Catching up a bit...the Three T's! (Tokyo, Taipei, Thailand)

Tokyo


When I arrived in Tokyo I could not stop gleaming. It absolutely dazzled me. The streets in Minato-ku had a sort of European hush. They were windy, clean, efficient, breezy, attractive. Everything has been taken care of in Japan. Your hands in a Mitsubishi dryer with blue lighting. Please, no, don’t tip us; we are not a tipping culture (while taking my bag to my room, helping me decide where to put it, showing me the wireless, asking if I needed anything else). I said, so if I offer you some money right now you will not accept it? And he said, no, but thank you very much. I LOVE YOU.

Everything was that easy. The taxi drivers all wore uniforms. Little suits. Every single taxi had a white doily-like cover on every single seat surface. The floors were immaculately vacuumed. Nothing ever smelled. The cars were quiet, the traffic orderly, considerate even. All of this comes at a price, though, it seems (if you want to quantify it that way) – Tokyo was expensive, although I think that people overblow this a bit. Of course, I was on work travel and am not a shopper, so it didn’t bite me very hard.

The full moon was Dec 2. I will never forget this night. More on that (non)coincidence soon!

Taipei
SUCH a fascinating place, Taiwan. It’s China, and it’s not. It’s Japan, and it’s not. It’s Western, and it’s not. It’s flexible, and not. Careful about its identity. Joking, friendly, lilting language. There is something refined and familiar about Taiwanese. The people I encountered seemed to have a good balance of working hard and enjoying their lives. They teased each other, and even me, making me feel like one of the team right away.

Mr. Tao from Vietnam showed up at the airport (I had been delayed for one hour and waited for my bag for almost an hour, then had 45 minutes to the hotel) in a brand-new black Mercedes with tinted window. I could get used to THIS, I told him, and he proceeded to speak Vietnamese-accented Taiyu to me all the way there (we were trying so hard to communicate, and finally I just said “ting bu dong” and took a little nap). Mr. Tao took me to Hsinchu on Tuesday, and then back to the airport on Wednesday. I was always happy to see him.

Teaching/Coaching/Delivering Workhops

I realize, as I consider past blog postings, that the majority of what I have posted reflects my travel and people experiences, and not so much my teaching (which really is the reason I am making this circle to begin with; or is it?) This entire trip began because I decided to visit my cousin Claire in Fremantle, and then I asked Qualcomm if they had any need in the APAC region…and without hesitation, my wonderful colleagues there said YES.

By the time I delivered my workshop in Taipei, I had gathered a really clear picture/poignant observation about what people working in their second or third language really, truly need: to ask “Is it true?” Byron Katie style. And “am I taking this personally, and/or making assumptions” Don Miguel Ruiz-style. Asking these questions to an intercultural communication workshop participants proved to be thought-provoking.

How Do Americans Look?

We look big. Not just weight-wise. We are theater actors: the space is huge, the shot wide. They are TV actors: the space contained, the shot tight. Our facial expressions (and features) are big, enthusiastic, and can often seem insincere. “How ARE you?” at the Gap. “I LOVE your SHOOOOOES!” on the subway. “Where did you GET THEM??” Oh, did they laugh at that. My favorite experiment in my pronunciation workshop is asking a participant to say something in Chinese and then having me repeat it. “Watch my face,” I say. So they teach me “Wo shi ying wen lao shi” which means “I am an English teacher.” I say it, and then I say it in English, asking them to watch my facial muscles. Then they do it. My point is to get them to use their face and lips more in English, because the sounds aren’t being projected as loudly or clearly if they don’t. They get it right away.

What I am grateful for most is that I can share with them a tiny bit of what I imagine they think and experience (I get this confirmed, of course, by asking Is That True?) I can show them that someone does exist who is sensitive to their feelings, who may have anticipated what they needed, as they do so well for us. I collect their impressions like stamps.

Bangkok


At times I am not sure what I am doing (but then, who is?) Going to Thailand by myself, for example, not having a plan (at least on this day I didn’t). So I decided to read a familiar friend’s words. Dave Macek’s words were so helpful (whereintheworldisdavefromsandiego.blogspot.com) as I flew to Bangkok. He had just been in China for his brother’s wedding, and talked about relying on his intuition, and acceptance, and trust, and love. Very helpful to be reminded of these simple things, and so far, so good! Not that 10 days is such a big deal for not knowing what you’re doing. Today, I am going to a rad, gorgeous island, and am staying at an arty, mellow hostel called Bodega, a short walk from Patang beach, and hopefully close to a ferry that will take me to Phi Phi.

I landed in Bangkok at around 5 and didn’t get out of the airport til 6:15. It was one of those Office Space Murphy’s Law lines…except that as soon as I got out of my line, the new line flew. My immigration guy was doing three people to the original guy’s one. The first guy never once looked up at any one person in line, and got on the phone about three times. I was wondering about his intention and then just decided to do mountain pose. 35 minutes later I switched lines. Got my bag easily, and took a cab into the city. I had chosen a Hotel Ibis but neglected to confirm that it was the one Tricia had recommended (Nana, right on Sukhimvit) and instead chose Sathorn.

I had an excellent glass of French wine after running into a man from LA who was friendly and glad to hear English, was planning on moving there, and had dinner plans (I hadn’t asked his plans). So he had to run, after teaching me to say “Nit noy” for not too spicy. I went back to my hotel after walking down a little street market where they sold all kinds of delectable (and some gross)-looking street food and fruit and little stuff. Love how the new air of each new place hits you. It’s very warm and slightly humid in Bangkok right now, and you could almost take a piece of the air and mold it into a little spongey, taro- or lychee-like square and put it in your purse.

I like to digress and wax on. Sigh. So back at the hotel deck (a very nice, twinkly, Xmas-lighted place) I decide to people-watch, which, in my opinion, is never a bad decision. Immediately I see the LA man outside the hotel across the street with his arm around a tall, thin Thai man. He found his dinner plans!

Wanted to go to Silom or see the floating markets or to Patpang, but just didn’t feel all that comfortable going on my own (I took the wussy safe way out, oh well!) Oh, the hostel world is the best one. Which is why I am staying at the Bodega in Phuket! It looks RAD and the owners, Robin and his wife, Amy, are awesome!