thoughts at a cafe

Today I visited the official Tokyo driver’s license centre again (see photo!) I always find these kinds of public areas quite degrading and rundown. Similar to the old immigration centre that was in Otemachi. Cannot blame it for being rundown due to the foreigners either, since there is only a small section that we are allotted in order to acquire our right to drive Japan. It used to be, simple, and that we didn’t have to go through all the rigamarole of proving that we obtained our license in our own country and stayed there for over 90 days. Once your International license of 1 year expires, we must go through certain procedures and spend a couple of hours sitting, waiting in the fluorescent lit dull metal beige rooms in order for our license to be approved. Unfortunately, the first time I visited Samezu (the area of the license centre) I didn’t bring the information that proved that I had been living in NZ for 3 months after I gained my drivers license. There always seems to be some catch when it comes to Japanese public systems and involves at least two trips to the same public institution that you end up waiting for a long time at. Apparently, according to an Italian guy that I met at the centre, he mentioned that the Italian buracracy is about ten times worse and that you would end up going back and forths to the same place at least a dozen times. Seems Italy and Japan have more in common than I thought! Those two countries could well do with some Kiwi commonsense that is for sure. Anyway, I am completely legal to drive a car in Japan! Now just have to get a car - or rent one...

Apparently it was meant to snow today, so winter is not quite over yet. As tired as I am, I'm off to a comedy show tonight in Harajuku, featuring, Irish, Australian and British comedians. Went a few months ago and had everyone in stitches. A rather good night's entertainment.

Just sitting in a coffee shop called Afternoon Tea and looking around the room (full of women), there are a couple of women that have caught my attention, ande perhaps because of the fact that they are sitting right next to me. Would be in their late 40’s and are chatting intensively about their friends. What surprises me (or doesn't) is that they are hardly beautiful yet they are dressed exquisitely, with one of them wearing a huge Cartier watch which would have the value of around 10-15,000 NZ dollars. These two women aren't the type that would be sporting around fake watches either. No doubt they are married to elite business men or doctors. They both have plenty of stones that would add up to a small fortune in anyone's bank, judging by the number of rings and gold that they have decorated themselves in. Are they dressing up for what they lack in? What strikes me though is that they both don’t seem that happy. Both dressed in black from head to toe and their conversation isn't one of happy conversation but chatting about others and derogative statements. Their voices aren't soft or gentle like some women you hear chatting. Is it the money that has shaped them like this or is it their marriage and their outlook on life? Being concerned about keeping up with "the jones' " and not really living the way they really should be. I don't think this is just Japan though, I think that this kind of situation exists throughout the world. Money can be just a compensation for happiness in loveless marriages. Where those kind of marriages exist especially in Japan. Marriages based on “what would be good for me”, rather than, “I truly love this man and want to marry him”. I don’t know what it is like overseas, since I have spent so much of my time in Japan, but there seems to be an emphasis on the difference between love relationships and marriage. Is this the true in the West or is it just what is considered for Japanese? I find myself contemplating this and wonder if it is the Japanese influence having an effect over me or is it me just getting older and more skeptical about life in general. Any thoughts anyone?.....

Smile and embrace life,
And you might find that life will embrace your smile.
Unknown

on my way to work

Thursday, the week sure has gone by fast. Always does when one is busy. Walked to work this morning, which takes me about a good 20minutes. Was too lazy to get out of bed this morning at 7 for my walk around the neighbourhood, so decided that the walk to work was better than nothing. You may think that my walk to work would be full of exhuast fumes and people crammed along the footpaths, but it is completely the oppposite. I walk up a hill that has quite a number of trees and very quiet. I can also hear the birds chirping, which gives me a sense of peace and calmness before I start work. There are a number of cafes I cross and often contemplate to sit in one and study, but everytime I do, I am bothered by the gossiping oba-sans (women over 40ish) or the smoke that lingers from the smoking area to the non-covered non-smoking area, or the draft that is caused by the door opening and closing recieving the morning customers. Therefore I choose to ignore those cafes and go to my desk where I can spend a bit of time on the PC and some study before "really" working. Most of you know that my work is rather vague and wonder exactly what I do. Sometimes I do as well. All I know that it fits in with my lifestyle which is the most important thing.

