I spent the first three days this week traveling to Kyoto with Minami. While she was in class at her University I visited local temples. On Monday, I waited through Minami’s first class. That is when I wrote the last entry. I was able to go to her next class, since it was a large room. Even though the room was large, most of the students sit in the back. There are flat panel screens hanging from the ceiling and the professor spoke using a microphone. Even though the class was in Japanese, the professor played a 20 minute video that was in English. It was about bilingual education in the United States. It was a collaboration of video with Peter Jennyings from 1988. It talked about the growing pressure on immigrants in the United States to learn English. Highlighting legislation from the 1970s, it showed benefits of having bilingual programs rather than total immergence. Even though the video was two decades old, the facts are still relevant today.
From the classes that I have attended, it seems that the Japanese college experience is much different than that of an American. Students are not directly involved in instruction. They take notes and look down the majority of the time. The Sensei does not actively check for student understanding and rarely stops for anything, but a breath. The University stops all classes around lunch time for an hour so that everyone may eat.
The cafeteria is a mad house, with a never-ending criss-cross of people. The food (gohann) is still Japanese and the setting is Japanese as well. Chopsticks instead of forks, big plastic soup spoons instead of western style spoons for soup, and cold tea is available for free in large containers in the middle of the cafeteria.. Seats are difficult to find, so students seem to set themselves down where ever there is an available seat. This includes outside and back in the classrooms. I met one of Minami’s friends, Kina and we carried our lunch tray and all back to the classroom we had just departed from.
Kina Spoke English well. It is always a breath of fresh air to use it. Early this week, I began to understand why the existence of ethnic enclaves is so prevalent in the U.S. Immigrants coming to the U.S. find familiarity in a surrounding of unfamiliar. Of course this is all self explanatory and common sense; however, one never knows until they have experience.
Minami had to give an English lesson to a women who lives in another area of Kyoto. We got on a bus and after some walking, arrived at a house. It looked like a modern home, but it had traditional Japanese style decorations. The women has a young child, I would say around two years old, who was constantly running around. The lesson lasted an hour and a half, in which I entertained my self by playing with the young boy and his toys. He was curious and into everything. He couldn’t understand me and I could not understand him, but we sat together making car and siren sounds. I guess Minami and the women were surprised, because he is usually shy and scared of strangers. I said it was because of my good spirit. The women looked young but she was actually 36. I would have guessed 24 or 25.
Afterwards we headed to the department stores around Kyoto train station to get a pair of pajamas for me. Like I mentioned before, showers are taken at night, and people hang around in their pajamas for a good amount of time before going to bed. So I bought some pajamas so that I could fit in with the rest of the family.
Tuesday, I went to Ryoanji temple, This was my first adventure by myself here. Ryoanji has a garden comprised of only rocks. There are 15 larger rocks placed on a bed of white pebbles. The garden is a sign of tranquility and harmony and is suppose to inspire inward thought and meditation. I had the opportunity to sit there and let the scenery sink in. There were a lot of visitors and I had to purchase a ticket. I enjoy going out and mingling with people. By this time I was able to ask how much something is (ikura desuka). Being able to speak my new language, even if it is very little, is encouraging. After taking some pictures and video, I headed back to Ritsumeiken University to sit in class with Minami. It was another large room, but this time was filled. There had to be any where from 200-300 students. The Sensei was very impressive. He spoke without breathing for an hour and a half. He even told jokes and after the punch line, he laughed and kept going. It was not in English.
Minami had a quiz in her next class and I headed to the school’s convenient store. There are drinks that are recognizable and then there are some that have entirely Japanese writing on them. Drinks are not just sold in bottles, but in cartons as well. The cartons are actually quite large and are cheaper than bottled beverages. I am becoming a big fan of the cartons.
That night Dale came over for dinner. We were going to head to the B and G gym and play(futsol) in door soccer that night. Dinner consisted of chicken hearts, cartilage, and fermented fish sauce on ika(squid). Dale is a big fan of this type of food. This was my first time with all of these things. Not something I would make a part of my regular staple. I am not a soccer player, and I don’t intend on picking up the sport anytime soon. We played with local people from Takashima. Minami drove us. It felt good to run around and I knew where the city gym was now.
Wednesday, I headed to Ninnaji Temple. This was a 15 minute walk from Minami’s school, but I had 3 hours to kill. Ninnaji was built over a thousand years ago, finished in the year 888 AD. It was burned in the Onin war during the 1400s and rebuilt 150 years later. The Emperor who oversaw its first building retired from the throne and spent the next 30 years of his life dedicated to the study of the Buddhist religion. The temple is the Center of Omuro School and the main Buddhist temple of the Shingon sect of Buddhism. It is one of the largest assembly of buildings and is stretched over many acres. I joined Minami for her American politics class. It is taught by a man from Minnesota. The topic being covered currently in the class is the making and passing of a bill. The professor is awkward and obviously is bringing the American Education flavor to the University. Most students seem intimidated. I met two more of Minami’s friends for lunch, Saki and Mitsu. Both spoke English. After graduation, Saki is going to work for a company that is associated with Disney in Japan, while Mitsu is going to grad school for International politics.
We headed back to Kyoto station, after school. Minami had to go to a car body shop where she teaches the employees English. She was only going to be 2 hrs so I decided to wait for her and try my luck walking around Kyoto. I walked slowly from store to store. I walked completely around Kyoto station, which is probably about the size of a mall in the U.S. Then I sat in an area where I knew that I wouldn’t get in the way. Kyoto is a very big city. It is full of busy people and has a taste of New York mixed with a bit of D.C.. If anyone knows me, then they know me and music go hand and hand. I sat and listened to music for the next few hours. Singing and then sitting quietly when someone would pass by. Minami called and said that if I got on the next Kosei train to Imazu, then we would be able to meet up on the stop after Kyoto station. I knew where to go and I even knew what platform to wait on. We agreed on meeting in the last car of the train. Standing on the platform at the end, I turned around and saw a train sitting there. I frantically got on, knowing it was going to leave in a few minutes. This was odd because I was at the back of the platform and expecting a train to pass by. Apparently this train comes in one way and then leaves the same. I didn’t know that at this time. When I talked to Minami I said that I might be on the front of the train because I didn’t see it come in. “Wait a second and I’ll tell you which way the train is going. Then I’ll know if I am on the front or in the back.” All of a sudden, the battery in the phone died and it turned off. I wasn’t worried, but confident I was on the right train.
