S.R. Crawford's Blog, page 7

Mondays

I feel sorry for Mondays. Most people shiver at the mere thought of it. Call it by any other name and we’d still fear it, though. This horrid day that comes to steal our freedom away. The working class and lower middle class chained to machines to make our bread. Ever chasing, never grasping.

As they say, “as soon as I make ends meet, someone moves the ends.”

What cruelty is that? We work hard, promised a reward that for most never comes. Our money goes in one pocket and out another. And they blame the working class for not knowing better. For not doing better. Make more money! Work harder! Save better! But you never taught us how. You made sure of it. Kept those insider secrets for the middle and upper class. Wouldn’t want to acknowledge and interrupt the poverty cycle, right? Wouldn’t want to oversaturate the “better” classes.

No. Silly us!

And so we go on fearing Monday. Knowing we have an infinite amount of them left. Even retirement isn’t a luxury because we’re so downtrodden once we get there that we can’t enjoy it. Not truly. And what if your pension isn’t enough? What if politicians tax it all? What if the company holding your money goes bankrupt? There’s no guarantee of that elusive freedom ever truly being yours.

Monday through Friday we cry for the weekend. The weekend comes and we’re too tired to live any sort of life. Then Monday comes too quickly and we beg for the weekend again.

What a toxic cycle. And we’re all brainwashed into thinking it’s natural. It’s right. There’s nothing right about this.

I want to love Mondays. I want to love every day of my blessed week. I want to wake each day with a smile on my face, knowing my life is mine. That there are no chains on me.

Sincerely,

S. xx

Day’s Gone Astray

I hate days like this. Days when everything seems to go wrong. Nothing major. No one has died and you still have a house, but all the little things fall over like dominoes and you can’t stack them back up. You feel powerless and defeated. It’s irritating. Like a gnat at your ear. I just want to get things done, things to be accomplished, but I’m halted. Hands tied.

And it’s exhausting because you have these plans for things, not even grand plans, and yet the universe laughs in your face. I know I have a poor relationship with productivity but damn it, I just wanted something done! Anything of value!

Perhaps that’s the issue. Where I place my value. What counts as accomplishment. What counts as productive.

As a writer, I think this is even worse for me. I want to always be creating something. I need tangible evidence, through words on a page, that I haven’t wasted time. Hence I’m here, now. My novel isn’t working so I’ve found some refuge here. A place I can always crawl back to and share my feelings when nothing else is working.

Is this productive?

What’s unproductive is wallowing in the upset. Boo hoo my day didn’t go to plan. That’s unproductive. It won’t change the events of the day. It won’t bring back morning for me to start all over again. So the books I’m reading aren’t interesting me enough. So my novel ideas are still a bit unstructured and scary. So the internet isn’t working. So the customer service lady was rude to me. So it’s hot and I can’t get comfortable. So my brain is a bit scatty.

There are much worse things.

Tomorrow is a new day, and all that. I’ll try again. You’ll try again. And maybe the universe is done laughing.

Sincerely,

S. xx

Summer challenge

This summer, I was to share something every day. It doesn’t have to be long or good, it just needs to exist. I want this to do a few things, really. Firstly, it opens the floodgates, as it were, to allow my creativity to flow. Secondly, it empties my mind. And thirdly, it makes it a little less scarier when I get down to writing my novels. It removes some pressure.

What will I write about? Anything and everything. I’m going for an unedited stream of consciousness style. My thought and feelings and any musings just pushed out into the world. I like this style of writing a lot, and so this could be very fun and awaken something in me for my other projects.

This summer, I’m playing with genre and the style of my writing. It’s exciting but also nerve-wracking. For a few years, I’ve wondered if maybe standard fantasy novels aren’t my thing anymore. So it’s about time I tested that theory and found out.

Either way, this summer I want to write. I want to play with my voice. I want to set a new standard. I was to push my limits. I want to see what I’m capable and not waste the free days. Soon September will come and I’ll back at work. So the real work, the real fun, begins now.

So sorry if your inbox becomes full! The posts will be Free-form and vary in length and content. You never know, you may enjoy some. I hope you do!

Speak to you tomorrow,

S. xx

Ask Twice

How many times does life need to be put into perspective before I see differently? Why does the lens shift only momentarily before I’m back to the same wonky view?

