BONUS:
dinner tonight: cherry tomato, avocado, corn, and olive oil on baguette
Parcel goodies
Thursday, February 26, 2015
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
Monday, February 23, 2015
Sunday, February 22, 2015
Saturday, February 21, 2015
Thursday, February 19, 2015
The Lonely Elderly of Japan
One side of an incoming phonecall this morning:
"Oh, I see, your sister is at a sports festival and you wanted to ask where it was? How old is your sister? 96? Well, you see, it's a bit cold outside for a sports festival so I don't think there is one on today. You're having trouble? Have you been eating lately? I didn't bring lunch today so I'll go out to get some later. You're lonely? I'm sorry, is there someone nearby you can visit? No, I don't think there is a sports festival on right now."
We all listened to my coworkers conversation this morning. It lasted around 10minutes. Some were sighing, some saying how kind he was to talk to this lady for so long, others laughing. Nobody was surprised nor overly concerned for this poor lady. It happens all the time.
We have at least 2 over 80 regulars who come in or call up to complain about this or that. They collect paper clippings about the going on's in Hamamatsu and raise points over whether we are doing our job correctly or not. Every time they come in my coworkers are kind and patient. They listen to their frustration and non-related ramblings. They look through the folders of quite literally hundred of clippings from newspapers. And they understand that this is all probably happening because that person is lonely.
If your social event of the month is visiting a government office to make complaints, nobody can expect you to be happy.
The lady on the phone this morning was, I imagine, suffering from some kind of dementia. Jumping from topic to topic and referring to this 'sport festival' (運動会 - held for students of Elementary and Junior High schools) her sister was attending. She sounded sweet but desperate for company.
When I think of the elderly in Japan I am constantly reminded of the ageing population. Older people working longer. Unlike in generations of the past where the children housed their parents in their old age they now have to take care of themselves in a lot of cases. More and more elderly men and women left out in the country side to tend their farms while the younger family members head to the city to make a living.
While long life due to progression in areas like health care is a thing to be grateful for I can't help but wonder what we can do to make life more enjoyable for this extended period of time. Especially in cultures like Japan where community is key.
It's not just here either. I read more and more how understaffed nursing homes are. How this leads to neglect both physically and emotionally.
As a person who left my own family to travel and seek bigger oppourtunities I do sometimes wonder what will happen to them should a tragedy occur or should I be too far away when they grow old and need me. Am I part of the problem?
Sometimes I judge too harshly those Japanese people who have left their ageing families and moved to cities. Is that not the same thing I have done?
As I wrote this another old man arrived at the counter. He sat down in the waiting area and my coworker went over to chat with them. I don't know what they are talking about but it does make me feel more positive when I think that there are people like my coworkers who are happy to take some time out of their busy day to speak to someone who really needs a friend.
"Oh, I see, your sister is at a sports festival and you wanted to ask where it was? How old is your sister? 96? Well, you see, it's a bit cold outside for a sports festival so I don't think there is one on today. You're having trouble? Have you been eating lately? I didn't bring lunch today so I'll go out to get some later. You're lonely? I'm sorry, is there someone nearby you can visit? No, I don't think there is a sports festival on right now."
We all listened to my coworkers conversation this morning. It lasted around 10minutes. Some were sighing, some saying how kind he was to talk to this lady for so long, others laughing. Nobody was surprised nor overly concerned for this poor lady. It happens all the time.
We have at least 2 over 80 regulars who come in or call up to complain about this or that. They collect paper clippings about the going on's in Hamamatsu and raise points over whether we are doing our job correctly or not. Every time they come in my coworkers are kind and patient. They listen to their frustration and non-related ramblings. They look through the folders of quite literally hundred of clippings from newspapers. And they understand that this is all probably happening because that person is lonely.
If your social event of the month is visiting a government office to make complaints, nobody can expect you to be happy.
The lady on the phone this morning was, I imagine, suffering from some kind of dementia. Jumping from topic to topic and referring to this 'sport festival' (運動会 - held for students of Elementary and Junior High schools) her sister was attending. She sounded sweet but desperate for company.
When I think of the elderly in Japan I am constantly reminded of the ageing population. Older people working longer. Unlike in generations of the past where the children housed their parents in their old age they now have to take care of themselves in a lot of cases. More and more elderly men and women left out in the country side to tend their farms while the younger family members head to the city to make a living.
