How to Deal with Garbage

Here are my experiences of how to deal with garbage in different places I have lived around the world:

Bangladesh: Throw your trash in the river, in the ditch, or in the street.  If you want to be a little more ethical about it, you can put your garbage in a garbage bag and throw the bag in the river, in the ditch, or in the street!  The garbage will then be sorted through by a resourceful few who can collect anything and make a penny off of it.

Kuwait: Throw anything you do not want in the big dumpsters outside apartment buildings.  You can throw out ANYTHING you want: toilets, couches, chairs, bookcases, even your entire house if you so desire.  If the garbage bin is not big enough, throw it beside the bin and begin a garbage pile.  Once that pile is too big, just start another one.  The cats will love you for whatever you throw in.  If you are in an area where there are no garbage bins, leave your garbage on the ground for the hired third world nationals to pick up.

Canada:  Throw your trash in a garbage bag, your bottles, cans, glass, and cardboard in a recycling bin, and put these bins on your curb on designated days for city pick up.  If your city does not have recycling pick up, bring your recycling to the nearest recycling centre.  Any big items that cannot fit in a garbage bag must be brought to the dump for a nominal fee.  You can make up this fee by bringing your cans and bottles to the bottle depot.

Japan: Purchase designated garbage bags at the local grocery store for a high fee, ensuring that you have purchased the correct coloured bag for the area you live in.  Sort your garbage according to the following parameters:
1. Plastics- anything made of plastic applies to this category- the wrapping from juice box straws, bottle caps, plastic bags, cellophane, sucker sticks etc.
2. Combustibles- these are items that can burn in an incinerator- basically food products and kleenex
3. Waste Paper - paper and cardboard-cardboard should be cut so that it is flat, including juice and milk cartons, neatly stacked, and tied with ribbon
4. Non-Combustibles: anything that does not apply to the list above-
5. Bottles and Cans- glass bottles and tin cans of any kind
6. PET bottles- these are your plastic bottles that say PET on them
7. Hazzardous waste- batteries, aerosal cans, etc.
8. Used clothes- 
9 . Big Items: Call the local garbage pick up and pay an exorbitant fee to get it picked up.  (Often times people will give away their cars as it will cost more to have someone take it away than what they car is worth).

The city will then pick up these items on designated days of the week.  For example, in our area, we have combustible pick up 2x a week, waste paper and plastic 1x a week,  non-combustibles, used clothes, hazardous waste, bottles/cans, and PET bottles every other week.

YUP!  A bit of an organizational nightmare.  I have had to write the garbage pick up schedule on my calendar and purchase enough bins to organize all the garbage.  If the garbage is not in the pre-desiganted bags, or is not sorted properly (and they will check) you are left with your garbage and a nasty note in Japanese that I am sure says, "Get your act together", or something of the sort.

Sorting household garbage is a part time job in Japan- but I guess it has to be in a country of almost 130,000,000 people.

A Man's Best Friend

 The Czech writer Milan Kundera said, "Dogs are our link to paradise. They don't know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring--it was peace."  

  If I were to introduce the words of Milan Kundera into a classroom back in Kuwait, I would be met with students passionately disagreeing.  Traditionally, in Islam, dogs are seen as impure and the phrase "the dog is a man's best friend" would be seen as pure indoctrination of the Western culture.  Over the seven years that I was in Kuwait, I did see a small shift in attitude towards dogs.  During our first stay in Kuwait in 2002, it was not uncommon for teachers to have rocks thrown at their dog by children in the street.  If a dog were to come near a child or adult, they would often run away in fear.  By 2009, I began to see more dogs on the walking paths, but even these were far and few between.  To have a dog as a pet is not common practice, and is seen as dirty by most. 

If I were to introduce the words of Milan Kundera into a Japanese classroom, the students would be whole heartily agreeing.  A dog in Japan, is a literal extension of the family.  It is more than just anthropomorphizing here;  dogs literally become "humans" to the Japanese.  A dog is treated just as well as a child, and if there is no child in the house, it replaces the child.  If you spend a couple of hours on the streets of Japan, you will quickly know what I mean.  Dogs in clothes, dogs in strollers, dogs in pet parlours,  dogs in dog bakeries, dogs in restaurants (those that permit) eating off chopsticks, and dogs shopping for luxery items to enhance their lives.  I have one friend who told me that when she first got to Japan she went out looking for diapers for her son and all she could find were dog diapers.  "It's a dog's life" takes on a whole new meaning here.

