We got up, had breakfast, and headed to the business district of Tokyo. The buildings were amazing. When I thought about Japan, Tokyo was what I pictured-- busy streets (although, given the population, not as busy as I thought they would be), tall buildings, great architecture, and people trying to make sales. We walked around for the morning before taking the subway back to our hotel (yes, we mastered the Tokyo subway) to check out.
For lunch, we had Italian. Again, we were very proud that we navigated our way through ordering.
Our limo bus left for the airport at 2:25 PM from the hotel. After arriving, we spent some time trying to spend the last bit of Yen we had left-- it's not like anyone from that point on was going to accept it as currency.
The flight was very smooth, although, for me, was really anxiety-filled. I kept thinking, "you just have to get over North America and then you will be ok". I was so nervous I was going to have another allergic reaction I took every little weird thing my body did on the trip as a sign of alarm (silently, thank goodness). The air in the plane was really dry and that made it difficult for me to judge if I was feeling ok or not. Luckily, everything was fine and we made it to Chicago with plenty of time to head through customs and get to our gate.
At the gate, we got Starbucks and sat around while we waited to board. After a few minutes, Stacy mentioned that the sign for our gate said "1 minute left in boarding". Oops. We walked on the plane and almost instantly took off.
At the Detroit airport (we arrived 50 minutes after we departed from Tokyo...talk about time traveling), we were greeted by Jason, Dave, and Drew. It was really sad to leave Stacy and Jeff. They were incredible traveling buddies and I owe so much of my amazing experience to them. I also owe my well-being and health to Stacy who stayed by my side the entire last week of the trip making sure I was ok and communicating back home if I had a question I wasn't sure could be answered in Japan.
Things I discovered while in Japan--
1. The man purse does exist for straight men.
2. Bike lanes are something Japan has not yet discovered.
3. Smoking is socially acceptable everywhere.
4. Celcius is not that difficult to understand (and, after a month in Japan, 18 degrees in cold).
5. Telephone conversations are much like the Japanese, small and efficient.
6. Tights serve a purpose other than to keep your legs warm.
7. Japanese men don't eat sweets in public, but they carry pink cell phones.
8. Bean paste is a suitable alternative to sweet desserts.
9. When you find a job, you keep it for life.
10. Most Japanese houses are not livable after 45 years.
11. I am happy with my life, the career I have, and the people in it. (Not that I didn't know that before, but I realized it so much more being away for 30 days. It's amazing how much more confident, strong, and independent I feel after this experience.)
I have to thank Rotary International for this amazing opportunity. As we were saying on the way to the airport, you don't realize how much you have changed in 30 days until it's over.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Day 30
We left Oita Today after one last ice cream with Kenji (the GSE Coordinator) in the airport. Actually, Kenji didn't have ice cream, he had a hamburger because "Japanese men don't eat ice cream"-- as a told Jeff. Jeff announced that at 6 foot 1 inch with big feet, he was clearly not a Japanese man. Jeff also announced to us later that Kenji enjoys ice cream in the privacy of his own home (Kenji's house was one of Jeff's homestays). :)
Much to my relief, I survived the plane ride (the first test of my condition for the long journey home). We checked into our GORGEOUS hotel room. There was quite a lot of fuss in Oita while we were booking the room because Jeff, Stacy, and I wanted to stay in the same hotel room. Apparently, the message came across loud and clear because in our corner room there were three beds (as we referred to them-- papa bear, mama bear, and baby bear's beds). The bathroom was roughly the size of my room at home with a separate glassed off area for the toilet and a separate glassed off area for the shower and bathtub.
We walked around Ginza (the shopping district) for the afternoon before returning to the hotel and having guest services book us a window seat reservation on the 41st floor of the next building for Chinese food.
We were very pleased with ourselves for ordering our own meal and enjoying a drink while overlooking the city. The food was outstanding. There is this mayonnaise sauce that the Japanese serve with fried shrimp in Chinese food. We all want to try to recreate it (we had it the first day we were in Kumamoto as well).
Much to my relief, I survived the plane ride (the first test of my condition for the long journey home). We checked into our GORGEOUS hotel room. There was quite a lot of fuss in Oita while we were booking the room because Jeff, Stacy, and I wanted to stay in the same hotel room. Apparently, the message came across loud and clear because in our corner room there were three beds (as we referred to them-- papa bear, mama bear, and baby bear's beds). The bathroom was roughly the size of my room at home with a separate glassed off area for the toilet and a separate glassed off area for the shower and bathtub.