Stop after stop, I didn’t see Minami. I thought that I better look around for a map to make sure I was going the right way. No map had stops that I recognized. A hot flash and thick sweat overcame me. I began walking towards the front of the train to figure out if I could find something. What was I looking for? I have no idea; a map, a foreigner, anything in English. As I stepped from car to car, the plain truth that I was going to have to find a place to sleep that night began to sink in. My only way of communicating was the phone and it was now dead. I didn’t even have Minami’s phone number. I pictured Minami worried and talking to her parents. I came to terms with the situation and accepted my obvious fate. Right as I came to this realization, I discovered a pair of familiar eyes searching through the train. It was Minami.
Thursday was a day off for Minami, and we spent the first part of the day lying around the house. We then went to Katata, a smaller city not too far from Takashima. We went to a shopping mall there, which is much different than our malls. Japan also has outside malls. Which look like a covered street surround by stores on either side. We looked around at kitchen supplies, furniture and other nick nacks. We got excited about our life together and picked out things we wanted for our house. I got excited when I saw a store that sold tatami. The bamboo type of carpet. Right before we left to come home, we grabbed a carton of Ice coffee and an éclair from the store. It was around 200 yen = 2 dollars. The travel home was also eventful. About 10 minutes from home, the two lane highway came to a halt. We hypothesized that there must have been an accident kuruma no jiko. Not knowing how long we would be there, we kept the music playing. After an hour, we turned the car off. After two hours, I decided to get out and find out what was up. It was pitch black and the mile of cars in front of us were probably filled with people wondering what this whitey, in sandals was doing running on the side of the highway. I was fearful that the cars would start going and Minami would have to slow down to let me back in. I ran what seemed like 3-5 minutes. I passed cars, trucks, and semis. Still I could not see the end of the line. I ran back and met Minami in the same spot I left her. In all we were stuck there for three hours. We never saw the severity of the accident that held us deadlocked for such a long time. The sad part was, Etsuo and Cheiko were waiting for us to eat with them and by the time we got home it was 11:00. We came in with dad watching TV on the floor and mom a sleep on the other side of the room. They had waited this whole time to eat with us. It was quite a gesture and it meant a lot to me. Her dad had prepared a massive plate of sashimi. This is the top part that is put on sushi. It is consisted of raw seafood. It was very good. I am not completely sure what everything was, but I think one was salmon, one a type of eel, and then tako(octopus). If anyone reading this has never had octopus, I suggest going to your nearest sushi bar and eating some. It’s one of my favorites. I learned tsumeti, which means cold. So we had both Ocha atsui and Ocha Tsumeti. Minami wanted me to make sure I wrote about the Melon we had for desert. It tasted like Honey dew melon, but was more expensive Etsuo said. Delicious.
We headed in to Kyoto Early on Friday. We had an appointment at a bridal shop called LST. We were checking out the options included in the wedding packaged offered by the company. Minami and I are planning on a traditional Japanese wedding that will take place a Shinto shrine. The attire will all be genuine and traditional. Our appointment was at 11:30 and we started off slow. After ironing and getting ready, time was not on our side to make the last train to make it to our appointment. Minami in 4 inch heels and I in cowboy boots, ran from her house to the train station. It’s about 2-3 blocks. We made it in time; however, we were hot and sweaty because of the dash. The hour ride into Kyoto was enough to cool us down. After a bus ride, we walked into a building and took the elevator to the 5th floor. We walked into a room with a DVD playing, which showed someone’s wedding. Minami and I were the only ones in the room. A sign that said the Shimoda family in Kanji was on the front desk. We rang the bell and a women greeted us. Ikuko showed us to a table and served us cold tea. After listening to Minami and Ikuko talk, pictures were showed to us of the different restaurant options. We knew that the traditional style sitting on the floor was what we were looking for. We picked out a restaurant and looked at album options. The woman kept leaving the room to type up items that we were picking out. We took a look around the room. Bridal outfits were in each corner. They are not gowns, but more of a robe and kimono combination. There are kimono options; however, in keeping with tradition, Minami will be wearing an all white outfit with a white headdress that looks similar to the top of a mushroom. In all, we were at LST for two hours.
Afterwards, we stopped at a fast food restaurant called Mos Burger. People who come in to order and take out do so on the first floor. Those who come and dine in order and eat on the second floor. The third floor is for people wishing to smoke. Smoking is a big deal in Japan. Cigarettes are sold in vending machines on the side of the rode. They are cheaper than American prices, but have U.S. brands. We ate and went to the bank to exchange my dollars for some yen. The exchange rate was $100 for 920 yen. After this we walked to Kyomizu Dera. Dera means temple. The walk was incredible. It was up a hill at about 45 degree incline or more most of the way. Poor Minami in her heels. The back of my ankles were already blistered up. When we arrived I got to properly ask for two tickets. Chiketo wo ni mai kudasai. It the longest phrase I have learned thus far, besides what is that Kore wa nani desuka, do you like that kore wa suki desuka, or do you want this Kore wa hoshii desuka. The temple is nestled in the side of a mountain with a very scenic view. The plan was to visit this temple and then to go to a Shinto Shrine close by. We had another appointment at another bridal center. This one was much more modern. We were served cold mugicha (barley tea). This time Minami and I knew what we wanted and were there to compare package price. I didn’t get to say anything during this appointment. There are few times that I do get to speak. Even when Minami is around, she is busy talking to her parents in a language that I cannot yet understand. I just have to sit there and look cute, make sure I don’t get caught picking my nose, or dropping anything.
Minami and I went to meat up with Dale, Ryan, and Kyla for yakiniku. That is Korean barbeque. The place we went to was $35 all you can eat and drink for 2 hours. The grill is in in the center of the table. Raw meet comes out as ones orders it and the customers grill it themselves. The meat is dipped in a variety of sauces. We had cow tongue and heart at some point. Since it was $35 and a timed meal I made sure to get my fill of both meat and drink. Apparently I had too much of both. When the five of us left the building there was a young guy on the side of the street playing a guitar and singing songs in English. We sang a song with him, “Let it be” and people from off the streets got a kick out of it. I gave him ten yen. Minami stopped me from giving him 500 yen. Thank you Minami. We then went to get more beverages and go to Japanese Karaoke. The karaoke place had long hallways with individual rooms. In the rooms were a couch and a table. In front was a TV which played the songs and showed the words. Of course we picked the English songs. Every English song had a video of a Japanese man riding around on a motorcycle. At some point the stopped to get gas. Nothing much more American than that.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
This will serve as an update from my arrival to Monday, June 22, 2009.
