Wabi-Sabi Sole

Finding Beauty with Imperfection

Category: Japan

Friendship Day

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On August 6, 2016

In Friendship, Japan

Saturday, 8/6/2016, the Yokosuka Naval Base hosted the annual Friendship Day.  During this day, the Mikasa Gate is open to the public allowing the locals to come and enjoy food, fellowship and friendship.  There are numerous food stands sponsored by all the different commands on base.  Here is a list of events and activities being conducted throughout the day.


Because the day was so HOT, shade was at a premium! 

Our first stop… The BEER tent!


We strolled around for a while and found the Beatles Tribute Band.  I was trying to give a thumbs up but, the splint on my pinky finger made it more of a shaka…


This line is for the sandwiches Dave’s command was selling.  It is quite common to see people carrying umbrellas on a sunny day because it provides shade.


I still have trouble in my head with vehicles driving on the left.  In this picture, you can also see a man carrying pizza.  The locals love being able to access pizza.  They will carry away several at a time.


The final picture shows pizza boxes ready to be distributed to hungry locals!  An added bonus was the guy with the cute hat on the right.


It was an interesting day.  We only stayed for a few hours because it was so hot.  

This evening we met up with several others from Dave’s command. For ¥3000 we had all we could eat and drink. The menu rocked me. 


There was a lot if sashimi meat ordered. I passed. Crocodile, kangaroo, horse, whale and squid. Gross. In fact, grosser than my finger. I opted for the salmon, edamame and rice bowl. Yum, yum & yum. 


the end of the evening I was schooled on a lot of Japanese customs. Perhaps my favorite is saying “peace” or “Heiwa”. Pronounced, “hay-wa”. And to give the peace sign palm forward. Like so- 


Kanpie & Heiwa! 

Sole Adventure: Hop, Skip & a Trip

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On August 5, 2016

In Egg Salad, Japan, Running

Happy Friday!  This morning started of with a run and a view of a beautiful sunrise over Tokyo Bay.  As we were running we commented about how this was the clearest sunrise we have observed since arriving on the island.


As we continued running, our conversation continued about the weather.  We noted that yesterday was the first day since our arrival that it didn’t rain.  Next up in conversation was what were our plans for the weekend.  Today, I intended to run a couple errands on base with the help of my new friend and her car.

  1. Pick up dry cleaning
  2. Set up cable and Internet for our future home

We also discussed weekend plans which include attending the annual Yokosuka Base Friendship Day.  On Saturday, the base is open to the community and many locals come in and enjoy fellowship and friendship.  Also, there are numerous vendors, arts & crafts and 3 different stages for live music.  Sunday, we are planning a little exploration of a beach town near where we will eventually live.  The name of the town is Zushi.  Seriously!

At this point in my run, I thought to myself, “With a boring admin day ahead of me, what will I blog about?”  Immediately, I thought of discussing the variety of food I have tried.  Let’s go back to the egg salad I bought yesterday.  It actually was pretty good.  I think Japanese “uncrustables” might be a new favorite of mine.


Shortly after having this thought, I “stumbled” upon the actual topic.  We were running up a hill on base approximately half way through our run.  There were two large birds ahead of us and Dave crossed the street to avoid them.  I observed a car at the stop sign at the top of the hill and thought I would just stay on course.  That is when it happened.  I tripped and fell.  HARD.  I scraped my right knee and shin, my left palm, the back of my right shoulder and dislocated my right pinky.  I sat for a minute and assessed my injuries.  Noting what hurt and where there was blood.  After looking at the blood on my hand and knees, I realized an intense pain coming from my right pinky.  Closer inspection almost caused me to pass out.  It still brings up feels of nausea when I think about it.


A trip to the hospital was needed. Now, where is the hospital again? Keep in mind it maybe 5:20 am at this point. We started off in one direction and quickly crossed paths with a fellow sailor who pointed us in the correct direction. Off we went. A good 5-10 minute walk later, we arrived at the ER.  Seriously. 96 hours after being on the island and I need a trip to the ER. Dave hadn’t even had a chance to officially “check me in” and register me in the Yokosuka Hospital database. Consider that completed at this point.

The other annoying part – we didn’t have our military IDs on us. After checking me in, Dave ran back to our room to pick them up. During this time, the ER doctor numbed my finger and scheduled X-rays to be taken.

