How many people come from a place where consideration and kindness are normally a second thought? I know I do. LA is filled with people who have the “me-first” mentality. Why? I do not know, but that mentality was not obvious to me until I came to Japan and experienced the exact opposite. I am sure many have heard of the unmatched hospitality in Japan. Well, I have come to experience this first hand, and boy has it made my first couple of weeks here amazing. So, this blog post is dedicated to all of those people who have extended a friendly hand and helped me settle into my new home.
Penny for your Thoughts
Japanese thoughtfulness comes in all shapes and sizes. In this case it came in a very small size. The school year hadn’t started yet but the students all came to school to pick up their schedules. I went out into the classrooms to introduce myself to some of the students and just walk around. When I headed back to my office I was flagged down by three female students. They spoke no English, but I was able to decipher that they thought I had lost something or dropped something. With the look of confusion written all over my face one young, uniform-clad girl held out her hand and handed me a penny! They thought I had dropped it and wanted to make sure it was returned to me; little did they know what its value truly was.
PB&J
In my last blog I came to point out the many differences in American culture and Japanese culture and complained about the peanut butter. Now let me tell you I am not one to really crave peanut butter, nor even eat it on a regular basis. But, the fact that I couldn’t have it actually made me want it more. Well, one of my many adoring blog fans reached out to me and brought me some peanut butter! It was if Mother Theresa had come back to life to bestow one last miracle on the needy. Thank you Teigan Babcock for reaching out to your fellow Californian.
Six Degrees of Bacon Separation
A package arrived in Tokyo, from my Mom, via one of her Green Hat friends’ husband; if that isn’t six degrees of “Bacon Separation” I don’t know what is. I went to pick it up at a hotel next to Tokyo Disney. Let me tell you, this package was a treasure chest filled with the best things from home. It included tons of post cards, two boxes of Mac N’ Cheese, coffee (they do not have strong coffee here), a coffee maker, coffee filters, sour straws, and animal crackers. I broke open the sour straws on the train ride home; I couldn’t wait! It is so nice being able to have some food from home. I shared the animal crackers with some of my students and just the other day Aaron and I made the Mac ‘N Cheese. We ate it with yakitori (similar meat on a stick). It was a mix of my old home and my new one, it made for a perfect meal.
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Another instance of “Bacon Separation” happened through Vangie, my ex-boyfriend’s mom who was giving me Japanese lessons before I left and whom I have stayed close with. She put me in contact with the Takahashi’s, a Japanese couple living in Chiba. They welcomed me to Japan by meeting me in Omiya, the big city next to mine, and taking me to an authentic Japanese restaurant. After like 12 courses of everything from sashimi to crab legs and of course plenty of sake and beer, I felt like I had found adoptive Japanese parents. They were so kind to me and made me feel at home. I feel truly thankful for both the friendship I have with Vangie and, by extension, the Takahashi’s.
The Not-So Helping Hands (AKA just keep your hands in your pockets from now on please)
So this whole post has been dedicated to people who have lent a helping hand. Well there were also a couple of cases of people not lending a helping hand....
1.)DO NOT SKYPE WITH ME AND EAT PIZZA AT THE SAME TIME AND THINK.......IT’S OK!!! The one food that you really can’t find and I can not make is pizza! Thank you Sara for being such a good friend and dangling this delicious cheesy slice of pizza in my face! I can always count on you!!
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2.) While I was running the other day through my town I came across a Japanese woman walking down the street. Now let me set the scene for you a bit; picture: very rural Japan, gardens, blue tile-roof houses, hot and humid, Kira running in baggy clothes and sweating profusely. Got it? So, this woman is walking and as I run by she stops and stares at me. I think she is just interested in me because I am a foreigner. Until I realize that she is GIVING HERSELF A HELPING HAND!!!! Not OK!! Anyways, I ran across the street and have not had that problem since!
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Thank you all for reading about my Adventures in Japan. Next time...a taste of Japanese Summer festivals, School Festivals and Sports Day, Sumo, and my travels in Japan thus far! Be excited!!!
