Yesterday, I was walking to the hotel’s Laundromat. It’s about three blocks from the actual hotel, through a few back streets where people’s homes are, so not a commercial district. I pass a few people on their way to work or school, and I smile at a few of them, but none of them make eye contact or really look at me. I am thinking “hmmm, people in Hiroshima are not as friendly as people in Tokyo or Yokohama”; not that they weren’t being un-friendly, I had just gotten so used to people smiling at us, talking to us, taking photos etc… that I was a bit surprised that no one paid any attention to me as I was walking past them.
Then, it dawned on me—I was suffering from LATS (Lack of Attention Syndrome)—the reason no one was looking in my direction is because I didn’t have the baby with me, so there was no reason for them to do so. It was actually a bit good to walk anonymously through the streets for once. Later on, when I had Michael with me, all the attention was there again! I wonder if the Japanese people who have these very long conversations with Michael realize that I don’t speak a word of Japanese and have absolutely no idea what they are talking about! I just nod my head, smile a lot and say ‘hai’ every now and then. They must think I am a moron. Yesterday, on the tram, Michael was so tired, but an elderly Japanese woman kept talking to him (in Japanese), the only word I understood was “Kawaii” (like Hawaii with a K—not sure of the spelling) which means cute. Anyway, she ended up talking him to sleep, the poor little mite! He tried so hard to stay awake, but in the end the sandman won.
A break in Japan and travelling with a baby 
I am enjoying all of your posts. A deep thinker on vacation (with a baby!) always produces a great mix of holiday news and cross-cultural commentary. I love it!! I hope you have been able to recover from your bout of LATS Heather. I am afraid a cute, smiley baby will always win out over a grown-up, in any country….. and let’s face it, Michael is so very cute and smiley!!