My friend from Osaka, Sho, is coming to stay at my house next Wednesday. He'll stay here for about a month and I just wanted to get some advice on things I should take him to and such so he gets the most out of his trip. I live one hour away from Chicago, but your advice/tips don't have to be directly related. They can be more broad and general.

Also thought I'd use this as a place to say some other things. Today I turned 21, oh boy! Also tomorrow I may have an interview for a designer's assistant (he does ads, brochures, etc.). The most important thing? He's Japanese! He also has a home office, so this would be a great opportunity to practice my Japanese verbally in a daily setting with a native Japanese speaker. Just wanted to throw that out there, hah.

I'll be sure to make Sho take a lot of pictures if you guys want me to share them with you.

He's probably never had Mexican food, so that's always a good one.

The biggest Walmart around your place, seriously he'll be amazed. And is there Hooters in Chicago too? I'm just asking

Happy 21st birthday!

masaman Wrote:The biggest Walmart around your place, seriously he'll be amazed. And is there Hooters in Chicago too? I'm just asking

Happy 21st birthday!

Man, you already know him. I told him about Hooter's, which yes we do have here my sister works at one. Sho loves big boobs so you know... I immediately told him about Hooter's and he wants to go first thing.

Rodeos, beer, guns, hunting, nascar. No, but really, gun shooting may be a fun idea. Surprisingly, a lot of Japanese college students I know are interested in shooting guns. A few of them even arranged a trip to a shooting range and posted photos on facebook like it was nothing! In general, I recommend things that can't be found in Japan, with the exception of food (apparently a lot of American things taste like medicine?).

TheVinster Wrote:my sister works at one.

Can I stay at your place too?

Other things I found awesome when I first came to the states;

Shooting guns,
Riding a motorcycle without a helmet,
Hiking and seeing horses running around,
Talking to girls at bars,

Edit: vileru already brought up shooting. I guess it's really common.

Happy 21st. That job opportunity sounds pretty sweet (though let's not count chickens before they've hatched). The fact that you're learning Japanese will probably help you get the job.

Can you ride a horse? Take him on a day's ride into the middle of nowhere. Take some beer and guns. He'll feel like a cowboy. If not a horse, a motorbike?

If it's his first time in the USA you could see some cool famous american things, although they may not be anywhere near where you live. Stuff like niagara, the grand canyon, Mount Rushmore... all the stuff that's ridiculously big. That's the kind of stuff people from relatively small countries find amazing about america.

If he's seen a lot of movies it will be interesting for him to do some simple things like eat at a diner, go to a mall, a drive-in movie theatre, etc. If you hire (or own) one of those massive, long, wide drop-top American cars you should go on a road trip with him to do all that stuff.

Does he like baseball? Maybe go watch a game? Also take him to some famous American restaurants. Apparently KFC is really big in Japan, and he will only have had tiny burgers without a bun, and very thin hotdogs in the past. Take him to get some fast food. There's also a pretty widespread idea in Japan that all American food sucks - maybe take him for some really good food.

Blahah Wrote:...and he will only have had tiny burgers without a bun...

You mention KFC, but fail to mention how big McDonalds is in Japan? I haven't found any noticeable size difference in McDonald's burgers (though the drinks are lacking)

Not only that, but there's different burger places scattered around -- a few with a delicious western influence.

Now Taco Bell and (real) Denny's. There's some fast food I've been missing.

There's Taco Bells at the various US military bases in Japan. Not sure if Taco Bell is worth the effort though (might have eaten there twice in the two years stationed at Yokosuka). Even the Chile's wouldn't be worth it imo.

Dammit, I started thinking of ideas, but I just ended up making myself hungry for American food. D:

Anyway, I say blow his mind with one of those giant Chicago-style pizzas. You know the ones, with the crazy-thick crust and so many toppings the thing is in danger of collapsing under its own weight. Skip out on the franchised fast-food, and take him around to as many famous local grease-pits as you can.

Chicago style deep-dish pizza- it's what we're famous for! I took my girlfriend there while we were in Chicago. This time of year Navy Pier is great, the beach (I bet he can't keep his eyes in his head with all the hotties out!), parks, the Chicago Art Museum, Watertower place for shopping, etc, etc. So much to do and see in Chicago.

Somebody misses Denny's?

I've only been to one here, and I was hoping for some sort of "grand-slam" breakfast, but instead, the most appetizing thing I saw was toast with eggs and ketchup on it...?

Still, it was nice after the string of small hotel Japanese style breakfasts.

Yup I know he already wants the pizza. I know a local family-owned pizzeria we'll order from, and that maybe go to a popular place within Chicago. I mean I hardly go to Chicago and I live nearby so it'll be just as fun for me. I'm going to drag him to Chinatown.

Maybe shooting a gun if I can find a place, or paintball could also suffice. I've never done either so it'll be interesting to replicate what I see on TV with a real gun with mess up my wrist.

I recommended him "Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle" and after watching the movie he didn't even know White Castle was real. So I'm taking him there haha.

Someone already mentioned it, but definitely Mexican food. I've known a few people who did study-abroad/foreign-exchange and they missed Mexican food after returning to Japan.

