Firefly in Japan on the Your-Japan Blog Network

Here is my first post on yourjapan.jp. The setup process was pretty easy, so hopefully you guys can share your stories and your lives in Japan as well.

I think some people have a rosy or irregular view of Japan, and often most people have no idea what the reality is over here. So I think it’s great for people to share what happens to them in daily life, so you can understand more about this fascinating country.

Here is a story to get started.

The stage, on a whim, I came to Japan. I packed my bags, saved a small amount of cash. Maybe enough to survive for a month while I looked for a job. I piled onto the airplane full of curiousity and excitement, but with no fixed expectations.

I couldn’t sleep very well for the 13 hour flight. The food was bad, and I had a splitting headache. Exhausted and zombie-like, I left the plane and picked up my luggage, which seemed 3 times heavier. I pulled it over, and began trying to find my hotel, which I booked 2 days earlier.

The confusion hit me first - I could no longer understand my surroundings. People brushed past me speaking a language that made no sense, the kanji everywhere heightened my confusion and sense of discomfort. I finally found the train station, but I couldn’t make sense of the complicated maps, prices and train lines. I boarded the wrong train, and travelled aimlessly and confused for hours.

I asked for assistance multiple times, to be sent in the wrong direction or given bad directions. I was given several maps with hard to understand directions. I was hungry, confused, upset, tired and a deep feeling of sickness in my stomach was starting to grow. I pushed on.

Finally, I somehow arrived at my station. I blinked, almost in disbelief that I managed to find the correct place. This began my new problem of finding directions to the hotel.

Once again, I was sent in wrong directions, I was given confusing maps, and policemen who couldn’t speak English waved me on, despite my desperate requests for help. My luggage was heavy, my entire body was hurting and I had a terrible headache. I started to question myself - what the hell was I doing? This is a foreign country, I have no idea whats going on, I dont speak the language, I don’t have a job, what the hell am I doing here?

My thought process was interrupted by an old homeless man. He came up and stood in front of me. I stood there with my mouth open. I started to explain, in English, "Look, I dont have any fucking money. I’m sorry, ok? I’m tired, I dont know whats going on, and I can’t help you.", I said, knowing that he couldn’t understand me.

He stood there, looking at me. Then without warning, he took my map. I was shocked. "Give that back. Hey, come back here!", I cried. He walked off. I chased after him, trying to get back my only lifeline.

"Listen mate, I dont know what you want, but I can’t help you. I need that map though. Come back here.", I said desperately. I was starting to get angry. Who the hell was this guy, and what did he want? Why can’t he leave me alone. He turned into a small alley. I paused - maybe I was going to be attacked. I considered my alternatives - I needed that map to find my hotel. I had no choice - I continued after him, ready for a physical attack.

It came - he grabbed my arm. I got ready to throw a punch at this old man. He then turned, and pointed to my hotel. He had lead me directly to where I needed to go. With a strange smile, he turned on his heel, and walked off into the scorching humidity, leaving me confused, grateful and surprised.

Shaking my head, I entered the hotel.