Uncertainty ...

So, this weekend I went to visit a friend of mine in Iwakuni. While I was at the train station, I met this old man. He seemed to want to have a conversation with me. However because of the language barrier, little defining if any is left up to the imagination in explaining what the conversation was really about.

I remember it going a little something like this:
Old man, "You're American?"
Me, "Yes."
Old Man, "Army base?"
Me, "No, English teacher."
Old man, "Army base?"
In Iwakuni, there is an American military base, so he kept asking me this to see if I lived on base. Again I replied though, "No." I attempted to say with my poor Japanese skills, "No, I'm an English teacher. I live in Kudamatsu city." He understood English teacher, but I guess he didn't understand, Kudamatsu. I guess I was pronoucing it wrong.

He asked me if I spoke Japanese, I said, "Skoshi dakay." (A little bit)

As he spoke, he kept walking closer and closer to me. I was sitting so, I would just lean more and more to the other side. I didn't want to actually get up and leave my seat, I figured that would be way to rude. So I sat there, with my spine definitely out of line. I was on a trip to the far left that day as he stood on my right.

I thought he was trying to stalk me. Lol. In my mind I kept saying, "You are violating my personal space. You people must not know about the three feet rule." Needless to say, he was waaaaayyy to near me.

Anyways, he went on further to speak more in Japanese. Once he figured I could speak a little, he decided to throw a lot at me. I just looked at him and smiled as he spoke. He pointed somewhere, my eyes would follow. Then he pointed down at his pants, I'd look. When he finished. I said, "I don't know." He laughed and smiled, "Aaah, ok. I don't know too." He paused for a little bit, he looked around. Then he proceeded to speak again. Once more he pointed elsewhere and back at his pants. Again, my eyes would follow. And at the end of his rant again I said, "I don't know."

He laughed again. He realized that the language barrier was just too great. At this point my sullied mind begin to think, "This old man is dirty."

He kindly tapped me on my shoulder and thanked me for my time. Then a train conductor stepped off one of the trains and the old man caught his attention. "Sumimasen," he said. Which means, "excuse me." He said something about "ere-baytah," an elevator. I looked around and said to myself this station doesn't have an elevator here. (I'd been to this station a number of times before. So I'm familiar with it's surroundings. Apparently though, the old man had not been to this station before) He then went on to repeat the same words to the conductor he'd said earlier to me. "Hai," responded the conductor. Which means, "yes."

The conductor got on a walkie talkie and translated the message to the train office. Moments later a train station official walked down the stairs and called after the old man. "Hai, hai." Said the old man, and again he pointed in the same direction he tried to show me and the conductor earlier. The official nodded and walked further down the stairs to grab a suitcase.

The old man said, "Arigato Gozimashta." (Thank You Very Much)

And one last time he turned back to me, he said "Nihon de blah, blah, blah." Again he pointed at his pants. He tried his best to translate to me, although his English is rough, like my Japanese, I understood what he had been trying to tell me the whole time. "Japanese kindness," He said. As he pointed and began patting his pants, He said, "Pain. I hurt."

At this moment, I began to feel really bad. Here I am thinking, with the mindset that all old men, who approach you and point to their pants are dirty. When all he had been asking me to do, is to help him carry his bag upstairs. He hurt his knee and could not both walk up stairs and carry his suitcase.

As he walked off and limped up the steep set of stairs one at a time, it hit me: The uncertainty of communicating in all ways to those who do not speak one's native tongue is evident in any country. But one thing we all want as humans is a little help from time to time. Even if the language barrier is too great.

As he and the official walked up the stairs the old man kept repeating, "Arigato Gozimashta, arigato gozimashta."

I looked at him and said quietly to myself, "I'm sorry, but I'm glad you have your help now." Next time, I will be certain. Thus, my quest to master the Japanese language continues.

Before the old gentleman disappeared from my sight completely he turned back to me one last time to say, "Gambattay kuda-sigh." Roughly translated it means "Good Luck."

Thank You and Be Blessed Old Man. Wherever you are.

Peace.



© Robyn K. Mizelle, September 2007.

It's About Damn Time ...

... Those Boys come home. I just read an article on CNN.com that gave the story on President Bush's address to the nation last night. I'm sooooo pleased. Like, if you know me, you know how against the war I am anyway, and the fact that people are losing their fathers, sisters, mothers, sons, daughters, cousins and friends needlessly is inhumane.

We still haven't gotten a good reason from Bush as to why the war even began. Iraq had NOTHING to do with 9/11! Meanwhile, bin Laden is still sending miscellaneous videotapes to the American government. WHERE THE HELL IS HE? One man, can't possible be so invisible as to hide from the entire world for seven years. Somebody knows where his ass is. But, yeah I saw that article too. All I did was shake my head. This lunatic really still is taunting the American Gov't with his damn tapes. With all the advances in technology, some have got to recognize the flaws as well.

