Monthly Archives: October 2011

Korea -Take 2!

October 31, 2011 By in Uncategorized Leave a comment

Hotel Lobby

This time was MUCH better. We booked a room at the Hyatt Regency Incheon and I gotta say it is really nice. It’s less than 5 minutes from the airport and it feels a lot like a swank Japanese Hotel, but earthier. Yeah, there was pollution and smog, and people in bad fashion, but I’m gonna admit to you now, it’s all a lot easier to take when I know at the end of the day, I’m crawling into a goose-down duvet and fuzzy slippers. My dad didn’t have to drive as much because we utilized the subway system as much as possible. Even though the commute from Hotel to my parent’s apartment was 90 minutes one-way, I swear this is better than driving. I don’t know how people commute like this on a daily basis, it’s crazy!

Our first moment of currency-exchange-bliss came when we paid our cab driver at the airport. The minimum fare is 2,600 Won= $2.31! What the—?!?! Remember, I come from the land where you can’t even get into a cab without paying $9.08. Suddenly it was like the smog parted and I could hear angels singing and all I wanted to do was test this new “power”.

Even though, our Cub Scout campout was cancelled due to rain, I think as Co-Assistant Den Leader I’m going to propose a new badge for table-side grilling. I picture steel tongs, a table-side hibachi, and a cow in a triangular arrangement within a maroon circle. This trip I realized that my mom and dad are of the opinion that  the only thing Cliff can eat is Korean barbecue and at first I wanted to disagree, but I caught myself after we started talking about different restaurants and we would inevitably ask, “but what is Cliff going to order?” Plus, he seems to suffer from some kind of gastrointestinal issue whenever his plane just lands anywhere without a Fresh Market or Whole Foods. So every night we ended up at some eatery with slabs of flesh by the door and built-in stoves at your tables.

This is probably at good segue into my own eating habits outside of the US. I LOVE STREET FOOD. Every time I go overseas I end up with Montezuma’s Revenge, Delhi Belly, the Stalin Colon, and of course dysentery. But I can’t resist! The site of ragtag little wooden structures with their 2 wheels and colorful awnings I have to stop and AT LEAST look. Here are some pictures:

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While we were walking around I took some fun pictures. I hope you enjoy them.

Just as a side note about traveling in Asia. Evidently, you don’t have to take off your shoes when you go through security; however, if you do get pulled aside, they will ask that you remove your shoes, but they provide slippers for you!

I have some more family pictures and stuff I’ll try to weave in later blogs.
Until next time…

A Time to Stretch

October 26, 2011 By in Japan, Kathryn, Korea, Living in Tokyo, Tokyo Tags: , , , , , , , 2 Comments

Many of you who know me know that a few years ago I became a Yoga-Girl. I try my hardest to not get too “Amway” when people ask me why I love it so much. It’s difficult, because you know, I’ve “seen the light”. It’s definitely one of the toughest things I have ever done and the more I do it the more I learn and I appreciate just how much more I need to learn. I have been trying to find a yoga home since I arrived here. I have accepted that I need to let go of “replacing” my “fixes” from the States. Japan is a new place and new standards and no expectations need apply. So today I returned to Yoga Tree where I was thinking I would take class from the same teacher from last week and do some Vinyasa Flow. When I got to the studio I discovered a different teacher and I’ll just say, in Atlanta, I would have probably left and started thinking what my plan B was going to be because I am a spoiled exerciser. But alas, I’m here in Japan and if I don’t do this, then Plan B will probably mean wandering the streets aimlessly clutching my yoga mat.

