Little Pieces of Home from Japan PART 2

This is the continuation of my last post in which I described different aspects of life in Indiana that I miss. Japan, miraculously enough, has continually met my expectations for my life here as well as given me nostalgic pieces of home here and there. You find those pieces in the most unexpected places! Occasionally you'll wander through a convenience store or perhaps a new grocery store that you have discovered and catch a glimpse of a Campbell's soup label, be tempted by a KitKat Bar, or maybe even mesmerized by the sudden discovery of Kraft Mac&Cheese. You'll find that you can quickly pick out the one item on the whole grocery store shelf stacked with hundreds of products that bears legible English writing as well as pick out those trusty brands Americans know and love. Just the other day Joel and I were gathering up some groceries from a little market and found ourselves buying Bertolli alfredo and tomato sauce, pasta, vanilla and chocolate wafers, and chips and salsa desperately searching for items to satisfy our 'western' cravings. It's not just about the food however, it's about having a little piece of home, whether that means riding our bikes all the way to Baskin Robbins to enjoy a delicious treat or sharing a meal of chicken alfredo and watching American movies on Netflix.

I'm sure by now you have gotten the impression that Joel and I are 'foodies' and have missed certain aspects of American cuisine. As I mentioned in my last blog, I have been desperately craving Mexican food from our hometown where we became 'regulars' often indulging in the delicious cheese dip (which is impossible to find here) as well as burritos etc. The Mexican cheese dip is the worst craving of them all. Don't get me wrong I love Japanese cuisine, however the lack of cheese in this country is extremely disheartening for a cheese lover! As a matter of fact, while Joel and I were discussing restaurants that we missed from back home, we threw around the idea of turning the bathroom into a kitchen with the tub being a huge crock pot for cheese sauce and the sink for salsa! We came to the conclusion that this would be too much work however. 

Anyway, Joel and I set out on a quest to find Mexican cuisine here, and sure enough Google turned up many suggestions. We narrowed our options down to the best reviewed (#2 restaurant out of over 2000 in all of Kyoto) Mexican restaurant we could find. Conveniently not to far from our house, La Jolla Mexican restaurant satisfied all of our expectations and offered a fantastic Southern Californian atmosphere and a delicious meal made with the freshest ingredients! La Jolla is quite a small place, with only 3 tables and about 12 chairs making it very personal and the perfect setting for a romantic private dinner. It's hidden down a small side street so unless you are looking for it, it would prove hard to find. 

We dined on tasty guacamole with freshly made tortilla chips, chicken and steak burritos, and a delicious shrimp and avocado salad. Joel even indulged in a incredibly delicious margarita. Hand made from fresh ingredients, his margarita was delightful, not too sweet, not too sour. Perfection!

We have visited La Jolla twice so far and intend to visit many more times during our time here in Kyoto. As always, Thank You Japan for coming through for us, and thank you readers for following!

Little Pieces of Home in Japan

My sincerest apologies to my readers for my long procrastination on my blog. It has been far to long! However, I had to wait until the creative juices were flowing at the optimum level ( honestly I was experiencing a little bit of writers block) and was busy hanging out with my hubby, bike riding, exploring etc. But now I've got several stories and thoughts to share with you, so here it goes! 

Although there is an extremely vast contrast between American culture and Japanese culture, occasionally we'll discover something that gives us a little taste of home. Sure there are definite improvements in our lives that have resulted from our big move to Japan such as spending more quality time together spiritually and with nature, the beautiful art of public transportation that Japan has mastered, and the gift of discovering and viewing something new everyday. However, sometimes a girl just wants her Classic Rock radio station back playing some Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, or perhaps some Beatles. Sometimes a girl, especially this girl, craves her favorite Mexican restaurant from back home, or fries and a burger! The list could go on and on....

However when I'm feeling a little aggravated from the abundance of tempura and noodle serving restaurants, and the strange American rap music that they play in stores but don't actually know what the song is saying, Japan comes through for me once again and I am given a little piece of home! 

Much to my surprise, my classic rock craving was fulfilled a few weeks back when we attended the JET program pub quiz that one of the long time JET participants puts on as a way for the group to get together, laugh, drink, and just have a great time together. Many of you might not know this, but one of my observations about Japan has been that there are several hidden gems whether it be a bar or restaurant, that very few people know about. When walking down the street, especially if you are a tourist and don't know what to look for, you would never know that down that alley or inside that little building could be some of the most authentic representations of Japanese culture. There are sometimes tiny bars that serve only drinks, maybe only sake and beer, that only have a few seats at the bar. Sometimes it's a restaurant that is positioned in a tiny dimly lit alleyway, that could be fantastically delicious, but you would never know it's there! A peak inside might reveal some business men having drinks, or maybe even a geisha! 

That being said, how Alan (the long time JET) found this bar is beyond me! It is on the second floor of this small building on a street that few cars go down and is good for bike riders and pedestrians. The bar is quite small and narrow, and could only accommodate about 35 people comfortably. When you walk in you are met with the sweet sound of music, not just any music, rock music! This isn't something that you see, or should I say hear, everyday in Japan so it was quite the shock to me! The owner is a very interesting character that stands out against the clean cut image of Kyoto with shoulder length black hair and classic rock records and posters that line the walls of the bar. 

The owner behind the bar with all of his records and c.d.s

A poster that was on the wall right next to my seat 

He has just about any classic rock song you could think of, whether it be on vinyl or c.d., he'll play whatever you want. We had an absolutely fantastic time at the pub quiz, speculating the answers to the questions with our team members, laughing at Alan for his hilarious ramblings (he's a great host), and enjoying the wonderful atmosphere of the bar. The music was just the piece of home that we needed!  

A view of what the bar looks like 

Intense Deliberation 

Tune in for Little Pieces of Home in Japan PART 2 for some more western inspired Japanese experiences. Thanks for reading! 

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!