14.7.13

#41: It's dangerous to go alone…

…so take a Pokemon with you!
When the chaos started, I just wished more than anything that someone would have told me that.

After getting up at 7 in the morning as usually and going down stairs an hour later, I saw my Dad was already absent (he goes golfing every weekend) and Mum was already awake since she has work every Sunday. Followed by watching as planned for every Sunday "Doki Doki Pretty Cure", I had a lonesome breakfast. I'm not exactly sure why, but the series (for little girls) does excite me (г////г)
Before my host Mum left for work, she told me to go to the library instead of turning on the fan at the ceilar to save energy (electricity here is cheaper during night ime).
"I'm going to the 「Get Together Party」 of my organisation.", I replied.
A few hours later I left the house for that purpose. I set my worry on a high level when I saw that the battery of my mobile phone only had two out of three bars left. (Don't ask, but that means I've got less than 50% left.) I was assuming that I'd meet up with the American from yesterday at the appointed time and place so I wouldn't need my phone much… Right?
The train rolled into the station. I stared through the glasses, trying to make out my company. No sign.
"Sheesh, calm down, you whimp, that's normal, the train didn't even stop yet!", I told myself and got into the first car of the train where we wanted to meet. But again, no sign.
I checked the mail with the appointment so many times. I even walked into the third car after we passed the next station, but still nothing. I took a deep breath, fighting off the bad thoughts that wanted to make me cry desperately. When I was calm enough again, I summoned my strength and called a number that had called me when I went to the station. I thought it might be someone from the American's host family, but since the number didn't try calling again I labeled it unimportant.
A guy picked up. I was confused, the train was loud, I barely understood anything. But I got that it was his host brother and he was going to help me getting to the party since I didn't know how to get there alone. I was relieved, even if it was just so awkward.
After a few more calls I knew I was supposed to get off at Shinjuku and take a different line. By then I had figured out how to get there myself because a day earlier the American guy send me a photo of the time table. I couldn't read the names of the stations to ask people, but I could compare them with the plan in my schedule notebook.
During a last call I told his host brother I was okay now and thanked him again. I don't think that thank was enough yet, I own him. He kinda calmed me down where I was about to panic.
Either way, upon my arrival at the destination train station, my phone died. Just awesome, I thought. Luckily on the way to the meeting spot of my organization were signs.
It didn't really take long to get there and everything was still so familiar.
But when I entered the room and saw the room with almost 100 people sitting in a circle and wanted to pay my fee, tears just started filling up my eyes and eventually rolled down my cheeks. What are you doing? Stop. Please, I begged and used the towel I bought yesterday in Akihabara and ever since wore around my neck to wipe away the symbol of weakness. I was just so released. Instantly people close by started questioning me. "Are you okay? What happened? It's okay." Goddammit, that kindness just wanted to make me sob harder.

The day just got better after that. On the meeting were Japanese people that returned from other countries and people living in the area that came TO Japan, mostly American people. Everyone was awesome, if you were like standing alone for more than a minute someone would come and talk to you, be it in English or Japanese (Bitch please, I'm quadroingual.). I talked to a lot of people I would have liked to stay in touch with, but also didn't talk to people that seemed really interesting. That's regrettable since I might never meet them again. Well, probably I won't.
It rained heavily when we walked as a group of five back to the station. I was wearing my towel on too of my head, not really minding getting wet. The rain was lovely, I just frowned when there was thunder and held my ears.
We grabbed ice cream, then I headed home, looking forward to tomorrow: A concert of friends.

1 comment:

  1. Merry Christmas from whoever you want to tell you this.

    ReplyDelete