We walked around Ginza (the shopping district) for the afternoon before returning to the hotel and having guest services book us a window seat reservation on the 41st floor of the next building for Chinese food.
We were very pleased with ourselves for ordering our own meal and enjoying a drink while overlooking the city. The food was outstanding. There is this mayonnaise sauce that the Japanese serve with fried shrimp in Chinese food. We all want to try to recreate it (we had it the first day we were in Kumamoto as well).
Day 29
Today we had a free morning at our host families where Stacy and me (who slept on the floor next to me for another night) relaxed in the morning and had breakfast with my family (it was quite a feast!). We took pictures and then headed to the hotel.
Jeff, Stacy, Carolyn, and I walked to McDonald's to have a snack (McFlurries the size of shot glasses). For the rest of the afternoon, I reorganized my suitcase so that I didn't even have to open the larger one in Tokyo.
We had the Farewell Party in the evening. Each of us (unknown to us) had to give a speech. Jeff went first and, in perfect Japanese, thanked everyone for the trip. Carolyn went next and started to get choked up, which prompted Stacy and me to get choked up. Stacy went next and struggled through tears, which, again, made me get teary-eyed. I really struggled through my speech-- knowing how much the people in the room had done for me through the past few days and, essentially through the entire trip.
It was truly amazing how quickly the trip went by. It was difficult at first (and when I was sick) to be away from my family, but I also created some amazing bonds through the month that I would certainly not have had. I know (and I said so in my speech) that I am taking many of the cultural differences I learned about back to the United States with me. From the detail the Japanese put into everything they do (clothes, food, gifts), to the size of everyone (even though I knew it, this was reaffirmation that you do not need western-sized portions of food to survive), to the friendliness of the people-- I know I will never forget what I learned throughout the trip.
Living with local families and experiencing life through the eyes of the people who experience it everyday was more beneficial to my career than the actual vocational days. It was amazing to see the role of women in Japan-- they were either highly educated and spending their days as housewives, or highly educated, in their late 30s, and unmarried. (I later found out this is very specific to the Kyushu Island.)
It was really interesting to hear the nutritional beliefs of many of the Japanese people. I cannot tell you how many times I picked the fat off the meat on my plate and people pointed to it and explained how the fat had collagen in it and was good for the wrinkles in my skin. Someone even tried to convince Stacy that maple syrup was good for her (which, as a Canadian, she knew wasn't true).
And the tea. OH, the tea. The tea was everywhere (although, I saw more of it in Kumamoto than in Oita). I even saw people put tea in their baby's sippie cups.
While Japanese food is very fresh, there are a lot of sodium-related issues in Japan. In fact, the government lowered the daily recommended allowance recently to steer people away from eating so many salty foods. The conclusion I came up with, each country has their own way of eating and it appears that there is no one correct way.
Jeff, Stacy, Carolyn, and I walked to McDonald's to have a snack (McFlurries the size of shot glasses). For the rest of the afternoon, I reorganized my suitcase so that I didn't even have to open the larger one in Tokyo.
We had the Farewell Party in the evening. Each of us (unknown to us) had to give a speech. Jeff went first and, in perfect Japanese, thanked everyone for the trip. Carolyn went next and started to get choked up, which prompted Stacy and me to get choked up. Stacy went next and struggled through tears, which, again, made me get teary-eyed. I really struggled through my speech-- knowing how much the people in the room had done for me through the past few days and, essentially through the entire trip.
It was truly amazing how quickly the trip went by. It was difficult at first (and when I was sick) to be away from my family, but I also created some amazing bonds through the month that I would certainly not have had. I know (and I said so in my speech) that I am taking many of the cultural differences I learned about back to the United States with me. From the detail the Japanese put into everything they do (clothes, food, gifts), to the size of everyone (even though I knew it, this was reaffirmation that you do not need western-sized portions of food to survive), to the friendliness of the people-- I know I will never forget what I learned throughout the trip.
Living with local families and experiencing life through the eyes of the people who experience it everyday was more beneficial to my career than the actual vocational days. It was amazing to see the role of women in Japan-- they were either highly educated and spending their days as housewives, or highly educated, in their late 30s, and unmarried. (I later found out this is very specific to the Kyushu Island.)
