Wakarimasen....AKA Huh?!?!

So I live off of Shiseido and Kumon, not really the street names just the identifiers that allow me to get home.  I mean I’m sure I have an address, but at this point I do not know it.  In fact, this chapter of my life is thematically titled: “Wakarimasen”, or “I don’t understand.”  

Everything is work right now, hard work.  Even just paying for things involves effort and confusion.  I payed with my credit card at a store and the lady held up a her pointer finger, as if she were asking “One?”  What does that mean? Is she asking me if I want my card charged once? Or is she saying that she has an idea? Or is she telling me to look up?  Next time I will look up.

Also, another thing that seems familiar yet is different is the food. So I set out on a journey to find peanut butter. I went to the grocery store and after much debate found what I thought to be peanut butter, even complete with Japanese Planter’s Peanut-San on the front.  When I got home, mouth watering at the thought of a PB&J on toasted bread...I opened my “peanut butter” only to find that it is more like a caramel dipping sauce than peanut butter...hmm.  Well it was great to dip my apples in, not so much to put on my sandwich.  

What do you think this is??

That’s Rubbish!

So I spent a good portion of my first Sunday here trying to figure out how to throw my trash away!  One would think that a college graduate like myself would be able to figure out the simple task of throwing away garbage...WRONG!  It took me close to 2 hours to try and translate the instructions for throwing away the trash and I felt more confused at the end of the two hours than I did at the beginning.  

Let me tell you how the highly systemized and organized Japanese deal with trash.  Everyday of the week is a different collection day.  Here is the paper I was given so that I knew what to do....

Makes sense, right??

Let me translate (actually translation done by my supervisor after he saw the complete annoyance that the schedule induced):

Monday-Burnable Trash

Tuesday-Plastic Bags/Wrappings

Wednesday-Metal/Glass and Newspaper and Old Clothes

Thursday-Burnable Trash

Friday Plastic Bottles/Aluminum

1st Friday of month- Clear Bottles

3rd friday of month-Blue or colored bottles

Ok...at least I know what to throw away now.  But the real question is: What the F constitutes “Burnable Trash”?!?!?!  Also, if you do not use the proper bags they may not throw it away for you.  If you put it out after 8 am they will not throw it away for you.  If you do not throw the correct kind of garbage away on the correct day they will not throw it away for you.  I was so thoroughly frustrated at the end of this that I just decided that I would have to learn through trial and error.  

So, Monday I threw away my trash AND....(drum roll please) I got it right.  At least today.  Now I have to try for “Plastic Bags/Wrapping.”  Hopefully that trash day will be as successful as my first in Japan!

While many things are confusing and different I find that I am adapting very easily to life in Japan.  Right now I am reading The Samuri’s Garden (yes appropriate I know), given to me by my professor at home.  Interestingly enough, and incredibly appropriate, the story is about a boy, from abroad, who moves to Japan and how he finds himself through the culture and language.  In the last chapter of the book, in his grief over his departure from Japan, he says, “Even if you walk the same road a hundred times, you’ll find something different each time.”  That is how I feel about my life so far in Ina.  The town though small and not too exciting, is like a garden. It is obviously beautiful when glance at it, however it is not until you get up close and examine every individual blossom or leaf that you see how all the individual parts make it truly spectacular.  And to even imagine that I would have to leave anytime soon, makes me feel as if I would be missing out on discovering that beauty.

Orienting the Orient (o sorry the PC term is Asia): July 23-27, 2011

My journey began at LAX; with three large (and heavy) duffles, a carry on and a purse I made my way to check in.  I said goodbye to my parents and that was it, off I went to my on my new adventure.

The flight was not bad, actually for a ten and a half hour flight it was great.  Singapore airlines is amazing!  We were instantly given a Givenchy bag with socks and a toothbrush in it, we were served two hot meals and snacks (including Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream...yes I know!), and tons of movies and games to choose from.  O and did I mention that the flight attendants are models, all the women literally looked like they stepped off an advertisement for the airline company.

Bdn and Jerry's on the Plane!  Yay Singapore Air!

