Everyday life in Japan for an American foreigner

Life in Japan for an American can be filled with many emotions. Exhilaration, appreciation, humility, independence, loneliness, alienation, fear, love, and adventurous are all emotions that I have felt during my time here in Japan. This new way of life has exhilarated me and has given me a chance to view life in a different way, which is a common theme that I am encountering when talking to people visiting Japan or that have lived in Japan in the past. Everything about Japan is stimulation for the soul, from the culture to the nature, from the thriving metropolis to the serene lakes and mountains. 

I am always greeted with challenges and adventures throughout my day and gain confidence in my ability to face these challenges by myself through perseverance and getting out and wondering the city while Joel is at work. Much to my surprise and amusement, last week I was able to order food and water by myself, ask for an English menu, successfully make purchases completely independent from Joel at big malls in downtown Kyoto, and get around town without looking at my bus map once! It's such an amazing feeling to finally get the hang of this and to successfully navigate my way around! 

There are some things that I encounter in my day to day life as an American foreigner that always brings a smile to my face and makes me laugh time and time again. Although the attempt to use English to make our lives a little easier is much appreciated, I can't help but laugh at the strange translations of Japanese to English that you find all around Japan! It can often times be quite comical, and sometimes very confusing. Usually you will see strange sayings on people's shirts, bags, or purses that are in English and don't make any sense at all. It's hilarious because you know that the person wearing that shirt has no idea what it says! 

When I first arrived in Japan, I often felt a little alienated by people staring at me on the bus or walking down the street. Although I knew it was probably because I am a blonde haired, green eyed, fair skinned American, I felt like an alien! Now I am somewhat used to it and just smile right back and try to imagine what they could be thinking. It's always interesting to see other foreigners in Japan trying to translate and navigate their way just like we often times do. Usually us foreigners just swap glances and probably think "I wonder what they are doing in Japan?" or "Hey they look different too!" 

Another fun thing that Joel and I have grown accustomed to is being able to have a 'private' conservation in public. No one understands what we are saying, and it's wonderful since I am quite the private person. I always joke with Joel that one day he'll say something crazy and there will be someone around that can understand English. Most likely though, they wouldn't understand exactly what we were saying. I often wonder how I'll feel when I come back to the states and people can listen to my conservations. 

If you have any funny experiences being a foreigner or would like to share interesting things that have happened to you, share them in a comment! Until next time! 

Enjoying Nature

Hello again readers! It has been quite a few days since my last post, but I have been collecting pictures and thoughts, and I wanted to come up with something fabulous for you to read about! 

I have never been the type of girl who one would consider to be an outdoors type. By outdoors I mean I don't particularly like bugs, extreme temperatures, sneaky critters that you rarely see but know they are there, etc. However, the older that I get the more I have grown to appreciate nature and have embraced the thought of nature. There are few things as beautiful as the rich colors of autumn leaves, or beautiful mountain peaks with snow glazing the tips, or a creek hidden beneath the trees with fish dancing in the current. When you see these things, they produce a feeling within someone much like seeing something of great historical significance. It makes you want to look at it forever. You want to gaze at that sight for hours, examine the details of the colors and shapes, and take it all in. This is a feeling that Joel and I get quite often living in Kyoto. Our city is surrounding by glorious mountains and hills that can be viewed right from our bedroom window. Throughout our city, there are streams, rivers, and beautifully manicured gardens and trees that dot the city and often times draw crowds of people hoping to connect with nature. Close to our apartment is the imperial palace where there is a gorgeous park that is kept beautiful all year around. It's quite lovely walking through the gardens during the day and capturing some of the sights. Here are some pictures from my day at the park. 

Kyoto is not the only city in Japan that pays special attention to preserving nature and the charm it brings to the country. Japan is dedicated to preserving it's beautiful mountains, rivers, and countrysides that give the country so much personality. They accept that humans have to respect the land and borrow from it, building and progressing in such a way that does not compromise the land. Many cultural activities and festivals are often centered around nature in Japan. This can be seen during cherry blossom season. Often times companies will let their employees sit below the pink and red trees for a while during the day. The blooming of the cherry blossom flowers brings flocks of people from miles around just to enjoy this special occurrence that only happens once a year. Luckily, Joel and I live in one of the most beautiful cities for viewing the blossoms. Another example of Japan's culture making nature the center of it's activities would be the Harvest Moon festival happening this weekend where people can enjoy different activities around the city. 

