Andrew_Cho

eastx

VAMP

Nekokazzie

Anyways, I saw some delivery guys carrying stacks of udon bowls around when I was in Japan. Nice!

We ate a lot on those restaurants with the ticket machine...

Bokusatsu_Tenshi

Here's a meaner one quizzing Americans with less pretexting:

+ Watch video

But then the guys who made the video go on to say that it doesn't prove the country is stupid and you can pick people like that anywhere. Here's the British side:

+ Watch video

But facts and statistics aside, this is the kind of thing that contributes so strongly to America's reputation. That, and *cough* repeated support of Bush II...

fuchikoma

Anyways, I don't really like Udon. Although that's just my prejudice against big noodles. Also, at least in my local Japanese center, I find that the udon doesn't absorb the flavor for some reason, leaving a tasteless white noodle that is unappetizing. x_x

That curry looks delicious though...

simpleandpink

If you want a specific explanation as to why I chose America, as compared to any other country that could possibly be deemed as below-average in terms of education, then that's simple: America on the top of the list. Fuchikoma's video is a prime example.

Now, when I say 'top of the list,' I don't mean it as in any statistically proven way of the country and the majority of their inhabitants being sub-par. There are many ways to interpret this.

My personal reason would be all the attention America gets. Just like Fuchikoma's video which was posted. I have yet to see a video as such; of another nation, besides America. Of course, there has to be some, out of sheer probability. Even so, put those videos in comparison to the number of videos and attention that America gets.

It's a rule of generalization and example. The majority of the people in the world know America. So when given an example, and America fits the criteria, it would be the logical choice to make, if you were trying to get a point across that readers would understand.

It's either that, or I could make a long list of all eligible countries or peoples. In which case it would just turn into a list, and too specific while at it to the targeted peoples, while not being as broad in whole.

Although, as I have said before, generalizations can be double-edged, as it can be interpreted as maliciously targeting said group.

JooNkeN

excel_excel

The udon noodles themselves are really bland, as with most noodles.
They're thick white noodles, but really soft.
The broth is usually soy based, and can go with any number and combinations of additional toppings: seafood, beef etc..
Then there are different variations of it, like the yakiudon(fried, kind of like american chow-mein).

If that made no sense, maybe wiki can do a better job for you:
[en.wikipedia.org]

If you've had other noodles before, or like noodles, give udon a try.

JooNkeN

blackdice

+ Watch video

fuchikoma

Go Team Venture

You said,
"Just because someone in our country MIGHT do something so stupid, doesn't mean that there isn't SOMEONE in those other countries who would too."

I said,
"...because the bowls are usually not stolen or desecrated."

I never said that every single person in japan abides by the given rules. Also, when I said 'american,' it was a generalization and not to be taken in it's entirety by accounting for every single american/mindset there of.

I agree with you on generalization, although it may be double-edged in many cases, such as this.

JooNkeN

You said,
"it just seems odd that you'd plaster your post with america as if they're the only ones..."

I said,
"...stop of thinking like an american (or whichever cultural mindset you have that seems to obviously criticize anything different)."

Loop hole closed.

JooNkeN

I think I may smell japanophilia? Maybe not.

Just because someone in our country MIGHT do something so stupid, doesn't mean that there isn't SOMEONE in those other countries who would too.

Case in point, the Japanese guy who went around stabbing people in the neck.

Aren't generalizations grand?

Billkwando

Great Merol

eastx

Purple Dave

ivan225

@battra92:
When I was in high school, on a dare, four of us got dressed up in nice semi-formal clothes, took a tablecloth, real dishes/tableware, and candles, ordered in at McDonald's, and proceeded to eat our meal in the centermost table we could find. They asked us to put out the candles because it posed a fire hazard or something.

Purple Dave

yeah but the problem here is that i'm from busan, not america. people do ridiculous things in all parts of the world. i wasn't serious when i said it anyways so i guess it doesn't matter.

oh, and just so you know, you're stereotyping a bunch of americans in your post which is a bit ignorant and rude. why target america only when everything you said goes the same for many countries. why forget a lot of europe? you don't exactly get plates from delivery service in the UK, yet you go straight for america and basically say that they're too stupid to handle such a service. it just seems odd that you'd plaster your post with america as if they're the only ones...like you know everybody.

blackdice

rainofwalrus

rainofwalrus

Superstar90

First, this is the case that the delivery man uses for delivering noodles. Riding either a bicyle or a moped to make the delivery. Sadly, that was the best picture I could find, as I don't even know the name of it.

Usually it's bigger than this picture and carries about 4 or more bowls.

Second, to all those people saying "How many people steal the bowls?" "How many people desecrate the bowls before returning it?"
Questions like that basically put up a red flag saying you're an american.

There are cultural differences, people. Just because your country would do something so stupid, doesn't mean other countries will too. If they did, they wouldn't provide a service like this in the first place. This kind of service can be provided simply because the bowls are usually not stolen or desecrated. To them, it's a common part of life. If you were to do this in the US, it would fail, that's why we don't have it.

