Trip to Taiwan

Taiwan isn't exactly a tourist destination. When people think of visiting Asia, this isn't on the top of the list. But, since it's only a 2 hour flight from Tokyo, I had a spur of the moment impulse to hop on over and check it out.

I only saw the capital, Taipei, but I would describe it as the coupling of the Japanese and Chinese cultures (at least what I imagine Chinese culture to be). Still, whatever you do, never ever call the Taiwanese Chinese. Worst yet, never speak against Taiwan's petition to have a seat in the UN.

Outside of that, the things that I will always remember about Taiwan are,

Foot massages

Food

Snakes

Prayer

And People.

I recommend it.

Fitness Month

So what have been up to lately? Trying a little something called fitness. I really didn't know what I was getting myself into to be honest. What I imagined in my head was a lot different than the reality.

I tried my hand at Pilates. Picked up Hot Yoga. During weekdays I climbed the stairwells at work... up to 20 of the longest flights I've ever encountered! Did a few Charity Run/Walks. And went hiking up several mountains, including the most spectacular of them all - Mt. Fuji!

At times, I regretted starting this so-called Fitness Month. But at the end of it all, I'm glad I did it. I felt more accomplished after each event. I forged stronger bonds with my friends. Plus I walked away with everlasting memories.

Here are a few shots of a hard but fulfilling month!

Simpsonize Me Dot Com

Think I got it pretty close. (^_^) What do yah think?

Goodbye and Good Luck

They call this the pass-through city. Not many people stay; not many people make this their home. So, you come to expect that people will leave. You expect it, but you don't like it.

I've lost a few good friends this year. But this one is particularly hard for me - my sidekick, Denny.

We were a team of explorers - practically inseparable as we became Tokyo misfits, breaking social order one rule at a time.

I've really enjoyed my stay here because of her. I had many first experiences with her. And, I uncovered a lot of things about myself around her.

She's someone that has definitely made a difference to my life. But this is a new chapter for both of us. Good luck Denny, will miss you... deeply.

Coco Winery

My mama always wanted me to be more cultured... well actually she wanted me to be more of a lot of things but that's another story. And here I am at my first visit to a vineyard and winery.

This entire estate was created by people with learning disabilities. A professor, who observed that his special needs students were doing poorly in the classroom, put them to work on a hill so that they could have skills and be useful in the society.

Over 50 years ago, they started planting simple table grapes. Today they've created what's considered to be the best vineyard and winery in Japan.

We were there to lend a helping hand in the fields. In general, grapes need to grow in dryer climates but we were in the midst of the rainy season - not good for the grapes. As a result, we had to cover the bunches with bags to protect them from mold, bugs and disease.

After all of our fine work, we received a full guided tour of the entire facilities. We learned about the wide variety of grapes, how to make wine, store it, bottle it, everything.

Then we got to sample serveral types of wine. I seem to have a liking for the cheap, sweet stuff. No Surprise there!

It's amazing all that goes into making the perfect bottle of wine.

What d'ya think of me now? Am I cultured or what?

The Upper Hand Girlfriend

A friend of mine posted this picture. It's of a store window with a self-description of the designer - the upper hand girlfriend.

Who the hell calls themselves an upper hand girlfriend? But more importantly, what is a upper hand girlfriend?

Of course, I have a theory. I think it's like being the no.1 wife, the head mistress, the leading lady... and, in Japan, this is really very common.

Japan is a man's world in so many ways and this is another example of that. Infidelity - well I don't even know if it can be labelled as such since the women seem to accept it. Having a wife and mistress, or having multiple girlfriends, or even frequenting hostess clubs... all acceptable.

Even earlier this year a friend of mine was propositioned by a handsome man. A handsome man, husband of less than one year, young and still happily married; yet, he's in the market for a mistress. Fortunately or unfortunately she relocated shortly after. But between you and me, she would have done it. Don't be surprised! You forgot I said he was handsome... (^_^)

Personally, I don't care to be a upper hand girlfriend. I'm way to selfish for that mess.

