The South: On Japan

Today I went to change my voter's registration to Alabama and to apply for an absentee ballot. The clerk at the courthouse asked me, "Oh, so where are you moving?" to which I responded, "Hokkaido, Japan." The next question has become all too familiar to me, "OH!!! That's great!! Are you a missionary????".

I wanted to take a minute, then, to list all kinds of responses I have gotten to my decision, both in Alabama, and in Tennessee:

"Oh, you're studying abroad? My daughter went to Mexico once for spring break." (BTW I'm NOT studying abroad. It's a 'for real ' 'grown-up' job... lots of people don't seem to understand).

At the post office:
Me: "Do you all still offer an international media shipping rate? I want to send some books to Japan"
Clerk: "On, no, sorry. Are you sending Bibles?? Are you a missionary??"

Also at the post office:
Me: "I'd like to ship some things to Japan."
Clerk: "Where's he stationed??"
Me: "Who??"
Clerk: "Your husband, where's he stationed??"
Me: "Oh, no, I'm sending them to myself. I'm moving there in a couple weeks."
Clerk: "To be with your husband?" sigh...

At the post office when I was sending CDs to my boyfriend, Jakob, in Germany, and my dear ex-roommate Elena in Russia:
"WHERE?? RUSSIA??? And... eh.... Germany??? (with a puzzled expression)" haha, ok, so that wasn't about Japan...

Everyone:
"Are you going by YOURSELF??? Do you know anyone there???"

"My daughter was a missionary in Africa - you all really should meet!! You'd have a lot to talk about."

At the Maryville post office, when I was mailing a special IRS form form moving overseas and tried to mail it w/ signature confirmation:
Clerk: "Oh, you can't do that with the IRS."
Me: "What? Why?"
Clerk: "Well, just not with the IRS. Aren't you filing with your husband? Can't he help you?" I kid you not. Ok, maybe everyone else in the world knew that you can't get signature confirmation when mailing to the IRS.. but not me..big deal! I don't need to find a husband to show me how!

Everyone I have had to make an address change with:
Me: "Yes, I'm calling to change my address. I'll be moving soon."
Receptionist: "Ok, where are you moving?"
Me: "Japan."
Receptionist: "WHERE??"

Being fingerprinted to get my FBI background check (required before departure):
Officer: "Ok, you must have done something really bad, or really good to need that."
Me: "I hope good.. I just took a job in Japan."
Officer: "What? WHY?"
Me: "Well, to teach English"
Officer: "Can't you do that here?"

OK, so, it seems that traveling ALONE as a young woman overseas is not so popular in small rural southern towns. It also seems that the only people with international experience that many people are used to meeting are missionaries. There is a lot I can say on the topic of being unmarried at 22 despite the fact that most of my high school friends are. And there is a lot that I could say about missionaries, and how they often do more harm than good in a culture.. but all I really want to say, I suppose, is that I'm very proud to be living my life on my own terms, as a young independent woman. It doesn't scare me to move to a new place with new people because I know that there are people there who live happy, fulfilling lives, and if they can, I can learn to too! I don't know anyone now, but I'll meet people who will grow to mean a lot to me! Second, I think I have taken on a huge responsibility to act as a cultural ambassador in another country. I want to teach others about life in the U.S. and the wide variety of experiences, but I certainly am not moving to Japan to change the culture that already exists - and functions quite well. I suppose an even bigger responsibility for me is what I do with these experiences when I come back. How are people going to learn about life abroad - that there is a whole world out there that is often curious about us and ready to interact with us, if we dare - if no one ever takes the time

to teach them?

There are lots of questions swimming around in my mind thinking back on this, and anticipating what I will be up against in the rural community I am moving to in Japan - maybe questions and reactions not unlike these - or even more severe. I leave in 5 days, folks. Wish me luck.

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