Something that Joel and I thoroughly enjoy doing during the evening is going up to the roof of our apartment building and watching the sunset over the mountains. The sunsets here in Kyoto are by far the most breathtaking I have ever had the pleasure of viewing. I like to think of it as mother nature's masterpiece. We always take loads of pictures, and I've shared some with you below. Enjoy! 

Lost in Translation Part 2

In the movie "Lost in Translation" Charlotte sits on the floor of her hotel room in Japan listening to a self help c.d. and trying to figure out her purpose in life. I definitely relate to this side of Charlotte because I too am on a quest to find my calling in life in Japan! In the United States dropping out of college is very taboo, and the norm is to go to college right out of high school. Some people have absolutely no problem with this and sail through with flying colors, however I was not one of those people. Sure at first I was very determined to find something to major in while in college, but becoming very depressed and pessimistic about my future, I decided to drop out and try to figure out what I truly wanted to do. That was one of the toughest decisions of my life, but thanks to my husband who is an inspiration everyday, I got through it and have opened up more possibilities for myself by doing so. 

I'm not sure what I want to pursue whether it be a college degree, being a stay at home mom, or being a traveler. They are all noble things to do. Through my travels and writing this blog, I have rediscovered my passion for culture, travel, and writing. I'm not sure where this will lead me but it definitely is something that I love to be involved in.

Joel inspires me so much because he was 27 when he went back to college chasing a dream. He was inspired by something, and it took great courage to leave the music world that he knew and loved to pursue something completely foreign to him. He was inspired by Japan, and now here we are immersed in what he loves and what I am beginning to adore. I wanted to see for myself what drove Joel to seek something self affirming, something tremendous. I am hoping that during my year here I can at least narrow down, if not be sure of what I want to pursue in life. I'm searching for something to inspire and entice me in that way, something that I can excel at. Wish me luck on my journey to find it.

Lost in Translation Part 1

As Joel and I browsed through the Netflix selections on the computer about a week ago, looking through loads of movie titles and letting our indecisiveness get the best of us, we came across a movie that we had been recommended. We decided upon "Lost in Translation" with Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson. Many of you might have had the pleasure of watching this flick, but for those who haven't it's about a movie star who has a job to do in Tokyo. He meets this young woman who has followed her husband to Tokyo for his career, and they become great friends as they weave their way through their everyday life within the Japanese culture. They rely on each other for support because of the alienation they experience by being in Japan. From the very beginning, Joel and I were laughing at the experiences they encounter and the similarities between us and the characters. Joel has experienced many things Bill Murray's character goes through in the movie such as being the tallest person in the elevator and having extremely low shower heads that make you break your back to fit under. However I felt connected to Scarlett's character, Charlotte, in many ways and felt like I knew exactly what she was going through. The movie helped me realize things about my experience here and encouraged me to deal with them in the best way I know how.

For those who have seen the movie, I am connected with Charlotte because I can identify with her situation. In many ways Charlotte and I are having the same experiences. Just like Charlotte wonders around her hotel room looking for things to do, I wonder around our apartment. Just like Charlotte wonders through the city streets gazing at her new foreign world with wide eyes, I gaze and often get gazed at for being the only foreigner! She has no responsibilities in her life at that time besides supporting her husband and deciding what she wants to do with her life, both of which I do everyday. 

However on a deeper level, Charlotte experiences loneliness as well, which is something that I often experience throughout the week. I never thought that not working and virtually being on vacation for a year would be so difficult! I'm sure many of you are appalled by that statement and are thinking "I would like to have a year off." It is absolutely magnificent in so many ways but in some ways it's very alienating. I have no idea where I'm going and no idea what anyone is saying leaving me quite unsure about myself sometimes. I definitely feel very 'lost in translation' most days. I am left here with my thoughts all day, questioning myself and contemplating life's options. Being someone that has battled anxiety and depression at many points in my life, it scares me to let my mind wonder to a place that is lonely. Of course, I am not saying that my husband isn't there for me and doesn't keep me company because he is wonderfully supportive and is the best company I could ever have. But sometimes, your depression and loneliness is more personal and you have to have the courage to put yourself out there and pull yourself out of it. Feeling alone in a new city is something many people deal with, and I know that I can rise above that and overcome any depression I might be feeling at the time. Getting myself out there and observing one of the most complex and interesting cultures in the world is such a gift, and is sometimes the best remedy for depression and loneliness so matter how powerful! Rising above anything that is mentally hindering me from having the time of my life is something I have to do because this is exactly where I need to be. Sometimes your mind and your heart don't always feel the same, but when your feelings and your thoughts are aligned there is a world of possibilities, especially for my year here.