It was really interesting to hear the nutritional beliefs of many of the Japanese people. I cannot tell you how many times I picked the fat off the meat on my plate and people pointed to it and explained how the fat had collagen in it and was good for the wrinkles in my skin. Someone even tried to convince Stacy that maple syrup was good for her (which, as a Canadian, she knew wasn't true).
And the tea. OH, the tea. The tea was everywhere (although, I saw more of it in Kumamoto than in Oita). I even saw people put tea in their baby's sippie cups.
While Japanese food is very fresh, there are a lot of sodium-related issues in Japan. In fact, the government lowered the daily recommended allowance recently to steer people away from eating so many salty foods. The conclusion I came up with, each country has their own way of eating and it appears that there is no one correct way.
Day 28
I slept until noon. I don't typically do that at home and I certainly haven't even come close to doing that on this trip. When I woke up, I had breakfast and determined that I still did not feel good. I told my host sister (who spoke English) and my host mother and father and he immediately got on the MRP.
I was informed that Takuya, the inbound GSE Team Leader, would come to take my host mother and me back to the Emergency Room.
What amazed me the most about the ER in Japan was that we walked in, and literally walked directly back to the doctor that I saw the day before. There was no waiting. We were among the very few people in the ER area besides the staff.
The doctor said the medicine would probably continue to work but that he could give me another IV if I wanted. Through Takuya, I told him that I was getting on an airplane in 48 hours and I wanted an IV drip.
After another hour, I left the hospital feeling better. We even stopped for tea at an adorable tea shop on the way back to the house.
That evening, I felt well enough to go to dinner (beef, at my request) at a hibachi grill. It was delicious. My poor host mother-- she was so excited I was eating that she was taking beef off of her plate and putting it on mine.
I was informed that Takuya, the inbound GSE Team Leader, would come to take my host mother and me back to the Emergency Room.
What amazed me the most about the ER in Japan was that we walked in, and literally walked directly back to the doctor that I saw the day before. There was no waiting. We were among the very few people in the ER area besides the staff.
The doctor said the medicine would probably continue to work but that he could give me another IV if I wanted. Through Takuya, I told him that I was getting on an airplane in 48 hours and I wanted an IV drip.
After another hour, I left the hospital feeling better. We even stopped for tea at an adorable tea shop on the way back to the house.
That evening, I felt well enough to go to dinner (beef, at my request) at a hibachi grill. It was delicious. My poor host mother-- she was so excited I was eating that she was taking beef off of her plate and putting it on mine.
Day 27
After I tried to get up to go to the school of the children living in my house, I ended up back in bed not feeling well. I slept until I needed to go to the lunch Rotary meeting.
At the meeting, I didn't feel good and I told our team leader that I didn't think I could make it through the afternoon's activities. My heart was racing and I had no strength.
Stacy sent Dave a text message and he instructed us to take my pulse (which I later realized I didn't do correctly). At the end of the meeting, we decided it would be best if I saw another doctor.
So, the rest of the team spent the afternoon at the aquarium (owned by my previous host father) while Stacy, the interpreter, and I headed to the emergency room.
After an EKG and an ultrasound as well as navigating my way through hospital paperwork all in Japanese, it was determined that I was still having a reaction to the buckwheat and the doctor would give me another IV drip to get rid of it-- I would no longer have to take the medicine the doctor in the mountains gave me.
It was really funny to watch everyone when I showed them who I got the medicine from (I couldn't read it, it was all in Japanese, but by the look on their faces, I would have guess it said something like, "Mountain Man Doctor").
After an afternoon in the ER, it was determined that it would be best if Stacy stayed with me at my host family's house. That way, if something happened, she would be with me and, the next day when she went to her vocational day and I didn't, I would still be with my family in case I needed something. The doctor also mentioned that if I still had symptoms the next day, I should come back for another IV.
I slept the rest of the evening and had some ham and toast (my request) for dinner before going back to bed. Stacy was sweet enough to sleep on the floor (which was heated) next to my bed for the night in case I needed anything.
At the meeting, I didn't feel good and I told our team leader that I didn't think I could make it through the afternoon's activities. My heart was racing and I had no strength.
