PJ CULTURE SHOCK

Today i went over the Kamae Community center to teach the elementary kids there. I was tired of running around and talking, so today thought we could slow it down and just munch on some good ole american food, aka peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Well they dont got much jelly here in japan, so had to go with the jam, but thats all good. Was cruising along, got the not so big bread, had the kids and teachers put half jam and half peanut butter on one side. Then was ready for the big fold. To mix the peanut butter and jam together. But to my SUPRISE!! everyone did the opposite to me, they didnt mix the peanut butter and jam together, but simply matched up the jam with the jam and the peanut butter and peanut butter when they folded their sandwich. I was like, thats not gonna taste so good, you gotta MIX it. But when i told them all, everyone came up with an "Eehhhhhh???", everyone thought it was wierd to mix it and it would taste funny. I was suprised too! They thought the opposite way to fold it. So my teachers told me that in Japan when they make a sandwich like that, they put the jam and jam together, and the peanut butter and peanut butter together. In addition, the peanut butter is already sweet in Japan, where as the american kind is not, its kinda salty. So i had the kids just taste the peanut butter by itself and they were like "oh!". In the end after much resistance they trusted me and mixed the jam and peanut butter together! Then we ate, and i heard tons of "oishii!", or as we say in english, "delicious". The kids and teachers were happy, but in a little PJ culture shock. It was all good, but then Motoko sensei told me she was a bit thirsty. Ahh .. guess i forgot to tell em to bring some milk too, maybe next time.