Home Away From Home

Home away from home. The word “home” sounds to me like people have only one home at a time. “Home away from home”, then, would mean some place other than one’s home that is as comfortable, relaxing, and familiar as one’s own. In the particular case of Japan, this also would mean, to me personally, that it is my homeland away from my current residence in Northern California. These first two weeks, since we arrived at Kyoto, my hometown, on September 15, have shown us that neither of the above meanings of “home” is true; at least for now.

During the past 28 years, I have only visited my homeland for a week or two at a time. Now, we are staying for four months, and that means we need to actually set up some kind of life here. There are logistics in establishing a temporary life in Japan, just like anywhere else. The difference between Japan and any other country, however, is it is where I was born and raised. I have no language barrier, yet I still can be clueless. How would I get a phone line? Who do I need to contact for Internet connection? At which station do I need change trains to get to downtown Kyoto? What is the definition of “Burnable” and “Non-burnable” trash? And of great importance, how do I choose a mobile phone service?

We are also adjusting our diet. The communities in Northern California, where organic fresh vegetables are grown and sold in abundance, are difficult to find here. On one hand I can cook Japanese food (and I am not a bad book either), but my repertoire is limited. Eating out can be quite difficult for vegetarians, even if fish is okay; not to mention the expense. The Cost of living is another thing. While we are all for using Japan’s excellent public transportation, doing so costs a fortune every time we travel to downtown Kyoto or Osaka; a casual half-day wandering or taking care of errands in town costs about 20 USD in transportation costs for both of us.

The building we live in has more than 50 apartments and it is only one of tens of similar building all around us. There is a train station within a 3-minute walk. On the east side of the station are condo and apartment buildings standing like dominos. Highways with off-ramps, shopping centers, restaurants, a gym, and the other usual suspects of suburban living (including a busy MacDonald’s and KFC) are all within walking distance. Mixed in the view from our thirteenth floor balcony are the rice paddies to the west of the station. The green and yellow paddie patches stretch out to the Ujigawa River and are a refreshing sight to our eyes.

We are still figuring out what to make of our life in Japan. We keep telling ourselves that we are experienced travelers. We have been there. Yet, Japan is also my home. Have I not reaffirmed my identity as a Japanese man during the Global Fusion project? Yet, where does this lingering uncertainty, unfamiliarity, and sense of alienation come from? My aim during our time here is to begin to overcome the absence I’ve felt since 1978, and to be able to see Japan in a fresh light, just as we have done during our past travels, while at the same time, enjoying this time at home.