Moving

Jan. 22, 07

I like this picture I took at MacDonald’s. There is an intensity that belies the absolute exhaustion I was experiencing as I sat in that junk food mecca on Omotesando awaiting my future. I had barely slept the night before, consumed with packing and cleaning. I think I awoke at 6 am to continue packing and cleaning. I barely got things done and Andrew arrived while I was still cleaning. We broke the ice that had set in from a month or so ago. It was like coming full circle. But it was stressful and exhausting. I barely had time to say farewell to Kakegawa, but I did take a moment at the Shinkansen station while I waited for the train to arrive. I had so much luggage, I could barely carry it. But I waved good riddance to the town that had trapped and smothered me.

By the time I arrived in Tokyo I was mush. I had some sake to commemorate the moment, so I arrived to the big city depleted. It was pretty unforgettable, my arrival into Tokyo. I could not find the Marunouchi exit that I had familiarized myself on prior trips. Instead I was dragging all this heavy luggage around Tokyo station and ready to cry cuz I could not find any lockers. My first victory was in finding some lockers to stash my luggage. From there I made my way to Omotesando’s McDonlad and pretty much planted myself there, as I could not move around much with the guitar and computer that I had in tow. I spent several hours pondering my future.
I had struck gold with housing. I found a place to share with a friend of a friend of a friend who was also Nikkei and from Brazil. I was delighted to have a place to close to the metro and someone from the community to help facilitate my entry into Tokyo life. And located in Omotesando, it was a score. Plus I was delighted to make contact with another Nikkei in Japan, someone from Brazil, a country that has long fascinated me. Perhaps I could get the gist on taiko in Brazil. I had made my first big hurdle and landed in Tokyo.

My days were filled with non-stop interviews for jobs. I remained optimistic. I had to spend a great deal of time in McDonald as it had the best internet connection. It was such a glamorous area, I really could not complain. I awoke to a world of rich people in designer ware and models that walked the streets. This is the poshest area I have ever lived in my life. Ralph Lauren, Louis Vutton – I am cornered in by wall-to-wall designers. I rather spend my time in Harajuku with the trendy sugar coated Goths and punks. It is a great relief from Kakegawa and I love to remind myself at every opportunity. Yes, I am in Tokyo! I often walk down to Shibuya for whatever reason or to catch a train. I love it big time and I am becoming very familiar with the mad hub that is Shibuya.