Meeting a Tacoma native so far outside of the pacific northwest gave me hope that I too would find a place of belonging. The leisurely brunch and pace in which I strode meant that I would be arriving at the property management facility at around noon. A working day following the holiday I was the lone customer as I walked into the blue-bordered office. Nervously stepping in I was greeted with the immediate
“いらっしゃいませ”（Welcome Honored Guest）
Not knowing how to respond to that phrase I simply bowed and presented some papers showing me as the new tenant of a first floor apartment in an area called 新橋松本(Shinbashi? Shimbashi. . . still not sure to this day) clumsily communicating with a mixture of my trash Japanese skills, gestures, and google translate I was able to get to the point were after I used my Hanko(Signature Stamp) a couple of times I was handed the keys to my first step into adulthood.
My Tired Legs
I only moved to the nearby station, not walking any further than I had to. The weight of the combined suitcase, camera bag, and backpack began to take its toll in the warm weather. Just a few days ago it had snowed, but now I found myself sweating as I wandered to the Taxi Stand. After assisting me with my bag, the old cab driver sat down, turned towards me and asked where I wanted to go. Although I didn’t know the words he was using I understood enough to tell him that I wanted to go to Shinbashi.
“Shinbashi. . . ?” he paused before saying it again only to himself. I was glad that I had gotten in a taxi, because if that old taxi driver didn’t know where Shinbashi was how would I ever find it? After looking at an electronic GPS of sorts we took off in awkward silence. My life being one giant awkward epic, I wondered if the silence was due to my lack of Japanese skill or cultural differences. The series of twists and turns blended together in my tired state before I knew it we were stopped to the side of a small road. Collecting my things, I thanked the driver and pulled out my phone. What I saw lead air to escape my mouth through a long exasperated sigh.
The Building Before Me
Looked very similar to the one which my phone displayed, but the location of the buildings were separated by a three to five-minute drive. Seeing only the taillights of the cab in the distance, meaning that I had to walk the rest of the way. Dragging the suitcase and other belongings began to make every step ache more than the last. My throbbing feet ached with every step seeming to make the short walk unbearably long. Turning into a small driveway I found my apartment resting in a comfortable little nook behind two traditional Japanese homes. To the north was a very small farm, to the west was a beautiful empty space followed by a river. Behind the river, the mountains and clouds formed a clearly visible beautiful landscape. Sometimes I forget how beautiful that scene is, I was happy to be calling this place my home for the foreseeable future.
I Sat
in one of the most uncomfortable chairs, I found myself sitting for an extended period of time, but the exhaustion didn’t leave my body. Not wanting to carry two suitcases around, I had sent one through a shipping company and was stuck in my apartment until the other bag appeared. Although I held the keys to the apartment in my hand, the empty space felt less homely than the ryokan and cafe. Being uncomfortable with my own thoughts for an extended period of time I turned on the T.V.
I zoned out while the blue light of the T.V. slowly became the single source of light as the sun started setting behind the mountains. The feeling that returned to me was a sensation I hadn’t felt in a long time. I recalled the early years of my life spent huddled around my dad as we watched shows together. Being able to understand only a small fraction of the words coming out of the speakers was odd. I had studied enough Japanese to where the sounds were familiar to my ears, but the vocabulary behind those sounds was still lost. I felt like Charlie Brown listening to adults speak.
A Ring Came
the truck came with the bag that held the other half of my worldly possessions. I don’t think I’d had ever been so happy to see a suitcase in my entire life. After signing some papers I was left alone with two bags and a big empty room. It was around 9:00 PM when I realized that my apartment didn’t come with a bed of any sort. . . just a place to put the futon I had yet to buy. It was starting to get cold. . . I was so tired I didn’t want to do anything. I was done with dealing with life, surrendering to fatigue I simply laid on the floor and closed my eyes.
