Boy the Douglases were real midwestern jetsetters!
In truth, they did seem to enjoy travelling a lot, internationally, as they do it several times over the course of the series. And they did it together as a family, for the most part, so good for them. I guess it doesn't stretch the boundaries of credibility TOO MUCH that Steve's job as a contracted engineer for the military might afford them the opportunity for that kind of travel, in spite of the fact that other episodes show them having to live within a very, very strict middle-class budget; maybe international travel wasn't the expensive ordeal back then as it is now...? An early episode of BEWITCHED also shows the Stephenses flying back and forth from Paris (on jets, not broomsticks) as if it were no big deal, and on a non-executive, non-partner adman's salary to boot.
I did find a couple of the situations in the episode amusing, if not gut-busting, particularly those dealing with Steve encountering more relaxed ideas of modesty than he's accustomed to: the older housekeeper-type lady of the house they're renting expects Steve to strip buck nekkid in front of her so that she can help bathe him; "In Japan, we do not feel that the human body is shameful," he's told. And then he has to sit down to dinner in his bare feet and his too-small Japanese robe, which promptly rips.
And then before they've even had time to experience a traditional tea ceremony--they're home. As an earlier reviewer has explained, the time frame in which all this plays out doesn't work; it would have been more believable if the script had the family returning to Bryant Park on Tuesday, at the earliest.
In truth, they did seem to enjoy travelling a lot, internationally, as they do it several times over the course of the series. And they did it together as a family, for the most part, so good for them. I guess it doesn't stretch the boundaries of credibility TOO MUCH that Steve's job as a contracted engineer for the military might afford them the opportunity for that kind of travel, in spite of the fact that other episodes show them having to live within a very, very strict middle-class budget; maybe international travel wasn't the expensive ordeal back then as it is now...? An early episode of BEWITCHED also shows the Stephenses flying back and forth from Paris (on jets, not broomsticks) as if it were no big deal, and on a non-executive, non-partner adman's salary to boot.
I did find a couple of the situations in the episode amusing, if not gut-busting, particularly those dealing with Steve encountering more relaxed ideas of modesty than he's accustomed to: the older housekeeper-type lady of the house they're renting expects Steve to strip buck nekkid in front of her so that she can help bathe him; "In Japan, we do not feel that the human body is shameful," he's told. And then he has to sit down to dinner in his bare feet and his too-small Japanese robe, which promptly rips.
And then before they've even had time to experience a traditional tea ceremony--they're home. As an earlier reviewer has explained, the time frame in which all this plays out doesn't work; it would have been more believable if the script had the family returning to Bryant Park on Tuesday, at the earliest.