Where do you lie on the freak scale?

When one lives in another country inhabited by an ethnic majority other than one's own, he or she will possess some degree of "freakiness" that cannot be avoided. This is an example of the adverse circumstances one must naturally face if they are to live amongst a different people. Merely, par for the course. Now being "freaky" is not necessarily a bad thing, mind you. It can often pay to stand out. You get noticed for one. Oh...do you get noticed.

As in Japan's case, having a high degree of homogeneity in the local population also affects the "freak scale" -- sometimes quite drastically. Those who have ever visited an onsen in the outer reaches of rural Hokkaido can attest to the above. Doesn't take long for me and my rag-tag group of foreigners to clear the locals out of the hot pool.

So where do foreigners lie on the "freak scale" in Japan? Well, my guess would be somewhere between man with penis growing from cheek to Ronald McDonald the spastic man-clown levels. Basically, pretty high. But that's just me talking.

Some foreigners have even taken this bequeathed "freakiness" and exploited it for monetary gain. This could not only be considered a rational move, but bordering on brilliant. Just check out late night Japanese television to get a taste of what some of these "hyper-freaks" are doing for fame and fortune (Funny how their activities usually gravitate around teaching English). I mean, if it doesn't make any difference, why hang on to that last pointless, shred of dignity? Go on Japanese TV and make a gozillion yen. You won't be the first. And if I can finally muster up the motivation, you won't be the last.