Can You Help Me With This... Picture?
Above is a picture of our stove. It decided to stop working intermittently and was driving us bonkers. It would work for a couple of times, then the gas would turn itself off at seemingly random intervals. Naturally, describing this problem in our limited Japanese was nearly impossible.
Hence the photo. I took the picture, went to school and sat at the office window pointing at stove parts on the picture on my cell phone and orating Shakespearian phrases such “gas disappears!” “poof!” “gas turn off [sic], then turn off.” “Not do anything, gas off. Then on.” “Huh? Help please?” It’s a good thing pictures say a thousand words, because God knows I can’t.
Rave About My Fave New Crave
I have a new favorite restaurant! Above are my friends Praveen and his wife, the owners of Raja Indian Restaurant. The food is phenomenal and vegetarian-friendly, the ambience is great, and the owners are sociable and kind. There is even a cafe just above it that I love, and it is a bit off the main drag so it is quiet. Happy Sam. Full-belly Sam. Yummmmmmm.
Pride, Prejudice and Privilege
Being a White person in Okinawa is a disorienting experience at times. I am daily subjected to subtle and unsubtle forms of marginalization due to being a foreigner. Americans are by far the most-disliked group of foreigners. American-Okinawan tension is quite high due to the large number of military bases. Both the “mainland” Japanese and American governments tend to pile injustices on Okinawa, and Okinawans rightfully resent this. Unfortunately, I get to pay for it.
Yet, I retain the full force of my White privilege, and get free societal “goodies” for it. Okinawan culture clearly sets White skin on a pedestal, and my height commands additional respect. Also, despite having no personal connection with the American military, I am afforded additional power due to perceived connection with them due to my appearance.
Sometimes I will be completely ignored by someone who should be serving me, and sometimes I get special treatment and attention. It’s confusing, and it makes me feel like I am crazy. Did the first just not notice me, despite nearly tripping over me from being so close? Did the second genuinely want to go “above and beyond,” or like me, or were they afraid of what would happen if they didn’t? Or did they just respect me more because of my appearance? Or was it all in my head?
I don’t mind feeling a little crazy, but it does get overwhelming sometimes. It’s certainly good life experience, and gives me a better window into what it is like for people who are marginalized but without the benefit of White privilege to balance out the equation/experience.
Yet, I retain the full force of my White privilege, and get free societal “goodies” for it. Okinawan culture clearly sets White skin on a pedestal, and my height commands additional respect. Also, despite having no personal connection with the American military, I am afforded additional power due to perceived connection with them due to my appearance.
Sometimes I will be completely ignored by someone who should be serving me, and sometimes I get special treatment and attention. It’s confusing, and it makes me feel like I am crazy. Did the first just not notice me, despite nearly tripping over me from being so close? Did the second genuinely want to go “above and beyond,” or like me, or were they afraid of what would happen if they didn’t? Or did they just respect me more because of my appearance? Or was it all in my head?
I don’t mind feeling a little crazy, but it does get overwhelming sometimes. It’s certainly good life experience, and gives me a better window into what it is like for people who are marginalized but without the benefit of White privilege to balance out the equation/experience.
Drop A Quarter In The Bucket List
I started a Bucket List this week to kick start my dreaming process. I have much more time than I did while working, so I am feeding my emotional and spiritual bodies as well as my physical one. Dreaming about the future is a big spiritual support for me, so I let my imagination roam...
Bucket List Highlights:
1) Walk into an airport and buy a same-day ticket to wherever looks interesting
2) Train in Karate in Okinawa
3) Be fluent in six languages
4,5 & 6) Have children, raise kids, and send my kids to therapy because of me
7) Make a location-independent income of $1,000 per month
8) Reach 10,000 blog readers per month
9) Visit Thailand
10) Live on the Mediterranean coast
Obviously, some of the above are much more realistic and/or impending than others. I did that on purpose; I don’t want to feel like my list is impossible, so I included things that I know can really happen soon, like the trip to Thailand, since I already have tickets. Wait... What?!?
Bucket List Highlights:
1) Walk into an airport and buy a same-day ticket to wherever looks interesting
2) Train in Karate in Okinawa
3) Be fluent in six languages
4,5 & 6) Have children, raise kids, and send my kids to therapy because of me
7) Make a location-independent income of $1,000 per month
8) Reach 10,000 blog readers per month
9) Visit Thailand
10) Live on the Mediterranean coast
Obviously, some of the above are much more realistic and/or impending than others. I did that on purpose; I don’t want to feel like my list is impossible, so I included things that I know can really happen soon, like the trip to Thailand, since I already have tickets. Wait... What?!?
Thailand, Ho!
Yep, I’m off to Southeast Asia for most of my summer break. I AM SO EXCITED!!! Did I mention I am excited? I will be spending the majority of it in Thailand, since that has been a dream of mine for a long time. I will also be visiting Cambodia to see Angkor Wat, one of the seven wonders of the world, and family in Penang, Malaysia. I am slowly planning my trip in bursts, trying to find a good balance between planning and spontaneity. I can’t wait! Actually I can, and I have to, since summer break isn’t until late July. Oh well, that just gives me more time to dream about it, which is just fine with me.
Until next week,
Sam
Until next week,
Sam
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