Different country, same world

It's good to get away from Greece every once in a while just to be reminded of how big and complex the world is. Japan is a faraway country that is at the epicenter of tectonic changes that affect us all. It is an extremely serious country and very different to Greece. So many little things make an impression. Like the renovation of a building right in the center of Tokyo. Construction went on into the night, but there was no noise, no shouting. The sidewalk in front of it was cordoned off with dozens of small lights and workers in fluorescent vests politely guided pedestrians safely past the works, bowing their apologies for the inconvenience caused. When a bullet train pulls up at a station, there are always cleaning crews waiting right where the doors will open. They bow to the passengers, clean out the car within five minutes flat and bow to the new passengers coming in.
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