My Japan

Japan; I used to think of Godzilla, Sushi, Samurai and Geisha girls! It was just one more place I would only dream of going to and never really thought much about getting there...till my daughters girlfriend had to move there shortly after the new year in 2006. Lets just say, it was extremely last minute and she was to be there anywhere from one to two years! She need to adjust quick.

As you can guess, the move was a bit tough on Marleigh's friend; she missed her friends, she missed her 8th grade graduation, she missed being a typical teenager in good ol' Carnation, Washington. She needed major cheering up, e-mail and Instant messaging just weren't cutting it so she begged and pleaded and got two of her best friends to visit! One went in May just as Cherry Blossom season was ending. Marleigh and I went the end of July, the hottest time of the year and also known for typhoons! My daughter took hold of this trip like she does everything else in her life..."Geesh mom, it's just Japan, we'll be fine!" I was so excited, I couldn't think straight for days after we got the airline tickets!!! Heck, the furthest either of us have ever traveled in our lives is to Mexico...OK, yes, it's foreign but I just don't get the goosebumps the way I do when I think about my trip to Japan! We couldn't even talk my husband and son into going because for them, it was way too far away and it was waaaay too different for them culturally; language barrier, food, environment, a complete new world for them. I couldn't wait!

Was it everything we thought it would be? Yes and oh sooo much more! Marleigh enjoyed her time with her pal, they were typical fourteen year old girls...I did need to remind her from time to time that culturally speaking, the people of Japan are much calmer and more subdued than we in the states. For instance, here in the states, it's not uncommon to see young girls (even older ones) dressed in shorts and baby~doll shirts or tank tops and not think about what other people might be thinking about them. In Japan, girls didn't dress that way. They wore bermuda shorts or capri's. Baby doll tops, halters, tank tops, were always covered up with another top or sweater (even when the humidity was one hundred percent wetness!! Girls (and boys) were very calm, quiet in public; not as showy as our kids like to be here. On the train and subway to our various destinations, it was fun to watch the girls as they shared their MP3 player singing out loud, dancing (when they were standing up), cracking up, talking loud and then watching the other kids and adults just looking at them in awe. Even I felt a little out of place being older and wearing clothing that I would normally wear at home (sleeveless shirts) because of the heat.

I loved every minute of my trip, I tried to pretend that I like my friends had just moved there and I was adapting to the environment. I tried to eat food that was native to Japanese even though Macky-Do's and Kentucky Fried Chicken were on almost every corner. Our main source of transportation was the subway system and the train. Wow, talk about an elaborate maze! Not even New York compares to Japans sophisticated system! Of course when we weren't on a Jtrain or subway, we were hoofin' it. I seriously lost 5 pounds while we were there and I ate pretty much what ever I felt like!!

Because Japan loves the western culture so much, I didn't buy a lot of souvenirs. Instead, I tried to take as many pictures as I could. Things that you and I might not notice in the states so much like gas stations, supermarkets, architecture, people, the subway, the trains, etc. I wanted to remember the everyday little things. I've been asked several times if I would go back. Yes, if the conditions were right, I'd be there in a heartbeat. My hosts were beyond wonderful, the people of Japan were always kind and gracious, the land is tropical and the city is sophisticated. You bet, if I had the chance to go again....