Watashi wa kenkyuin desu.
Minnesota kara kimashita.
For me, and for many of my linguaphile friends, learning a new language is a string of exciting new challenges and mini-goals. Each new phrase used and understood in the real world by real Japanese, is for me a victory. I've been learning japanese in quick and easy 30 minute lessons from my coworker Kitamura-san who used to be a Japanese teacher, using the book NIHONGO FUN & EASY.
YES. It makes good on that name.
She laughs at my silly running group, and the casual/slang words I've learned from friends, and then she finds rolls of origami paper I've been looking for to make stars with :).
Work
My fourth day in Japan I started what unexpectedly became my first day of work. Nothing too work-like, but it was certainly draining, both because of my efforts to make a good first impression with my coworkers and avoid any cultural faux pas and because of the introvert in me smiling my way through countless introductions. I felt awkward bowing and only did so slightly and when I remembered. Being given a business card from a new coworker, I remembered how important they are in the Japanese culture, as she bent her knees lowering the top of her head and placing her business card in the palms of both her outstretched hands. It instantly reminded me of this bit of cultural fun.
Money and exchanges between customer and sales representatives are treated in a similar respect, at least in official realms such as the bank, post-office, etc. Nothing is handed to and forth except on a small tray. And over in the ritzy Ginza neighborhood, the doormen stand with stiffer spines than the guards at buckingham palace. I found it silly and entertaining to watch.
My first two full weeks of work in my first real full time career-related job have been exciting but slow enough to ease in, with time enough for some city roaming/running (with hashers of course) and a weekend away in the mountains with a bunch of generous international hippies. More on that later. I've neglected sending out souvenirs/gifts to those I've been meaning to, but I don't forget such things. But let me know if you're someone who direly wants me to send them something specific, or would be sad if I neglected to send you a postcard.
I started out my work at the Clinical Research Center reading background articles on spinal cord injury clinical trials and some disease I can't remember the name of right now (edit: looked it up for all you doctor folk out there (i.e. Alex), Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Pupura), since we'll be doing data analysis for a few registration trials (very regimented clinical trial required for newish drugs) in the spring. I 'helped' with some consultations my boss had with physicians from Keio doing research, but these have often been in Japanese so I'm unable to follow. My boss does ask the researchers to speak in english when he knows they're capable and I've enjoyed learning about their projects and chiming in when possible. On my first day of work I met Dr. Sato, my boss' boss, who is like an older, Japanese, and if possible more refined, version of Mr. Darcy (google images, you highly disappoint me for your lack of Japanese Darcys). My first full week of work he took me, boss and a few of physicians and coworkers of mine out to dinner for my welcome party (which I found out today I'll have another of) at a small but oh so authentic French restaurant whose owner, speaking Japanese in his French accent was delightfully charming. We sat, ate, drank and talked for four hours. Fantastic. The following day I had ladies lunch with my female coworkers at a traditional japanese restaurant and tried raw egg, but nothing too out of the ordinary.
Today my boss received a call from Dr. Sato, saying we've been asked to perform the analysis on an upcoming psychiatric study involving three universities and some mental health institute. Super excited to be working on things that really interest me :).
Still, in my preferred as little as possible to as much as possible fun:work ratio, I spent this weekend in Yamanashi prefecture, admiring the the Tanagawa mountains and some awesome longtime burner outfits (burners are Burning Man attendees, as at Japan's 24 hour festival inspired by the original, there were many longtime burners); enjoying the onsen, and dancing all night.
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| Fun with color
Examples of the friends I met there: a couple traveling from Holland, a french woman whose dream it had been to come to Tokyo since she was little, a guy from Milan, some ESL teachers living in Japan, an arabic guy who just moved to Tokyo as well, some Aussies, and lots of Japanese who I had varying levels of communication with, from miming and badminton, to dancing, and full-fledged conversations (graphic designer who lived in Los Angeles for years and spend last spring traveling on a cruise ship). One slim Japanese guy pulled off cross-dressing fantastically. My friends from Holland and I watched his silhouette on the canvas of a tent putting on false eyelashes that were distinct enough to count. The image was so perfect it was as if he was putting on a show for all of us watching, and I couldn't stop watching.
As any burner knows, everyone was incredibly friendly and welcoming, and I was offered delicious spicy tofu and mushroom soup, Tamagozake (the Japanese version of eggnog, made with sake), mikan (Japanese oranges, which are really clementines) and grilled veggies from strangers/new friends. |
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| Sun stage |
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| Japanese camping is rough. All you get to eat is Paella. |
Took a long video at one of the less exciting fire dancers moments and then didn't take video for long enough during this performance.
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