Tokyo Tidbits

It has been a whirlwind since we landed in Tokyo on the 17th of August. Kerwood and I have been very fortunate in how smoothly important details have fallen into place, for the most part. There have been some ups and downs, however in the end, we have a fantastic apartment, we have gotten all of the nitty-gritty ‘must have’ items done, and we have squeezed in some sightseeing and down time. We are feeling exceptionally ready to start training in 5 days. It also feels really good to have the first blog entry done—it was starting to weigh heavy on my mind.

So, our apartment….It’s a brand new building, very modern, and feels quite spacious even though it is a mere 400 sq. ft. There is high end finishing and when we first came to view it, I commented, (slight anticipatory squeal) “It’s going to feel like living in a boutique hotel!” Although it really does feel like this, our place is very functional and we’re sticking with minimalist decorating to match the architecture. Our apartment is a corner unit on the top floor, so there is really no sound transfer. At the end of our hall, the window is a mosaic of colourful glass and is absolutely stunning, night or day. At certain times of the day, when the light is just right, you walk through vibrant shafts of colour on the main floor….It’s quite magical, really.


Sightseeing: Our friend’s family has a home in Chikura (a quaint town on the tip of a peninsula—Chiba prefecture), so we spent 4 days there between securing an apartment and moving into it. What a treat that was! There was a definite shift in energy—people were quick to smile and say “hello” or “good day” as they walked by and drivers would nod their heads as they passed by. The ocean was a sight to behold and the roar of the waves was deep—we could hear it from our friend’s place and we weren’t even that close to the beach….We reveled in seeing unfamiliar wildlife and listening to the cicadas. Parts of the home were very traditional with shoji doors and we got to sleep on tatami mats. It was beautiful--I couldn’t help but think of stories like ‘The Tale of Genji’ and imagine living during those times.

Discoveries: While exploring our neighbourhood one day, we were beside ourselves with excitement when we came across a huge park only 5 minutes from our place. The park has two parts to it: one part is exercise focused (running/walking track with weight apparatuses) and the second part is an old growth park with streams, waterfalls, and an 1,800 year old hut! Yippee!! We have a place to run and we won’t have to buy a gym membership….Instead, we’ll be able to partake in hobbies like Brazilian jujitsu (Ker received a very fine lead on that front—thanks Jay☺) and tango lessons….

Sex Noticings: There’s an interesting paradox here, wherein women and girls are expected to be innocent, very feminine, and quiet on the one hand; and on the other hand, there’s a huge sex industry here that eroticizes and objectifies girls/women. It’s strange to witness. The first night we stayed in Tokyo, we checked into a hotel a few blocks from where our friends live. As we were walking into the hotel, our friend jokingly said that one of her friends wondered if this was actually a ‘love hotel.’ We arrived in the lobby and it looked like a regular old hotel to us, so I put the comment out of my mind. When we got to our room, however, the first thing we saw was this:


And I immediately thought, “Oh my, perhaps this is a love hotel if they leave this out in the open so brazenly.” Kerwood, who loves to investigate (and who was possibly quite curious;), determined that it was nothing more than a flashlight!

Language Mishaps: We have been bumbling our way through things. It’s amazing how far limited vocabulary, charade-like gestures, and warm intentions/good humour can go. (Plus, shop employees here have been so immensely gracious to us—we are thankful for the great kindness and patience they have shown us). So, this will probably be a recurring heading in my blog—I really, really want to communicate with people so I try to use the limited phrases that I know. And, as a result, some of them are used in the wrong context and therefore create a moment of hysterical laughter for Ker and me because they make no sense at all…..

Recent case in point, Ker and I were at the bank to open an account. We needed to prove that we are residents of Tokyo, so I provided our temporary copies of our Alien Registration forms. We were quickly informed that we needed a phone number before we could proceed, so we left to go and get a phone. In the elevator, I realized that our Alien forms had not been returned to us. When we went back to retrieve them, the woman who was helping us was very distraught that she hadn’t given them back to us. It looked like she was going to cry she was so upset. We really didn’t think it was a big deal since the forms were still there and we were getting them back….I, in an attempt to be comforting and reassuring, said, “Do iitashimashite.” I was sure that it was a phrase shared with us that meant ‘no problem.’ As we were leaving the building, I quickly checked my notes (my intuition was saying that I was off somehow), and discovered that it actually means ‘you’re welcome.’ Oops. I think she got what I meant to say though….?