Adventure to Osaka

Last Saturday, Joel and I decided we needed to get out of the house and experience something different for a little while. We hadn't ventured to another city since I arrived in Japan so we thought it would be the perfect opportunity to hop on the train and make the small journey to Osaka. It only takes about 30 minutes total and two different train routes to get to Osaka. There might be other routes but ours was the cheapest and easiest for us. Earlier in the day we discussed going to the Osaka IKEA because we were in great need for basic household items like another skillet and pot, dishtowels, kitchen utensils etc. My first impressions of Osaka were much different than that of Kyoto. Osaka is a huge city with over 30 million people residing there. It doesn't feel crowded, but it feels busier and much more industrialized than Kyoto. Kyoto has a quaintness about it that is hard to find in a city. Although I'm sure Osaka has wonderful cultural and historical heritage, you might have to dig a little deeper there because of the modernized look and feel whereas Kyoto is enveloped in it. After our train ride we wondered over to the IKEA bus stop. Since the store isn't located right in the heart of Osaka, they provide a free shuttle that runs every twenty minutes or so for the convenience of the customers. Amazing! The shuttle ride was great, and before we knew it we were at IKEA. 

The store was completely packed and seemed like a cattle call to me, but definitely fun! We wondered through the displays and aisles upon aisles of IKEA goodies and gathered all of the necessities. The Japanese IKEA had some of the same products as the stores back home, but they catered to the Japanese culture providing futon beds and displays that looked like Japanese apartments. After our adventure in the vast wonderland of home goods we boarded our shuttle back into the city where we were meeting Joel's friend Joey for some drinks. 

Joel has known Joey for quite a few years and they are great friends. They did the show "Blast" together and have wonderful stories to tell. They both know the Osaka area pretty well, and have a favorite bar that Joel always talks about. Sort of an American tourist dive bar, but fun and very energetic. Joel had been craving the grilled cheese that they serve ever since he had it last in 2008 so we ordered that and some drinks. I listened to their stories of good, crazy, and adventurous times. We talked about planning a trip to Hiroshima for their sake festival and hanging out again. I'm sure Joey will be a great and cherished friend of mine now as well. We laughed and talked for a few hours before Joel and I wondered back to Kyoto where we were ready for the comfort of our cushiony soft futon. 

See you tomorrow readers! 

Strange meals and Geisha Sightings

I think that often times in the states, we like to classify foods into certain categories like Mexican, Italian, Chinese, Japanese etc. We have this notion that when we go to Olive Garden and get unlimited pasta or the soup, salad, and breadsticks combo that we are eating 'authentic' Italian food. I already had the idea in my head that this was all a facade when Joel and I headed to Italy, and our predictions about the food were correct. It was completely different than what Americans think Italian food is. The same idea applies to Japanese food as well. The restaurants here are not your average run of the mill American teppanyaki grill and buffet. It's much different as Joel and I experienced a couple weeks ago. 

We decided to head to the beautiful and traditional area of Gion to seek an authentic Japanese meal. Something that even Japanese people might only eat on special occasions, something to be admired for creativity and originality. We sought after a traditional restaurant on Pontocho street that was situated on the Kamo River where we could sit on the patio and admire our city. We knew of this pub around the area that served fish and chips as Joel had suggested, however I wanted a meal with a view. We were browsing the menus located outside of the restaurants. I was carefully inspecting the pictures and pretending I knew the Japanese characters I was looking at when all of a sudden I heard "Natalie!" "Natalie quick a geisha!" Seeing a geisha had been something on my Japan bucket list because I am completely mesmerized by this hidden mysterious culture. I quickly turned around and caught a glimpse of the back of her. She slipped down an alley and vanished, possibly heading to another appointment. In my scramble to snap a picture, I got a blurry one. However you can still see the exquisite fabrics, ornately decorated hair, and the slivers of sensual bare neck that is untouched by the white makeup. 