Lunch was an exception to the daily routine. Work friend (and surfing buddy) H took me to a restaurant that I haven't been to for about 2 years. It was stepping back into little Kyoto. The room was architectually designed like a typical house in Kyoto (dark chocolate stained wooden beams jutting out from the cream coloured walls, intricately carved sliding wooden doors), all separating rooms from each other. Was very impressive and a complete escapism from the office and Tamachi. Today had a slightly different meal and that was one of chicken tempura. A bit like KFC, without the oily skin and heavy fried batter, yet not like the deep-fried chicken they also serve here in Japan. I am not usually a fan of chicken, however, this particular meal was quite good and reasonably priced.

I didn't make it to my yoga class last night, due to studying intensively at work till 9pm! Quite a record for me. On my way home last night, I was thinking how if you really didn't love what you did at work, then working every night till this time would be complete torture, since you really couldn't do what you really wanted to do, let alone go to the gym and just blob out watching a TV drama or something. Luckily for me, I am out of the office by 7 most nights so have quite a bit of time to do what I want, but for the majority of workers, this is impossible. No wonder people would say that their hobbies are sleeping or watching the odd TV program, work doesn't allow them to have much more than that. Needless to say, most of the people I work with, are out of the office by 8pm, and my boss leaves most days at around 7pm. However, there are those that stay till 10 or 11pm with the lights of the office blaring out well into the wee hours. Thank goodness I am not one of those..

If you wish to know the road up the mountain,
you must ask the man who goes back and forth in it.
Japanese Proverb

Homeless and Spring

Why is it that the weekends you are bushy tailed wide awake at 7am and the weekdays you can hardly roll your eyelid open at 8am? Is it psychological or is it that there is something in your brain that tells you that it is a "work day" and that you have to get up. I felt like that yesterday, and today almost did, however, it was a very beautiful sunny spring morning and decided to leap up from my futon and go out for a morning walk. I am glad I did and it does make a difference. The fresh chill of the morning air in my lungs and knowing that some days I am fast asleep, but today I am up with the young girls dressed in their freshly starched uniforms walking to school (I happen to pass by Sacred Heart Girls College on my walks). Immaculately dressed in their dark green pinafores with their matching green felt bowler hats. It always surprises me how early they attend school. I am sure I used to manage to squeeze into the classroom before the last bell was rung - 8.45am! What do they do when they get to school at 7am? Checking their homework with the other girls? Playing in the playground? Lessons? Sure is early to start school.


The buds are slowly emerging into the air and before long we will have the blossoms greeting us. Ahh, spring in Japan, it must be the most favoured season for Japanese. They have parties to celebrate the blossoms - Hanami. Before long there will be invitations out to go out drinking under the cherry trees. Where the homeless can finally make a bit of a cash with people paying them to save places under the best cherry tree spots. My friend D told me that the homeless preferred food than money, since they find it hard to be accepted to enter a store to buy the food. They preferred to receive the leftovers from the hanami party. (Handy hint for those hanami goers?...)

Remain true to yourself and the truth will shine from you.
(unknown)

A cup of Chai anyone?

Friday and Saturday were absolutely freezing and it even snowed lightly too! I couldn't believe how cold it was. (Wearing leggings underneath jeans and still feeling the cold!)