Stacy sent Dave a text message and he instructed us to take my pulse (which I later realized I didn't do correctly). At the end of the meeting, we decided it would be best if I saw another doctor.
So, the rest of the team spent the afternoon at the aquarium (owned by my previous host father) while Stacy, the interpreter, and I headed to the emergency room.
After an EKG and an ultrasound as well as navigating my way through hospital paperwork all in Japanese, it was determined that I was still having a reaction to the buckwheat and the doctor would give me another IV drip to get rid of it-- I would no longer have to take the medicine the doctor in the mountains gave me.
It was really funny to watch everyone when I showed them who I got the medicine from (I couldn't read it, it was all in Japanese, but by the look on their faces, I would have guess it said something like, "Mountain Man Doctor").
After an afternoon in the ER, it was determined that it would be best if Stacy stayed with me at my host family's house. That way, if something happened, she would be with me and, the next day when she went to her vocational day and I didn't, I would still be with my family in case I needed something. The doctor also mentioned that if I still had symptoms the next day, I should come back for another IV.
I slept the rest of the evening and had some ham and toast (my request) for dinner before going back to bed. Stacy was sweet enough to sleep on the floor (which was heated) next to my bed for the night in case I needed anything.
Day 26
I spent the morning in bed while the rest of the team when to the Nori (dried seaweed) factory (and apparently saw some lettuce as well).
I met everyone at the lunch Rotary meeting where I met my new host father and we gave our presentation.
After the meeting, we headed to the OAB TV Broadcasting Center where we met the head of the station, some of the camera men, and one of the anchors. We were able to walk around, sit in the studio, and see the satellite trucks. We even made the news! Check it out at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OV9roCaedGc.
After the TV station, we went to an embroidery factory which was incredibly more remarkable than I anticipated! The man who owned the factory could freehand the embroidery he did. He showed us how he could write each of our names, the name of someone who we wanted to give a gift to, and Chinese characters. It was amazing!
My host family had a party for me that evening with one of the other Rotarians, his wife, and their son. Everyone is so nice and the house I'm staying in is amazing! It's the first house I've seen in Japan with a backyard.
I met everyone at the lunch Rotary meeting where I met my new host father and we gave our presentation.
After the meeting, we headed to the OAB TV Broadcasting Center where we met the head of the station, some of the camera men, and one of the anchors. We were able to walk around, sit in the studio, and see the satellite trucks. We even made the news! Check it out at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OV9roCaedGc.
After the TV station, we went to an embroidery factory which was incredibly more remarkable than I anticipated! The man who owned the factory could freehand the embroidery he did. He showed us how he could write each of our names, the name of someone who we wanted to give a gift to, and Chinese characters. It was amazing!
My host family had a party for me that evening with one of the other Rotarians, his wife, and their son. Everyone is so nice and the house I'm staying in is amazing! It's the first house I've seen in Japan with a backyard.
Day 25
We traveled by microbus (I love the microbus) to the geothermal plant and the entire time (as we were wearing hard hats), I kept thinking, "something about removing the energy from the earth in the form of hot water steaming-- at rapid speed-- from the earth seems like it might anger Mother Nature. Still, the entire concept was pretty remarkable.
After the geothermal plant, we headed to the suspension bridge that swayed back and forth 173 meters above the ground. I think the thing that amazed me the most was the fact that 80% of the people walking across the bridge were elderly. Granted, it was 12:30 on a Tuesday, so that may have had something to do with it, but if I felt like I was drunk and holding on to the edge of the bridge, they had to have felt worse!
We headed to lunch at a small restaurant that had a specialty of buckwheat noodles and chicken. We had a bit of wild mushroom rice (which was delicious...maybe because I was starving) and then the main course. As soon as I took a few bites of the buckwheat noodles, I instantly felt sick. My stomach started to hurt, my throat was scratchy, and the inside of my ears started to itch. I drank some water and tea and didn't finish the meal.
We walked outside to a waterfall behind the restaurant where there were large sandals you could stand in to have your picture taken. I sat down on a bench and said that I didn't feel very well. Stacy offered some Graval (motion sickness medication) and I asked if anyone had any Benedryl-- no one did. I took the Graval thinking it might help...after all, we had been winding through the mountains for a while.