Itami airport in Osaka: This airport was much different than Narita in Tokyo. English was not as prevalent on signs, which prompted me to follow the crowd leaving the plane. The flight to Osaka was much different as well. ANA 001 to Tokyo was filled with attendants that knew I spoke English. On the way to Osaka, the attendants assumed I spoke Japanese. I was only able to infer what they were saying by facial expression and situational occurrences. The flight was also cramped comparatively.
As I was following the crowd, my body patiently walked, while my eyes frantically searched for English words. We ended up in the baggage claim area, where I collected my bag, after some time of waiting. Immediately upon exiting the baggage claim area, I saw Minami. What a long trip, but this moment made it all more than worth it. Quickly, we jumped onto a bus from Osaka to Kyoto. Again, my suitcase was very heavy, in which I had to carry it up and down flights of stairs. Yes not as many escalators.
The bus ride was an hour long, but Minami and I looked over the video I had already taken as well as what I had written in Narita airport. Upon arriving at Kyoto, we rushed to catch a train to a spot where Etsuo, Minami’s father, would pick us up. Kyoto met me with even more stairs. It seemed to be like a big city and nothing was much different from America so far, besides the signs and the people.
The train ride was also an hour long. Arriving in a station that was close to Takashima, where the Shimoda family resides, I had to carry my suitcase down what seemed to be a never ending set of stairs. Etsuo was waiting for us outside the gate. Our ride to the house prepared me for the setting I was about to step into. There were obvious language barriers that could not easily be overcome. We drove through narrow streets, filled with houses and shops. Even though it is considered the country -side, buildings are close together. At the house I lugged my suit case inside, careful not to bumped into any fragile walls. Cheiko, was waiting for us on the floor. Every thing seemed to be in miniature form. Ceilings were low, door ways were lower, the chairs were on the floor, and all of a sudden, so were we..
Sitting there with everything to say, but no way of saying it presented a familiar feeling. It is comparable to attempting a conversation with one of my Hispanic or Haitian parents. I was attempting to copy Minami and her mother by sitting on my knees, but when her father came in he told me to sit comfortably. I really didn’t understand what that meant, since sitting on the floor was not a concept of comfort to me at the time. I awkwardly fanagled my legs into an Indian style position and sat there with an expressionless smile on my face. Minami got up and walked over to a wall. She slid the wall to the side, which showed a staircase. This was the way upstairs. The steps were 6-8 inches wide and very steep. I, again, carefully carried my bag up a very narrow flight of stairs. My surroundings were extremely thin and fragile.
The house that night was busy. Even though I arrived at 11 pm, her family was still busily walking around and carrying out their activities. Minami and I sat down and ate, while her father and mother sat down. All communication was done through Minami. Etsuo obviously had a grasp of the English language, but years of lack of practice and application, made its usage difficult. I began to learn the customs surrounding eating, including not to drink while having chopsticks in your hand, not leaving even a speck of rice in the bowl, and where to place the other hand that is not being used. Dinner was good. Oishi.
Showers are taken at night. Bathing takes place in a separate room. It has a bathtub and a shower. The door opens up into this room in which the entire room is for bathing. Showers are taken sitting down on a small bucket. Good bye familiar. Minami’s room seemed smaller than what I had imagined. Her bed was low. This was the first shock of stepping into her house; everything is low to the ground. Shoes are taken off at the porch; therefore the floor is clean. We slept till 9 am
6/18/09
We made breakfast the next morning. Toasted bread with butter, yogurt, and an egg cooked by yours truly. Even though it was a lot of variety, portions were still small. This satisfies the taste buds, but leaves one not overly full. Onaka Ga Ebi. We walked outside that morning. Minami took a bike from the garage and sat on its seat. The streets were two sided, divided by an opening where the stream from a mountain flowed. The houses were traditional in style, and most had a small garden in the lawn. Grass was not a part of the landscape; concrete or dirt. Even though it was a small town, it had both a crowded and open feel. She gave me a tour of the area. We walked and then road the bike together. We stopped to take pictures or for her to explain something to me. After a while of walking, we came to a shrine. The shrine was at the top of a long set of stairs. It was all outside, in the woodsy area next to a mountain.
Our return to the house was met with lunch. We began eating with her mom and her dad joined us shortly. Hot tea is served with every meal. Ocha hotsu. Hojicha mainly, but sometimes green or a concoction of many. The lunch consisted of a piece of fish, a stew of pork, potatoes, and carrots, rice (gohan), miso soup, and vegetables. Portions are 2-3 ounces or less each, so again the satisfaction of many tastes trumps the amount consumed
A drive shortly after lunch allowed me too see the country-side. The roads are about half the size in Japan. Every car looks like a Mini or a Scion. They are still Honda, Mitsubishi, and Toyota; however they are made extremely small. The steering wheel is on the right side of the car and the cars drive on the left side of the road. We first stopped at an area, which is known for its windmills. It was a park. After we took a few pictures(sha shinn), our journey led us to a small shopping area. Walking though the department stores, there were only hints of English. Clothing and other items have a large Western influence and most attire worn by, at least younger people, are adorned with English words. Some of the writing doesn’t seem to be correctly used or is an awkward combination of words. Nonetheless, English was present; however, only Minami and I were speaking it. A video, game, and magazine store across street showed me how huge comics are here. Comics seem make up a majority of the reading material available.
Minami drove us to a small mart, comparable to a gas station, with no gas pumps. We picked up ice cream and a beverage and headed to the beach. It was a lake beach, with small pebbles instead of sand. It was empty, save one or two people with their dogs(dogu).
Dinner was eaten that night as a family. Meals take any where from 30-45 minutes or even longer to finish. The table consists of many individual plates and bowls with larger bowls and plates in the center. The larger contain meat. This night we had squid, salmon, tuna, shrimp, pork, and maybe another I cannot name. Cod egg is eaten as an additive to rice or other items. They look like pink sausages, but are more red in color. The taste is strong, with a kick of spice. We go through taking turns pouring tea for one another. We begin meals with Ita daki masu, this is like Bon apetit. We end meals with go chi so samu deshita. This is, from what Minami says, is a prayer in thanks for the food. This are not said in ritual or together, but individually, whenever one feels like it. Sounds of yum and mmm receive strange looks. Oishii, Oishiide, or Oshiiha are custom. Salmon is hard to eat when it is the part close to the bone. Bones are hard and must be picked out of the mouth by hand.
