Kami-Mizu-Kami...

So, this is it... not to be so cliche or steal any thunder from MJ (hardly the case), but I'm finally blogging. So, to get to the point, I'm currently in Japan, Tokyo in fact and it's completely crazy. Thailand, where I was previously (for two and a half weeks) was as different from Japan as the U.S. is. I don't know that it's the difference in culture or the intention while being immersed in that particular culture. It seems that a vacation can stand to be a bit culturally shocking, in fact often that's what we desire, but to live in a culture that is so different, that's a bit less palatable. Unemployment is another unusual beast... as is the fact that the building I'm in shakes constantly from tremors. I knew Japan had earthquakes but this is absurd. Nothing is falling down, but the water (or mizu) in my glass is never still, not a Jurassic Park impact tremor, just a constant movement back and forth, though subtle.

I'm writing from the fifth floor bedroom in a house in Suitengumae (sweet•in•goo•ma•eh) where the Takahashi family has taken me in as their newest gaijin son. They're awesome!!! Kayoko, the mom or okasan just went with me to get a cellphone. I had been three times previously, but with no luck - first docomo, then softbank and then au. Softbank is what finally worked...somehow, it's still a mystery to me.

Things here are strange/unbelievably difficult, but if you can laugh at your inability to communicate then you can make it. I had dinner last night with my newest family. The entire family was their, minus their son living in NYC. We were celebrating Junes (the dad) birthday. Generally, the family all sits around and just jokes and then looks at me when I try to interject in broken Japanese. Sarcasm is rarely understood here, though this family gets it alright, they're pretty damn cool. Anyhow, I don't know how this came up, but I mentioned that I had not used the bidet yet, because, well it's just un-American. ;) At that point the family all laughs at me and everyone starts to individually express their methods of cleaning and then laughing at each other for wiping their asses differently! See...I bring people together! So one person says "paper, water, paper", only to be corrected with "water and then paper". At this point they all turn to me and suggest that I go ahead and try it out, pointing to the bathroom that is connected to the kitchen/living room and only about 4 feet away from the table where we are all sitting. I'm like, "oh hell naa!" but with much prodding I acquiesce. Okay, so I didn't have to use the bathroom but I will admit that the water is quite warm. I didn't know how to turn it off though, so that took a little while unfortunately.

When I walk out they're all waiting and looking at me wide-eyed as if to say..."so, how was it?" Two thumbs up and they all die laughing. And I agree with the men, "definitely kami-mizu-kami".