Having taught yoga myself, I am always full of empathy for the one in front. But as soon as I realized we were doing Ashtanga primary series poses and not a Vinyasa Flow, I found myself getting resentful. Not only was she doing a different class, but the pacing was really off and I found myself having yoga-rage within myself. This was not what I expected. This is not what I wanted! I know all you Non-Yogis are thinking what the hell is she talking about?!? Just bear with me… So as I am going through this familiar set of poses, I start ruminating how she was so representative of the kind of yoga that I think gives it a bad rap for all the cardio-junkies who think its boring or slow. At some point I realized that I would have rather watched my Kino Macgregor DVD and done this in my apartment than listen to reciting poses from memory. She lacked strength in her voice, spirit and direction. Just as I was ready to just lay down and do my corpse thing (before the class was over), she said she would do some arm-balancing. I couldn’t believe it. I made the request at the beginning of class thinking we were going to be freestyling, so when we started doing Ashtanga primary I had given up and started mentally pouting. After a couple of Side-Crows, I felt better and quit drinking all that Haterade. Even though she wasn’t my cup of tea, I learned today that I didn’t hate her so much as I hated the stubborn and inflexible side of me.

Coincidentally, I am returning to Korea tomorrow. I spent the rest of the day pulling together Omiyage (gifts for people you are visiting) for my parents and my grandmother. I received a sweet note from my new girlfriend who is visiting her family in Taiwan and to quote her, “I love being home in Taipei.” I also made a new man-friend in yoga who I am hoping will turnout to be someone I can hang with and have interesting conversations. I know what some of you are thinking, but I believe in Santa Claus, Tooth Fairy and men and women having mutual respectful relationships, but I digress…

So today’s yoga lesson got me to thinking about my “stiff” feelings towards my country. I can’t be disillusioned again. I was actually dreading this second visit, but now I feel more open to it. I caught myself laughing today at memories of my Uncle who makes every visit feel like a party, at my mother who has mastered the art of muttering under her breath but still be perfectly understandable, about my father who gives the best hugs (The Japanese don’t hug… too much public affection), about myself who is never lacking for an opinion (just ask me!). We are Korean. That’s my culture.

Chase's 1st Birthday Korean-style

Until next time…

 

Taste This! Pimping My Ride & Our Postman Only Rings Once

October 24, 2011 By in bicycle, Cub Scouts, Culture Shock, Daily Living, Girlfriends, Japan, Kathryn, Living in Tokyo, Tokyo, Transportation, Uncategorized, useful Tags: , , , , , , , , , 2 Comments

It is now time to address more lifestyle changes.

As I mentioned in my chart, I am taking cooking lessons now from Hema Parekh and she is opening my eyes to the wonderful world of Vegan cooking. Yes, I said vegan cooking. It really amazes me that there is such a plethora of dishes that are sans meat and so full of flavor. I am cooking with “exotic” ingredients like lotus root, burdock, miso, tofu and I really love it. Cliff and Chase are being as supportive as carnivores can be, and much to their chagrin, I have resumed “Vegetarian Thursday Dinner” night. I can’t promise they aren’t sneaking off to the convenience store for beef jerky after I go to bed, but hey, at least at dinner time I see a few mouthfuls.

My picture of the day (POD) consists of another lifestyle point and that is transportation. Lately I have been bemoaning the inconvenience of not having a car, but truth be told, I still enjoy the freedom. I just started listening to Fox News thanks to my TuneIn radio app, and I hear gas in the States is $3.50/gal. It used to bother me so much to hear such things as an SUV driver. Now I just feel bad for everyone back home. I also have to admit that I LOVE my ride. I had no idea bicycles came with such vast accoutrement. I am still thinking about adding a rearview mirror and maybe a cup holder (since the Soy Cafe has become almost a daily ritual). The other day at tennis, the other ladies were coveting my ride because it was without extra seating. Evidently, I had the “non-mommy” vehicle. Here are some pictures of different pimped out bikes you might see in Tokyo:

Back Seating

Front Seating

I think this is the biking world's SUV

I give it up for these ladies. Almost every bike also has the basket and sometimes the front and back basket. I really waited before I “broke down” and had one installed, but I tell you it was the best thing ever. Although, I really don’t understand how they are able to drive these vehicles with a child in the front or the back or BOTH! Sometimes, when I just have a bag of fruit in the front, it’s enough to throw my sense of balance off. I have trouble driving straight with that load, but I guess you have to be more careful with a child up front than a melon. I went to a bike shop called Le Cyc and they have an English speaker who is fantastic and if you buy the accessory there, they’ll install whatever.

