My mother is BAKA

My mother is so dense...

I've been trying to go to japan for months.

She promised that if I graduated school that I could go on a trip. On her dime no less. I decided to go to Japan.

For the past month she's been trying to disuade me from going by using these very unconvincing methods

- Japan is incredibly expensive. Something like a Big Mac costs $20 because it depends on the stock market.

- There is no tourism in Japan. They don't like foreigners. Even if they have a national tourism agency.

- Japan is all business. There is no place for tourists to visit or do in japan. The whole country is skyscrapers and buisnessmen.

 

Japans exchange rate is something like 100 yen : $1. You should tell her to quit being so xenphobic and throw some examples back at her like NYC is all sykscrapers and angry cab drivers, no place to eat because people are always working.

 

NYC is a CITY.

She's talking about the WHOLE ARCHIPELAGO of Japan.

Plus she used to work as a fashion buyer in New York City in the 70's for a department store. So she wouldn't be afraid of that analogy and would use it to strengthen her arguement.

 

Tell her she's flat out wrong!! Do your research, plan a trip including accomodations and touristy locations that you would like to visit. Provide websites and printouts of tourist and location info.

What I'm getting at is that you should put together a well thought out package for her to review and ultimately say yes to.

 

well I have one already.

Doesn't matter to her.

 

Wow ok.

So she honestly believes that all of the tourist info, websites, literature and travel agency trip packages are a sham?

Can you approach it from a 'visit the country side and hot spring resort approach'? People do that kind of thing in America all of the time.

 

The tour I want to go on is acctually a wrestling tour of japan.

Basically we'd visit Korakuen Hall, the Tokyo Dome, and some other arena and go to the wrestling shows there.

She honestly doesn't believe that I will have time to myself to do anything because there isn't a 100% set itinerary. Namely that I have to stay on this itinery or else.

And she's also worried about stuff like "What if you lose your luggage" and "No one speaks any english in Japan,, how will you function"

Honestly as well that the trip is also the furthest thing from her mind as well... She recently lost her job (the company downsized her for reason I'm not allowed to speak about. Personal and family things ya know).

So spending $3,500 to send me to japan on this tour package isn't the highest priority right now.

 

She got the it's too expensive part right. I want to take 2 friends with me but it's mad expensive.....and they're cute guys too......they might be kidnapped by Yakuza and forced to do porn.

 

Japan $3,500 excluding food
Spain $5,350 excluding food.

which is the least expensive?

 

uh...

 

it was a rhetorical statement.

That for a 9 day vacation like I will go on is $3500...

But for a similar 9 day vacation to Spain is $5350

 

Big Mac's run like 300 or 400 yen (take it from the one guy who's not been into a Mac for years). That's less than $4. If the market fluctuated enough to make one $20, there would be a dichotomy of filthy rich and homeless peeople in this world (read: The market doesn't move that much).

Throw the safety thing at her. No way she can argue with that.

And yeah, the market right now is in your favor. $1/110 yen is considered average. It's 121-122 right now.

 

A "Value Set" (with coke and fries) according to McDonalds Japan is ¥580

Or about $4.76

 

Before you call your mom dense it might be more responsible on your side to just save some money and pay for the trip on your own. As you have already found out her arguments can't be backed by facts but the costs of the trip might be why she is trying to desuade you and won't accept any "but".

 

She'd be paying the $3500 for the tour package, which includes the hotel, transportation, 3 dinners with some Japanese wrestling stars (all 3 are favorites of mine), and tickets to 3 wrestling shows over the trip.

I have about $2500 of my own money that I would be able to spend. Possibly more if I could get a better job than what I have now (nothing)

 

Agreed!

 

I am SO in who are the Puro stars?

 

GaijinPunch, we can tell you don't go to Mc Donalds

Cactusjack, The most you'll pay for a set meal in Mc Donalds is under 600 yen. Normally they are 520 yen or something. They even have the 100 yen menu.

Looks like your mum needs to make up better stories

 

At least your mother isn't paranoid about you wanting to go to Soeul because she thinks "they're in war at the moment," "it's too hot there during the summer," "you're going to stay with people you don't know," "what will you eat, I'd like to see who's going to cook meals for you!," you don't have family there!" etc..

I've been there :evil:

 

She was right about that one, technically. The rest is just, well, it's what every mother would say I guess.

Edit: On-Topic: Why would you want to eat at McDonalds in Japan anyway? Bikkuri Ramen noodle soup is just 180 Yen!