Good evening. Are you in the rain? Is it raining on you? Is it raining outside your window?
Well, it sure is raining outside mine.
Today’s rain here in Sapporo is something of a curious nature. It will rain for a few minutes and then stop -like it can’t make up it’s mind. Let me say now that, no, the rain doesn’t bother me.
You know how when for example, you are walking outside in a crowded city -and Sapporo is just that, a city of nearly two million people- as you walk amongst all these neat little bodies you have more in common than you think.
Even if you don’t want to think that you do! You are all walking around in the sweet big mixing pot that is the city itself. All of us scrambling around, stealing glances out of the corners of our eyes, or maybe trying to balance an umbrella on our fingertip. And then. . it rains.
Suddenly, in some sort of orchestrated slow motion kind of charade everyone swings up their umbrellas and pops them open.
And just like that you have taken part in your own categorized dance sequence.
What am I trying to get at here? Well, nothing really.
It’s just that when it rains, and if you pay attention all the umbrellas come to life by the hands of their beholders and you are suddenly connected to everyone else by a closer degree. And that is sharing the rain outside together.
Okay, enough of my silly thoughts.
This afternoon I had the gracious pleasure of taking off from my home town up in Japan northern, down to Sapporo. And here I am. Two days worth of orientation-ing ahead of me. Funny how the life of a young professional -and yes, we can all call ourselves that even if we are working a part time job or passing a career by as we work- takes on without waiting for you. Just that other day I was enjoying the makings of a hot summer in a nice western Canadian town. And now here I am about to snug on a dress shirt and pants, shave and head on out for a day of seminars. Life waits for no one. Best you go and make the most of it!
At least I’ll keep telling myself that. Telling myself that until I continue to make it happen!
It was rather fun on the way down on the bus. So many peoples and families camping. Right on the beach! Little coleman-like barbecue appliances all set up and lawn chairs all sprawled out. Kids splashing in the ocean water and yelling out into the wind. Not that I heard any of this I saw only about a second of it flash by and then I was falling asleep on the bus again.
BUT! Here is the point of the day. ラーメン。 If you can’t read that, don’t worry you don’t have to. It’s ramen. A few months ago Anthony Bourdain did a gracious special on his No Reservations show about Hokkaido. Long in short, I found the restaurant in Sapporo he ate noodles at. The only difference is that my bowl of king crab leg, Japanese scallop, sweet corn noodle soup had no butter on it. Unless it melted too fast because it was too hot outside..
I was the last person in. They were tidying up shop inside the small space awaiting what looked to be like a tour group of people. I ate. I died a little inside for it was so good. And then I got up and left -as a new man.
Today I embarked on a new journey. Well, one of many in fact. Today’s journey is one of Hokkaido’s ramen. I found out it’s more than just miso up here.
Tomorrow, I’ll be someone else. Scribbling notes and listening to advice about my new life in Japan brought to you by Hokkaido Association for JET.
What are you up to these days? Scribbling away at work, school? Are you busy making new friends? I ask again, is it raining where you are?
Either way, just remember it’s still summer. I still need to remember that just because I’m in a new town beginning a new life, and just because I might be very nearly the only Canadian where I’m now living -I’m still me.
Go find a nice cool drink and enjoy. I’m doing the same right now. Oh, and. . good night!
(Photo: ramen alley, Sapporo)
The Traveller's Typewriter 