Just a funny picture I thought I'd upload since I had time. We saw it while waiting to board our bus from Narita Airport to the hotel. While standing outside in the Tokyo humidity for an hour in suits after sitting on a plane for 10.5 hours, we all joked about jumping on the USA bus to New USA...wherever that might be. We decided New USA definitely did not have ridiculous humidity and stiff business dress codes.
On to more updating...
We have been in seminars and lectures since 9 this morning. I also didn't sleep last night as noted in my last blog. I also didn't have a venti Starbucks to accompany my lectures and seminars. I don't know how much of anything I was supposed to learn today will actually go with me to Shibecha. Everything they've taught us has been fairly common sense. For example, if you have multiple schools, get folders for each school to keep organized and remember which days you go to which schools. However, the strangest thing I've learned is why I do the things I do. They always say, "Well, you see in Japan, they do things like this." And I sit there thinking to myself, "Well, that's how I do things in America." I've realized that being Japanese American has its perks. There are certain things we apparently just do. I've met a handful of JA JETs, and the conclusion is that JA JETs are awesome because we already know what to do...because we're awesome. But that also could've been the lack of sleep speaking.
Tomorrow is another full day of seminars and workshops. Wednesday morning, the rest of the Hokkaido JETs and I will be flying to Sapporo to be scattered across our island. Exciting and terrifying at the same time. It's been nice to know other Hokkaido JETs who will also be living in tiny remote villages. It's terrifying to know that we will all soon be spread apart...very far. But praise God for Skype and trains and cars!
After our Welcome Reception this evening, a couple of the guys and I went over to Shinjuku Station to find Mr. Donut. I love Mr. Donut. They were joking that Mr. Donut is all I've talked about since we got on the plane at LAX. It quite possibly is true. We took a cab, walked around in the rain, and got lost before we got our Mr. Donut. Oh, did I mention we were still in our suits in 85F degree thunderstorm weather? Yeah, Mr. Donut is that worth it. We bought our donuts and walked back in the rain. And we each went to our rooms while everyone else downstairs was ready to go karaoke. I came upstairs in the quietness of my room to enjoy the AC and my Angel Cream Mr. Donut.
Walking around Shinjuku felt like home. It didn't feel weird or unusual to be walking around the world's largest train station looking for a donut shop in business suits. The sight of all the lit up stores was familiar. The sound of the trains rattling above was familiar. The smell of wet asphalt and cigarette smoke and all kinds of delicious food aromas combined was familiar. The feel of Tokyo summer stickiness was familiar. It almost felt like I was back at home. I suppose it hasn't really sunk in yet that I'm starting my new life in Japan. Perhaps it's because Tokyo still feels like...Japan. It still feels normal to be here. But I'm sure come Wednesday, when the bright lights and noisy trains and sticky humidity fade into the background, I'll realize I'm not "in Japan" as I have always perceived it to be. And until then, I don't think I'll realize that my new life has started. I'll thank God for my Mr. Donut tonight and for the chance to "be at home" again...even if it's just for tonight.
Hi imouto! It's a blessing to read your blog. There was a strange sense of feeling like someone identifies with me when you said, "'Well that's how I do things in America.'" Somehow people don't understand that. Isn't it nice to be understood? I'm sure you'll find there are differences but there are more shared similarities that will help you understand more of how God hand-crafted you for this express purpose.
ReplyDeleteLove you.