After we got in the car, Jeff asked if I wanted to sit near the door. I accepted. He asked if I wanted to go back and not head to the Sake Brewery-- our next stop. I said I would wait a few minutes to see how I felt.
About 5 minutes later, I started to cry. Jeff instantly put his arm around me and yelled to the driver that we needed to get to a doctor. Instantly, the Rotarians started to make phone calls (a phenomenon we later called the MRP, "Magic Rotary Phone"). After about 15 minutes, we stopped in a parking lot to wait for a phone call-- we were in the mountains and had to find a doctor. Things for me were getting worse. I was informed we would be there in 5 minutes.
By the time we arrived at the doctor, my hands had involuntarily shut into what looked like lobster claws. Everyone helped me into the doctor's office and the doctor tried to convince me (through the interpreter) that I was hyperventilating from the stress of being abroad. After about 20 minutes and the back of my neck breaking into hives, Stacy and I convinced the doctor that it wasn't hyperventilation, but an allergic reaction.
He hooked me up to an IV. Stacy and the interpreter stayed with me while the rest of the team (at my insistence) went to the Sake Brewery.
After an hour, I was still swollen (eyes, hands, ears), but my stomach felt better. I told the doctor I was not comfortable leaving until I wasn't swollen. He gave me medicine to take for the next 5 days and, after about 20 minutes, I felt good enough to leave.
I even managed to make it to the evening Rotary meeting and participate in giving our presentation.
That night, Stacy and I stayed in the hotel instead of with our families. I am forever grateful to her for staying with me through the entire process and waking up in the middle of the night with me when I was having heartburn to text message her boyfriend (who is a doctor) to see what I should do.
After the geothermal plant, we headed to the suspension bridge that swayed back and forth 173 meters above the ground. I think the thing that amazed me the most was the fact that 80% of the people walking across the bridge were elderly. Granted, it was 12:30 on a Tuesday, so that may have had something to do with it, but if I felt like I was drunk and holding on to the edge of the bridge, they had to have felt worse!
We headed to lunch at a small restaurant that had a specialty of buckwheat noodles and chicken. We had a bit of wild mushroom rice (which was delicious...maybe because I was starving) and then the main course. As soon as I took a few bites of the buckwheat noodles, I instantly felt sick. My stomach started to hurt, my throat was scratchy, and the inside of my ears started to itch. I drank some water and tea and didn't finish the meal.
We walked outside to a waterfall behind the restaurant where there were large sandals you could stand in to have your picture taken. I sat down on a bench and said that I didn't feel very well. Stacy offered some Graval (motion sickness medication) and I asked if anyone had any Benedryl-- no one did. I took the Graval thinking it might help...after all, we had been winding through the mountains for a while.
After we got in the car, Jeff asked if I wanted to sit near the door. I accepted. He asked if I wanted to go back and not head to the Sake Brewery-- our next stop. I said I would wait a few minutes to see how I felt.
About 5 minutes later, I started to cry. Jeff instantly put his arm around me and yelled to the driver that we needed to get to a doctor. Instantly, the Rotarians started to make phone calls (a phenomenon we later called the MRP, "Magic Rotary Phone"). After about 15 minutes, we stopped in a parking lot to wait for a phone call-- we were in the mountains and had to find a doctor. Things for me were getting worse. I was informed we would be there in 5 minutes.
By the time we arrived at the doctor, my hands had involuntarily shut into what looked like lobster claws. Everyone helped me into the doctor's office and the doctor tried to convince me (through the interpreter) that I was hyperventilating from the stress of being abroad. After about 20 minutes and the back of my neck breaking into hives, Stacy and I convinced the doctor that it wasn't hyperventilation, but an allergic reaction.
He hooked me up to an IV. Stacy and the interpreter stayed with me while the rest of the team (at my insistence) went to the Sake Brewery.
After an hour, I was still swollen (eyes, hands, ears), but my stomach felt better. I told the doctor I was not comfortable leaving until I wasn't swollen. He gave me medicine to take for the next 5 days and, after about 20 minutes, I felt good enough to leave.
I even managed to make it to the evening Rotary meeting and participate in giving our presentation.
That night, Stacy and I stayed in the hotel instead of with our families. I am forever grateful to her for staying with me through the entire process and waking up in the middle of the night with me when I was having heartburn to text message her boyfriend (who is a doctor) to see what I should do.
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