A piece of the end of our day...
Sunday, September 18, 2011
My night with two of my favorite Japanese people...
Hanging out with Masa and Mina always hits the reset button on Japan for me (not for long) but...it always feels good.
A piece of the end of our day...
A piece of the end of our day...
Monday, August 29, 2011
Spa Day...well, sort of. OK...not really.
Today (and I do mean August 29th today as my blog posts are a trifle out of sync) I had my first massage in Japan. More than anything, this made me miss my girls at Jolie the Day Spa in Atlanta…was that a shameless plug? Nope…wait for it…Jolie has the best technicians in ALL of Atlanta. If you want to be treated like royalty and get the best services in the Atlanta area, you MUST visit this spa. Give 'em a ring (if I add the # is it too much? I am not ashamed - 404.266.0060). PLUS…the girls at the front desk are HOT :) ( and not just because I used to be one).
As most of you know, I am a spa rat. I am spoiled from my days at Jolie and I have been (quietly) complaining about not having that privilege (a deep, deep privilege for which I am eternally grateful) anymore. So when my friend told me her friend managed a massage spot not too far from me, I jumped…leaped at the opportunity to get a massage (at a ridiculously reasonable rate).
It was insanely clinical. It felt like a luxurious visit to the chiropractor. I really enjoyed the service, and I have another appointment in 4 weeks…but it was so far from what I am used to and what I expected. It was like having physical therapy in a mall. The therapist definitely had some Japanese science in his fingertips because when I got up from the massage table I was loopy, but erect. I was literally standing up too straight to fall over. I really loved that he assessed me before my treatment (and also pointed out all the things that were wrong with me). He told me my pelvis was unbalanced, (and I can think up several reasons for this but…) my spine was curved and I had an incredible amount of tension in my neck, back and shoulders. I knew most of this, but it was nice to know that he knew and that he wouldn't just be poking around for the next hour.
After our massages we had a nice little lunch at this place in Tsujido called Pacific Deli. The food was really good and I really enjoyed the company. We ate ourselves into laziness and then hopped on the train heading back to our side of town. I decided to do some walking around Odawara and found a couple of really cool places. I went looking for a scrapbook and found a really cool, tiny art supply store. On the way there, I found a hip-hop dance studio. I decided next Sunday I will go hurt myself and have some fun while I do it. I also found a neat fabric store, which was right on time because I needed some fabric for this vision board (I guess it is more like a vision "cloth") that I am making. So presently we have quite a few irons in the creative fire, so to speak…but that is exactly how I like it.
I think this was one my most productive days off to date. Stay tuned.
Love,
The Gypsy
Mineko's Food
My Food
As most of you know, I am a spa rat. I am spoiled from my days at Jolie and I have been (quietly) complaining about not having that privilege (a deep, deep privilege for which I am eternally grateful) anymore. So when my friend told me her friend managed a massage spot not too far from me, I jumped…leaped at the opportunity to get a massage (at a ridiculously reasonable rate).
It was insanely clinical. It felt like a luxurious visit to the chiropractor. I really enjoyed the service, and I have another appointment in 4 weeks…but it was so far from what I am used to and what I expected. It was like having physical therapy in a mall. The therapist definitely had some Japanese science in his fingertips because when I got up from the massage table I was loopy, but erect. I was literally standing up too straight to fall over. I really loved that he assessed me before my treatment (and also pointed out all the things that were wrong with me). He told me my pelvis was unbalanced, (and I can think up several reasons for this but…) my spine was curved and I had an incredible amount of tension in my neck, back and shoulders. I knew most of this, but it was nice to know that he knew and that he wouldn't just be poking around for the next hour.
After our massages we had a nice little lunch at this place in Tsujido called Pacific Deli. The food was really good and I really enjoyed the company. We ate ourselves into laziness and then hopped on the train heading back to our side of town. I decided to do some walking around Odawara and found a couple of really cool places. I went looking for a scrapbook and found a really cool, tiny art supply store. On the way there, I found a hip-hop dance studio. I decided next Sunday I will go hurt myself and have some fun while I do it. I also found a neat fabric store, which was right on time because I needed some fabric for this vision board (I guess it is more like a vision "cloth") that I am making. So presently we have quite a few irons in the creative fire, so to speak…but that is exactly how I like it.
I think this was one my most productive days off to date. Stay tuned.
Love,
The Gypsy
Mineko's Food
My Food
Big Bang.
Suwa.
The perfect way to end Obon and celebrate Oli's birthday. Suwa. Fireworks. Festival. We took the night bus from Tokyo last night to Suwa and got here around 11. I passed out so hard on that bus ride. It seemed to last 20 minutes and not the three hours it really was. We got to Oli, hopped on our bikes and headed home. My feet felt like two baby elephants and I was exhausted.
We got home and I showered... and then everything else was a blur until I opened my eyes the next morning. This day was big. It was Oli's birthday (yataaaa!) AND her student offered to dress us in yukatas (casual summer kimonos) AND it was the highly anticipated Suwa Fireworks Festival (one of the biggest fireworks festival in Japan). This promised to be an awesome day.
We got on our bikes, got some breakfast and went to Mitsuko's house to get the day started. Breakfast was a mistake. We got to her house and she had cake, tempura, sushi, Japanese fried chicken, tea, coffee...the eating was unceasing, seriously. Mitsuko was super generous and really gracious. Her family was so kind. She took us to a temple very close to her house and the resident at the temple treated us so kindly. More eating, of course. He so took us through the temple and explained everything - in Japanese of course- and then he busted out the green tea and sweets and we sat in the temple with a beautiful Japanese garden as our backdrop.
Breathtaking experience.
Yukatas time! We walked back to the house to get dressed for the festival. Putting on a yukata is work. Not for the wearer, but for the poor person who has to do all that science with the tying and the obi and the bow and aaaah! Insane. 30 minutes later we were dressed and feeling beautiful.
Festival time! Another one of Oli's students gave her some super buck seats for the festival, I'm talking center stage, first row-buck! So we walked through an intense crowd of people, passing hundreds of street vendors on the way and made our way to our seats. This was the most incredible display of fireworks I have ever seen I my life. 36 sets, each one bigger than the last. The finale was a 2km replica of Niagara Falls with all kinds of other craziness going on around it. I was floored. It was thorough. There were so many people here, it trumped a Tokyo crowd on it's busiest day. I think we had a bossy day. A super bossy vacation and now it's back to life, back to reality. So here I am on the 6am bus headed back to Kanagawa. Dying inside. I feel like a kid at the end of summer vacation without the joy of back to school shopping. "It's over, it's over. But it's far from over."
Talk to you soon.
Love,
The Gypsy
The perfect way to end Obon and celebrate Oli's birthday. Suwa. Fireworks. Festival. We took the night bus from Tokyo last night to Suwa and got here around 11. I passed out so hard on that bus ride. It seemed to last 20 minutes and not the three hours it really was. We got to Oli, hopped on our bikes and headed home. My feet felt like two baby elephants and I was exhausted.
We got home and I showered... and then everything else was a blur until I opened my eyes the next morning. This day was big. It was Oli's birthday (yataaaa!) AND her student offered to dress us in yukatas (casual summer kimonos) AND it was the highly anticipated Suwa Fireworks Festival (one of the biggest fireworks festival in Japan). This promised to be an awesome day.
We got on our bikes, got some breakfast and went to Mitsuko's house to get the day started. Breakfast was a mistake. We got to her house and she had cake, tempura, sushi, Japanese fried chicken, tea, coffee...the eating was unceasing, seriously. Mitsuko was super generous and really gracious. Her family was so kind. She took us to a temple very close to her house and the resident at the temple treated us so kindly. More eating, of course. He so took us through the temple and explained everything - in Japanese of course- and then he busted out the green tea and sweets and we sat in the temple with a beautiful Japanese garden as our backdrop.
Breathtaking experience.
Yukatas time! We walked back to the house to get dressed for the festival. Putting on a yukata is work. Not for the wearer, but for the poor person who has to do all that science with the tying and the obi and the bow and aaaah! Insane. 30 minutes later we were dressed and feeling beautiful.
Festival time! Another one of Oli's students gave her some super buck seats for the festival, I'm talking center stage, first row-buck! So we walked through an intense crowd of people, passing hundreds of street vendors on the way and made our way to our seats. This was the most incredible display of fireworks I have ever seen I my life. 36 sets, each one bigger than the last. The finale was a 2km replica of Niagara Falls with all kinds of other craziness going on around it. I was floored. It was thorough. There were so many people here, it trumped a Tokyo crowd on it's busiest day. I think we had a bossy day. A super bossy vacation and now it's back to life, back to reality. So here I am on the 6am bus headed back to Kanagawa. Dying inside. I feel like a kid at the end of summer vacation without the joy of back to school shopping. "It's over, it's over. But it's far from over."