The special treatment of dogs in Japan may have its roots in the the story of "Hachiko and Eisabura";  a famous Japanese story between man and his dog.

In 1923, a yellow-coated Atika dog was born and became known as little "Hachi" (Hachiko was his formal name).  A professor named Eisabura, adopted Hachi and the two became fast friends.  Each morning the dog would accompany his master to the Shibuya train station, and each evening the dog would be waiting for Eisabura at the same spot he left.  The two continued this routine until May 1925, when Eisabura did not return from work as usual.  That day he had a suffered a stroke and died, never to return to the station.
Hachiko was given away after his master's death, but he routinely escaped, showing up again and again at his old home. After time, Hachi apparently realized that Professor Uyeno no longer lived at the house, so he went to look for his master at the train station where he had accompanied him so many times before. Each day, Hachiko waited for Eisabura to return and each day he didn't see his friend.  Soon the other train passengers realized that Hachiko waited in vigil for his dead master and they brought Hachiko treats and food to nourish him during his wait.
News of Hachiko's remarkable loyalty eventually made its way outside of Tokyo, and he became something of an iconic figure in Japan.  A statue of Hachiko forged by sculptor Ando Teru was erected at the train station in 1934, where Hachiko had been awaiting his master's return each day for nearly 10 years.  On March 8, 1935, Hachiko laid down to die in the spot where he had spent a decade waiting each day for his master to come home.

It is hard to argue that the belief that a dog is a man's best friend is western indoctrination when you hear a story like this.  On the other had, it is hard to believe that dogs (and many other animals) are being treated better than most children around the world. (I know that Japan is not the only place this is happening).  No matter what your feelings about dogs, I think we can all agree with Franklin P Jones: "Scratch a dog and you'll find a permanent job."

A Change of Season

Christmas was a season that I looked forward to as a child: snow, toboganning, ice skating, Christmas trees, decorations, the promise of Santa's visit, carols, the Christmas story, and oranges.  Oh yes, the oranges!  I can remember anxiously waiting for mandarin oranges to hit the stores and for mom to buy the first box.  We were always rationed to one a day (if we were lucky two).  If we were really lucky, mom would buy Japanese mandarin oranges rather than cheaper Chinese, and if this was the case, it was certainly only one a day!   Now, 20+ years later, I am in Japan, surrounded by mandarin orange trees.  I can literally pick them off the trees (though I have not done this as the trees are in people's private yards).  If you think the mandarins you have tried are good, you have got to try one that has not travelled thousands of miles to meet you!  Simply delicious.

Steve and I always missed a change of seasons while living in Kuwait.  The biggest season change in Kuwait is the temperature dropping to a more tolerable degree, the dust subsiding, and a few flowers appearing on some trees.  Now that we are in Japan, we realize now how much we missed having a season change.  We are into autumn, and the Japanese maples are turning a fire red, other leaves are turning yellow, and the roses are in full bloom.  I have never seen so many different kinds of roses.  Each day the oranges on the trees turn a little more orange and a few more leaves have fallen to the ground.  Although the mornings are chilly, by afternoon the sun is shining and we are running around with no jackets.  I think this might be the second best time to visit Japan (Spring being the best) for those non teacher friends planning a visit (hint hint).

Halloween

I found myself laughing as Steve and I took out Tristan and Alyvia trick or treating.  My experiences with trick or treating over the years, have all been DRASTICALLY different:

1. Trick or Treating in Canada while Living on an Acreage: In -25 degree weather, we would head out the door with our costumes shoved over our ski jackets, mittens, and toques.  We would jump in the car and proceed to be chauffeured (by our parents) to the local houses in the area.  Because of the distance between acreages, we would not hit many places, but the houses we did hit were always a score of candy, chips, and if we were lucky, pop! By the end of the night we would seek the shelter and warmth of our own homes, and count our candy.

