Expansion blues

Sigh!

I haven't posted for a while now. It's definitely not because I had nothing to talk about, nor was it because I forgot. All I can say is, BIG THINGS ARE COMING!!!

Lately, thanks to your support and sales, I have been able to buy a domain to host all of the features Enlightize encompasses. That's the good part.

The not so good part is, it has been taking me a very long time get this site the way I want (you can check my progress at Enlightize.com and tell me what changes you think should be made. I value your feedback). Working on this site has taken away from editing videos, updating the blog, and other things. And, to top it all off, I will need to change my domain provider because the current one I have doesn't offer all of the capabilities I'd like. 

Well, while I am a little bummed out, I realize that this is a good problem to have; the ability to be able to make these types of choices. My previous goal was to have this site up and running, with at least 1 uploaded video by my birthday, March 18th, but considering I'll need to migrate this domain, it'll probably take 5-7 days just for that to go through. Wish me luck!

Thank you all for your support!

My Top 10 Impressions of Japan, so far

I've now been in Japan for one month. That's enough time for me to start getting the country, I think. Below I have compiled a list of my first impressions. I'll update it if anything else sticks out to me.

So far, I LOVE JAPAN!

*All of the following impressions are just experiences that I've experienced and have perceived. This does not make it so for the entire country, nor does it mean you will have the same experience as me should you visit Japan.

1. Mind your Own business

I still don't know if this is a good or bad thing, but everyone here minds their own business. It doesn't matter what you look like, how you're dressed, if you're sick and passing out (yes you read that right). No one, for the most part, will bother you. I've heard stories of elderly people falling, dropping all of their things, or dying in the subway, and no one coming to the aid of that person. One of my friends theorized that it's because helping the person would become a burden. If a person helps, they may be late to work (being late is unacceptable) and have to explain to their boss the situation (taking up valuable work time) and they also don't know how long the person in need will need help for. Interesting theory. 

2. Trying to Speak Japanese won't necessary allow the listener to understand you

For some reason, many Japanese are so fixated on your appearance and that you are not Japanese that, although you may be fluent in the language or at least know what you're talking about, they will insist that they don't understand. Only for a Japanese or Asian friend to say the exact same words you did to the Japanese clerk and for them to understand perfectly. hahahaha. This hasn't happened to me, but I saw this happen a few times. 

3. Food here is awesome!

I was about to say nothing I have eaten here so far has been bad, although, as I write this in a cafe, I made a mistake of ordering a mango lassi in a non-Indian restaurant. It's not that great. Everything else has been phenomenal. Food here can be pretty cheap, but because the portion sizes are so small, you may find yourself eating 2 or 3 of their meals (and paying the price).

4. Finally another country that knows to stick to one side on the escalator

After living in DC, I have become accustomed to standing on the left side of the elevator if I don't choose to walk all the way up. When I go to other cities or countries that do not do this, words can not describe how irrationally frustrated I get at the people who stand in the middle of the escalator. Luckily, Japan got the memo!

5. Saving Face > Racism

Since coming to Japan many friends at home have asked me whether I have experienced any racism or problems while here. So far, nope, I haven't! I feel like one reason (of many) why I haven't experienced any racism is because the Japanese culture is super polite. Usually when traveling, whether it's because of my skin color or how I carry myself differently from the locals, people usually stare or point out that I am not from that country. In Japan, while there are occasional stares (to which I give a friendly smile and mentally challenge the onlooker to an eye-staring contest), people consider it rude to stare and don't even look at me. Yes, I'll catch people looking at me from the corner of my eye, but the moment I turn my head in that person's direction, they change their gaze. I'm invisible! There have been a few instances where people are looking at my awesome dreadlocks and have even asked to touch them or how I do them. Also, since coming here, many foreigners have told me that the Japanese are two-faced. In order to not cause any problems, they'll be super polite and not voice their real opinion or disapproval of something or someone. While I have felt multiple times when people are not being genuine, since it isn't hurting me, I have no problem.

6. Everything is KAWAII (cute)

If there isn't a cute face on the trash can or mailbox, it's not Japanese! Everything must be cute! I'm not complaining. I love it! :D

7. Beware the Weeaboos!

Since I've been in Japan, the gaikokujin (foreigners) who I've met have fallen into 3 categories: Weeaboo, workaholics, or combination of the two. Let me explain: 

• Weeaboo - What is a weeaboo? A weeaboo is someone so obsessed with anime and Japan (because of anime) that they neglect their own culture and insist on acting "stereotypically" Japanese. I have found that usually these people have flocked to Japan after delving into anime because of social problems in their own country. These types are usually disappointed when they come to Japan and realize not everyone wears cosplay, nor will you see it out of certain areas (like Harajuku). Japan is just another "normal" country. 
• Workaholics - Japan is already known for its workaholics and high suicide rates because of work and school pressures. Add to this, foreigners who don't really have much interest in Japan, but only want to get ahead in their career. "Anime, what? Jrock, huh?" I have found that these types typically stay within the foreigner circle and don't venture out much to learn the culture or language of Japan. They're still pretty cool...if you can catch them outside of a networking event.
• Combination of the two - I'd like to think I fall into this category, but sometimes I'm not so sure. Generally these types are students (from Waseda or Temple) who work hard, but do like certain aspects of Japanese culture. While they work hard, they know how to play harder. 

