When Hippo Flies...to JAPAN

New Year's, a part of it

2009-01-04T21:38:00.005+09:00

We eat noodles on New Year's Eve in Japan. Yummy.

Japanese New Year's is much like American Thanksgiving. It's a time for families to get together, eat a lot, and (often) drink a lot, and like any family-oriented holidays, it reminds you of where you come from, all the goods and bads, things that have changed and that haven't.

For me one of the things that haven't changed was my father's family getting annoyingly drunk.

My uncle, who has lived in England, NY, LA, and other places, loves English and loves talking about the places he's visited. He's happy because now he can talk to me about LA. He tells me the names of the good restaurants he frequented when he lived in Redondo Beach even though I can't really afford them. He tells me how he would take Sepulveda to get to LAX because it's faster than being caught in traffic on the freeway.

And he wants to speak English, or about English.
After a Japanese singer finishes a song in English on TV, he asks me, "So what did you think of that?"
"What do you mean?"
"Her pronunciation. What do you think?"
She just has Japanese accent, like I do.
"What do you think?" He persists.
"I guess it may be difficult for some Americans to understand her words." I try to give an answer he wants.
"Right!" My uncle is happy.
"Is that so?" my mom asks.
"It's mixture of British accent and American accent. That's why it's hard for native speakers to understand," he explains.
That's a cool way to explain Japanese accent, I think.

Then he starts asking me questions about my future, and eventually calls me strange.
"Something wrong," he says, now in English.
"That's rude," I say in Japanese. "I prefer 'different.'"
"What's the difference?" my mom asks, so I explain the difference.
"You're right," my uncle says in his mixture of British and Japanese accent, "You are quite right."

"Who are you?" he asks.
"Who are YOU?" I ask, rather annoyed than amused now.

After a while my dad gets mad at his brother's persistent questioning and English speaking, and they engage in a drunken fight that seems to be a sort of entertainment for them and their mother, my grandma. At this point I start to look forward to the noodle time and going to bed afterwards, but at least I'm not alone. I escape to the kitchen with my mom and aunt. Doing the dishes and rolling our eyes at the drunk people in the next room, we await the midnight.

By the time the new year arrives, we're all calm somehow. We sit in the living room and eat the noodles together, watching the crowds of people paying their first visit to shrines and temples on TV.

Back in Japan. Again.

2008-12-30T23:43:00.007+09:00

Without an individual screen with on-demand movies that I would have been staring at for the whole flight, and without being able to sleep, as always but even more so thanks to my strained back, I became a passenger you would probably hate to sit near on a long flight, one that keeps the reading light on all the time, even when everybody around is trying to sleep. I read, read and read. In between meals, snacks and frequenting-the-bathrooms, I went through 270 pages of In Her Shoes by Jennifer Weiner. I loved it. The short chapters didn't fail my attention span, and I just floated in the story and enjoyed picturing Cameron Diaz, Toni Collette and Shirley Maclain in my head (yes it was easy right after watching the movie for the second time). I never realized chick lit was so perfect for flying, but then I always tend to like chick flicks more than usual on the plane. Anything with the word "chick" is probably perfect for flying.

So I arrived in Japan two days ago, discovered my "little sis" gained weight and security (now you can see she knows she's a member of the family), enjoyed some fresh seafood already (huge oysters!), and have been loving taking long baths (very good for my back). It's been good to be home, for the most part.

The Last Night

2008-08-14T22:27:00.003+09:00

In the new living room I've become comfortable in, throwing a ball for the new cat to chase, I'm watching an Olympic game of baseball, Japan vs. Taiwan. As it always is before I fly back or forth the thought of being in the air stuck in a small airplane seat 24 hours from now feels pretty ridiculous. It gets tiring and I wish I could stop traveling between two places; but then how fortunate I am to have two places with things and people to miss and to go back to! I'm all packed and the mess is gone. I'm leaving home and I'll be home soon.

