Silence/Modulation of Voices. On the second day, I realized that I had not had a single tension headache. No knots in my jaw or along what remains of my eyebrows. I at least partially attribute this to the fact that wherever I go, unless the balance is tipped heavily toward Western and especially American tourists, it’s either silent or people speak in hushed tones as if they are on the 18th hole of Augusta. It. Is. A. Dream. Yesterday I was even able to take a 15 minute nap on some stairs in Ueno Park where the major museums are. Brian and I sat balanced back-to-back for mutual support, and students were quietly laughing with each other and eating their lunches.
No-Hassle Workwear. Granted, I’m a floor nurse so I’ve got the locked in with my scrubs. But if I went White Collar, it would be that with Navy Blue. I could airdrop 9-year old Scotia and 5-year old Teslin (circa 2003) in their navy and white Jacksonville public school uniforms, and they would fit right in at Mitsubishi corporate offices. For Japanese schools they would be expected to sport a more sailor motif.
Presentation Matters. Whether it’s a bow and a smile in greeting or a lovely afternoon pastry at a museum cafe, it conveys a warmth that seems to say, “Our lives have intersected at this moment, and I’m glad they did.”
A Day in the Life 