I mentioned a couple weeks ago about how Yuko and Imagine invited me to their Halloween party, right?
Well, I went.
Like I said, I’m trying.
I can say without cynicism that I had a good time. I admit, that I seriously considered backing out, but the more adventurous part of me that has been stronger since coming here won out. With only a little apprehension, I bought my ticket to Esaka.
After ascertaining the meeting location, I gathered my false courage and headed to Exit 8. If I could see my color, I knew it would be bright orange.
Yuko was waiting with a few other girls. I’m pretty damn sure my step faltered, but the next thing I knew, I was standing beside Yuko, trying desperately to appear comfortable.
The other girls we were waiting with were actually from Mongolia. It was pretty neat considering it isn’t very often that I meet people from Central Asia. They spoke excellent Japanese and equally good English. I didn’t say much due to nerves.
At least four trains worth of people came and went before Hayaka (?) got a call saying that the other person or persons we were waiting for would be much later than anticipated and thus we departed the station.
I brought up the rear, mostly ‘cuz I generally hang back, and maybe partly ‘cuz it gave me an easy out to slip away. The two of four Mongolian girls, whose names I will not butcher by attempting to spell them as I could no better pronounce them, and I chatted a bit as we walked. Why are we here; how did we meet these girls; etc.
It seemed like we were walking forever, wending our way along the main street and then veering off to one of the side streets, twisting through one of the neighborhoods. What’s that, friends? Was jessi muttering under her breath? Uh, DUH! My asides included such colorful phrases as, “Crap, crap…” and the ever popular, “Kill me now” with a few “What did I get myself into?” ’s for good measure.
“Does anyone else feel like this is a kidnapping?” one of the Mongolian girls queried.
My eyes widened with both surprise and respect. “Dude, I thought I was the only one.” That certainly eased my trepidation a little bit knowing that I wasn’t completely alone in this. “Damn. I forgot my breadcrumbs.”
The three of us shared an understanding smile.
We reached our final destination after what seemed like half an hour’s worth of walking. (In reality, it was probably more like fifteen minutes.) The shindig was being held at a community center.
Cool.
Here’s where things get all kinds of WABAC Machine. Stepping into the “hall” was like stepping into junior high school. The walls were decorated with construction paper pumpkins and streamers, and on the stage, there was a huge banner boasting the words “Dreams of Halloween” in autumn colored paper.
Yuko latched onto my arm companionably, in attempts to steer me towards the changing area. “I brought you a dress. I can make you up.”
I declined the offer because quite frankly, I was self-conscious enough as it was in a room full of stangers, I didn’t want to pretend anything else than I was already trying to. I hoped then as I hope now that I didn’t offend her.
The generousity of these people astound me. The moment I walked in the door, there was always someone by my side trying to engage me in conversation. To be perfectly honest, I barely remember any of their names. But they were all friendly and excited to meet new people it seemed to matter not.
Eventually, as it seemed most of the guests had arrived, we were seated in a horseshoe. The Emcees “Peter Pan” and “Tinkerbell” took the stage to welcome us all to their party. It was of course, all in Japanese, and I worried that perhaps I was the only one to not really understand a word. (I later learned that this was not the case.) Luckily for me, one of the many girls I met that night was at my side translating.
The first game was announced, and yes, I do mean game. It was one of those people in the middle makes an announcement and if you’re what they say you move your chair and the person without a chair is “it” kind of games.
See what I mean about junior high?
But as the night went on and as I look back, I cannot insult these girls for such ideas and I bristle at the thought of anyone doing so. They were far too innocent, far too genuine. This really meant something to them. And I will defend them with my entire being against any who would dare to. There may have only been two hours of friendship between all of us, but it was enough for me to be incredibly protective about them.
There was food after one of the girls, Chriss, finally “lost” the game. The only reason I know how to spell her name is because as her “penalty” for losing, she had to spell her name with her butt on stage. It sounds odd, but it makes sense. You know, like how you spell out letters with your body? (Remember the part where I’m already protective of these girls? Don’t even comment about it.)
It was at this time that I met “Chicago Mika”. I’m pretty sure I had mentioned before how one of the dance members was from Chicago. Well, she came up and introductions were conducted. “I’ve heard so much about you!”
