Sorry for the Large Hiatus

Hey Hey
Sorry for the large pause  - I've been doing so travelling and getting back together...I have many observations so stay tuene for the next couple of days!


xoxo

Kristina

Black Woman's Plight

This entry is particularly set to my sistas out there . . .

The main questions have been getting a lot from people back home is "How is the dating situation?"

"Do you have a Japanese boyfriend?"

"How does it feel to be the only black female in the entire Tokyo area?"

Black women are in small numbers, no one can deny that. However, I would rather state it this way, "Black women are a limited commodity."

You will get attention for all types of men - White, Black, Hispanic and Asian. Here in Tokyo, I find that it is a chance for them to really experiment and try out something they have always wanted to but never had the gall to do it back at home. This is especially pertinent to the Japanese guys here. I have found that Japanese men here are VERY curious about Black women. I have had men who wanted to take pictures with me, tell me that I am very beautiful or just wanting to come talk to me and see whether they would have a chance with me.

Since I have been here, I have been absolutely basking in this attention. I mean, it is so much better than it is back at home. Think about it, my fellow sistas, do you have Asian men tripping over themselves to talk to you? Do you see White men clamoring to say hey to you? I don't know about you, but at least for me, NOT REALLY.

I live right by a major office for Nissan and I see Japanese men all the time coming in and out of the office. I find the walk to school a catwalk. I feel their stairs all the time, but its not anything bad but of curiosity. Of wonder. Of appreciation. Of something they would like to know. I simply smile at them and keep on walking. I appreciate it all. As a matter of fact, I simply love it. Especially when I am done up, I can see their inner fight - to come up and say hi. And if you are bold (like I am), you could just go right up and start a conversation with them (if you are good in Japanese - better for you).

So what is the black woman's plight? Being spoiled by this. I know that once I make it back home, it is back the same old thing. The under-appreciation of the beauty that is a black woman. Now with our black president and black first lady, maybe there will be a change in that perspective. However, until I witness it or experience myself, I just may want to stay here in Japan and bask in this sun.

Obama in Japan

Obama in Japan

Anyone who knows the slightest thing about me knows that I am
absolutely in love with our president and have been since I met him
back in 05. And before coming out here I had heard that world wide,
most people had close to the same mentality that I have. But I think
it's definitely on a whole another level to experience it.

One of the happiest yet most vexing day so far in this trip was
inauguration day. Reasons for happiness are obvious, vexing because I wasn't there in person. However to make up for being away from home on such a day a group of individuals decided to hold an inaug party. We gathered up the troops to watch to only find that there was only a few spots available. The amount of ex-pats were pretty much expected. However we didn't expect the amount of Japanese that showed up. There were so many that the news showed up to get reactions and do interviews. There wasn't even any seats for us. We ended up sitting up on the corner of the stage.

As they re-played Obama's speech, I filmed the crowd reaction. Just the rapture, the complete attention paid to screen by Pats and Japanese were equal. Obama had inspired such a sense of pride for
everyone around the world that taxi drivers can not help but turn to
me once they find that I'm American and say "On Obama, congratulations."

All I can say is "thank you."

Pictures Regularly Updated

By the way, I try to update my pictures as much as possible. So check them out at http://picasaweb.google.com/kjeanconte

Children autonomy

As I was walking down to street from my apartment to school, I notice two little girls walking down street heading back home. They had to be no more than 6 or 7. It is possible to question the age of people here in JP, but what made it more apparent of their age was their yellow hat - a detail more kindergarten children where as a part of their uniform. You may be asking yourself so what? My amazement is that there were no parents at all. This is a natural occurrence here in Japan. It is very common to five, six and seven year olds walk home by themselves.

I have seen them in heavy traffic areas, fleeting around people's legs, crossing the street by themselves and letting themselves into their home. It has become apparent to me that the idea of "child molester" doesn't really run rampant here. Back in the States, anyone would be curious if not worried that a child of that age would be by themselves in the street. Honestly, it is the equivalent of have a six year old doing their own thing in the middle of Downtown Crossing in Boston or Times Square in New York (its abit of stretch with the latter but you get my point).

I have come two conclusions: Parents here have extreme faith in their children and in everyone else. I may be generalizing (which cant be avoided) but I feel its pretty accurate. They don't believe that anyone will do any harm to a child that is returning home from school. They also believe that their children will listen to them and will not venture out anywhere but to go home.

Could the US ever be this? Could YOU be like this? I can only speak for myself when I say Hell to the Nah. I guess the JP doesn't have Chris Hansen showing the creep next door having wet dreams about you baby. But I guess that's just me....


Tina
--

You know it's the oddest thing here...

You know it's the oddest thing here. I mean more so about foreigners
being the epitome of all that is cool. You have been labeled a dork,
a fashion no no back at home. And with the Japanese here what you
could do or wear or say it would be considered the coolest thing in the
world. Mind you I am talking more so about a specific age group. From
about fifteen to about thirty. The older people just kinda look at you
very wary. I don't know whether that they just don't like foreigners
or maybe I look more foreigner than the average blond hair blue eyed
"foreigner."