8. Hai!

I loved this word the moment learned it when studying Japanese while younger. Hai (yes), can be used for everything. It can be used: to acknowledge someone's presence when they walk by you; when you want someone to notice that you've given something to them; when you want to voice that you understand; or, when you do actually mean "yes." It's an awesome word!

9. Japan can be pretty diverse too!

Before coming to Japan I had expected to be surrounded by a sea of east Asian faces. That's not necessarily the case here though, at least in Tokyo. I have met people of all colors, shapes, and sizes, who have been born in Japan and all classify as Japanese. I was even surprised to find many people of ethnically Nigerian decent who were born and raised in Japan and consider themselves Japanese. When you think about it, I guess it does make sense for a developed country like Japan to gather many immigrants and be diverse, although, as it is not what we see in the media, I was shocked.

10. Crowded City≠ Friends
Japan is awesome! There's plenty to see and do, although, because people are super polite and shy it is easy to feel lonely and hard to meet people - think of the movie Lost in Translation (you can find out how not to be lonely in Japan here). Having learned a lot when I first moved to DC by myself, I was luckily able to quickly make friends in order to combat this common problem many foreigners have when in Japan. 



Follow your Dreams!

Tokyo Tower

After becoming interested in Japan and its culture, I soon stumbled upon its cartoons (anime).

I remember how in many cartoons there was a tall red and white tower. It looked like the Eiffel Tower...but not. I wanted to go there too.

Coming to Japan I made it my mission to not only go to Shibuya, but to Tokyo Tower too!

And so, speaking with the people in the share house that I'm living in, we all decided to take a field trip. 

I FINALLY WENT TO TOKYO TOWER!!!!! 

We went in the late after noon so that we could see it during the daytime and at night. Unfortunately it was little cloudy, but that did not take away from me enjoying myself. 

It was beautiful.

Seeing my childhood dreams come true can only be described as magic. Every single day I am grateful for where I am and the boundless opportunities thee are.

What are you grateful for?

Follow your dreams.

The group.

View from Tokyo Tower.

Everyone is sleepy after our full day excursion.

Beautiful Harvest moon to end the day.

Making friends in Tokyo

Tokyo is made of vast amounts of people, technology, temples...and more people. With so many people it's a wonder why, or how, one could feel lonely in such a crowded city!

It's true though. Japan, more specifically Tokyo, is known for being a lonely city especially if you are not Japanese or Asian. I find that the movie, Lost in Translation, did a pretty accurate job of how being in Tokyo can feel when you don't know anyone and no one is open to meeting you.

The Japanese people, in general, are pretty shy, (ladies, if you fancy a Japanese guy, you'll more than likely have to make the first move) and for the most part will not interact with a foreigner unless: a) the foreigner makes the first move (which could be interpreted as rude and a disruption of the recipients "peace"); or b) you're in a class or situation with the Japanese person.

Please do not misunderstand. I do not think this is necessarily a bad thing!

This is just another cultural difference that one from the western world may have to encounter and learn to either deal with or work around.

I decided to work around it, and have added a few resources you could use (in the Resources for Travelers page) so that you could work around it too! :D

The other day, I joined a meet-up group where I helped make pizza, a traditional Japanese soup, and ate some amazing cheesecake. We first met at the subway station in Shinjuku and then took the Seibu train waaayyyyy out to nowhereland (I can't remember the name of the station) where there was a children's amusement park, and then we walked for about 30 minutes.

It was great!

I got to get outside of downtown Tokyo, meet a lot of people, experience a traditional Japanese house, and eat some delicious food!

We broke up into groups. One team made pizza using a traditional Japanese oven. My team made a traditional Japanese soup. And another team made mochi*. The organizer of the meet-up event used his chef skills to make delicious cheesecakes using the brick oven.

After 1-2 hours of making the different foods, we all came together and had a feast (with many drinks).

Later that day, I went to another meet-up event at Bar Speakeasy in Ōtsuka where I met many MANY more people.

I hope that if you come to Japan you will have a wonderful time experiencing the culture and meeting new people too!

Follow your dreams!

