!#$@%^#% Tea!

My biggest fear of my existence in Japan came true today. Somebody at school asked me to...pour tea for guests!!

The tea lady was on her way out to go to the bank at 2pm and she knew that guests were coming at 2:30pm. After looking around in the staffroom, she said, "Ah, it's alright, Louise is here." It was only then that I realized that I was in trouble. I looked around and I was the only other female in the staffroom. Crap.

So, the tea lady ran through all her instructions and was very thankful that I was there. Then, off she went.

I was sooo pissed off that I was asked to do this.

I remember saying to friends in the US that if a male staff member asked me to help with serving tea, I'd act like I didn't understand. But this situation was sorta different. I didn't quite know how to turn down her request for help because she has been super nice and serves me (and everybody else) tea everyday.

As before, I couldn't believe how sexist this crap was. This bit just added to all my growing annoyance of many things here in this country. I was cursing and giving my male colleagues angry glares (in my mind). I had to go occupy myself by making enlargements in the copy room in fear that I would have an angry outburst at innocent bystanders.

Miraculously, the tea lady came back from the bank in 15 minutes. I no longer had to do the dreaded task of serving tea just because I am female.

However, my anger didn't dissipate.

I understand that guests need to be shown some hospitality, but why do women have to get them tea?!

The guys also have hands, right? So, they can also get the *@#$%^& tea!

Neighbors

For the longest time, I was the sole tenant in the 4-unit apartment building I lived in. About 2 months ago, the bottom two units were rented out separately. It's comforting, in a way, to know that people actually live in the building aside from me.

However, I now have this new obligation of being more considerate about the amount of noise I make. And that's not cool. =)

Although I've never met my new neighbors, the one who lives in the unit directly below me is somewhat on the strange side. S/he has this tendency to do laundry everyday at 6 in the morning! Instead of being awaken by the fighting cats or my alarm clock, I am now being waken up by the melodic sound of a washing machine.

I'm not sure if I like having neighbors.

Home?

I just had a Japanese friend who visited me at my apartment for the first time. She looked around the apartment and said, "You enjoy single life, huh?" Single, as in living alone in my own apartment rather than not having a significant other.
Is it really that obvious?

I look around my apartment and I realize that I have everything that I need. It's not so much a I'm-so-proud-of-my-material-wealth, but more along the lines that I'm satisfied with my living situation. I feel like I'm building my own home and I feel comfortable in it.

Everything else before hasn't felt like it was "mine" perse. When I lived with my parents, it was me being a part of something much bigger. And during college years, everything was just so impermanent. In my four years, I moved 5 times.

I'm not sure what the point is, but I guess I've finally established my home sweet home.. and just as I'm about to finish this entry, I realize that I'll be moving on and moving out in about 10.5 months. *Sigh.*

Footwear

In a fashion conscious country, I should not be surprised that I get stares when I wear something out-of-the-ordinary. Today, was a lovely, sunny day after weeks of unrelenting rain. Being the California girl that I am, I went to work in flip flops (hehehe…). Ok, ordinarily, I see that as a no-no as well, but I should remind everyone that we have to change into indoor shoes once we get to school. So, the flip flop wearing was not a form of rebellion towards the implied dress code, but it was simply for comfort.

However, on my short 30 minute to work, I noticed a string of adults and children staring at my feet. I'm not sure exactly what it was that shocked them so, but their eyes literally followed my feet as I flopped happily towards school. Perhaps it was the fact that I was wearing a skirt with a simple striped top without stockings (gasp!) when it's about 80 degrees outside, but something bothered people.

I think I mentioned this before, but it seems as though wearing rain boots when it rains is also an unacceptable form of footwear. I've gotten stares (again! whoopee doop!) from numerous people and have even gotten a comment that came with a hint of sarcasm from a colleague at school. I've only seen rain boots on three other types of people, and that would be: elementary school students, senior citizens and construction workers. I really don't get it…do people just like to get their feet wet? (* No pun intended.)

Whatever it is, I feel like the footwear choices in this country will forever puzzle me.

The 2nd Year

Three days ago, I came back to Japan from a relaxing vacation at home. When I arrived at the Tokyo airport, I had really mixed feelings.

On the one hand, I was returning to something that isn't so foreign anymore. While I'm still far from understanding the language entirely, I was able to read most of the important signs and understand the gists of the announcements.

At school, I will no longer have to start over as the new ALT and trying to gain the students' trusts or learn their names.

On the other hand, I felt as lost as ever. One of my closest friends from last year left the program after a year and I didn't quite know who to send the "I'm back!" message to from my cell phone. I realized that I will have to make the same efforts to get to know the 37 new teachers in town just like I had to last year. The task seems a bit tiring.

At school, while the students still make me laugh my head off, I feel as though the things that have been frustrating me the last year will not change.

So, here I am, on a really, really rainy Sunday, sitting and pondering (while avoiding the very necessary chore of cleaning my apartment) how this 2nd year will be....

I guess we will see.

Cup-o-Noodles

It's surprising that I've been living in the land of instant noodles for the last year and I have not craved one of those not-so-nutritious curly noodles packed in Styrofoam cups for the entire year.

That is...until last week. When I came back to Japan, I really wanted to eat cup-o-noodle. Maybe the whole jet lag thing is playing games with my mind. Whatever it is, please excuse me now, I'm going to go boil some hot water to make myself a cup of curry instant noodles. Hehehe...

Olympics, the world and language

So, it's pouring outside and I'm watching the tail end of the men's marathon of the Beijing Olympics on TV.

When the Kenyan runner Samuel Wansiru crossed the finish line, he was interviewed by the Japanese media. What surprised me was that the interviewer asked all his questions in Japanese. And what surprised me even more was that the marathon winner responded in Japanese!!!

I thought that was so cool! Of course, it just reminded me that I have prejudices about how people should look in relation to the language they speak or can speak. This whole thing surprised and impressed me only because he was a black African from Kenya who can speak a language of a country that was in an entirely different continent thousands of miles away.

This brings me back to an experience I had a couple of weeks ago when I returned home to the Bay Area. One of my friends and I wanted the tourist experience of being in SF and we decided to rent bicycles to cross the Golden Gate Bridge.

We were at the bike rental and one of the employees were explaining the rules with bikes in a rather thick European accent. After a couple of seconds, my friend turns to me and says, "huh?" signifying that she didn't quite hear what he was saying. Since I didn't understand, I only shrugged in response.

Then, this lady (from Australia, I think) comes up behind me and says, "Don't worry, I don't even understand and I speak English!"

In a way, that was probably a bit on the offensive side with her thinking that I didn't speak English just because I looked Asian...but given the circumstances, I just found it amusing.

We all have assumptions about people, don't we?