Random Acts of Kindness...

There are a lot of reasons why I still enjoy living in Japan (and whole bunch of other reasons why I don't – but you're always hearing about those, so I thought I'd talk about something positive for a change) and a few incidents recently have reminded me of exactly why I still like it here more than I hate it.

Last month I went to one of my visit schools for the first time, I wasn't teaching or anything, I just wanted to check out the route and do a quick “yoroshiku”. This particular school is the one everybody told me would be the most difficult to get to, two trains and a (rarely seen) bus from the train station. I, however, discovered that there is a bus that goes directly from my station to the school and vice versa (which is great, cos the school is miles away from the station) and I was testing out the bus service on the day in question. No fuss, no mess... I got to the school without a problem and stayed for a couple of hours before heading home (it was my half day). Now I had some vague notion of the return time being between 11 and 11:15 (I didn’t think to check the schedule at the bus stop when I got off that morning) – so I thought I'd be okay if I left at exactly 11. Unfortunately it was raining (pouring actually – am sure you can all imagine my frame of mind at that time!) and the bus stop is about 3 minutes away on a clear day but it's slow going in a torrential downpour when you're wearing sandals and struggling with an umbrella. It was as I was still walking down the side street toward the main road (where the bus stop is) that I saw the damned bus pass by... I started running (it would have been funny if it wasn't so pathetic – my feet were soaked, my sandals were slip-sliding all over my feet and the umbrella was about as effective as a plaster (Band Aid for you brand-obsessed Americans out there) on a gaping wound!

I was about ten metres away from the bus stop when the bus simply moved along its merry way. I remember holding up a hand and shouting “Stooooooop!” but naturally the driver didn't hear me or see me! So I limped up to the bus stop time table to check when the next bus would be and I was horrified to discover that it would arrive more than an hour later! I felt like crying. I remember stomping my foot (in a puddle of water that frikken splashed up and under my skirt – NOT pleasant) and practically screaming: “FUCKFUCKFUUUUUUUCK!!”… it was at that time when I realized that there was a car standing behind me (it had stopped while I was desperately trying hail the bus) and the driver had obviously seen my rant (I sincerely hope he hadn’t understood my language)... he gestured for me to come closer... and I approached his car a bit warily, wondering what the hell this was all about now!

He simply asked if I was okay and I was all gestures and English/Japanese wails of despair as I explained about the bus simply leaving me behind. He was quite sympathetic and immediately offered me a lift to chase down the bus (only about a minute had passed since the bus had disappeared). I wasn't too sure about this – I mean back home I wouldn't even have entertained the notion of accepting a lift from some man – no matter how well-intentioned he seemed (I mean, all those serial killers must have seemed quite well-intentioned to their victims, I'm sure). My options were either to stand at that bus stop seething with resentment at my terrible luck or heading back to school to seethe with resentment at my terrible luck in a dry environment (neither option was particularly appealing) – or I could take my chances with this tiny potential serial killer – who was obviously in his company car (there was a logo on the side) and wearing his company t-shirt (logo on the breast pocket) and who looked like a strong wind could knock him over! I figured I could probably beat the crap out of him if he tried anything and hopped into his car.

This lovely little fella went completely OUT of his way to chase down that bus... the stupid bus was frustratingly elusive… it was always just around the next bend and once we JUST missed it when it stopped at a bus stop! I was afraid the guy would wind up taking me all the way to Higashi Sanjo, when eventually we caught up with the bus (about five minutes later) – and after a whole lot of heartfelt thanks (countered with a bunch of doitachimashite’s) I leapt out of the car and onto the bus. When I looked out to wave at my savior, he was turning his car and heading back in the other direction. It was so sweet and unexpected! But rest assured it's not something I would do everyday!

Anyway, in a completely unrelated story... let me tell you about another little incident that simply made me shake my head in amazement. A week ago I was in a huge rush to catch a train to work... I parked my wheels in the allotted parking area outside the station and dashed inside to catch my train (made it with seconds to spare – phew!) – it was just as I was sitting down in the train that I realized I didn't have my keys with me. This meant one of two things – I'd left the key in the bicycle – or I’d dropped it somewhere in station (I was togging my self-intro stuff, a bag, an umbrella – I don't even think I brushed my hair... it was one of THOSE mornings, okay?!). I was a bit panicky at the thought of not having my keys, because a) my bike is new and therefore a temptation for any bicycle thief worth his/her salt, b)my aparto keys are on the same key ring and c)I (stupidly) have a tag on my key with my address on it!

I thought I could get to school and call the station asking them to keep an eye out for the keys but was I immediately swamped when I got to work, so I had to shove that concern to the back of my mind. I never got the opportunity to call, so I was feeling a bit nervous about the bike situation – and worse, the flat situation – when I got back to Higashi Sanjo station that night. I KNOW what would have happened back home – my bike would be missing and my home would be ransacked (now be honest enough to admit that that would probably have happened in YOUR country too) and I had a nasty moment when I realized that the bike had been moved from the spot I'd left it in that morning. After a brief, panicked look around, I discovered that it had merely been relocated by the magical bicycle fairies who occasionally move people's bikes from one spot to another for seemingly no reason on earth other than to have us wandering aimlessly up and down the bicycle lot looking for our wheels! The same mischievous magical bicycle fairies had very kindly removed my keys from the lock, placed it in the basket and taped it down so that a random gust of wind wouldn't blow it away, I guess! This would not deter an experienced thief back home – they have tools to combat sticky tape – but over here it served its purpose and I was totally chuffed (and actually little bit offended) to realize that nobody was interested in stealing my bike or ransacking my flat. Phew!!!

And then finally... last night... the best thing in the world happened!! I'd ordered a book from Amazon.co.jp and I had been waiting for it for aaaaaaaaaages! So last night I got home to discover the Pelican Delivery Service slip of non-delivery! So I called them and asked them if I could have it delivered that night (it was after six) – the lady on the other end was all apologetic and I got the gist of what she was saying, sorry their driver was running late, he probably would not be able to make it back to my part of the world in time to deliver the package, etc etc! I must have sounded as devastated as I felt (I had fond visions of starting the book as soon as I got it! It's been a while since I've read something new... and I was in the mood to be intellectually stimulated <- you'll get this particular joke if you know me well!) so she said she would ask the driver and then call me back! The call back was a long time coming and when it finally came it wasn't the girl in the call centre but the driver himself! Same story, he couldn't make it that night, could he deliver it tomorrow? I think I must've sounded pretty sad about it, because he was using his best consoling voice. In the end I thanked him, we reconfirmed that he would deliver the following day (tonight) at 7 pm and that was that! So there I was, sitting in front of The Dinosaur – disappointed that my huge and exciting plans for the evening had fallen through – trying to open an email from Lorinda (it was taking forever! The Dinosaur does nothing in a hurry) when my doorbell rang, followed by an authoritative knock! Who was it but my dear friend, the Pelican Delivery Guy?! I think I had a HUGE smile on my face and I couldn't thank him enough! What a nice dude, he's one of my new favourite people! He looked quite chuffed with himself too, because I think he realized that he had just made my week!

So there you have it! I know this is long but it's been a slow day and I had time to kill...

Oh and by the way, it's a rather lovely day today!