"The place you like is home " so says a Myanmar saying. But, it seems the way of living and likeness of food have changed during likeness of food have changed during a period I myself have not noticed. The first thing is words. Originally, I am not good at languages. I can speak Myanmar language in a limit. I can understand Thai language that I learnt for about four years. But I have become quite poor in English. And I don't study mother tongue. There are a lot of people who are good at both Myanmar and English in Myanmar.

When I came across bicycle tourists from Belgium in a guest house in Bagan last year, they spoke to me in English. Although I carefully responded them in English they were not able to follow my speech. So I felt depressed. I can still remember that event very well. The sentence construction of English and Thai is same. For example, I / love / you is same. But that of Japanese and Myanmar is quite different. They write I / you / love. When I speak that language I take some time to think so that I can't get wrong. But it is amusing for a Japanese.

As for food, Japanese people who live in north eastern part of Japan like a little salty food. But male house keeper doesn't use mirin or soy sauce. So the taste is a bit different. Bur wi have been eating such kind of food for over a year. I wanted to eat this and that when I visited to a small shop while I went back to Japan last July. I had known this shop for five years. I thought it had been a long time since I last visited the shop. When I thought hard that what had changed, I found out that the food was not very delicious. What made the food bad. May be, it is because I am used to eating the food the male house keeper cooks. I am more careful of living than others. My moustache is normal one. When I was in Japan, I used to shave the moustache only after rubbing it with a steamed towel. But here in Myanmar, Indian barber shaves the moustache after rubbing it with a little water and soap. I can't remember when I have picked up this habit.

Most people don't enter bath room and soak in warm water. They just pour water on their bodies. when I wanted to soak in the warm water up to neck, I boiled water in a pot on rather cold days. And I mixed boiling water at suitable ratio. Then I soaked in it. That was very time consuming. I have had the shower made by plumbers so that I can take a bath under the cold shower. Whenever I come back home after walking a long distance under the sun, I want to take a cold bath. But male house keeper suggests that it can be harmful to heart if I tame a bath as soon as I returned from a hot place. He adds that it is better to take a bath after taking a rest for while.

In Yangon, people cross a road when there are no cars on the road without taking care of traffic lights. But when there are cars going on it, they look at the road with sharp eyes if there is a gap in the traffic. And they cross one side of the road first and stand on the centre line. And then they wait till there is a gap on other side and cross it.

Anyone is sure to be taken as a mad man if they do so in Japan. Habit is a fearful thing. I happened to cross the road in this manner in Japan. The drivers looked at me coldly and frowned at me.

The last thing I would like to tell you is table manner of Myanmar people. They wipe fork and spoon and cups with tissue paper placed on the table when they sit at the table to have meal. They wash cups for plain tea with little warm water. They especially wash the part that touches with lip by rubbing with fingers.

As for crossing the road, everyone is to take responsibility for their own cation. As soon as they sit at the table, they cut tissue paper with fingers of one hand skilfully and rub the spoons till they become bright.

There are many things about this country. The most fearful thing for me is behaving impolite manners unexpectedly without noticing myself. I conclude my article writing some facts what I can recall.