6/19/09
Sleep was immensely welcomed that night. My first nights met me with dreams of going through Customs. It was Friday and Minami had to work the majority of the day. We drove up a mountain after breakfast. Breakfast is not usually eaten together. It consisted of a ham sandwich and tea. Minami was attempting to take me to see(miru) a waterfall. The walk was steep and difficult in our shoes so we stopped and sat on rocks in the middle of a cold stream. After a while, we headed back. This was the first time, since my arrival, that I was left without a way of communicating easily. After a few hours of homework, I went down stairs and sat with my computer, and Minami’s mom. She started showing me on maps where we were going the next day. Etsuo had been planning a big trip through an array of cities and a destination of the city of Yufuin in the Oita prefecture. Cheiko showed me Kyushu, which is the Island in Southern Japan. She spoke to me in simple Japanese. After a short while of homework she would return and show me more things on the map or give me short lessons in Japanese( Nihongode shimasyo). Etsuo, Cheiko and I ate dinner together. They tried English, I tried Japanese. Her mom drew pictures to ask questions. Her dad used the dictionary. I used prayer. We joked and ate, talked and drank tea. After dinner we retired to the living room, where we picked spots on the floor to rest. Both approached me at different times to talk. Her mom asked questions about my family and about Florida. Her dad showed me Fukuoka on the computer, the city we were first going to on the following day by shinkansen(bullet train). I didn’t know it at the time, but her father loves Densya(trains). That surprise was saved for the following day.
At 11pm I walked to the train station to meet Minami. It had been a surprisingly great day. Despite not knowing my surroundings and definitely not being comfortable with communication yet, it turned out alright.
6/20/09
Even though we had to wake up at 6 the next day, the Sun did the job much earlier. The Sun seems to rise around 4:45 or a tad later. Mornings come easy because of this. We were headed for an over not stay in Yufuin. Etsuo, Cheiko, Minami and I headed out of the house to catch an earlier train to Kyoto, where we would take the Shinkansen to the Kyushu prefecture. We met up with Ryan and Dale, two Americans from Oregon who are in Shiga to teach English at local schools. The first time that I had seen other white people since I had been here. While in Kyoto station, we picked up a bento box, which is a box filled with many small portions of food. We said goodbye to Dale and Ryan, who were going to Hiroshima. On the train we ate the food. The train took us to Hakata, a city in Kyushu. Each region or prefecture has foods that are native and unique to that area. Ramen is a type of noodles that are uniquely prepared in different areas. We stopped at a Ramen restaurant for lunch. Food is ordered in a machine outside and then served in the restaurant. Throughout the day, I learned words and some phrases to say sumimasen- excuse me is used to apologize for bumping into someone and also to get attention from some one.
After walking around and looking at different shops we stopped at a dessert bar. They serve tea, coffee, cakes, and other treats. I ordered iced tea, while the Shimoda family ordered treats that were fancy and delicately prepared.
On the train platform, I became accustomed to Etsuo rushing to each train to take pictures. Looking around, there were many others doing the same. So I did as the Japanese do in Japan. I began chasing after the trains to take pictures or lend a finger in the snapping of a picture for some one else. Another two hour train ride later ended us in Yufuin. It was a rapid express train, which is not as fast as the Shinkansen, but is an elegant looking train, anyways.
We stopped in shops and looked around. The city was located in the Oita prefecture and is surrounded by mountains smoky with the cover of clouds. We hurried down a long street aligned with rice fields. Through a wooded area and passed a couple buildings we ended in front of a building nestled in the back of a quaint setting with many trees. A man rushed outside to meet us. He was wearing a type of traditional Japanese wear called a yukata. We placed our bags down and were welcomed to what would be Minami’s parents room. It was a room with tatami on the floor, a type of bamboo covering, almost like carpet, but not soft. The walls were thin and the doors all made of paper. The room opened up to a porch and a garden. We all collapsed onto the floor, while Etsuo put on his Ukata. He then joined the rest of us sitting around a table. A women, also wearing a Yukata, came in and served us tea and small snacks. Minami and I left to our room, mirrored the one we were just in. It was a scene out of a movie. This was a hotel called a ryo-kan, which means inn. It was of traditional style with three Onsens( hot springs). Minami showed me the proper usage of the showers and onsen so that I would be able to use the Men’s later on.
Adorned in Yukatas, we met up with her parents to have our dinner. The meal was rich in regional culture and history. Everything from the fish and vegetables to the beer was a locally grown or produced . Dinner consisted of many courses. The delicious taste of each course seemed only out done by the next. The third course surprised me with a full fish In a shell of salt. One must crack open the shell of salt to reach the fish inside. I cut into the chest area of the fish with my chopsticks and was greeted with, of course, its organs, I knew that this was going to be a new experience and said bottoms up. It could have been a lung or even the heart, but whatever it was did not sit well with me. Besides that, the whole meal was great. After the huge meal. I said televi wo miru. We all found a spot on the Tatami around the table and watched tv. Sleep came quickly that night.
6/21/09
Minami and I woke up at 6 the next morning and hurried over to the onsen to wash and relax one last time. The men’s was empty. A shower area, where one must sit on a small bamboo bucket and rinse before he enters the onsen, was directly outside of a small area where I put my cloths and towel. The water is naturally hot from the mountain which is comparable to a Jacuzzi or warm spa. It is not scalding hot, but warm enough to relax comfortably.
Still wearing Yukatas we went to the dining area of the ryokan and had a full coursed stagehand(breakfast). This was good as well, but did not eat any fish organs. Fish was served though. After breakfast, we went back to our rooms and packed for the days trip. Leaving Yufuin, we next went to Beppu. We met up with an exchange student that stayed with the Shimoda family a couple years ago from Thailand named If. After a while of walking, we visited a shrine and then had lunch in a Chinese restaurant. It wasn’t like Chinese food that we are accustomed to in the U.S. Plates were filled on a spinning table and individual portions were taken by one’s chopsticks. After lunch we went to the top of Beppu tower, a television tower.
Several quick train rides later and many shashinn, we were on the Shinkansen. Even though it is a bullet train, it still takes two hours to get from Hakata in the Kyushu prefecture to Kyoto. In Kyoto, we had dinner and then had a quick tour of the station by Minami. I saw the Kyto tower and some of the structures in the station. The train ride back was hot and long, and every one in our ryokou(traveling) party was fading. Etsuo slept, Minami waned, and Cheiko read. Air conditioning is a rarity in Japan. It exists, but is not used much. It is also humid, even though temperatures are not extreme. This leaves one with sweat and mustiness throughout the day. People bring small designer hand towels and wipe there faces from time to time. By the time we returned home, we were all ready for a shower and sleep. Even though the idea of the onsen was intimidating, and there was some initial hesitation about the trip, it turned out to be a wonderful experience. Hanging out with Minami and her parents is relaxing and fulfilling and I am very thankful to be a part of their family.