As far as food:
Chicago has some very good Mexican places around Pilsen.
Italian Beef from Little Italy, Mr. Greek's and Al's get a shout out.
Get him some decent pasta while your at it. I couldn't get anything that resembled acceptable Italian food for a decent price in Tokyo.

Attractions:
Six Flags
Lallapalooza 2010 Aug.7/8
Museums (of that's your thing)
Bars & Clubs (you're on your own)

Too bad, you missed the taste, ended Sunday (I think).
Btw, Taco Bell isn't exactly Mexican food.

TheVinster Wrote:I recommended him "Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle" and after watching the movie he didn't even know White Castle was real. So I'm taking him there haha.

Lol, I didn't know Calorie Mates were real. I was like WTF is this when I walked into a conbini.

oregum Wrote:Someone already mentioned it, but definitely Mexican food. I've known a few people who did study-abroad/foreign-exchange and they missed Mexican food after returning to Japan.

As far as food:
Chicago has some very good Mexican places around Pilsen.
Italian Beef from Little Italy, Mr. Greek's and Al's get a shout out.
Get him some decent pasta while your at it. I couldn't get anything that resembled acceptable Italian food for a decent price in Tokyo.

Attractions:
Six Flags
Lallapalooza 2010 Aug.7/8
Museums (of that's your thing)
Bars & Clubs (you're on your own)

Too bad, you missed the taste, ended Sunday (I think).
Btw, Taco Bell isn't exactly Mexican food.

Alright I know a good Mexican place I'll take him to. I've already had Six Flags in mind so that's a definite. I haven't been there since October. Maybe the zoo and some museums, although I'll make sure with him first because I like boring things. No bars or clubs... definitely not my thing. I mean I turned 21 yesterday but I haven't, and don't plan on, drinking alcohol. It's not for me. I could buy him some alcohol if he wants it just because I know he already drinks sometimes in Japan.

Am I the only one who finds the obsession for real guns sick?

Going shooting is a good experience, since gun ownership is for all intents illegal in Japan.

I've taken two Japanese girlfriends to a range (the only two times I've ever shot a gun). The first one got extremely scared of it after two shots and put the gun down, the other loved it (although she jumped about 5 feet backwards after the first shot).

Jarvik7 Wrote:Going shooting is a good experience, since gun ownership is for all intents illegal in Japan.

I hope you have other arguments for that besides it's being illegal in some countries.

In that case, I guess buying bullets on the supermarket must be a good experience too, since in other countries you can't just stop by the supermarket before going postal.

I guess the "guts for guns" is one of those "only in America" things (or at least I hope so).

I can't deny the attractiveness of the idea of playing with paintball guns or laser toy guns, but real guns should be seen as weapons, not toys.

Returning to the topic, I guess a paintwar would be fun for this Japanese friend, but they probably have the same in Japan.

Sebastian Wrote:

Jarvik7 Wrote:Going shooting is a good experience, since gun ownership is for all intents illegal in Japan.

I hope you have other arguments for that besides it's being illegal in some countries.

In that case, I guess buying bullets on the supermarket must be a good experience too, since in other countries you can't just stop by the supermarket before going postal.

I guess the "guts for guns" is one of those "only in America" things (or at least I hope so).

I can't deny the attractiveness of the idea of playing with paintball guns or laser toy guns, but real guns should be seen as weapons, not toys.

Returning to the topic, I guess a paintwar would be fun for this Japanese friend, but they probably have the same in Japan.

Eh, I wish guns were illegal in America as well. I hate the perception that other countries have of us in that they believe we all have guns and carry them around the entire day. Although in a controlled environment it's not like one would be treating them as toys. I'd honestly just do it for the experience.

Don't tak aar guunz !!!

Sebastian Wrote:

Jarvik7 Wrote:Going shooting is a good experience, since gun ownership is for all intents illegal in Japan.

I hope you have other arguments for that besides it's being illegal in some countries.

In that case, I guess buying bullets on the supermarket must be a good experience too, since in other countries you can't just stop by the supermarket before going postal.

I guess the "guts for guns" is one of those "only in America" things (or at least I hope so).

I can't deny the attractiveness of the idea of playing with paintball guns or laser toy guns, but real guns should be seen as weapons, not toys.

Returning to the topic, I guess a paintwar would be fun for this Japanese friend, but they probably have the same in Japan.

I don't think Jarvik is trying to provide an argument as to why people should go shooting. He's providing an explanation as to why Japanese people are interested in it. Keep in mind, the only exposure most Japanese people have had to guns is most likely the media, especially American media.

Anyway, they do have paintballing in Japan, but it is considerably more expensive and has no where near the amount of public exposure as it does in the States.

If you're looking for a unique "cultural" experience - Isn't there a hot dog place near Chicago where the employees cuss at the patrons? Not sure if this is up your alley, but it would definitely be interesting for a 日本人 as it's so completely the opposite of Japanese customer service.

TaylorSan Wrote:Not sure if this is up your alley, but it would definitely be interesting for a 日本人 as it's so completely the opposite of Japanese customer service.

I'm pretty sure they have a maid cafe for that now.