Fishing boat off the Kodomari shore
I am once again nearing the end of another trip to Japan. These visits always go by much faster than I anticipate – three months sounds like a good length of time, but looking back it seems like I’ve only been here a matter of weeks. On Saturday morning Trevor and I are flying to Tokyo where we’ll spend several days roaming the city and taking day trips to nearby towns (Nikko and/or Chiba, hopefully), and on Tuesday I’ll fly from Narita back home to O’Hare. As always, it will be a struggle to leave Trevor. Though we’ll be able to Skype daily, I’d obviously rather be with him.
It’s tough to say goodbye to Trevor and Japan, but I am looking forward to coming back to America. Well, I was, anyway, until this Tuesday. Remember in my last blog how I mentioned that living in Japan inspires a certain pride in me for my country? How I accumulate goodwill for America while I’m away? Yeah, that’s all gone. It vanished instantly Tuesday night. Instead of returning to the United States, I’m actually returning to a steaming pile of crap.
But, anyhow. Steaming pile of crap or not, I’m coming home. And as my visit here draws to a close, I thought I’d organize my thoughts with some Fun Facts and Deep Thoughts about Japan.
Fun Fact – My experience with toilets in Japan has ranged from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows. This is because
Squat Toilet
Japan has both Western and Japanese-style toilets, otherwise known as “squat” toilets. The Western toilets are fancy-schmancy versions of our toilets, with heated seats, bidets, and even a button that simulates the sound of running water for the nervous pee-er. I feel very sophisticated when I use these toilets. And then there are the “squat” toilets, which are more or less a hole in the floor of the stall. I go out of my way to avoid them, but there have been times when I’ve had no choice. Unlike the Japanese who have been raised using them, squatting over a hole is not a natural position for me, and to keep my balance I have to put my hand on the ground (ick), and I worry about peeing on myself. And the next day my thigh muscles are always sore from squatting.
Deep Thought – There is a restaurant in Goshogawara that Trevor and I frequent because it has several vegetarian options. Trevor recently spoke to a Japanese friend of his who mentioned that she’s seen us there a couple times. She added that all the Japanese customers watch us while we eat. That doesn’t make me feel self-conscious at all.
Fun Fact – The vending machines in Japan are great little things. Throughout the summer all the drinks come out cold, but starting in mid-October many switch over to hot, like tea and coffee. They then change back to cold around May. There is a vending machine right outside our house, and it is nice to pop out and get a hot bottle of tea when the urge strikes. Why don’t we have such nifty vending machines in the U.S.?
Deep Thought – After one very demoralizing experience last year, I vowed never to try on Japanese jeans again, but about a month ago a store in the local mall was selling great quality jeans for 1000 yen per pair (about ten dollars), and it seemed too great a bargain to pass up. I grabbed a couple sizes, determined to squeeze my Big American Butt into the little Japanese pants. After much exertion, I found a pair that fit: the extra large, extra long size, the largest in the store. I got two pairs. I refer to them as my Chubby Girl jeans.
Fun Fact – I’m not sure why, but tissues seem to be a coveted item in Japan. Whenever we go to athletic days at the schools or town festivals, tissues are given as prizes for games. Likewise, gas stations give out tissue packets after the customer pays. Subsequently, Trevor’s glove compartment and bathroom are overflowing with tissue packs. It’s almost a shame I haven’t gotten a cold while here.
Deep Thought – I don’t know why, but I thought it would be a good idea to teach the little children the lyrics to “I’m a Little Tea Pot” during our last visit to the nursery school. I now know what it’s like to have twenty children staring at me in utter bewilderment. That same day Trevor said “Good Morning!” to a little boy and he burst into tears. At least it’s not as bad as the time a three-year-old karate chopped him in the crotch.
Fun Fact – Japanese people think corn soup is a quintessentially American meal. Whenever we go to American-style diners (which are a Japanese take on Western food, just as Chinese and Japanese restaurants in the U.S. are very Americanized) they serve corn soup, and when it’s Western day at Trevor’s school cafeteria they always have corn soup. Maybe it’s just me, but I’ve rarely eaten corn soup, if ever, and it’s definitely not a food I’d associate with America.
Deep Thought – I’d never spent much time by the ocean before coming to Japan, and it’s a privilege to live just a five
Me by the ocean
minute walk from the ocean. I never knew it could take on so many different colors. When the weather was hot and windless, it was a little brownish and muddy, then on sunny fall days it was the deepest blue. Now that’s it’s become cold and windy and rainy it’s rolling and capping, gray and white. I hate running, but running by the ocean definitely improves the experience.
Fun Fact – Whenever a person walks into a store or restaurant in Japan, he or she is promptly greeted with a chorus of “Irashaimase” (meaning “welcome”) by the workers. Then, whenever they pass the customer, they say it again. And again. Often the same sales person will Irashaimase the same customer over and over. It gets quite obnoxious. And they sort of quietly mutter then “Ira” part, then shout “shaimase,” so for the longest time I thought the word was just “shaimase.” I’m tempted to yell it right back at them sometime. Though of course I never will. That would bring shame upon Trevor.
Deep Thought – On my first visit to Japan, I was very impressed with Trevor’s Japanese speaking and comprehension abilities. Now, a year later, I’m even more impressed. I’m really proud of him. His Japanese skills have made my trips here much, much easier and nicer than they would have been otherwise, and through him I’ve been able to understand what’s happening around me on a much deeper level. He translates conversations so I can participate, he tells me what’s happening on tv, he teaches me words and phrases to help me get by, he reads signs for me. Learning Japanese is just such a huge undertaking, and I’m so proud of him.
Fun Fact – In Japan, pigs don’t say “oink oink.” They say “bu-bu-bu-bu-bu.” On a similar note, Japan is home to the tanuki, or
Store-front Tanuki with big balls
“raccoon-dog,” an animal closely related to the raccoon or badger. They play a popular role in Japanese culture and folklore, appearing in myths as tricksy shape-shifters. They are also said to bring good fortune, so tanuki statues often stand outside restaurants or businesses. However, many of these tanuki statues have giant balls, a caricature of the disproportionately large balls of real tanukis. They have even been depicted in paintings as throwing their balls over their shoulders like sacks. It’s kind of disconcerting to see a statue of a tanuki sitting on giant balls in front of a family restaurant or store. I think I would have some strange ideas about male anatomy if I were a little girl in Japan.
Though living in Japan is sometimes a challenge, it’s always a learning experience. I hope to come back next March or April, in time for sakura season, and will not doubt gather more little thought nuggets like the ones above to share. In the meantime, I’ll be counting down the days until Trevor comes home for Christmas.
