I am not sure I can sufficiently express my combination of anger and frustration....
So, I will let these pictures summarize it.
Whew, well, now that I have that out of the way, time to blog.
Yesterday, as I sprinted to class after waking up late, I discovered much to my dismay that my flip flops do not have much traction. After greeting my classmates with an impromptu performance of `Gaijin on Ice,` I settled down and realized that I had made quite a spectacle of myself. But this feeling is nothing new to me. After a few weeks of living in Japan, I still feel somewhat out of place.
Unlike my dormmate Jin who is Chinese, I cannot blend in with Japanese people. I can keep quiet, follow the rules, and be polite, but I will always be an outsider because of my race. This is of course completely opposed to my previous experiences abroad in Belgium, England, and Canada. I am reminded in particular of when I was visiting La Grand Place in Brussels (or Bruxelles, depending on how pretentious you want to seem) and I walked into a chocolate shop. Since it was in one of Europe`s biggest tourist traps, there were employees there offering free samples of chocolate. One of them walked up to me and politely asked me in French if I would like some chocolate. At least in hindsight I think that is what she said, because I promptly stared at her as people who are suddenly confronted with a foreign language are wont to do. She paused, stared at my quizzical look, blinked, and then asked again in perfect English.
`A-ha!` I thought, `They think I am one of them! Now I can do whatever I want!`
Gleeful with this knowledge, I then proceeded to do what anyone in my situation would do....Walk around the city with my hands in my pockets and my mouth shut.
Well, I have no such luck here in Japan. But, contrary to what is commonly believed, the Japanese do not freak out at the sight of a gaijin riding their subways, walking in their parks, or eating at their restaurants. I guess that it is because there are so many foreigners in Tokyo now. I am curious to see if the same holds true when I tour the countryside...
Of course, I want to do anything that I can to not draw unwanted attention to myself. But that can be difficult at times considering that I do not always remember all of the ground rules of Japanese society. For example, last Thursday, I had to drop off my instant dinner at my room and then go to class. The entire maneuver should have lasted only thirty seconds. Unfortunately, due to an uncooperative refrigerator door, it lasted for much longer. The whole ordeal was frenzied enough to attract the attention of my roommate, Hiroshi, who looked at me, looked at my feet, and literally screamed. I had forgotten to take off my SHOES!!
Sigh....
Well, I will get it eventually.....
This is Nate in Mitaka signing off as just another gaijin.
PS: I know that I have not mentioned anything about my dorm, roommate, classes, or dormmates yet in any detail. I am waiting for my computer to get fixed so that I can upload pictures of them.
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