As we approach our last weeks in Tokyo, it's time to reflect back on our experiences.
Here are five things you probably do everyday (or very often) that you don't have to think about or ask for help to do (hence, take for granted).
5. Taking Your Kid to the Doctor
It's a pain to take your kid to the doctor,and stressful when it's an emergency or your child is ill. Now do that in system that's in a foreign language and only open bank hours. When I took Ronin to his 1 month appointment at the hospital, it was super stressful. I thought I had an appointment. Nope, it turns about 20 babies had an appointment and there was an assembly line system for visits (they checked two babies at a time). Plus I had to watch a 15 minute video in Japanese about giving my kid a bath. Nozomi had stitches, and broken collarbone. There was also the time Erik got pnemonia. Thank goodness for helpful neighbors and the international clinic across town.
4. Using a Microwave (or any electronics)
I bet you just put your food in the microwave and just push a button. I bet it didn't take you a month to figure out how to use your microwave. I bet you can make microwave popcorn without burning it (maybe).
3. Ordering at a Restaurant
Restaurant etiquette is slightly different in Japan. Now imagine you can't read the menu and there are no pictures. Imagine not knowing if the restaurant is kid friendly. The first few months we only went with friends or to restaurants with english menus. Now we know where to go and how to read the foods we love.
2. Going Grocery Shopping
My first emotional breakdown came after I went to the grocery store. I came home with nothing, sat in the bathtub and cried. I've since learned to navigate it pretty well. But you would cry, too, if you had trouble finding simple things like milk, eggs, bread and pasta or expressing you brought your own eco bag. And we had to get use to shopping almost everyday since we have a small fridge and everything we buy is fresh.
1. Using a Toilet
You think you know how to use a toilet, but it's different in every country. In Japan sometimes there is a squatty potty. And then sometimes you get the fancy electric toilet that has a heated seat, plays music, self-sanitizes, as well as washes and dries your bum. I'm going to miss my fancy toilet.
Living abroad has taught me that even the simplest things can be very challenging. Everyday living can be emotionally draining. Next time you see a new person in your country, be kind. They are doing their best to navigate a completely different system.
