I recently had three days off in a row due to a make-up day off I had earned. What a perfect opportunity to explore Matsue and be a tourist! My first day off was a Saturday and, since I don't yet own a bike, I strapped on my boots that I would best describe as "serious business." and wandered over to a park about 10 minutes walk away. Really, by park I mean a thin strip of land between the busy road and the lake. Don't get me wrong, it was very beautiful and had an amazing view of the lake, it is just an unconventional park location. There is a running trail near the water, then toward the shore there are some stairs which I imagine are filled with sunset-watchers in the warmer months. Past that are some rocks which make up most of the shore on this section of the lake. I sat on the steps to enjoy a snack and about 20 seconds after I opened my bag of potato chips a huge bird nearly ran into my head. I had seen these massive hawk-like beasts roaming the skies before but did not expect that they would get so close to people! It was one of those moments where you look around and think "Did anyone else just see that? I mean I was almost just brutally attacked. Would someone have been there to help me fight it off?" Luckily it just hovered about 10 m above me for a few minutes then flew off. I then ventured over the big bridge over the big river on my way to the castle. The Black Castle, also known as Matsue Castle, has a really fantastic history that is pretty extensive. It is too much for me to explain but that is what Wikipedia is for. I walked around the various levels and then decided to pay the small fee to get in which was discounted since I am a foreigner. Inside the 6 story castle- think Mulan type of castle, not general fairy tale or Game of Thrones style- was a plethora of artifacts such as really small war armor, helmets, swords, and plenty other things that don't sound as cool. One level was devoted solely to a bunch of photographs of the castle basically since photography was invented. It was amazing to see the castle as this constant figure with the age of the photograph showing the only difference in the appearance. There are four views from the top, one in each direction. It was a really cool experience and totally worth the 280 yen ($2.80), climbing up and down extremely steep stairs and shuffling around in slippers that were too small for me. Yes, the castle and every watchtower area with a roof had an area to leave your shoes and provided slippers to walk in. My feet are about exactly as long as the sole so the slippers would fit, but the toe of the shoe is so small that my heel hangs off the edge. I only wear a size 9! It was on my way out of the castle that I had my first experience being a celebrity. Kind of. I was about to put my shoes back on and a man stopped me and introduced himself and seemed pretty excited to meet me. In Japanese culture it is not rude to ask prying questions like someone's age, and I was asked many personal questions. I imagine part of the appeal was to practice English with a native speaker, and it was more interesting than any other interaction I've had with strangers here. I even was asked to take a picture with him! I answered his questions because I understand what an anomaly I am- some tall blonde white girl walking around, attempting and mostly failing to follow cultural norms. Right after that, I walked outside and a man asked me to take a picture of him with the castle in the background and then he strikes up a conversation with me! Many people asked where I was from but when I told them I live here now they were very surprised. After the castle, I walked north hoping to see the Samurai's House. There is a little row of houses along the moat/canal around the castle where there is an art museum, the Samurai's house, a famous painter's old house, and some other things. I stopped at a little tea shop on my way and couldn't resist some ginger tea, mmm! Unfortunately, I was then late for the Samurai House and it was closed. I decided to console myself with some balls of fried fish on a stick and a local cider at an indoor market. After that, I walked back towards home and that park but continued on farther south to what is supposed to be the best spot to see a sunset on Shinji Lake. Although there were clouds on the horizon to block the actual sunset, it was still a very beautiful sight. After that, I found a wonderful, less expensive grocery store (the cream puffs they sell won me over).
The next day was not as action-packed, but still interesting culturally. I ventured to the department store closest to me to see what they are all about because they are very different than those in America. On the basement level, there is a sort of market which has a little bakery section, an area where you can buy your bento box (a relatively cheap prepared lunch on the go), and much of it is currently filled with chocolate for Valentine's Day. The ground floor has the more expensive brands such as Coach and Dior and a large makeup selection. The second and third floors are made up of only women's clothing while the fourth floor had men's clothes as well as some jewelry. The fifth floor had homegoods, but the real excitement happened on the sixth floor. Little did I know that on Sundays the markets on the top level of department stores are the busiest. There were many vendors all selling their food with someone in front of their cart with samples. I mostly just walked around looking like a deer in headlights, but I did try food from one stand. I know one thing I consumed was some sort of chicken soup, but I am pretty clueless as to what the other was. I am glad I don't have any food allergies. The coolest vendor I saw was an old man sitting over a piece of leather, I suppose I would call it chisel-decorating the leather by hand. He made fantastic shapes like a scene of a cherry blossom tree by a lake or a fire-breathing dragon. He had many things for sale such as glasses cases, wallets, and purses that I would have purchased if I had a spare $150. After the sensory overload that was the market, I got out of there and didn't do much else with the day.
My last day off was Monday and I decided I wanted to try to find the city gym and go swimming. And that I did! After a lot of help from the non-English speaking woman behind the desk and properly saying the phrase "Puru wa doko desu ka?" or "Where is the pool?" I made it. I found out that you are not supposed to wear the locker room slippers out in the pool area (trial and error) and that caps are required. Seeing as I forgot to pack a cap, I was just going to swim without but was forced to rent one. How strange. The pool was actually pretty nice as far as city pools go- 8 lanes, flags were in the right place as were the marks on the bottom, and warm enough. There was even a swim practice going on with kids maybe 9-11 years old. I found out two things: it's really cool that I still have my stroke and swimming doesn't feel unnatural, but I am laughably weak. I am not sure I will be going back to that pool super often because it is $5 to swim, but now I know where it is.
