And the crowd gathers...

Well, humped a train and a couple of offices today...I think "hump" is the words the GIs would use. Work was the usual for a remote site, so nothing to report. After getting back to the hotel I learned that, apparently, we all look alike. I signed up for wireless access in the hotel when I checked in. But, last night it didn't work. So, I went to the front desk and explained the situation and asked if there was a bar in the hotel or somewhere similar where I could do my work. The answer was an apologetic no but the guy brought me a wireless network extender. Basically, you wire your PC to it and it does the talking over the wireless network for you.

I headed back up to my room and it worked. So, I took care of some things and headed out for dinner. I decided to find a "real" sushi bar so I stopped by the front desk. Before asking if there was a sushi restaurant nearby, I thanked the guy who gave me teh wireless extender. He looked at me like I had 3 heads. So, I explained to him how he had given me the device and that it worked. I said thanks again, and he talked to his co-worker in Japanese for about 5 minutes before they both stopped and began staring at me. Seems to happen everytime the hotel staff doesn't understand what I'm saying so I'm getting used to it. Next, I ask for a sushi bar and it turns out there is one in the department store on the other side of the train station. Both the department store and my hotel are attached to the station so I head out.

Now that I'm writing this, I'm not sure who all look alike. Do they all look alike and the dude behind the counter wasn't the dude who gave me the extender or do we all look alike and he didn't recognize me? I'm not really sure...and don't care...but it is an interesting question.

So, I get to the sushi bar. There are a couple of people in the area where there are tables, but I'm the sole occupant of the sushi bar. I sit down and the waitress brings me a drink menu...in Japanese. Well, I open it up as if I'm looking for something special and realize that it has no value to me. So, I say, "I can't even read this." Yep, out loud. The lady understands...or at least gathers that I can't read Japanese...and says a bunch of stuff. So, I just ask for a beer. That's easy enough so we then just have to negotiate bottle or draft. I get a bottle and I'm all set.

Now for ordering. Most people order "set menu" sushi, it seems. Set price for a variety of pieces. Being selective, as I am, I say no. Oddly enough, we both understand this conversation...which is happening in 2 languages. So, I just tell the sushi dude that I want maguro (tuna). He opens a couple of boxes and asks which I want. One is toro (fatty tuna) and one is regular tuna. I get a couple of each. Now, he and his people start trying to talk to me. I have no clue...nor do they. So, I just keep ordering and eating. I ask if the maguro is blue fin tuna or hon maguro. For about the millionth time on this trip, I again have 3 eyes. So, a 10 minute "discussion" takes place about what I've said. Finally, the dude's co-worker gets it and says something like, "Ahhhhh...HAH maguro?!?" Or, I think that's what he said. I say yes. Hah is close to han. He says that's what I'm eating so I'm happy. I think it actually was blue fin, but who knows. It was good so the point is moot, I guess.

I eat a bunch more and want some variety. So, I ask for a spicy tuna roll. From my experience at the other places, this doesn't exist. But, I wanted to ask to be sure. Now, he wants to make it for me. So, I explain that it's tuna mixed with a little mayo and some pepper. By this time, there are no less than 5 but probably more like 8, people standing around. Some watching like it's a shuttle launch or NASCAR wreck and some actually trying to figure out what the hell I'm talking about. I actually tried to get them to find some Sriracha sauce to add to help me ignore the mayo. Well, "sauce" is very close to the Japanese word for Soy. So, the dude disappears like they have it and comes back with 2 bottles...soy sauce and some red substance. Well, since Im an American I quickly realize he's secured some ketchup for my spicy tuna roll. At this point, I start laughing and the whole place is now a comedy club. I settle for mayo and cayenne. Ketchup would have imporeved it, unfortunatley, but I told him it was delicious since he went to the trouble of making it for me. This paid off, too, as I got a gift from the chef. The waitress brought over a package of sheets of seaweed that they use to make rolls. No big deal, but the fact that I got a gift from some dude who I couldn't talk to was pretty cool. Plus, it will get me brownie points when I get home since it comes with a nice story and Jati LOVES to eat sheets of seaweed. I know, that makes me chuckle too but it's true.

I can't wait to see what happens next...