caution: foreign cyclist

Yesterday I got pulled over by a cop.  On my bike.  For making a "suspicious U-turn."  I repeat, on my bike.

Hilarity ensued. 

The situation went something like this:

I go the wrong direction down an unfamiliar street on my way to meet Jeff.  I realize I am going the wrong way and turn around.  Someone behind me says konnichiwa.  I think he is simply saying hi to someone he knows on the street (people generally do not say hi or acknowledge others on the street unless they see someone they know).  Bike Cop 1 approaches from behind while his partner, Bike Cop 2 positions his bike across the sidewalk in front of me forcing me to stop. 

Bike Cop 1 begins speaking to me very quickly in a language I do not understand.  I tell him I don't understand Japanese (in Japanese).  He asks me my name (in Japanese) and I respond.  He asks me (in Japanese) if this is my bike.  I tell him it is.  He asks for my gaijin card (an ID for foreigners) which I produce.  Bike Cop 2 gets on the walkie talkie to confirm if this is in fact my bike.  By this time a crowd has gathered.

Bike Cop 1 continues to speak to me in Japanese.  Only words I understand in the five minute conversation: bike, turn, name. I call Jeff. 

Jeff speaks with Bike Cop 1 on the phone.  Words I understand from this conversation: turn, wife, I'm sorry.  He hands the phone back to me.

Jeff explains the suspicious turn situation.  Bike Cop 1 and Bike Cop 2 bow and apologize to me, commenting on the bike parking sticker from the gym on my bike.  We all pedal away confused. 

Mata ne,
Melissa

hunting and fishing and reading

Yesterday at the library I picked up "The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing"  Let's just say I was mislead by the title. 

Not that I thought that it would actually be a hunting and fishing guide, those of you who know me well can guess that those activities have little appeal to me.  I did go fishing once or twice with my dad in the Adirondaks when I was a kid.  All I remember is that fishing is boring and you have to touch worms. 

I went in under the assumption that this book would be in some way adventurous - or at least use interesting hunting and fishing metaphors to explain some aspect of the main character's life. Not so.  It was a hollow memoir of a shallowly crafted character's poor dating choices. 

The jacket reviews were outstanding.  Maybe I should have been tipped off not to trust them when the only publication produced by the quoted authors that I recognized was Cosmopolitan. 

On the bright side, I picked up the book yesterday and I'm finished with it already.  Not because I stayed up half the night hiding under the sheets with a flashlight reading as I was known to do with The Baby-sitter's Club books, but because it was deceivingly short.  It feels like a fairly substantial book, coming in just under 300 pages, but the typeface is large and there can not be more than 200 words on any page. 

It wasn't a terrible book, but a great work of literature it was not.  Well, moving on.  To another pillar of the Japanese literary world, Kenzaburo Oe and A Personal Matter.

And we did get to take a glorious bike ride around Ogikubo today followed by gnocci, broccoli, and spinach in white wine sauce for dinner.  Spring is springing!

Mata ne,
Melissa

well hello, miss march!

Where has the time gone?  It's hard to believe Jeff and I have been living in Tokyo for 4 months already!

The weather is beginning to change, and aside from February taking one last cheap shot at us on Sunday with nasty conditions for the marathon, I think we're in for a beautiful new season.  The trees are already beginning to blossom and I am very excited for what's to come. Something I've been looking forward to since before we crossed the pacific: the sakura.

Sakura (cherry blossoms) are an integral part of the identity of this country.  Flower viewing (hanami) is a sport in which all participate in the spring, sipping sake and enjoying bento under the trees.

The trees have just started to hint at the beauty that is to come, but it's enough to get me on the edge of my seat, ready to toast the season.

Mata ne,
Melissa

tokyo marathon: the after

Congratulations Jeff!!

Jeff ran a personal best today and broke 3 hours in the marathon (for those who aren't in the know, that's really really good)!!  He came in top 500 (Jeff insists on precision: 411th) out of about 32,000 runners - I'd say that's pretty awesome, but I'm not exactly objective.

To celebrate, I took him out to, in our opinion, the best Indian restaurant on the planet: New Koenji India (Koenji is the area where we live - original name, huh?).  Michael, Sara, and Aaron can all attest to both how great the food is and our big love for it is.

There's the winner enjoying his celebratory mango lassi.

Jeff has this tendency to wear a hat all day and then take it off just in time for me to take a picture...

You're all welcome to send your congratulations to Jeff on his job well done.  And congratulations to me on running around Tokyo all day in the rain cheering for him.  I'll let you all make your own decisions on who suffered more.

Race recap from the man himself coming as soon as he's able to walk down stairs again.  He went up the ladder to our loft and may be up there for a while. 

Mata ne,
Melissa

tokyo marathon: the before

Tomorrow is the Tokyo Marathon featuring my cute husband... and 30,000 other runners.  Running is really big in Japan.

We headed over to the expo the other day where, as you might imagine, there were a plethora of photo opportunities.  Jeff and I took advantage of several of them.

At the booth of the official photographers of the event.  Ever the fashion plate, he matched the background.










Tired after such a long run!

Hopefully that will be his time when he crosses the finish line for real!









Yet another finish line photo. I think this is supposed to be the time of the top finishers or something.


We also got our picture taken at the Nike purikura booth.  Japan has taken the art and fun of photo booths to a whole new level, and such entertainment is deemed appropriate for any and all occasions.



Tonight he's been preparing all his stuff for the morning.  We had a little fashion show.

His racing outfit...

With the 100 yen shop arm warmers (which may or may not be leg warmers) and hat he'll wear at the start if he's cold.  (He'll throw them away when he warms up.)






Ready to go with the poncho and rain pants (also from the 100 yen shop) he bought in case it's really nasty in the morning.  The forecast is still for rain. 



If you're interested, you can track his splits in real time (starting at 7:10 p.m. east coast time) by visiting here and entering his bib number: 22494.  He should be done about 10 p.m. 

Disclaimer: The website is all in Japanese. I have been assured that all one needs do is type those numbers in a box.  Let me know how it goes. 

He's gonna do great, I just know.  Now I just have to plan my cheering route!

Gambare, Jeff!!

Mata ne,
Melissa