Talk to you soon.
Love,
The Gypsy
I Love Africa.
Oh my emgee…FUNNY story. I forgot to tell you guys what happened to me a couple of weeks ago! So during the summer break, I went to Osaka, Kyoto and Nagano. The trip to Nagano was great and there was a huge fireworks festival on Lake Suwa. Lake Suwa is ginormous! It was Oli's birthday so her students gave her these bossy tickets to these amazing seats near the water. Another one of her students also dressed us in Yukatas (summer kimonos)…I also forgot to upload the blog I wrote about this so I'll do that next (I ask you in advance to overlook the redundancy that comes as a repercussion of my forgetfulness)…sidetracked…anyway. There was this Indian man walking around with this Japanese family. The woman walked past us once and stared (awkwardly) and smiled at me and went back to her seat. A beer run or two later, she passes and tells me I look beautiful. I thank her. The strange exchange to follow is better exhibited in dialogue.
Lady: "Are you from India?"
Me: ( with a slightly raised brow and a smile) "No. I'm from Jamaica."
Lady: "Oh. I am hosting a guest from India. I thought if you were Indian I could
introduce you."
Me: (chuckles) "Ohhh…no, I'm not."
Lady: "Oh, okay. I love Africa."
Me: (blank stare)
I can't tell you how many times people ask me where I'm from and I say (the response varies based on their level of English), "I was born in Jamaica but I have lived in America for a long time." And they follow with, "…Jamaica…is that in Africa?"
Take that as you will. I think it is kind of funny, and by no means any less ignorant than the notions a lot of people (in the West) have about Asia. So…iLaugh.
Love,
The Gypsy
Lady: "Are you from India?"
Me: ( with a slightly raised brow and a smile) "No. I'm from Jamaica."
Lady: "Oh. I am hosting a guest from India. I thought if you were Indian I could
introduce you."
Me: (chuckles) "Ohhh…no, I'm not."
Lady: "Oh, okay. I love Africa."
Me: (blank stare)
I can't tell you how many times people ask me where I'm from and I say (the response varies based on their level of English), "I was born in Jamaica but I have lived in America for a long time." And they follow with, "…Jamaica…is that in Africa?"
Take that as you will. I think it is kind of funny, and by no means any less ignorant than the notions a lot of people (in the West) have about Asia. So…iLaugh.
Love,
The Gypsy
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Sumo Big.
Let me just take a small break from the business of loquacious vacation updates to share what happened to me this morning on my way to work. So I'm gleefully strolling through my mountain town headed for the station, and coming toward me is the biggest Japanese man I have ever seen in my life. I am talking sumo big. He passes and I smile at him, which I often do to passer-by, and he smiles back and stops short. He was staring at me like a sushi platter when I looked back but I just laughed and kept it pushing. A few seconds later, I noticed him following me, and quite quickly I might add. So I slow down and say hello. He says hi and tells me im really beautiful and then hits me with the usual series of introductory questions to a foreigner here-in Japanese...Where are you from? Where are you going? Do you live here? What are you doing in Japan. I answer all his questions in English and he tells me I'm pretty again. He then said I have a nice body and do I have a boyfriend - in English. I say yes (fallacy) in America. He then says hot sex or hard sex...not really sure which one and I start to shake my head in a very ambiguous manner. I honestly had no idea how to respond I was so shocked. He said something to this effect "...please meet one more time with me. Hot sex. Nice body. Hot! " I said thank you and politely excused myself telling him I needed to catch my train. I couldn't get it out of my mouth fast enough before I realized I was running. There was no fear attached to the idea in my body...only awkward discomfort and avoidance.
Laughing,
Gypsy
Laughing,
Gypsy
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Last night...
Sweet Osaka...how you rocked me last night.
So we took it easy today. We actually did a bit of sightseeing in Osaka. We went to Osakajo (castle) today. Let me pause for the cause and tell you how blasted hot it is down here. Oh man, it is not right. So we sweat our way to Osakajo, did some running on the way and took some beautiful pictures. This castle is quite magnificent. It has a double moat and sits in the center of this enormous park. It was quite a sight to see, and the view from the top was sick. You can see all of Osaka.
We also went to the Floating Garden Observatory in the Umeda Sky Building. This was probably one of my favorite experiences. We went at night so the night view of the city from maybe 50 stories was insane. It was easily the most beautiful thing I saw in Osaka. We had a difficult time leaving this building. As we were leaving we saw these waterfalls from big metal cylindrical figures that were changing colors. That coupled with the actual design of the Umeda Sky Building against the night sky blew my mind. So we stopped and took more pictures.
We decided tonight would be an early night..it wasn't so much...but relatively speaking it was early. We ended up in America-Mura at a shisha (hookah) bar called L&L. The owner was this really cool guy from Israel and we chatted, had a couple drinks and headed home.
I love Osaka. It made me wonder how my experience would differ if I lived here.
Certainly something to think about...
Love,
Gypsy
So we took it easy today. We actually did a bit of sightseeing in Osaka. We went to Osakajo (castle) today. Let me pause for the cause and tell you how blasted hot it is down here. Oh man, it is not right. So we sweat our way to Osakajo, did some running on the way and took some beautiful pictures. This castle is quite magnificent. It has a double moat and sits in the center of this enormous park. It was quite a sight to see, and the view from the top was sick. You can see all of Osaka.
We also went to the Floating Garden Observatory in the Umeda Sky Building. This was probably one of my favorite experiences. We went at night so the night view of the city from maybe 50 stories was insane. It was easily the most beautiful thing I saw in Osaka. We had a difficult time leaving this building. As we were leaving we saw these waterfalls from big metal cylindrical figures that were changing colors. That coupled with the actual design of the Umeda Sky Building against the night sky blew my mind. So we stopped and took more pictures.
We decided tonight would be an early night..it wasn't so much...but relatively speaking it was early. We ended up in America-Mura at a shisha (hookah) bar called L&L. The owner was this really cool guy from Israel and we chatted, had a couple drinks and headed home.
I love Osaka. It made me wonder how my experience would differ if I lived here.
Certainly something to think about...
Love,
Gypsy
OH!saka
Osaka!!! Whattup?! Love this city already :) What a day. So we got to Osaka at around 7:30 am and started our vacation super early. We went to this little cafe that was so close to the station that the tables shook when a train went by. It was really quaint and adorable though. We had some breakfast and chatted (like Oli and I always do) and then set out on a mini adventure to charge our phones and get cleaned up while waiting for Charlie. That was an excursion too because His phone died and we searched for 2 solid hours to find him until he showed up at the Krispy Kreme window like a kid who got left at school by his irresponsible parents. At least that was how his face looked LOL.
So with donuts in hand, we decided to ride a ferris wheel in the heart of downtown Osaka, (which was decked out with an iPod dock so I dj'd that 15 minute ride) eat donuts and see what the city was like from the top. After that, we went to our hostel, showered, and then hit the streets again looking for takoyaki and okomomiyaki (grilled octopus balls-that sounds sus but at some point I'll explain what it is, and a Japanese pancake). We walked around the city until nightfall and took photos, got accustomed to the area and passed through different parts of Osaka like, America-Mura, Dotombori, and Shinsaibashi.
Our other friends, Lyndsey and Arjun, arrived later that night and we hit the hood again. This time, with muddy intentions. We wanted to get loose and party, and that we did. Not before eating, again...ramen this go round, and grabbing a couple road beers.
We ended up at a hip hop club and we danced SO hard. We danced so hard that after we left, we went to another club and danced even harder. When we stepped outside it was daylight and so many people were in the street. We got some food (onigiri and coffee, of course) and dragged ourselves to our temporary home to get some shut eye (a nap really) so that we could do it all again tomorrow. And by tomorrow, I guess I mean today.
Love,
Gypsy
So with donuts in hand, we decided to ride a ferris wheel in the heart of downtown Osaka, (which was decked out with an iPod dock so I dj'd that 15 minute ride) eat donuts and see what the city was like from the top. After that, we went to our hostel, showered, and then hit the streets again looking for takoyaki and okomomiyaki (grilled octopus balls-that sounds sus but at some point I'll explain what it is, and a Japanese pancake). We walked around the city until nightfall and took photos, got accustomed to the area and passed through different parts of Osaka like, America-Mura, Dotombori, and Shinsaibashi.
Our other friends, Lyndsey and Arjun, arrived later that night and we hit the hood again. This time, with muddy intentions. We wanted to get loose and party, and that we did. Not before eating, again...ramen this go round, and grabbing a couple road beers.
