Monthly Archives: March 2013

I am not a worm

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It’s been about 3 weeks in Japan now. My daily routine is pretty well established. Since my “touristy” trip to Tokyo I have made 2 1/2 more trips back to the city formerly known as Edo (the 1/2 comes from a trip just outside Tokyo). So many new friends and new memories have been jammed into each week I get little brain butterflies thinking about the new world I’ve been exposed to.

—–On the sidewalk near my bus stop on the way to work. I look down to see a worm wriggling around on the sidewalk trying to find it’s home. It’s a pretty common scene, especially after some rain. But for some reason, this day, I started empathizing with this emotionless, ugly creature. I look up to see Japan thriving with the onset of Spring and life blooming yet here is this thing dying right in front of me. Is it even aware of what life is? I think to myself “do I know what life is?” Am I like my limbless friend, lost in an unfamiliar place, left alone. unaware of the scope of what reality exists around me? WHAT IS IN THE FISH HERE?—–

In some roundabout way I knew of 2 people currently living in Japan before travelling over the pacific. One of which I met once… 7 years ago. The other being a family member of a friend back in Delaware. Being eager and maybe a little intrusive I contacted both of these people. I was hopeful.

In a one week span I met both of them in Tokyo. It goes without saying that it is soooo much easier getting around with a Japanese person in Tokyo. Having someone present their country to you is incredible (makes me want to sing – sorry to put you through that Nat). And, after walking around their beautiful city you rest your feet, eat some food, and it feels like you’ve known them for years. However, it is also during this time you start to feel like some buffoon standing there wishing you knew how to speak to people.

I am not a worm

Sakura and Fountain

Sakura and Fountain

It is Sakura season in Japan right now. This may be one of the most breathtaking natural wonders in the world. The news updates where the cherry blossoms are, what the forecasts are for local cities, and how to best enjoy them. The blooming time lasts about a week or less, they disappear as if it was only a beautiful memory. During this time it is common to have a Hanami Party: you find a spot under a Sakura tree, and share some food and drink with friends. I took a train ride around a park giving which I’m told was definitely not only for little kids (here I am with my tickets).

I am not a worm

There also happens to be a very interesting mix of people in Tsukuba. Tsukuba is a huge science oriented city with massive research facilities, universities, and institutions. There is an apartment complex that houses many of these international scientists. The first time meeting them I of course was in rare form: losing and eventually finding my passport with their help, celebratory dancing followed.This upcoming weekend if the weather is good we will have our own Hanami in Tsukuba since the sakura arrive a little later compared to Tokyo.

Real quickly:

-My friend and neighbor Maxime received a package from his French family and he generously offered us the finest cheeses and meats in all of France-land!

-There is a sweet go-kart place just outside of Tokyo. And, on train ride home, I accidentally got on the “Women Only” portion of the train. Japan keeps one train car for women for late night trains. I had heard the legends of this place, and that night walked into it. I have never felt so out of place, yet so titilated. I moved one car down as quickly as I could. Sorry ladies, as much as I would like to be the bait… .

I am not a worm

First Week Trials

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A busy week here. I started my first week of work, was introduced to the people and facility here, and have explored some of the local restaurants as well as some of the big stores: I already have a jingle from “k’s denki” (kaaaaaay’s den-key) stuck in my head. This is an electronics shop.

It’s amazing how I have to prepare for the most mundane tasks. Aside from the fact that as a spoiled American this is the first time I don’t have access to a car; I now have to find places and order food that are all in another language. And this language, well having a dictionary won’t even help because everything is in Kanji. This of course, is par for the course and I love it. I’ve also had some helpful people around that can help me translate but sometimes your on your own and just have to take it as it is.

I could probably write a book about my first week here, but I really don’t want these posts to get too wordy. So, I will try to have as many pictures as possible with only the tastiest little anecdotes.

Monday 

I was driven around by an employee of the company. I was told she would pick me up at my hotel and will take me for a bus pass, registration at city hall, open a bank account, finding my apartment, and buying some groceries and essentials. The only stipulation being she doesn’t speak English. So you can imagine the gestures I had to make when I said I was trying to find a loofah, and the excitement we had when we found it. Being driven from place to place, receiving different items, it was a little like a video game completing tasks as we went along. The most unique thing I received was a “hanko” stamp from the company. I use this for legal documents as a sort of certification.

Apartment

Ok so here’s the fun part. A full album of pictures of my apartment are here. I got most of my items when I was out shopping with my new colleague on Monday, I could tell what her expectations were for me as an American. She took me straight to the ketchup and mayonnaise at the grocery store. Conversely, I got a feel for the Japanese immediately. Almost without asking she gives me a dust mop, slippers, hand soap, and laundry detergent. It’s amazing how much I’ve been cleaning. Note to future self: teach children the value of cleanliness by living in cramped quarters. I don’t clean because it’s the “Japanese Way” or even as a symbol of respect. I clean because I have to. If I don’t wash my dishes I don’t have dishes. I have one plate, one glass, one knife, If I don’t clean my room my room is now an obstacle course. Suddenly I feel like my life is a game of tetris.

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Life in Tsukuba

My first week turned out to be even more interesting than I would have imagined. The VP’s of my company were all visiting the Tsukuba facility. It is common practice to have a welcome dinner for new employees, it just so happened my welcome dinner was also a meeting for 5 of the top executives to be sharing a meal  with all of us researchers. So we all shared a meal at a restaurant where you take off your shoes before you sit down. And inexplicably at this restaurant we were served french fries and ketchup after dinner.

Delicioso Tempura

No matter where you are or where you come from there is a common human bond when you share a meal with each other. And providing food for each other becomes a rite of passage when you are visiting a new land. It’s in our blood, it’s in everybody’s blood. Our nature is to nurture. My 3rd night in Tsukuba I did a little more shopping with a friend and we made sushi at his apartment. The next day we went with a couple more people to a restaurant called Shin-chan that has been around for something like 200 years and has the traditional tatami carpet. I had the best tempura I’ve ever had in my life while the Maneki Neko cat looked over us. Some of you may recognize this little guy. He’s often in Chinese restaurants waving one of his paws (sometimes both). One interpretation is the left paw represents luck and the right represents wealth. But maybe even more interesting is this gesture, the downward facing paw is similar to the Japanese beckoning gesture “or come here”. While for westerners this gesture is usually done with an upturned palm. I couldn’t help but giggle when my HR person beckoned me with her paw facing down to show me how to use the printer.

The weather has suddenly turned warm this week, I wonder what Tokyo looks like in the final throes of Winter…