These are images of my bike:

My Pimped out Bike

My "Dashboard"

Good times friends. This is literally how I roll.

Mailing Stuff: OK, so I finally got the hang of going to the apartment mailbox area and checking for packages and parcels. I don’t know why, but, I guess in the back of my mind, I thought, I had left EVERYTHING behind in the America including mail. One day I discovered that to send a letter, I could not just throw it into my mailbox. One you have to put the delivery address on the front and your address on the back. I was so excited to have the opportunity to use my oh-so-cute pre-printed address stickers, I slapped one on the front of an envelope only to have it mailed back to me. So that is addressing the envelope. A stamp is easily purchased at any convenience store (Kombini) and will cost 80 Yen ($1.04) for a single letter. Then you need to look for big red boxes like these:

This is where letters are posted. I don’t know why the postman can only deliver mail, but that is just the way it is.

One last thing, I keep forgetting to let you all know, but now that I am an iPhone user, I am finally getting to play all those fun app games. Right now I’m into Words with Friends (User ID User48366607). I haven’t figured out how to change that fantastic userID yet. But if you have any games you are playing that you like, let me know, always interested in something to do on the train.

Tomorrow I am running my first Cub Scout meeting. I am kind of nervous, because I don’t have a lot of patience for naughtiness and I enjoy disciplining young boys ;) but hopefully, I wont shatter too many young minds.

Until next time…

Bourgeois-Me?!?

October 19, 2011 By in Japan, Picture of the Day Tags: , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Yesterday my day was as follows:

  • ·         Walk to bus stop
  • ·         Bike to Tokyo American Club (TAC)
  • ·         Take 80’s Aerobic Class (BTW, they don’t call it this, it’s official name is “Body Sculpt”)
  • ·         Bike to Minato-ku City Hall
  • ·         Bike back home
  • ·         Clean apartment
  • ·         Personal hygiene
  • ·         Receive package
  • ·         Meet Chase at bus stop with tennis equipment
  • ·         Get dinner ready
  • ·         Pass out

I won’t elaborate on everything but I’ll touch upon a couple of things. You might be asking yourself, “Why would Kathryn be going to City Hall?” Well, in Tokyo the government does a VERY good job of taking care of its citizens. They are very into proactive care and making sure everyone is healthy and their well-being is good, even the foreigners. Because of all this governmental attention, I recently learned that the average medical expenditure by the government per citizen is perhaps 30% of what the US spends. A couple weeks ago I received a note from the government offering me free breast exams and pelvics (and no this was not a scam). This was after I had received a package from the government regarding the KODOMO TEATE. This is basically money anyone can apply for from the government that gives you an allowance for just having a kid. If you have more, then you get more. It amounts to a little over 13,000 yen a month ($170-ish). I did take them up on this offer. Japan seems to appreciate that it really is a job! They need an OTTO TEATE (otto means husband), but shit, that amount would never be enough. Yesterday though, I specifically went to City Hall because I found out from another expat that the government is providing earthquake anti-tipping fixtures for its good citizens, and I gotta admit, you don’t grow up in a doctor’s family and not line up for a freebee. Of course given 3/11, they are backordered on everything, but now that I have turned in my paperwork, they will call me as soon as I can get my dole.

I biked myself back home and put on my cleaning hat. I am trying to do this at least once a week and reminding myself that this is rewarding work. I Googled “mopping” but it seemed too complicated and opted for the wet swiffer. Cleaning toilets, can make you hate even your closest relatives and cause you to liken them to forest animals. I enjoy dusting and making things shiny. I’m convinced that vacuuming is NOT good for your back in the long run. Just recently I realized that machine had an extender, but I guess that’s my fault for hiring a 4’6″ Philipino woman.

I had a little time before I needed to get ready to meet Chase’s bus after school so I finally had a chance to clip my toes and fingers. BTW, I haven’t gotten another Mani/Pedi since my last unbelievable experience but 6 1/2 weeks later, I still don’t feel like I got my money’s worth, but here’s what my hands look like now:

Friends, I don’t know when exactly, but at some point between the Ped-Egg and the filing it hit me like a ton of bricks:

Did I move to Tokyo and become Bourgeoise?!?!?