By the time Dave returned, the X-rays showed the finger was only dislocated and the ER doctor was easily able to snap or pop it back into place. It was as gross as it sounds. Unfortunately, I didn’t take a picture of the X-ray. It was disgusting as well.


Once my finger was re-set and splinted, the doctor sent me on my way. She gave me extra gauze, tape, and Neosporin. I was juggling quite a few things at this point and asked her if she had a bag. No bag. 

But, she did have a rubber glove. Keeping with the theme of my fall, she packed the extra supplies into the glove for me to carry home. Hilarious.


We walked back to the lodge and I snapped a quick shot of the road rash on my shoulder. I still don’t understand how that happened. On my back?


Lessons Learned:

  1. Carry your military ID with you ALWAYS
  2. Never wonder about a blog post topic
  3. Try more Japanese Uncrustables!

Peek-a-Boo

By

On August 4, 2016

In Google Map, Japan, KitKat, Shopping, Train, Travel

Long story short, I saw our future house today!!  Here is a picture of our “le” (pronounced “e-et”).  It was great to put eyes on our home sweet home.  Less than 2 weeks!


What you can’t see is the long hill I climbed to get to the house.  Nor can you feel how hot and sweaty it was to make the climb.  I know the U.S is feeling the torch of summer and Japan is no different.  It was 89 degrees – 70% humidity with a heat index of 99 degrees.  Sounds familiar to so many!


Added bonus is that it is an end unit and tucked away with a woody backyard.


And now for the longer part of the story.  Let me back up to Wednesday, 8/3.  Two key things happened.  1.  We obtained our Japanese cell phones.  This enabled me to utilize GPS and cellular service beyond wifi.  2.  My newest friend, offered to show me how to use the trains.  Armed with my new cell phone (iphone 6s) and money for a drink at a vending machine along our journey, my friend, her two kids and I, set off on a field trip to Ikego Hills and back.  We were successful in our adventure and I was prepared for my solo journey on Thursday.  Here are a few pictures to provide better understanding of the Japanese train system.

  1.  Boarding passengers form a line behind the diamonds while waiting.  Also notice the passengers across the tracks.  The benches are unique. 

  1. If you desire to sit on a bench and wait, you sit on a specific square on the bench.  Do NOT hog the entire bench.  If possible, leave a space between you and another person on the bench if you don’t know them as demonstrated in the above picture. 
  2. The trains are really clean.  Ok, maybe not the train station but, the train is really clean.  Also, it is really difficult to find a trashcan.  Another lesson learned, keep a trash bag in your purse at all times. 
  3. Do NOT talk loudly, eat, drink or anything else that would cause you to make a spectacle of yourself.  I should probably include “be a tall American women with blond hair” because people will stare at you.

This leads to my favorite game to play on the train.  During my first solo train ride on 8/4/16, I developed the adult version of “peek-a-boo”.  I sat in silence and I played on my phone for a minute or two.  Then spontaneously I would look up, make eye contact with the person staring at me and smile.  Without fail, each time I looked up, someone was staring at me.  After I looked up and caught them staring they would quickly look away or at the floor.  It was hard to keep a straight face.  I was giggling on the inside.  I didn’t feel threatened by any means.  It was more a feeling of being a mysterious anomaly who should be admired and studied.  Too much?  Seriously, I didn’t feel threatened or awkward just different because I am and that is OK!

Continuing on with my journey, here is a screen shot of my Google Map.  In case I haven’t explained how easy Google Map is to use, if you look at the directions at the bottom, it tells you what time your train will arrive, which platform, how many stops your train will make and total travel time.  Even more helpful, the blue dot travels along the route.  Enabling visual verification you are on the correct train.  Completely user foreigner friendly.


I also develop a mnemonic to help me identify my stops.

  1. Jimmuji Station – Jumanji (Station by our housing area)
  2. Kanazawa-Hakkei Station – Kwanzaa-Hanukkah (Where we switch trains)
  3. Yokosukachuo Station – Yokosuka”chew” (Station near the base)

Silly, but very helpful when everything is indecipherable.

