Loren and I are just finishing up a business trip to Japan. We are moving in a couple of weeks to Okazaki and prior to ten days ago I had never been to Japan before. Most of the questions I had floating through my mind over the last two years have been answered, and I can now picture what our next 20 months may look like living in Japan with our four daughters. I had a vague idea in my mind of what it might be like. I had learned about some of the culture and customs prior to our trip and Loren had told me his stories from previous visits. Being here in person has been like fitting the puzzle pieces together and I am beginning to see the picture. I think their are many different ways to experience Japan, and that it may be a whole different experience vacationing in Japan versus being here on business. We have searched for housing, looked at schools for the girls, and learned how to navigate moving to a country that does not speak English and has very different customs. It is a little crazy living in a place where you cannot read or write (sukoshi nihongo o hanashimase…and speak little Japanese). I did like my first experience in Japan. Here is a snapshot of the wonder and the struggle.

 

The Awe and Wonder

The people are very nice, starting with the flight attendant on the plane. She was so excited to hear that we were moving to Japan with the girls and that they would be attending local Japanese school. We were then greeted by Loren’s boss who showed us around town (he even drove us around looking for a smoker and a bike just because we mentioned we might buy them when we move here). We were met with many smiles at the kindergarten school and the director was so excited when she learned her chosen Christian name was the same as our daughter Catalina. Traveling along, we met the principle at the local elementary school and he told us he really hoped we would send Avalyn to his school and he gave us little bean bag dolls as gifts to take back home to the girls. Coming back through the airport in Japan to return to America was also a very pleasant experience. All of the security and store workers were so kind and respectful. It is a fact that Japan is an island with mountains and beautiful landscapes, but along with the oceans of sea water are oceans of people and buildings and houses. My first views of Japan were concrete cities, buildings next to buildings. I thought where is all the beauty, the trees at least?

Then you turn the corner and their standing among the big modern city would be traditional buildings or also shrines like this one.

Then if you take a train out of the city you see the other side of Japan, the beauty of Japan and its wonder. You can feel yourself relax a little as you breath in the beauty. Then you are reminded that Japan is a big island surrounded by vast ocean.

 

The struggle

Comes back to the language for sure, but at least they write in English how to use a toilet. Some may think that many people speak English in Japan, but that is not the case. This is especially true for us being away from the major big cities.

 

Cultural Differences

Food with heads, noodles and rice for breakfast, cute food shaped into characters. Eating cold food on the train for dinner, a million buttons for the toilet (and heated seats!), vending machines on every corner, lots of raw fish, taking your shoes off at the entrances to restaurants and even the schools, being at the mercy of the train and your own legs to get you anywhere on time. There are so many customs in Japan and it is a culture that my husband and I have enjoyed so far. We like raw fish, my husband can eat the heads of shrimp, I really like tako wasabi (google it!). I know at times it is going to be a challenge navigating life in Japan, but for now I am glad our family is excited to try it out.