Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Kuruma, pt. 1

Kristin picked a really good title for our blog. My feelings about this place change constantly. More often than not, these changes have to do with my car. More specifically, with driving on this island. As many of you know, I am frequently running late, no matter where I am going. Okinawa is not the place for this. Most major roads here only have two lanes in either direction. On route 58, there are areas with three lanes, but that is because 58 goes through Naha, which is the prefectural seat for Okinawa. The rest of the "roads" are basically glorified alleys, criss-crossing the island. On the main roads, there is the occasional right turn lane. These right turn lanes are rare, however, so there are frequently long lines in the right lane, with people waiting to turn, and then people behind them either waiting to turn as well, or waiting to get around them. I've gotten caught in the right lane more than once, because I assumed that the person ahead of me was going straight through the intersection, only to have them flip on their blinker upon reaching the intersection. The left lane is no better. You can't turn left on red here (remember, Japan drives on the left side of the road, so turning left isn't like turning left in America), so there are some lines for that. In addition to all of this, people park on the side of the road here. That doesn't sound like an obstacle, but there are no bike lanes, so the lane pretty much stretches to the curb. This means that you will often see a car with it's hazard lights on, sitting halfway in the lane. All this business adds up to frequent slaloming back and forth between the two lanes. I took to this pretty quickly, but now my left blinker is out. It is much more difficult to get into the right lane when no one behind you knows you want to get over.
Another thing about driving here is that there are no street names. Apparently, Bono was talking about Okinawa when he wrote "Where the Streets Have No Names". Sure, many of these roads have numbers assigned to them, but those are only marginally helpful, since the numbers change without notice, the road numbers change direction frequently, and most Okinawans don't know the numbers of the roads. On Wednesdays and Saturdays, I teach classes in Naha. To drive there, I make a total of two turns, but end up driving on four different road numbers. Two of those are before I have made my first turn! Getting or giving directions requires many many points of reference, somewhat similar to getting directions in a rural, backwoods area. "Keep going straight until you see a Lawson (one of the many, many convenience stores, or "konbini", in Japan. Another popular one is Family Mart. What cruel irony that two stores that are everywhere are so difficult for the local populace to pronounce...), then turn right, and you will see a noodle restaurant 500m past that." The problem is, there are convenience stores all over the place! Finding the correct landmark is key to finding your way here. Only yesterday did I learn the name of the rehabilitation school next to where we live, hopefully making direction giving a bit easier.
I mentioned that the smaller roads criss-cross the island. That may be a bit of a simplification. They criss-cross, wind, and double-back on each other. All the roads do that here. It's a little like driving in south county, only instead of getting confused by all the planned communities that look alike, you get confused by all the buildings and shops that look alike. Grids, though perhaps boring, are a very useful aspect of urban planning, and I sometimes miss them. They make stoplight placement much easier. I have still not figured out what system, if any, is used when deciding where to place stoplights here. While driving on the 331, which is the road Kristin and I live next to, I hit maybe five stoplights before reaching the first major intersection. Some of them are as close as 50 meters from each other. I think of that stretch of road as "mini-Warner", because I hit all the red lights, just like I did on Warner when we lived in Huntington Beach.
This might seem like a very negative post, and I apologize for that. I've made my peace with the roads here. I have yelled and screamed in the comfort of my car on many occasions, trying desperately to find the location of an interview, restaurant, or classroom. Repeated calls to the same place, asking for more specific directions, have been made. However, I realize that this island is not going to change, and that I have to. This will be a good thing for me, because it will help me to leave myself more than the necessary amount of time to get places.
Stay tuned to this blog for more entries on the subject of driving, including a much more positive one, very soon.....

PS-"Keruma" is Japanese for "car".

Friday, November 21, 2008

Good News and Updates :)

So the bad news is I got into a car accident last week, but the good news is that it will only gost go man yen to fix it (around $500). I couldn't be happier because I thought it was going to cost twice as much... and they are throwing in some sanding and paintwork that is needed on the left rear fender (I scraped a brick wall while parking at the bank Monday). I think I am finally driving normally again (I had been quite nervous and awkward behind the wheel until probably yesterday).

It has stopped raining every day and it is suny but cool now. The cold is quite biting. More so than I thought. I will bring my warm jacket when I come home for Christmas!

