Reluctant Ride

The rain fell in sporadic bursts as the car sped down the highway in silence. I sat in the backseat calculating how much longer it would be until we reached the city.

“How many times have you done this?” asked one of the men in front. His uniform identified him as some kind of electrical engineer and his question came with a cloud of cigarette smoke that hovered in the closed car air.

“This is my second time hitch hiking to Fukuoka,” I said in a shallow breath trying to spare my lungs the poisonous air. “But I went on a week long hitch hike trip over Golden Week.”

A gruff acknowledgement sound was his only response and then smoky silence fell over the car once more.

There were four of us in the company car…three Japanese engineers, each with his own smoking cigarette, and me, a foolish foreigner out for another hitch hike (why pay for the train when the car ride is free?). I’d met them in Beppu on a rainy Friday evening when drivers were few. I’d talked to several prospects, but none were heading exactly to my destination and I was on the verge of giving up when suddenly their group walked by and casually said, “Okay, let’s go.”

I got in the car and initiated some polite introductory conversation only to be met with minimum responses. I quickly realized they were in typical Japanese working man mode: sit, smoke, sleep…do not speak. The man who had invited me into the car asked me a few questions, but soon retreated into his solitary calm. Being accustomed to this type of behavior, I opted to join them and found myself asleep along with the 2 other passengers. I will admit that just before I drifted off to sleep I thought, “I’m riding at night in a rain storm with 3 strange men. No one knows where I am and they could be going anywhere. I better be ready to aim for the eyes and groin.”

We were silent all the way into the city center where upon the “talkative” man said “Is anywhere okay to drop you off?” I told them, “Sure, I can find my way” and was released near the area I wanted to be in.

We parted ways after a 2 hour car ride with me saying, “Thank you so much! Please have a good night!” and them saying a flat, “OK.”

Out of the dozens of rides I’ve taken, this one was the most uncomfortable…but has not deterred me from hitch hiking in Japan. I still love the experience of meeting random people on the road and taking a ride in their car. It’s the explorer part of me getting fed…and writer part of me getting new material. And the cheapskate part of me saving a couple thousand yen.

This inspired me!

This video is an amazing experience...and demonstrates a key point in life: dancing is AWESOME and FUN and makes you feel good (and possibly can unite the world).

Enjoy it! And travel!

Paper companion

(a picture from my day)

I spent an entire day reading a novel. This is something I never do. I like to savor novels…like really good pudding…taking small bites and putting down the spoon/novel before moving on to the next taste. The story becomes a companion to my life and I think about the characters and themes over the course of weeks sometimes. It’s a relaxing and engrossing way to experience a really good book because your moving and changing life parallel the moving and changing story and thus you’re able to deal with the characters in different moods and mindsets. Also, since I live in a place where English books can be in short supply, it’s a great way to ration them.

My day started off by the sea…a place I naturally seek out in summer. I sat on the familiar giant concrete barriers found all over the Japanese coast and read in the shade while little adorable kids screamed in the water. I then moved on to a fishing port where dozens of small boats were docked and creaked in the waves. Next was the McDonald’s parking lot where I began to think, “This is weird…it’s Saturday evening and I’m reading a book in my car in a parking lot.” Finally I ended inside the McDonald’s…or rather, on the second floor porch overlooking the mountains and coast line of Beppu…where young people chatted and smoked around me as I dug into the final chapters of the book.

I read from about 11am to 11pm with breaks scattered throughout for food, thoughts, and naps. I covered hundreds of pages in a day completely filled with lovely scenery, a compelling story, and fast food. I feel calm and inspired now…having spent the day in inward communing and peace.

And I also feel really ready for my crazy week in Tokyo next week when I finally get some vacation time!!! Woot woot! Party time, yo! ;)