My Cat Hates Me

2008-08-04T00:06:00.005+09:00

Because I took her to the vet. She thinks it's my fault that she had something stick into her ears along with some liquid (to clean the wax and ticks), that she got stung twice as she shrieked and screeched and screamed (she got shots for parasites). She thinks I'm coldhearted because I nailed her struggling paws down onto the table and then left the room when she was staring at me helplessly under the vet's hand. I've done that on two Sundays already. Now her ears go backward if I try to pet her and she jumps out of my arms if I try to hold her. But she scratches her ears less and has gained some weight. Although I miss her friendly softness in my arms, I believe I'm practicing love for her and I hope she'll realize it someday. Hopefully soon, like tomorrow.

Yummy Horsey

2008-07-25T02:03:00.002+09:00

I ate horse!

Imagination is essential but nothing beats experience. Last May I wrote about eating horse without actually having eaten horse. Now I'm totally going back and revise it. Horse meat doesn't melt in your mouth.

Trip to Noto

2008-07-25T01:56:00.003+09:00

We went to the Noto Peninsula.
We bathed in hot springs.
We ate lots of seafood.

The purpose of the trip was to see how the Sea of Japan is different from the Pacific Ocean, and we concluded the ocean is the ocean wherever.

Heart and Clown

2008-07-20T18:18:00.004+09:00

As I approached with my camera in hand I noticed under the heart a couple sat on the bench, one about to put their arm around the other's shoulders who seemed to be crying. I held up my camera and took pictures of the lights. They got up and left. Their abruptness made me feel like an intruder, and when I looked at them, I realized they were two boys. They walked away with awkward distance between them.

I felt slight irritation wishing that we hadn't interrupted with their moment of intimacy. That they'd kept on without caring us standing there like the proud couples I'd seen around in the city that day.

"I'm impressed now we can see things like that in Japan," my mom said, "People are much more open."

But I thought of their dangling arms I saw as I watched them go, arms apart from each other, wanting to tangle.

Snoopy Town in Yokohama

2008-07-19T01:06:00.002+09:00

My favorite Peppermint Patty and her friend Marcy!

My mom always spends a fortune here. Everything around her has Snoopy on it.

Geeky

2008-07-18T22:57:00.003+09:00

Totoro is on TV!

Some say Ghibli is Japanese Disney. Others say Ghibli is more than that. Personally I'd like to believe the latter (WPE style). I guess it's part of our culture, more or less, especially for my generation. If I usually feel I know nothing about Japanese animes when talking to American anime fans, I may actually manage to keep up with them on topics on Ghibli movies. They are seriously good.

And a new Ghibli movie is coming out tomorrow.

Anybody Want This Shirt?

2008-07-17T14:36:00.000+09:00

I've Got a Sister

2008-07-15T18:34:00.004+09:00

When I arrived home, my mom introduced me to my "little sister." I never expected to be called a "big sis" at this age, but it wasn't really difficult to accept with the little sister being a cat. There's nothing better than having a soft warm creature that trusts you enough to sleep in your arms, even if you're allergic to them. Ah here's another heartbreaking factor for my return to the United States. I've taken 100 photos of her already.

Pigeon and Sentiment

2007-07-28T13:57:00.000+09:00

First I thought it was hurt or something but then I saw other pigeons doing the same thing and realized they were trying to cool off in the heat. That's how hot Japan is now. I'm glad to see the sun before I leave and now I feel more ready to leave to escape the hotness and humidity.

Today I'm going to check out a small festival in the neighborhood that I used to go to when I was younger and living with my parents. I'm planning to eat shaved ice and fried noodles because these are what I used to eat. I'm planning to let eating them feel me sentimental. If you've read any Japanese story or seen any Japanese movie you might've noticed we are fond of sentimentality in Japan. Sometimes too much. But I like that we don't try to avoid it and I like to make the most of it whenever I feel sentiment.

I Missed the Sun

2007-07-25T23:52:00.001+09:00

So I'm leaving in five days and the sky started to sunny up. Finally! It's hot and humid, not rainy and cool. That's how I would remember Japanese summer and that's what I expected before coming here. It's not typical. But if I were a traveller who'd stayed here for the first time, I'd think Japanese summer is so rainy. I'd recommend people not to go there in July because it rains most of the time.

I'd say Japanese beaches are cloudy and gloomy.

Cell Phone Ads

2007-07-25T15:04:00.000+09:00

Yes, we like to have American movie stars on ads and TV commercials.

Yokohama

2007-07-16T20:28:00.000+09:00

It's one of my most favorite cities. It makes me feel like I'm on a date even when I visit here alone.