Classes are going well, I have been exhausted every day though! It is getting near the end of this term, so all the cancelled classes from the beginning of the term are being made up now, which means I am teaching 5-6 classes a day. I think I am still recovering from last weekend too!

This weekend we are going exploring! Our plans are to head up to Cape Hedo, Hiji Falls, and perhaps Nakajin Castle and Pineapple Park on Sunday. Monday is Japan's Thankgiving so we can get home late! I can't wait to see more of the natural beauty on our little home!

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Just a quick note!

I got everyone's Magic Jack Voicemails and it was wonderful to hear everyone's voices. Jon and I had a fantastic weekend hanging out with our friends. Jon went to a birthday dinner for one of his coworkers and I hung out with Jess from Miyako and the other outer islander crew because all JETs were on Okinawa to go to the Mid Year Conference. It was a lot of fun, but I'm pooped so I'm going to bed early, but I just wanted to wish you all a big thanks!

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Should've known better...

I got into a car accident today. It had just rained for about 20 minutes, just enough to make the roads super slick (seashells are mixed into the roads here). I was going to pick up a friend before the Mid-Year Conference (she's broke so I volunteered to drive). She lives across the street, but because she lives to my right if I'm standing facing the street between us, it means I have to turn against traffic to get to her place, then turn against traffic again to get back to the road we have to take to get to the conference. I decided I'd take the back road (behind our apartment, that lets out further to the right than her place is). But, I never made it to the main street. I was driving on that back road, and had just gone through a particularly bumpy area, and was going down hill. I was probably going at least 30kmh, which isn't that fast, but combined with the fact that the roads were so slick and I had downhill momentum behind my force, there was no way to get around colliding with the white boxy car coming in the opposite direction. we both swerved to pass each other, you see, the back roads aren't big enough for two cars side by side, but when I hit my brakes, my car just started sliding. Even though I'm pretty sure I pumped them to try to not slide, and I think I tried to correct my steering too, I hit her car in the driver's side back door. I continued to slide as I tried to park my car on the side of the road. As soon as I opened my door, she was there, asking if I was ok, in Japanese. What a disaster. I felt so bad because I dont' speak much Japanese and she didn't speak any English! She must have been really worried since she was asking me questions I couldn't answer... Mainly about insurance (which I have, but didn't know the word for). I called both Jon and Jacqui and the both came. I wonder if the woman felt bombarded by all the gaijin! I called Chris (one of the JET Prefectural Advisors) to let him know I'd be late. He told me to call my coordinator so they could translate for all the reports that now had to be made, and not to worry about missing the conference. I felt so embarrassed. Now my coordinator had to come and help me (eventually both my coordinator and supervisor came). I hate having to accept help from people. I hate feeling vulnerable. I guess this place is forcing me to grow! haha. I guess I can't control everything, all the time...
Anyways, after all the reports were made and every organization that needed to be notified was, I went to the gas station with my coordinator to get my fender checked out. It was rubbing when I drove it. I hit the other car pretty hard. She couldn't open her back door. My bumper not only was dented, but the cover was torn, exposing the rough metal bar underneath. My blinker light wouldn't stay in place and the fender was not just dented, but had an impact mark that actually folded it up and in in one spot, in the shape of a "z". At least the gas station attendant pushed out the fender's inner guard and taped my light in so I can drive it. Japanese car insurance pays for the other person's car, but not your own. Stinks. However, the insurance company will decide percentages for whose fault it was. I feel like I was going too fast for the road conditions, but it stinks because I wasn't doing anything stupid that normally causes car accidents.
After dealing with it all, I had a horrible headache and my neck hurt. Jon said that I was holding it funny while talking to the police, too. I decided to not go to the conference and go home instead. I felt exhausted. I guess the adrenaline rush died down and left me beaten up. I was still pretty shaken up by the whole thing. I felt foolish and ashamed for putting myself in a position where I could feel so foreign. My friends and supervisor and coordinator were great, I just have to deal with my own demons now. I gave Jon a stern warning about car accidents here, and what did I do? I went and go into one myself! My supervisor told me he'd been in three accidents when the roads were wet. His father in law just had one last month in the same conditions. I guess if I take nothing else from this experience, it is to slow down if there is any water on the road!
After I rested for a while, I realized my right leg hurt in several places, the knee and the hip. Now I think it is from mashing my brakes so hard!