Because life is short. And we say this all the time but it never sticks for long enough. Why does it never stick? And life is so tough. Through all the beauty, there’s so much inevitable pain. We’re all going to hurt. We’re all going to fail, or watch someone in pain, or get sick, or watch someone get sick, or face death or watch someone die.

I’ve been confronted with mortality this year. Reality, vulnerability, the truth of fragility. People around me suffering; stories of illness and early deaths. People who shouldn’t have died when they did. People who were so strong and solid and now are weak and dependent. Life is cruel.

And fuck, why do we always say we’re fine when we’re not?

Why did we build a society where it’s not normal to say you’re having a shit time? Where people get uncomfortable because you said something painful and honest instead of another shallow joke. England lost the Euros. There’s another TikTok trend. That celebrity or this one got divorced again because they cheated.

It’s all just numbing. It’s hiding from the truth. It’s shallow connection breeding loneliness and isolation.

We’re all hurting but we’re too afraid to say so. And then the worst thing happens: we suffer alone. We keep in the shadows when light is so readily available. And we say, hey, you can tell me anything but how many of us truly open our arms to other people’s hurt? How many of us ask twice? How are you? How are you really?

I’m tired. No, it’s not the go to sleep early kind of tired but a soul-deep tired. A tiredness that comes when you felt disappointed in life. Disappointed that life hasn’t been kind in a while. And it’s not necessarily a lack of kindness towards me. The hurt and the suffering is adjacent to me but it’s in my eye line. It’s in my inner circle. And sometimes that’s worse, you know? I can face my own hurt. I’m good at speaking out. I’ve sadly become good at carrying disappointment. But when someone else is unfairly tortured, you feel powerless. You’re hurting for them and you feel powerless to change it.

There’s so much we can’t control in this world. So many cruel things that happen to good people. So many situations we get thrust into and don’t know how to navigate our way out. And it sucks. It fucking sucks.

Perhaps all we can do is ask twice. All we can do is actively try to shift our perspectives back to what counts. Not to be pulled into the drama. Not to be pulled into the things that don’t matter like a bad hair day or a blog post with no views. Not to be pulled into the lies we tell ourselves.

And yeah, England lost the Euros final and there’s another TikTok trend. There’s nothing wrong with indulging in that. But lift your head every once in a while, because there might be someone, or something, that needs your attention more.

Sincerely,

S. xx

Different Ways to Tell Your Story

I have been thinking a lot about the writing process, but I haven’t ever made a list or truly thought about different ways to tell the story itself. This is the style, the voice, the angle, the narration of the story. I’m thinking about this in the hope of making the story more unique and fun to write, while also being more fun to read because it’s a breath of fresh air – amidst the cut and copy linear style of one main character going through the motions in a story. If you, too, are looking to add some spice to your story, this post is for you!

Here are just some of my ideas for how to write your story in a potentially different way:

A funny voiceAn unreliable narrator Non-linear / out of chronological orderMultiple P.O.V. – and they’re different agesStart with the endHave a child main character but it’s an adult novel so the themes and tone is still adult From the villain’s perspective From the anti-hero’s perspective Told from the perspective of a pet or an inanimate object of significanceFlicking between real and imaginary /fantasyPlay with magical realism so no one knows what’s trueMain character dies halfway through and the P.O.V. switchesTell the reader that a character dies at the endPerspective of a ghost Use no punctuation throughout (like Ali Smith has done before) Play with typography (how the text is presented on the page) Write the same chapter but from another character’s perspectiveSomeone’s thoughts and recalling of events while in a coma Written in journal entries Written in letters to someoneWritten in slang or text format Snippets of poetry or prose (especially if the main character is a creative type) Draw images to go along with itWritten in all dialogue for the first draftUse a different language – maybe make up your own language

Basically, when you have your idea ready, ask yourself which angle you could come from to make it a little more interesting to tell and read. There’s not just one way to tell a story, and actually, it could be very fun and pivotal for your story to tell it from an unexpected point of view. Why not try it out?!

Happy writing! Enjoy the process by spicing things up, where possible!

Sincerely,

S. xx

The Power of the Old School Writing Process

I’ve decided to try a write in a notebook this summer and it made me think, have some of us started to over-complicate the writing process? When we think about the greats – King, Bradbury, Gaiman and the like – they wrote on typewriters and notebooks. They didn’t have fast internet to rely on, or fancy computers (in the beginning of their careers). They didn’t have spellcheck and the ability to edit as they went with a simple click, highlight and delete. They just had raw materials, and maybe that’s a good thing.