Itami airport in Osaka: This airport was much different than Narita in Tokyo. English was not as prevalent on signs, which prompted me to follow the crowd leaving the plane. The flight to Osaka was much different as well. ANA 001 to Tokyo was filled with attendants that knew I spoke English. On the way to Osaka, the attendants assumed I spoke Japanese. I was only able to infer what they were saying by facial expression and situational occurrences. The flight was also cramped comparatively.
As I was following the crowd, my body patiently walked, while my eyes frantically searched for English words. We ended up in the baggage claim area, where I collected my bag, after some time of waiting. Immediately upon exiting the baggage claim area, I saw Minami. What a long trip, but this moment made it all more than worth it. Quickly, we jumped onto a bus from Osaka to Kyoto. Again, my suitcase was very heavy, in which I had to carry it up and down flights of stairs. Yes not as many escalators.
The bus ride was an hour long, but Minami and I looked over the video I had already taken as well as what I had written in Narita airport. Upon arriving at Kyoto, we rushed to catch a train to a spot where Etsuo, Minami’s father, would pick us up. Kyoto met me with even more stairs. It seemed to be like a big city and nothing was much different from America so far, besides the signs and the people.
The train ride was also an hour long. Arriving in a station that was close to Takashima, where the Shimoda family resides, I had to carry my suitcase down what seemed to be a never ending set of stairs. Etsuo was waiting for us outside the gate. Our ride to the house prepared me for the setting I was about to step into. There were obvious language barriers that could not easily be overcome. We drove through narrow streets, filled with houses and shops. Even though it is considered the country -side, buildings are close together. At the house I lugged my suit case inside, careful not to bumped into any fragile walls. Cheiko, was waiting for us on the floor. Every thing seemed to be in miniature form. Ceilings were low, door ways were lower, the chairs were on the floor, and all of a sudden, so were we..
Sitting there with everything to say, but no way of saying it presented a familiar feeling. It is comparable to attempting a conversation with one of my Hispanic or Haitian parents. I was attempting to copy Minami and her mother by sitting on my knees, but when her father came in he told me to sit comfortably. I really didn’t understand what that meant, since sitting on the floor was not a concept of comfort to me at the time. I awkwardly fanagled my legs into an Indian style position and sat there with an expressionless smile on my face. Minami got up and walked over to a wall. She slid the wall to the side, which showed a staircase. This was the way upstairs. The steps were 6-8 inches wide and very steep. I, again, carefully carried my bag up a very narrow flight of stairs. My surroundings were extremely thin and fragile.
The house that night was busy. Even though I arrived at 11 pm, her family was still busily walking around and carrying out their activities. Minami and I sat down and ate, while her father and mother sat down. All communication was done through Minami. Etsuo obviously had a grasp of the English language, but years of lack of practice and application, made its usage difficult. I began to learn the customs surrounding eating, including not to drink while having chopsticks in your hand, not leaving even a speck of rice in the bowl, and where to place the other hand that is not being used. Dinner was good. Oishi.
Showers are taken at night. Bathing takes place in a separate room. It has a bathtub and a shower. The door opens up into this room in which the entire room is for bathing. Showers are taken sitting down on a small bucket. Good bye familiar. Minami’s room seemed smaller than what I had imagined. Her bed was low. This was the first shock of stepping into her house; everything is low to the ground. Shoes are taken off at the porch; therefore the floor is clean. We slept till 9 am
6/18/09
We made breakfast the next morning. Toasted bread with butter, yogurt, and an egg cooked by yours truly. Even though it was a lot of variety, portions were still small. This satisfies the taste buds, but leaves one not overly full. Onaka Ga Ebi. We walked outside that morning. Minami took a bike from the garage and sat on its seat. The streets were two sided, divided by an opening where the stream from a mountain flowed. The houses were traditional in style, and most had a small garden in the lawn. Grass was not a part of the landscape; concrete or dirt. Even though it was a small town, it had both a crowded and open feel. She gave me a tour of the area. We walked and then road the bike together. We stopped to take pictures or for her to explain something to me. After a while of walking, we came to a shrine. The shrine was at the top of a long set of stairs. It was all outside, in the woodsy area next to a mountain.
Our return to the house was met with lunch. We began eating with her mom and her dad joined us shortly. Hot tea is served with every meal. Ocha hotsu. Hojicha mainly, but sometimes green or a concoction of many. The lunch consisted of a piece of fish, a stew of pork, potatoes, and carrots, rice (gohan), miso soup, and vegetables. Portions are 2-3 ounces or less each, so again the satisfaction of many tastes trumps the amount consumed
A drive shortly after lunch allowed me too see the country-side. The roads are about half the size in Japan. Every car looks like a Mini or a Scion. They are still Honda, Mitsubishi, and Toyota; however they are made extremely small. The steering wheel is on the right side of the car and the cars drive on the left side of the road. We first stopped at an area, which is known for its windmills. It was a park. After we took a few pictures(sha shinn), our journey led us to a small shopping area. Walking though the department stores, there were only hints of English. Clothing and other items have a large Western influence and most attire worn by, at least younger people, are adorned with English words. Some of the writing doesn’t seem to be correctly used or is an awkward combination of words. Nonetheless, English was present; however, only Minami and I were speaking it. A video, game, and magazine store across street showed me how huge comics are here. Comics seem make up a majority of the reading material available.
Minami drove us to a small mart, comparable to a gas station, with no gas pumps. We picked up ice cream and a beverage and headed to the beach. It was a lake beach, with small pebbles instead of sand. It was empty, save one or two people with their dogs(dogu).
Dinner was eaten that night as a family. Meals take any where from 30-45 minutes or even longer to finish. The table consists of many individual plates and bowls with larger bowls and plates in the center. The larger contain meat. This night we had squid, salmon, tuna, shrimp, pork, and maybe another I cannot name. Cod egg is eaten as an additive to rice or other items. They look like pink sausages, but are more red in color. The taste is strong, with a kick of spice. We go through taking turns pouring tea for one another. We begin meals with Ita daki masu, this is like Bon apetit. We end meals with go chi so samu deshita. This is, from what Minami says, is a prayer in thanks for the food. This are not said in ritual or together, but individually, whenever one feels like it. Sounds of yum and mmm receive strange looks. Oishii, Oishiide, or Oshiiha are custom. Salmon is hard to eat when it is the part close to the bone. Bones are hard and must be picked out of the mouth by hand.