Graduation Trip

Little brother not so little anymore. This is the look of a very proud sis!

Then headed to Florida for some R&R.

Some Play

Some Delight

Some Excitement

Some Fun

Some family... (^_^)

Preventing Prevention

Sometimes I have to remind myself that I'm a grown-up now and that I need to take care of myself. Surely if I'm gonna be able to take care of a family someday, I need to work on this first. So, off I went for my "annual" checkups.

Even in medical technology, you can't help but be impressed with the Japanese. They are able to conduct almost a full examination without even touching a person. And somehow, they've managed to avoid that doctor's office smell that makes me anxious.

Still, examination after examination I walked away unsatisfied. What I've been observing is a peculiar policy to prevent prevention. I know it's a big statement but let me explain with this dialogue at my dental checkup.

Dr.: "are you feeling any pain or discomfort"
Dee: "no"
Dr.: "Ok, everything is fine."
Dee: "aren't you going to x-ray me?"
Dr.: "you don't have any pain, so it's not necessary."
Dee: "well, how can you tell if you don't x-ray. can you do it for me?"
Dr.: "i do not recommend it. if you experience pain please come back."
Dee: "but then it will be too late!" *grooooan

But it doesn't stop there. They don't test for HIV when you have blood tests and they don't test for any STDs with routine Pap smears either. Preventing prevention is a serious flaw in the medical system here. I just don't get it.

To me that was the equivalent of going to a Cardiologist - can you please check my heart? why, you feeling pain? no, but. well, come back when you're dead. Gee thanks! :-s

Next patient please...

Man Candy - Japanese flavors

People always ask me about my love life here. And, every time, I have to admit that I have none.

It's not that I don't want a sample from the candy shop. It's just that I don't fancy the flavors on sale and the tasty looking ones are all sold out. So what's a girl to do? Wait for someone to come back for a refund, that's what.

"Nah Dee, you're just being picky."

Take a look for yourself then. Here's a menu sample:

- Salary man flavor- this is the name given to the stereotypical Japanese office worker. They seem to be stuck in a time dimension of the 1980's (pre-bubble) - big eyeglasses, high waisted and round hair. But, outside of their appearance, they drink too much, stay out too late, and without a chivalrous bone in their bodies.

- Pretty boy flavor - you haven't seen a pretty boy until you've seen a Japanese pretty boy. Sure, they are a delight to look at but I'm instantly turned off by the waxed eyebrows, flipped hairdo and handbag... ahhem I mean manbag. They walk a fine line between metrosexual and homosexual and I don't like it.

- Shibuya boy flavor - Shibuya is the name of a shopping area here but there's no other way to classify them. They march to the beat of a different drum. With wildly teased hair, extremely brown tans (some accomplished using makeup foundation ), and kind of grunge fashion style, they are just a little too hip for my ship.

So you see, I clearly don't have many options. I opened up the M&M bag of Japan and someone picked out all the yummy red ones! Bum!

Love your own company

Transferring here as a single woman is difficult in ways I had not anticipated.

I expected to encounter the gender barriers I read about in my business class. Didn't happen.
I expected to encounter racial barriers. For me, no issues.
Barriers in making friends. Nope.
Language barriers. Not a big deal.

My greatest struggle here has been connectedness - having that someone close by who I can share my experiences and frustrations without restrictions. Given my history of sometimes isolating myself, THIS I didn't anticipate.

I've identified the different states of mind people in similar situations might go through. First, you're excited about not knowing anyone and living a new life. But eventually you enter homesickness. Then you go through various levels of self discovery.

Suddenly, you're so tuned in to your likes and dislikes. Things you never realised about yourself are more evident now. It's really refreshing actually.

But still, periodically, there are bouts of loneliness. And, in order to get over that, you need to find that place within yourself where you can truly enjoy your own company.

Before, I "isolated" myself by choice. Now, I have no choice except to Love My Own Company.

Visit from the Island Boy

It took over 1 year, but I finally got my first visitor - my brother.

He tried most any food I threw at him,

And really got into the culture.


