Tokyo: Here and Now

This week I am attending a class on how to survive in Tokyo. It's through the Women's Group at the American Club. the past two days have been very helpful and I'm sure tomorrow's will be as well.

Yesterday a counselor came to discuss the inevitable "culture shock" we will all face in varying degrees at one point or another. Hopefully we all won't have it happen at the same time! This was followed by a brief presentation on the history of Japan. During lunch we broke into groups based on similarities - I went to the groups of moms with 6 - 10 year olds and also visited some with the moms with 2 - 5 year olds. Here we asked different questions of the panel and got information on things from where to buy kids clothes to which dentist to use.

Today started off with a Japanese woman discussing Japanese culture and holidays. She was so refined and delicate - she was very informative and gave us some nice insider tips on how to not offend others! There are just so many layers of formality and uniformity - I'm sure I will offend someone before this tour is over!

Following this delightful conversation was a discussion on earthquake preparedness. Not a pleasant discussion... but a necessary one. I will be collecting all of that gear over the next few days. I won't bore you (or scare the daylights out of you!) with many details on that talk...

After lunch, we were treated to a demonstration of traditional Japanese dance and Taiko drumming - the performances were by other expats and their Japanese teachers. Very neat - I do believe I need to take up the drumming - so cool!

They also had a book fair today - I bought several books from a children's book on Japanese holidays to a book about buying food in Japan (which actually has a section on buying an preparing rice!)

My friend, Patti, and I have been meeting at Sydney's school and riding out each morning - in taxis. Yesterday all was well since the driver knew and understood "American club" - today not so much - but we persevered - I had out my little Japanese word book and since I fortunately knew that he had no idea where he was going, directed him to where we needed to be! I quickly learned the words for right and left and stop here! SO HA - success! Believe me, with so many things so very different, I celebrate every little victory!