I mean, in one day, I was accepting handouts from the government, I was a domestic worker, I’m doing my own nails! The signs are all there! As my rough proletariat hands sought a firm handle to steady myself, I heard the buzz from my door. I was saved by a delivery from DHL. As I opened the door, I realized the pet portrait I had commissioned an age ago had finally arrived! Just in time because I was REALLY missing Maggie. Let me just say that it has been an adjustment trying to get used to metrics versus US units and finding the right proportions for apartment living, but I think I got the sizing just right. I am submitting as my Pictures of the Day images of the Maggie’s portrait:

That little rectangle bottom right is a $20 bill. I saw this once on CSI.

In case the money didn’t give you a perspective:

As trite as this may sound, a dog’s love is unconditional. They don’t care if you have fancy nails, or you receive a check from the government. If you need to clean the bathroom, they will follow you right in there and lick the bowl after you’re done. The Japanese are really into their dogs and it’s ironic how they are more affectionate with their dogs than they are with each other. In fact, there are records showing that the number of pet owners is ever-increasing while the number of children being born is actually decreasing. That being said, I think this portrait intimates at just how much I adore this creature who has loved and watched over me through the good times and the bad. Recognized me when my face was melted off, graciously said nothing when I passed gas, and guarded me when I was alone. Come to think of it, I should have just had a mural painted on that wall.

Until next time…

I Know Why I’m Here but What About THEM?

October 17, 2011 By in Chase, Daily Living, Japan, Japanese Excursions, Kathryn, Living in Tokyo, Tokyo Tags: , , , , , , , , , 2 Comments

This past weekend, Chase and I were planning to attend our first camp out. Unfortunately, heavy rains and severe storms were approaching the campgrounds and just as Chase and I were about to get into our taxi (with all our gear), I received an email from Den Master that the campout was cancelled. This was probably for the best given that the last typhoon, St. Mary’s “toughed it out” and kept kids in school as the typhoon approached only to have a bunch of angry parents chime in the next day when their kids couldn’t make it home. Well, they salvaged the Cub Scout weekend and organized a barbeque near the school grounds yesterday. We were scheduled to be there from 10am-4pm and we were going to resume our Bobcat duties. Fortunately, one of the Webelos who has befriended us (Nikita/boy and Svetlana/mom) lives close to us AND owns a car. I have to admit, being at the mercy of other car-owning people is not my style or my choice. It is really tough to relinquish this bit of independence. I feel like the high school kid with “poor parents” because they didn’t get me a car for my 16th birthday and now I have to bum rides from everyone. It’s worse when you are a 2-for package and by the way, I’m bringing half my apartment in a rucksack. At this point, I am inserting a slideshow. By the way, the badge on the left is mine.

Camping, Tokyo Style:

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Yes, those are skyscrapers in the background, and yes, that is a train bridge overhead, and yes, that is some funky water from some unknown source. Despite the “camping conditions” which happened to include another 3-400 people all crammed into whatever rocky dirty craggy area they could throw a tarp over, we managed to hold our own and cook our meat, reconsitute our potatoes, crank open our Costco-size corn, etc…. Having never camped before this was truly eye-opening. Of course it is always interesting to “shop around” and check out other people’s equipment :) I quickly realized my stuff was too small, I needed bigger. You know, bigger pots, pans, portable stove… I know you all think I’m making some sort of not-so-subtle sexual double entendre, but not so! Get your minds out of the gutter! I am talking about Scouting! Think about the children for God’s Sake!