During my first day back to work, my coworker Naoko took me to order my name stamp. In Japan, everyone signs their name with a stamp that has their name on it. Usually, it is their last name in kanji (a Chinese character), but we had to spell out my name in katakana, or the alphabet. I don't really understand why a stamp would be used instead of a signature; it seems extremely easy to forge. I also now have a bank account and I am registered with the city which feels great and no longer illegal!
I have a cell phone now and Japanese phones are different in that you have a phone number for calling but for text messages you use an e-mail. The problem is, my phone is made for Japanese users so there is no space bar button and typing on it is obnoxiously difficult. Still feels great to be connected by phone again.
I think I may have seen my first white person in Matsue. It was dark outside so I am only about 75% sure, and it was also cold so I couldn't see much of his face. I crossed the street at the same time as this man going the opposite direction and stared at him like he was a car crash--no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't look away. The only other non-Asian people I have seen technically were Asian. I saw an Indian man and his son in city hall. It's a pretty bizarre feeling.
More interesting things about Japan:
1. Last post I mentioned that the Japanese are workaholics and that, however hard you are working, you should always work harder. I want to add a bit to that and that is to always be extremely humble about your accomplishments or your family's accomplishments. Even if say you were the highest earning employee, if someone commented on it, you would basically break yourself down and talk about how terrible you actually are. Maybe it's just luck and you're, in fact, very unintelligent. Anything to make you sound not great.
2. In Japan, the culture is very much about being a part of a whole, therefore fitting in with the rest of the whole. I heard a quote that read something like- Never be the nail that is standing out because then you will be hammered down. Always be the nail that is the farthest in so everyone around you gets hammered down.
3. The idea that women showing a lot of leg is scandalous is laughable here. Legs are for walking and are not sexual. The chest on the other hand is extremely sexual and women are expected to cover it up as much as possible. This fact caused some unexpected issues with some of the clothes I brought that would not be considered inappropriate in the US.
4. I have yet to feel unsafe walking around, even at night. Hopefully this is because my city is safe and not just my false sense of reality.
5. I have walked around with my coworker Naoko a few times and yesterday she put on one of those white masks that you stereotypically see Asian people wearing and think of dentists or doctors wearing during surgery. Out of curiosity, I asked her why she chose to wear it then and not the other times. She said that she wore it to keep warm. I believe it had something to do with being cold means you are more likely to get sick, but that is not exactly what she said so I am only guessing. Her answer was not what I was expecting to hear. My assumption was that it was to protect from germs when a lot of people are around. I then asked if it was difficult to breathe with it on and she said that it was a bit harder but you get used to it.
6. Utilities bills are paid at convenience stores in Japan. Each one has a barcode and you take it up to the counter at the Larson's, they scan it, you accept the charges on a touchscreen computer, pay it, and get a receipt. Pretty simple! I have successfully done it once.
7. It is not strange to see people, especially women, trotting places. I saw it more in Kashiwa and Shin-Kashiwa where I was training, but I do see it in Matsue some. I love it and that is one thing that I can easily adjust to.
8. It is also not strange to see people riding their bike and texting at the same time. Maybe even smoking a cigarette as well. Adults don't wear helmets on their bikes so I really don't understand why or how you could text and bike.
9. For Valentines Day in Japan the girls give the boys boxes of chocolates. I'm not sure I like that tradition much.
10. There are drink vending machines everywhere. Also cigarette vending machines. The cigarette vending machines have a sign on them that says no one under 20 is allowed to buy them but I am not sure how that can be enforced. All of the drink machines have water and iced tea and iced coffee but also hot tea and hot coffee. Actually hot means warm but it is nice for those cold days, ahem every day, as a lunchtime treat. Not as common in Matsue, but I saw them enough during training, were beer vending machines. Luckily there is one around the corner from my apartment so I can run and grab a 100mL beer at any time, day or night. Now I don't have to worry about finding my 5am beer fix- phew!
Some great news: I have my first demo lesson next week for what I imagine are some prospective students AND we are getting a transfer student in March who takes business classes. Finally I get to do the job I came to do! Now I just need to learn how to teach business English. What I have figured out is that if you can read the textbook, you can make a lesson plan and be alright.
I posted some pictures on Facebook of the castle and my experiences that first day that can be found here:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.4394604472676.2142237.1515360382&type=1&l=344076e255
Now, please enjoy some pictures of my apartment!
The kitchen. I have an extender to go over the sink so I can use my cutting board or dry dishes.
Washing machine
Bathroom sink/ tub/ the whole room also is a shower
My front door. Notice my shoes at the door, following proper Japanese culture and not wearing shoes in the house.
Fridge, microwave, pantry
Bed with stairs, loads of storage underneath, and my flag reminding me in Italian to live a life of peace. And color.
The giant flatscreen TV that sits behind my computer desk because I can't move it and my computer must stay plugged in to the wall internet.
View from my backyard. That's actually a flat house but the Photosynth app is going to do some weird things to pictures.
The view from the door of my living/ dining/ bedroom/ closet/ office
Not pictured: toilet room. It's pretty boring though. A small room with a toilet in it and a shelf above is really all you need to know.
Outside most restaurants, Japanese are famous for having intricately decorated rubber food that looks very oddly like the food you will eat. It makes things a lot easier because you can just point at the food you want, but it is pretty strange.
Oooh, you almost got it. The Ls and Rs are a very big issue in Japan because their R is almost like our L sound but they tap their tongue against the back part of their mouth. That doesn't mean this isn't hilarious.
That's all for now! Happy Valentines Day! Questions and comments always welcome.
Fantastic Blog #2. Laughing out loud. So much to learn!
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