I am opening SiT up to a few select guest writers who would like to share stories, advice, and experiences on life in Japan, from a black women's perspective. Ideally, I would like to hear from individuals who fall into one of the following categories:
1. Study Abroad Students 2. Career women 3. Mothers 4. Bloggers
As usual, I have been a busy bee as of late (also a bit of a stressed bee! I had a terrible migraine just last week). However, I am very interested in expanding SiT's content focus by featuring others' perspectives.
If you are interested in sharing your perspective, blog, or life on SiT please send me an e-mail, I would love to hear from you! sistaintokyo@gmail.com.
For well over two years now, a group of black professionals in Tokyo has been getting together to connect, chill, and catchup on the first Friday of every month. I've posted a few times about some of the more interesting discussions from our little shindig, but have not yet posted on the actual group. So today, I figured it was about time I did so.
Tomorrow, our cocktail hour will be held at 57 restaurant in Ropppongi (located behind Tokyo Midtown). Usually, our group includes around 7-12 attendees from various industries here in Tokyo. It's almost always predominately male, hence my reason for posting this announcement today :). I am extending a personal invitation to all SIT readers currently living in Tokyo (or visiting) to come out, kick back and enjoy a laugh or two and have a drink! I have included details below. Also, if you're interested in keeping up with the goings on and other events happening, you are welcome to join our Black Professionals in Tokyo Group located an Ning. You don't have to currently reside in Tokyo to be a member-- and you don't even have to be black, just like being around black people :).
I am often asked, "What's the need for such a group?" Well, I personally like to hang out with and catch up with my other black folk here in Tokyo just like my female friends here in Tokyo, other foreign women here in Tokyo, other Americans here in Tokyo, other HBCU graduates (shoutouts to HU and Spelman!) Anyway, I don't know if there's a need or not-- but I must say, I always leave our Friday Cocktail nights feeling good, after having laughed so much and so hard with my fellow brothras and sistas in Tokyo. (Blame it on the champagne-- or on the great people who attend!)
Anyway, you are all welcome and if you can't make it on Friday, hope to see you some time at a future event!
I am very happy these days. There's a song I have been listening to these days and the lyrics are a perfect expression of what I am feeling right now. I am happy. But not excited happy. I am comfortable, peaceful, and thankful happy and full of praise.
My small group from church has been doing a study of the Book of Daniel and it's been a great chapter for giving me perspective. About two months ago, I read Humility, the Forgotten Virtue. Strength for Life and found it to be an amazing study into the terrible world of pride. It was a great study for me and I identified several areas in my life that I needed to focus on eliminating a prideful spirit. To say that it was a tough study, would be an understatement.
Anyway, this week I was reminded of the destructive role that pride plays in our lives- after reading the first four chapters of Daniel. (Which I must say is an excellent book of the bible to read! I don't think I have ever read it before).
So where am I going with this? Well, one of the biggest challenges of residing in Tokyo is the absence of an awareness, acknowledgment, or even praise of God. To say that you are Christian is often met with skepticism, disdain, and sometimes even contempt. People just don't want to hear anything about God and laugh at the thought of Jesus Christ existing. This is an amazing place to grow in your walk-- or even begin a walk with God. There is a sadness here though. I notice it when I am happy and people think I'm strange.
1. G and I were in Honolulu last week to take care of wedding plans. Our planner is wonderful (Mona!) but she managed to tire us out! Our schedule was packed full of meetings, site inspections, tastings, etc. We initially planned to stay from Tuesday 9/2 through Saturday 9/6, but after the packed schedule we needed a rest. So we extended our stay and left on Monday it was well worth it! Hawaii is a magical place for G and T.
2. One of the things I absolutely did not enjoy was shopping for a wedding gown. None of the dresses even remotely resembled what I was looking for. Is it too hard for boutiques to actually have a more than 3 sample dresses from designers that they tout on their websites? I'm thinking I will have to find a dress here in Japan. (The land of Cinderella ball gowns...)
This will be a quickie, but I absolutely must share. I used the camera function of my iPhone to snap a picture of the ad pictured to the left, to test out the quality. I am pleasantly shocked at the picture quality! Yeah, I'm loving the iPhone man :). (Update: Actually, I'm not so happy with the quality.)
Anyway, this ad is a part of an ad campaign for Tokyo Metro that promotes train etiquette. The campaign has been running for over a year now and in the past has focused on applying make-up on the train, listening to loud headphones, talking on your cellphone while on the train, wearing extremely large bookbags, etc. I love this campaign, I hope it never ends because the ads are great!!!!
I hope they create one about Japanese men picking their noses on the train. I mean, it is quite disturbing to witness grown men deep in their noses while riding the trains. [Tokyo Metro Advertising Geniuses, if you are reading this, please consider spotlighting the Tokyo-Train-Riding-Nose-Pickers....please!]
The caption at the bottom should read: "You are NASTY, get a tissue and do it AT HOME!"
Anyway, all is well in Tokyo-- It's hot! It's humid! Ooohweeee it's hot AND humid! And, I think we have reached a point that is beyond Alabama humidity! Indeed Atsui is definitely a conversation!
Japan has wonderful food! It's a popular assumption that the Japanese diet consists of mostly rice and sushi/raw fish. But nuh-uhnnn not true (if it were, I probably wouldn't be here). Instead, Japanese food is actually quite diverse and really really good; and most of it is very healthy, not to mention, it's good.
