Nesting...

So, here goes... my first attempt at blogging! This blog was created mostly for my family and friends back in the U.S. as a little "window" into my life in Japan. Since everyone knows I've been completely hopeless at e-mail since I've come to Japan, I figured you could at least catch up with what is going on in my daily life as well as see what constitutues a day in the life in this fascinating, fast-paced country.

First, a word about a Bento ("lunchbox") as it is part of my blog's title.... It is what is pictured here if you've never had the pleasure of having one. When asked what my favorite thing is in Japan, a Bento, or Obento (adding the "O-" prefix makes it that much more revered) would have to be in my top five. I order a Bento at school nearly every day, and it is delivered in this perfect little hardwood box (which is later returned to the company that makes them, cleaned out, and used again). Being one who appreciates balance, I like the fact that my Bento box contains what would certainly constitute a balanced meal.... white rice (with the umeboshi, or pickled plum, in the center... which both keeps the rice fresh AND is made to look like the flag of Japan... pretty ingenious! I actually don't eat the umeboshi- it's way too sour- but I can still appreciate its importance!) and a nice array of vegetables, protein including tofu and fish, and dessert in the form of fruit. What I like most is the fact that it's a little bit of a lot of things.... variety, baby!

Probably about half of the other teachers at my school order a Bento, too (at not much more than $4, it's a pretty reasonable- and healthy- option) although others might bring a Bento from home, typically made by their wives if they're men, or by themselves. You really have to admire the work that goes into the creation of a Bento. I see some of my high school students' Bentos, (which they eat in their classrooms with their classmates at lunch- there is really no cafeteria in Japanese high schools) made lovingly by their mothers every day, and they would put an American lunch box to shame by the amount of preparation and detail that goes into them. (I should probably mention that more than half of married Japanese women don't work outside the home.) Nevertheless, I devote this blog to the pursuit of variety on a daily basis, as is the Bento and as is my life in Japan (and everywhere, really!)

I never thought of myself as a "blogger". Probably because I used to wonder who has time to blog?! I certainly don't have time to do so at work- because unfortunately, I don't even have a computer that is my own there. (How I miss cubicle life sometimes!) There are shared computers for teachers to use (like, 5) in the teachers room, but it is clear that they are for school-related things. I get enough raised eyebrows when they see my hotmail screen up. I mean, I could bring my laptop to work (and I sometimes do) but it's a little tricky- not to mention dangerous- on my bike every day. Ah, the everyday challenges of Japan!

So that leaves time at home, and honestly, in these past two years, I have spent very little time at home ... I'm not sure where I was exactly, but I can tell you that I had a good time! Usually, I was at Starbucks marking compositions (seriously, that is the place my friends knew where to find me) but also just meeting friends downtown and going out for dinner, drinks, shopping, karaoke, whatever. And those were just the weeknights! However, my bank book and I have realized it may be time to turn over a new leaf and I have declared this third contract year in Japan to be my "nesting year". My friends (both here and at home) find great humor in this idea, but as I say.... I've just recently purchased an actual BED (after sleeping on two two-inch thick futons on the floor for the last two years) AND I just got a Sony SkyPerfect satellite dish installed. And now I've got a blog! The perfect recipe for nesting!!!

Right. Well, so far the nesting thing is going well because I am horribly jet-lagged. Thirteen hours is a bit of a time change. This means, in the last three nights I've been back in Japan, I've been falling asleep around 9 pm instead of my usual midnight or thereafter. The problem is that I have learned to go on very little sleep here in this country (6 hours is a good night's sleep to me in Japan... although strangely, when I was home in Michigan, I slept 8-9 hours a night easily.) It's the crack of dawn (as you can see from this post) so perhaps I'll go for a walk at the park since it is the only cool time of day to be outside.... but I will save my ranting on the heat here for another post.