Third, in my opinion, I don't think it's an environmental issue that they're doing this. It's more along the lines that this kind of service has been around for years, and they're keeping the tradition. (If it isn't broken, don't fix it.) Remember that neighborhoods are really cramped in Japan, so you would normally just need a bicycle for delivery, and maybe a moped if you're covering a larger area. It's not a big of a hassle as delivering pizza with a car. The delivery radius would probably fall under a 1-2mile radius, if that even.

Lastly, whenever you see something that's not a part of your 'culture,' and you think that it's odd or out of place, stop of thinking like an american (or whichever cultural mindset you have that seems to obviously criticize anything different). Rather, ask yourself; How and why. Put yourself in their shoes.

P.S.
If you still don't get it, and refuse to try and understand anything, then don't complain the next time you go traveling get charged $5 for Orange Juice when the sign right next to it says $4 for Jugo de Naranja

JooNkeN

pandafresh

Norsehawk

firelogic

is it the same in japan?

zeropoint.0

etho

Traceur

blackdice

jayntampa

RinoaRyder

ItsHammerTime

Hopefully this works - this was the elevator girl in Kyoto Tower when we visited: [picasaweb.google.com]

@battra92: Believe me, this has nothing to do with environmentalism. The Japanese have horrible, horrible habits when it comes to the environment. Like, they'll individually wrap every single cookie in a box of cookies in plastic, then they'll wrap the box itself in plastic. If you buy a cake, they will cut the cake into slices, then put every slice on its own paper plate, then wrap each slice in plastic and put it back in the shape of a cake. Then they'll put the cake in a box and give you a big vinyl bag to carry it in.

I mean in a certain way it's really cool, because everything is just so neat and perfect and it's all obviously done for the convenience of the customer. But it is almost disgusting in how anti-environment it is, especially these days.

I've never seen a grocery store there where paper bags were available either. It's all plastic. And people *will* look at you funny if you reuse an old bag.

badasscat

laencythe

kylenalepa

I was about to complain about eating curry but not wanting CoCo, but then I guess I'm lucky. Some places don't even have that.

Channing

Woden501

I find it amusing how so many first impressions were, "Can you keep the bowls?" Shows the difference between the two cultures. As Angryrider said, it probably wouldn't work in the US. Unless there's a shift to value resources versus the convenience of being able to just toss when done, it will probably be business as usual. With the advent of plastic, I guess there's no going back.

0ldb0y

Click on the jump for a photo of the udon I took from my fridge which i was saving for a late night supper..udon with sphagetti sauce...*drool*

[b.imagehost.org]

Banedon38

A serious portion of my daily flatware is based upon those bowls.

Slatz_Grobnik

Do you still have elevator operators over there?

fuchikoma

Banedon38

kanashimaru

akilshohen

He

Pezdispenser

warhol101

chirokitsune

sonofnone

Being half-filipino, I was raised on noodles/ramen. So I have a good number of excellent recipes for udon, pho' and ramen. My personal fave being ol' fashioned niku udon. On one of my visits to japan, one of the students there said she had ordered udon for everyone and it was all brought to us in the same manner...in plastic bowls & chopsticks. Didn't really make myself aware of the fact that we weren't using traditional "take-out" utensils. Meh, was too busy flirting, lol.

That curry indeed looks damn tasty....!

djgil

Oh well.

DaiMacculate

siamgx

Jenstar

I actually learned about this in Gokusen the Second Series. Heh. Although I learned about the bowls in Ranma when there was a race for the best deliverymen.

Angryrider

tkshredder

Oh and nice touch on the kiddie table-mat by the way. Looks like a tomato with a worm for a body and that chicken from McDonalds...=D

excaliburps

What happens if you leave them on the doorstep dirty? Will they stop delivering to you or charge you something?

It is a bit distasteful to eat soup in a styrofoam cup/bowl. Not to mention the hot soup corroding the styro.(heard it's a health hazard too)

@nxp3:
Some people don't like the hassle of transferring hot soup to a bowl (a bit messy and scalding adds to it I bet).

It's a nice touch. Though I'd say most people wouldn't return the bowl much less clean it before leaving it to the delivery guy. (Hell most people would even steal it if they see it on your doorstep).

excaliburps

Of course sometimes they were smarter and just bought a bunch of hamburgers and like two large fries and divided them up amongst the five of us (mostly four of us since my youngest sister is a bit younger than the rest) and drink our own soda or Kool-Aid to save on buying drinks.

Maybe my parents are the reason I'm a cheapass?

@calpchen: That's awesome. Imagine how much less garbage we'd have if we stopped using styrofoam, cardboard, and plastic bags for all our take-out dining.

I'm all for saving on garbage and 99% of the time in life reducing is always good but I don't want to return dishes from take out.

I find styrofoam being used less and less here. The local supermarket sells their fried haddock dinners in them but most restaurants seem to be switching to this thick cardboard stuff. I guess the fact that it can break down and is probably recycled to begin with makes a difference, though probably not in cost.

battra92

bigman88zz

Krytha

aeonpulse

NickRumas

calpchen

nxp3

Lyner

Billkwando

PooPooKaKaBumBum

bigman88zz

Norsehawk

AnthraxJunkie

JimmyHACK

RPGr

Xerxes 8933A

Brian Ashcraft

Though its things like that that would never work in America. Way too much work.

PepsiPerfect

eastx

tkshredder

RSTStop780

Cchrist