There’s a beauty in simplicity. There’s a reason there’s been a boom in minimalism and anti-capitalism lately. People are seeking the ease and peace of mind that comes with less. Maybe there’s something to that with our writing, too.

I’ve personally worried about writing long drafts, only to scrap the whole idea after. It’s exhausting and a scary cycle to be stuck in. So is the cycle of ideas over follow-through. Another big one is waiting for something grand, like the right place, or the right equipment, or some fancy new process, when you could just get down to writing!

And back in the day, they didn’t have all these labels and categories and people fighting over which way is better…

Pantser versus plotter

Scrivener versus Word or Google Docs

Timed sprints versus writing marathons

Fast drafts versus slow drafts

Edit as you go or always push to the end

Spreadsheets versus winging it

Writing routines versus waiting for inspiration

And so on…

I’m wondering if embracing the simple is what I need. I don’t need timers. I don’t need inspiration. I don’t need my computer or laptop or an iPad (I was thinking of buying one to help me write more often). Instead, go old school. Notepad and pen, and just free write. It’s what I did as a kid, thirsty for world-building and fast-paced stories. It’s how I built built my fantasy series that I self-published in early adulthood. Maybe there’s something to drafting this way…

Why writing in a notebook is usefulFocus better because you’re not on a computer with the Internet to distract youCan take your time; may write with more depthDon’t worry about word count or get caught up on how far you are When you type it up, you’re technically (and easily) able to edit as you go so the first draft on computer is neater and actually becomes the second draftCan easily whip it out anywhere and continue Something quite romantic and idyllic about it… nice aesthetic to itBe more in touch with your thoughts and feelings while doing it Feels nostalgicLess of a barrier to start (like setting up the computer, getting the file open, potentially syncing from other devices, checking the Internet…)Don’t have to worry about screen time or eye damage from screens

Of course, there’s the negatives: wrist and hand pain, writing slowly = less words, and the like. But the benefits outweigh the negatives for me. I need to give it a try.

Plus, my expectations for my writing can be simpler: at least one page a day. That’s very doable. I can even do that while the dinner is cooking or the tv is on. I can do that any time of the day, too, because it’s not a screen affecting my eyes. It’s just so much simpler. And I think I need simple right now.

If you feel too in your head with your writing process right now, why not try going old school? Cut the fluff and fancy stuff and just get out your notebook. Just write and see what happens there!

Happy writing, friends.

Sincerely,

S. xx

What if you and the story just aren’t connecting?

Speaking with a friend and fellow writer, I’ve finally summed up my issue with my writing at the moment. Connection. Sometimes, a story is great. It works. Or it has narrative promise, strong characters and fits the genre and industry well. But sometimes, you still don’t connect with the story yourself. This is a problem because you may feel apathy towards the story. You may not want to do the editing needed to make it stronger. You may not want to spend time with it. And that’s okay, but it is hard to accept.

What do you do in that situation? I’m still working on that. But first…

Why you may not connect with your story

Personally, I have had many story ideas lately. Stories that could work narratively or thematically. Stories that have excited me and I’ve created worlds and magic systems for them. But sometimes, even when writing to the end of the first draft at 85k+ words, it still isn’t the right story.

It could be that the story isn’t one you’re meant to tell right now.

A story that’s not meant for you at all.

A story that doesn’t excite you as much as you thought it would.

A story that you need more time to connect deeper with.

A story that works on some levels for you, but not others.

A story with themes or characters that you don’t connect with right now.

And it could also be you: you’re not ready, willing, or in the right place, etc.

There are many reasons why you may lack that spark with a story. Think of your creative works as dating. Some projects, like some people, will not be right for you, even if you initially liked them. Some projects, like people, will impress and excite you, at first, only for the spark to fade. And some projects, like the rare person, will come along and that connection will last. That magic, that love, will continue to bloom.

That’s what I’m waiting for and seeking.

What to do when you’re not connecting with your story

For now, I am trying out speed dating! Writing faster, simpler drafts or working on short stories to keep up the habit and get through ideas without putting too much energy into long drafts, only to lose connection as I go. I don’t want to stop writing altogether. You have to be in the creativity, just like you need to be open to dating, before “the one” comes along!