But back to the kids. I still can't get over the immediate star status
I had the other night. They knew nothing about me. I don't even look
like a star back at home. Didn't matter. All they saw was a bunch of
foreigners ordering anything they wanted (remember all you can drink-
we really need to pick this up back at home and just beer either).
When my friend Brian went over, they went extra crazy. He looks like
an athlete plus he has tattoos in his chest. A winning exchange this far.

I just find the whole thing. . . astounding. Maybe it's my law school
mind trying to piece together why it is the way it is. Are we like
that back at home. My immediate answer is no. We don't assume that
people buying anything they want have celeb status. We just assume
that they got money like that. Or do we?

Sent from my iPhone

So I went out to this all you can drink affair ...

So I went out to this all you can drink affair hosted by 2 of our
students. And I know this girls who were absolutely mesmerized by us
so I brought Brian and myself over and to introduce and bring them
over. Management didn't like that so much so they went back over to
their table. But I went back and started to talk to them.All they
wanted was my picture. It was the most thrilling thing in the world.
They had go ideas who I was but they wanted my pic. And it happened to
be one of the girls happy birthday. So when I wished her happy
birthday she went ducking nuts. Look y'all I am be fuckin drunk writing
this but I can definitely tell you this. They love you out here. You
are different and that makes you immaculate in their eyes.

Sent from my iPhone

Thoughts on being a gaijin here.

Thoughts on being a gaijin here.
To be black in America is one thing. We al the history here. However
it's a completely different experience being black in japan. There is
no history. Nothing but they had seen on tv. The good as the bad. Now
I've made the point to be quite blunt fir this blog. I'm going to come
very real so lif you can't handle it then I suggest that you stop
reading now.

What I have come to realize is that people here love the idea of the
rap nigga. They live their hip hop here. And I have to admit some of
it is very good. But what I found disheartening is the loss of history
as to how hiphop really started. What the actuall history is. All they
know that it's cool have Afros (mind you they RUIN their hair tying to
get the texture). It's hot to have the baggy jeans. The gangsta color
bandanas. It is so lost on them the actual history. And in a way I
blame the hiphop niggas that are out there now who themselves have
lost what it means to rap. To be discuss the struggles that people
are facing. It ain't nothing but ho this and umma fuck that one and
suck my dick. The Japanese won't go that far but they are picking the
video ho. I saw a video the other day of pharrell featured with a
Japanese rap group. Now behind them was nothing but Asian ass. It
wasn't bare ass but it was just ass shaking.

We as black people need to seriously realize that those in the public
eye project an image to the rest of the world. And that image is being
projected on everyone else. When I walk around the city, I get looks
of amazement. I usually just laugh it off because I find it funny and
I still do. But after my contemplations, I wonder what they are in
amazement of. Is it because I am black woman waking around the city
like I have lived here all my life? Or are they projecting the video
go on me?

Sent from my iPhone

Quick Apologies

Sorry for not being too frequent with this. I have found to write out my thoughts, however I just figured out how to get it off my iPhone. So there will be an umbrage of thoughts coming at you.....

Gomenasai!! (Sorry!!)

Tina

First Official Entry

Ok so after being in JP for about a week now, I am able to make a few legitimate assessments.

1. People are absolutely tiny. I mean , an average 5'6" is towering over people, especially the old people (the ojii-sans and the obaan-sans).

2. The women look absolutely fantastic! The fashions come out at you the moment you step into Tokyo. People-watching is a must in some areas. When I have a chance to do so, I will parading around like a famous photographer and take pictures of the fashionistas.

3. Japanese men are quite attractive. Walking around with my sunglasses on, I really get a chance to look at the men and they all have different approaches to the way they want to look. There is the "worker" with spiky hair. The rocker with goatee. The hip-hopper with the chains. I mean really interesting to look. It would be nice to snag one for myself, but seeing how there is a language barrier and the fact that they are absolutely intimidated by me, I don’t see that happening.

4. Ever wanted to know why Japanese are so fit and skinny?? They f***in love to walk!!! OMG, I am going to burn holes in my shoes. I have walked so much that I have PULLED MUSCLES IN MY FOOT! So I have made the distinction- there is an "American walk" and a "Japanese walk." Someone here would say that to walk from A to B would be 7 minutes. Back in the U.S., it really is a 20- minutes walk. So I think by the time that I come back to the States, my legs are going to be f***in beast!

5. Living space is small. There is nothing else to be said about that.

6. Thought that there aren't any black people in Tokyo? Guess again - just go the (of course) the red light district (called Roppongi) where you find all the Africans trying to get you into their club. Want a message with a nice finish? You can get it right next to the club that the African is trying to push you too. Oh yea, if you are a black female walking around that area, be ready to for all the calls from the Africans calling you "eh, don’t I know you? Aren't you my sister? Let me talk to you!"

I will make some more assessments later. I am supposed to be paying attention right now (in class!)

Ja ne!

xoxo

Kristina