So what started out as a huge pile of supplies and seemingly aimless people turned out to be an exhausting day of fun for the children. Throughout the day, Svetlana (Russian) and I are making our own observations about the group and people around us. She teaches Russian to the Japanese. I know, I don’t get that either, but whatever. She and her family have lived here a while and they will stay here. They aren’t transient like a lot of us. So first thing we noticed was the group next to us. They were first brought to our attention when one of our cub families evidently put our tarp too close to their tarp and I guess they were too cool to be associated with a bunch of cub scouts and the mom whose tarp was too close had a fit. getting all in their face because to her point, what gave them the right to decide what patch of craggy earth was theirs and not someone else’s? It was made worse for her because her Japanese wasn’t great, but what Svetlana and I found weird was she was arguing with 2 AMERICAN guys who were with 6 Japanese girls and everyone was acting like they didn’t understand each other but were very offended nonetheless. So Svetlana and I kept an eye on these people who set up camp next to our group. They had 2 chairs which acted as thrones and evidently the 2 American guys were their Lord and Master, because all day, the girls cooked, cleaned and flirted while the guys just sat there laughing and eating and drinking. These were not even good-looking guys. These were guys you might find working behind a counter at Blockbuster. It was like a lightbulb went off in my head and suddenly I realized why these guys come to Japan, and stay.

As I was hanging out with the women, stirring my powder and water mix, I don’t know why, but I felt compelled to try to communicate how this seemed so strange to me. That in America, the only people you find laying down on tarps and eating on tarps under bridges are Homeless people/Bums. It was quite a challenge trying to communicate this without sounding elitest or offensive. I said, “I know why we’re here… I just don’t understand why all these other people are here.” Then one of the moms pointed out that in America, we have backyards or decks where people grill and get together, but here in Tokyo, yards are VERY rare. So if you want to have that type of experience, under the bridge you go.

One last funny note about camping observations. There is one guy in one of the pictures wearing sunglasses and a blue shirt and Svetlana and I had the hardest time trying to figure out if he was someone’s dad, wife, or just a plain pedophile. I swear, we never saw him talk to anyone and no one talked to him. It wasn’t until the very end when I thought he was leaving (having eaten our food and sat with our group all day) alone, that I saw him pose with one of the boys for a picture and realized “Oh, that must be who he is with” but I swear, he was so creepy.

As a last note, I love reading in magazines and seeing the charts that tell you what’s in or out, what’s hot what’s not, so I started doing my own chart. I’ll tack it on here at the end.

I just want to add that I really miss my peeps. Life is definitely not boring, but I do miss the conversations and comfort of knowing the people around me.

Until next time…

 

Atlanta Kathryn

Tokyo Kathryn
Communication

Blackberry

iPhone
In the Fridge

4 Types of Cheese

4 Types of Tofu
Carries

Designer Purse

Backpack
Listens To

Rap Music

Multi language Radio
Lives In

Single Family Home

Apartment
Drinking

Dirty Martini

Black Sesame Soy Milk
Eating

Flexitarian

Going Vegan
In the Grocery

Avoids Carbs

Avoids Food From Fukushima
Housekeeping

Guatemalan Housekeeper 3x/wk

Philippino Helper 1x/wk & Cleans Apartment Herself 1x/wk
Transportation

Denali SUV

Walks/Bikes
Entertainment

Movies & TV

Kindle
Identity

Actor

Radiation Expert
Charity

Hurricane Relief

Disaster Relief
Preparedness

Packing Heat

Packing Non-Perishables

Lost & Found

October 12, 2011 By in Chase, double standards, Family, Korea Tags: , , , , , , , 1 Comment