Saturday I was out apartment hunting with good friend N. Looked at quite a number of "one room" places. It never ceases to surprise me at how well the Japanese manage to pack in so much so neatly and conveniently in such a minimal space. It is most inspiring to think you can have a unit kitchen (two gas elements), a decent sized fridge, separate toilet and bathroom and also room for the washing machine inside by the shoe cupboard. All with plenty amount of space for your belongings in a decent-sized wardrobe. (Size of the apartment, around 21sqm.) Brand new and around 110,000yen in Hiroo (quite a good area in Tokyo = to the likes of Merivale in Chch). However, that wasn't the choice made as it was a bit far from the station - 12 minutes.

After the search of apartments, I attended a writing event with N - another good friend. Donald Richie was giving a lecture on short stories and his new book "A view from the Chuo Line". Donald is a very well known author based in Japan for more than 60 years! Had some interesting tips on short story writing as well as life in general. I really liked what he said about being more aware of things that surround you that you may just take for granted and taking a note of them. To set aside at least an hour of your day for writing. So I guess this blog is part of my new side of writing. Just wonder how long I can keep it up...

Interestingly enough, after the lecture, I did start noticing things that I would normally would have just shrugged off. For instance, N and I went and had a drink after the event and we were served a cup of Chai tea at the local family restuarant. Well, normally you would have expected to be served a cup and a saucer as well as a spoon as what is expected, however, to our surprise, we were served just a cup of Chai with a cinnamon stick in it. There was nothing for the cup to be placed upon the bare naked table. Just the cup and table. N and I found it slightly odd since usually you would have something in between the table and the cup. Perhaps it was the colourful pattern at the bottom of the cup that meant that it didn't need the presence of a saucer or are times changing or is it just cutting down the cost? Hopefully I will load a photo of "the cup" so you can check out just what I mean. So from Donald Richie's lecture, I have decided to try and recall the slightly unusual happenings that I take for granted over here, but are actually indeed a bit different.

Your outlook on life is a direct reflection of hou much you like yourself.
Lululemon

Health article

Woke up to a drizzly day today. However, it is nice to have a change in the weather. To hear the sound of rain outside and the cars whizzing by. Now that I am used to the winter and always having to put on at least 3 layers of clothing, I am not looking forward to the hot summer months. At least they aren't for a few more months yet! Phew!

I came across this article on the web about the dangers of chemicals in everything, including perfumes, washing powder and toothpaste. If you have time, please check it out.
http://www.newstarget.com/017804.html I often check out this website as it has some very useful and interesting information. Sorry it's not in Japanese. (Good practice for your English is what I say though!)

Still reading Dan Brown's Angels and Demons. Getting better all the time. Only a 1/4 of the way through, however, it has me hooked. I wonder if they will turn this into a sequal to the movie of the Vinci Code? Would be cool if they do! The effects will be most impressive!

There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle.
The other is as though everything is a miracle.
Albert Einstein

Spring and Turkish coffee

Spring seems like it is finally here. It's not even 10am and the temperature is already 16 degrees! According to the Japanese, there are 4 days of warm weather and then 3 days of cold weather before Spring finally arrives. It seems like tomorrow will plumment down to a high of 9 degrees.. How can they figure this out? Apparently this happens every year - obviously. Interesting huh. I wonder if this is the same all over the world? Someone please inform me if this phenonomen happens in any other part of the world....

I went for my first Japanese lesson at a school last night, since I decided that I still needed to study, even on Valentine's Day! My lesson involved an article about the recently opened Omotesando Hills. One of the stores there (93 in all) was Harry Winston. The main feature -necklace worth a cool 9.57 million yen (about 130,000 NZ dollars). I wonder if they have the real one displayed or it is just a fake in the glass cabinent. Knowing Japan, it is probably the real one! Another new "attraction" there is a bar that includes a track to race your radio controlled "model" cars. You can race your own one as long as it is a Minx (no idea what type of model car this is..?). I wonder how that will go down with the girls on a date? Or the girls that have a Minx and will race it down at the bar?.. Does anyone have a Minx?..
Will check out O.Hills once the hype cools down. around it.