2. Trick or Treating in Kuwait: Since the Kuwaitis do not celebrate Halloween, it was an event that the parents of AIS staff children planned with other teachers in the school.  Staff that wanted to participate in giving out treats, would put a pre-made pumpkin on their door so that the kids would know what doors to knock on.  Heading out for the night, the kids would ensure that their costumes were light weight, as to not sweat to death during the process of running door to door. In 30 plus heat, trick or treating could get a little heated. As a group, we would travel to the four teacher buildings and ride up and down the elevator, finding doors that we could knock on.  By the end of the night, we were all sweaty and ready to hit the air-conditioning of our own apartments.  Here we would count our candy.

3. Trick or Treating in Japan: Traditionally, the Japanese do not celebrate Halloween, but when a bunch of Japanese kids get word that candy will be given out to all people in costumes on the 31st of October, in a rural area called Chofu, they come in bus loads to partake in the fun.  With 15-20 degree temperatures, all costumes are permissible in Japan.  Kids do not run the risk of freezing or sweating, but they do run the risk of being stuck in a line to receive candy.  In true Japanese fashion, there was such a crowd, that most houses in our area had kids lined up at their doors.  One of our teachers put together a "haunted yard" and by 7:30 pm there were at least 200 Japanese kids waiting in line to get in!  Luckily, we had VIP passes!  With so many kids out and about, Halloween spirit was certainly in the air. The great thing was, that being a school night (the Japanese are very serious about school), everything shut down by 8:30, and soon there after, we were at home counting our candy.....which did not add up to much...with up to 2000 kids at some houses, people have to be a little "skimpy" on what they give out.

Swimming at ASIJ

Steve and I continue to be impressed with what the school has to offer the students beyond the classroom.  For the last 2 months, Tristan has been apart of the elementary B Swim Team.  On Tuesdays and Thursdays, about 100 kids on the B Team would hit the water and practice their strokes under the tutelage of a high school student.  The 8 and unders would practice from 3:15-4:15 and the 9 and 10s would practice from 4:15-5:15.  On Monday, Wednesdays, and Fridays, the A team, with the same number of kids, would also practice.  Saturdays were reserved for swim meets, with team B getting 3 competitions under their belts, and the A team 4.  We were not only impressed by the ONE coach's dedication, but the dedication of the high school students who were deck managers, lifeguards, and swim coaches.  The sense of community is really strong and it is so great to see the older students being role models for the younger students.  Now that elementary swim is over, the middle and high school swim team now begins.

Tristan had a great experience being apart of a team.  He was not too sure about wearing the swim cap and swimming jammers, but realized he had no choice, as this what the coach expected.  He became very conscious of eating well before and during a meet, and felt a sense of belonging to something bigger than himself.  By the end of the season he had improved his freestyle by 4 seconds.  At the team baquet, his high school coach gave a little speech about each participant.  I had to laugh at what she said about Tristan- he won the "Mr. Smiles award" and she said that "even though he struggled at times, he never gave up and did his best".  What more could a parent ask for!

A Cultural Antithesis

Prayers

While visiting the Meiji Jingu shrine on the weekend, we were struck by the cultural antithesis that exists in Japan.  On one side, you will find a reserved people;  people who do not look you in the eye when talking to you; people who follow a deep religious devotion and celebrate Japanese traditions; people who embrace kimonos, geisha, origami, tea ceremonies, and traditional music.   While visiting the shrine we witnessed traditional Japanese weddings, people offering their prayers to the divine spirits, and a sense of the reserved Japanese culture where emotion should not be expressed.


As we left the shrine grounds, we were met with the other side of Japan- a country of youth trying to break Japanese stereotypes.  Leaving the temple grounds, you will find yourself in an area called Harajuku where fashion takes on a whole new meaning.  Young Japanese dress in a variety of styles that make you take a double look- outlandish hairstyles, lots of make-up, and clothes that resemble a mix of goth, punk, and Lolita (imagine landing in the game "Candy Land").  Then, a little ways down the road, you find yourself in Yoyogi park where young Japanese budding artists perform- there is irony in this comment as there was little to no talent in the performances we saw- it was more of an artistic catharsis!

Crowds

With 12 million people living in Tokyo, I knew that crowds would be something that I would have to get used to.  We are fortunate to live outside the city in a more rural area, so we do not have to fight crowds on a day to day basis.  But, as soon as we venture to the shopping areas in or around Tokyo, the crowds become inevitable.

I went out the other night with some ladies for a birthday.  It was a nice evening in a Thai restaurant that surprisingly was quiet.  But, as soon as we entered the train stations, the crowds became apparent.  When I got on the train, by friends had to pull me in for fear of me being squashed by the train doors.  The ironic thing was, as I was being pulled in, at least 6 people more people rammed themselves into the train behind me.  For the next 20 minutes we huddled amongst strangers, some men, who had a little too much to drink, and others, on their way home from work, whose eyelids fell heavy on their faces.  I cannot believe that people face these kinds of crowds everyday as they commute to and from work, some travelling for 2 hours at a time.  It sounds like hell to me!  Check out this video of people trying to get on the train.  Although it was not this bad the other night, I sure felt like cattle.

Our other experience with crowds was yesterday at Shibuya Crossing.  Shibuya station is the busiest station in Tokyo, and the road crossing becomes an automation of people.  As you watch this video, imagine the Bennett's in the thick of it, trying to maneuver a stroller.  Interesting!

Doll Thanksgiving Day

 We went into Tokyo yesterday and visited the Meiji Shrine, Tokyo's grandest Shinto shrine.  It happened to be the shrine's "Doll Thanksgiving Day", and there were thousands of dolls and stuffed animals neatly displayed around the grounds.  Since ancient times, the Japanese have believed that dolls posses souls, and so, shrines will accept dolls for those who cannot bear to simply discard old or broken dolls in the garbage.  Traditional Shinto religious ceremonies are carried out to purify and bless the existence of dolls that have completed their service.  Those that bring in the dolls write a message of gratitude to their own doll on paper cut-outs in the shape of a human figure, and place this note before the shrine alter.  The messages are then used by the Shinto priests in the rites of purification.  This practice is believed to bring peace and tranquility to the souls of the dolls, while returning the dolls to the state of mere physical entity.  At the same time, the doll owner will at last be able to bid farewell to their doll with reassurance and without feelings of remorse.

By the end of the day, it was expected that approximately 40,000 dolls would be enshrined.  (Following the ceremony, the dolls that have been returned to the status if materialistic objects are disposed of in a proper and respectful fashion). 

....can't say I have every come across anything remotely similar to this custom.

5 Weeks In

5 Weeks In

Our Home:  We found a cute house (duplex), about 1300 square feet, in a quiet neighborhood, 15 minutes by bike away from the school.   Our house is called a “Swedish House” as it is made with materials from Sweden; except the kitchen, which is made from materials from Canada (I love my kitchen).  The advantage of a Swedish home over a Japanese home is that it is well insulated, with 3 paned windows and an air-conditioning/heating wall unit in each room.  We are told that these houses are built so well that we will only have to use our heaters for maybe a month or two, where people in Japanese homes will be using theirs much longer.  This saves on electricity costs, which are very high in Japan.  Off of our living rooms we have a small yard  (about the size of a large deck back home in Canada) with beautiful looking Japanese trees and other shrubbery and to the side of the house is a very long paved driveway that is great for all of our bikes, scooters, wagons etc.  We are in a great location as there are 4 large parks, a number of grocery market options, a Wal-Mart type store, and a few fast food outlets all within a 5-15 minute bike ride away.   If I need more “foreign” sort of foods such as tacos, I can ride my bike to this store in 20 minutes and then hop on the train if for a 10-minute ride if I want to hit a more “trendy” part of town.  The area we live in is much more rural than those who live downtown (most of the students live downtown and take the school bus (which is more like a greyhound) to school each day so we do not see a lot of foreigners unless they work at the school.  There are farms (large gardens) all around us and so I am watching to see what types of foods should be planted in each season.  I am really enjoying all of the greenery (there is a forest right across the road which has lots of bamboo) after being in the desert for the last 3 years.

Transportation:  Right now we get everywhere by bike or train.  Steve just got his mountain bike, which was ordered in by a bike shop, as the sizes here are too small for him.  I have my 6 gear-shopping bike (mama sun) which has a seat behind mine for Alyvia, and Tristan has his bike from Kuwait, which he is getting very confident on.  We also got a tailgater which attaches to Steve’s bike and then to Alyvia’s bike- all she has to do is sit and hold on while Steve pulls her.  Japanese babies are on bikes from the time they are born and so it is not uncommon to see a 4 year old kid on his/her own bike riding just as well as mom or dad.   I also bought a road bike, as there is a group of teachers who cycle every weekend.  I thought it would be a good way to see a little of Japan- just the other day I went out for a morning ride and was able to get a clear view of Mount Fuji- very cool!   I have always wanted to get into road biking and so I figured this is a good a time as any!  We will most likely get a car down the road so that we have the opportunity to get out of the city and see some of Japan on the weekends, but for now we are fine with our bikes and the train.  If anything, we are getting into shape with all the hills here!

The Weather: Tokyo is having the hottest summer in 112 years!  It has been high 30’s and 80-90% humidity since we got here!  Needless to say I am always sweating!  It is good for the waistline though.  One would think we would be used to the heat after being in Kuwait but the humidity is a force to be reckoned with.  I had to laugh the other day when I checked the weather for Calgary, Kuwait and Japan- Calgary was rain a high of 12, Kuwait was sun and a high of 46, and Japan was rain and a high of 32.  I do not miss Calgary weather!

The School: ASIJ is a magnificent school.  The facilities are out of this world (more like a college) and the teaching and organization are fabulous- they are even better than what the website pictures show!  We feel so lucky that our children will be receiving top notch education while getting a chance to see the world.  For all our teaching friends, you would love it here!

Steve: Steve is extremely busy but enjoying his new job.  He is half time grade 8 counselors and half time grade 8 English.  I think he finds the transitioning from counseling to English a little tough, but he is never one to complain!  He is also coaching varsity tennis right now, which has turned out to be a heavy commitment.  He practices for 2.5 hours 4 times a week and has games on Saturdays that last at least 6 hours.  Although he enjoys coaching, I think he will be glad to see the season end at the end of October, as it is a little much on top of a new job.

Tristan: Tristan has a fabulous grade one teacher and seems to be enjoying his new school.  Steve asked him one night how he was liking ASIJ compared to Kuwait and he said he liked ASIJ better for 3 reasons: most kids had the same skin color as him, all kids speak English, and there is no religion (which he never had to go to but was pulled out of his class and put in another class during this time).  I thought it interesting that all his answers had to do with a sense of belonging, yet he never once complained about not fitting in at school in Kuwait.  

Tristan tried out for the swim team and made the “B” teams.  We are very excited as this means free swimming lessons 2 times a week for 2 months, and gives him a sense of confidence as he sees his swimming improve.  The swim team at the school is very well established and quite serious, but at the B level it is a little more laid back.  Once swim is over he would like to try gymnastics or karate.  There is a lot to get involved in here and so we are trying to pick only one thing per season.  He is beginning to make friends with some of the staff children which is great as they all live close by- his classmates all live downtown.  There are a TON of staff kids and so there is always someone to play with.

Alyvia: Alyvia is enjoying being at home with me.  After we do something together she says, “That was fun”, or “I like doing that with you mommy”.  She continues to be an easy child except for when she decides that she is NOT going to do something and tests to see who is going to win, me or he?  She can be stubborn and seems to get this way when there is an audience to watch!   Her verbal skills continue to develop and I am always amazed at her use of advanced vocabulary and grammatical structure for a 2 year old.  I think she is going to be a strong student.

Carrie:  I am doing very well.  I was a little concerned about staying home this year but so far I am really enjoying it.  I have to admit that I do not miss the stress of being an administrator and am enjoying a slower pace of life and all the extra energy that I have.   I have continued my tradition of working out in the mornings and have found a friend to run and bike with.  She is trying to convince me to run the Tokyo marathon but I do not know that I really want to train for a 42 km run!  We will see.   There are 4 moms that I have met, all teachers who are staying home and so that connection has been great.  All four of them are great ladies and people that I enjoy hanging out with.  We have gotten together a few times already and they have been very helpful in showing me the ropes.

I signed up for Japanese lessons the other day.  These will take place every Friday for 2 hours (child care provided) and then a tutor will meet with me for 1-2 hours during the week at my convenience.  I HAVE TO LEARN some Japanese!  It is difficult not knowing what is ever being said or what is written on posters.  I had my first real major experience with this other day when I parked my bike in a “no parking bike zone” and had it taken to bike jail!  40 dollars and a few hours later ($30 to get my bike back and $10 for the taxi) I was back on my bike but had NO IDEA where I was (and could not ask anyone).  Thankfully I had a friend who rode her bike to the bike jail (got lost on the way) and navigates me home.   I am sure there will be many more mistakes made.

I have made myself available to sub 2 times a week (I am swapping children with 2 other moms) and so I hope to get some subbing in as the school year picks up.  This will be a nice break from home a little extra money in the pocket- this one salary thing sucks!

That is about it for now.  In my next e-mail I will tell you about some of the different experiences we have had living in Japan so far……..

The First Week

The First Week- Learning How to Shop

We have been in Japan for one week now but it feels like much longer.  Steve has been at work for 5 days now, Tristan has been at day camp for 5 days, and Alyvia and I have been shopping up a storm for the last 5 days. Our shipment comes in on Wednesday but we moved from the hotel to the house on Friday and our now living with rental cots, a fridge from the staffroom, a kitchen table and chairs that we purchased from Ikea, and 2 pots and 2 towels that we borrowed from another teacher- it kind of feels like camping.

Shopping here has been interesting to say the least.  There is not much in the grocery store that we recognize and so we find ourselves wandering the isles and looking at pictures on labels to see if we can find something familiar.  In the cereal isle you can only find 3 different types, Special K, Frosted Flakes, and Bran, and if you are looking for peanut butter and jam, the jars are mini size (but then again so are most things here).  Tristan and Alyvia may have to change their morning eating routine.   What you can find a lot of is fish (I really need to learn how to cook this), seaweed snacks, white bread (the Japanese love the stuff), noodles (that I do not recognize) and beer (Steve is happy about this one).  I guess the good thing about this is that our grocery cart will be the bare essentials and this should result in a lower grocery cost (I hope).  There is a COSTCO 1.5 hours away that I will be checking out on Monday and I hear that there are more English labels so I will have to stock up on our family favorites. Since we will not have a car I will have to try and bum a ride to COSTCO every now and then.

The Japanese tend to grocery shop each day to ensure that food is fresh.  The carts in the grocery store only fit 2 baskets and so you cannot by more than this amount at one time.  The reason for the 2 baskets is that a large number of Japanese opt to cycle rather than drive, and so, only 2 baskets will fit on a bike, one on the front and one on the back.

I bought a “shopping bike” today.  It has a big basket on the front and baby carrier on the back so Alyvia can come along.  Since most Japanese ride bikes, every store will have a bike “parking lot”.  You simply find a parking stall, put down your kickstand, and leave your bike.  There are very low incidents of theft here because there are police EVERYWHERE!  If I end up buying a mountain bike I will need to lock it up, but for now I am safe with my $200 shopping bike.

Shopping for other items other than food has also been challenging.  Most store clerks do not speak English and so I am forced to look up a few words and try my luck at speaking some Japanese.  (Once we are settled I really need to begin language study).   Because it is SO busy here, shopping can be time consuming.  Who would of thought that trip to Ikea would have taken 9 hours!  It took 1.5 hours to drive out there, and the next 6 hours were spent battling the crowds.  At one point I felt like hiding in a corner.  Even Alyvia could not get into the play area as when we got there I had to take a number and she was 148- they were only on 90.  Needless to say, Ikea will not be a regular trip!

Eating out here is generally expensive.  We learned this when a meal at a Japanese restaurant cost $75 and most of the food we were not able to stomach- liver (thought it was beef), fishy noodles, and other mystery meat on skewers.  The cheapest place to eat here would be a Raman Noodle House (Japanese noodle soup).  For $7-8 you can get a big bowl of soup, but again, you never really know what you are ordering as no one in these places speaks Japanese.  Our first experience was getting pork instead of chicken- it was pretty good though.

What I have noticed during my shopping trips is that everyone working in a store takes pride in what they do.  There is always a Japanese welcome and people will do their best to help you out.  When paying for a purchase, money is placed in a small tray and the receipt is always passed back with 2 hands and a small bow.  The receiver also receives with 2 hands and bows as well.  This old custom is a nice way to personalize a money transaction.

I think that most of our major shopping is now done.  Now it will be the little things that we will need to live the day to day.  I am sure I will be making lots of trips back and forth to the grocery store- just like tonight when I realized that I had no dish soap.

I look forward to getting our shipment in one Wednesday and getting settled into our new home.  Hopefully by this time next week we will be ready to focus on getting to know the surrounding area. 

The First 24 Hours

The First 24 Hours

We have been in Japan exactly 24 hours and we have already experienced so much.  I am always amazed at how time warps itself when you encounter, what I like to call, the third dimension- an experience very unlike the day-to-day experiences we all live.  Suddenly time seems to stand still as your senses take in so much.  A day feels like a week, especially when you get up at 3am due to jet lag.

I cannot but help compare our first 24 hours here to our first 24 hours in Kuwait.  The two worlds are drastically different.  If there were to be an instruction booklet on the “how to’s” of arriving as a teacher in a new country, here is what it might say:

Kuwait: Airport Arrival: Before the plane even comes to a stand still, take off your seatbelt, get up, find your luggage in the overhead compartment and begin pushing your way out of the plane.  Once off the plane, if you have not been swallowed by the cigarette smoke, navigate yourself to the visa station and push your way in line to receive a visa.  Continue to wait while 25 different people stamp your visa, and while another 10 people handle the visa, only AFTER they finish their cigarette or coffee.  Proceed to immigration where some customs attendant will ask you to turn to the correct page in your passport and proceed to complain about how hard his/her job is.  Once at baggage you will need to fight your way to the belt, or if you are a little smarter, higher one of the orange suited porters to fight his way to the belt, where you will wait, and wait, and wait for your luggage.  Once (and if) your luggage arrives, you will proceed to the security check, where your luggage will be scanned by one or two workers who are more interested in having a conversation about last night’s happenings, rather than watching the computer screen for illegal substances.  2 hours later (or more), you will exit arrivals and will be swallowed by mass crowds where you will try to find the American International School representative. 

Japan: Airport Arrival: Once the plane lands you will quietly wait for it to come to a complete stop.  You will then find your luggage in the overhead compartment and quietly wait until the exit line begins moving.  Once off the plane, you will follow the signs to immigration where you will wait in line with your already acquired visa and use the “time signs” in the line-up to determine how long you will have to wait for an agent.  Once at the immigration booth, you will be asked to place your fingers onto 2 probes, which scan your fingerprints and then be asked to look at the little red dot, which then takes your picture.  Once through customs you will collect your already arrived luggage from the well numbered luggage belts and then proceed to customs.  Customs will simply look at your customs card and neatly stamp it before you proceed out of the building where you will be greeted by a small crowd and an American School in Japan rep who is right outside the doors greeting you with a can of beer!

Kuwait: Driving to Your New Apartment: You will leave the airport on a bus with 20 other jet lagged people.  As you make your way out of the airport, the 50+ degree dry heat outside will have taken over the bus and you will be forced to crane your neck to the air conditioner vent above your head which only spits out warm air.  For the next 30-45 minutes you will battle BMWs, Porches, Hummers, and other luxury vehicles going at lightening speeds past you.  If you arrive at your new apartment without being scared to death by the drivers on the road, you are one step ahead of the other 90% of the people on your bus.

Japan: Driving to the Hotel: Exiting the airport you will be hit by 30 degree heat and 80% humidity.  You will leave Narita airport by a private school car with high quality air conditioning, drinking your ice-cold beer.  As you make your way towards Tokyo, and then Chofu, you will encounter traffic, traffic, and more TRAFFIC.  There is no such thing as “lightening speed” here!  If you do more than crawl you are doing well.  The trip from the airport to the hotel in Chofu should take 1.5-2hrs.  If you are unlucky, as were the Bennett’s, the trip will take you 4 hours!