Value For Money

Sorry it’s been awhile, but orchestrating a move is time consuming.  It’s almost like having a part time job. 

Meanwhile, for those of you playing along at home, if you guessed blanket, give yourself 5 points and a cookie.  Two night sleeping under a bath towel were unpleasant at best.  Meanwhile anyone who guessed plates, 2 points.  That situation I’m still trying to work around.  

Basically I eat everything I cook directly out of the frying pan, which is wildly entertaining as it reminds of a restaurant my family frequented when I was a kid.  The type of place that called potatoes, “spuds” and labeled the kids’ menu “For Miners Only.”  I’m sure the novelty will wear off soon (probably somewhere between the 15th to 20th time I burn my fingers), but for a change of pace I decided to venture out to eat this weekend.    

Which brings to mind a set of recent articles that cracked me up…

Most Expensive Cities – Real Estate

Most Expensive Cities – Fast Food

Everyone says Tokyo is wildly expensive, but I honestly believe it comes down to common sense.  For example, my lunch this weekend at one of my favorite ramen shops located a few blocks from the train station where we work only cost me $7.  I got a fantastic bowl of ramen with a side dish of rice while listening to Dexter Gordon and Hank Mobley records playing in the background.

Is this an exception to the rule?  

Hardly.

Rule of thumb in Tokyo and I would imagine Osaka (city #2 on the list), the proximity of a restaurant in relation to a train station often dictates the value for money you will get for your meal.  Another good sign is the  percentage of salarymen amongst the paying customers.  If you don’t believe me, stick your head in a noodle shop or sushi joint and count the number of men in black suits with the look of bliss on their faces as they work their way through a sampler of tuna, salmon, shrimp, and eel for $10.  So long as you can get a menu in english or one with pictures you can muddle your way through just fine.  

Even if you’re not that adventurous convenience stores are on every corner and filled with small bags of snacks and drinks that only cost a few dollars as well.  

To me the biggest issue is that too often as tourists and expats we get caught up in the creature comforts and that’s what we end up paying a small ransom for. Going to an expat grocer will often run up your bills as you stock up on cheese, peanut butter, and oreos, but if you’re willing to embrace the local delicacies you will often go home just as happy and with a lot more money in your pocket.  

So is Japan expensive?  

Yeah, but compared to New York, far more manageable if you’re smart enough to avoid eating Big Macs.

Moving Out

Phase Two – Completed

Today at 9AM the movers showed up and within minutes began to dismantle the house.  

Unfortunately they also opened all the doors and windows.  This served as an open invite to every mosquito in Tokyo to show up for a gaijin feast.  

At one point I found one so bloated that it could barely fly when I cornered it in the bathroom.  After managing to dodge a few shots by hiding behind the toilet, I finally wore him down to the point that I doubt he felt a thing when I finished him off on the side of the washer.    

Meanwhile slowly but surely the house began to empty one box at a time.  All in all you feel bad watching this for three reasons…

1. It’s really weird to see all of your possessions packed up by a bunch of Japanese men and shuttled off to the back of a truck.
2. The movers do everything.   Your job is to basically sit and periodically annoy them to say, “Oh, I might need that!” or “Hmmm, I think that has a box somewhere?”
3. You suddenly learn how much dust, dirt, and dog hair you miss each week when you sweep up.  

Speaking of dog hair, the most random moment of the day came at around 2:30 when the dog walker showed up.  M assured me before she left that she contacted them to cancel.  Either way, with all that’s going on I wasn’t really shocked, only a bit embarrassed when I stared dumbfounded at her as she arrived  at the front door.  Within moments I managed to put everything together and apologized profusely for taking up her time. 

As for the guys, they didn’t miss a beat as this awkward moment transpired and by 5PM had everything packed tightly into the back of the truck.  

An hour later when Gizmo got home from puppy camp, he quickly surveyed the situation and gave me the look of…

“What?  First Mommy, now this?!?!”