Hello Faithful Readers,

Just recently I feel like I have been witness to some amazing miracles. Last week, on a cold and rainy night I was waiting for Chase to come home on the train. I texted him that due to weather conditions he could hop in a cab and come home from the last leg that way. Well, of course this turned out to be a bit premature of me. About the time he was due to arrive, I received a call from Chase telling me he couldn’t communicate with the cab driver (btw, I did give him a card to hand to the driver to let the driver know where to take him in Japanese) and despite the card, he was evidently just roaming the streets of Tokyo watching the meter tick. So of course I am frustrated and I ask him a few questions after I get on the phone and redirect the driver. I soon find out that Chase has not only lost his way, he has lost his wallet! So now I am mad. I go outside, throwing on my Wellies and raincoat over my pajamas and wait. When I see the creeping taxi, I hop in and ask the driver to please return us to the station because Chase is insisting he knows where he lost the wallet. I am convinced there is no Japanese translation for parallel or perpendicular because there are no U-turns in Tokyo. In order to turn your ass around (especially in a car) you have to really go out of your way. So tick-tick-tick goes the meter as we find our way there and I let Chase search the rainy area around the train station/taxi stand where he swears it is. Of course, it isn’t. So at this point I am throwing cash at the driver after I have rounded up to the nearest 1000 Yen and he is trying to give me a discount. I’m sure he is feeling pity for this poor boy whose mom keep yelling at him and I refuse the change and the discount and just get out of the cab. We head straight to the police department and fill out a lost item report. Fingers crossed. We walk home in the rain and I am furious. I reflect back on this and I should be upset at myself for not being more patient because stuff like this happens. I guess I just get so frustrated with Chase because much like his father, we seem to argue over the same things. Is this how men are programmed?!? Net/Net, a day later we received a  call from the Tokyo American Club (TAC) letting us know that Chase’s wallet had been recovered and was awaiting us at the station (the police had contacted the Club to contact us). In the wallet was his PASMO (train card) and TAC member card and just the cash (3000 yen) was missing.

For my POD I would like to submit:

Four Generations in One Room

Four Generations in One Room

Just this past weekend, Chase and I made a trip to South Korea to visit with my family. Bess and Mary had decided to come and we were all due to arrive at the same time. I had a lot of mixed emotions about returning to Korea but was willing to be optimistic and I was so excited to see my parents and my sisters. I know Chase was excited too and it was an extremely emotional time for me. We all flew into Incheon Airport which happens to be rated  the best airport in the world. It is easy to see why. Seeing my dad and sisters again was fantastic. We all piled into a car that my father had borrowed and Chase referred to it as the Mystery Machine because that was what it resembled… only yellow. It was so strange driving through what used to be country-side to see smokestacks and factories and LOTS of buildings.

Since Chase’s school doesn’t celebrate Thanksgiving and Cliff said we won’t be going Stateside for Christmas, I said we would return at the end of the month during fall holiday (October 27th-28th) to visit again and that time Cliff said he would come along.

We spent the next few days exploring the town, going to Chinatown,visiting the fish market, and we did a day excursion into Seoul. It was actually my parents’ first time going by train into the city. In between, we laughed a LOT and griped about silly things.

Shopping in the Streets of Seoul

Fish Market

I don’t know if your family is like mine, but I know we have a double standard for what we do when Cliff is part of the group and when he isn’t. For instance, this past weekend, we stayed at my mom and dad’s apartment and it was fine for Bess, Mary, myself, and Chase. We actually started thinking Cliff could be here too since by then Mary and Bess would have left already. But picture this: one night, as I was laying on the floor on top of 1 of the 2 full-size thin bedrolls that my parents had set up for us to sleep on, out of the corner of my eye, I see Chase wheeling around in my mom’s wheelchair in the room just outside, my sisters were on our “bedroll raft” with me just hanging, my mom and a friend were grinding piles of garlic at the end of the room/foot of our “raft” with the one Western outlet, and my dad was going back and forth carrying a plunger and Korean Drano trying to fix our 1/2 bath. We called it the “Number 1 toilet” if you catch my drift. This doesn’t even include the fact that every night we slept with the windows open so we could ventilate the air which of course enabled us to hear every person who was walking the street and every dog fight within a 15 mile radius. Could Cliff survive? I barely survived. Putting one’s bad thoughts down on paper really does make you feel better. I can’t believe I’m able to smile about this so fresh from the memory.