Of course, like with a relationship, there are ways to try to reconnect or deepen the connection that you may want to try with your story.

Here are some ideas to help you connect with your story again:

Spend time getting to know your characters betterAsk yourself what you want from a story right now, then see if your current W.I.P ticks those boxes and see if you can add/shift some things to suit this listTake a break from your W.I.P. to see if you miss it!Revisit why you started this story in the first place; what originally excited you about itMake a list of the things you’ve enjoyed in the books you’ve read and the films and TV shows you’ve watched, and then see if your story has these elements; adjust accordinglyInterview your characters as if they were real people and don’t force the answers, let them come through naturallyWrite short stories/reflections/pieces set in your story world, either following the same characters or other ones; this deepens the world and frees you up to explore without consequence

Some things I’m considering is: genre, drafting process, and voice. Am I writing the genre I truly want to write? Is the setting working for me? Am I drafting too longhand, when I need to go shorter and more simple at first? Am I imitating other voices instead of uncovering and enjoying my own?

Creativity should be about playfulness. Experimentation and daring. If something isn’t working, try something else! It’s that simple, yet we love to complicate things.

I am reminding myself that you can’t always connect as deeply with a story as you’d like. Sometimes, that connection fades and comes back later. Sometimes, it’s just not meant to be. Write anyway. Write something new. Write what feels good and right. Don’t waste too much time on projects that haven’t felt good for a long time – usually, that’s a sign that something isn’t right.

Good luck and happy writing this summer!

Sincerely,

S. xx

What My Japan Trip Meant for Me

People use the term “changed my life” and “life-changing” too lightly. This Japan trip was only 10 days of my life, can I say it was life-changing? I guess that remains to be seen. But I know for sure that I am changed having gone. That it meant so much to me. That I’ve unlocked a new world and a new perspective because of this trip. I have dreamt of this place as if it’s some ethereal, other world for over a decade. I’ve loved their language since I watched Pokémon and Dragon Ball as a kid after school. Naturally, to finally make my dream come true and see and hear and be around the things I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to access…that’s truly special. That’s once in a lifetime.

Firstly, let’s talk about food. In my last post I listed the foods I ate in Japan, which were some new experiences and some new takes on well-known food. Everything was delicious either way! This is a big deal for me especially because I haven’t always had a good relationship with food. I will forever be grateful for the experience and the hands that made the food, but most importantly perhaps proud of how far I’ve come to even try the foods! The old me never would have dared. And I initiated most of the food experiences, not my husband. Go me! This is a massive step forward in my confidence and I can’t wait to go back and try even more (sadly we didn’t get around to trying sushi there, blasphemous, I know!).

Next I want to talk about cultural practices. It feels weird to go on a trip and partake in the cultural activities of that place as an outsider, but to me, it’s also important. The difference, perhaps, is how you do it. Why you do it. I think having some understanding going into the cultural practice is important so that you are respectful. Doing something “for the crack of it” and just “having a laugh in a kimono” is a bit icky for me, personally. Instead, wearing one the right way put on by experts who you respect and listen to and don’t make a joke of it, is how to do it well. Otherwise, it’s disrespectful and comes from a place of “I’m a tourist and I want cool photos and a cool story and to just do cool things” rather than, “I’ve heard about this lovely cultural tradition that sounds so honourable and interesting and I would love to learn more and see how it feels”. Maybe I’m overthinking it, but I think there are a lot of disrespectful tourists out there giving other well-meaning tourists a bad name. For example, some places in Japan have been cut off from tourists because of how they treat the areas. The Geisha district of Gion comes to mind, as tourists have been rude and cruel to geisha.

Be respectful! Be kind!

Anyway, rant over. The tea ceremony and kimono wearing experience was beautiful and informative. We learned all about the process for matcha tea making and the reason for it. That samurai would meet for tea and leave all weapons outside the room. How you show the decoration/design of your tea bowl to the host and other guests and they admire every detail, turning it left and right, all in silent gestures. How you slurp the bubbles at the end as a sign of appreciation for your tea. There is no talking during the ceremony, just bowing for respect and the displaying of the artwork on the bowls (we could talk, though, as she was of course explaining everything to us).

