Japan in Thirty Days

Wednesday - Week 4

15 Nov 2010 1 Comment

by bjoelle in Brianne/ブリアンヌ

Individual group study day. And it was a doozy. Here’s what we did. Here’s how I felt.

In the morning, I went to a small, newly opened fire station in Hamamatsu City. I was taken alone with two Rotarian escorts: Hide-san and Mo-chan. As I was told this in the morning, our translator Tom Ikeda who finally has a very clear idea of what I do for a living and what I want to see, told the group I wanted to see dispatch. People called people who called people and it was arranged, but I had to make my 10am appointment with the fire department. They showed me their best brand new equipment and trucks including a fully equipped HAZMAT vehicle stocked with everything under the sun and rescue equipment (we played ‘Where’s the Firefighter?’ using body heat). The translator was a very nice fireman, spoke wonderfully, and I wish he would have joined us for translating at the next stop.

At Hamamatsu’s main dispatch center, there was little translation. We were taken upstairs by a lady in a suit with a microphone. I was allowed (again) any further than the hallway windows. The lady spoke through the microphone at the dispatchers, and at least one of them was manipulating the equipment to follow her directions in showing off their immense system. I didn’t have to be inside to be impressed; I only wished that I could hover a little closer, or ask questions. But the language barrier was pretty great. For example, they have a camera mounted on Act City’s Okura Hotel (45 stories up where we stayed last week) that spins around and can zoom in onto any part of the city. I looked in the Hamamatsu Castle windows!!! But the more difficult explanations came with the inevitable “wakarimasen” (she doesn’t understand) and they fetched a translator who looked at me and said, “I am very nervous” and no more. I was thrilled when a senior dispatcher got up and joined us in the hallway to answer any questions. Through a series of pantomimes and slow simple language on both sides, I took notes on what I learned. Unfortunately, the interview granted was a short one and everyone bowed endlessly to show their thanks for allowing me this opportunity.

After an Italian lunch buffet at Act City, I went to Alsok security company, which was impressive to say the least. Namely, their idea of a security company is an all-encompassing, full-service company that includes a security force that more than doubles the number of public police in the city, whose gear and training are just as good. They even have life-size security robots! It was crazy cool. The president is a Rotarian and the vice-president (as I understood it) is a gold-medalist Judo champion. His picture was up in the office with trophies, and on every piece of promotional material. A very nice man, he took me out of town to the place where Alsok is responsible for transporting large quantities of Yen from businesses to banks - another high security level special permission type visit. And I’ve never seen so many cameras on employees, or that amount of money (even in Yen) in my life! He even took me out of his way to a store where the Rotarians bought special gifts for my family.

Later that evening, I went to delicious Shabu Shabu with my family, where we bonded even more. As I talked about my boyfriend, Yoko-san and Ayako-san started chiding Yamashita-san. You never cook! You never clean the dishes! Yoko-san smiled big saying, “Envy! Trade! Trade!” We all had a good laugh and Yamashita-san continued to tease me all night. He said, “I am lucky to choose you. You are so bright and pretty, when you talk about boyfriend.” I laughed! Not bright and pretty all the time huh?? What a great family and wonderful dynamic I found with them. The restaurant presented me with gifts of a framed photograph, kite and small plate upon leaving. Great day. Worn out!