I have to also mention that Korea is sort of the anti-Tokyo. I told Cliff I had wished he had warned me. I know now that living in Tokyo is making me soft and spoiling me but damnit, if wanting clean air and style is a crime lock me up now. I observed that Korea is a very dirty place. Everything seems to be covered in a layer of dirt, not dust, DIRT. No one exercises. I was hoping at least in Seoul to see someone with good shoes and a sense of style, but no. It did not happen. People will steal and are rude. The day we went to the fish market, as soon as I got out of the car a fishmonger accosted me for leaving the house without any clothes on. Now friends, you know me. I would not have left the apartment ala Lady Godiva. That particular day I was wearing my signature off one shoulder light grey long top with black leggings, black boots and a big red scarf. For this I was branded a WHORE. Both my sisters were also wearing Western style clothing, but I guess they weren’t carrying it in such a brazen manner as myself. From that point on, my sisters nicknamed me “Hooka”. Gotta love the relations.

So I’m getting flashbacks to my last negative trip to Korea and I am experiencing feelings of disillusionment, embarrassment, guilt, disdain. I am a woman without a country AGAIN. I leave knowing in my heart that I will never just pop over to be in Korea without my family. I probably won’t go again after October unless my grandmother dies. She suffered a stroke a while back and is paralyzed on her left side and doesn’t speak. We visited everyday and I could tell she really appreciated it and it surprised me how much she and Chase bonded. Through all the days we visited she only said 2 words : Chase & Tomorrow.

Chase and his Great Grandmother

I think about how if she had died during her stroke she would have never met this great grandson. She and I never would have been able to set things right after our last disastrous visit. I realized that in some ways I had lost my grandmother only to have found her again through my son.

Anyhow, I could wax poetic for another few hundred words but I won’t since you’re probably just trying to get through this one blog.

Until next time…

You Be The Judge

October 4, 2011 By in bicycle, Daily Living, Disaster Kit, Transportation, useful, Weather Tags: , , 1 Comment

So many of you have commented on my sense of humor and I really appreciate it. Like I said, Japan is home of the “Straight Man”. Today I was inspired to blog because of one of the many weird moments in my life involving prejudice. Yes, people, I am a minority. Anyhow, the last few weeks I have been trying to compile our Disaster Kit. Among other things, one of the most important things to have is water. I have been begging Cliff to bring some water home since he keeps promising that he has some to spare. This afternoon, I arrived home to find 2 big cases of bottled water and an email in my inbox. Not from Cliff, but from my neighbor:

Hello Neighbors,
Just wanted to let you know I dropped off 2 cases of very yummy Coca-Cola water on your door steps.   The Coca-Cola company ordered masses of water after the earthquake to distribute quickly.  Unfortunately the quickest area to receive water from was Korea.  As you may know, Japanese people will touch nothing with Korean labels….so, the Coca-Cola company is left with a lot of leftover water.  Each employee was asked to take home 20 cases.  If you need more or know someone who might be interested in some water, please let me know.
Thank you in advance for helping my apartment not look like a Costco.
Signed…
Now, please let me just say that this is a white woman from Georgia (obviously her husband is with Coke and they are actually lovely people in person). At first pass, I didn’t think too much about the note because I was dazzled by the water, but the more I thought about it the more I found it all to be so weird. I don’t think she was trying to offend me, and I know it comes straight from the Ignorance category, but I also think this is a really good example of how people say things without thinking. I also think it is one of co-dependence and enabling. So many of us (victims of ignorance) are good and forgiving and therefore don’t say anything because it seems like one correction will not help the masses, but whatever. I know many of you, especially my close friends have an opinion.
More Taxi info:
Taxi drivers here do not like it when you touch their doors. to open or to close the door, so when they stop for you, just wait for the door to open. Also, FYI, don’t bother trying to give the “address” of your destination. It is way better to have a large landmark and start pinpointing the destination as you get closer. If you have no idea where you are going (like you are trying a new restaurant) try giving the driver the restaurant’s telephone number. A lot of them have GPS that enables them to punch in the number and locate that way.
Groceries: I am waiting on my 2nd shipment of groceries from Nissin. I have to admit, it is really nice to shop and just leave it at the store so I can see it reappear at my doorstep later the same afternoon. I have been cooking a lot and I have found myself buying things like burdock root and mirin.
The weather has cooled considerably and we will often leave the doors and windows open to air out the apartment. It is really nice. Chase and I are getting ready to go to Korea Friday. Taiku no hi.
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