We ended up at a hip hop club and we danced SO hard. We danced so hard that after we left, we went to another club and danced even harder. When we stepped outside it was daylight and so many people were in the street. We got some food (onigiri and coffee, of course) and dragged ourselves to our temporary home to get some shut eye (a nap really) so that we could do it all again tomorrow. And by tomorrow, I guess I mean today.
Love,
Gypsy
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
The Hawk
Aaah...beach day. Today I spent the day in Hayama at a beautiful beach. It was a perfect day for the beach...sweltering and sunny. I have been going since I got off of work on Saturday with no intention of slowing down. So let's see...saw some beautiful people, had some drinks and soaked up some sun today. While we were at the beach, Oli and I were casually enjoying our tuna onigiri when a huge hawk swooped swiftly between our heads and snatched my onigiri out of my hand. It happened so fast and Oli and I were so shocked we just stared at this hawk flying off into the distance. It was a cool minute before either one of us said anything. At hat point we were both trying to figure out what just happened. Traumatized.
After leaving the beach, we raced home to get packed and ready to get to Tokyo to catch our bus to Osaka. We got on the bus and we are sitting on the top tier of a two tier bus in the first row with the roomiest seats. I am super excited about going to Osaka. It's supposed to be a fun city with tons to do. So we will do some sightseeing and some partying and have a few stories to tell... I'll keep you posted. Right now, I'm about to black out on this overnight bus. Until tomorrow!
After leaving the beach, we raced home to get packed and ready to get to Tokyo to catch our bus to Osaka. We got on the bus and we are sitting on the top tier of a two tier bus in the first row with the roomiest seats. I am super excited about going to Osaka. It's supposed to be a fun city with tons to do. So we will do some sightseeing and some partying and have a few stories to tell... I'll keep you posted. Right now, I'm about to black out on this overnight bus. Until tomorrow!
I'm Baaaack!
It has been a really long time since I have blogged and I must say it felt like something was missing. So many things have been going on that I have not been able to sit and write about. This week however, I am on vacation. I can already tell it is going to be one of those vacations that you need a vacation from. We are going to four or five different cities in 7 days. I started it off pretty big yesterday.
I climbed Mt. Fuji. Let me just tell you, it is a beast. That mountain made me cry and laugh and want to give up once or twice (let's be real, more than once or twice) but I am so glad I did it. I actually went with Oli and a few of her students, one of them was climbing for the 30-somethingth time, and we did it together! It was miserable and amazing and excruciating and beautiful. I would probably never do it again and it was easily the most challenging thing I have ever done to date. My legs and knees are killing me but the experience was worth it.
My goal this week is to do a ton of writing so I can share my experiences with you. Then when I get home and back to work I will put together a photo album (like that one over there <<<) so that you can see what I saw. I promise to make better use of my notepad on my iphone and never to stay away so long.
I climbed Mt. Fuji. Let me just tell you, it is a beast. That mountain made me cry and laugh and want to give up once or twice (let's be real, more than once or twice) but I am so glad I did it. I actually went with Oli and a few of her students, one of them was climbing for the 30-somethingth time, and we did it together! It was miserable and amazing and excruciating and beautiful. I would probably never do it again and it was easily the most challenging thing I have ever done to date. My legs and knees are killing me but the experience was worth it.
My goal this week is to do a ton of writing so I can share my experiences with you. Then when I get home and back to work I will put together a photo album (like that one over there <<<) so that you can see what I saw. I promise to make better use of my notepad on my iphone and never to stay away so long.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Lunchin'
So this week has been pretty lightweight at work. We have limited lessons and parent conferences so I have had a lot of time on my hands. I've been writing incessantly. A good thing, I think. I have also been studying English grammar during my office hours. Today I almost fell asleep over a grammar workbook. It's really difficult to commit to studying grammar because I'm so desperate to learn Japanese. Quite frankly, I'm pretty good at grammar and I teach it everyday.
I suck at Japanese but it would be super anti swag to study/practice my Japanese at work. I have a great coworker who is so generous with her knowledge. Honestly, she has taught me half he vocabulary I know. The alphabets, learning to write them rather, is taxing. It's a ton of practice and when I get home from work the last thing I want to do is writing drills. I would prefer to write what is on my heart. I'm still trying to find balance with that. I'm aware that it is just a out me compromising with my own priorities.
I stayed up all night last night watching Vampire Diaries. I don't consider that a point of compromise lol...
Also while I have your attention...I hate my hair right now. It is such a fail. I never really combed my hair that much when I was back home but now, I can't remember the last time I put a comb to it. Let me put it in perspective for you...I didn't even bring a comb to Japan.
In my defense, I wash my hair every other day but...its getting pretty gangster up there.
Anywho...this was a lunch break blog so I'm headed back to practice grammar and write in secret.
I suck at Japanese but it would be super anti swag to study/practice my Japanese at work. I have a great coworker who is so generous with her knowledge. Honestly, she has taught me half he vocabulary I know. The alphabets, learning to write them rather, is taxing. It's a ton of practice and when I get home from work the last thing I want to do is writing drills. I would prefer to write what is on my heart. I'm still trying to find balance with that. I'm aware that it is just a out me compromising with my own priorities.
I stayed up all night last night watching Vampire Diaries. I don't consider that a point of compromise lol...
Also while I have your attention...I hate my hair right now. It is such a fail. I never really combed my hair that much when I was back home but now, I can't remember the last time I put a comb to it. Let me put it in perspective for you...I didn't even bring a comb to Japan.
In my defense, I wash my hair every other day but...its getting pretty gangster up there.
Anywho...this was a lunch break blog so I'm headed back to practice grammar and write in secret.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
When I Think of Home...
Back from Suwa...had a great time. I always have fun with Olivia though...so I expected that :) Somehow we managed to get addicted to Vampire Diaries in 2 episodes...and we can't stop watching. Of course that led to a series of vampire fantasies. I forced Oli to watch the Underworld series with me. Actually, this weekend was filled with addictions because now i'm addicted to the song Man Down by Rihanna AND the video.
Leaving was mildly depressing. It would be so much easier if my close friends in Japan were closer, but I suppose I didn't come here for easy. After all, I just left everything familiar to me and came to a foreign country. So Oli, in our mutual sadness said, "when 'home' is 'people' then homesickness is leaving them on a bus". It occurred to me that home for me IS exactly that, and perhaps it always has been. It's not really the street I live on, or the house I lived in that I miss, it's the people that made those places special. My mom and sister and the rest of my family, and my dearest and best that made my experiences special, that's what I miss the most.
So maybe the homesickness that was projected unto us as inevitable when we got here is in fact, inevitable. I'm not like, jump off Tokyo Tower homesick, but maybe what is happening is the realization that I actually live in Japan. No, it hasn't sunken into my cerebral until now. Still so many things to do and see and perhaps the excitement of those things will hold out a little while longer...I'm thinking like...9 months? Lol! I have tons to be happy about here and all this homesick talk comes in the wake of recurring separation anxiety. When I think about my time here and how long I'll stay, strangely enough, my next series of thoughts (interrupted by vampire fantasies OF COURSE) is where will I go next.
Love,
Gypsy
Leaving was mildly depressing. It would be so much easier if my close friends in Japan were closer, but I suppose I didn't come here for easy. After all, I just left everything familiar to me and came to a foreign country. So Oli, in our mutual sadness said, "when 'home' is 'people' then homesickness is leaving them on a bus". It occurred to me that home for me IS exactly that, and perhaps it always has been. It's not really the street I live on, or the house I lived in that I miss, it's the people that made those places special. My mom and sister and the rest of my family, and my dearest and best that made my experiences special, that's what I miss the most.
So maybe the homesickness that was projected unto us as inevitable when we got here is in fact, inevitable. I'm not like, jump off Tokyo Tower homesick, but maybe what is happening is the realization that I actually live in Japan. No, it hasn't sunken into my cerebral until now. Still so many things to do and see and perhaps the excitement of those things will hold out a little while longer...I'm thinking like...9 months? Lol! I have tons to be happy about here and all this homesick talk comes in the wake of recurring separation anxiety. When I think about my time here and how long I'll stay, strangely enough, my next series of thoughts (interrupted by vampire fantasies OF COURSE) is where will I go next.
Love,
Gypsy
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Funny How Time Flies...
It has been a quick couple of weeks...time is starting to fly by. When I first arrived in Japan, time moved so slowly. I think partly because of the earthquake/tsunami, and partly because this experience was super brand new. Now, before I know it, two weeks have passed. I am not complaining but I'm definitely trying to find a groove to fall into with this blog. I hate that so much time passes before I update.
