Hello 2016!

Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, Late December 2015

Hello, it’s me~

It’s been a long time––and year has changed since my last post.

There's several changes in my life. Me and my husband moved to Japan in the last 2015. When we arrived, so many things must be done like signing house contract, apply for gaimusho (ID for permanent resident), apply health insurance, change mobile phone and number, buy furniture for our home, get to know the neighbourhood, our friends and relative who lives in Japan––especially Tokyo, a place where we live now, and yada yada. Everything went very well. It’s our first time living together––just the two of us––under the roof just like newlyweds. Two and half months passed and we feel nothing but happiness.

While we are waiting for our internet installation, Starbucks at the Meguro heaquarters becomes our second home for wifi-ing. We love this place. From Gingerbread Latte season is on––yes, I’m back again to coffee thingy, but just latte, no more espresso, no macchiato ;)––until back to the origin order for Soy Latte/Vanilla Latte, we spent almost our spare time here. What I love about it besides it's near our house is the place is soooo quiet, very perfect to solitude yourself with your laptop, mobile phone or even only with your novel and notebook—if I'm not mistaken, it's also the only Starbucks in Tokyo who sells white latte and charcoal mug, made in select workshop and out of special materials—it's so ZEN, and the music is also relaxing your mind. Unlike in Indonesia, where everyone talking so loudly and the music sometimes feels like you were in the club, not coffee shop.

Actually, I never picture myself living in Tokyo. I can picture myself live somewhere in NY or London, but not Japan which turned out it wasn’t that bad––in fact, it’s perfect! it’s out of our comfort zone; we can’t understand the language! LOL. God's plan never fails me! So, I  set my goal to master the language and of course TTC ;) I’m so glad I have a chance to live here. A country who doesn’t has religion’s conflict, respect people equally, appreciate punctuality, eco-friendly, a heaven for introvert or someone between introvert-extrovert ha-ha! and the people are very kind (If I rate Indonesian kindness 8, here is 9!) and helpful (yes, they very very helpful, sometimes over-helpful lol).

Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, Late December 2015

Back in Indonesia I throw every waste in one trash bin. And looking someone who picked bottles and cans in our outside garbage is a common. Now, we have 4 trash bin in our house; 3 of them for recycle waste, 1 for combustible waste (since mostly we only use two bins for recycle waste, so the other one is for incombustible waste). My schedule for putting the waste on the local bin is quite fun: Monday and Thursday for combustible waste, Saturday for recycle waste, twice a month (1st and 3rd week on Tuesday) for incombustible waste. We must put them after 11 p.m the day before or before 8 a.m on the day. I mastered the waste management for two weeks. It’s quite challenging, especially finding a powder to solidify (Katameru Tenpuru/Oil Solidifying Agent) the cooking oil—yes, we can't just throw the cooking oil after using it to the wash bin because it will clog the drain, unless we must throw it to the garbage (combustible waste) in a solid condition—but it also fun. I’m more aware for what product will I buy and how to throw it when I’m done using it.

Punctuality and queuing is my favorite one. I love to see people having sense of time awareness. The train is always come in 3 minutes. So every step you make will count. You can choose between walk or take a bus to the station, depend on how in hurry you are to catch the train. 

Here I also have more physical activities. No yoga, no running (not yet), but walking and cycling––when I said cycling, it means buy groceries using bicycle LOL. You spent ¥220 for a bus (around IDR 25,000) so why don’t we take a walk (if we are not in hurry) or using bicycle? I spent around 12-15 minutes walking to the station––and it’s uphill road. If I’m using a bus, it’s only 2 stops (5 minutes)––wasting money if you’re not in a hurry.

You also have to smart to spend your money on groceries. Here, you can spend almost ¥5,000 only for vegetables and fruits at the middle class supermarket. So, for monthly groceries I went to supermarket a bit far from my house using bicycle to go to Musashikoyama or Nishikosyama, or by train (and bring my own trolley) to Shin Okubo in Shinjuku, Ameyoko Market in Okachimachi, Tsukiji Fish Market, etc. So, spend your money wisely ha-ha!

Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, Late December 2015

My conclusion is living in Tokyo and Indonesia nothing much different, only here is more organized and here the salary is more reasonable for living (well, it’s not fair to compare because it’s not apple to apple––Japan vs Indonesia: Capital vs Labor Intensive, Developed vs Developing Country). But I can see one day Indonesia will be like Japan, one day it will... if we as a gold generation have a determination and faith to build our country better.

xoxo,

@karienass

Meguro, Tokyo, January 7th 2016