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

GREAT NEWS!

The Magic Jack is working now! That means you can call me! You can call me from your regular phone. I have a 714 number for magic jack, so as long as you call from a 714 landline, we can talk for free! Or, if you request by email (nekohoshi23@ezweb.ne.jp or katstar237@hotmail.com), I can call you from my magic jack. It's that simple and wonderful! My magic jack number is: 714-983-1461.

You can also skype me if you prefer at: Kristin.Patterson23

Just be sure to check the bottom of this blog to find out what time it is here, so you don't get a groggy, angry Kristin on the phone!

Can't wait to hear from you!

Kristin

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Culture Shock in Reverse

Ok, I will start this post by saying that I realize that not every day can be great and that I know the whole culture-shock thing isn't supposed to be a breeze, but this day of my life have been an emotional rollercoaster! For whatever reason I am more emotional than usual right now, and that leads to ridiculous non-thinking thoughts!
First of all, I was tired today because Jon and I stayed up too late at the Mihama American Village. We just wandered around exploring and picking up small knickknacks and talking about the places we want to travel to... But seriously, today was weird at work! First of all I got punched by a 5th grader who supposedly was trying to get his friend back for pushing him... Talk about the wrong place at the wrong time. Anyhow, the two boys were (publicly?) shamed after they came to the teacher's room to apologize to me... Then their teacher came and apologized to me. I mean, it hurt, and it sucked, but I was punched in the back... Not in the face!
Anyway, the other weird thing that happened was that this girl started crying in class today. We were playing a game called "find the leader" in which one person (it) has to find the person who is leading the rest of the class (who repeats what the leader says, in unison). She just started crying in the middle of the circle. I must admit that is pretty traumatizing when you are it because kids just shout at you from all sides... But I still felt really bad. She didn't take her head from her hands for the rest of the class or when she walked out after class!
Jon and I went to the base because Jon got paid and we wanted to buy groceries. Real groceries that is. We buy things at our local Max Value (24 hour market by home) but can't get a lot of the things we are used to eating. We met up with Rose and her hubby and their almost 2 yr old and their neighbor's kid.. and got base passes. We thought we could go to the commissary but due to complications we couldn't so we went to the PX instead. This was also a hassle for some reason and so we had to kind of disappear quick once we were inside (Neil and Rose & Co went to go eat after we got in). So anyhow, Jon and I were wandering around the Yankee Candles and smelling the Christmas ones. Both Jon's dad and my mom like these and honestly I now think it was the smell that set me off. All the Christmas stuff in the PX made me feel really homesick. I didn't even want to be in there. Mind you, last time I was in this store I was like a kid in a candy store. This time I just wanted to stick to our shopping list and get out. I didn't feel like I belonged there at all. Last time I was totally at ease in this store... Anyways, we managed to walk through a few extra aisles (which reminded me of being at the Walmart in HB because of the way this store is set up (toys, tools, pets). I started thinking about all the things I won't be doing this Christmas and got really sad. Then I started thinking about being away from home at Christmas. I know I won't be this year, but in future years.... Could I actually do it? Maybe this is just the time for hardcore bummer to be felt in the culture shock cycle... I dunno. Jon had a good day, he feels like he conquered Uruma, and got a bicycle. We talked at length about staying or leaving and at this point I am on the highest fence in the world and I could fall and hurt myself before making a rational dection about this..... There are many things to think of... but I don't want to leave because I was too much of a wuss to get past the homesickness...

I will add that the night worked out alright. We were able to go to the Shoppette and buy pretty much anything we wanted to get at the commissary. So at least our painful trip to the PX was profitable in the end.

Friday, November 7, 2008

Ok, I didn't want to just have this be a continuation of my previous post, because that's too much text for anyone to read in one go, and it didn't quite flow with my rambling excuses for my lack of posting.