So...hmmm, what's new...what have I been up to...there was a Jamaica festival in Tokyo that I went to a couple of weekends back with my friend Sarah. Had a great time and met some Jamaicans that I think will be great connects in the future. I ate some jerk chicken and some ackee and saltfish! I really couldn't believe that. My mom laughed so hard when i told her that! The Japanese are fascinated by Jamaican culture and lifestyle. Reggae sell off a Japan! You should have seen these girls dancing?! It was insane. Some of them could have stayed home but their affection for dancehall was inspiring. What else...?
I find myself typing furiously on my iPhone while traveling. Usually you can catch me on my five minute commute trying to capture a portion of an idea before I get to work. Other times, I have more time...on the train to Tokyo, or more recently to Yokohama, and so I write constantly. Instant gratification.
Right now, I'm on the bus to Suwa to visit my dearheart Owhibia (Oli). I'm really excited to visit her. She comes to Tokyo ALL the time, and it is not an easy trip. AND she has been to Hotes Magotes (my hood...aptly named by Oli) several times. We are going to have so much fun and I can barely contain myself on this bus. We will skateboard, and eat CoCo curry, and shop, which is absolutely what we do best together, and explore Suwa, and maybe onsen it up...(hint hint Oli lol).
I started this journey at 5:00am! It takes about 90 minutes to get to Tokyo and about 2.5 hours from Tokyo to Suwa. So a great opportunity to get some blog entries done :)
So...hmmm, what's new...what have I been up to...there was a Jamaica festival in Tokyo that I went to a couple of weekends back with my friend Sarah. Had a great time and met some Jamaicans that I think will be great connects in the future. I ate some jerk chicken and some ackee and saltfish! I really couldn't believe that. My mom laughed so hard when i told her that! The Japanese are fascinated by Jamaican culture and lifestyle. Reggae sell off a Japan! You should have seen these girls dancing?! It was insane. Some of them could have stayed home but their affection for dancehall was inspiring. What else...?
I find myself typing furiously on my iPhone while traveling. Usually you can catch me on my five minute commute trying to capture a portion of an idea before I get to work. Other times, I have more time...on the train to Tokyo, or more recently to Yokohama, and so I write constantly. Instant gratification.
Right now, I'm on the bus to Suwa to visit my dearheart Owhibia (Oli). I'm really excited to visit her. She comes to Tokyo ALL the time, and it is not an easy trip. AND she has been to Hotes Magotes (my hood...aptly named by Oli) several times. We are going to have so much fun and I can barely contain myself on this bus. We will skateboard, and eat CoCo curry, and shop, which is absolutely what we do best together, and explore Suwa, and maybe onsen it up...(hint hint Oli lol).
I started this journey at 5:00am! It takes about 90 minutes to get to Tokyo and about 2.5 hours from Tokyo to Suwa. So a great opportunity to get some blog entries done :)
Science
Aah, I bought a folding bike. I got it online and it was really reasonable. One of my students was sweet enough to help me. We got it on amazon for the low low. Japan is a cash society, they use cards but most people use cash. Because of this, you can buy things off Amazon with cash. You order whatever, and take your printed reciept to the convenient store to pay for it. Sugoi ne?! There is some strange new bike science that I'm not aware of that comes with this territory. First of all, all the instructions are in Japanese. Secondly, the pictures are tiny and nondescript. For those reasons, I have had this bike for almost a week and it has no handlebars and one pedal lol. It's really disappointing because I wanted to bring it to Suwa but it will be fine. I am carrying the directions around in my purse just in case someone can help me translate. I'll get it right next week.
In the past couple weeks I have been looking for classes in Japanese that suit my schedule. I found a self study course that might be poppin', so I'm very excited about that. I keep saying how difficult Japanese is, but learning the language becomes more necessary everyday. I used this week to memorize hiragana and katakana but kanji is another story. My coworker gave me a kanji book that has been really helpful. So one step at a time. I'm looking forward to being able to have reciprocal conversations, not Japanese-English conversations :) I can't leave Japan until I can speak and understand Japanese so I need to put in some serious work.
In the past couple weeks I have been looking for classes in Japanese that suit my schedule. I found a self study course that might be poppin', so I'm very excited about that. I keep saying how difficult Japanese is, but learning the language becomes more necessary everyday. I used this week to memorize hiragana and katakana but kanji is another story. My coworker gave me a kanji book that has been really helpful. So one step at a time. I'm looking forward to being able to have reciprocal conversations, not Japanese-English conversations :) I can't leave Japan until I can speak and understand Japanese so I need to put in some serious work.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Aargh...
This week was a tough one...I don't know why. Everything seemed a little more trying than usual at work and I swear my students tried to scare me out of Japan this weekend.
I'm teaching a new class that is basically designed around current events. I don't watch the news here, unless you want to count QVC, and I don't know much about the local news so I am always excited to find out from my students. This week, the talk of the town was of course Osama anti swag and surprise, surprise - the nuclear crisis in Japan.
One of my students made the grave mistake of telling me that they found radiation in the green tea plants that are grown in and around this area. Now I live super far from Fukushima...so this was a bit of a surprise. Lucky for me, I don't go around picking green tea plants and using them at home. And there was talk about keeping safe in the rain because there is radiation in the rain. Pssshhhtt! The rainy season is coming. *side-eye*
Then, in my last class on Saturday, a student said to me..."well you know there is an 87% chance that there will be a major earthquake (compared to Fukushima) in Kanagawa within the next year. I looked at him like, umm, WTF? Wednesday. Thursday. Friday. (TWhite...I miss you!) After listening to these people tell me how concerned they were about the structure of the facilites they work in, and the schools their children attend (that are over 100 years old, by the way), I felt like I had little to worry about. I still worried a bit though.
But what's the point of worrying everyday until something happens? What's the point of worrying at all? When it happens, IF it happens, all I can be is prepared. I feel like I'm getting used to the occassional movement of the Earth beneath my feet...and who couldn't use an extra arm? Or superhuman strength? Or the power to fly? LOL
So for now, I'll keep drinking bottled mineral water and keep an umbrella in my bag at all times.
I'm teaching a new class that is basically designed around current events. I don't watch the news here, unless you want to count QVC, and I don't know much about the local news so I am always excited to find out from my students. This week, the talk of the town was of course Osama anti swag and surprise, surprise - the nuclear crisis in Japan.
One of my students made the grave mistake of telling me that they found radiation in the green tea plants that are grown in and around this area. Now I live super far from Fukushima...so this was a bit of a surprise. Lucky for me, I don't go around picking green tea plants and using them at home. And there was talk about keeping safe in the rain because there is radiation in the rain. Pssshhhtt! The rainy season is coming. *side-eye*
Then, in my last class on Saturday, a student said to me..."well you know there is an 87% chance that there will be a major earthquake (compared to Fukushima) in Kanagawa within the next year. I looked at him like, umm, WTF? Wednesday. Thursday. Friday. (TWhite...I miss you!) After listening to these people tell me how concerned they were about the structure of the facilites they work in, and the schools their children attend (that are over 100 years old, by the way), I felt like I had little to worry about. I still worried a bit though.
But what's the point of worrying everyday until something happens? What's the point of worrying at all? When it happens, IF it happens, all I can be is prepared. I feel like I'm getting used to the occassional movement of the Earth beneath my feet...and who couldn't use an extra arm? Or superhuman strength? Or the power to fly? LOL
So for now, I'll keep drinking bottled mineral water and keep an umbrella in my bag at all times.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
It's the little things...
It really IS all about the little things...like not being able to watch the news or the weather, so you always get stuck in the rain...or only having one channel (QVC) so you know all the new litte exercise fads and ugly old lady gear that is on the market, but NEVER what is happening in the country you live in unless someone tells you.
Perhaps even getting spit on, really IN. Getting spit on, IN the eye, by one of your favorite students while he is super duper excited about showing his mommy what he learned in class today. So...he has a wet mouth? So what?
So. Yuck.
The things that make life impossibly funny and difficult and annoying and...wait did I say funny? It is never really funny when it happens but I gotta tell you, even the spit in the eye thing got a laugh out of me shortly thereafter.
So maybe it is important to highlight the little quirks and quams of daily life so that you can appreciate them in the grand scheme of things. Maybe next time we are going over the lesson material, I'll stand next to my other favorite student...who doesn't spit. He just sneezes into the hand he uses most often. The lesser of two evils?
Aah...indeed...the little things.
Perhaps even getting spit on, really IN. Getting spit on, IN the eye, by one of your favorite students while he is super duper excited about showing his mommy what he learned in class today. So...he has a wet mouth? So what?
So. Yuck.
The things that make life impossibly funny and difficult and annoying and...wait did I say funny? It is never really funny when it happens but I gotta tell you, even the spit in the eye thing got a laugh out of me shortly thereafter.
So maybe it is important to highlight the little quirks and quams of daily life so that you can appreciate them in the grand scheme of things. Maybe next time we are going over the lesson material, I'll stand next to my other favorite student...who doesn't spit. He just sneezes into the hand he uses most often. The lesser of two evils?
