Jun 25
2008

Bottled Fuji

in Uncategorized

Growing up in my family it was tradition to make a list of memories after taking a trip together. These memories ranged from favorite moments, to little things that we loved about the places we visited. I loved doing this, and my parents continue to do this. Now after they have gone somewhere I eagerly look forward to their list appearing in my inbox a week or so after their return.

I loved what my mom wrote after her last visit to Japan just a few months ago in March:

“Today is my last full day here in Japan as I fly out tomorrow. I am feeling a little sad! I have been here three times in the last fifteen months, and I have come to appreciate this dynamic city. It is SO clean and orderly. I love the food. I love the 7-11 mentality of small “convenience stores.” I love how the people bow to each other. I love how the shopkeepers call out friendly greetings as you walk in the door. I love how polite everyone is here—I never hear anyone yelling, even the guys working on the street, and even though the traffic is horrendous, no one honks their horn. I love the older men who are constantly sweeping the streets. (There is not even a dead leaf to be seen anywhere, even in the planter boxes.) I love the people who smile at my little Squirrel and take pictures of her. I love the clean, fast, efficient metro. I love the immaculate taxis with their chauffeur-like drivers (none of whom speak any English) and lace covered seats. I DON’T like how expensive everything is, and it is hard not to speak any of the language, although I have learned to say “hello” and “thank you” and “excuse me” and “I’m sorry!” and “yes.” In spite of not speaking the language, however, I have felt absolutely safe everywhere I’ve been. I also DON’T like the lack of handicapped access, which is really tough when you are pushing a stroller. The women’s fashion also doesn’t do much for me. The men are all wearing sharp business attire, but the women, especially the younger women and teenagers, wear dreadful clothes. Everything is mismatched, the shoes are universally ugly and uncomfortable-looking, and the girls walk with their toes pointing in. Weird.”

What are some of my favorite things that I will miss?

– convenience store onigiri
– soda machines on residential corners
100 yen stores
– mango ice cream
bowing
Kaikaiya’s
– Osho’s (a little hole-in-the-wall Chinese restaurant chain here in Japan with the best gyoza and yummy tenshinhan–a mound of rice covered with an omelet and topped with an oyster sauce)
kaitenzushi (conveyor belt sushi)
– the friendly cashiers at our local tiny supermarket who all know Squirrel’s name
– 99% of pet dogs having been through extensive obedience training
– the cacophony of the huge black ravens that are all over Tokyo
– the view of Tokyo tower from our living room balcony and the view of Mt. Fuji from the balcony outside our front door
– the cultural practice of taking your shoes off in the genkan (the entryway of a house)
– sumo
– our “wasabi green car” and driving on the left hand side of the road
– the feeling of accomplishment after passing the scary Japanese driving test and being handed my Japanese driver’s license
– Squirrel’s birth in Japan and my wonderful quick-thinking OB/GYN
– the feeling of walking on tatami mats in bare feet

The list goes on and on…

My time in Japan is quickly coming to a close. We will be getting on an airplane on Saturday. I don’t know when we will be back. As Saturday draws closer and closer I find myself trying to take everything in one last time. I guess I’m trying to bottle up a little bit of Japan to take with me.

“J” is for Japan, the country which has had such a huge impact on my life. Japan influenced me to start blogging, and has been a constant source of inspiration in what I write.

As I’ve thought about our time here in Japan, I’ve thought about the experiences I’ve had traveling to foreign countries in comparison to the experience of actually living in a foreign country. Although I love to travel, I think we often move so quickly so that we see all the sites that we fail to pick up on the true essence of a place. It’s wonderful to see the sites of the world, but it is hard to have these travels be anything but isolated experiences abroad. I think we change with every new place that we live in, but foreign soil adds the extra component of being, well, foreign. The experience of ethnological immersion slowly changes a person–the constant exposure to the language and the reasoning of another culture changes you, but not completely. I find that this process, for me, involves constantly reexamining things in contrast to images and memories of “home”, as this is what is familiar and available for comparison. Slowly bits of the “new home” are added to my previous concept of “home”, and although I am still “me”, I am not the same “me” as I was before.

{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }

Bishty June 25, 2008 at 4:26 am

Hi there, I have only just discovered your blog and was looking forward to hearing about your life in Japan, so my timing is not so good! I have visited Japan a number of times as it is my husband’s homeland but have never lived there. I have to disagree with you about the ravens, I find them creepy in such large numbers! Safe journey and I look forward to reading all about your new adventures.

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gleek June 25, 2008 at 7:11 am

such cute photos of your baby girl! those are priceless! saturday is too soon :(

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Fuji Mama's Mama June 25, 2008 at 7:27 am

Ah Squirrel, our little Geisha Girl. I know what SHE will miss–udon noodles, onigiri, the flower beds in your courtyard, her little friends, all the friendly Japanese people who love her blonde hair and blue eyes, and her Music Together class. We will miss being able to visit her (and you) in such a wonderful place, but I must admit it will be awesome to have you back!

