Open Letters: Japan

I've barely written anything about my life in Japan. Before I came, I was so excited about all the new experiences I would be able to write about, but that hasn't really been the case. I feel like my time here is rushing by and all of these fresh experiences are becoming mundane details of daily life. I want to hang on to the novelty! Or at least have some way of remembering it. :) Since I can't seem to articulate in normal blog fashion, I am going to adopt the "open letter" method, instead. I don't know where this originated, but I'd like to thank Michelle for introducing it to me and this blog for reminding me.

Dear Mister Landlord Man,
You.are.awesome. If I could speak more Japanese, I would tell you that you are the best landlord a 20-something-and-alone-in-a-foreign-country-for-the-first-time girl could ask for. What kind of landlord collects the power and water bills and makes one easy bill for me? And who in the world would round the bill /down/ $5 to $10?!? That's just madness, Mister Landlord Man. Please can I pay you the full bill, especially when I am two days late? No? Okay, well if you insist...
-Your Thankful Gaijin Tenant

Dear Rain,
I don't know what to say to you. I knew you would be here, and I thought I had gotten to know you pretty well in Seattle, but boy was I wrong. How is there so much of you?! Where do you come from?? Try to take a rest now and then so I can do laundry, okay? If you do that, I think we can get along pretty well. I do have some pretty rocking rain boots, after all, and you give me a great excuse to curl up with a book.
Keep up the good work, just control yourself a bit, alright?
-Pink Rainbooted Lady

p.s. If you break one more umbrella, I'm gonna come after you. Consider yourself warned.

Dear Dinner,
Thank you for making living alone a little less lonely. I know you are only a turtle, but your presence is comforting somehow. When I walk in the door and you start swimming around frantically, pressing your nose against the glass, I like to pretend you are excited to see me and not just looking for your... well... dinner. Sorry I haven't bought you a waterfilter yet. There are too many options and they are all confusing. This weekend. I promise.
-The Lady with the Food.

p.s. I am going to change your water tonight. I swear.

Dear Salsa Dancing,
Why can't I enjoy one night of you without being creeped out by weirdos? I am starting to really appreciate your sexy style, but can't I keep some boundaries without having to stiff arm every guy on the dance floor? What I am really saying is, why can't you be more like swing dancing? I miss being able to trust the people I dance with... can't you attract more people like that? You should really re-think your PR people. Just sayin'.
-The Dancer Wanna-Be

Dear Cafe KaGeFu,
You are exactly what I needed. Thank you, thank you, thank you for existing. You are convenient, cozy, cost-effective, and many other positive c-words that I am too coffee-deprived to think of, and if were with you right now, that wouldn't be the case. Thank you for providing me with delicious caffeine-fixes, ambient music, and delicious food. If it weren't for you, I would still be studying Japanese at the Thai restaurant down the street. That's just weird. And wrong.
Also, you should give your waitress a raise. She is incredibly sweet, speaks perfect English, and is sympathetic toward my meager attempts at Japanese. Kazuno-san makes coming to you completely worth it, even if you weren't already everything I need in a local hang-out.
I look forward to seeing you every week, if not more often.
-Hot Cafe Latte, Single Sugar, Extra Foam



Dear Hamabe no Chiya,
Don't be jealous. You are still the most beautiful cafe I have ever met, but your prices are set for tourists, not a local English teacher. I am not ready for your level of financial commitment, I just want a place to be not-at-home with a cup of joe. I promise I will still visit monthly, if my budget allows, and definitely when I have guests.
Can we still be friends?
-me

Dear Apartment,
I love you.
But do you have to be so BIG? I mean, it is nice to have space and all, but how can I possibly keep you clean?! Take that into consideration. Maybe you can develop some sort of self-cleaning function. That'd be great. Thanks.
-Your Cleaning Slave, ReBekha



Dear Japanese,
Must you be so SCARY?? I have one of your alphabets down, but I can't even be happy about that because your all, "Oh whoop-dee-doo! You can read Hiragana? BABIES can do that! I have two more alphabets, and one is so fricking complicated that some native speakers can't even conquer it. Try learning those before you get all stinking cocky, you meager-minded fool!"
It's not very nice, Japanese. Not nice at all.
~ レベッカ

Dear eMobile Internet,
You are so flipping cool. Everyone should be jealous of your awesomeness. Bow down, wireless connections. Bow low.
I never thought I would just be able to plug in a little USB stick and have fast, flawless, wireless internet everywhere I go. Is there no limit to your service area?? If there is, I haven't found it.
I will sing your praises to the masses, eMobile Internet, for you are truly great.
-Your Biggest Fan



Dear Megavideo,
I have not watched 72 minutes!! You lie! You LIE!!
-Glee, Chuck, Grey's, 30 Rock, House, & The Office Watcher

Dear Japanese Girls, Ladies, Women,
How are you always so sweet and adorable?? Teach me your ways.
Sincerely,
~The Awkward American

Dear Seattle (and surrounding areas),
Why are you so great? You make this whole "being away" thing a lot more difficult. I wish you would give up some of those awesome people you are hogging... there are enough to go around, you know.

-A Former Resident

Dear Family,
I miss you most.
Love, love, love,
-Bekha

Oldies but (so, SO) Goodies

I've been shamelessly stealing chocolate covered-almonds out of the communal teachers' candy basket all day. I know I am supposed to take just one or two, but they are so good, and no one else seems to be eating them. These little chocolate-covered-almond morsels make me gloriously happy. *chew, chew, much, munch.*

Speaking of things that make me happy, I finally found a place to quite the retro longings of my soul: Kento's.

My absurdly fun and adorable friend, Dana, put together a little Monday night event for us poor souls who had to work on Sunday but had Tuesday free.

Dana

She asked, "Do you like classic olides rock songs performed with choreographed dance moves by Engrish speaking Japanese in 50's and 60's era costumes?"

And every fiber of my being answered, resoundingly, "YES."

Moving to this little island in the pacific was difficult not only because I had to adjust to an entirely new climate and culture, because I had to leave my friends and family behind, but also because I had to leave my love, my passion: Swing Dancing.

*sigh*

I have heard rumors of swing clubs, of swing groups, of swing-ers (not swingers, sicko!) in this crazy little prefecture, and I have chased these rumors as far as possible, each time hoping, praying that I will find someone, anyone to dance with. Nothing.

Well, even though Kentos wasn't a swing club, and no one else knew much about swing dancing, I did get to dance, and I even led a little swing (I am so rusty!!).

What was really worth noting, however, was the band. These guys rocked and rolled and danced and wooed.

They were unbelievable. They even stood on tables and chairs (and were quickly followed by waiters to clean and sanitize everything they touched) while flawlessly serenading us with the classic songs from the 50's and 60's (and some Japanese immitations).

Since it was a Monday night, we nearly had the place to ourselves and it was like a private show. The few other patrons (all Japanese) joined us in our inhibition-free dancing until the wee hours of the morning.

My only complaint was the price. Since most of the people in my group wanted to do the all you can eat and drink, I had to pay the same price. It was a downer for me because I ate before I went to save money, and I was (as always) driving. Therefore, I paid ¥3000 ($30) for a bunch of ginger ales and a few "fried potatoes" (french fries). Ah well. Some people got their moneys worth:

and I will plan ahead to eat my fill next time. :)

And believe me, there WILL be a next time.

To view the website, click the name: Kento's.

To get there:

Going N on the 58: Turn left on the 222 and then take a left after the first Lawson's. Kento's is on your right.

Going S on the 58: Turn right on the 222 and then take a left after the first Lawson's. Kento's is on your right.