Aah...indeed...the little things.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Space
Today, I needed to write. To create. I needed to put pen to paper and watch my feelings play out.
I woke up in a really strange space. I felt homesick and lonely and like there was a huge clock in my life that was suddenly running out of space to tick and tock. And so I wrote. At the end of it all, I suppose I don't feel entirely the same. But I feel like I needed to feel this. To connect with myself beyond the surface of being excited about being here. The glamour of the experience is far from over, but the reality of it is closing in.
I decided that there are things I NEED to do while I am here, to make me happy. Being here and experiencing Japan alone will never be enough for me. I need to buy a board. Skating has never felt more important than it does right now. It is new and urgent. I need to fall down and get back up. Over and over again. And do it until I can get on that board and feel good. I want it. Bad.
I need to write. Daily. I need to take time to put my feelings on paper. Those quiet walks home with the crickets as a soundtrack are cool, but the thoughts pass and the feelings don't.
I need, need, NEED to create and perform music. The End.
And lastly, I desperately need to learn Japanese. I went on a (horrible) date with someone yesterday who has been in Japan for seven years...He speaks enough Japanese to get by, but he can't read it and I don't think he is interested in learning. I can't let that happen. If I can do nothing else when I leave Japan, I want to be able to have a conversation, to read a word...to communicate with a stranger in Japanese.
So knowing is half the battle right? So they say. I know I need to write more.
I will keep writing today. Until things begin to feel sensible again. Tomorrow I will wake up, and smile. Musing at the oddities I felt today. Tomorrow, the space will be different.
Thanks for stopping by.
I woke up in a really strange space. I felt homesick and lonely and like there was a huge clock in my life that was suddenly running out of space to tick and tock. And so I wrote. At the end of it all, I suppose I don't feel entirely the same. But I feel like I needed to feel this. To connect with myself beyond the surface of being excited about being here. The glamour of the experience is far from over, but the reality of it is closing in.
I decided that there are things I NEED to do while I am here, to make me happy. Being here and experiencing Japan alone will never be enough for me. I need to buy a board. Skating has never felt more important than it does right now. It is new and urgent. I need to fall down and get back up. Over and over again. And do it until I can get on that board and feel good. I want it. Bad.
I need to write. Daily. I need to take time to put my feelings on paper. Those quiet walks home with the crickets as a soundtrack are cool, but the thoughts pass and the feelings don't.
I need, need, NEED to create and perform music. The End.
And lastly, I desperately need to learn Japanese. I went on a (horrible) date with someone yesterday who has been in Japan for seven years...He speaks enough Japanese to get by, but he can't read it and I don't think he is interested in learning. I can't let that happen. If I can do nothing else when I leave Japan, I want to be able to have a conversation, to read a word...to communicate with a stranger in Japanese.
So knowing is half the battle right? So they say. I know I need to write more.
I will keep writing today. Until things begin to feel sensible again. Tomorrow I will wake up, and smile. Musing at the oddities I felt today. Tomorrow, the space will be different.
Thanks for stopping by.
Emotions...
Here are some really specific journal entries...dates and all. Don't judge me. Just read them.
4.7.11. There was another earthquake last night and I was home alone. I actually stood in the doorway until it was over. It was a little long. As usual, I didn’t realize it was an earthquake until my mind started whirling around in my head. My biggest fear, right now, is that I have no phone -no net-no TV. What the hell would I do? Would Sean run over here and tell me we’re evacuating? How would I make sense of the tsunami warnings? So I listen for my non-English speaking neighbors. That is an awesome plan.
4.8.11
Its so windy today. Every time the wind blows I think there is an earthquake. It is just my line banging on my window. I miss my mornings and I still don’t have the hang of this routine. God I can’t wait to get a phone. I feel so disconnected. Only a few more days, I hope. 30 minutes to get ready.
4.14.11
Such a weird past couple of days. I’m realizing that I can never be myself around my coworkers. This tatemai and hone shit is real. I must always smile and laugh and never be frustrated. People will always ask me where I’m going, even if it’s just to the bathroom. I can’t understand that yet. There is no privacy. Everything in Japan has been such a process, getting this iPhone took two days of bank trips and a lot of complication at the store. This internet thing is driving me up the wall. I’m made to feel that it’s my fault I can’t get what I need. It’s my fault I don’t understand Japanese so I can’t get a bank account on my own. It’s my fault my English computer doesn’t work with the wireless device. I’m sure there are many other foreigners who come here with international devices that are compatible. I feel an urgent need to learn Japanese, and quickly so that I might get my independence back.
4.7.11. There was another earthquake last night and I was home alone. I actually stood in the doorway until it was over. It was a little long. As usual, I didn’t realize it was an earthquake until my mind started whirling around in my head. My biggest fear, right now, is that I have no phone -no net-no TV. What the hell would I do? Would Sean run over here and tell me we’re evacuating? How would I make sense of the tsunami warnings? So I listen for my non-English speaking neighbors. That is an awesome plan.
4.8.11
Its so windy today. Every time the wind blows I think there is an earthquake. It is just my line banging on my window. I miss my mornings and I still don’t have the hang of this routine. God I can’t wait to get a phone. I feel so disconnected. Only a few more days, I hope. 30 minutes to get ready.
4.14.11
Such a weird past couple of days. I’m realizing that I can never be myself around my coworkers. This tatemai and hone shit is real. I must always smile and laugh and never be frustrated. People will always ask me where I’m going, even if it’s just to the bathroom. I can’t understand that yet. There is no privacy. Everything in Japan has been such a process, getting this iPhone took two days of bank trips and a lot of complication at the store. This internet thing is driving me up the wall. I’m made to feel that it’s my fault I can’t get what I need. It’s my fault I don’t understand Japanese so I can’t get a bank account on my own. It’s my fault my English computer doesn’t work with the wireless device. I’m sure there are many other foreigners who come here with international devices that are compatible. I feel an urgent need to learn Japanese, and quickly so that I might get my independence back.
Tokyo Drift
I live and work about 90 minutes outside of Tokyo. So every weekend, I pack a backpack and head to the city. Tokyo is a totally different animal. When I get there, I feel different. I mean, as soon as I step off the train, my mind shifts gears and I’m in immediate get it in and survive mode. I go to Tokyo to kick it. Hard. And that’s what we do every time. Shibuya is like Brooklyn on a Saturday in the summertime. Everyone is out and about and doing something. Anything.
There is so much to do in Tokyo. SO much to see. I feel like even if we are just walking around, something exciting will happen. It is kind of weird because sometimes, something in me says, seek out the foreigners…you know it will be poppin’! LOL…and then we find some and of course they are CRAZY! They all are doing what we are doing. It is always interesting to see what everyone is doing here in Japan and why they came. There are definitely a group of standardized questions that we ask each other. And for once, it isn’t the automated business answer that you are required to give Japanese people when they ask you why you came.
So we go to Tokyo and hit an izakaya for food and drinks, and then a bar…and then maybe another bar or club. The whole thing about going to Tokyo is once you are out past 11:30, you are out for the night. There is no train after midnight so you had better be prepared to stay out until the morning. By 2:00am, everyone is in the same groove, just trying to make it to the morning.
So at 4:30, the first train leaves. And life in Tokyo begins again. If I can’t find somewhere to sleep, I’m on the 5am back to Odawara. And so I get on this train filled with business people headed to work, and drunk people (like me) trying to recover from the exploits of the past few hours…and everyone passes out. After being on the train for 3 minutes, most citizens pass OUT. It is hilarious, actually. And like clockwork, they wake up at the exact moment they need to get off the train. I always fear oversleeping…but I have noticed on the last couple of trips that I wake up at Shin Matsuda without fail. Right on time to switch trains.
I think I’m turning Japanese.
I really think so.
There is so much to do in Tokyo. SO much to see. I feel like even if we are just walking around, something exciting will happen. It is kind of weird because sometimes, something in me says, seek out the foreigners…you know it will be poppin’! LOL…and then we find some and of course they are CRAZY! They all are doing what we are doing. It is always interesting to see what everyone is doing here in Japan and why they came. There are definitely a group of standardized questions that we ask each other. And for once, it isn’t the automated business answer that you are required to give Japanese people when they ask you why you came.
So we go to Tokyo and hit an izakaya for food and drinks, and then a bar…and then maybe another bar or club. The whole thing about going to Tokyo is once you are out past 11:30, you are out for the night. There is no train after midnight so you had better be prepared to stay out until the morning. By 2:00am, everyone is in the same groove, just trying to make it to the morning.
