Makudonarudo

I don't go to McDonalds much here...its pretty expensive comapred to home and just the thought of going there while I'm in Japan just doesn't seem right. But I was reminded, not for the first time, of the complete difference in customer service here and how I'll sorely miss it back home. After I managed to mangle some Japanese to the brightly smiling Japanese teenager I put my money in the tray (every time you pay for something here you leave it in a little tray - its a manners thing). She then gestured towards the money, said how much I had put in the tray so that we could agree, stepped back bowed to me and apologiesed for the inconvenience of waiting a few seconds for my fries. She then got my change, counted the bills in her hand using that cool flicking thing with their fingers to check the change, called another staff member over and counted it in front of him and then counted it for me before giving it back. When I did get my fries she wrapped then carefully in a bag, stepped back and bowed, and upon leaving I got a goodbye from the other staff. Now this is by no means an irregular occurance. The staff in most places here are just uber-friendly. Or at least pretend to be. And I just know when I return to Ireland I'm going to be shocked back to reality.