While long life due to progression in areas like health care is a thing to be grateful for I can't help but wonder what we can do to make life more enjoyable for this extended period of time. Especially in cultures like Japan where community is key.
It's not just here either. I read more and more how understaffed nursing homes are. How this leads to neglect both physically and emotionally.
As a person who left my own family to travel and seek bigger oppourtunities I do sometimes wonder what will happen to them should a tragedy occur or should I be too far away when they grow old and need me. Am I part of the problem?
Sometimes I judge too harshly those Japanese people who have left their ageing families and moved to cities. Is that not the same thing I have done?
As I wrote this another old man arrived at the counter. He sat down in the waiting area and my coworker went over to chat with them. I don't know what they are talking about but it does make me feel more positive when I think that there are people like my coworkers who are happy to take some time out of their busy day to speak to someone who really needs a friend.
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
The Can Sea Chicken (Tuna) Saga Continues
If you can think back to last July I wrote about my co-workers unusual obsession with the word 'Tuna' stemming from a gift of canned sea chicken (better known as tuna in the west).
Well, here we are again.
Kacho (bossman) came over to me and asked me if I had seen our most recent Omiyage (souvenir). Turns out he and some others in the office had been to an event/presentation involving the company who makes canned sea chicken and as a 'thank you' for this they had sent the office another pack of cans.
But it seems Kacho did not remember this event as well as I did.
He asked me again what sea chicken was in English and I replied 'canned tuna' to which he responded 'KYANN TSUNA'.
The conversation went as follows:
'Canned tuna'
'KYAND CHUNA'
'Canned tuna'
'KYAHN TSUUNA'
'Canned tuna'
'KHAN TCHUNAH'
'Canned tuna'
'KAHN CHEWNA'
'yes'
De ja vu is something I experience daily ('Wow! You can read Kanji?', 'Where are you from?', 'Are you an English Teacher?') but sometimes it's worth repeating.
Kacho (bossman) came over to me and asked me if I had seen our most recent Omiyage (souvenir). Turns out he and some others in the office had been to an event/presentation involving the company who makes canned sea chicken and as a 'thank you' for this they had sent the office another pack of cans.
But it seems Kacho did not remember this event as well as I did.
He asked me again what sea chicken was in English and I replied 'canned tuna' to which he responded 'KYANN TSUNA'.
The conversation went as follows:
'Canned tuna'
'KYAND CHUNA'
'Canned tuna'
'KYAHN TSUUNA'
'Canned tuna'
'KHAN TCHUNAH'
'Canned tuna'
'KAHN CHEWNA'
'yes'
De ja vu is something I experience daily ('Wow! You can read Kanji?', 'Where are you from?', 'Are you an English Teacher?') but sometimes it's worth repeating.
February 17th 2015, Tuesday
Another Charlie's juice flavour. Yum. Spot the city mascot,ieyasu-kun, hiding on my desk
Monday, February 16, 2015
Saturday, February 14, 2015
Japan is Better but also Worse??
Today I was once again forced to adorn myself with a mask due to my runny nose and coughing but I was interrogated by a co-worker following this:
"Do you have masks overseas?"
"Yes, we do but we don't really-"
"You're so Japanese haha. What about hayfever?"
"I get hayfever, yes..."
"Imagine getting Japanese hayfever on top of a Japanese cold!"
"Well, we do have hayfever and colds in New-"
"Japanese pollen is strong"
"Umm, sure?"
Now, it's a common thing for Japanese people to believe their country to be above every other country in every single aspect one's country could be superior but recently all I've been hearing is how much worse Japanese illnesses are.
ZA influenza is a big one.
The Japanese influenza, if you believe all the hype, is more terrifying than cancer. You are immobile for a week, fever, shivers, intensely sore throat, unstoppable runny nose, no ability to eat... just like a normal flu. Except that, NO, this is the Japanese Influenza we are talking about!
In December I caught ZA influenza. It was awful. But no worse than a New Zealand flu.
Keep in mind these are all people who have either never left the country or have only been on Japanese tour guided trips to marvel at the GAIKOKU (overseas) and still come back claiming that American's don't peel oranges they cut them into slices and eat the skin #truestory.
I've never had much of a problem with the Japanese hayfever season. Maybe my eyes have been a bit itchy or the occasional snotty nose (more likely due to the yellow dust from China than actual pollen). But, in New Zealand I have a much harder time.