It was great being able to share my world with someone.

Still, we had many first time experiences together.

He was amazed at how big Japan really is.

We insisted on blending in with the locals,

And show some patriotism.

Oh, we had the time of our lives.

He was totally satisfied...

Until next time --> Jah Nay

Return of the Island Girl

Gee, has it really been nearly 3 months since I last reached out to you guys? Time has a weird tendency to slip by without being noticed.

Rest assured that my withdrawal doesn't mean that I have run out of interesting things to share.
On the contrary, I had a mouthful of stuff to go on about. It's just that they were all negative.

I found that I had hit a rough patch in my stay here and decided it was better to be silent that constantly bitching about trivial stuff.

For anyone that moves to a new country, you will fall into one of three categories. First category of people moves into a new place and loves it right away. Then before the year is up they just can't stand it.

Second group moves into a new place and hates everything about it. Before the year is up, they can't get enough of it. Third group moves into a new place and never leaves again - this new place is home. I can now safely say that I fit into group #1 very nicely.

I woke up one day and was in a perpetual state of "pissed off".
Men spitting everywhere pissed me off.
Sneezing and coughing without covering their mouths pissed me off.
People just breathing on me pissed me off... So I stopped writing

But thanks to all those who kept checking for my new entries. And thank you to the others that gave me a swift kick in the fanny.

Today, I still hate that stuff but difference is that I can laugh about it now. So let's keep the good times rolling on!

Hungry Breath

Before arriving in Japan, everyone talked about how easy it will be to lose weight just by being here. "Just look at all them slim Asian girls," they said. "They eat only fresh and healthy foods," they said.

Now on my one year anniversary, I can confidently reply "What a bunch of crock!"

There are two reasons alone that accounts for this skinny phenomenon. First, genetically they have smaller frames. And second, these beeches are hungry!

Even though they are born to be slim, Japanese women... and men are surprisingly obsessed over their weight and body images. Their obsession is over and above anything I've seen in the western world. In my opinion, it is fueled by the Asian fashion industry which regards a size 6 as an XL and makes it virtually impossible to get anything decent in larger sizes.

So I'm on the trains everyday, walking the streets everyday, working in the office everyday, being bombarded by it everyday: HUNGRY BREATH.

"Eat a sandwich," I scream in my head. "You know you're hungry. Eat a sandwich, or close your mouth, or get the hell away from me. Any one will do."

I'm almost at my breaking point here and having a "Bruce Wayne/Batman" moment. My Bat-cave is the Subway sandwich shop and my secret weapon is the teriyaki chicken 6" sub. My Assailant: Hungry Breath.

On the bright side, with all these halitosis monsters running around, my prospects of finding a good man here has increased exponentially.

The Fondling Train

When I first arrived here, I was appalled but amused at Japan's groping problem. I'm sure this isn't a new problem that just popped up. In fact, I bet that these women have allowed this to go on for years in fear of drawing attention to themselves and creating an embarrassing moment.

But not anymore. Now things are out in the open and women are fighting back. Women have been reported to chase down, pin and restrain their gropers. Some victims have even openly chastised their offenders, which is quite embarrassing given the Japanese culture of being polite and unassuming.

It's come to the point where the government has recognized it as needing remedial action. One course of action is designating "Women Only" cars on rush hour trains. These "safe zones" are the first and last cars of some trains and are fitted with pink upholstery and signs.

Far more interestingly, I read that they have now launched some "Perverts Only" cars. Of course, my friend and I have decided that if we happened upon it together, we would surely ride in it for at least a couple of stops or until we got touched inappropriately... whichever came first. Alas, it has never come our way and I'm beginning to wonder if it even exists.

Still, I've recently come to identify with these pervert freaks. What drives them to do these acts is sheer curiosity - one of the most primal instincts that we all are subjected to. Personally, staring at an endless sea of oddly shaped and flat *ah hem* butts causes me to wonder what they feel like. Are they hard, soft, curved, magical... ?

But don't worry, what separates me from the common freak is that I CAN restrain myself... or can I? :-s