Room Service in the Hall

Since I arrived in Yokohama I was told that on some days you could see Mt Fuji. For the first four weeks I had my doubts. Then the last few days before I left I got up each day to see Mt Fuji each morning as I left the hotel. The hotel was an odd shape and the halls had doors to the rooms on one side and big glass windows on the other side. From the room there was a great view of the bay, and going into the hallway you had a great view of the city. So about a week before I left to come home at Thanksgiving I open my door to leave for work and there it was. Mt Fuji is about 30-40 miles from Yokohama and that monring was clear enough to see it very clear. Over the next couple of mornings I came to expect this incredible sight. It was about 1/3 covered in snow and was inspiring to say the least. So two days before I left to come home another man from my company and I were on the way home and talked about how nice it would look at sunset. ( We were both on the same floor of the hotel on the 19th floor) So as we walked to our rooms we saw the sun setting behing the mountian. Then I noted what a shame it was that the hotel had no restuarant that had the Mt Fuji view. Then the idea! We could order room service and pull chairs from our rooms and eat in the hallway. So we then called another guy working on the project who was in another hotel and told him to come over for this dinner idea. So we ordered 3 dinners from room service and in just a few minutes here came three rolling carts with white linen table cloths. I thanked the guys who delivered them and said to leave them in the hall. Then when they left we pulled out chairs and turned the three carts to the big glass window and proceeded to eat our meal. Well in a few moments another hotel guy came down the hall and asked " is everything alright ? ...you are eating in the hall " We pointed out the window and said "Mt Fuji" He looked troubled and walked away. Then a manager of some kind came down the hall and asked again if everything was alright. We again answered that we were fine and were enjoying the view of Mt Fuji. He knew my name ( for some reason ) and said " Mr. Snow we don't usally allow our guests to eat in the hallway " I looked back and told him " well then I really do appreciate your allowing us to" He then looked down for a few seconds, then looked back and said " Certianly Sir " We continued eating, enjoying our meal when we noticed that another cart was coming down the hall. The manager sent a guy up with a cart of tea, coffee, more bread, and anything else he thought we would need. He stood there until we finished eating and each went our seperate ways. I fully expect when I return to the hotel for there to be signs that say "no food in the hallway" I will keep you posted.

Sweet Potatoes

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Last Sunday I went with a group from Taga Church of Christ to the farm land of one of its members. There were 12 rows of sweet potatoes that needed to be dug up from the ground. There were 8 of us including Bryan and his girlfriend Minako. When we got there we started a fire in a pit that burned as we dug up the potatoes. Then about half way through we all picked out a few to wrap in foil and bury in the coals of the fire. Then when we finished digging all the potatoes we took a break and went over to the fire. After letting them cool, we each broke open the potatoes and ate them. There was one type that had a purple type meat inside and was sweet, but the yellow meated potato was just like eating from the thanksgiving bowl. It didn't need butter, brown sugar or anything.....delicious! This is a tradtion in Japan and for Taga church as well. They all told stories of last year and the year before. It stuck me that the Church of Christ is the same here as it is at home. A bunch of people looking for an excuse to eat. Sorry couldn't resist that. I'm talking about people helping other people, and as I was digging up these potatoes I realized something. God intends for us to be involved in the life of other people. Of course this was right after I thought why am I not at my hotel by the indoor pool ? Several people there that day couldn't speak English and I speak very little Japanese. But during this time no translation was needed as we all were focused on helping that church memeber harvest his crop. I was working with a lady who was a friend of the Taga minister ( spoke no engllish ) and we dug potatoes and threw dirt at the others. Another woman there was 92 years old, and she out worked us all! When we took a break to eat the potatoes she got onto everyone for stopping. She as well needed no translator to communicate how much she enjoyed what she was doing and how much she loved all of us for helping. I thought that as I was doing this some group at Woodland West was making visits or doing the Trunk or Treat or something nobody knew about. The location didn't matter, what did matter was that God's people are involved in the life of others. Too serious here....sorry I will write something funnier next time.

