This morning on my bike, I was stopped at an intersection when a bus of school kids turned the corner right in front of me. As the bus approached I could see the children were all pressed up against the windows, chattering and hoping for a glimpse of something interesting on the way to a fieldtrip. I wondered whether they would bother to wave to me - lone figure on the corner - like children would likely do in other countries, and I scanned their excited faces. Just as the bus turned, two boys started waving at me and, receiving a wave and smile in return, began to wave their hands furiously until the bus was out of sight. I wonder if they were from Saitama or some other far-flung prefecture. They probably thought, They let foreigners ride bikes in Tokyo now?! I smiled the rest of the way to my destination and didn't swear at a salaryman or office lady once! Anyone else smiling over happenings of mundanity?
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Not in reply to your question, but the other time when me and my colleagues drove pass a school bus full of kids, there were 2 girls who waved at my colleague who was driving, pointed and kept laughing, much to her displeasure. haha The poor girl.
リサ: Is your friend foreign? They probably thought, "they let foreigners drive in Japan now?!" :)
One of the neighbor Yakuza's son came to ask me if he could use my punching bag yesterday.
I said only with the gloves which he'd have to holler up from the entrance before using...deal?...deal.
Most of my neighbors can suck my **** but his dad is the only one with the balls to even talk and he's always been cool and loves the holiday displays. I'm glad to let him puch his stresses away on my bag.
Chris, I love that you're doing your part to be neighborly, even though it involves a punching bag instead of a cup of sugar!
I regularly smile at the mundane...my days are pretty boring though. :-)
Yesterday, my 10 month old signed "thank you" after I changed her diaper. I must change her a million times a day and she NORMALLY fights me and tries to crawl away, but yesterday she happily played with a toy and when I was all done she sat up and signed thank you. Made my day.
I know I have never commented on your blog, but I check it out regularly and it makes me laugh.
We are US military and we always have hopes of being stationed in Japan.
My husband and I had a similar thing while travelling in Japan two years ago. We were on the train in the middle of the Kansai countryside. As we passed a tiny station in the middle of nowhere, two teenagers spotted us through the window and waved frantically. It was cute :)
After having moved a couple of months ago I've settled into my new commute. I often end up taking the same train home too, and have gotten to recognize the other regulars. A few days ago, after a week of lots and lots of crazy overtime, I saw one of the regulars - an older couple - after a long break. When they got on the train a few stops after me and the older lady saw me knitting away as usual she gave me a big smile and looked relieved. She didn't say anything and I may be totally overanalysing a few short seconds, but it was almost as though she had been worried as she hadn't seen me for so long. The thought that a stranger might be watching out for me made my day.
Kira: Thanks for saying hi! I don't know what it's like to have a baby, but I have to imagine having a little non-verbal bundle signing "thank you" has got to feel pretty crazy/amazing! If you are ever stationed in Misawa, be sure to let me know - the beau's family is from up there so I know the area well.
Marie: I love being in the countryside here, because it really reminds you what a novelty you are to some people - this can obviously be negative, too, but you know what I mean :)
Sarah: That's so sweet! I'm sure that's what she was thinking. Try as we might, we are all extremely memorable here...a fact I would like to hide when I am at the same store every.single.day!
I'm fucking jetlagged and lack of sleep makes me cranky like hell. Could use some sunshine-event!
recently? i had to run to the coin laundry yesterday morning to get stuff dried for kidlet #3. as i was leaving, i saw a black guy walking toward the station. he noticed me too, so i smiled at him and he smiled back. i think we both did the gaijin-nod at the same time, too (but it was friendly because we were smiling!). i wonder if he lives in my city. i don't know many foreigners here, except the ladies in my japanese class!
long long ago, i was maybe 18, i was dropping off something for the county fair (yay, free admission tickets!) i was in my car waiting to pull out of the parking lot. a limo drove by and a young bride was the passenger. she looked so so sad (maybe she was just introspective) but she was a motherfucking bride in a beautiful dress and veil. it was such an unexpected sight that i smiled at her, a real big smile. that took *her* by surprise and she smiled back at me. it totally changed her face, from a sad, lonely woman into a beautiful bride. i really felt that i cheered her up somehow, and it really touched me. now, twenty years later and i still feel special whenever i think about that moment.
Biggie: sending pleasant green vibes your way!
illahee: I wouldn't be surprised if that bride remembers, too!
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