Once we landed all of us were tired but that did not deter us from going out and seeing Tokyo.  So about ten of us from LA went to an izakaya, a Japanese equivalent to a bar with cheap food.  This was a great way to celebrate our new lives in Japan.  We sat on the floor, ate gyoza and sushi, and had drinks.  Every other conversation seemed to include, “I can’t believe we are here!”  Everyone was on a high like nothing else, we were just happy to be there.

So the first night I spent in Japan I was welcomed by an earthquake.  Maybe it was Japans way of saying “hello!”  But if it was I would like to tell Japan that you do not need to say “hello” anymore, thank you!

The next couple of days included workshops at the Keio Plaza Hotel.  It was hard being inside all day and paying attention with jet lag slowly taking over.  Actually it was easy to forget that I was actually in Japan since we were surrounded by English speakers.  It wasn’t until the evening, when we ventured out into Shinjuku that it became clear we were in a foreign country.  

Our first Kampai (cheers) in Japan!  

One evening Julie, a girl from UCSB, and I ventured out on our own.  Let me tell you that we had about 30 Japanese words between the two of us and so we hesitantly stepped out into the city on our own and selected a restaurant to eat at.  We did not fool anyone and before we could even attempt ordering food in Japanese we were brought a knife and fork and asked what we wanted in English!  We were so bummed that we were not even able to practice.  

The next day we all said our good byes and separated into our prefectures to start our journeys to our new homes.  It was really sad to see the friends that I had made leave, knowing that it will probably be a while before I see any of them again.  My prefecture, Saitama, was taken to the Board of Education in Omiya (a district of the capital city).  We had a very nice ceremony and were introduced to our Vice Principals and Supervisors.  

I met my supervisor, Saito-Sensei, a short man with longer hair who was very kind and welcoming.  The two of us, along with others from our school decided to go to lunch after the ceremony.  We ate at an “American-style” restaurant.  I use to term “American-style” loosely because really it only resembled the country in decor and nothing else.  They served “hamburgers”, no bun on a sizzling hot plate, and rice on the side.  It was actually really good but it proved to be a preview of the new life I was beginning; things seem the same yet are very different.  

This day was really busy, so I will try to not bore you all too much.  Let’s see, I saw my school Inagakuen.  This school is HUGE! When I walked in I think what surprised me most was not even the size, but the amount of students at the school.  It is summer vacation yet clubs meet almost every single day at school, in their uniforms, practicing.  The second floor hallways are filled with students practicing dance, watching their reflections in display cabinets. The bottom floor is filled with huge posters and projects.  Everyone is preparing for the start of school when there will be a huge festival.  

My first day I was also brought to my apartment.  The style of apartment is a Leo Palace, but do not be fooled by the name, it is far from a palace.  Actually, it is perfect for me.  Not too big and not too small.  But, I was left there at the end of the day by myself and this is when the trouble began.  I decided to unpack, but first I wanted to turn on the air conditioning.  It was  33 degrees Celsius, aka 92 degrees Fahrenheit, IN MY ROOM!  I could hardly function.  I searched for the remote for the air but could not find it.  This is when I had a break down...tears and sweat poured down and I truly felt defeated.  All I could think of is calling King Leo of the Leo Palace and telling him I wanted my air conditioning on.  But since that was not an option I looked for other solutions.

The Palace!

I had to open up the air con box to get it to work (it took me about four days before realizing that there was a remote hiding behind my curtains haha).  Once I cooled off I felt better and began unpacking.  My suitcases exploded and I began sorting through what I packed.  Just at the apex of the explosion, where clothes and shoes and everything else peaked in piles, my supervisor, predecessor, and another teacher came over to help me with my cable.  If the exploded suitcases didn’t scare them, then my appearance sure did.  My pencil skirt I wore earlier was replaced by pajama shorts, my cardigan and blouse were thrown off in the heat and now were a tank top, and my make up had long ago sweated off.  What a way to make an impression on your new colleagues!!  I think at the time I was too tired to be embarrassed, but now as I write this I feel completely mortified.  

(I am still trying to upload a video I took of my apartment when I first arrived...get ready there is plenty of raw emotions in it haha!)