What do you mean, it’s almost the end of January 2017 and I’ve barely started posting this year? (Oops. Sorry about that.)
Well, I’ve been busy, as it happens. My Mum came to visit! I got to pretend to be a daft tourist again for a few days. Any excuse, me.
It was a great week, and I was happy to see her (and sad to see her go home). However, anyone who’s ever had to shepherd a parent around a foreign country will know what’s coming.
Japan isn’t the easiest place to visit. It can be daunting – skyscrapers, too many exits from the train station, the ticket barriers, the language barriers… With the 2020 Olympics coming up, things are slowly improving. More signs in English, and updates to the many MANY buttons on toilets. It can still be a confusing place sometimes.
Mum was adventurous enough to take a 12-hour flight alone. Not quite enough to make a connecting flight and save a few quid. And DEFINITELY not enough to make the most of Japanese food.
“Do you want to go out for sushi?” “No.”
“Do you want to go out for noodles?” “No.”
“Do you want to try this okonomiyaki I ordered?” “No.”
“…This place does pizza and pasta, want to go in here?” “Yeah, okay then.”
And the cuisine wasn’t the only thing Mum was having trouble getting to grips with.
One day on a weekend, I took her out to Nara to see the deer. Obviously, she wanted plenty of photos to take home. It felt like all I heard that morning was “Kady, go and stand next to that deer for a minute…”
You’ll notice I’m alone in that picture. While Mum was trying to work my camera, the deer nonchalantly wandered off.
“Do you want to try feeding the deer some of these overpriced deer crackers?” “No.”
Some things never change.
Oh, it was great to spend time with her. I’ve been away from home for nine months now. A little family time was much appreciated. And it was a great reminder that, even when you’ve moved halfway around the world, you can never escape your touristy, confused, and picky mother. Never ever.
(I love you, Mum, don’t kill me for writing this…)
