Banana Republic at home, and when I compare those prices with the prices in Japan, things are WAY too expensive here! Who would pay the equivalent of $100 for Gap Khakis? I'm sure I could get them at home at regular price for around $50!!!
After looking at such outrageous prices of Japanese clothing all day (the average price for regular pants is around $140) , the $100 for Gap Khakis starts to look good, real good, especially after trying them on and actually having them fit! But, I still couldn't get myself to buy them. . . after all, they are only Khakis!
I also tried on several pants at Zara (a Spanish brand), and they actually had pants that fit, and the price was relatively cheap for Japan (between $75-$100), but unfortunately, I didn't like the styles. (seems like skinny pants or really baggy pants are in fashion now.) I'll probably shop there on a regular basis though, since the clothes look nice and the prices are relatively reasonable for Japan.
Then I head on over to Banana Republic. I really like the clothing here, although at home it is a bit on the pricy side. I never buy anything there unless it is on sale. They had some nice pants that I tried on, and I was standing in the dressing room for a long time, debating whether or not to get them. They fit perfectly! (the largest size that Japan Banana Republic carries is a size 6!!! Good thing I fit!) The length was perfect, the waist was just right, the color was also nice but the part that I couldn't get over was the PRICE on the tag!!! After trying on several pairs of pants during the past 2 days, actually finding a pair that fit perfectly was a sigh of relief! However, the hefty price was weighing heavily on my mind! I ended up getting them, although they were not on sale. As for the price? Let's just say that I would NEVER, NEVER, NEVER buy pants this expensive at home!!! Just think about how much Banana Republic pants cost regular price at home, and maybe add another $50-$75 on top of that! Yikes! After this purchase, the $100 Gap Khakis didn't seem that expensive anymore!
I just want to say that I never considered myself a BIG person, until I came to Japan. I know that I am about a whole head taller than the average Japanese woman, and my feet may be a little larger than the typical Japanese woman, but I didn't think it would be so difficult to find clothing in my size! Keep in mind, that back at home, I would usually be a 6 or 8 (small or medium) in clothing, and around 8.5 in shoes.
Keeping that in mind, it still seems that I am too big for even a Japanese women's large size in pants! It's depressing having to look at the bottom of the pile for the large sizes, and only to try them on and not have them fit! (it seems that a Japanese woman's large is the equivalent of a size 4 or 6.) Then the poor sales women appologizes that they are too small for me, and that it is the largest size they carry! Or I even had one salesman tell me how good the pants look on me, until raise my shirt to show him that I couldn't button the top! (then he only cheerfully told me, oh, that's the largest size we have, but please do look around the shop to see if there is anything else you would like!)
After searching in several shops, I discovered that there was also a Gap, Banana Republic, and Zara! Thank goodness for American and European brands! It's very comforting shopping in brand shops that you are familiar with! It's great knowing exactly what size will fit you. But, knowing the brands also has its disadvantages. You see, I know how much things should cost at Gap and Banana Republic at home, and when I compare those prices with the prices in Japan, things are WAY too expensive here! Who would pay the equivalent of $100 for Gap Khakis? I'm sure I could get them at home at regular price for around $50!!!
After looking at such outrageous prices of Japanese clothing all day (the average price for regular pants is around $140) , the $100 for Gap Khakis starts to look good, real good, especially after trying them on and actually having them fit! But, I still couldn't get myself to buy them. . . after all, they are only Khakis!
I also tried on several pants at Zara (a Spanish brand), and they actually had pants that fit, and the price was relatively cheap for Japan (between $75-$100), but unfortunately, I didn't like the styles. (seems like skinny pants or really baggy pants are in fashion now.) I'll probably shop there on a regular basis though, since the clothes look nice and the prices are relatively reasonable for Japan.
Then I head on over to Banana Republic. I really like the clothing here, although at home it is a bit on the pricy side. I never buy anything there unless it is on sale. They had some nice pants that I tried on, and I was standing in the dressing room for a long time, debating whether or not to get them. They fit perfectly! (the largest size that Japan Banana Republic carries is a size 6!!! Good thing I fit!) The length was perfect, the waist was just right, the color was also nice but the part that I couldn't get over was the PRICE on the tag!!! After trying on several pairs of pants during the past 2 days, actually finding a pair that fit perfectly was a sigh of relief! However, the hefty price was weighing heavily on my mind! I ended up getting them, although they were not on sale. As for the price? Let's just say that I would NEVER, NEVER, NEVER buy pants this expensive at home!!! Just think about how much Banana Republic pants cost regular price at home, and maybe add another $50-$75 on top of that! Yikes! After this purchase, the $100 Gap Khakis didn't seem that expensive anymore!
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