Comfortably Numb

I've been asked a few times by the locals: "How do you live comfortably in Japanese Society?" It's a strange question... how does on live comfortably or otherwise in any society without simply being yourself? I suppose it's merely a knack some peoplpe have of being able to exist with community standards.
In Japan, we (the foreigner) are often subjected to pointing and rude staring and basic name calling - the dreaded 'gaijin' word. As mentioned many a time previously, gaijin quite literally translates into 'outsider'. To me, being called a gaijin is all in the way the word is said. I've only ever heard the word said to me in a manner that denoted surprise - "Holy crap! A foreigner!" (Hora! Gaijin-da!) It's a common word that the Japanese use, and I think when they use it they aren't necessarily trying to be rude.
Regardless, many of the foreigners in Japan quite simply can't handle being called a gaijin, and opt out of the country the first chance they get. We saw about four people of our 53 Tochigi-ken AETs (Assistant English Teachers) on the JET programme leave after only a couple of months here. 
Others try to understand the reasons for the reactions they garner while walking down the street.
I, myself, have always been a gaijin in every country I've ever lived in. I was born in England, raised in Canada by Indian parents - it's something that perhaps has helped blunt myself to actions others feel is racial ignorance. In Canada, I am a minority. In Japan, I am a foreigner. Which is worse? Well... I'm supposed to be a Canadian, NOT a minority.
When I first arrived here in the somewhat rural city of Ohtawara in Tochigi-ken, I was (past tense??!!) something of a freak. An attraction. A foreigner. I used to get several 'gaijin' shouts a day as I walked downtown or past the local farms. However, perhaps it's because of my high visibility at the local bars (heb-bi du-rin-ka), restaurants, department stores and, of course, schools, people became used to me.
I was no longer a 'gaijin' - I was, and am, merely An-do-ryu sensei (Andrew teacher), a humourous guy from Canada... though that may not be overly obvious from this particular blog.
I read about the 'living comfortably' question in a Japanese English-language daily newspaper (the Daily Yomiuri) and really gave it some thought.
Until that moment, I wasn't really aware at just how comfortable I was in Japanese society. Let's see: I enjoy eating at the fastfood restaurant Mosburger; I really like to watch the comedian Shimura Ken on television even though I don't understand all of what goes on; I like to have a good time with my friends and co-workers and students; I religiously watch sumo wrestling tournaments and baseball; I have an aquarium with goldfish; I have a bonsai tree; I eat Japanese food - I just need to have a full-time Japanese girlfriend, and the way things are goiung with my current American girlfriend, that too shall come to pass.
Some of the locals have assured me that I act like a typical Japanese person.
Interestingly enough, I think I've been acting like a Canadian.
I guess it's difficult to act different for everyone else, when you find that everyone else is basically the same as you. People are people everywhere you go.

Somewhere tearing down walls,
Andrew Joseph
Today's title is by Pink Floyd from their awesome album, The Wall. Even if you aren't interested in Rock and Roll, do yourself a favour and at least read the lyrics. Whew.