After my trek to and from housing, I shopped along Blue Street as I made my way back to the base.  Here were items I found at a little convenience store.  Tomato Pretz, 2 flavors of KitKats (still searching for wine flavored), clorets (gum) and two individually wrapped Japanese “uncrustables”.  One flavor is egg salad and the other peanut butter.  Interestingly, neither were refrigerated and both had an expiration date of 8/6/2016.  Hmmm….


Finally, it was time for lunch.  This was a yummy soft bread covered with macaroni salad, 3 pieces of broccoli and 1 shrimp.  It was served warm.


I am happy to report that I was not a bobbing blond bobble head while exchanging currency.  I made two separate purchases and felt I handled it like a 96-hour newbie.  I followed the locals in line ahead of me and placed my CASH on the little tray that was by the register.  I bowed slightly each time (only once) and said “hai” and “aragoto” – (thank you).  Oh, and of coursed smiled.

D2 – Who knew?

By

On August 2, 2016

In Customs, Japan, Shopping

This morning I was invited to venture off base with friend I have met since our arrival. She has been here about a month and in my opinion a complete expert on Japanese living. I hope to be so wise by the end of the month. She drove us to D2 (“this is not the droid store you’re looking for”) – a store equivalent to a Japanese Walmart. It was stimulating, overwhelming and a great opportunity to learn Japanese customs. The trip took about 15 minutes one way and we spent about an hour shopping.


We wandered around the plant section and selected several plants for the flower bed that is in front of my friend’s townhouse. I could feel a tug of jealousy because she is already living in her accommodations and is able to start making it feel more like home. Considering we have been gypsies and vacationers for so long, I am ready to be planted myself! 

Once we entered the store, I was overwhelmed. Most of the signs were in Japanese. Although, there are several signs labeling sections of the store. Having a little bit of English helped us to navigate around the store.

We went to the snack section because I am on the hunt for the wine-flavored Kit Kat.  No luck. We did find an interesting option available in the “snack” section. Google Translate informed me the label advertises the dried fish to be extremely high in calcium. Good to know and so is milk.

Let’s discuss what I did buy.  To start, I have been searching for LaCroix fizzy water.  No luck yet.  I have found Perrier but, it is too expensive (249 yen) and the bubbles are too small. Today, I found 3 different types of sparkling water. I purchased two bottles of each brand for my authentic science experiment to determine which brand I enjoy the most. I am secretly hoping it is the brand that only cost 68 yen vice the other two brands that cost 98 yen.  


I took a picture to refer back to later and promptly forgot the price of each one.  The little packages on the left are “fish flavored” (Google Translate) goldfish like crackers.  They are ok. Two packs of Hi-Chew.  Grape & Strawberry.  Grape is the better flavor of the two. A package of Pretz – pretzel sticks salt flavor – a handy & yummy snack.  The Japanese version of poop-pourri in fresh sprig scent (according to Google Translate).  (We are living in a hotel room for 2 more weeks, I thought that might be a nice touch.) And finally the magnetic sign for our future vehicle. It is a Japanese requirement for new drivers to attach this sticker to their vehicle until they have one year of driving experience.  It alerts other drivers you are a newbie. Totaling – 6 bottles of sparkling water, 1 package of pretzels, 2 packages of starburst like candy, goldfish, poop-pourri and my cool new driver magnet for just 1,727 yen. Rolling back the prices…

Checking out with my items was definitely an experience.  One lady scanned the items and another lady bagged the items.  Neatly.  And fit them all into one bag with great care.  I am slowly learning the cultural expectations.  The Japanese embrace every opportunity to be polite.  For example, when exchanging money, you present the money with both hands and bow slightly.  The receiving person takes the money with both hands and returns the bow.  All of this occurs while standing at the check out counter and both times a card or money is exchanged.  To put it mildly, I looked like the awkward American with a cheesy smile bobbing back and forth.  Also, the receipt is placed on a small clipboard so the customer doesn’t have to bend over to sign it.  Again, in my awkward American finesse and part bow, I lean over to sign it on the counter.  At this point I realize how far I’m having to lean over and think, “good grief these are really low check out counters.”  I only realized my mistake when my friend checked out and stood holding the little clipboard and signed her receipt.  *Facepalm*  For my homework tonight, I am going to practice bowing to the mirror with my credit card firmly held in both hands and say “hai” – meaning, yes and pronounced “hi”.

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