Cuz A Food Stand is Only on Foot

I never want my food to suffocate in a to-go box for too long. That has become the reason why I eat on my way walking to class, waiting for the bus, or during shopping. So far, burritos has been the best invention to ease this embarrassing urge of mine. Sadly for me to find out is that it seems to be relatively rare to see people eating while standing, in California, where burritos prevail. Why so? I have been wondering...is it part of the manners? Or is it out of showing more respect toward people around, or the respect toward the food?Anyways, I have been getting very excited seeing how people just stand there and eat in Japan, even to the point of being shocked seeing how diners offer mini high tables that come without chairs. On my first day in Japan, I ate this pork bun, standing. On my second day, I saw a barbeque place at a street corner -- still -- with no chairs. And later, all those ramen restaurants in the train stations with the standing-only option! A friend of mom’s, who has traveled Japan many times brought up this idea of how easy it is for people in Japan to eat alone -- let me throw in the word “judgement-free”. Whenever I felt the urge to eat Japanese food in San Diego, I would visit this small cozy Japanese restaurant where the main part of it is a bar in a circle. Eating on a bar should be something normal for an unaccompanied customer, but the couples sitting across me would always stare into my direction, whispering, and unveiling some empathy. Well, at least that's how I interpreted those moves (OK---no more negative bias for me!) . Here in Japan, so many people eat alone. Undoubtedly, there are couples who stand and eat together, sharing that large-sized warm bun; while more eaters, like me, are loners who don't feel left out, enjoying the meal with the food within the period of time that they are totally in control of.Yes the food stands are only for standing. If you tried and did not enjoy this loneliness, bring me with you for the next time.