A couple of hours ago, I heard the doorbell ring. We don't know that many people who are home during the day, so the doorbell or a knock means either: 1)a package is being delivered; or 2)someone is at the door to give us a notice of how much we owe for one utility or another (not an actual bill, mind you, but just a notice. I don't understand, either). It's hot here, like 86 degrees fahrenheit (30 Celsius sounds lower, but still feels weird in a way that I can't explain, so I won't), and a bit humid, so I wasn't wearing a shirt. This greatly surprised and possibly alarmed the kindly prostilitizers, especially the woman, who hid behind the door the entire time. My lack of clothing didn't stop them, however. Nor did the fact that they spoke little English and I spoke little Japanese. We had a brief conversation (I think) and they handed me a flyer (in Japanese) and invited me to their Kingdom Hall.
I think they were surprised I knew what they wanted, but I had a hunch as soon as I saw the flyer. Surprisingly enough, they were actually the second and third Jehovah's Witnesses I had met since getting here.
It was maybe my third or fourth week here, and I was wandering the supermarket trying to find these rice cracker-ish/snack chip-ish things, but I didn't know what they were called. I asked an employee (who has now become a bit of a friend, even though we don't know much of what the other person is saying), and she led me around the store, showing me rice cakes, potato chips, and rice cereal. Finally, as she asked a co-worker if he spoke English, this Japanese man walked up to me and said calmly, "Can I help you? I speak English." I described what I wanted, and he led our small, confused group to the onegiri, which I thought were riceballs (even though they are triangular) filled with goodness (sometimes beans, sometimes fish, sometimes Japanese plums, sometimes more rice!). Apparently the name also applies to my much sought-after snacks. I think. I'm still kinda hazy on whether or not that's the name, but I know what the bag looks like. I'm very grateful that Japanese products have pictures all over them, so a baka gaijin like myself can usually find things.
Our mission complete, my group dispersed, except for myself and the helpful Japanese English-speaker. I complimented him on his English and thanked him profusely for helping me, and he told me that he studied English in the States for a while, studying the bible. "Are you a religious person?" he asked. Anticipating being stuck in the front of the store for a long time, not wanting to do so, but also not wanting to be rude, I told him that I do believe in something, but that I wasn't entirely sure what, and that while I was here in Asia, I wanted to learn more about eastern religions. I then said that I had to go, because Kristin and I were going to have dinner soon, which was the truth. He handed me a Watchtower magazine, told me about his Kingdom Hall on the island, and we parted ways. Kristin and I saw him again in the supermarket a few weeks ago. He's a very nice man, and appears more interested in practicing English than converting me, so I hope to bump into him again.
I still think it's very odd that I have run into three Jehovah's Witnesses in my brief time in Okinawa. I've also seen quite a few Mormons. Okinawan Mormons.

My First Post (Finally)

Hi Everybody! (Now you say, "Hi, Dr. Nick!")

I've been here in Okinawa for just over two months (my birthday will be my three month Okinawa monthiversary) and this place still puzzles me beyond belief. Puzzles, amazes, frustrates, amuses, fascinates, angers, humbles, and any number of other things. Like I said in my bio, not a day goes by without something happening that I didn't expect. However, like Kristin, I'm not always able to write about it. Usually something will occur while I am away from the apartment, either running errands or teaching, or just stuck in Okinawan traffic (I have only come across one road that has three lanes in either direction, and that's on the other side of the island. I'm sure I could write much more about traffic, so I will save that for another post.), so I try to remember it for later. Unfortunately, there are so many weird or funny things that happen, they all get jumbled together.
Also, time seems to go quickly for me here. I get up with Kristin, make some breakfast, and then she heads off to work in the morning. I go to work in the afternoon, so I have the morning to get stuff done. I don't really know where the time goes, but before I know it, it's time to go to work. Most of you know how good I am at wasting time, but even when I'm getting stuff done, there just doesn't seem to be enough time. I guess that's universal, though. I don't get home until late, sometimes after 10pm, and by then it's time to eat something, hang out with Kristin for a bit, then go to sleep. I don't really feel like I have much time to organize my thoughts and then put them up. Plus, the internet can be a huge distraction. Then again, I suppose I am posting right now, so it's possible. I just have to make the time. So make the time I will. I don't get a chance to communicate with all of you as much as I'd like, so hopefully, I will post regularly, and you will read and comment regularly, and all will be right in the universe.

Domo arigatou gozaimasu!
Jon