Presently, I wondered if this was a good thing or a bad thing, but at the time of the introduction, I simply smiled.
We chatted a bit, laughed at the fact that neither one of us actually hails from Chicago. I couldn’t quite here which suburb she was actually from, but it was one of the New Trier feeders. That said it all right there.
As it had been at the beginning, is now, and ever shall be — whoops, sorry. (Considering the group I was with, it made sense in my head.) Where was I? Oh yes, as I was saying…
As it had been at the beginning of the party, I was never without someone to talk to. Every time I met someone new, I was offered more food and drink. I wish I had known that there would be food otherwise I wouldn’t have gotten a snack prior to coming. I apologetically declined, but eventually, one of the girls thrust a paper cup into my hand and insisted I drink some tea. Laughingly, I immediately thought: “Don’t drink the Kool-Aid” (in both references, although I’m not a cute blonde high school freelance detective).
There was “free dancing” after that. This involved the stage. Chicago Mika sat with me and we chatted some more. (We did so throughout the entire evening as it were.) In an amusing coincidence, her mom teaches in the New Trier English Department and she smiled and said she would love to introduce me. I laughed and told her I just might take her up on that offer. (Wouldn’t you?)
“You seem very nervous,” Mika observed.
“I am,” I admitted. I hence explained to her that I don’t do well with people. Somehow, it was eventually revealed that Mika had also been approached by Yuko. She had asked me, “How did you meet Yuko?” I related the story about the bookstore and she said, “You too?”
My face lit up, “You were at Kinokuniya, too?”
Mika laughed, “Train station.”
We made some crack about how they must target foreigners wherever they see them.
But without them, we wouln’t have met.
Chicago Mika saved me from embarassment by telling Peter Pan and Tinkerbell to take my name off the list of people to “free dance”.
The next game involved teams. I had intentions of hanging back, but once again, it seemed that they really wanted me included in their reindeer games so I hesitantly went to join Team B. Chriss was there, so she played intepreter for me and one of the other girls. (Although, as I learned later, she was interpreting for the other girl from Japanese to Mandarin.)
It wasn’t that bad. I was highly uncomfortable, but still not bad.
There was more dancing, more stage time involved as well, and it was one of the Mongolian girls’s birthday, so there was some time devoted to proper cheering.
I cannot get over how unbelievably welcoming this group of girls was…is.
“It doesn’t matter,” Mika had told me. I explained to her how I felt so out of place and how I wouldn’t blame Yuko if she stopped talking to me after a while. Mika tried to explain to me that they are the kind of people who don’t care and they like me genuinely for who I am.
Still trying to wrap my brain around that one. I mean, I’ve known most of you since I was fourteen and it wasn’t until I was what, twenty-four that I accepted our friendships because it’s just how it is?
Their words ring in my ears: “I think we met for a reason.”
Damn complex.
Although, Mika understood my intial misgivings about the whole thing. She said it must be an American thing.
Some of the girls got together to show us a skit they prepared. Chriss was beside me translating the dialogue and the like, and it was quite amusing regardless of whether or not I could understand what they were saying.
After a few more announcements and the like, the newcomers were invited up on stage. There were actually a few of us hailing from several different places: America, New Zealand, China, Mongolia, Russia, Romania, and Lithuania.
Talk about United Nations.
We were given presents of cookies, each bag had a special message attached. Mine read: “Living for others is actually living for your future.”
I was incredibly moved.
As we were taking down decorations, Mika said we should get together some time. She asked me about my days off, and she suggested maybe meeting this Thursday. I accepted, but have no illusions.
Yuko and I walked back to the station together. I apologized to her if she thought I didn’t have a good time. “I know it looked like I didn’t, but I was really glad I could come. Thank you.”
She asked me again about why I’m so uncomfortable. I told her I honestly didn’t know, because in a lot of ways, I don’t remember. I’m sure I got traumatized in junior high like every other adolescent girl. She related her own experience to me and I felt fiercely protective of her. I wished that we didn’t have the language barrier between us in that I think a lot of what I tell her is generally lost in translation.
We parted company and I ended up walking in the door something closer to 11:00PM. Much later than I anticipated, but well worth it.
I want this to work. I know that in order to do so, I’ll have to get over a lot of things.
I hope it works.