GRIFTER’S TALES · BY COLIN LEE MACLEOD
I arrived without the language, without knowing the culture, and without knowing where I was going next. But I was extremely excited.
A conversation that became a journey
Back when the internet was becoming part of everyday life, I met a woman from Japan through MSN Messenger. She came to visit me in Canada. Later, I went to Japan to get married and have a baby—to begin a family.
There is a whole other story in how we met. This one begins with arriving.
Busy, but everything had a rhythm
I landed at Narita Airport, in Chiba. One of the first things that struck me was how busy it was, and yet how structured it felt. People lined up. They followed the flow. They waited their turn instead of pushing ahead.
That was my first impression: so much movement, but so much consideration for the people around you. I was taking it all in without understanding the language yet.
Someone was waiting for me
My wife-to-be was there waiting at the airport. She had come to meet me and take me all the way back toward her home.
We travelled by train from the airport, continuing our journey to a Shinkansen station in Fukuoka, where her mother picked us up. The train system amazed me. That deserves a story of its own, but on that first journey I was simply following along, trying to absorb everything.
What I remember about meeting her mother is the warmth of that welcome. The people welcoming me were kind, graceful, and sweet. They had a whole plan ready for me.
Excited—and completely new to it all
I didn’t speak Japanese. I didn’t know the culture. I didn’t know where I was going. Of course there was confusion. Even with people taking care of the arrangements, there was so much I couldn’t understand.
But the feeling I keep coming back to is excitement. I had made it to Japan. My future wife had met me, her mother had welcomed me, and a new part of my life was beginning.
That is where I’ll leave this first arrival: welcomed, a little confused, and extremely excited.
Grifter’s Takeaway
Being excited doesn’t mean you understand everything. Sometimes you arrive with plenty to learn, accept the welcome, and take the next step with the people beside you.
