I'm FINE!!!

Dear family and friends,


Thanks for your concern and your messages yesterday after hearing about the Iwate earthquake (7.0, 7.2?). Everyone in Tokyo is fine, and we barely felt it.


I admit I didn't even really feel the earthquake. I did, however, hear my building move. The sounds we hear in this kind of circumstance are comparable to those heard on a docked boat: the cracking, a slight rocking. I was awakened, once more, by the mobile hanging from my ceiling. I particularly appreciate the earthquake-alarm feature it has become... (to the right is a picture of a real earthquake-alarm device, which tells you how strong it is, and starts saying something in Japanese which I am assuming are either instructions, information, or something really important that I just don't understand yet!) Anyway, I heard the jingling of my chimes, emerged from my sleep, looked up and saw the mobile swaying, and I knew what was going on. Answered someone's text message in my sleep "it's ok it's just an earthquake relax", and didn't leave my bed (it was 8:48am on Saturday morning!) This last one was so mild (in Tokyo), I probably went back to sleep before it even ended... Of course, when I woke up and saw what really happened a few hundred miles away, and the death toll, I wasn't exactly smiling.

Seriously though, I've been here over 7 months now (eek!! already?) and I still haven't prepared my little earthquake kit. It's about time I had one ready, just for the peace of mind. I was going to buy a ready-made one at the specialty store today (picture), but I figured I could put it together myself for half the cost. The basics: a thermal blanket (which I have in a separate emergency kit provided by the building), water, canned food, biscuits/crackers, flashlight, radio, batteries, sometimes a helmet...

I already registered at the French Embassy so if anything happens, they'll come looking for me if I haven't reported to my assigned group. And I know where the nearest water supply spot is near my apartment. It's good to know all these things, and to be prepared! ("Scout toujours...!")



Today (Sunday) I heard a public announcement coming from the City Hall's loudspeaker. I understood some basic words such as "Sunday", "12pm", etc, but didn't understand the general announcement. Luckily, a short message in English followed that said something along the lines of "This is a general announcement for election day. THIS IS NOT AN EMERGENCY" Pfew!!! Glad they said that one!! (Seriously I appreciated that little touch). I have no idea what election was taking place today (probably local elections)...



On a lighter note, Tokyo Miki does tennis!!
I am proud to report that I completed a 2-month tennis class! (and showed up for 3 classes, well done... I was traveling and missed 3 classes).
The first day I went to the club I had my first big meltdown. I had called the club a couple of days beforehand and registered for the Friday evening intermediate class. I wasn't told, however, that the class began AFTER Golden Week (or maybe I just didn't understand it on the phone). As I was struggling to understand what the receptionist was so patiently trying to tell me, and as I was desperately trying to find the right words to ask them whether I could just use a half-court to hit some balls, I did break down and felt angry at myself for not being able to learn Japanese faster and better... Honestly, after my recent 2+ week trip to France & America, everything seems to sink in much better, I am learning so much faster and I'm actually able to get around a lot better.
Anyway, back to the tennis... The first class, the coach (understandably) wanted to test my level, so he put me in the... super-beginner class. I though "oh my Gosh, you're kidding!!" but just kept silent, and went with the flow. Except that when you know how to hit a yellow ball with a racket, and are being drilled for 1 hr on how to do it, your mind wanders a little and by the time a ball actually comes your way, there is a possibility you might miss it. So, yes, the coach must have thought I was a big liar saying I was 'intermediate'. For the record: I took my first tennis class when I was about 8 or 9 years old (back when tennis rackets were made of wood), and have been playing off and on (more off than on) ever since. Often to the despair of the instructors: in South Africa, when I was called to the net, the instructor started with the warning "Birdies, put your helmets on!". Anyway: on my 2nd class, after I returned from my trip, empowered and fiery, I told the instructor ("told" not "asked") I was going to the 'intermediate' group. As expected, I got the "shhhh" (hard to explain, but it's a sucking of air expression with a big sort of grin, and you do NOT want to get that reaction from a Japanese person. Usually it's not good.) He went back and forth a couple of times with the other instructor, telling me "ah but it's a bit difficult" (translation: you're the lousiest tennis player I've seen and you're not moving from the beginner class until I say so). I was having a rough day that day but I wasn't yielding on that one... I just said (ever so nicely and politely) "yes I know, and that's what I want... beginner class is a little... "boring"? (all but "boring" was mumbled in sort-of broken Japanese). He couldn't say "No" to my puppy face and begging expression so he let me go. Yippeee!!! I was going from the 70% theory, 30% play group, to the 60% theory, 40% play group!!! Normally I don't mind the theory too much, but when it's in a foreign language and all you understand are the words "ball", "racket" (and that's just because the Japanese words are "boh-ru" and "ra-ket-to"...), it's tough! Anyway, I had a fantastic time occasionally sending some amazing passing shots, but mostly making a fabulous fool of myself. I will always remember the sweet instructor: he was a little older, spoke almost no English but when he assigned us numbers for the rotations, he would tell me my number in English "nummba faaaive!" and then burst out giggling... He was adorable. Coach, if you're reading this: sorry for that ball I sent flying you-know-where.
Anyway, I liked the fact I practiced some 'real' Japanese during the class, but now I know where the public tennis courts in my neighborhood, I just want to find a tennis partner and go hit some tennis balls!! And as for my next challenge... I'm dying to go to a dojo to learn Kendo, but I might have to take a crash course in Japanese before I do that!

I hope this note finds you healthy and happy wherever you are!