Monday, June 30, 2008

I don`t think I`m ready for Japan.

As the days pass in Japan I realize the Japanese customs alot better. I feel as though I am a foreigner in my own country (More like my parent`s country).
I went to the doctor because my leg/buttocks region hurt like someone was pulling at my nerves and squeezing it and stretching it. The doctor said that I might have a hernia-which was quite embarrasing considering the fact that usually older people get them. After the possible symptom that the doctor had said, they recommended me to have a massage everyday. So, today is the second day that I am getting my massage. Although the electric massage, hand massage is pretty relaxing- I don`t like how unrelaxed the massuers look! I forget that Japanese people are really serious/tense with their jobs. More like they don`t even enjoy it sometimes... I wanted to say to my massuer, " You need to smile more" in english.

Other than realizing how tense my Japanese culture is, I realized that they are all about consideration of other people. Every place has a sign that says something about caring for one another- or shutting the door quietly- or it seems as though there is an instruction for every purpose. It`s lovely, but at the same time I feel contricted from my own ideals.

Another thing that I realized about Japan is that they love cute/compactable things. Cars look like toys, pens look like their edible, and food look super delicious.

Anyways, as soon as I got here in Japan we were welcomed by teenage boys that can`t understand instructions. I specifically told the boy that was carrying my luggage that I was going to "HIGASHI TOKOROZAWA" not TOKOROZAWA. So when we arrive from our bus to Higashi Tokorozawa, we weren`t able to get our luggage. This was because the boy\boys put it all the way in the back with the rest of the Tokorozawa customers. So, my brother-in-law had to drive us to Tokorozawa to get our luggage. My brother in law was probably the best person to greet us, because the flight to Japan was quite hectic. I also think his pretty flowers helped calm our nerves down.

Alright, I know I`ve only been talking about cons it really hasn`t been that bad overall. I got my tattoo apointment on July 14th, and a meeting about what I`m going to get\design this thursday. I can`t wait. The lady that is doing my tattoo was booked for 3 months but my sister managed to squeeze me in her schedule:) oh, a surprising factor when I got here is that my niece is soo not like my sister or my brother in law. Hanaco is this active cute little thing that eats like a sumo- wrestler and knows what she likes/dislikes. Although she is only 1 and a half- I can safely say that she is going to be a very outspoken child.

2 comments:

sujen said...

>,> I think it's nice that you guys are so considerate--in Taiwan we're pretty much assholes from what I remember! LOL. But the general asian culture puts on what feels like a very polie and false front though :\. It feels like everything has to be presentation-perfect on the outside, but inside there's alot of things that people aren't expressing (I think that's why pressure is so high there--because they can't really be too free to be themselves).
BUT OH DUDE--I checked out the lady's site that you sent me (Atatsuki) and she is totally badass! :0 SO COOL.
I hope that hanaco can stay that way--children go though so many changes in personality sometimes it can be alarming. Encourage her outspokeness! >0<

AppleJelly said...

Akatsuki is badass! I was researching tattoo artists in Japan, and she stood out from others because she`s comtemporary yet skillfull- and she`s a female tattoo artist! that`s totally rare!