Let us begin.
Japan (nihon) ni ikimashta (went to) last week (wakarimasen…). And now, I’m living here for t >= 1 year. I’m sorry for not updating this blog earlier. I probably should have, my first day’s impression of this land where the sun is always rising. But, perhaps due to this very strange solar phenomenon, my sleeping schedule has been a little off. For example, Friday night is going out night, right? Usually, it is. However, this Friday, I woke up at 6 am, went online for a little bit, and deciding I should get a little bit more sleep, closed my curtains and shut my eyes. I woke up to my roommate watching the T.V. and figure if he was up, I should get up. Long story short, it was dark out and 8 PM. Wow. Don’t know if I’ve ever slept until 8 pm. I guess I needed it, I was sleep. In any case, a lot of time, I’ve been too tired to write.
What the heck is this place like? Well, its hasn’t changed much in 1 year. That is a good thing. It is still busy, crowds are still pushy, people still stare constantly at their cell phone screens, (which do not look as advanced as American cell phones.) I’m sure it was the same before, but I have noticed particularly now the fashion of the Japanese. Every single girl here is uber fashionable by GOC (good old country) standards. Sometimes they try too hard, like the girl whose jeans were literally ripped in half on the leg, 360 degrees, and the bottom half only stayed up because they were tied there. But I didn’t bat two eyelids, because you half expect that. Basically, a girl dressing normal here is ultra-hip in America, idk. Guys are not as crazy actually. In terms of other descriptions for where I am living, its hard to describe, but everyone just seems extremely polite. Politeness is also mixed with goodnaturedness, which is probably slightly different from niceness, although related. For example, multiple occasions have Japanese noticed I was struggling with something – deciphering a menu, figuring out a map, whatever, and offered me concrete assistance. One guy poked me on the train, I turned around, and he asked me in English if I needed help. One woman spent 10 minutes trying to help me with a menu. Today, my day was made during the following interaction.
I ordered my favorite Japanese sweet – a pastry filled with cream – and asked where the train station was. Some Japanese woman said, “ishoni ikimasho” which means, “lets go together.” And I KNEW THAT!!! So I was like, “arigatoo gozaimasu.” And then we walked to the train station and had small talk IN JAPANESE!!! Where did she live – near the train station. Where was I from, etc. So she walked me to the train station and left, but she was hecka nice, and I SPOKE TO HER IN JAPANESE!!! Hopefully that was the first of thousands of more interactions like that.
Work. Hey, its not all small talk and games. Today I did it. Went to work. That wasn’t too bad. I won’t go into specifics because it does not entertain me to write about it, but I will say it wasn’t too bad. I am glad I took Publick Speaking in college, truly, because I have generally felt comfortable speaking in groups, I believe that class made me much more proficient at doing so. 2 hours after getting to work, (at 12.30, isn’t that so early??) I was already speaking in front of a group of students. A few hours later I was talking to them for 10 minutes and by the end of the day for 20 minutes. Tomorrow, I teach two full lessons for 40 minutes. Day after I teach 4 lessons. End of training. That is Wednesday. Friday I start work, full time, no supervisors. So, we were definitely tossed into the deep end but I’ll probably swim.
It’s weird, the job is better than I thought it’d be. But at the same time, it is somewhat scary thinking that I am actually going to LIVE here. This isn’t a vacation. It is highly intimidating to commit myself for a year, especially abroad. College was easy in that everything was decided for me except my schedule. Now I have to put in effort to decide the course of my future. I know I want to live in Japan, but will I feel the same in a year? Will I want to continue on and start the path towards a career? I would say no, 1 year isn’t enough, if the only factor were Japan. But the other factor is work, and work is scary. Much more scary than grad school. So those are just some initial hesitations I am thinking about.
(After my first day of work, I strongly doubt I can work happily in the traditional workforce with a regular boss and all that. Let’s hope this academia thing pans out in the future.)
But in the meantime, my job is fairly easy and fairly fun.
I have two roommates, Matt and Jack. Cool doods. I have the biggest room. It has tatami mat floors, big closet, connects to the balcony where you hang your clothes to dry. Tatami mats seem to make the mess look less messy. My room connects to the living room and the walls are extra thin in Japan compared to the GOC. The noise is a minor downside to trade for the space and tatami matts. Next Sunday after work my workmates are throwing a party for me. Should be GTs, (good times,) especially since I have Mondays and Tuesdays off. Gaijkokujin (Gaijin) crowd should be fun, no doubt, but the devil’s trap they are!
Goals: hangout with Japanese, perhaps this will be done at work with the Japanese staff.
Go to Karaoke and get plastered till the first trains start at 5 am, and then go to Sukiji fish market and get sushi.
Get Japanese girlfriend.
Get 990 on physics GRE.
Do the darn thing!
One1.