It's crazy, this world is so messed up and backwards. Like I really wonder if anyone else feels this way. I can't be alone in thinking this. It's wrong. Things are wrong! Something is seriously, seriously wrong with the way diplomatic relationships are handled around the world. Think about it. What's all the stuff we're taught when we're younger, "It's not right to hit," "Talk don't fight," "Don't tattle," "Be nice," "It's not nice to spit on people," "It's not nice to kick the dog." (Or maybe this last one was just me)

When one grows up or get's to an acceptable age of beginning to understand somewhat how the world works, all of the obedience and courtesy lessons are thrown out the window. None of it applies in a world of "fight, Fight, FIGHT!"

I wish so much that so many people would not have had to die for a counterfeit cause from a curmudgeon. It's not right. And no matter who or what defends the reasons for the war, I will not agree. It's not right to kill people, especially over a lie.

I'm so happy our troops will be coming home. I really, really am. And I wonder who got into Bush's pants to get him to say it. I say "say" because, I don't believe he really wants to bring the troops home.

There was no success in Iraq. Killing toddlers before they talk, children before they graduate, mothers before they conceive, and fathers before they can come home to see their firstborn isn't success. It's murder.

If one can factually, not statistically, but factually prove to me that there was success in Iraq, maybe, I'll buy you a cookie. They're 50 yen at the local convenient store. But, I'm not changing my mind. It's waaaaayyyy past time for our guys to come home. And I will never believe in the necessity to perpetuate and stimulate a lie, especially when the cost is the life of one, and much more thousands.

Bottom line: it's time, It's time, It's time.

I just wish I could say with full faith that this was truly the end. Sigh.

The Journey Continues ...

Peace.



© Robyn K. Mizelle, September 2007.

Perpetrating, it starts young ...

So, today this little girl, well not real little she's 15, but this girl really upset me. I'm teaching English right? So she’s supposed to learn it ... Right? Well, it doesn't seem like that’s what she's doing. I got upset because she's lying in the class. The class she's in is a higher level course. This class should have basic conversation skills. She doesn't.

And I'm upset because in this level course, I shouldn't have to repeat little simple sentences three and four times only for you to not understand. I'm looking like, WTF? Come on Cletus, learn.

Somehow she's manipulated the system into believing she knows something she really doesn't. Or maybe, the other students who speak English better just learn faster. One way or the other, something's gotta be done. I'm starting to get a little frustrated with this lil' girl. I ask her questions, she answers "I don't know." I ask her what happened in the day, every time she answers, "Nothing special." As if that's the only English she knows.

I see the road to speaking is going to be a long one with her. Fortunately for her, I'm willing to walk her down it. But, in the least, she shouldn't have to lie. If you have a question, ask it. That's what I'm here for right? To help?. Ask don't lie. If I can't answer the question, there is always someone there who can.

I just really wish she wouldn't hide this from us. Don't pretend to know something you don't, because that one act can have terrible repercussions down the road. Talk about payback being a Bitch, in this instance it can be ... (okay I won't say it M-F, but it can be) worse; a whole lot worse.

Anyways, I'm going to work with her and of course speak with my supervisor about her. This isn't the first time I've had an issue with this child and somehow I feel it won't be the last. But, I'm working on it. Maybe this lesson will have some life-lasting learning and positively reinforcing qualities to it. At least I'm hoping so. And it doesn't have to be that she becomes better at speaking English than I do, in the least I hope she learns how not to lie.

Don't get caught up in the Cloud of Perpetration. It really isn't all that it's cracked up to be.

As I shake my head and Sigh, I'm out.

Peace


© Robyn K. Mizelle, September 2007.

Driving on the Other Side ...

So, this week I had my first driving experienced. And I also received my new car, at least the car I'll be driving while I'm here. It's quite exhilarating. I have to keep reminding myself to "Stay left." Cause if I don't, I could possibly die. Or at least end up in a really bad accident.

I remember when I was here two years how afraid I was to even ride in a taxi because of how crazy they drive here. But, this city is a little calmer than the last. So, I'm managing pretty well.

If it looks like someone is definitely going to hit me, I just pull over to the side and let them pass. I only have one life to live, and they will not be the one to decide when it ends. Lol!

Oh yes, and this week I saw more foreigners! I'm not sure if there from America or not, they could be from Russia. I hear many Russians come here also. But, it was quite the treat to see someone else like me; someone different from the typical grind of the status quo in Yamaguchi.

At ECM my classes seem to be going pretty well. I have students of all ages. My youngest student is 1 and the eldest, 60; quite a gap, yet exciting. The days aren't the same. And that's good. I love the variety. I think I'm starting to like the little ones and older ones the best though; the ages in between only really complicate things. But don't we all know it. ;-0

Of course the little ones tend to speak more Japanese, but when I tell them, "in English," they either translate or get quiet. Sometimes I have to use my poor Japanese skills to get their attention though. I'm learning though. I've purchased a few items to help me learn how to read and write the language, as well as, speak it of course.

