Song of the Week:
FAMJAM4000 by: Jordan Ward
Konichiwa b*tches
Welcome, Welcome back to The Unfinished Times, itâs me your writer back on American soil. To my regulars you have been deeply missed and to the newcomers I am glad you could join us today. Last week I confidently declared, and I quote, âStay tuned for next week when the topic has yet been decided so itâll be a surprise for the both of us.â For some reason, I thought that was a good end liner. It wasnât. Why, you ask? Because I must have forgotten I was on a whole trip, in a different country!
For those of you stepping into my world, I have just concluded a two- and- a-half-week vacation in my favorite country: Japan. Now, back in the studio I am eager to spill the beans of my trip. Maybe, just maybe youâll be able to pick up some travel wisdom for your own Japan travels.
Takeoff
Embarking on a journey to a different country usually involves a short trip to a major airport. Mine is SFO, which is about a two-hour drive from Sacramento. Luckily, my partner and I have local connections, easing our way to the airport. Here is the kicker- our flight to Narita Airport was a whopping eleven hours! I was armed with downloaded shows, I was ready to binge shows I have been putting off for months- except only some episodes actually downloaded.
Now, my partner and I are known for winging everything, no plan, no clue what to do, where to eat or how to get anywhere. Landing in Japan was an adventure in itself; we had to be escorted to baggage claim- we got lost in the airport! By the time we reached our hotel at 7 PM mind you we landed at 3 PM; it was dinner time. I was on a mission for an epic first meal, as it was going to set the tone for the rest of the trip. I wanted a classic dish, a bowl really, of that good ole Japanese classic: ramen.
Hold Short
Japanâs efficiency struck me at the ramen shop- vending machine-like ordering system. You put your money in, press what you want, and it pops out a ticket and voila! A ticket for the chef. No need to talk yet, they know what I ordered. With an English menu, we ordered, waited about 6 mins and our food was served to us. What I am about to say next might sound ludicrous, but that ramen was the best I ever had in Japan. [1] The broth was rich in flavor, not too salty just perfect, the chasu had the perfect balance of meaty and fattiness and lastly the bowl was filled with noodles, I mean they were not stingy with it. We had to walk off the food high and could not stop expressing our happiness.
The official first day in Japan, we were like kids in a candy store, we wanted to see and experience everything. We woke up bright and early before the sun even came up! The only good thing about the time difference was how easy it was to wake up early. On the other hand, just because you wake up early doesn’t mean everyone else will too. Despite stores opening at 10 AM, we started our day at 6 AM; the only thing we could do was go sightseeing as we started walking around town. Racking up 20,000+ steps a day! Golly was Tokyo so peaceful at this time. Barely any people on the streets, mostly delivery drivers or people trying to get home from the night before. The sun shining in all itsâ glory with a nice summer-like breeze that was both chilly but needed. The sound of the city walking up and the birds whistling of the crossing street sign. Its times like these those intrusive thoughts everybody gets when visiting Japan, âDamn, what if I just moved here?â. The tranquility will soon be replaced by the bustling energy of tourists, families, youngsters, and city workers that will have you rethink living in this city.
In Tokyo, every sub-division felt very similar and almost repetitive after just three days. We craved new experiences, off to Osaka but first, a quick pit-stop in Nagoya. Our first mistake: traveling on New Years Day. Our second mistake: being in Nagoya. As soon as we got off the train the massive 5.6 earthquake hit. My first thought when I felt the shaking was the JR train passing by causing the ground to shake. I thought it was weird how hard it was shaking but brushed it off. We stood there dead in our tracks when our phone alerted us that the activity. Panic set in; earthquake in Japan is never a good thing. Japan is surrounded by water; I did not want to be the next true story film. âDo we evacuate outside?â, âwhere are our tickets?â, âhow do we get out of here?â, âwe need to get out of hereâ I swivel my head left, right, behind me trying to escape. Everyone else going about their day like this was normal occurrence. The only reaction I saw, was the frustration over stopping the trains for 15 minutes as a precautionary measure for potential aftershocks! I am from California earthquakes are not that big of a deal, I know, but when I am physically underground, I can’t be the only one who thinks this is serious! Guess I was.
Final Approach
We were itching to leave Nagoya, not only because of that alarming arrival but also because I had planned a mini family reunion in Osaka. Last time I was in the presence of my cousins and aunt was at the ripe age of 15, during their America stay. Time, with all its sneaky ways, swiftly flown by, and lo and behold, my eldest cousin became a parent to the cutest baby girl. Witnessing your familial generation unfold in real time- now, that is an underrated spectacle worth journey!
My partner and I are a multilingual due- he is fluent in Spanish while I fluent in Japanese. Imagine the occasional absentmindedness when I forgot to translate for him. There he was, lost in LaLa land, mastering the art of a fake laugh. On the flip side, my family dabbles in a little bit of English however not enough to be comfortable in speaking. While I have a medium proficiency in Japanese and prefer to respond in English. Understanding their banter is as natural as breathing, so it slips my mind that their jokes might as well be delivered in gibberish. Usually, I am not the designated translator, but this time, oh this time, my partner got a taste of his own medicine. Welcoming him to the multilingual comedy of errors, where lost-in translation moments become the star of family gatherings.
It is an understatement to say that this trip was worth all the money and all the stress for moments like these. That is why this song of the week is a touching but upbeat song about bringing back the love. Visiting my family isnât the easiest trip in the world but it truly is a blessing to be together. Thatâs what this trip reminded me to remember that I have cousins, grandparents, aunts, and uncles on the other side of the globe. And if you come from an Asian household you know, I got that Line App on me to keep in touch lol. If you enjoyed this weekâs post, stay tune for next week because Imma be there- catch me if you can!
[1] You can see a photo of my bowl on The Unfinished Times Instagram. Called Fukki Ramen, I know how to get there. Take the A line to get off at Daimon Station and exit 8. If I remember correctly, you will see a McDonaldâs and drug store across the street. Get on that side and walk right about 2-4 mins till you see a red sign that says âramenâ in katakana. You should be able to see the Tokyo Tower if you stand in front of the place. It has a white cloth banner at the top and the glass door slides to the right for entry. Then you found the place!
Thank you for joining me on this journey at The Unfinished Times! Don’t forget to follow me for more insightful content, give a shout-out to spread the word, and consider signing up for our Co-Collective to be part of our vibrant community. And if you missed any posts from previous weeks, take a moment to catch up! Let’s continue exploring, sharing, and growing together! See you in the next post~XOXO
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