Other than the move itself, I’m just going to say that as difficult it was getting into Japan (it took 6 weeks to get phones..), it was equally difficult getting out. In the end we just left things like bank accounts, since it was just too much of a hassle. Considering we spent over 5 hours at the bank to even get accounts the first time without getting any VISA/Mastercards (since you have to be a resident in Japan for 2 years before even thinking of getting an international debit card and 5 years to get a credit card) with multiple additional visits of equal length to sort out internet banking etc, we just didn’t have the energy. And then it was the phones… Actually, this was J’s department and I have never ever seen him that frustrated. In the end we just took everything with us, since it was too difficult for them to solve. Jesus.
Then it was of course all the fun/sad stuff including goodbye parties and saying goodbye to Tokyo itself. The city has amazing features and it was one of the coolest places I had ever been before the earthquake. Before the 11th of March I’d recommend everyone to go to Tokyo for a few months if they could and try it out. Had it not been so darn hard to live there considering mainly the language issues (if you’d stay there for some time though, you’d of course prioritize to learn Japanese fully, but it’s not possible if you also have a full time job), I’d say it’s an ideal city to live in.
Our neighbors’ daughter Tamaki, aka ‘Miss Sophie’ was still convinced when we left that we spoke Japanese and that she was fluent in English; here explaining her cartoon plaster to Jonas and what happened when she got it, including all appropriate sound effects
I was truly sad walking through Akihabara, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Harajuku, Ginza, Tsukiji, Todai, Korakuen, Ueno, Roppongi and Hiroo for the last time. I hope very much to go back one day, but considering the nuclear disaster I unfortunately doubt it. To be able to have one last blast of the past with the few people left in Tokyo that we hanged out with, we organized a big goodbye picnic by Tokyo Bay; we did it the old fashion ‘knytkalas’ style (everyone brings what they’d want to eat and drink and put it all together on a big buffet table to share) and then just mingled around from 13.00 until sundown. By then we’d had almost 30 people coming and going, and decided we needed to do Shibuya by night one last time. We made a quick pit stop by ours to get dressed for success, headed to the usual meeting point by Hatchiko in Shibuya with Hanzomon line, met up with more people and set out to find beer. A midnight snack was of course a must before forcing our way to one of the all night karaoke places. Then we sang until early morning, caught the train home and slept for almost 2 days. It was so much fun and everyone told us they had really enjoyed themselves. We were also both very much thanked by our groups with final presentations followed by dinners and drinks. Since my group was all Japanese, they of course also wanted to go for karaoke; it was a blast.
Grown up men doing things together: Jonas and his colleagues (no one’s 12 years old, but rather 30+) are watching one of the guy’s very advanced flying helicopter
The most difficult part was saying goodbye to all the wonderful people we’ve met in Tokyo during this time; however, we decided not to get too sentimental and actually not say goodbye either, since we are confident to see you all again soon. It’s easy to keep in touch with good friends and if you are close it feel like no time has passed at all when you meet again. Besides, keeping in touch nowadays is completely different from only 5 years ago. Now there’s Skype, Facebook, Viber, What’s App, so it doesn’t feel as distant at all. One of the last things we did was also to go to Izu Onsen (SPA) with our dear ex-neighbors Tamaki, Tomoko and Yumio; that was truly fantastic as well; thank you again so much!
Our private bath at Izu Onsen with a just amazing view
Then it was the ‘small’ matter of me sorting out what to do for a living. I tried to arrange a move of my project to National University of Singapore (NUS) but in the end it didn’t work out with the funding and since no one can work without a salary; I decided it was just easier to fully resign. I sent a few applications regarding both faculty positions and research institute jobs, but have not found anything yet which I think sound smashing. But, we’ll see. Currently, I just need some time off; I haven’t really had a vacation since 2008 and have been working 60-90 hours or more a week most of the time from 2005 until now, so I’m actually quite tired. When I’m bored to death about this ‘Household Manager’ position I currently hold [;]] where I basically cook, clean, wash clothes, assemble furniture, do all home shopping, iron, plan plants for the balcony, bake, sow and run errands for my husband, I will get my act together and start writing. I’ll of course also have a proper look at what jobs there are. Probably next week!
Cracks in the walls at Tokyo University from the big earthquake, just above my head in my office; hopefully I’ll find a work place here without!
The final few days in Tokyo went by in a wink. We bought the last things we wanted from Japan including good knives, yukattas and camel-toe-socks (now aka ‘mumbling-socks’ as my sister so delicately put it…).
Our lovely knives from Tamahagane for meat, vegetables and fruits (four in total); we also brought a Kyocera (ceramic knife) and a Sekimagoroku, so we’re basically set for life
The last days there was so much going on I had forgotten to eat at several occasions. As if my friend Tomoko knew, she insisted we’d go for lunch on the 15th to a beautiful Italian restaurant; I was also allowed to do the final laundry at their place and we got wonderful goodbye gifts which are now situated at an honor spot in our Singaporean kitchen! Then it was all the utilities stuff which needed to be sorted; I was very happily surprised when gas, electricity, water, apartment inspection etc was all done in an hour! Jonas had taken his luggage to work, so I packed myself, a suitcase, my fab handbag and Tokyo University rug sack on Hibiya line and jumped off at Roppongi station. A happy, but tired Jonas met me under the Spider, we dropped the bags in his office and headed for Fransiscaner for a nice beer to plan the next move. He had booked tickets for X-men at 18.30 as a surprise, so he took me to one his favorite sushi places in Mori Tower first for a lovely dinner. After the movie we got our bags, jumped into a taxi and headed for Haneda airport. The plane wasn’t leaving until 23.30, so we were in good time for check-in. All went according to plan and we slept like babies on the plane, before waking up to a really nice breakfast in the air.
Then we landed in Singapore for the first time as future residents; please follow us here on the new blog ‘Swedish in Singapore’!
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