Our ceremony host, Sayo, also taught us the concepts of “Ichi go, ichi e” meaning, “one moment, one opportunity”. Throughout the trip, Patrick and I would reference this to remind us to take the chance and appreciate a moment while we have it. She also taught us “wa kei sei jaku” meaning “harmony, respect, purity and tranquility”, the etiquette of which and essentials for tea ceremonies and life. It was a lovely touch for her to teach us these concepts to add to our experience. I really want to know more about Japanese etiquette and teachings, alongside Shintoism and Buddhist influences to their culture.

The next thing I want to talk about is travel as a goal. For a long time, I lamented all the years wasted not travelling. I still feel a bit behind my peers in this way, but I also feel like it’s okay to slow down now. I don’t need to go backpacking across Asia and Europe and South America. I don’t need to hurry off to the next place. I don’t need to feel like I’ve wasted my life if I haven’t visited over 50 countries. Do I want to experience great things and learn about the world? Absolutely. Does that mean rushing onto planes, stressing myself out, forcing things that aren’t meant for me, or making things be something they’re not. No! The reason Japan was so amazing was because it was deeply wanted. It was well-planned. It was meant for us. Greece last year was a rushed holiday that I wanted because I was jealous that everyone else was going away. That’s no reason to do something! I want to be more considered and intentional about my travel decisions and actions, in general. That’s all. And I will definitely read books around the world and films around the world to learn and find places I genuinely want to go because I’ve experienced it in an art form first. I want to want to go so much, that the fears and difficulty is worth the effort, just like it was for Japan.

I am not a religious person. I have no formal faith. Japan has two major religions: Shintoism and Buddhism. Both really inspire me. I like their values and practices. I consider myself a spiritual person, because I like to be meditative, introspective, and mindful. I like to do yoga and meditate for the deeper meaning and experience of the practices. I use words like “the universe” and believe in signs and symbols. I guess I don’t have a solid faith to point to, but I do have a faith. I have beliefs. I trust in things I can’t see or prove. I like that the Japanese seem to appreciate and honour nature, all living beings and respecting the world. That spirits exist all around us and should be respected – I love that. I won’t pretend to know the ins and outs of Shintoism, but the togetherness and honouring I saw while out there was very inspiring. I’m not saying I’m converting to a religion, but I do want to have things that are sacred to me. I don’t want to just say I care about things but then not show it. I want everyday ways of honouring the things that are important to me. To have practices that align and connect me to a deeper purpose.

The language is, of course, a big factor for me. I learned ab initio Japanese when I was 16-18. I taught myself random phrases from anime before that! I tried to keep up my Japanese years after that, too. But sadly, when something isn’t used, your mind forgets it. My husband and I started to do Duolingo Japanese once we booked our trip. I’m now on day 124 of my streak! It’s so fun to dedicate time to actually learn a language before you visit a place. It enriches the experience. I was told by two Japanese people that my pronunciation was good! My husband said I had so much confidence on the trip, approaching people and ordering things without hesitation. I love that for me. I love that I didn’t get scared or forget. It was empowering to speak in their tongue (at least to try) rather than forcing them to speak in mine. We sort of met in the middle instead, and that’s just wonderful.

Now that’s respect. And it built bridges between us.

Where and how I live has been on my mind. We made jokes about wanting to move to Japan. I don’t think we would (never say never…) but we really did take home this dissatisfaction with where we live. The lack of ingredients for the Japanese recipes. We are now looking for ways to make the recipes work! Ways to source the ingredients. Our first day back, we tried to make Mille crepe which we tried in Japan for the first time. We planned to eat Okonomoyaki, yakiudon and tonkatsu! We expanded our palette and don’t want to go back. We want to keep practicing with chopsticks. We want to keep the zen concepts in mind. We want to ensure we return to Japan to learn even more. That even if we don’t move there, or spend months there at a time, that even when we just have 10 days we still use them to the fullest.

It was not a cheap trip. I feel lucky to have been able to go. I was genuinely worried I wouldn’t ever be able to afford to go. We are blessed. I am grateful. We won’t tell you the exact figures, but let’s say it was more than £5,000 for the both of us for 10 days (technically 9) and that includes everything. If you can afford this (we spread the cost across months, didn’t buy everything at once!), then we really recommend it. It’s worth the money.