I think the reason I don't really have a problem with hayfever here is because.... well, there aren't as many plants. I live in an industrial, concrete city with few 'parks', which are more like a strip of grass between roads, and lots of factories and malls. There isn't much pollen to be had.
I think perhaps Japan should try to be more proud of the fact that they have lessoxygen pollen and claim it as a hayfever sufferers haven. Put a nice, positive spin on that pollution.
"Do you have masks overseas?"
"Yes, we do but we don't really-"
"You're so Japanese haha. What about hayfever?"
"I get hayfever, yes..."
"Imagine getting Japanese hayfever on top of a Japanese cold!"
"Well, we do have hayfever and colds in New-"
"Japanese pollen is strong"
"Umm, sure?"
Now, it's a common thing for Japanese people to believe their country to be above every other country in every single aspect one's country could be superior but recently all I've been hearing is how much worse Japanese illnesses are.
ZA influenza is a big one.
The Japanese influenza, if you believe all the hype, is more terrifying than cancer. You are immobile for a week, fever, shivers, intensely sore throat, unstoppable runny nose, no ability to eat... just like a normal flu. Except that, NO, this is the Japanese Influenza we are talking about!
In December I caught ZA influenza. It was awful. But no worse than a New Zealand flu.
Keep in mind these are all people who have either never left the country or have only been on Japanese tour guided trips to marvel at the GAIKOKU (overseas) and still come back claiming that American's don't peel oranges they cut them into slices and eat the skin #truestory.
I've never had much of a problem with the Japanese hayfever season. Maybe my eyes have been a bit itchy or the occasional snotty nose (more likely due to the yellow dust from China than actual pollen). But, in New Zealand I have a much harder time.
I think the reason I don't really have a problem with hayfever here is because.... well, there aren't as many plants. I live in an industrial, concrete city with few 'parks', which are more like a strip of grass between roads, and lots of factories and malls. There isn't much pollen to be had.
Chopin was clearly a fan of strategically placed bushes.
None of those natural rolling hills, thank you.
I think perhaps Japan should try to be more proud of the fact that they have less
February 14th 2015, Saturday
Totally forgot it was Valentine's Day today... Shows you how romantic I am!
Friday, February 13, 2015
February 13th 2015, Friday
TGIF
Thursday, February 12, 2015
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
The Misguided Masked Legions of Japan
I was determined when I woke up this morning that I would not resort to wearing a mask.
And yet here I am glasses off, eyes straining, mask over my dripping nose completely succumbing to the intense eye glares from my various co-workers as I tried to deal with my sinuses in the western way of blowing.
The thing is, masks do nothing in the containment of contagious illnesses such as colds and flus. A quick google search will tell you that:
But, it has come to my attention that masks are not entirely related to health concerns anymore. A lot of it has to do with cosmetic concerns.
As I put on my mask this morning my neighbour co-worker turned to me and asked if I was okay, as is the custom, I explained that I had a cold but was made ignorant in the following minutes as he explained that his mask was covering the fact that he had had a root canal a few days before. Suddenly complaining about phlegm seemed insignificant in comparison but then I realised he was only wearing the mask because the side of his mouth was inflamed and the corner of his mouth was red.
Apparently this is common. I remember another co-worker had cosmetic surgery on her mouth and kept a mask on for several weeks afterwards to cover the steristrips. Then another coworker wore one because she got a cut under her nose.
I saw a story online that a girl in someone's office wore a mask everyday of her year working there and they never saw her whole face. She had trouble meeting people's eyes and functioning in conversations but was praised for being cute rather than being offered help for nervousness. So it seems that shyness is also a reason to hide behind a mask.
I was walking to work this morning and thought I had deja vu because I walked past the same man twice. Turned out it was two different men but with matching haircuts, beige trenchcoats (of the flashing kind) and masks. Everyone here is pretty uniform anyway when they are wearing their suits and holding their umbrellas but I think it leads to something bigger.
I find this a bit frustrating because as long as Japan is all about uniformity and fitting in there will always be trouble for people, say big white females with blue eyes and light coloured hair, trying to immerse themselves in the culture.
A mask can only cover a number of sins but not my ethnic identity.
Until it becomes the trend to wear full hazmat suits. Which I will no doubt be pressured into conforming to.
I really hate masks.
And yet here I am glasses off, eyes straining, mask over my dripping nose completely succumbing to the intense eye glares from my various co-workers as I tried to deal with my sinuses in the western way of blowing.
