Based
on my experiences in Tokyo, low relational mobility couldn’t be farther from
the truth. Yes, I am cognizant that I am a foreigner and as a result, I am the
“other,” but through my academic work and my children, I have developed some
deep and rewarding friendships that will last a lifetime. Perhaps it’s the
trials of toddlerhood that bring vulnerable mothers together regardless of race or
ethnicity, or it could be the bond some of us share as working mothers trying
to find the elusive “balance.” Whatever it is that brought us together, I value
the authentic friendships that I have formed with women in Tokyo. My mamatomos (a hybrid for Mother-Tomodachi) have hosted dinner parties on
my behalf, researched and guided my family’s in-country travel destinations,
had coffee and tea with my mother, and even assessed my kimono and obi (heaven
forbid I didn’t have the socially acceptable kimono fit for a professor).
Overall, I cherish the gift of friendship that these women have given me over
the last 8 months and I will be heartbroken to leave them when we return to the
US.
Sakura season is breathtaking but painfully short, as it lasts only 7 to 10 days. |
In this blog post, I want to acknowledge Fulbright Scholar Dr. Seth Feinberg, who offered invaluable
survival strategies leading up to my family’s departure for Tokyo. From
residency cards to national parks to lesson plans, Seth was instrumental in
helping me navigate this experience. His wife Kelly’s customized pin drop map
was genius, and likely saved me many hours of exasperation looking for a grocery
store!