22nd November 2007
(Hell's bells - this post got lost amongst a heap I did recently and I forgot to press the Publish button. DUH!)
So, we've been here exactly a year now. Tim keeps asking "do you remember what we were doing one year ago today?"
Frankly, no! I've been so busy that I can barely remember what I did last week, let alone a year ago.
Naturally I remember the excitement and thrill of moving to Tokyo. I also remember the slight sense of disappointment upon seeing the rather dull buildings here, when I expected to see dramatically designed tower blocks similar to Hong Kong.
My freelance writing work has gone from strength to strength, so this is very satisfactory.
Of course, there's been a steep learning curve involved in day to day life, but unlike many people, I am extremely self-sufficient, well-used to travelling in unusual countries and more than happy to be in a very foreign country. In fact, I'm so loathe to ask for help that our liaison officer contacted me once to find out if I was OK because I hadn't asked her loads of questions! It seems that most other "spouses" are extremely needy and want everything handed to them on a plate.
Actually, it's not that I'm opposed to asking for help – far from it – it just doesn't even occur to me most of the time. I just get on with it.
Tim is thoroughly enjoying his new job and accompanying responsibilities; Rhiannon is settling in fine, with just a few school hiccups. But I'm confident this is just the fact that it's school, rather than THIS school. She doesn't particularly miss her friends in the UK and is making lots more here.
In fact, I've made more new friends in one year here in Tokyo than I did in the entire 6 years I lived in Northampton. Of course, this is a lot to do with the expat culture, which in such a foreign land as Japan, is very close. Sometimes too close – ie cliquey – but that bitchy little side of people has no bearing on my life, that's for sure!
I am aware that I am writing this in long-distant hindsight with rose-tinted spectacles. Obviously there were day to day pressures and not-such-good times, but they were obviously of little importance as I can't remember them at the moment!
So, with the exception of losing my lovely cat, Inti, I've had a wonderful first year.