6/19/09
Sleep was immensely welcomed that night. My first nights met me with dreams of going through Customs. It was Friday and Minami had to work the majority of the day. We drove up a mountain after breakfast. Breakfast is not usually eaten together. It consisted of a ham sandwich and tea. Minami was attempting to take me to see(miru) a waterfall. The walk was steep and difficult in our shoes so we stopped and sat on rocks in the middle of a cold stream. After a while, we headed back. This was the first time, since my arrival, that I was left without a way of communicating easily. After a few hours of homework, I went down stairs and sat with my computer, and Minami’s mom. She started showing me on maps where we were going the next day. Etsuo had been planning a big trip through an array of cities and a destination of the city of Yufuin in the Oita prefecture. Cheiko showed me Kyushu, which is the Island in Southern Japan. She spoke to me in simple Japanese. After a short while of homework she would return and show me more things on the map or give me short lessons in Japanese( Nihongode shimasyo). Etsuo, Cheiko and I ate dinner together. They tried English, I tried Japanese. Her mom drew pictures to ask questions. Her dad used the dictionary. I used prayer. We joked and ate, talked and drank tea. After dinner we retired to the living room, where we picked spots on the floor to rest. Both approached me at different times to talk. Her mom asked questions about my family and about Florida. Her dad showed me Fukuoka on the computer, the city we were first going to on the following day by shinkansen(bullet train). I didn’t know it at the time, but her father loves Densya(trains). That surprise was saved for the following day.
At 11pm I walked to the train station to meet Minami. It had been a surprisingly great day. Despite not knowing my surroundings and definitely not being comfortable with communication yet, it turned out alright.
6/20/09
Even though we had to wake up at 6 the next day, the Sun did the job much earlier. The Sun seems to rise around 4:45 or a tad later. Mornings come easy because of this. We were headed for an over not stay in Yufuin. Etsuo, Cheiko, Minami and I headed out of the house to catch an earlier train to Kyoto, where we would take the Shinkansen to the Kyushu prefecture. We met up with Ryan and Dale, two Americans from Oregon who are in Shiga to teach English at local schools. The first time that I had seen other white people since I had been here. While in Kyoto station, we picked up a bento box, which is a box filled with many small portions of food. We said goodbye to Dale and Ryan, who were going to Hiroshima. On the train we ate the food. The train took us to Hakata, a city in Kyushu. Each region or prefecture has foods that are native and unique to that area. Ramen is a type of noodles that are uniquely prepared in different areas. We stopped at a Ramen restaurant for lunch. Food is ordered in a machine outside and then served in the restaurant. Throughout the day, I learned words and some phrases to say sumimasen- excuse me is used to apologize for bumping into someone and also to get attention from some one.
After walking around and looking at different shops we stopped at a dessert bar. They serve tea, coffee, cakes, and other treats. I ordered iced tea, while the Shimoda family ordered treats that were fancy and delicately prepared.
On the train platform, I became accustomed to Etsuo rushing to each train to take pictures. Looking around, there were many others doing the same. So I did as the Japanese do in Japan. I began chasing after the trains to take pictures or lend a finger in the snapping of a picture for some one else. Another two hour train ride later ended us in Yufuin. It was a rapid express train, which is not as fast as the Shinkansen, but is an elegant looking train, anyways.
We stopped in shops and looked around. The city was located in the Oita prefecture and is surrounded by mountains smoky with the cover of clouds. We hurried down a long street aligned with rice fields. Through a wooded area and passed a couple buildings we ended in front of a building nestled in the back of a quaint setting with many trees. A man rushed outside to meet us. He was wearing a type of traditional Japanese wear called a yukata. We placed our bags down and were welcomed to what would be Minami’s parents room. It was a room with tatami on the floor, a type of bamboo covering, almost like carpet, but not soft. The walls were thin and the doors all made of paper. The room opened up to a porch and a garden. We all collapsed onto the floor, while Etsuo put on his Ukata. He then joined the rest of us sitting around a table. A women, also wearing a Yukata, came in and served us tea and small snacks. Minami and I left to our room, mirrored the one we were just in. It was a scene out of a movie. This was a hotel called a ryo-kan, which means inn. It was of traditional style with three Onsens( hot springs). Minami showed me the proper usage of the showers and onsen so that I would be able to use the Men’s later on.
Adorned in Yukatas, we met up with her parents to have our dinner. The meal was rich in regional culture and history. Everything from the fish and vegetables to the beer was a locally grown or produced . Dinner consisted of many courses. The delicious taste of each course seemed only out done by the next. The third course surprised me with a full fish In a shell of salt. One must crack open the shell of salt to reach the fish inside. I cut into the chest area of the fish with my chopsticks and was greeted with, of course, its organs, I knew that this was going to be a new experience and said bottoms up. It could have been a lung or even the heart, but whatever it was did not sit well with me. Besides that, the whole meal was great. After the huge meal. I said televi wo miru. We all found a spot on the Tatami around the table and watched tv. Sleep came quickly that night.
6/21/09
Minami and I woke up at 6 the next morning and hurried over to the onsen to wash and relax one last time. The men’s was empty. A shower area, where one must sit on a small bamboo bucket and rinse before he enters the onsen, was directly outside of a small area where I put my cloths and towel. The water is naturally hot from the mountain which is comparable to a Jacuzzi or warm spa. It is not scalding hot, but warm enough to relax comfortably.
Still wearing Yukatas we went to the dining area of the ryokan and had a full coursed stagehand(breakfast). This was good as well, but did not eat any fish organs. Fish was served though. After breakfast, we went back to our rooms and packed for the days trip. Leaving Yufuin, we next went to Beppu. We met up with an exchange student that stayed with the Shimoda family a couple years ago from Thailand named If. After a while of walking, we visited a shrine and then had lunch in a Chinese restaurant. It wasn’t like Chinese food that we are accustomed to in the U.S. Plates were filled on a spinning table and individual portions were taken by one’s chopsticks. After lunch we went to the top of Beppu tower, a television tower.
