A Whirlwind of Negative Experiences

"While some of you may already know this, I want to clarify that I am not Japanese. So if there's anything I say that you don't understand, please don't hesitate to raise your hand and ask me what the heck I’m talking about."

Now that I had the floor and the microphone, and considering most attendees are probably here against their better wishes on a gorgeous Father’s Day Sunday morning, why not make it entertaining?

As the vice chairperson of the neighborhood association and head of the neighborhood care division, I had two important meetings to preside over, one of which I had the honor of emceeing.

The first gathering was the division managers' meeting, followed by the neighborhood area managers' meeting. During these powwows, I reported on the successful grass cleanup event we had a couple of weeks ago, even though there wasn't that much grass, and we were done in twenty minutes. It was the perfect chance, however, to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who participated, especially the families and kids who joined in, lending a hand while enjoying each other's company. I'm a firm believer in being an active and valuable member of the neighborhood, fostering a sense of community, taking care of our neighbors, and maintaining a clean and safe environment. Sometimes, I can't help but feel like an idealistic politician when I reflect on these values.

So I pontificated about it for a few minutes with my mic time. No one stopped me, so I kept going.

Eri, along with many of our close neighbors, warned me from the start that being part of the neighborhood association would be challenging, time-consuming, and stressful—a whirlwind of negative experiences. And they were right.

It encompasses all of those things, especially since I've taken on two roles. I often find myself putting in extra effort because I don't always grasp all the nuances—not just of the language but also the way things are done in the cultural context. However, despite the challenges, I absolutely love it.

Last night, Eri gave us all haircuts. The boys' hair looks pretty sharp. Instead of going to the barbershop this month, I asked her to give me a trim too since I wanted to time my next haircut closer to our upcoming overseas trip. In the meantime, a good old-fashioned home clipper haircut suited me just fine.

As I combed my hair this morning and applied a bit of wax to get ready for my neighborhood association meeting, Eri took one look at me and apologized for the "home-style" haircut.

Personally, I think it's great. I'm just grateful that she got rid of all that curly mess that used to hang down the back of my neck, causing me to sweat twice as much on these hot afternoons.

Later in the day, it suddenly hit me that it was Father's Day. I think I remembered around the same time I was strolling back home after leaving the boys and mama at Dounji Temple while looking for lizards. I had to head back early because I had another neighborhood association meeting at six, and I wanted to make sure I didn't smell like a garbage dump during that gathering. Nothing a little Axe body spray can't take care of. Smelling like a 15-year-old is slightly preferable to smelling like a moldy basement.

While the boys napped and had their snack time, I caught up on entering events into the family wall calendar and tidied up the barbecue equipment from yesterday. I even promised to pay the boys ¥10 each if they helped me clean up the barbecue stuff. They did a pretty good job, even though they weren't exactly thrilled with the tasks they were assigned. I handed them wash rags and instructed them to wipe down the equipment once I rinsed it off with the hose, but naturally, as little boys who never disappoint, they insisted on spraying the hose instead. The sheer joy they experienced from that simple act was priceless.

And then came the super boring old-guy neighborhood association evening meeting. I arrived ten minutes early, but since it was mostly attended by older gentlemen, I still felt fashionably late. I texted Eri, giving her an update on when I might be finished. I even sent her a picture of the meeting's agenda, but just as I was about to press send, I noticed a note at the bottom stating that there would be a party after the meeting.

It had been quite some time since I had beers with a bunch of old Japanese guys, even before the pandemic struck. And it has been ages since I last savored a cold beer at a local community center. That was standard monthly fare back in the Kyushu days.

To add to the excitement, there was a Sendai city councilman in attendance, which gave our gathering at our little community center an air of significance. We relished sushi and cracked open ice-cold cans of beer. At the first opportunity, I made a beeline for the city councilman.

Surprisingly, he remembered me and even commented on how much my boys loved catching bugs. So I seized the moment and engaged him and another gentleman in conversation. This other person happens to be in charge of our neighborhood traffic safety. I had been meaning to address this issue for a while, but I never had a suitable platform to do so. Armed with a couple of Asahi Super Drys, I proposed the need for another corner mirror at the intersection near our house, emphasizing the danger of limited visibility when making turns, not to mention pedestrians, especially the kids who walk to school that way. Thanks to the magical combination of sushi and beer, the wheels were set in motion to address the issue.

It was a Father's Day filled with "important" meetings, haircut adventures, family time, and unexpected encounters. Being actively involved in the neighborhood association has its fair share of challenges, but it's an endeavor I totally embrace. It allows me to contribute to the community, foster a sense of belonging, and ensure the safety and well-being of the people we live around.

And, of course, it offers the occasional opportunity to enjoy great company, delectable food, and refreshing beer.

It was dusk-nearing-evening when I walked home. I kinda took a detour and took an extra few minutes to enjoy the night air. And I still made it home just in time to tuck the boys in. Mama did story time tonight.