I just adore the little things about the way Japan/the cities were run: umbrellas put out when it rains, plastic covers for umbrellas when you enter stores and restaurants, the jingle of vending machines and crossings, diagonal crossings, vending machines everywhere, bowing in thanks, great public transport systems that are clean and efficient and more. I wish my country took on more of these things.

There’s still so much more I could say about this trip, but for now, I’ll leave it here. I’m sure I will share more at another time or interwoven into my thoughts, feelings, and reflections throughout the year. Thank you for reading. Have you been to Japan? Would you like to? Let me know in the comments!

Sayonara,

S. xx

Reminders for every time I plan to write

Today I wanted to share a list of things I nearly always have to remind myself before I write. Sometimes we have routines or even just a burst of energy and a desire to write, but then the fear or resistance sets in. Like we’re being tortured by this desire that one moment ago brought us joy! It’s not just me, right?

Here are the things I remind myself so that I can remove the barriers and just start writing with less pressure:

This is a first draft, it’s not supposed to be good yetI can skip to the scene I want to write; I don’t need to fill in every gap right nowNo one will judge this yet, it literally doesn’t matter at all what I write right nowIf I can’t work on my big project, just write something else – just writeThis is supposed to be fun…stop ruining it!All I have to do is write something, just 100-250 words (that’s one page of the average book)This story has to mean something to me, first – don’t worry about how it will be received by others right nowDo this now, and reward yourself/ relax laterI can write it however I want (laptop, computer, notebook, slowly, quickly, literary and deep, silly or plain…) but I just have to write itYou’ve worked for someone else this week, now it’s time to show up for the thing you love the most and would much rather be doing every day

I hope some of these little reminders help you to get writing today! Good luck and happy writing this Sunday

Sincerely,

S. xx

Japan Trip Reflection – cultural differences and the beauty of Japanese life

I can’t believe the trip of a lifetime has come and gone already. I have struggled with how to write this blog post. Where do you even begin with such a life-changing, awe-inspiring trip? I don’t want to just tell you what we did – my husband will be uploading YouTube videos and you can check out my Instagram for photos of everything. The trip was more than what we did. Anyone and everyone could do cool things, right? It would be easy to just be a tourist and that’s it.

But this trip meant more to me than that.

I mentioned in my last post that Japan was my dream destination. It has been a long time coming. 18 year old me has been brought to life having gone and spoken the language she learned back then. I hope I made her proud.

So what is this post about? I want to tell you about why it was so special. I want to highlight the details, the intricate things that made Japan so unique and special to me.

Respect

You can’t mention Japanese culture without mentioning respect, for in a nutshell, that is what they are: respectful people. The cultural custom of bowing just felt right to me. To thank someone and bow slightly, it was natural and appropriate. The Japanese don’t tend to smile at strangers in the street, like we sometimes do, but bowing to a stranger in thanks or to say excuse me “sumimasen” is normal. I loved it!

I want to bring this idea of respect and honouring one another back home with me. We needn’t know one another’s names or lifestyles to simply respect one another by default.

The Japanese respect one another’s peace and space, too. It is frowned upon to speak, eat or drink on public transport. The trains and underground were near silent! Can you imagine?! You’re also not supposed to eat and walk in Japan. In fact, there aren’t many or any bins around! You’re expected to eat while sitting down and hold onto your rubbish. There’s often recycling bins by vending machines (which are everywhere!) and in convenience stores (konbini), but other than that, it was a hard job to find a place for your trash. You should respect the area you’re in by not littering or eating messily around other people, simple.

We did a traditional tea ceremony while out there, making our own matcha tea and following the customs. We were taught to bow low to our host and how to drink the tea. There is a step by step process that you follow for this ceremony, each with its own purpose and meaning. It’s beautiful. It makes you appreciate the people you’re with and the things you’re consuming instead of just rushing and not having a full experience.

Shame I hate the taste of matcha! So bitter!!

Systems

As I said, one thing I loved is the process of the tea ceremony. This is a system. A flow. From displaying the artwork of your tea bowl to which hand you hold it in, they think of every detail. One thing Japan does right is its systems. Everyone and everything has a purpose and a place to make things run smoothly. Street cleaners ensuring everywhere in the already pristine place is spotless. Traffic controllers; men standing with lit sticks to manoeuvre you around any roadworks or cars pulling out (here, they just let you get hit!). Trains running often and always on time! Crosswalks that go diagonally as well! Like how is this not a thing everywhere? It makes so much sense! The famous Shibuya Crossing was a scramble but it was still a well-made scramble crossing that somehow works!