Several quick train rides later and many shashinn, we were on the Shinkansen. Even though it is a bullet train, it still takes two hours to get from Hakata in the Kyushu prefecture to Kyoto. In Kyoto, we had dinner and then had a quick tour of the station by Minami. I saw the Kyto tower and some of the structures in the station. The train ride back was hot and long, and every one in our ryokou(traveling) party was fading. Etsuo slept, Minami waned, and Cheiko read. Air conditioning is a rarity in Japan. It exists, but is not used much. It is also humid, even though temperatures are not extreme. This leaves one with sweat and mustiness throughout the day. People bring small designer hand towels and wipe there faces from time to time. By the time we returned home, we were all ready for a shower and sleep. Even though the idea of the onsen was intimidating, and there was some initial hesitation about the trip, it turned out to be a wonderful experience. Hanging out with Minami and her parents is relaxing and fulfilling and I am very thankful to be a part of their family.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
In the Beginning...
So the journey started out mirroring the journeys of others, and if I was one that was challenged with words I would leave it at “I was dirt tired.” Sitting in Tokyo Narita airport here, I have little words that could amuse and few thoughts other than a ramble of what has just occurred mixed with dreams of sleep. I don’t want to get to into what’s going on right now, because I have so much to mention about what has happened in the passed 24 hrs.
Tampa:
I showed up with my suitcase packed with enough stuff to get me through the next 7 weeks. I proudly walked up to the self check in with my new passport. I even scanned it to check in. I placed my one piece of checked baggage on the scale and it the United Employee shockingly said “67lbs!.” I knew it was going to be over. I said that he should be lenient since I am staying for so long. People aren’t in that good of a mood at 4 am. It turns out the extra charge was only $25. We were all surprised( by this time I had attracted a crowd of employees. They all had come to see the 67 lb bag and its owner. With their surprise and approval I walked away with a few more friends. Security check in was quick. I then attempted the videos. I am realizing now… videos aren’t fun unless something is going on. From the ones I am going to post, you can tell I am forcing… something to happen, or just blanketly allowing the moment to speak for itself.
Dulles- Nice airport I thought. A big change from the two times I had been there before. I must have seen the run-down side before. Strolling to terminal B, I got on what I thought was a shuttle. I stepped on, sat down, and waited for it to take me to my next destination. All of a sudden a man walked through, sat down, and started driving the shuttle. ??? “What am I on?” I started thinking. It was the size of a double wide bus, but we were ` 2-3 stories in the air. There had to be more than one of these things I was thinking. I would look out and try to find out what it was. In the mean time we took off flying at ramming speed across the terminal parking area, dodging moving planes, employees, and the innocent passer by. All of a sudden in the distance I saw two other structures that were moving towards a cross way. This must have been what I was on. It looked like a double wide bus sitting on top of a platform with wheels. It’s design was an obvious Star Wars inspiration. I was lucky to escape that piece of 18th century technology with my life and was on my way. Waiting at the terminal was pretty uneventful. I did see a group of monks adorned in orange robes waiting by the gate. After a restroom break I strolled over and sat next to them, thinking to myself, “ maybe they will be talking about cool stuff.” Sitting down, I noticed that they were nibbling on little treats. Where were these treats from? Starbucks. Hmm. One pulled out a digital camera and started snapping pictures and another was using his notebook computer. I thought this is just like me. Sitting there with a computer, a camera, and some Starbucks. The only difference was that I wasn’t wearing orange or a robe. I then remember why I went over to sit by them in the first place-- why didn’t I realize that they wouldn’t be speaking English?
Upon boarding the plane, I was greeted by the most sleek and modern designs I have ever seen. The seats were adorned with pine wood accents and stainless steel. There was so much room that the seats had three different settings -upright, relaxed, and sleep. The sleep setting feature a picture of the seat reclined all the way out, almost like a bed. I began to realize what an awesome trip I was about to take. Just when I sat down, and before I could come to grips with where I was sitting and the attributes of my settings, an army of Japanese Women swooped down over the passengers, offering water, warm towelettes, newspapers in all languages, giggles, and smiles. They were intense and focused on their objective. That objective was to make it the most comfortable flight of my life.. Everyone else’s, too. I kept getting visions of the early American Aviation culture, where all flight attendants were women. I remembered glimpses of a movie, the Aviator, where this was a theme. The contrast here is that this experience did not seem old fashioned. It seemed modern. I must admit a bunch of happy smiling women beats a grumpy old man any day.
I slept the first 3 hrs, and was intending to sleep longer, but was awaken with the smell of food. I thought, “ah dinner, it must be 5 or 6, which would mean we were 6 hrs into the flight. I looked at the watch and it showed that we had only left 3 hrs ago. I sat there, dazed and fuzzy from my slumber. One of the awesome attendants noticed me without grub and suggested I try the Japanese meal. I agreed and set my tray table up. It started with smoked bacon, a green olive, and a black olive on a bamboo skewer, smoked nuts, and a piece of cheese. How cute. Then the main course. Roast duck, prawn, fish…. Other stuff. When I thought it was over, the next portion came out, which was a fish soup with rice. I looked forward to the rice. It was something I knew. I know what I said sounded like a lot, and it was a lot of variety, but so far my experience with Japanese food is everything comes in tiny portions. Everything is tiny and cut up with colors of veggies and pieces of things I have no clue what they are. I eat it with a grin, since I enjoy variety. On came the tea and desert. Fruit and ice cream mixed together, and the best black tea I have ever had.. I was awake and I kept saying this is the best flight I have ever been on. Not just because of the food, so let me tell you about what I discovered. Besides each seat having three adjustable settings, each had a 9 inch tv screen that could be pulled out of the side. Each seat had partitions and separate arm rests so you could even pretend no one was next to you. Not that I was doing that, but I had a feeling the two women at my side were doing with me. There was a list of some 30 movies to chose from, countless tv shoes, music, and games. All this was accessible by the touch of an individual remote placed at each seat. I stayed awake the rest of the time. It wasn’t boring at all. I kept saying how great the flight was. There was even a complimentary pair of slippers. I snuggled my feed into those bad boys, put the seat on recline and watched movie after movie after movie. I laughed, I cried, I got enraged, and I felt victorious. You can get the picture. I wondered--- how did this army of flight attendants stay energized for 14 hours, in tight skirt suits, with heals on, a bow sticking out the side of their neck, and constantly walking around? This is a testament to the strength, focus, and vitality of Japanese women everywhere. Japanese superwoman/ military flight attendant, I salute you.
