Day: July 20, 2006

Clouds and rain, like a duck — happy!

Serge is on the lookout for all the small creatures he can see: butterflies, crabs, dragonflies, frogs.  A reliable source has told us we may see some monkeys but up to now, nothing.  Patience.

Serge encounters a lot of people as he runs and they all greet him by bending from the waist, with joined hands.  In Japan, this salute replaces hand shaking. Morning and evening Serge takes the route to school and all the children, without exception, say hello and speak to him with a word of English.  When we stop for feedings there are usually some people who are interested in our vehicles and our Japanese team (still not tired of repeating the same thing every day) explain what is happening. We have been offered ball-point pens, soft drinks, fried fish, a glass of water.  Since 1997 we have crossed 29 countries and after one week on Japanese soil I can say that it’s the only country where there is unanimous respect for effort and for Serge’s undertaking.
 
Friendliness and politeness are a delight and Serge, all smiles, bends in half many times to return the greeting he receives.  Ludo and I find this very good.  On top of being polite, it’s a good limbering up exercise for the lower back, and if you knew to what extent Serge is stiff!