Mary Tyler Moore

Recently I had to arrive at my office before the daily start time for employees. When I walked into the front gate I got my usual routine where the guard comes out of the office and stands in attention and salutes as I walk by. I like that ! So as I walk into the building where my office is, I walk through a group of employees who are doing morning exercises. You also need to know that Japanese factories all require uniforms. These uniforms are light blue and they all then wear a matching blue hat ( shaped like a train conductors hat ). So as I walk up I see them get very organized and in unison in the exercises as some music starts to play over loud speakers. At first I was impressed that they all were doing jumping jacks and toe touches to the music when I realized something. The music was very familiar, it was the music to the Mary Tyler Moore Show. Yeah, you know the opening music where she walks through the street of Minnesota or wherever. So I manage to keep a straight face until I get into the building and guess what? The music is playing inside the building as well and there are more people in the hallway dancing as they walk. I go into my office laughing pretty loud now and run to look out the window. At this time the end of the song is coming up and I wonder…..are they going to throw the hats in the air like Mary does? They didn’t but then the song started again and played for 10 minutes until the start time came. So the next day I again arrive early and go out to exercise with them. As the song plays I explain to the guys I knew who speak English that the hats must be thrown. At the end of the song several of us throw the hats. As the song starts again I notice many of them laughing and talking among themselves. Then when the song ended most all of the crowd threw the hats. ( And yes I have hat )

I have been traveling some recently and have not gotten to work that early since then, however I now understand that the throwing of the hat is a new tradition. Japanese culture may never be the same!

Trains, Trains & Trains ........................................................................

Weekend before last I went for the weekend to see Bryan and I thought you might enjoy reading about it. Bryan looked great and is doing well. Getting to see him was however a journey of a thousand miles, or so it seemed. I began Friday evening at 6:00 PM with my train directions in hand and a pocket full of coins to feed the ticket machines. My biggest doubt was getting in and out of the stations in Tokyo without getting lost, however I came through that with no problem. I carefully followed the directions given me by the hotel concierge and I can only tell you that the information given me was WRONG! But first I will tell you that in Tokyo I got on a train that was very crowded, totally packed. I jam into a car and after a couple of stops it kind of thins out a little. At this time I notice that I am the only male on this train. Not too bad, I think. I look into the next car and it is basically all men. At this point I am thinking what is wrong with all these guys, are they gay or something? After a few more stops I am really puzzled by this mystery, I ‘m actually thinking “all the women in the world are in this train.” so where’s Oprah? Then I looked across from me on the window of the train there is a sign that says (in Japanese & English) “This car for women only” …so I calmly waited for the next stop and moved to the next car of the train. Bryan says that trains in Tokyo have the women only cars because there are many perverts and these cars protect the women. So somewhere in Japan last Friday night some Japanese woman went home and told her husband “honey, there was a big American pervert on the train”. Needless to say I will look at ALL the signs from here on out. About an hour out of Tokyo I got off of a train as my directions stated and looked for the Joban Train Line that would take me to Bryan. There was no sign noting Joban Line….UH-OH…..so I went to the information counter where the attendant smiled and spoke no English. I understood completely as I spoke no Japanese. With the help of my handy Japanese language book and a lady who stopped speaking a little English, we determined that I was lost. Great…I kind of already knew that. I have heard the saying “you’re where you are because that’s where you want to be .....its not true, you may be where you are because your following the wrong directions. Anyway we all studied a map for a while and found several local trains that would get me to Joban Line that would get me there. So off I went for another hour on these small local trains that did finally get me to the Joban Line. After a few stops and another hour I began to recognize the names of the stations that were near Bryan. I arrived at the train station by Bryan’s house at 10: 20 PM and I was less than enthusiastic about the 20 min walk to his house. But as I left the station I heard this voice call out “Hey Dad “ Bryan had figured out the train I was probably going to be on since I was late and was waiting for me. I was very glad to see him and it made the train ride well worth the effort. We went and got a very late dinner and stayed up late talking. My train ride back to Yokohama was mild in comparison, but still took right at 3.5 hours. I understand there is a bus that goes from here to where Bryan lives. I think I may try the bus!