Wednesday 5 August 2009

Sounds of the morning

On a clear morning, the neighbourhood comes alive to two sounds.

The first is the garbage trucks. Like Australian ice cream trucks, these play a merry tune as they drive through the neighbourhoods. Come buy some garbage! Delicious garbage! The hard garbage trucks play pre-recorded announcements over loudspeakers, telling everyone what they can pick up.

The second, the sound of futons being beaten. Housewives all over will air their household's futons by putting them on the balcony. If you are a good Japanese housewife, you will have clips to securely attach the futon to the balustrade. A good Japanese housewife will also have a special futon beater, for the purpose of getting the dust and grime out of the futon.

As for me, I'm usually out there whacking my futon with a beat-up copy of 'Japanese for Busy People II'.

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