Newspaper Article

Into the madding crowds: Toronto writer Greg Devine recently moved to Japan to teach English as a second language. This is the first in a series of letters from that country. Series: Letters From Japan

Devine, Greg

2001

Overview

O'Hare, in Chicago, was easier, even with the presence of the camouflaged National Guard, who seemed just to be handing out directions to confused travellers. In Narita, I watched the world go by: people catching flights to Cairo via Malaysia, Sydney via Seoul. A family rushed to catch a plane at the very last minute, arms loaded with souvenirs from Tokyo Disneyland. My first preconception about Japan is shattered: Food prices really are not too high. They seem on par with Canada, once you factor in all the taxes we pay. Some things, though, are outrageously steep. Melons, for example, cost about $40 Cdn. Apples sell for $1 to $1.20 each, but they're big -- a meal in themselves. Shops and restaurants have a wider selection than in Canada and it pays to shop around -- a cup of coffee and a slice of toast, for example, can cost $7 in one coffee shop, but half that across the street.

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