So at 4:30, the first train leaves. And life in Tokyo begins again. If I can’t find somewhere to sleep, I’m on the 5am back to Odawara. And so I get on this train filled with business people headed to work, and drunk people (like me) trying to recover from the exploits of the past few hours…and everyone passes out. After being on the train for 3 minutes, most citizens pass OUT. It is hilarious, actually. And like clockwork, they wake up at the exact moment they need to get off the train. I always fear oversleeping…but I have noticed on the last couple of trips that I wake up at Shin Matsuda without fail. Right on time to switch trains.
I think I’m turning Japanese.
I really think so.
School...
Japanese kids are so cute…but no matter how cute any kid is, there is a universal rule; kids are terrorists. The kids here are so independent. They ride the train alone, and are out later than usual. They ball check each other and put there hands on other people’s private parts. Perhaps it is the reservation of Japanese culture that this perversion has evolved from. Let’s take the young girls for instance. They walk around with skirts barely covering their bottoms and thigh high socks. That is their uniform. I see 12 year old girls that can’t walk up the stairs without their hands behind their back because you will be able to see straight up their skirts. It is such a strange phenomenon because they project this repulsive innocence. Oli and I always joke about how we just want to see Japanese people get dirty and disorganized. On the flip side…that’s totally why I am here. That’s what makes this country so approachable. The rules and the structure and the organization and the tradition, amidst technology that is unfathomable and conveniences no one else in the world has thought to create.
Repression, humility, organization and politics.
All in all, I think it is safe to say I am falling for Japan.
...Maybe.
Repression, humility, organization and politics.
All in all, I think it is safe to say I am falling for Japan.
...Maybe.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
The Commuter
When I was a little girl and I first came to America, New York specifically, I wanted to be nothing more than a businesswoman who took the train to work in the city and back to her retreat in the suburbs at night. I’m talking sneaker changes to heels back to sneakers and a suit. I don’t know what kind of business I dreamed of conducting, but I looked pretty official. Even in my dreams. The suits were always gray or black or brown. Power colors. Strong colors…depressing colors. Colors I can’t really see myself wearing everyday, or really that I am not allowed to wear. So the dream changes. And don’t they all.
Everyday I get the privilege of walking to the train (actually, I usually run) in my loafers and taking it two stops to work and I get to do it again at night. This literally takes a grand total of 15 minutes...11 if I am running. Granted, it isn’t a nice trip from the suburbs to Manhattan every single day but I like it. This tiny change in my routine does give me the feeling of retreating to my little apartment every night. It is my safe haven. Here, I can just chill. No suit, no worries. Maybe I’ll wear my running shoes to work and start changing into my loafers once I get there.
Outrun some old ladies on bicycles.
Everyday I get the privilege of walking to the train (actually, I usually run) in my loafers and taking it two stops to work and I get to do it again at night. This literally takes a grand total of 15 minutes...11 if I am running. Granted, it isn’t a nice trip from the suburbs to Manhattan every single day but I like it. This tiny change in my routine does give me the feeling of retreating to my little apartment every night. It is my safe haven. Here, I can just chill. No suit, no worries. Maybe I’ll wear my running shoes to work and start changing into my loafers once I get there.
Outrun some old ladies on bicycles.
Fuji from My Front Door
So I live in a small town. It is pretty quiet. Everything in it is small. When I tell Japanese people where I live, they go “EEEHHHHH”…which to me equates to “WTF?!” There are some really nice things about this town. I can see the stars at night. When I walk home, it is so ridiculously quiet that I can hear every animal that is out in the field that night. I can hear neighbors washing dishes and getting their homes ready for bed. I get to reflect on my thoughts and how they translate into feelings every single day. It gives me clarity. Immense clarity on a daily basis. I’d say it is a blessing in disguise because sometimes it gets so quiet I can hear the silent screams for city life. And then I’m reminded that there is always the weekend.
Every morning I wake up (and put on my makeup-j/k), I go out to my front door and look to the left, in the hopes of seeing the crown of Mt. Fuji. It is such a majestic, perfect reminder of how much bigger than me life is. It makes me thankful for so many things. Thankful that I stayed. Thankful that I live here, in this small town…old people rice field mountain town. Old ladies speed by me on their bikes everyday.
Some days, especially days I am running a little behind and I am booking it for my train, I swear those bikes have motors.
Every morning I wake up (and put on my makeup-j/k), I go out to my front door and look to the left, in the hopes of seeing the crown of Mt. Fuji. It is such a majestic, perfect reminder of how much bigger than me life is. It makes me thankful for so many things. Thankful that I stayed. Thankful that I live here, in this small town…old people rice field mountain town. Old ladies speed by me on their bikes everyday.
Some days, especially days I am running a little behind and I am booking it for my train, I swear those bikes have motors.
Retrospect
GOD! It is SO hard to write this blog in my rear view. It’s like when I’m reversing, I always have to turn all the way around and put my arm around the passenger seat to get my bearings. When I’m facing it, I can do anything.
Over the last few weeks, and perhaps in preparation for this very instance, I jot down thoughts and ideas about my experiences here in Japan. So here are a couple of my journal entries from the past few weeks. I can do anything.
Over the last few weeks, and perhaps in preparation for this very instance, I jot down thoughts and ideas about my experiences here in Japan. So here are a couple of my journal entries from the past few weeks. I can do anything.
Resident Evil
The House
The training house is a dormitory on top and a training facility on the bottom. I feel like I’m in college again, living in a dorm with all different types of people. So we get professionally dressed, report downstairs and put on house shoes, and pretend to work for 8 hours. Then we retire upstairs to our rooms. We sleep on futons, two or three to a room and so we get to know each other fairly well. Everyday we go to the Tobu…which is the local grocery store. I swear, if heaven had a grocery store, it would be called Tobu. They have everything you need (except a damn sewing kit, but thank God for Lyndsey). We get food, boos, and toiletries from the Tobu. What else could you require?
I have met so many interesting people here. It is so strange being in this forced social situation. I’m convinced the company I work for is a cult of like minded cool people. It is so strange getting to know someone in three days and feeling like you cannot spend the next year without them. I know for sure that some of these people will be a part of my life until the end of time. I’m happy about that. We train together, we eat together, we sleep together…we drink together…there is barely time to sit alone for a moment, but it’s totally possible to feel lonely. Being here makes me realize that I know exactly who I am, and I can’t complain about that.
The training house is a dormitory on top and a training facility on the bottom. I feel like I’m in college again, living in a dorm with all different types of people. So we get professionally dressed, report downstairs and put on house shoes, and pretend to work for 8 hours. Then we retire upstairs to our rooms. We sleep on futons, two or three to a room and so we get to know each other fairly well. Everyday we go to the Tobu…which is the local grocery store. I swear, if heaven had a grocery store, it would be called Tobu. They have everything you need (except a damn sewing kit, but thank God for Lyndsey). We get food, boos, and toiletries from the Tobu. What else could you require?
I have met so many interesting people here. It is so strange being in this forced social situation. I’m convinced the company I work for is a cult of like minded cool people. It is so strange getting to know someone in three days and feeling like you cannot spend the next year without them. I know for sure that some of these people will be a part of my life until the end of time. I’m happy about that. We train together, we eat together, we sleep together…we drink together…there is barely time to sit alone for a moment, but it’s totally possible to feel lonely. Being here makes me realize that I know exactly who I am, and I can’t complain about that.
The first two weeks...
So...
After the earthquake, everything went crazy. Parents started worrying and teachers started going home. So we went to Okayama.
Okayama is a beautiful city way west...4 hours by bullet train. Earthquake and radiation free. In Okayama, we felt safe. Distracted. Strangely enough, still stressed and worried. Our training experience was so unique because I don't think any of us were really there. We just went through the motions to keep from thinking about the situation in Sendai. And maybe we all wanted to be okay so our loved ones would be okay too.
It is a funny feeling, being in a new country and having a brand new safety net yanked from underneath you. Our only comfort was each other. I think we all have the potential to get completely lost in our thoughts, and our minds can be our biggest enemy...so overthinking was the one thing that I tried to avoid in Okayama.
We were going out every night and we actually made friends in Okayama. Friends that we still talk to even now...which is really cool. We went to bars and sometimes going out just meant grabbing some road beers and walking around for a couple hours. Or all you can drink karaoke...in two hours. So we had to get our money's worth. For sure. Fun. And crazy.
That karaoke night will live in infamy, actually. When we got there, one of my friends wiped out across a table and we couldn't laugh because we were so worried about her...she bounced right back like nothing happen, busted lip and all. I, who think falling is the funniest thing of all time, made sure she was okay and then promptly excused myself to the restroom and chuckled. I fessed up about it later because I felt bad and she was totally cool about it. Love her.
A couple of people left that I really miss. I really wanted the opportunity to learn from and about them...and we still talk on facebook but I really wish they were here. One person in particular, who I never thought I would miss this much, I think about everyday...I just want to pick up the phone and call her. Maybe she'll change my life and come back in six months...hint hint.
