Inner Muses

I started writing this article before the COVID-19 pandemic hit; before the death of George Floyd engulfed the United States in a wild fire of protests; before the peaceful protests, the rioting and the looting across our major cities spurred a fascist response by our president reminiscent of Hilter's brown shirts. So much has happened since I returned from Japan in November of 2019. Still, when I returned, I was hit by profound reverse culture shock as I re-entered the United States. I do my best to describe it here, but I've got to push to get this out before the next crisis distracts. The impact of that culture shock continues to color my view of these unfolding crises and the lessons I hope the country is learning from it. Each time my friends ask me "How is it being back in the US?", I again feel the urge to write this post. The answer is too big. Elevator answer: I'm glad to be back with my family. I am thankful to be with them and have a job I can wo...

View of my old neighborhood of Sakuragaoka (桜丘) from the top of the new Shibuya Scramble Square building. It's now December 16, 2019 and I returned to the US on November 22nd. Here's a blog entry I wrote before leaving Japan back in September as I was coming to grips with the decision to return. ~~~ It's been more than a year since I last blogged. I guess I've been spending more time living than writing about living. :-) Well, that "just living" time in Japan is likely coming to an end very soon. What's ultimate dragging me back to the US, with much sadness and regret, is money. People say that living in Japan is expensive. It's really not true. What's driving me back is the unjust healthcare system of the US and the fact that I must provide US  healthcare insurance for my family. But you might ask, aren't you heading back because Japan is more expensive than the US? No. Taxes are higher in Japan for me than in the US. But, I ...

This morning we were woken at 7AM by an announcement voice. It's Sunday, March 4, 2018, and one of the few mornings I can sleep in.  What is going on? Yuriko is visiting from mid-February to the end of March. She's having a hard time making it out and there's no way I can understand that distant Japanese. We think it's an announcement about a practice fire alarm from the building intercom in the dining room. The bedroom door is closed, so it's muffled. Great, a practice fire alarm, on Sunday morning. LOL. This moment is an amazing snapshot in time and I've got to render it in words. We're living in temporary housing in Akasaka - right in the heart of Tokyo. However, time is almost up. March 15th is the day we must move out. Our brief stint in Paradise. Kinori has already left for Advance Hang-loose lacrosse practice far away. The new season for the amateur, men's league is coming up and the practices have begun. Friday night was a meeting and dri...

If that menu looks familiar, it's because the menu at the Costco in Kawasaki is similar to the one in Kirkland!  Same hotdog for the incredibly low price that you can't believe you get a drink with it. But, how do you go shopping at Costco in Japan? How do you carry back all the goodies you buy? You rent a car! Sunday morning I woke up unsure I would succeed at my plan for the day. In my many visits to Japan, I never really believed I'd ever drive in the country. Nevertheless, I rented a car and started driving on the left that day. On the way to the rental place, I passed the Insomnia Hotel. LOL. It turns out that with a valid US driver's license and an international permit, easily obtained from AAA in advance, you can drive in Japan.  What's more, you can use it and evidence of US residency to score a Japanese driver's license without paying $4000 in classes. Definitely the way to go. Just be sure to drive on the left, and drivers sit on the right! ...

This morning as I walked into the Shinagawa Grand Central Tower which houses Microsoft Japan, I attempted to scan my Pasmo card instead of my company ID to pass through the gate to the elevator. This mistake was the culmination of a two week long process of adaptation that I hope remains a work in progress, because I'm still making mistakes all over the place! Keep to the left. No, this is not a political post, it's a neuroscience exploration. The move to Tokyo is a huge change in environment. At 54 years-old, the adaptation is noticeable and it's amusing if I can keep my sense of humor. In Japan, cars drive on the left and people walk on the left (except where they walk on the right).  So, keep to the left! On the first day of work, two weeks ago, each step was an amazing invocation of information I had read in e-mails, some I printed out to study and other pieces I received via delivery services from Japan. I drew upon the experiences of thirteen prior visits to Ja...

I have to say that Tokyo rocks.  I'm sure that many of the great things I'm experiencing are true of the major cities of the world.  Still, this the first one that I'm in, so I get to attribute it to Tokyo. I'm living in Akasaka in temporary housing for two months.  This means that my apartment is far nicer than one I can afford. It's huge and boasts a king-sized bed.  Kinori has moved into the small bedroom which is still much larger than his entire previous apartment. My commute to Microsoft Japan at Shinagawa takes just minutes. I walk right by a Starbucks as well as many convenience stores, cafes, restaurants and bars on the way. Each morning I get my grande hot drip coffee and sometimes a half sandwich and look down at the crowd flowing through Shinagawa station. Monday this week I headed off to complete essential errands.  I registered my residency with the ward office, obtained a Japanese SIM card for my iPhone and then opened a bank account. The ...

January 13-14, 2018. Delta Flight 167. Narita and Tokyo, Japan. This is it! I’m on the airplane and we’ve reached cruising altitude. I’m totally leaving on a jet plane and I really don’t know when I’ll be back again! OMG. The feeling is this exquisite blend of excitement and regret. What am I doing? And how can I not go? I am the arrow, released from the bow string; intention powering me towards my target. https://youtu.be/Na-G_Z5A9dU The flight went well with lots of sleep. I watched the new Netflix move "Bright" which was great.  Orcs, elves and LA police.  What's not to love?  The gentleman next to me was from NEC and showed me cool CES photos. Automatic clothes folding machines. :-) Then, it was time to land and my doctor's prediction about ear problems with my flu/cold bore true.  Ouch. But, Narita beckoned: I sent all my luggage ahead to my temporary housing, took the Narita Express to the Tokyo station and met Kinori on the Yamanote platfo...