There's much more to the city than what's in the pics, too!

America in Japan

2007-07-16T18:26:00.000+09:00

So much of America has come into Japan... I saw other stores like McDonald's (of course), Wendy's, Hard Rock Cafe, Subway, and Sizzler on the same day. If you are stone American, you can still survive in Japan!

Schoolgirls

2007-07-16T18:21:00.000+09:00

I felt like a pedophile taking this picture--but Japanese schoolgirls look so cute with the same red schoolbags and yellow hats.

Zoo

2007-07-15T23:21:00.000+09:00

The morning I swallowed a camera, I went to a zoo I used to go to with my father when I was small.

The place actually depressed me a little. The cages were small and everywhere smelled. The animals seemed all frustrated. The cloudy weather didn't help, either. It did make me wonder why we human beings have zoos. Then I do remember feeling excited as a kid seeing those different kinds of animals; it still was exciting as an adult.

This zoo had peacocks walking around freely, and I loved running into them. Especially right after reading a short story THE FEATHERS by Carver on the train. It's about a peacock. Kind of. I remember seeing a peacock in the park when I came here last time like twenty years ago, too. I wonder if it was the same one I saw this time. How long do peacocks usually live?

japan yummy 2

2007-07-15T00:21:00.000+09:00

I'll just put bigger photos...

Pumpkin. It's oh so sweet.

Yes, we have donuts in Japan, too. This store is called Mr. Donuts. Where's Mrs. Donuts?

It's called takuan. It's radish. Pickled. It goes well with rice. Everything pickled does.

Azuki Frappuccino! If they have this in America, I'd switch from my caramel frappuccino.

I Swallowed a Camera; it's part of my journey

2007-07-14T02:28:00.000+09:00

I swallowed a camera to have my stomach checked. Because it hurts pretty often and because my mother's got ill. She's done this--gastrocamera--twice, and she told me it wasn't as bad as it sounds. The first time the doctor used sedative so she was asleep the whole time without experiencing any pain or discomfort. The second time she was awake but it wasn't really bad anyway; she could even look at the inside of her stomach herself.

So I was like, okay, I can do that, and went to a hospital that was supposed to be good for stomach problems. I liked the doctor and the nurses at once. They were nice and helpful. After I made a reservation for swallowing the camera, an older nurse explained the procedure in detail nicely and helpfully. She asked, "Which would you prefer to have the camera through, mouth or nose?"

She explained the use of the nose is pretty new and it's getting more and more popular among people who need a gastric camera. The camera is tinier, it's less uncomfortable, and the best thing is you can speak to the doctor even when the camera is inside you. She made it sound like it wasn't at all uncomfortable. I was impressed by the advance of technology and decided to do it through my nose.

But that morning, lying on the bed empty-stomached and having anesthesia in my right nostril, I realized it might not be as easy as I'd thought. The medicine was going down my nostril to throat and I was already choking a little. It tasted bad, too. The nurse put more jelly-like anesthesia in my nose. Every time she inserted the thin dropper into my nostril, my eyes watered and I felt like sneezing. I really started to feel as if I was choking and asked her if it was alright. She said it was totally normal. It was because of the medicine.

I remembered I'd always been allergic since my childhood and my nose had been runny all the time. It also gets bleedy once in a while, too, so I can't go out without kleenex. Maybe I had a more problematic nose than average people. Maybe it wasn't a good idea to do it through my nose.

Another nurse came and gave me a shot on the shoulder to stop the function of my stomach for a while. She said the shot might hurt a lot, but it actually didn't. It was fine. I was more concerned with my nose. But the doctor came in and it was time for the camera to come inside me. The thing is, it was thick. I was told it was a smaller camera they used for nose, and it should be, but it was still thick. It looked like black licorice or some kind of ocean creature that had poison.

With that thing in his hand, the doctor put some more anethesia drops into my nostril. No, I take it back, no camera in my nose! It can't take it! The older nurse told me to lie down on my side and I did. The doctor started to put the camera inside my right nostril. I could see the inside of it on the monitor I was facing. The moment it reached at the base of my nose, I knew, before the doctor said so, the hole connecting my nose and throat was too narrow. "Hmm, it's pretty narrow," the doctor said. I hoped he would say, "Let's stop here and do it over through your mouth," but he said, "Well, we can still make it."

