Hiromi’s Blog

The dinner with my relative was a big event for me, but it was a great opportunity for me to explain the details of my family matters to Harper. I was a little bit frustrated because this gathering reminded me of some of our family problems which my mom struggles with. However, everyone was happy and enjoyed the party and congratulated our marriage. They liked the chocolate Harper brought from Chicago. Some of them had no idea where Chicago is located. They were talking about how to visit me in the states and also go see major league baseball games. Everyone asked me about Harper’s parents, brother, and his wife, so I think the Reed family and me should come to Yamanashi together soon.
My grandma who has altzheimer’s disease could not come to the dinner party, but liked Harper a lot and talked to him in Japanese all the time. It was cute, and she seemed very happy. I wonder if she recognized him as an American or Japanese…curious.. I don’t think she remembers the meeting though.

Although it was quite nice to be in a country side with no internet!! (poor Harper…) we were ready to go back to Tokyo. I was so tired and started feeling sick, and I just wanted to go back to my comfortable apartment and chill out with Harper for a few days. whenever Harper and I don’t do anything particular and just hang out in my apartment, I feel as if we are spending our weekend together. I will get to do more soon!!

My friend in my hometown, Yurie took us to a nice inexpensive but great Italian restaurant right before we came back to Tokyo. Harper had homemade wild boar sausage as an appetizer, and we had a great pasta lunch. My health condition got really worse during the time with Yurie, and the last time when Harper and Steve hung out with her, we were exhausted because of our crammed schedule for our marriage and visa. I felt bad for her because I am always exhausted when I hang out with her. I will see her before I move back to Chicago, and I should be healthy then!

We were glad that we took a train with reserved seats, because they were comfortable and I was able to rest for a little while. As soon as we got back to our apartment in Tokyo, we went out to see my high school friend and her husband who both work for a music magazine in Tokyo. They gave him a T-shirt of popular comics about a death metal band (if I remember correctly). Harper was so happy, and Dai, my friend’s husband, and Harper were talking about death/ heavy metal things. My friend and I were chit-chatting. We started late because of us being late (sorry…), so it was a short amount of time. However, we had a great time with them as always. Some reasons, I got so drunk and Harper took care of me.

Next day, I was hang over and Harper was catching up with his internet matters and took care of payment or what not. We just chilled in my apartment and neighborhood. we went to mos burger AGAIN!! I took a nap and slept as if the nap did not happen..

And the next day was technically Harper’s last day because his flight was in the morning next day. We went to Omotesando/ hip fashion area and had organic buffet lunch and went to some stores Harper liked. We walked to Shibuya and got some books and went to a French style cafe which I used to go a lot several years ago. Coming to Tokyo 3 times and being able to get around in Tokyo, Harper started observing Japanese culture sharply and made a lot of interesting comments which I had never thought of/ aware of before. quite interesting..

In the night, we went to Shinagawa Prince hotel to see Matt Henry’s juggling show. It was a Las Vegas style with a magician and we enjoyed it. Matt has been juggling in Asia and happens to be in Tokyo around the time. He was really nice and a good performer.

There is a nice cozy Italian restaurant we both like, but I couldn’t get through it on the phone. We went there anyway and found that they were closed for new year. Instead, we went to a different Italian restaurant which was good, but we both like the other one better. We just went home after the dinner, and Harper started packing and I passed out early.

Harper’s flight was at 11 am, so we had to be at the airport by 9 which means we had to leave home around 7:30. It was pretty early for us. We got up 6:30 and headed to the airport early. I got sad to see him off even if I know I can see him soon. The airport is such an emotional place for me. A funny part is that Harper always has to hold his jeans after the security check before going downstairs. We say good bye and after the security, there is a spot where I can see him through a glass window. It could be romantic/ emotional…and here Harper comes holding his pants and putting his belt back on. I smiled, and I guess we have our own unique way of feeling romantic..ahhh

It was Saturday, and Harper gained a day back when he got back to Chicago.� I am leaving to Chicago on Feb 1st and will move my stuff to my parents on Jan 16th.� I have only 3 weeks before moving back to Chicago.. what do I want to do before I leave?� I will think about it..

