A Californian in Kyoto
Last year I was in Kyoto with a very large group, almost 40+ teens and parents. During that time we were all given bus passes and traveled en masse that way. I don't even use the bus at home so this was a bit nerve-wracking for me.

Now, the thing about bus (and train) passes in Japan is that they're scanned when you get on and off, so I panicked when I couldn't locate my pass (I found it at the bottom of my bag several hours later). The other kids suggested that I just slip off the bus with them, but I hate feeling guilty so I was rather hesitant.

The bus stopped and just as I was about to sneak off I noticed that the bus accepted change! The fact that you could pay for your fare with cash had completely eluded me for the past 3 days! I paid at the next stop (about a block away) and walked back to my group, who were wondering what was wrong with me.

The saddest thing about all this was that in this group I was the oldest person who wasn't a parent and this was my 3rd trip to Kyoto, although in my defense I've never used the bus before.

I swear, if I ever go to England and Europe "where the history comes from" I'll just keep my mouth shut unless absolutely necessary - that's how much these "Stupid 'mer'kins" stories frighten me... I may not be white, fat, from a "red state" and completely ignorant (I know the Revolutionary War was fought between the 13 Colonies and the British, not Germany, Japan, Korea, or Russia) but I'm still an American - worse, a Southern Californian - and therefore utterly hopeless. History Channel save me!
(Kitsune-chan I'm not a bunny I'm a grownup girl, Sun 10 Jul 2005, 3:48, Reply)