I'm expanding my knowledge of the Japanese culture. Oh what a joy to learn. I've found that with all experiences in life if one takes nothing out of them, you've not grown. You haven't learned. And learning is essential to the successful productivity of the soul.

When life rapidly changes and your mind begins to spin out of control, it's imperative to have the skills to know how to navigate your way back through to the side of comfort and complacency.

These learning experiences help one to learn skills that one may never use, provided on the sequence of events occurring in life, or skills that may have to be used unexpectedly, time and time again.

Such skills can prepare you for driving on the other side of the road. Regardless of the type of "road," taken; often, you just have to know how to drive it.

But, I'm still learning.

Peace.




© Robyn K. Mizelle, September 2007.

E.T. in Japan

Well, I'm here and I'm fine. The flight was not as comfortable as last time, but it was okay.

But, talk about your lack of diversity. I'm loving it here, but you know sometimes you just want to be around someone else like you right?!?

I know many of us, are accustom to being the only African or Brown skin colored person in a setting, be it a classroom, an office or what have you. But, imagine being the only Negro in an entire city. Imagine the shock and happiness that overcame me when I saw a white man in a city an hour away from where I live. I was overjoyed.

It was so funny to me inside because of how I feel about the "Caucasian presence" in and throughout all of American society. But I smiled at this stranger, as he smiled back. A friend. A brother in a strange land. Someone like me, an Alien.

I had to go register for my Alien cards, the other day, at the local City Hall, it was quite the treat to see and realize I didn't understand any of the signs. I'm so happy I wasn't alone on this trip. :-0

I laughed at myself: It hit me, "I'm now the foreigner. I'm the alien everyone's looking at like: "You're not from around here are you?"

But, it's exciting. I smile quite often and laugh at the realizations that become aware to me daily. Things I thought and the way I felt about issues in America are somewhat obsolete here. It's almost refreshing.

When I was first introduced to my new office, I noticed a giant E.T. doll sitting on the highest shelf in one room. I looked at E.T. and said, "Dude, you're not alone anymore."

Later this week, I found out just how true this statement is. A little girl, about two years old, was in the same room with her mother one day while waiting on her older brother to get out of class. When she saw E.T. sitting on the shelf, the little one kept screaming, "Sobo, sobo!"

Translated to English, it means "Grandma, Grandma." I couldn't do anything but laugh. But, I was also strangely comforted by the fact that if E.T. had found someone he could relate too. Somehow, I will too.

Peace



© Robyn K. Mizelle, September 2007.

Finally Here ...

I'm back in the land where I've been trying to get to for the past few years. I left Japan with a sweet peace in my heart and a yearning to return. And almost everyday since the time I first left Japanese soil and flew out of the Eastern Hemisphere, I've been thinking of a way to come back.

Throughout this time of waiting, I've experienced death and sorrow; happiness and joy; pain and confusion; heartbreak and anger; understanding and growth; did I mention I also graduated from college with two B.S. degrees. Yes indeed, I'm so proud of this, even as I sit here now I stare at the bag holding the case that has my degrees neatly arranged in the sleeves. And now I know one wonders, "If I'm so proud of them, why are they hidden in a bag?" Well, long story short- -which also takes me further off track, the degrees arrived to Japan before I did. And today, I just got them back.

But, my peace is that I'm here. I'm here. I'm freakin' here. It's amazing to me the things God has in store for us and the fact that we (I) just wine and complain and wine and complain until what we want is given to us. And then when it finally arrives, of course we Thank Him, but then it's like we don't know how to act around Him, because He's answered the desires of our heart.

It's been a long journey in trying to get back to this place and I'm thankful of the things I've learned and *some* of the people I've met, but not of the debt I've accrued. Even in my place of peace I think of things developed in the past that carry on throughout this future. I wonder, "Am I really worthy to be in such a wonderful position?" And then it hits me, "Yes."

This would not have happened if it wasn't meant to be. So even the imps that try and follow me into my "now" don't have any power. I learn, I work and I do my dues to this society and the next.

Things happen for a reason; whether or not we're appreciative of those reasons and learning experiences; things still happen. And if we keep fighting to get to where we want, and keep our desire in the forefront of our minds without letting it cloud our everday judgement, we will get there.

I'm a witness to this.

I've struggled deeply and some of that struggle has had some overage. But, I've prayed, I've believed and I've spoken it into existence. And all of this work has paid off. The Lord did not let this desire pass by unanswered. It came at the time it needed to arrive and now because of this faith and I can say, "I'm Finally Here."

I hope one day, you'll be able to say the same thing for whatever your heart may desire. But if/when you get there, remember that The Almighty is to be kept first. He is in fact the reason for all existence anyway, whether you believe this or not. One day you will.




© Robyn K. Mizelle, September 2007.