Honestly I can’t blame him, as hearing the echo of the keyboard off the barren walls only serves as yet another reminder that we need to get out of here.  

For now, we’ll manage.  Of course it’ll only be a matter of time though before I realize I accidentally had something packed I shouldn’t have…like a toothbrush.

Wanna Be Where You Are.

Perhaps it’s fitting that it rained today and really poured on our walk to the train station, but rest assured that M made it to Shanghai safe and sound.

Next step for me is to get the house packed up on Tuesday.

For now I’ll leave it to the young Michael Jackson to sum it up for me…

The Quick Update

The movers will be coming a week from today to once again collect all of our belonging and ship them to our new home in Shanghai.

The puppy dog paperwork will soon be underway as the no man or furry left behind rule will take the gremlin to his third country.

The one way plane ticket has been purchased and I’ll be using it this coming Sunday as I head off to sign leases, buy cell phones and start off once again in the Shanghai office.

I say once again because my time as the new kid on the first day of school has already passed. As T previously mentioned I set off about two weeks ago now to Shanghai to start the always awkward transition.

It was of course, awkward.

From the not knowing whether or not to offer a handshake (the Chinese typically don’t shake hands) to trying to remember the names of the people on my team (how the nice Chinese boy on my team decided to call himself Gino, I have no idea) I have now survived the strangeness which always accompanies the first few days at a new job.

I even managed to survived first getting locked out of and then getting locked in the ladies room.  I possess talents few can match.

All in all the trip went quite well even with a few minor hiccups.

By this time next week our names should be on the lease of a lovely two bedroom in the Jing An area of Shanghai.   In the end we decided to go the compound route as the apartments I saw elsewhere were a little less secure seeming and there wasn’t nearly as much space for the gremlin to roam around in.  The Olympic sized pool also may have played a factor but with three karaoke rooms and plenty of green space to wee on, I’d argue there’s something for everyone in our little family in the new digs.  I’ll let you guess which of us will be using which of the above amenities.

With the bloodtests done and the apartment seemingly in place, the only thing I can do for now is to enjoy my last few days in Japan.   I may return to China a little chubbier but we’re gradually making the rounds to our favorite restaurants and just taking in the close of my time here in Japan.

Sunday will mark the close of a great adventure for me but once the wheels touch down in China, the next adventure starts.

All I need now is my boys to hurry up and join me!

Bittersweet

Just sent M off to Shanghai on Wednesday for the next week or so on a scouting mission prior to the real move at the beginning of July.

All in all it’s bittersweet. I’m so very proud of her as she has worked extremely hard these past few years and has truly earned the chance to move on.

The opportunity itself is perfect for her and thus far she seems to be adjusting to it quite well; meanwhile according to the powers that be, I’m still needed here in Japan.

Fortunately we live in a time of cellphones, email, IM, & Skype. It also helps, unlike last time , to only be an hour apart time wise and three by plane, so we’ll figure it out. Perhaps what’s really nice is that this time we get to see what it’s like to switch roles in who gets to blaze the trail.

When I came to Japan, I had to go it alone and take care of the details in setting up here. On the other side of the globe M had to pack up the apartment, get Gizmo squared away, and spend roughly two months waiting. The experience taught us a lot about ourselves, how to cope in being apart, and the truth in absence making the heart grow fonder.

So I won’t complain, cry, or fuss because I’ve done it before and know that we’ll be together again soon. That’s not to say it’s easy…

Blood, Sweat and Tears

Imagine having the following conversation with a random (yet armed) stranger in the airport:

“Excuse me. Do you have AIDS?”

“Um…no.”

“Leprosy?”

“Um…what?”

“How about Venereal Disease?”

When one flies to China, they are required to answer questions on the landing survey that ask such things as “Do you have depression?” or “Do you have AIDS?”   Admit to having anything on the list and you’ll quickly find yourself on a flight headed back the direction you just came.

Want to move to China? You have to prove you don’t have any of the above and more.