The thing is, masks do nothing in the containment of contagious illnesses such as colds and flus. A quick google search will tell you that:
Since influenza is an airborne disease, filtering the air one breathes would naturally lessen the chance of infection. Unfortunately, simple surgical masks provide little protection to the wearer for two reasons: viruses are small enough to travel through them and they only loosely fit over the mouth, allowing unfiltered air to enter through the gaps. Moreover, few people wear or use them properly.
But, it has come to my attention that masks are not entirely related to health concerns anymore. A lot of it has to do with cosmetic concerns.
As I put on my mask this morning my neighbour co-worker turned to me and asked if I was okay, as is the custom, I explained that I had a cold but was made ignorant in the following minutes as he explained that his mask was covering the fact that he had had a root canal a few days before. Suddenly complaining about phlegm seemed insignificant in comparison but then I realised he was only wearing the mask because the side of his mouth was inflamed and the corner of his mouth was red.
Apparently this is common. I remember another co-worker had cosmetic surgery on her mouth and kept a mask on for several weeks afterwards to cover the steristrips. Then another coworker wore one because she got a cut under her nose.
I saw a story online that a girl in someone's office wore a mask everyday of her year working there and they never saw her whole face. She had trouble meeting people's eyes and functioning in conversations but was praised for being cute rather than being offered help for nervousness. So it seems that shyness is also a reason to hide behind a mask.
I was walking to work this morning and thought I had deja vu because I walked past the same man twice. Turned out it was two different men but with matching haircuts, beige trenchcoats (of the flashing kind) and masks. Everyone here is pretty uniform anyway when they are wearing their suits and holding their umbrellas but I think it leads to something bigger.
I find this a bit frustrating because as long as Japan is all about uniformity and fitting in there will always be trouble for people, say big white females with blue eyes and light coloured hair, trying to immerse themselves in the culture.
A mask can only cover a number of sins but not my ethnic identity.
Until it becomes the trend to wear full hazmat suits. Which I will no doubt be pressured into conforming to.
I really hate masks.
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
Sunday, February 8, 2015
Saturday, February 7, 2015
Friday, February 6, 2015
Bag Week: Wallet and Point Cards Focus
My beautiful fox wallet from Urban Outfitters is my loyal shopping companion. It contains the secrets to bargain shopping and special extras. Let me show you inside!
New Zealand, American and Japanese money are but some of the currencies I have acquired on my travels with this wallet.
1. Plaza Pass: Plaza is the best makeup/international food/cute goodies chain of stores in Japan (in my opinion). They recently started stocking Essie nail polishes so YOU KNOW I gotta whip my point card out for a new summer colour and a bag of whitakers chocolate.
2. Nitori: This store is Japan's answer to Ikea... although they do also have Ikea. It's affordable clean and simple, DIY furniture and my house is full of it. In fact, I'm sitting on some of it currently. If you're moving to/living in Japan you have to get yourself a card.
3. Chiku-ya Stamp Card: My favourite lunch stop for a reasonably priced but gourmet packed lunch (bento). It's usually packed but for good reason. They have everything from salads to fried foods to rice and noodles. Plus, they claim to be healthy. I choose to trust them.
4. Sephora VIB: I am a VIB and I am not ashamed that I achieved this in a week away in Hawaii. Maybe a little. But it definitely worth it because their numerous samples and freebies only available to VIBs is the perfect extra to a basket full of goodies. If you love makeup, you need a Sephora card. They deliver to Japan too!
5. Afternoon Tea: Afternoon Tea is not, in fact, a food store. It's a beautiful kitchen/house store with items ranging from mugs to furniture to clothing. They are pretty expensive so getting savings where you can is important. This is my favourite store in Japan, hands down.
6. Fine Stamp Card: Fine is on of the local supermarkets. It's perfectly placed on my route home so even though it isn't the cheapest I always stop by after a long day of work for a sushi platter and some snacks. Because it isn't cheap I make good use of my stamp card with regular 500yen ($5NZD) savings.
7. Mercato Mabuchi: The best international food store in Hamamatsu. I love Mercato. It's right down the road from me and caters for wine and cheese lovers on the most part (aka. not me). My favourite stock is their local, hand-made gyoza (potstickers) and their wide range of different snacks, pasta and drinks from all over the world.
I hope I've put you in the shopping spirit... I certainly am. So I'm off to Mercato for some tacos!
See you all later!
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