Miss you, Ash.
And so one week in Okayama and we HAD to go to our schools. If we stayed another day we may have turned the system on it's ear. As if it wasn't discombobulated enough, right. So goodbye safety net. Goodbye Okayama...see you later, friends.
Tuesday, March 22...off to Odawara.
After the earthquake, everything went crazy. Parents started worrying and teachers started going home. So we went to Okayama.
Okayama is a beautiful city way west...4 hours by bullet train. Earthquake and radiation free. In Okayama, we felt safe. Distracted. Strangely enough, still stressed and worried. Our training experience was so unique because I don't think any of us were really there. We just went through the motions to keep from thinking about the situation in Sendai. And maybe we all wanted to be okay so our loved ones would be okay too.
It is a funny feeling, being in a new country and having a brand new safety net yanked from underneath you. Our only comfort was each other. I think we all have the potential to get completely lost in our thoughts, and our minds can be our biggest enemy...so overthinking was the one thing that I tried to avoid in Okayama.
We were going out every night and we actually made friends in Okayama. Friends that we still talk to even now...which is really cool. We went to bars and sometimes going out just meant grabbing some road beers and walking around for a couple hours. Or all you can drink karaoke...in two hours. So we had to get our money's worth. For sure. Fun. And crazy.
That karaoke night will live in infamy, actually. When we got there, one of my friends wiped out across a table and we couldn't laugh because we were so worried about her...she bounced right back like nothing happen, busted lip and all. I, who think falling is the funniest thing of all time, made sure she was okay and then promptly excused myself to the restroom and chuckled. I fessed up about it later because I felt bad and she was totally cool about it. Love her.
A couple of people left that I really miss. I really wanted the opportunity to learn from and about them...and we still talk on facebook but I really wish they were here. One person in particular, who I never thought I would miss this much, I think about everyday...I just want to pick up the phone and call her. Maybe she'll change my life and come back in six months...hint hint.
Miss you, Ash.
And so one week in Okayama and we HAD to go to our schools. If we stayed another day we may have turned the system on it's ear. As if it wasn't discombobulated enough, right. So goodbye safety net. Goodbye Okayama...see you later, friends.
Tuesday, March 22...off to Odawara.
More than Words
It has been two months since my last blog entry. In the wake of the greatest natural disaster Japan has ever seen, it has been difficult to collect enough thoughts that can be articulated into words to describe what is happening to me everyday.
On March 11, 2011, one of the largest earthquakes of all time quite literally rocked Japan. It was so large that it moved the coast of Japan 10 meters and shifted the Earth’s axis. The devastation that followed was incredible. There was a massive tsunami that caused massive destruction in Sendai, and created a nuclear situation that more than one month later, has yet to be resolved. In spite of all this chaos, I have managed to form lifelong friendships with some of the most amazing people I have ever met. Not only were they there to share in this experience with me, but they were also there to help me through it. This experience has been crazy, to say the least. In Atlanta, there are no earthquakes or tsunamis or nuclear reactors. So to say it’s ironic that I came to Japan and all this happens three days later is quite the understatement. This catastrophe has certainly changed whatever experience I was going to have in Japan, perhaps even shapes it as it evolves daily.
On March 11, 2011, one of the largest earthquakes of all time quite literally rocked Japan. It was so large that it moved the coast of Japan 10 meters and shifted the Earth’s axis. The devastation that followed was incredible. There was a massive tsunami that caused massive destruction in Sendai, and created a nuclear situation that more than one month later, has yet to be resolved. In spite of all this chaos, I have managed to form lifelong friendships with some of the most amazing people I have ever met. Not only were they there to share in this experience with me, but they were also there to help me through it. This experience has been crazy, to say the least. In Atlanta, there are no earthquakes or tsunamis or nuclear reactors. So to say it’s ironic that I came to Japan and all this happens three days later is quite the understatement. This catastrophe has certainly changed whatever experience I was going to have in Japan, perhaps even shapes it as it evolves daily.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
I'm here!
I made it!!!! Yay, I made it!
Gypsy IN Japan...really! I am so ecstatic right now. It is about 6:45AM and I have been up since 5...trying to get a hang of this time change. Honestly, I had NO idea what time it was until about 10:45pm when I went to bed...I was just floating around Tokyo in a fog yesterday lol.
The flight was excrutiating in length, but fairly comfortable. We had a traditional Japanese meal for lunch so that was really cool. It was a little strange because the immersion was immediate. All the announcements were in Japanese first, then translated to English. Unfortunately, I never can hear announcements on the plane so it didn't matter what language it was in, I missed most of it :)
I ended up leaving my bags in Atlanta because the airline wanted to charge me for my first born and all my vital organs to send them. In their defense, it was obese. So when I got to Narita airport in Tokyo, customs was a breeze. That was not my expectation. Everyone was super friendly and I even got a quick restroom orientation from an airport employee.
"This button, open. This button, close. (points to button)Flush. Okay? Hai"
Then all the trainees started filtering in, one by one, two by two...everyone is so FREAKING awesome. We are all pretty much insane for doing this so we have one thing in common. LOL...it is about 20 of us, staying in this house, living like "The Real World:Japan" but without the drama. We are all so happy to be here and have automatic push-button friends, that we are more than happy to get along.
Here at the training house, we are living Japanese style, kind of. The boys have beds and that caused a playful uproar last night. We have traditional tatami style beds and wood/paper doors. Pretty, pretty cool :)
These next few days will be the most difficult because we will be working intensely whilst trying to recover from jetlag. I think we will all lean on each other during the day and "unwind" (Kanpai) at night ;)
Training begins in a few short hours so I am going for a little walk to get some breakfast and some coffee and sunlight :) to fully awaken this jetlagged body of mine.
Thank you guys for all the support, stay tuned for regular updates...pics to come.
Love,
The Gypsy
Gypsy IN Japan...really! I am so ecstatic right now. It is about 6:45AM and I have been up since 5...trying to get a hang of this time change. Honestly, I had NO idea what time it was until about 10:45pm when I went to bed...I was just floating around Tokyo in a fog yesterday lol.
The flight was excrutiating in length, but fairly comfortable. We had a traditional Japanese meal for lunch so that was really cool. It was a little strange because the immersion was immediate. All the announcements were in Japanese first, then translated to English. Unfortunately, I never can hear announcements on the plane so it didn't matter what language it was in, I missed most of it :)
I ended up leaving my bags in Atlanta because the airline wanted to charge me for my first born and all my vital organs to send them. In their defense, it was obese. So when I got to Narita airport in Tokyo, customs was a breeze. That was not my expectation. Everyone was super friendly and I even got a quick restroom orientation from an airport employee.
"This button, open. This button, close. (points to button)Flush. Okay? Hai"
Then all the trainees started filtering in, one by one, two by two...everyone is so FREAKING awesome. We are all pretty much insane for doing this so we have one thing in common. LOL...it is about 20 of us, staying in this house, living like "The Real World:Japan" but without the drama. We are all so happy to be here and have automatic push-button friends, that we are more than happy to get along.
Here at the training house, we are living Japanese style, kind of. The boys have beds and that caused a playful uproar last night. We have traditional tatami style beds and wood/paper doors. Pretty, pretty cool :)
These next few days will be the most difficult because we will be working intensely whilst trying to recover from jetlag. I think we will all lean on each other during the day and "unwind" (Kanpai) at night ;)
Training begins in a few short hours so I am going for a little walk to get some breakfast and some coffee and sunlight :) to fully awaken this jetlagged body of mine.
Thank you guys for all the support, stay tuned for regular updates...pics to come.
Love,
The Gypsy
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Sweet Misery...
Hello friends! Packing sucks! Oh my emgee...this is so overwhelming. This is even more overwhelming than when my apartment flooded in '09 and I had to move unexpectedly AND in 3 days. My apartment is a wreck, I have too many clothes (an absolute blessing, btw) and I still have to do things like, get foreign currency, sell some furniture, sell clothes, close my bank account, yada yada...
On a much brighter note, I got my visa and my plane ticket this week (it is Tuesday folks, we are in good shape lol). This thing is really happening. My family threw me an amazing going away party this weekend and I also had a lovely dinner with my loves from Jolie. All these send offs are so thoughtful and moving but at some point each time I think to myself, "you are moving to Japan alone." As the time draws near that is screaming, "YOU ARE MOVING TO JAPAN! ALONE! IN LESS THAN TWO WEEKS!!!!" I can't shut her up or turn her off. I don't think that voice is crying out from a fearful place. I think she just wants me to be ready.
I gotta tell you though, this feels right. I don't think I would rather be doing anything else right now. It has been a long time since I have felt I am right where God needs me to be. For that I am thankful.