With this in mind I found myself shuffled off to a medical clinic in Yoyogi last week and submitted to a battery of tests.   They poked, they prodded and they made certain that I was not color blind. After that it was off to the EKG room before stopping in for a quick chest xray which was the last stop before the ultimate fun…the blood draw.

Seriously, the Chinese government required enough tests that FIVE vials of blood were taken from me.   FIVE FULL VIALS.  Really? Someone needs to explain to me why that was at all necessary (and no, I’m not going to buy the whole “Lepors distroy social order” argument.)

Alas, I survived. Survived only to be ushered into a room with the Doctor who was reviewing my chest x-ray and who quickly announced that my heart…It is small.

Yes, it has now been medically confirmed that I have a small heart. Couple that with the fact that my body tempature runs a bit colder than the average and it turns out that I have a small, cold heart.

-I’ll give you a moment to snicker-

In the Japanese tradition of medical care, I received the same and only treatment that T or I have been recommended for any and all of the ailments we’ve come across in Japan: Drink more water.  I’m beginning to wonder if there is actually any medication in this country or if water is just prescribed for everything.

Kidney Stones? Guzzle the water.

Sinus infection? Water.

Small, cold heart? Water…maybe warm it up.

Regardless, as I sit here with a large bottle of water pondering life, I have beside me a stack of papers three inches thick proclaiming me NORMAL (that’s a first) and free of all sorts of diseases including some I had to get a dictionary.  I also have the full x-ray of my small heart at home with plans of putting on the refrigerator, right next to the MRI of T’s kidney stones and my masters degree.

I guess knowing for sure I don’t have rabies will help me sleep just a bit better tonight.

Secret’s out.

I’m moving to China.

There, I said it. I feel better now.

After two months of tongue biting, I can finally be out with it as all parties involved with my job here have finally been notified. I start in Shanghai July 1.

I’ll spare the internets the details of what will be known only as The Nonsense but it is safe to say my tongue has a hole in it from all of the biting.

Here is what I will say though:

No, it wasn’t exactly my idea but sometimes life doesn’t take the turns you don’t expect and well, you have to adjust.

Am I excited? The prospect of exploring a new city and country are very exciting. The job (same company, new client) is very much inline with my long term goals.

Thrilled?  Well, it’s a new adventure and given the economic environment, it makes a hell of a lot of sense.   I also just have to remind myself of all of the wonderful travel opportunities and how everything only costs $5 and hope returns. oh! and they have cheap spas, something Japan is entirely lacking.

Sad? Absolutely. You’ll note I’m only saying “I” and that’s intentional. At this point I’m heading over alone for what looks to be a few months time. T is in talks and looking at opportunities there but at the moment has been asked to stay behind and continue with his current position. It’s not ideal but there are quite a few factors involved which makes it necessary. It’s a good thing we have things like skype, IM and e-mail. We’re also lucky we know it’s only a few months and a two hour flight. Gremlin will be joining me once I get an apartment in Shangers set up.

So clearly, things are mixed around here these days. We’re very excited that this opportunity came up when it did but are equally bummed about the timing of things and how it’s played out (read: The Nonsense).

Thus, we’re taking it day by day.

This week? As much sushi as I can possibly consume and continue planning my goodbye tour of Japan.

This weekend? Cirque de Soleil out at Tokyo Disney.

Next week? I head to Shanghai for 10 days to start the transition process and the apartment hunt.

After that? Who knows.

I can say though, the blogging will now return to a more regular pace. It’s been a bit of a challenge to not talk about it, so now that it’s out there…the shenanigans will commence.

Around we go!

How can you top seeing an entire army of clay soldiers ?

Tough task, but Xi’an itself has quite a bit to offer.

Over the course of two days we managed to take in quite a bit at a comfortable pace. What makes Xi’an unique, aside from the warriors is that the entire city center is surrounded by a 40 foot high wall dating back several hundred years. (Then again what doesn’t date back several hundred years in China?) One can walk all of the way around said wall but if you are a touch more adventurous you can pay $2 USD and rent a bike and ride all of the way around.

