Thoughts

When you enter a home, school, inn or many other types of businesses in Japan you remove your shoes and put on guest slippers or your own work or school shoes if it's your work or school. On the first day we removed our shoes and placed them on the shelves for guests at this hostel.  We then slipped on the slippers for guests as we did not come with house shoes or slippers.  The next day when we were preparing for guests, I asked Max if we should move our outside shoes to the family side of the shelve as we are not guests but we are also not family either.  We had been cleaning and putting out clean linens for the guests so we were allowed access to all the doors marked 'Private' or Staff Only.'  Max hesitated in answering my question and then said, 'Yes, please move them.'

We have been treated not as a foreigner but as a member of the staff from the beginning.  This is a unique experience in Japan as it usually takes awhile to get beyond fomal relationships.  It has been extremely helpful that both Max and Yuko speak good English and know how to give directions and feedback and answer all the girls' questions.  We will continue to get to know one another as we work together on projects and in preparing for hostel guests.

Family side in entryway:

Guest side in entryway: