A job is a job is a job. I took a job, so I don't end up on the street. I am grateful that this job was offered. I will be working for a Japanese beltway bandit in the field of international development. Japanese beltway bandits are mostly located in Tokyo, and that is where I am going.
I am from Tokyo, and thought I had left it for good. The congestion, the cultural conservativeness, the un-cosmopolitanness, small housing, expensive living cost, etc., etc. I do like the city, but certain things always made me uncomfortable.
After 10 years in the US, however, many things look attractive, too: Universal health care; efficient and extensive public transportation; near absence of gun-related crimes; abortions taken for granted; and I don't have to do my taxes.
Things that concern me, on the other hand, are: Availability of organic food; size of kitchen; size of apartment; earthquakes; radiation; high prices in general; complicated courtesy rules.
I have told myself that I would act as a faux-American, so that I'm exempt from the last mentioned. Japanese like to draw boundaries between Japanese and non-Japanese, and those are hard lines. I'd rather be "not quite Japanese," so they can cut me some slack about the million unstated rules of appropriateness. I will be that uncategorizable weirdo.
So friends, tell me good, fascinating, exotic things about Japan that I can look forward to.
I am from Tokyo, and thought I had left it for good. The congestion, the cultural conservativeness, the un-cosmopolitanness, small housing, expensive living cost, etc., etc. I do like the city, but certain things always made me uncomfortable.
After 10 years in the US, however, many things look attractive, too: Universal health care; efficient and extensive public transportation; near absence of gun-related crimes; abortions taken for granted; and I don't have to do my taxes.
Things that concern me, on the other hand, are: Availability of organic food; size of kitchen; size of apartment; earthquakes; radiation; high prices in general; complicated courtesy rules.
I have told myself that I would act as a faux-American, so that I'm exempt from the last mentioned. Japanese like to draw boundaries between Japanese and non-Japanese, and those are hard lines. I'd rather be "not quite Japanese," so they can cut me some slack about the million unstated rules of appropriateness. I will be that uncategorizable weirdo.
So friends, tell me good, fascinating, exotic things about Japan that I can look forward to.
Wowww Maki, yes job is job and for job people move around but what about life: wear kimono, eat sushi and go for natural sauna near ocean....(though, I do not know much)....
ReplyDeleteDarling Maki,
ReplyDeleteBelieve it's not Tokyo or Japan. I felt the same 'unhominess' when I returned from London to Greece. In the 'culture of intimacy' there are different degrees of integration. Something went wrong for us there. best, eleni
Thanks, you two! I am hoping it won't be as bad as I make it out to be, but hey, better to be prepared for the worst and be pleasantly surprised! That sounds too optimistic...
ReplyDelete