Tsukuba Monogatari: Twelfth post
Now that I’ve settled into my apartment, seen all my ex-trainees, gotten my Company badge, cash card and e-mail account; now that I’ve gotten used to driving on the left side of the road and learned how to park and unpark in Japanese parking lots without the aid of a shoehorn (and without Jennifer jumping out, whistle in hand, shouting, “Or-righ! Or-righ!”); now that I’ve learned how to use the Mac, had a one-on-one with the Company President, and seen Hamada-san actually smile—I’m ready to come home. The novelty has worn off.
This is that dangerous period, after the initial thrill has subsided and one’s senses, heightened for the first few weeks in a new place, become dull. This is when gaijin in Japan are most likely to commit one or both of the two egregious errors that gaijin in Japan are most expected to commit: driving on the wrong side of the road, and boiling one’s bath. The warning signs are there. I have caught myself several times heading for the passenger side of my car. I have, in unguarded moments, flipped on my windshield wipers when making a turn.
Last night I came home, turned the gas on to heat my ofuro, and sat down to write a letter. Presently I heard strange noises coming from the direction of the bathroom. As I neared the tub, I heard the unmistakable sound of bubbling. I looked at my watch. An hour had passed! My bathtub had turned into a giant pot of boiling water! Just think how many packages of tortellini one could make in an ofuro…
“Ofuro“: Courtesy of Larry. Licensed under cc by NC-ND 2.0
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