*A gelatinous Japanese rice cake that can be molded to incase various ingredients

Kotatsu: traditional Japanese table that has a heater underneath where people can warm their legs.

Traditional Japanese style bath.

Japanese Brick oven.

The soup is almost ready.

Mochi

THE SOUP WAS AWESOME!!

こんにちは! I'm in Japan!

I was in elementary school in a music program called H.A.M.S (Highly Abled Musical Students) when my love of Japan first began. We sang a song about Kyoto. It was my favorite.

At the same time, in another class, we were reading the story of Sadako and the 1,000 paper cranes she tried to make in order to make a wish. I began to research more about Japan by myself. The balance that Japan had between spirituality and modernity was what pulled me in. I fell in love.

Since that time I devoted myself to learning Japanese. I lived and breathed the culture. Hours on end, I taught myself how to think, speak, read, and write in Japanese. I watched Japanese movies and dramas. I labeled items around the house in Japanese. I soon discovered Japanese cartoons and began watching those as well. Everything to bring myself closer to the culture that I had learned about as a little girl.

When I felt I had hit a wall in learning Japanese, I found a Japanese language weekend school to help me with my learning. I had a multitude of pictures of Japan everywhere around me. One picture I especially liked, I posted as my background on my first Dell laptop. It was a picture of the Starbucks in Shibuya, Tokyo-Japan.

I can not describe how humble and grateful I am for everything that I've experienced since I left the United States. When I share my experiences with you all, it's never to brag, but to show you that I am making my dreams come true and that I am absolutely no different from you. I had low self-esteem growing up. I didn't think I was good enough for many things in my life. I always felt inferior. I always settled. It wasn't until I changed how I thought and how I spoke to myself that I realized, I can do anything. I am powerful. Best of all, everyone can accomplish all of their dreams. First, you just have to monitor how you think to yourself and stop internally putting yourself down. You are worthy! You are able! Everything is possible! Just know WHAT you want! Do your homework! Know and research as much as you can about what you want. Don't think about "how" you will get it, because I promise that will present itself to you later. 

Living abroad, becoming fluent in multiple languages, and owning my own business, were all my dreams since I was very little. Last year, I made these things my goals, and from my goals I made them my plans. At the end of last year and even now, somehow all of my goals have been happening one after the other.

Here I am in Tokyo, Japan. One of my oldest dreams has finally come true. I am truly grateful for this experience.

Follow your Dreams!


The picture I had of Shibuya was almost exactly similar to this one (but I took this pic this time).

Back in Cusco

And so, I'm back in Cusco.

I love it! I love seeing old faces and eating at my favorite restaurants (where many people still remember me and offer me discounts and free drinks. SCORE!).

I came back to Cusco because I fell in love with the city, the mountains, and its people. I also came back to Cusco for a few business opportunities that I wanted to pursue.  Since I've been back though, I've fallen into doing random business development projects.

Let me explain.

My first day back in Cusco, I went to one of my favorite restaurants, Mr. Soup. Butttt they were closed, so I went to another of my next favorite restaurants: Urpi.

There I met a girl who was new (considering I never saw her when I was living in Cusco earlier this year and I would go there with friends a few times a week). Long story short, we started hanging out, and the next day she introduced me to her friend who's a masseuse. Without me saying anything about my background, the masseuse started talking to me about how she needed help informing tourists of her services and asked if there was any information I knew of that could help. And so began another business development assignment in Cusco.

In the end, I gave her an online presence and a bit of advice on how to reach westerners. My values were tempted when she insisted on paying me. Fortunately for her, I have a rule against charging people in "developing" countries (the concept of a country being classified as "developed" is an argument that I'll save for another day).

After kicking myself for not taking the money and then buying a myself a brownie sundae for a job well-done, I'm glad to say that I am proud of myself. :)

Out with my new friend, Maria, from Urpi.

The Urpi's crew.

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On another note, while back in Cusco I have also had the opportunity to visit some of my favorite people in the whole world. I swear, just about every conversation I have with these people that I call my mentors, friends, and family, leaves me feeling enlightened and ready to take on the world 3x's over.

Upon my first day back and seeing my old colleagues, I was greeted with "we need you! We have a lot of work to do." hahahaha Of course, while I was only really expecting to visit, I am always ecstatic to work with Señor Francisco and Señora Nancy. I can't describe the pull I feel to help these people, but at the same time another country is calling me, and it has been calling me since I was little (you'll find out soon enough where).

I know this will not be the last I see of Señor Francisco, Señora Nancy, their family and everyone from the Coca Museum! I look forward to my next destination, as I think it will only allow me to help these wonderful people even more and make the products/services we offer, that more unique and profitable.

Follow your dreams!



Out for lunch.

Fruitillada.