I enjoy cooking and I often look up new recipes to try out. But this is a relatively new thing. As you may recall, back in the day I intentionally avoided the kitchen as a young woman. As a result, I don't have recipes in my memory... not even one (well, maybe one for a good grilled cheese sandwich). So for ideas and inspiration for cooking I have found the website AllRecipes.com to be an excellent cooking resource. It's a cooking community and kind of social network for cooking and recipe sharing. I really enjoy the reviews feature-- I am an avid reader of reviews, for everything (movies, books, music, tv shows, shoes, clothes.... I do a lot online)! I have been referring to this site over the past two years and have come across a few great recipes. As a result, I have increasingly become more comfortable incorporating more Japanese ingredients into my cooking.
Occasionally though, a sista does become homesick and I begin thinking about the home cooking I can't get here Japan. Last fall, I had a serious craving for turnip/collard greens. Turnips are a popular vegetable here, however leaves or 'greens' part of it, I have never seen a big full bush of turnip greens left in tact.
Last week, I decided it was time to trash my AU cell phone of three years. Since returning to Japan, it has served me so well. But after plugging in the charger and not being able to remove the charger last week (without breaking the entire thing), I made the decision that it is finally time to purchase a new phone.
My husband uses Softbank and has been telling me to make the switch for the past year. But, I'm pretty stubborn and a very loyal customer to brands I like. That's just it though, I realized that I didn't even REALLY like AU. Their branding isn't that great, their customer service isn't that great, and their phones.... not so great. I think they appeal to the student demographic because of the great student discounts. Which made me further consider the fact that I was not provided a student discount, because I was a 'research' student.
So I said Screw AU.... And Tuesday evening I jumped on the train, headed to Omotesando's Softbank shop and came out 1.5 hours later with an iPhone. (Actually, before that I had to stop by AU to get a 'number portability form'-- then I jumped on the train). On a side note, I was charged sooooo many fees by AU for leaving. And, the representative asked me "Softbank? Why softbank? Is it their image?" My reply, "Yes, and their phones. They have better phones." He shook his head in agreement, as if he's heard it at least 20 times that day. For a moment I felt sorry for AU. I doubt they are gaining new customers these days. (Then I remembered the fees I was just charged...)
Anyway, I'm enjoying the new phone-- I don't have to carry multiple gadgets around anymore. I have a cell phone, personal organizer, ipod all in one. Not to mention, I can check multiple e-mails from it, including work. Mac has won me over. I'm thinking of getting my husband one as well.... It would make scheduling so much easier for him.
Today is a national holiday in Japan, Marine Day I do believe. My husband and I spent yesterday and today at the beach in Onjuku. He surfs and I simply go in and out of the water or watch him catch waves. One day soon I plan to hop on the board along with him... :) Having braids make going to the beach and spending all day in the water a wonderful thing.
I initially came to Japan (Sendai, remember?) and I rocked a natural twisted out afro for a few months. Until things began to break off whenever I so much as ran my fingers through my hair. Some say it's the water, shampoo, conditioner, humidity, some say it's the change of environment, diet, etc. that one goes through when living in a new country and I say it's all of the above. Whatever the cause, a sista had to do something about her constantly dry hair and breakage (and I tried everything!).
So I called a friend in Tokyo and he introduced me to Miss Jane (this was back in 2006) and I have been going to her ever since. I am so happy to have found her. Usually, I call her one to two weeks ahead of time and schedule an appointment for Saturday morning. I like to arrive early, around 7:30AM or 8AM and once I arrive she begins. Of course, my hair is already shampooed and conditioned before arriving, so she begins and goes non-stop.
To my wonderful readers, thank you for your e-mails! They are always great.
Since I have more free time (yes, the change of scheduling is working out just lovely!) I am now able to spend a bit of time each day to reply to your mail. And you know, based on the number of e-mails that I have in my inbox related to hair (20 out of 45), I think it's about time that I focus on Black Hair Care in Tokyo.
So, I've decided to do a little leg work and actually research, snoop around, travel to, and find out just what options are available to black women in Japan for hair care and styling. My first topic, "Who Braids Sista in Tokyo's Hair... and ummmmm, how much does she charge?"
There's a great documentary being released this month through CNN titled, "Black in America" and it's examining the black family, black man, and the black woman. I just finished watching the preview episode on iTunes and I must say, I am truly looking forward to it.
Back in April, along with the engagement news, I mentioned that I was contacted by CNN. I was contacted for a segment of this documentary, one that examines the lives of African-Americans living outside of the U.S. I spoke with a CNN producer via phone and she asked me several questions about being in Japan. After answering her questions, my husband (boyfriend at the time) had a pretty long discussion about my thoughts, treatment, and experiences living in Japan. It was a pretty cool experience :). But don't expect to see Sista in Tokyo on there though. We planned to do an in-person interview in Alabama when I returned home for wedding planning in May-- but if you recall I went to Hawaii instead of Alabama and got married :).
Anyway, one of the many questions she asked me about residing in Japan was, "Is there a difference in the way you are treated in Japan than in the USA?" My answer, certainly and that's a good thing. If there's one thing I have become aware of during my time outside of the USA is American fascination with race. It's really interesting. And my being from Alabama definitely created a very deep and at times extreme awareness of race.
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