What don't I like to do?

Well, I don't like to complain... but I do.

A lot.

I live in Japan, and for Japanese people complaining isn't something that they like to do. It gives people a bad impression if you complain even a little. In Japan, going with the flow is not only common, but almost compulsory.

However, since I'm not Japanese, and Anglo Saxon in fact - I'm a member of race that takes complaining to a new level. We have to complain. If we don't, we'll be unable to sleep at night.

Then, we can complain about not sleeping well at night!

Living in a country of people who rarely complain is something I complain about.

If Japanese people complained more, then they'd be happier... like me. When am I happiest? When I complain, even though I don't like complaining. I sleep every well at night - eight hours or more.

Before I came to Japan, I didn't complain very much because everyone else in Australia was complaining and since our complaints were similar, I only had to agree with various people's various complaints.

Of course, when I first came to Japan I didn't complain at all because everything seemed wonderful. When people come to Japan and experience life here for the first time, it's so good. People are kind, people are friendly and so positive.

Then, after a while we get used to life here and small 'issues' appear. Still, we don't complain but we wonder why Japanese people don't do, or at least say something about it.

I think my first issue in Japan was bicycle brakes and bells. Thankfully the squeaky, brake pads seemed to have disappeared, so that's one complaint I no longer have. However, people still use their bicycle bells in a way that makes me want to complain, and I do.

Let's imagine, a sunny April morning on the way to the train station. I'm walking along the narrow footpath and someone on a bicycle behind me rings their bell. It's their way of warning me that they are coming up behind me and I should step aside for them. Japanese people will either back themselves against a wall, or ignore the cyclist and keep walking.

What do I do?

I stop, turn around and look the cyclist in the eye and tell them while pointing at the roadway, "Shado ga arimasu". Literally, that means that there is a place for wheeled vehicles right there.

There's a road and since they are riding a bicycle, either use the road or if they are on a footpath, then proceed at footpath speed and wait. I don't step aside, and I don't ignore them. I give them some good advice. I've never seen a Japanese person do it, and I guess they think I'm complaining.

Am I complaining? What do you think?