Wednesday, 9 July 2008

homesick, hormonal and a little bit hysteric!

yep, that was me last week.

A big thank you to Sarah@mummyinjapan for pointing out that I was homesick - you know, it never even registered to me that that was what was going on. I think it has been a long time since homesickness hit me so hard! I was ready to buy a plane ticket outta here (just for a break) but the summer holidays season is here, and well, we just can't afford a trip home when it costs K almost as much as me, because we have to pay the surcharge for her, even though she doesn't have a seat (wtf!! that is utter crap, but what can you do?).

A big thank you to M-san and Akazukin for your comments too. Everything said really helped put things in perspective for me. M-san, yep, it can be stressful sometimes. I guess I usually don't let things get to me so much, but sometimes, aaaarrrrggghhh!! And I know that at least the attention we get here is generally good attention, not like I imagine a lot of people have experienced in the US or Australia etc with racism just be cause you are Japanese (were you ever told "go home china-man?", or someone would say "They really should speak English now they are in Australia/US/..." when you speak Japanese with your kids) It makes me sick when I hear people talking like this, especially after living here and knowing how hard life away from "home" is. Akazukin - K does the same thing on trains, especially trying to get attention from young college girls or old ladies, waiting until they say "kawaii" then pulling out all the tricks: peek-a-boo, "ito-maki-maki" etc, lol. I am sure they think the same about me too "poor baby, with such a grumpy mother" lol!!

Yes, I think that my hormones were on full-blast after nearly a 2 year absence!! Guess they had some "making up" to do. Hoping things settle down a bit next month, if not, I hope that I will recognise it when the tears well in my eyes over being asked to move out of the way while packing my shopping bag at local supermarket because some old lady is trying to get to the little plastic bags they have to put your tofu etc in!

anyway, I *may* have had a bit of a hysteric break down on the weekend, when the thing that topped it all off was having friends over, and me having to look after not only K, but one of their kid as well while everyone else was chatting/eating/generally being merry. I would like to get away from it all sometimes too, but no-one to look after K for me. J is pretty hopeless when it comes to that. the last time I asked him to look after K while I went out for lunch, he ended up saying that he would come along too, which of course meant that I had to watch K during lunch!! lol. Typical male!?! lol!

But I feel much better having gotten it "out there". Normally, I would keep it to myself, but by actually saying it (and writing it here) and talking with friends, I think it has helped me to realise that I need to be in control myself. And that everyone has moments like this, so thank you again!

Things are better this week. I had an early night last night and now we are just lazing around at home today, taking it easy, me eating nearly all the Aussie chocolate biscuits (Arnotts Caramel Crowns!) that a friend got me from her recent holiday to Aus. Gee they are yummy! At this rate, there will be none left for J, oops! I wonder if i can blame *that* on the hormones too?? lol.

5 comments:

  1. I'm glad to hear you are feeling a little bit better this week - cyber hugs to you!

    I know what you mean about Australian's always saying, "your in Australia, you should speak english"... I have to admit, I did have that opinion, until I went to Japan for the first time. It really did open up my eyes to a whole lot of new opinions, and now just hearing someone say that makes my blood boil.

    Hang in there, as you said, everyone has days (and even weeks) like that. I'm sure that once I get back to Japan officially in September, the home sickness is going to hit me hard...

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  2. Yep, homesickness hits when you least expect it. I'm glad I could help.

    It's too bad we don't live closer to each other or I would watch K for you any day of the week.

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  3. Glad to hear that you feel a bit better this week.
    大丈夫!!Homesick is very natural feeling and you are coping very well.

    About 3 years ago, It hits me badly in England.
    I had miscarriage with my first child while 4 out of 12 members of my team at work successfully had children. Plus our flat was in the market for a quite long time and the hot water tank was busted all the water flooded the flat down below
    and I also had a car accident and etc....

    Everything was soooooooooo stressful so that I missed Japan and was desperate to get out from England.

    In the end I had a nervous breakdown and was off from work for a week. I think I was having a bad year (やくどし) and everything didn’t work out.
    Then luckily Ollie was offered to go to Japan for work and we grabbed it!

    But now I miss England a bit - especially some friends and a sense of humour(made by friends and people in the town). It’s very funny, huh?

    I am sorry to tell you that Japanese is very polite to someone you have already known but generally rude and indifferent to stranger.

    Also some people specially the older generation tends to be racist (towards specially people from Asia) . I also had some bad experiences in the UK (someone throw the apple to me etc...)but those people (whether in Japan or UK ) are ignorant and narrow minded. I said to those people なめんなよ!in Japanese!

    Bringing up a kid is a good fun but very stressful hard work so sometime we need a rest.

    (Probably you know) the best way to chill out is to meet up with your friends (ideally without kids) who have the same background as yours such as Aussie and living in Japan etc and to chat how crap japan and Japanese system is.

    I did that a lot with my Japanese friends while in the UK and that helped to get by.

    If you need a baby sitter for that, do not hesitate to ask me OK? I had already asked to ママ友 to look after E once and It worked out very well as she has got a daughter who is the same age as E and they played together!Sorry for a long message but all friends in Japan are happy to help you! hug XX

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  4. Think we are on the same timeline. Am gagging to get home. So much I rang mum to say was thinking of coming for two months over christmas. NO tears of joy at being able to see Shou again or Marina for first time!! Please I hope I show more enthusiasm for my grandkids - esp as they have loads of room and not scraping to make ends meet. ANYWAY, you and K are welcome down here anytime!!! We could leave kids with Maki and Granny K and go for night of torisute or horumon riki ??? yum yum. I could even be twisted to do the marushoku run - just for you!!

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  5. once again a big thanks to everyone for your supportive words. And for offering to mind K, or have us over - lol!! things (my hormones) have settled down and back to normal life. I have decided that we (K and me) are going home for at least 1 month, maybe even 6weeks around xmas this year. I have already told J, and he is ok with it (only wishes he could come too for that long). heehe. I feel a bit silly for getting so worked up over not much really - I know others have it a lot harder. thanks guys - big virtual hugs going right back at ya!

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