Well...no time for the long talking, as they say in JA(That's Jamaica, saints). I must return to packing...the time is drawing nigh.
Love,
The Gypsy
On a much brighter note, I got my visa and my plane ticket this week (it is Tuesday folks, we are in good shape lol). This thing is really happening. My family threw me an amazing going away party this weekend and I also had a lovely dinner with my loves from Jolie. All these send offs are so thoughtful and moving but at some point each time I think to myself, "you are moving to Japan alone." As the time draws near that is screaming, "YOU ARE MOVING TO JAPAN! ALONE! IN LESS THAN TWO WEEKS!!!!" I can't shut her up or turn her off. I don't think that voice is crying out from a fearful place. I think she just wants me to be ready.
I gotta tell you though, this feels right. I don't think I would rather be doing anything else right now. It has been a long time since I have felt I am right where God needs me to be. For that I am thankful.
Well...no time for the long talking, as they say in JA(That's Jamaica, saints). I must return to packing...the time is drawing nigh.
Love,
The Gypsy
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Bye bye for now...
So here I am...the last week of work...it happened SO fast. Seriously. I have mixed emotions...here I am, five years later and nowhere near where I thought I would be according to my five year plan, five years ago. Honestly, that is fine because in retrospect my five year plan sucked. LOL...
Time to say goodbye (for now) to my friends at Jolie. I have grown leaps and bounds since I have been working there. If you knew me 5 years ago, you know that this is a fact:) I will be eternally grateful for that and much more. For the tests and experiences that forced me into transition. For all the different personalities that pushed my patience to new heights. For the life long friendships I have formed and for the world I was exposed to, that otherwise, I may never have known. I love my coworkers like family and it will be especially difficult to say goodbye. But just as much as I will miss them, I am excited and overjoyed about the opportunities that are hiding themselves around the corner.
I find myself doing EVERYTHING differently, trying to shake up my routine. In a few weeks, my routine will be so shaken, I will have NO choice but to create an entirely new one. So when I go home, I do something out of the ordinary like, pull some clothes out of the closet to pack, or take some pics of something I'm selling...just something different. Let me insert here that I am so happy I could pee my pants! Things are going to be so perfect, imperfections and all :)
In all of this, I find my mind reeling to create another plan. Mostly because I feel like that is what I am supposed to do. But how do you create a plan when you have no idea what amazing things are in store? I can't. And I won't. Not now at least...I'm just going to fall back, watch God do His thing, and be prepared for where He needs me to be next. Bye bye for now, Jolie. Thank you for everything.
Love,
The Gypsy
Time to say goodbye (for now) to my friends at Jolie. I have grown leaps and bounds since I have been working there. If you knew me 5 years ago, you know that this is a fact:) I will be eternally grateful for that and much more. For the tests and experiences that forced me into transition. For all the different personalities that pushed my patience to new heights. For the life long friendships I have formed and for the world I was exposed to, that otherwise, I may never have known. I love my coworkers like family and it will be especially difficult to say goodbye. But just as much as I will miss them, I am excited and overjoyed about the opportunities that are hiding themselves around the corner.
I find myself doing EVERYTHING differently, trying to shake up my routine. In a few weeks, my routine will be so shaken, I will have NO choice but to create an entirely new one. So when I go home, I do something out of the ordinary like, pull some clothes out of the closet to pack, or take some pics of something I'm selling...just something different. Let me insert here that I am so happy I could pee my pants! Things are going to be so perfect, imperfections and all :)
In all of this, I find my mind reeling to create another plan. Mostly because I feel like that is what I am supposed to do. But how do you create a plan when you have no idea what amazing things are in store? I can't. And I won't. Not now at least...I'm just going to fall back, watch God do His thing, and be prepared for where He needs me to be next. Bye bye for now, Jolie. Thank you for everything.
Love,
The Gypsy
Friday, January 21, 2011
TGIF!!!!
Happy Friday, friends!
It is cold in Atlanta today...brrrr! Is it springtime yet? LOL...as I prepare (and wait - a whole lotta waiting at this point) to leave for Japan, it is interesting how my friends are handling my departure. I think some people have secured their positions as the distant and uninvolved...just close enough to care. And then there are those who will spend every moment they can with me.
Whatever your method, I am down for whatever. I know it will be challenging to maintain friendships, but I believe true friendship stands all tests of time and distance. I have friends (like my dearest Ricke whose blog you can subscribe to above-shameless, I know...) who I speak to, twice a week sometimes...and then we won't speak for 3 (to six lol) months and we pick up right where we left off. I love that.
I'm really going to miss ALL of my friends but I must say that I look forward to the great things we will have to share with each other when we do get to talk!
That being said...I IMPLORE YOU ALL! Get a skype account...pretty please? My skype name is 'shana_gay'. I offer online and telephone tutorials and all that...lol...I definitely will not be taking or MAKING many international phone calls from Japan, they are CRAZY expensive! So skype will be our main means of communication...and of course I invite you to stalk me on this blog :)
In the meantime, I'll be working on my grammar and dreaming of warmer days...
Love,
The Gypsy
It is cold in Atlanta today...brrrr! Is it springtime yet? LOL...as I prepare (and wait - a whole lotta waiting at this point) to leave for Japan, it is interesting how my friends are handling my departure. I think some people have secured their positions as the distant and uninvolved...just close enough to care. And then there are those who will spend every moment they can with me.
Whatever your method, I am down for whatever. I know it will be challenging to maintain friendships, but I believe true friendship stands all tests of time and distance. I have friends (like my dearest Ricke whose blog you can subscribe to above-shameless, I know...) who I speak to, twice a week sometimes...and then we won't speak for 3 (to six lol) months and we pick up right where we left off. I love that.
I'm really going to miss ALL of my friends but I must say that I look forward to the great things we will have to share with each other when we do get to talk!
That being said...I IMPLORE YOU ALL! Get a skype account...pretty please? My skype name is 'shana_gay'. I offer online and telephone tutorials and all that...lol...I definitely will not be taking or MAKING many international phone calls from Japan, they are CRAZY expensive! So skype will be our main means of communication...and of course I invite you to stalk me on this blog :)
In the meantime, I'll be working on my grammar and dreaming of warmer days...
Love,
The Gypsy
Friday, January 14, 2011
Questions...
Hey guys...you don't see me for 6 weeks and then here I am with two posts in a row, right? Ha!
Okay, I want to know two things...
I want to sell some things, furniture, equipment, appliances, yada yada...is craigslist the best way to do that?
Also, I never ever EVER use our wonderfully reliable United States Postal Service (can you sense the cynicism? LOL) so what is the best method to ship internationally? And by best I do mean the least expensive ;)
Help me out guys...
Love,
The Gypsy
Okay, I want to know two things...
I want to sell some things, furniture, equipment, appliances, yada yada...is craigslist the best way to do that?
Also, I never ever EVER use our wonderfully reliable United States Postal Service (can you sense the cynicism? LOL) so what is the best method to ship internationally? And by best I do mean the least expensive ;)
Help me out guys...
Love,
The Gypsy
Thursday, January 13, 2011
The Final Countdown...
Hey guys!
How have you been?! I have really missed you! So...the time is drawing near and I'll be getting on a plane before you know it.
I leave in March and I couldn't be more excited. There is so much to do and before I know it, I won't have anymore time. I have to figure out what to do with my things, get my car fixed to give to my baby sister...(I can't believe my sister's driving!!!! AAAHHH!!) I need to send a box to Japan (to lighten my load, so to speak. What I really need is a list. A concise, organized, chronological list. And some help, lol.
Keep praying for me and I just want to let you all know those donations are still rolling on in. We have a ways to go, but I know that it will all come together, and I am more than grateful for the contributions I have received thus far.
That's all for now, but I love you guys, keep me in your hearts and on your minds.
Love,
The Gypsy
How have you been?! I have really missed you! So...the time is drawing near and I'll be getting on a plane before you know it.
I leave in March and I couldn't be more excited. There is so much to do and before I know it, I won't have anymore time. I have to figure out what to do with my things, get my car fixed to give to my baby sister...(I can't believe my sister's driving!!!! AAAHHH!!) I need to send a box to Japan (to lighten my load, so to speak. What I really need is a list. A concise, organized, chronological list. And some help, lol.
Keep praying for me and I just want to let you all know those donations are still rolling on in. We have a ways to go, but I know that it will all come together, and I am more than grateful for the contributions I have received thus far.
That's all for now, but I love you guys, keep me in your hearts and on your minds.
Love,
The Gypsy
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Happy New Year!!!
I just wanted to wish you all a safe, adventurous and prosperous new year!!!!
Love,
The Gypsy
Love,
The Gypsy
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