Completely in awe of what I was seeing, I looked at Joel with wide eyes. He smiled back at me because he knew that I had been desperately trying to find a geisha since I got there. It's almost like they are mythical creatures, like fairies, that you want to meet, follow, and talk to about their lives. Then out of no where another one pops out of a restaurant and quickly scurries down the path to an alleyway. Word to the wise, if you travel in Japan you might find some locals seeking the attention that geishas receive by dressing up like that and stopping to snap pictures with tourists while flashing the peace sign. This however is a ploy, real geishas are very mysterious and private. They are polite of course because they know people are curious about their work, but quietly excuse themselves to move on. I was able to capture a few more blurry pictures as I raced to snap pictures before they vanished. Check out the beautiful makeup and artistry. 

After the excitement, Joel and I decided on a restaurant and eagerly entered the establishment not knowing exactly what we were in for. We were greeted, instructed to remove our shoes and put on slippers they provided (this is the norm in nicer restaurants) and then seated outside on the patio. We decided on a set course meal and enjoyed the light breeze blowing along the river and through the patios lining it. Joel and I talked about bringing my parents and his parents here when they came to visit. 

We received our first course, sesame tofu. I don't mind tofu in general, but this was somewhat peculiar in texture and taste. Apparently one of Kyoto's specialities is this sesame tofu. I guess now I can say I've had it. The next course was an extremely strange salad. It had vegetables among other things in it that I couldn't identify. The dressing was amazing, but the texture was very crunchy and I couldn't get past it. It had some type of dried seaweed on top in extremely thin slices. I almost felt like I was eating shredded cassette tape! The next course was miso soup, which I adore, it's hard to get that wrong! We also received an assortment of sashimi. We were unable to identify all but two pieces of the sashimi which was puzzling because normally you receive tuna, salmon, maybe salmon roe or eel. Nope, it was completely different types of fish, one of which I think had to have been boiled eel. I couldn't stomach it, and Joel couldn't either. Keep in mind that we are EXTREMELY brave and adventurous eaters and have no problem trying new things, but this was too much too soon. I did however eat the delicious uni (sea urchin) that they brought. It may seem dramatic, however we just looked at each other saying things like "Maybe we made the wrong choice" or "Maybe we should have went with fish and chips!" Very comical! Dessert was a strange grapefruit gelatin thing with a cake bottom. Joel ate this, however I couldn't. I don't even like Jello! This was by far our craziest and funniest food experience so far in Japan. And don't worry parents, we won't be taking you here. 

The restaurant had an absolutely beautiful interior though. Joel and I think it must have been someone's traditional house from many many decades ago. 

Until next time, faithful followers. Keep reading! 

Role Reversal

Laundry, cooking, scrubbing, dusting, sweeping.....

These are small things that keep our households running and our worlds turning. These domestic tasks are things that we all have to do once or twice during a day or week and maybe a few thousand times during our lifetime. As many of you already know, my journey in Japan is a free one. One that isn't burdened by keeping a job, although one of these days I might want to get one. I have taken on the role of a housewife, otherwise known as Kyoto Kanai as my husband and I like to call it. Before our journey to Japan, Joel had just graduated college and I was working full time in the cosmetics industry at Macy's so my schedule was always different. Joel had taken on the responsibility of cooking and cleaning. I would often times leave him a list of things to do in fear that he would get preoccupied watching "The Daily Show" or playing Angry Birds. Things have definitely changed in the Crabtree household. I am now the provider of nutritious meals, a tidy home, clean clothes, and our household budget. 

I have never viewed myself as very 'domestic'. Cooking wasn't something that I did very often, in fact I think people around me wondered if I even knew how to cook.  In fact before our last family vacation with Joel's family, we joked that their other daughter-in-law who is very talented in the kitchen could cook and I would clean.  Much to my mother's relief I'm sure, I have been coming up with wonderfully nutritious meals. My mom, a very hardworking woman who seems to always keep the world spinning in the right direction, always set a good example for my sister and I. Something that I will always remember about my childhood was having a hot meal on the table virtually every night. Often times we take for granted that comfort. Through my few weeks as being a housewife, I have learned that these things are vital pieces of the puzzle that make a strong independent women, which is exactly how I want to view myself. Providing good meals and a clean relaxing environment for my husband is so wonderful, and it's something I've embraced to the fullest. Being able to step into this role has taught me exactly what I want to provide for our future family and children.

My journey to becoming domestic has been a rewarding one, but also a comical one. For example, I cannot speak any Japanese. Sometimes Joel will try to teach me something and it always goes in one ear and out the other no matter how many times I repeat and memorize. So naturally when I go to the grocery store, it's probably interesting for the other shoppers as well as the associates to see me carefully inspecting everything, looking for items with pictures on them, and trying to decipher what things are. The first week of being in Japan, I was pretty perplexed by our washing machine. It is completely different from American washing machines. Here's a picture that's similar to ours. 