But before climbing up, we decided to check out some sites within walls, like the Drum and Bell towers at the center of the city and while there managed to bump into our fellow bunkmate from the train.

Meanwhile just a few minutes walk from the towers we found the Great Mosque. Having been fortunate enough to travel throughout Asia it takes a bit to impress M and I these days, but what we came across was a wonderful mix of the Far and Middle East.

Finally on our last day we decided to check out the wall and soon after climbing up decided to rent bikes. 8 miles and an hour or so later we finished our journey having managed to get a great workout while taking in the city from an incredible vantage point.

Though it does get a bit bumpy at times, the ride does give you the chance to see Xi’an from a different angle.

Trains, planes and clay warriors…

He walked in the room and after taking one look at him I knew. I didn’t know him, but I knew all I needed to know. He looked pretty respectable, nicely groomed and ready to spend an evening traveling. I took one look at him and I knew…I knew he would snore.

And I was right.

In our ongoing efforts to tackle all aspects of travel, T and I decided our trip to Xi’an would be the perfect introduction into the world of overnight train travel. Following this decision we quickly found ourselves on the overnight train from Shanghai to Xi’an with The Snorer and a nice younger man who works in solar energy and was eager to practice is english skills (he didn’t snore). You see, the soft beds on this particular train were in cars which accommodated two sets of bunk beds. The perfect set up for maximal hilarity and awkwardness.

The verdict: Minus the snoring guy hitting on me in Chinese  while my husband looked on while the other guy sharing our car watched in horror and blushed…not so bad.

Slight sleep deprivation aside,  Xi’an was quite fun.

While there we took the bus outside of the city to see the terracotta warriors.

No, they aren’t all broken.

In fact, they are amazing.

Discovered by a farmer digging a well a few years back, the warriors are all different and were originally created by a king years back to protect him in the afterlife. Years onward, they are quite a site to take in as they are being gradually reassembled and are on display for all to see. Zealots can even pay to take a photo with the farmer who discovered them…at least it might be the farmer, it could also be his third cousin who just wants to make a buck as I doubt anyone would know the difference.

What is perhaps most fascinating about them is the fact that they are all different. Each has a different hairstyle or facial expression..

It seems as if they were each painted at one time as some retain small traces of paint which you can see if you look closely.

After a not so brief search/barter marathon, we managed to secure T his “treasures” of choice from the small souvenir area before making our way back to Xi’an on the public bus (45 minutes for $1USD!).

Make no mistake though…we weren’t done with Xi’an yet.

My Favorite Martian – Shanghai Edition

As M mentioned earlier this week, I returned to Japan and made the mistake of washing my toothbrush with water before I brushed. In short, one of my colleagues commented a few days later that I looked good having returned from holiday with some color and even lost weight. I suppose you do have to take the good with the bad?

Fortunately I have recovered and can now share with you the adventure of simply stepping out the door with M in Shanghai.

Regardless of where we go M gets quite a bit of attention in Asia, especially China. Westerners are rare in some parts, females even rarer, and women with blonde hair and blue eyes…well I decided to take a picture to capture this phenomenon.

China is famous for these moments as the people rarely hesitate to make eye contact and in some cases even strike up a conversation regardless of whether they speak english or not. This is a stark contrast to Japan where M has caught many “glare bears” during our time, but without fail they immediately take great shame in being caught and shift focus to their shoes.

Keep in mind we were simply minding our own business sitting in a park just a few short blocks from the Bund when this crew rolled. Initially they accosted another foreign gentleman who wandered in the park for some quick pics, but after tiring of him one of the girls finally worked up the courage to get a picture with my rare gem of a wife.

In the process they nearly trampled a bunch of kids on rollerblades, but ultimately everyone got what they came for and within minutes the group giggled off heading towards the Bund having met My Favorite Martian.