October 29th is Republic Day, the day that Turkey officially became a republic and is taken about as seriously as I’ve ever seen a holiday taken.  The entire city is draped in skyscraper sized flags, and the Bosporus lights up with the largest fireworks show I’ve ever seen.  The banks of the straight were lined with people watching, but we got to just head up to the room.  Just an amazing way to end our time here.

As Brian explained, New Years in Tokyo was more quaint than crazy, and the entire holiday season wrapped up for us without a show of fireworks, real or metaphoric.  We definitely had fun times together, and those fun times definitely coincided with major holidays we’ve celebrated before, and there was something vaguely holiday-ish about those fun times, but trying to piece it all today into a coherent “holiday season” feels like trying to remember a hazy dream from a deep nap. 

Nonetheless, Tokyo continues to offer its unique brand of the quirky and random, and I thought we’d share some of the wisdom this city so far has given us.  Most of this wisdom has come in the form of signs and advertisements, giving us guidance, helpful advice, and food for thought. 

 

This message is clearly intended to preserve the peace and cleanliness of the subways.  No warning that such excessive drunkenness – a spilled beer, a stray shoe, a leg hanging awkwardly over the armrest – is self-destructive and detrimental health.  The briefcase, unceremoniously serving as a pillow, also suggests that the passed-out gentleman went straight from work to the bars.  Clearly, he should have thought of the other passengers, especially the poor man turned away in empathetic shame, and gone straight home to drink himself into oblivion.  Usually we say “When in Rome…” but I think in this case we should exercise a little more judgment before obeying the subway sign…

 

This one is more or less agreeable – who shouldn’t…do! more safety…?!?  The message sounds great – perhaps a candidate motto for 2009 for some people – but what on earth does it mean?  And what kind of safety should we do?  The young smiling girl certainly doesn’t offer any clues, nor does the disorienting corridor of insistent messages.  Are those lockers?  It’s quite mysterious, but we think this is a message we should all heed…

 

And finally, one of my personal favorites, overlooking a main strip in Shibuya, an imposing reminder to us all…

Once again, this is a message we can all get on board with.  But why is there a massive picture of a gorgeous woman?  She doesn’t quite seem sad or stern, and at first, we’re not really sure what she has to do with stopping STD’s.  Also, there’s no direct mention of a *method* for stopping STD’s – birth control, condoms, abstinence, regular testing?  Then, at the bottom, we find the sponsoring company, Soft On Demand.  As it turns out, it’s a pornography company, and you can scan the QR code on the bottom left to visit their website and order yourself some DVD’s.  Absolutely brilliant – once I pieced the implied message together, I found myself astounded that I haven’t seen this argument before.  So you rambunctious young adults, next time you feel like putting public health at risk by giving into your sexual urges, do the right thing – order pornography.  You and your partner, should s/he actually exist, will benefit from reduced exposure to dangerous STD’s.  [Soft On Demand is a staunch supporter of safe, do-it-yourself methods of dealing with your desires.  Note: clearly, no STD’s were possibly transmitted in the production of these films.] 

Well Tokyo, thanks for these helpful pieces of advice.  We’ll be sure to share some more precious wisdom from the strange signs all around Tokyo.

While the cast and crew land and adjust to Tokyo, I have set out on a trip of my own– a trip back home. I simply couldn’t allow my marriage to end without seeing Sonya to say goodbye, no matter how painful it would be. So, on December 5th, I began the first of 72 total hours of travel, by air and land, that would take me from Saigon to Minneapolis, MN; Davenport, IA; Santa Fe, NM; and ultimately, Tokyo. I have already made it to Santa Fe, where I’ll be able to spend Christmas with family. I regret that the cast and crew cannot enjoy the same privilege, but with every day home I grow more and more ready to take on Tokyo and the world.

In honor of Thanksgiving, the website will be relatively silent for a couple days. People will be home with their families, enjoying generous heaps of turkey with tart cranberry sauce, mixed with gravy overflowing from mashed potatoes, followed by pumpkin…*sobbing*…after deep sleep, people will awake to flood the stores and their sales, then enjoy a relaxing weekend together with loved ones.

We can’t deny it – we miss our families terribly. I miss the rich smells of Thanksgiving cooking, the silky drowsiness of wine and turkey, the bite of cold on a post-dinner walk. One consequence of our travels is that we experience these moments in abstentia.

I’d like to dedicate this post to the family that I’m missing.

My Mom and my “little brother” James, relaxing in Tahoe during my last days in California.

In order from left to right: my handsome “little brother” James, my energetic step-brother Jonathan, some stray moron, my witty step-mother Carrie, and my space-cadet Dad.

Here’s some Thanksgiving wishes, from Vietnam…

-Matt

Thanksgiving has never been a big tradition in my family– at least not in the way that I experienced it through my Midwestern friends. This day was always about spending time at home with family; eating a dinner that was only a little larger than our typically bountiful meals; and spending extra time at the table. This year has been more spartan for me than any before it. I have only thought of the holiday occasionally, and taught English for five hours without mentioning it once. But in the spirit of the day, I have something special to be thankful for this year.

This year, of all years, I’ll be going home for Christmas. Despite the circumstances that draw me home, I count myself immensely lucky to have this privilege. Lucky to have such a warm and inviting home and family waiting for me at the end of this. Lucky to be able to see good friends.

Most of all though– and I try to talk about this as little as possible around the guys– I’m lucky that in a week, I’ll be eating a double quarter-pounder with cheese in my perfectly air conditioned car, and obeying traffic laws for the first time in months. I’ve never looked forward to driving through Nebraska so much.

-Rob