Just made a Turkish coffee. The aroma of the coffee drifting through the apartment brings be back to those alleyways in Istanbul. My first Turkish coffee was in an original quaint typcial style Turkish cafe over looking the Hippodrome (well the remains of it).. Ahh, the memories of Turkey. Unfortunately, I don't think I have perfected how to make the perfect cup yet, as the crema wasn't on top :-( Any hints on how to make the perfect cup?

Finished off the day with a walk around the neighbourhood. Must say it was a very nice night, warm yet still with a slight chill in the air, just to remind that winter hasn't quite finished it's term yet. There are some amazing houses in the area. One that I never get tired of thinking about is a huge house that is situated on like park grounds. A bit like a house out of The Munsters. I bet there are some stories that go with that place. Will try and take a photo of it some time and post it on here. It is impossible to go inside due to the intimidating and closed gates at the entrance way. Just what type of person would live there?


Beware of what you set your mind on
for that you will surely become.
Emerson

a happy spring valentine's day in tokyo

A lovely day here, around 14 degrees. Feels like spring is definitely on its way at long last! Lunch time always seems to go by so much quicker when the weather is warm and spring like. It must be one of my favourite seasons. That and Autumn.

I bumped into a long lost friend that I work with in the same building. Haven't seen her for over 3 weeks! Being the only two females working in the company, one would imagine it would be pretty easy to bump into each other, however, this sky scraper office has around 5000 people and often each floor is like another company. 42 floors in total - phew!

Just enjoying a cappacino from Starbucks (less espresso, extra hot, soy milk) and wondering what I am going to do for the rest of the day. There is proofreading to be done of the translation that I have completed... I guess I will put that off for another week. Seems like too much brain work required at this time of the day.

Just read Hitomi Kanehara's novel called Snake and Earrings. Quite heavy going and rather graphic in places. Wasn't sure what I was expecting, but not quite as hard core as I read. Interesting though and does lift a light on Japanese girls in society. Still haven't worked out where exactly Hitomi is trying to hit home with the snake tongue, but I am sure there is a hidden metaphor within it. Hitomi won the very prestigious Akutagawa book prize. Hitomi and another young author named Risa Wataya (18) were the youngest recipients to win the prize. I am currently trying to read Risa's book called Keritai Senaka - Want to kick your back. (Or something translated similar to that). Haven't got that far with it yet. The books will help towards my thesis that I intend to write after reading that. Will be tough going, but have enrolled so no turning back! If you have read these, please let me know your comments. I would be most interested in them (^-^)/

If you are in Tokyo, I do hope you are enjoying this wonderful spring day. If you are in NZ then no doubt you are enjoying the cooler autumn days.

Btw, Happy Valentine's Day too! Here in Japan, the tradition is that girl's give the guys (inlcuding bosses, fathers, brothers) chocolates and then in a month's time (March 14th - White Day), the guys (including the bosses, fathers, brothers) return gifts (usually double the price of the chocolate that was given to them, as it seems to be expected by Japanese girls), to the givers. Is this just a marketing ploy for the shops or what.?! The whole tradition of valentine's day seems to have disappeared and white day has been added. Oh, bring back those days where we open cards to find we have secret admirer's..
Note: most chocolate is of a form of obligation chocolate, and "true love" chocolate is only for the one's that are either going out or newly married.

I have also decided that I will end my posts by a quote. Either one that I've made up myself, or one that has inspired me..

The beauty that embodies a dream,
Has the power to manifest a reality.
(sri chinmoy)

first words

Hi and welcome to my blog !!

Honestly speaking, I have been anticipating to start a blog for quite some time, an alternative to a diary in a way. Will see how it goes and what kind of comments I get back from people. Please bear with me if it seems a bit dull at the start, as I am sure once I get used to things it will get a bit more exciting. Until then, please keep checking my blog out and you never know, you may be featured in it!
Oh, and feel free to add any comments or opinions :-)

Seize the day to begin the day!