Helpful Japanese People

One thing that is beginning to amaze me around here is how helpful the Japanese are when you ask them for help. Yesterday I went to Osaka to the university of a friend of mine. It was quite far, and required a number of train changes, a subway and a bus. Meanwhile, I decided I needed something in the huge mall that is in the central station in Osaka. Someone told me to go to a certain store for gift bags. I asked another store clerk, and she walked outside her store into another one to show me where the bags were. I was having fun shopping around, and I realized I'd better get to the subway. I asked a janitor what direction the subway was. Instead of pointing me in the direction, he walked with me for about 5 minutes, making sure I got on the right one. His English was better than most of the folks around here. He wanted to discuss politics! Today I was looking for the international office in Kobe, and a young man not only walked me to the building, he rode with me on the elevator to the 20th floor! Amazing!
Another rather embarrassing situation pointed out the polite nature of these folks to me. I had gone to an onzen (hot springs) in Arima. They have a lot of products like shampoo, lotion, cleansing gel, etc. around for you to use to bathe before you get into the hot springs. So on Thursday, I went to a local onzen that a friend had recommended. There were a couple of caddies of products, so I carefully tried to figure out which was shampoo, and I proceeded to wash my hair. A woman came up and said (I guess) that here was the conditioner that went with it. I didn't realize until later that at this onzen you have to bring your own stuff. So instead of saying "Bitch, get your hands off my shampoo", she gives me her conditioner too. I didn't even figure it out till later, so I didn't apologize. Very nice people, these Japanese.