Cooking with only two gas burners and no oven has been interesting as well. On days that I don't cook, such as Saturday or Sunday, Joel and I have to figure out what we're going to eat and where we're going to go. There's no Red Lobster or Arby's to drive down the road to here, it's constant speculation about what a restaurant has to offer, whether it's good, and whether we've made the right food choice! We received a flyer from Domino's in our mail box about a week ago with special deals. Craving a piece of home, we decided to give that a try on Sunday. We found ourselves laughing hysterically and studying the menu intensely not knowing what half of it was because descriptions were often hard to read. We wound up with a delicious meal, but getting there was not so easy. 

Stay tuned for more adventures and stories. Thanks for reading!

Adventure to Nijo Castle

Joel and I are incredibly lucky to live in Kyoto. We have absolutely magnificent mountains surrounding us, amazing gardens and shrines that dot the city, and an incredibly rich culture that beautifully blends traditional and new. We are thriving in our new environment and everyday we find ourselves in awe of the fact that we live in such a travelers paradise. We are travelers at heart after all. After a lazy Saturday filed with movies and comfort food we decided that Sunday we needed a touch of adventure. One of the amazing features of our city is just a few miles down the street and right at our fingertips. We decided to head down the street from our apartment to the amazingly stunning Nijo Castle. 

Joel and I heading into the castle. Me with my ticket! 

This UNESCO world heritage site isn't like the castles that you will find speckled along hillsides in Europe, it's a flat land castle that is single level with simplistic beauty. It covers a vast majority of land since it's single level and has lovely gardens and ponds that are beautifully groomed and maintained constantly. It also has a double moat system to guard the castle against invaders or unwanted samurai.  Although we couldn't take pictures of the inside of the castle to preserve the integrity of the site, we took many of the outside as well as the gardens. The castle is also equipped with 'nightingale' flooring in which the floor chirps like a bird when walked on. As we were walking through the castle you could hear the 'chirping' of the floor underneath us as well as echoing through the corridors from the other guests. Joel and I were particularly impressed with this feature because it is absolutely genius. It was designed to warn the occupants as well as the guarding samurai that intruders were there at night. It's an incredible way to warn against sneak attacks and assassins. Although not a sound that you would want to hear at night for obvious reasons, it is a great reminder during the day of the castle's connection with nature. It brings the nature and the beautiful gardens inside. 

Joel and I in front of part of the castle

Joel and I by the moat

As you walked through the castle you noticed the simplistic painting on the ceilings, walls, and even doors. They combined stunning shades of golds, greens, and reds among other colors to create immaculate representations of nature, trees, flowers and birds. Occupants of the castle could slide open all of the outside walls of the castle to create a serene experience with nature. The castle itself was such a wonderful representation of the formal and often times ceremonial culture of Japan. There were four different grand chambers, ministers offices, holding rooms where the guests were held until ceremonies started, tea rooms, gift giving rooms, and reception rooms. All of these rooms once played a key part in the rituals that were held when guests came to the castle or during important tea rituals or meetings. The castle's rooms embodied what it meant to live in traditional Japan untouched by Western culture because traditional Japan was very mannered and ritualistic. Time-honored traditions such as the tea ceremony held true and cultural unwritten rules were practiced everyday. It was such a magnificent feeling knowing that ceremonies and rituals that happened in those very rooms might have shaped Japan's history. You could almost imagine samurai, the Shogun, and his servants walking the halls  engaging in their daily activities. You wonder if at any point the nightingale flooring set off the alarm to the guarding samurai that protection was needed. You wonder how many tea ceremonies took place there. The historic significance is amazing. 

After traveling back in time through Japan's history, we then took a leisurely walk through the castle's exquisite gardens. Every single tree, branch, bush, and rock were placed there purposefully while keeping in mind the overall feel that you are trying to provoke when seeing the gardens. The trees were trained to lean and grow certain ways, the pond was shaped in such a beautiful way around the perfectly positioned landscape. We even got to see a crane enjoying the peaceful atmosphere. 

Everyone that knows me knows that I have a great love for turtles. You can imagine my joy when I saw this rock that was designed and shaped to look like a turtle poking his head out of the water. He even had designs on his shell. 

We were also able to view the first signs of the changing seasons and captured the lovely crimson shade of the leaves.