Tokyo- Entering a new world…. Coming off the plane I was met by more smiling faces. Japanese women with signs working diligently to get people to their next destination. Where are all the men in this society? Do they do anything? Ah customs… there’s the men. Everything went without a hitch. I visited the restroom to brush my teeth. I couldn’t figure out how to turn on the faucet. Thankfully the woman working in the bathroom showed me that it was a sensor.. Woman in the men’s bathroom? Need I say more? Now I am sitting at my gate. I had to pay for a day of internet for $6 to send Minami information about my flight. Of course I am leaving things out of my adventure, but again I am tired. As I sit here, I am thinking that I will like living in Japan. Here’s to a great trip.
Tampa:
I showed up with my suitcase packed with enough stuff to get me through the next 7 weeks. I proudly walked up to the self check in with my new passport. I even scanned it to check in. I placed my one piece of checked baggage on the scale and it the United Employee shockingly said “67lbs!.” I knew it was going to be over. I said that he should be lenient since I am staying for so long. People aren’t in that good of a mood at 4 am. It turns out the extra charge was only $25. We were all surprised( by this time I had attracted a crowd of employees. They all had come to see the 67 lb bag and its owner. With their surprise and approval I walked away with a few more friends. Security check in was quick. I then attempted the videos. I am realizing now… videos aren’t fun unless something is going on. From the ones I am going to post, you can tell I am forcing… something to happen, or just blanketly allowing the moment to speak for itself.
Dulles- Nice airport I thought. A big change from the two times I had been there before. I must have seen the run-down side before. Strolling to terminal B, I got on what I thought was a shuttle. I stepped on, sat down, and waited for it to take me to my next destination. All of a sudden a man walked through, sat down, and started driving the shuttle. ??? “What am I on?” I started thinking. It was the size of a double wide bus, but we were ` 2-3 stories in the air. There had to be more than one of these things I was thinking. I would look out and try to find out what it was. In the mean time we took off flying at ramming speed across the terminal parking area, dodging moving planes, employees, and the innocent passer by. All of a sudden in the distance I saw two other structures that were moving towards a cross way. This must have been what I was on. It looked like a double wide bus sitting on top of a platform with wheels. It’s design was an obvious Star Wars inspiration. I was lucky to escape that piece of 18th century technology with my life and was on my way. Waiting at the terminal was pretty uneventful. I did see a group of monks adorned in orange robes waiting by the gate. After a restroom break I strolled over and sat next to them, thinking to myself, “ maybe they will be talking about cool stuff.” Sitting down, I noticed that they were nibbling on little treats. Where were these treats from? Starbucks. Hmm. One pulled out a digital camera and started snapping pictures and another was using his notebook computer. I thought this is just like me. Sitting there with a computer, a camera, and some Starbucks. The only difference was that I wasn’t wearing orange or a robe. I then remember why I went over to sit by them in the first place-- why didn’t I realize that they wouldn’t be speaking English?
Upon boarding the plane, I was greeted by the most sleek and modern designs I have ever seen. The seats were adorned with pine wood accents and stainless steel. There was so much room that the seats had three different settings -upright, relaxed, and sleep. The sleep setting feature a picture of the seat reclined all the way out, almost like a bed. I began to realize what an awesome trip I was about to take. Just when I sat down, and before I could come to grips with where I was sitting and the attributes of my settings, an army of Japanese Women swooped down over the passengers, offering water, warm towelettes, newspapers in all languages, giggles, and smiles. They were intense and focused on their objective. That objective was to make it the most comfortable flight of my life.. Everyone else’s, too. I kept getting visions of the early American Aviation culture, where all flight attendants were women. I remembered glimpses of a movie, the Aviator, where this was a theme. The contrast here is that this experience did not seem old fashioned. It seemed modern. I must admit a bunch of happy smiling women beats a grumpy old man any day.
I slept the first 3 hrs, and was intending to sleep longer, but was awaken with the smell of food. I thought, “ah dinner, it must be 5 or 6, which would mean we were 6 hrs into the flight. I looked at the watch and it showed that we had only left 3 hrs ago. I sat there, dazed and fuzzy from my slumber. One of the awesome attendants noticed me without grub and suggested I try the Japanese meal. I agreed and set my tray table up. It started with smoked bacon, a green olive, and a black olive on a bamboo skewer, smoked nuts, and a piece of cheese. How cute. Then the main course. Roast duck, prawn, fish…. Other stuff. When I thought it was over, the next portion came out, which was a fish soup with rice. I looked forward to the rice. It was something I knew. I know what I said sounded like a lot, and it was a lot of variety, but so far my experience with Japanese food is everything comes in tiny portions. Everything is tiny and cut up with colors of veggies and pieces of things I have no clue what they are. I eat it with a grin, since I enjoy variety. On came the tea and desert. Fruit and ice cream mixed together, and the best black tea I have ever had.. I was awake and I kept saying this is the best flight I have ever been on. Not just because of the food, so let me tell you about what I discovered. Besides each seat having three adjustable settings, each had a 9 inch tv screen that could be pulled out of the side. Each seat had partitions and separate arm rests so you could even pretend no one was next to you. Not that I was doing that, but I had a feeling the two women at my side were doing with me. There was a list of some 30 movies to chose from, countless tv shoes, music, and games. All this was accessible by the touch of an individual remote placed at each seat. I stayed awake the rest of the time. It wasn’t boring at all. I kept saying how great the flight was. There was even a complimentary pair of slippers. I snuggled my feed into those bad boys, put the seat on recline and watched movie after movie after movie. I laughed, I cried, I got enraged, and I felt victorious. You can get the picture. I wondered--- how did this army of flight attendants stay energized for 14 hours, in tight skirt suits, with heals on, a bow sticking out the side of their neck, and constantly walking around? This is a testament to the strength, focus, and vitality of Japanese women everywhere. Japanese superwoman/ military flight attendant, I salute you.
Tokyo- Entering a new world…. Coming off the plane I was met by more smiling faces. Japanese women with signs working diligently to get people to their next destination. Where are all the men in this society? Do they do anything? Ah customs… there’s the men. Everything went without a hitch. I visited the restroom to brush my teeth. I couldn’t figure out how to turn on the faucet. Thankfully the woman working in the bathroom showed me that it was a sensor.. Woman in the men’s bathroom? Need I say more? Now I am sitting at my gate. I had to pay for a day of internet for $6 to send Minami information about my flight. Of course I am leaving things out of my adventure, but again I am tired. As I sit here, I am thinking that I will like living in Japan. Here’s to a great trip.
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