There are vending machines everywhere, as I said, alongside konbini which makes the cities very accessible and easy to navigate. You never went thirsty. Our first hotel had vending machines with real food as well, like ramen and Onigiri and waffles, which was exciting and unique. They also do a little jingle when you buy things! A lot of things jingle, too, like the crossings and when you pay in stores.

The signs are fascinating too. A sign on a pillar stating “No Party”, the times when it’s allowed to smoke in the street, and pretty toilet signs.

There were quite a few buildings had set smoking rooms and areas, which I found interesting. Clearly there’s a big smoking culture there, but they do it in a respectful way that just makes so much sense! They think of what people need and provide it, like a baby seat inside women’s cubicles so that women can do their business while their child is safely seated there with them!

Perfect systems.

Food

Anyone who is well-travelled or is just a foodie knows that Japan is a place to go for food. There’s so much to try. I am not a foodie and often get nervous about food experiences or trying new foods but on this trip, I went for it!

Foods I tried or loved in Japan especially:

YakiudonYakisobaOkonomoyakiBetayakiDorayakiTaiyakiOnigiriMatcha teaKaraageTonkatsu Dim sumBeef bao bunBeef croquette Minced fish with rape blossoms Gomoku rice Teriyaki burger from McDonald’s Matcha ice cream French toast (it was amazing in our last hotel!) Egg saladMille crepe cake (omg omg this was a dream in my mouth) Wasabi (no no no, spicy scary, nooo!)Wagyu beef (melted in my mouth…melted!)SakePlum wine (sooooo nice!)

The service was always, as you can imagine, immaculate. Everyone was so respectful and kind. You can tell that they really care about the attention to detail for their food and their service. I ordered using broken Japanese and pointing when needed to. We used chopsticks but I am still an absolute amateur who had to relearn every time! Yet it went well every time.

Architecture and aesthetic

Lastly, I want to comment on how everything looked. This is a huge part of any trip, I think: how things look compared to home. I mean travel is very much a sensory experience, especially if you’re mindful about it, which we are forced to do when confronted with new things. I tried to soak it all up. To experience and witness every detail.

Japan, or rather the tiny bit of it that I saw, is gorgeous.

Now, don’t get me wrong. Tokyo especially had its fair share of grey skyscrapers and even derelict buildings. It is not a paradise. What I mean is, for a city trip, essentially, we witnessed fresh sights of beauty. A multitude of contradictions and elements coming together to make something unique. Grand shrines and temples everywhere you turn, adorned in reds and white and wood, stone statues and ceremonial offerings. Then as I said, the skyscrapers towering into the clouds (we stayed on the 33rd floor of one hotel, the views were spectacular). Then the typically Japanese traditional houses and izakayas and machiyas and ryokans. The wooden trimmings, paper lanterns, shoji screens and tatami flooring. The greenery, too! The mountainous landscape of hills and trees; the bay and the rivers; bridges and boats.

Everywhere you looked there was something to capture your attention. Something to spark awe, imagination, fascination, questioning or yes, even a little humour at the complete contrast to what we’re used to. We saw the 8:30pm fireworks as we drove in go-karts through Tokyo and saw lighted drones make dolphins in the night sky! How incredible is that?

Reflection

In summary, this was a trip of a lifetime. I hesitate to say this because I don’t want it to be the only time I go to Japan. Or the best trip of my life to which every other trip will fall short now! But it was incredible. It was everything I wanted it to be and more. I got to use my Japanese knowledge (language and culture) and inspire myself. I was among a people who I greatly respect.

By no means are the Japanese perfect. I know they too have their flaws and a history. For example, they have signs warning about upskiritng at the train stations and women-only carriages, which I can only assume is due to women feeling unsafe. However, I do adore their way of life. I wish the country was closer so I could visit every year, that’s how much I loved it.

There’s so much more I could say, but I don’t want this post to be too long. I’m sure I’ll share more as time goes on, and check out my Instagram for all the photos.

I will be back, Japan. This is not goodbye, it’s just for now.

Sayonara,

S. xx