Little Wins
I'd been hoping to not missing a transmission but of course the best laid plans...
We'll, I'm here: my new home, Tokyo. Yes, each day I do wake up, walk down to the street, and pinch myself wondering if this really is happening. I watched a mini-drama series play on the screens in the train on my way to work, and wondered, "what is my life?" It's the same question as before, I suppose, but now filled with wonder and joy rather than resignation.
Our first few days here were a whirlwind. I went into the office for work barely 12 hours after landing. It was a bit of a stretch, but I'm glad I went in; just to get the taste, get into the rhythm of it a bit more. They say you should try and adapt to the new location's schedule as soon as possible; eat when they do, sleep when they do—I guess work when they do, too.
Right now, I'm just trying to stack up little wins. On my first day, I told a florist her arrangement was pretty, which she thanked me for. I went to the Ward office by myself and registered my address. We've ordered a number of meals, and started to meet some of the shop owners in our new neighborhood.
It's bewildering, overwhelming. My days are loaded with experiences that make me proud of my language abilities, immediately followed by ones that leave me wondering if I know any Japanese at all. But it's fun. Everything feels new and fresh in a way I was expecting, but am still surprised by. I find myself looking around while I walk the streets smiling and laughing at the abundance of it all.
I'm still settling in to a new rhythm here, and probably will be for the foreseeable future. But we're out here, doing our best.
