It’s been a long time since my last post, and even though I promised myself I’d try to write once a week, it seems I’ve already forgotten that particularly resolution. I hate saying I was too busy, because I think most of the time that’s just an excuse and it just means it’s not a priority, but in reality I didn’t have plenty of time and energy to write something.
My parents came to visit for the first time last week. I met them at the airport and took them to their hotel in Shinjuku. I know how long and tiring the journey can be plus the added drag of jet lag, so I’m sure all they wanted to do was sleep. However they were only here for 6 days so I felt like I wanted to cram in as much sightseeing as possible!
I took some days off work and showed them around Tokyo. We did so much walking, and even though I could see how exhausted they were, trying to find the hotel was an unwelcome bonus for them!
I like when people visit because it’s easy to forget that I’m living in a foreign country. Every day seems to melt into one, so when I go back and do all the touristy stuff, I remind myself that I’m living halfway across the world in a country that’s not my home. It’s funny because I think if I was living in an English speaking country, or at least somewhere more internationally diverse, I could call it my home. However since living here everybody including myself has called England my home. People from England ask when am I coming home, and people from Japan ask when am I going back home. Even after almost 9 years, I’m still a tourist here.
I also enjoy the reactions of people visiting here for the first time. I get to relive those culture shock moments, and see the differences in ways of living between the east and west. I had a desire to become a tour guide, but I wonder if I would tire of the seeing the same places and repeating the same things. I love cooking but I would never want to be a chef because I fear I would lose interest and come to dislike cooking at home.
It was only a short visit for them, but I hope that they could enjoy it. I often regret not showing more, or being more interesting in conversation, or being more active and enthusiastic after meeting someone. But now I think they’re enjoying their time in Australia and it’s my younger brother’s turn to be a tour guide!