He pushed the camera in, and the sharp sting deep in my nose reminded me of why I dislike wasabi. The camera came down slowly to my throat, which refused to let the foreign object in. I gagged and shuddered and squrimed like a fish on the cutting board and the nurses had to put their hands on my body to calm me down. "Swallow," the doctor said. I did. The camera went in, showing the wall inside me. The camera and its tube was so there, claiming such exitence. "It's your esophagus," the doctor informed me. I wanted to go home.

I saw the inside of my esophagus and stomach, and the outlet of it that connects to the duodenum. It was all pink and slippery-looking.

"Looks very healthy," the doctor said. He finally started to pull out the tube. I felt it move, and I felt the pressure going away as it did. When he pulled out everything, he wiped away the dripping of whatever was in me. Later he gave me four pictures of my organs from different angles and explained everything looked fine, that if I experienced any pain it was probably because of the acid.

It was good to know I was all good, but my nose stayed runny and my eyes watery all day. You should still do this checkup if you have a chance, it's good to have your body checked, but if you have a Japanese nose like mine, you should think about if it has a hole wide enough.

If you have one of those European noses, go for it.

Engrish

2007-07-14T02:09:00.000+09:00

Look how we try to make our products global. Effort to communicate.

Rice Burger

2007-07-12T21:31:00.000+09:00

Yes, that's how it's called; rice burger. Inside are pieces of tempura. Yum!

Sweet Chick

2007-07-12T21:26:00.000+09:00

yum

2007-07-11T23:04:00.000+09:00

tofu.
sashimi--raw fish, raw everything.
takoyaki. it has octopus. and it's good. yes.
ramen with lots of garlic and onion.
dumplings.
sweets that aren't too sweet.

Cell Phone

2007-07-09T22:57:00.000+09:00

Yay, I got a cell phone in Japan! It's pay-as-you-go, if you're wondering why I bought it when I'm staying here only for a few weeks.

When I went to the store and asked the clerk about their prepaid phones, she said, "We only have one model, and there's not much you can do with it."
"What can I do with it?"
"You can only make phone calls, text or e-mail, and take pictures."

That's enough. Really. What are cell phones supposed to be able to do these days?

Airline Meals

2007-07-07T22:04:00.001+09:00

The first time I took a plane to America, someone asked me to take a picture of the meals on the plane. It was my first time to see an airline meal, so I did so with much enthusiasm. Now I feel much more experienced with plane rides but I still take pictures of the airline food. Because someone always asks me to. Or because I feel obliged to for some reason.

By the way this is the second time I flew with United and I highly unrecommend it. The food was exactly the same and as bad as six months ago, and they don't have mini screens on the back of the seats. Asian airlines are the best; the meals aren't too bad, they usually have the small screens (sometimes even movies on demand), and their flight attendants wear cute Asian dresses.

But at least UA had Japanese beer. I shouldn't have drunk it, though. It made me go to the bathroom so often blocking the view of people watching BLADES OF GLORY.

I finished the last 1/4 of Michael Cunningham's A HOME AT THE END OF THE WORLD, a book I read for a class in the spring but couldn't get to the end. Because I really liked it, and I tend to read books I really like very slowly. That's the excuse. Anyway. I also read a book about dreams in Japanese and saw parts of BLADES OF GLORY. I hardly slept. I hardly do on a plane. I don't know why people can do that. I have to lie down when I sleep.

The air was warm and thick with humidity the moment I got off the plane in Japan. I went through the immigration and waited for my suitcase to come out on the conveyer.

But it never appeared. Because I was waiting by the wrong conveyer. I should have known when I saw three middle-aged ladies carrying huge bags with red maple leaves printed on. I waited until when I was one of the only few people watching the conveyer and realized it was for the flight from Canada.

At the station I changed the train I saw people in kimono. I wondered if there was a firework festival around there, then I remembered it was the Star Festival. We celebrate stars on this day. It's the only day of the year when the young lovers on each side of MIlkyway can see each other. We write down our wishes on stripes of paper and hang them from bamboo branches, hoping the happy lovers can make them come true.

It's also my mother's birthday. I brought her a gorilla.