This new year and year end were different and special for me, because Harper came and visit me and met my relatives for the first time. I took a day off to pick up Harper at the airport on Dec 25th, Christmas day, and after that, I worked until Dec 29th. I started the full-time position 6 months ago, so I didn’t have any paid holidays and was busy without my direct boss who was on vacation. As usual, whenever Harper visits me, I am busy at work, but this time was much better than the last time as far as scheduling goes.

The next day, Dec 26th was a sort of big day for me at work because there was my last bi-weekly meeting with other managers. It was 4 hour-long with light meal provided and a lot of presentation and discussion. I will miss the team and the challenges I faced. Anyhow, it was a really nice meeting and I received a lot of warm farewell from my colleagues and bosses.

While I was doing that, I hoped Harper could wonder around tokyo or take a rest and meet up with me in Shinjuku after work, later for dinner. I drew a nice map with the direction from my apartment to my work with a lot of details and landmarks. I thought I prepared everything he needed for the day. However, I forgot to give him the key….. I left my cell phone for him, and had a long meeting, and when I was finally able to call him, he told me that he hadn’t left the apartment yet. I felt so bad..and was going to go home first. However, I had 4 hours to go before getting off, so I decided to finish my work on time and go home as quickly as possible. I also told him it was ok for him to go out without locking the door for a little bit in my neighborhood. It is a pretty safe neighborhood, and he can get his favorite Mos Burger!! It was raining heavily as well.

To make up for it, I took him to a nice restaurant in Shinjuku. It is a macrobiotics restaurant and serves nice course dinners. Harper had a white fish and I had a scallop as main dish and we both had a wonderful appetizer and dessert.

Harper had no problem wondering around in Tokyo and has a pretty good sense of direction or he just doesn’t care?? He just needs books, gadgets, and a cell phone. He came to Shinjuku to have lunch with me everyday! He liked a pasta restaurant which serves spaghetti dishes with chopsticks. We had a lot of noodles this time.

On Dec 28, we had a party with my Japanese friends who went to Cornell and also Harper’s juggling friends who happened to perform in Japan. We went to a nice Izakaya/ Japanese pub and had a great meal and drinks. Those ladies gave us nice tea cups as our marriage celebration!!

Dec 29th was my last working day and also the last business day at my work. Beside myself, there were a few people got transferred or quit, so there was a farewell party at my work after the business hour. It started around 11 pm because our business hour is until 10:45 pm, and Harper got to meet them! We had cans of Chuhi (Shochu with juice) and beer and some pizza and snacks. After that we went to a hookah/ shisha bar with “all you can drink” deal with 3,000 yen (about $28?). Harper and I got so drunk and could not stay until the end. We left around 3am and took a cab home.

The next day, we were just hang over and wondered around my neighborhood to recharge our energy for our Yamanashi trip.� New year is a big family gathering time in Japan, just like Christmas in the US, so the train ticket was sold out quickly.� Luckily we got tickets for next day.

The early train tickets were sold out and we got later ones, so we were able to have a relaxing morning.� My dad picked us up at the local train station and drove us to my grandparents’ house where my grandparents don’t live any longer.� It is a typical farm house with bathroom separated from the main house, and the entrance floor is not covered, but soil exposed.� My parents had a new bathroom built inside of the house, but just toilet, so bathtub-bathroom is still outside in a separate hut.

There is no central heating at the house, but individual heaters in rooms, so it was pretty cold there.� We couldn’t leave Kotatsu/ heated table with a blanket covered and read some books or watched TV drinking a lot of hot tea.

We ate a lot of Sashimi and we are totally Sashimi-ed out…� New-year-eve noodles, homemade pickles, a lot of dishes..with a lot of drinks.

On the Jan 2, we went to a restaurant and had a dinner party with my relatives.� All of my uncles and their family came and met Harper for the first time.� Again, a lot of food and drink, and a lot of translation (just me) used up my energy..but I had a great time with them.� They didn’t know what they thought about Harper first because of language barrier, but sharing drinks and food and laugh, they just loved him!!� Harper learned some useful Japanese expressions at the party..

Okay, it’s getting long again, so I will write more in my next entry.