This segment is my most popular one so far, so let’s delve right into part two!
Soda Flavors
Do you know what flavor of Pepsi you can drink in Japan?
Are you ready?
Here it is…
Iced Cucumber.
ICED CUCUMBER?? What the hell, Japan? What is with this weird-ass flavor?
In case you’re wondering, yes. I have tried Iced Cucumber Pepsi before. My cousin lives in Japan, and he brought some back to Nebraska when he came to visit several years ago.
“So, Nebraskan Otaku, what does Iced Cucumber Pepsi taste like?”
It is not a pleasant flavor.
Keep in mind that I do not like cucumbers, so the chance of me liking this pop was already low.
And it tasted like fizzy, iced cucumbery ass.
So what kinds of delicious flavors can we drink here in Nebraska?
Hahahahaha!
You think we get cool and weird flavors here in Nebraska?
HELL NO!
All we get is either cherry, vanilla, or both combined.
The vast majority of Nebraskans will never get the chance to try Iced Cucumber Pepsi, which is a shame. Because even though it tastes like shit, it’s still funky and weird to drink.
Pop vs. Soda
It’s the age-old question: Is the correct term ‘pop’ or ‘soda?’
Here’s a map by Huffington Post displaying the different names people call soft drinks:
Based on the map above, most of Nebraska uses the term ‘pop’ to describe soft drinks instead of ‘soda.’
And since I live in southeastern Nebraska, most people around here also use ‘pop.’
However, I have been known to use ‘soda’ every so often. It just depends on which term pops up into my head faster.
But what do people in Japan call soft drinks?
It turns out that in Japan, any non-alcoholic beverage is called a ‘soft drink’ over there. Even orange juice is considered a ‘soft drink.’
In every day conversation most people in Japan will use ‘soft drink’ or ‘soda’ to describe their carbonated beverages.
Well would you look at that. Even Japan can’t even get their beverage terms right, just like in Nebraska. Looks like both places have something in common.
Slurping
Slurping in Nebraska is frowned upon.
From an early age, we have been told to not slurp when eating soup or certain foods. Kids slurp because they haven’t learned table manners. If you go into any restaurant in Nebraska, 100% of the adults in there will not be slurping because they do not want to be embarrassed.
In Japan it is the complete opposite.
If you do not slurp your soup or certain foods like noodles, you’re basically telling the cook or chef his or her food sucks. In Japan it is encouraged to slurp to show your gratitude to the chef and to tell the cook the food tastes delicious.
Looks like Nebraska and Japan’s cultures still can’t agree on everything. Not as in common as they appeared to be earlier.
Worth a shot.
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