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Meet the Dubreuils June 25, 2008 at 7:58 am

All our best on your move. I hope everything goes smoothly for ya. If you’re ever in Northern Utah, give me a ring. I would love to see ya and meet your cute little girl:)

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Teresa June 25, 2008 at 9:07 am

I have so loved reading about your time in Japan! I’ve learned so much and just enjoy hearing about your experiences, educational or not.
Having lived in East Africa for 2 years, I know what you mean about the “host culture” becoming a part of you. It was nice to see it articulated.
Please don’t feel like California won’t be as worthy of blogging about. Firstly because reverse culture shock is seriously hard core and will make for great blogging and secondly because California has such a completely different culture from ours here in DC, or Texas where I’m from, or Alabama where I’ve lived. You can keep on educating me about “foreign cultures”!

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Jackie June 25, 2008 at 9:13 am

SO so cute! She is adorable! And such a fantastic outfit too! Good luck this week!

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Phoe June 25, 2008 at 9:38 am

Adorable pictures of Squirrel. What a sad and wonderful post. I still keep the custom of taking shoes off when entering the house, but that comes from my Indian heritage, not Japanese. If anything, it’s nice to carpet!

Hope your week is absolutely fantastic.

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Meg June 25, 2008 at 11:38 am

Have a safe journey back to the States. Once you get settled, I would love to meet up with you and meet your little one!

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Bobbi June 25, 2008 at 2:34 pm

It seems like we’ve only just begun to get to know your Japan. Now, we’ll learn your CA, I’m sure.
Squirrel looks so cute. It seems a bit sad that she won’t have much memory of her time in Japan. Thankfully there are a lot of photos. Some spring day in the future, she will walk past a blooming cherry tree and it will stir a memory.
Good luck with the move. Safe travels to you all as you begin another adventure.

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Semsavblanc June 25, 2008 at 8:38 pm

Thank you again for sharing, not only your thoughts, but your feelings, insights, wisdom and your true heart for all things Japanese.
I cried when I read your blog today. So many of the things you love, I also love and miss, after spending only three weeks there. You are right about the difference between travelling versus living in a country. I knew that was what I was feeling as we zipped around, starting in Hokkaido, travelling as far south as Kyushu and back up to Tokyo for departure. Leaving Japan was like leaving a half eaten plate of Sashimi, so much more to savour, so many reasons to linger, so very hard to say goodbye.
Yes, even the ravens in Japan were better than our crows back home! I love the cawing flocks of ravens in Japan, but can’t tolerate them here.
How and why is it that Japan touches so many Westerners so deeply?
I love your Mum’s comments about the women’s clothing and the shoes!! Her words could have been mine. It looked to me like girls would buy shoes they liked, even if they didn’t come in their size. They were all way too big. Oh I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. It was fascinating, hilarious and annoying all at once. I’m not sure what is most memorable; the temples, castles, shrines or the attire of the girls visiting them!!
I’m going to miss your Japan blog.
PS: How can you have such a cute little girl? She looked amazing in those photos – they are something she will cherish for a lifetime!

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Jen June 26, 2008 at 12:25 am

Oh, I feel so sad for you! Remember…more opportunity awaits! Squirrel is so adorable in her kimono. E loves hers, especially in this hot weather. Your mom’s list and mine are almost identical, although I thought the fashion there was pretty cool. Travel safe!

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The Richards June 26, 2008 at 11:38 am

Good luck with getting everything ready and with the move. I’m sure you’ll be back in Japan sooner than you think! :0) It’s sure been fun seeing all of your pictures and learning a bit more about the culture there. Thanks for sharing!

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magikjaz June 26, 2008 at 4:20 pm

*sniffle*

squirrel is adorable!

You are truly an amazing person and I look forward to hearing about cali thru your eyes.

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Misha June 27, 2008 at 8:59 pm

I love the pictures of squirrel, how cute! What a good idea to take those before you left, what a beautiful Kimono? Actually I don’t know the word for the dress, but it’s beautiful! You are going to miss Japan so much, but have so much to look forward to in your new CA adventure! I loved the list you made of what you did and didn’t like about Japan.

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KAY June 27, 2008 at 11:23 pm

Very interesting place to live with so much things going on.
Your girl looks like a cute doll..hehe

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Suzana June 28, 2008 at 1:22 am

Beautiful photos of little Squirrel, and such a wonderful post on your time in Japan. It’s moving and nice at the same time. I wish you a safe trip.

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Melanie Gray Augustin June 29, 2008 at 5:27 am

That post made me cry! Not only because you’ve gone, but also thinking about my own leaving next year. Japan is a hard place to leave and will always stay in your heart.

I look forward to reading about the next chapter in your lives and hope that we can meet somewhere in this wide world again.

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Michelle June 29, 2008 at 8:19 am

All the best with your flight back home! I loved this post – very evocative, and with cute photos of Squirrel you hust can’t go wrong!

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JRS June 30, 2008 at 7:45 pm

I’m leaving soon too, and I’ve been making the same kind of list in my head. Of course, I’ve also been making the opposite kind of list–what I will NOT miss/what I’m looking forward to in the US–so that I will feel better about my decision. I have resigned myself to the fact that I will just have to put on some weight before I leave, because there are so many things I want to eat a lot of before I go!

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Tartelette July 1, 2008 at 7:21 pm

The reverse culture shock is going to be interesting to read about. After 12 years here in the States, I still have culture shock and I only came from Europe!!

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Tartelette July 1, 2008 at 7:22 pm

The reverse culture shock is going to be interesting to read about. After 12 years here in the States, I still have culture shock and I only came from Europe!!

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