At last I finally spotted a garbage recepticle in this very clean city. Once I noticed the first, then I saw a few more. But they're only at 7-11 type stores, at which people buy a quick drink or bite. No one eats while walking along the street, so anyone who buys something to eat in a 7-11 stands in front of the store, sips and eats quickly, and drops their garbage into the appropriate container for bottles, burnables, etc. There are many 7-11's as well as Lawsons, Family Marts - all similar to 7-11. (A piece of information - 7-11 is owned and franchised by the Japanese.) It's difficult not to munch on something tasty I've just bought from a delicious bread bakery while walking back home, but again I am to conform.
I had a problem yesterday in trying to get cash from an ATM. After I entered all the data, the machine said something like - unidentifiable account (I think a generic response it's not giving out money). So I spent some time on the phone with my bank at home and then customer service, both of which informed me there wasn't anything wrong with our account. I had had some problems when we first got here, so I was a little worried in having to go without getting cash for a few days. Japanese are not credit card enthusiastic, so many stores and restaurants take payment in cash only. So, today I ventured again armed with both my ATM card as well as Bill's to try once more. The moment I started entering the amount of Yen I wanted I realized what I had done yesterday. Instead of 50000 (about $450), I entered 500000 (almost $5K) - a wee bit more than my daily limit to withdraw! Such is life in another currency!
