Why do bible thumpers always find me??? It seems wherever I go in the world, the thump of the bible isn't far behind. I don't care what other people believe, I was raised Roman Catholic, but the scientist in me just cannot believe in religion. Considering I've been at this job not yet one week, and obviously don't yet have any friends in the area, I could not come up with an answer better than 'Sure' when asked if I wanted to come to the base for church. The only thing I honestly really heard was base, as in the American Marine Corps Air Station in Iwakuni, and it wasn't until after that I stopped and thought 'Wait a second, did I just agree to go to church??!!'. I was certain I would burst into flames the second I walked through the door. I think I've been to church once since my mother's funeral and that was over three years ago for Christmas. I'm not even one of those girls who go gaga over men in uniform, in fact the hippy in me (and there's a whole lot of hippy!) is anti anything pertaining to war and soldiers and would much rather knock one out, especially considering I've never met one who's not a complete twat, but that's for a whole other blog.I really should have known the second my boss picked me up from the bus in Tokuyama and I saw some Christian bible quote in her van pinned to the glove box. And then on the awkward ride to Hikari, she suddenly asks if I am religious and tells me she's a Christian. I really should have gone running back to Tokyo right then and there. And then there was the school meeting, where I'm handed the principles of the school, and SURPRISE SURPRISE there's ten of them that all look strangely familiar to the ten commandments. Maybe I look like I need saving? Although I like to think I look quite ordinary now, given my piercings are out (at work), I hide my tattoos, and my hair is a natural (not to me however) colour. No black nail polish, I even wear colours now and my makeup is not so dark! So I don't think I look too much like the spawn of Satan, not like I may have in the past anyway.
But the lure of the base called to me. Forgive a girl for being curious after having been surrounded by Japanese meat for a month. Minus the awkwardness of the service, it turned out to be a good day. But boy was that hour awkward. It took everything in me not to burst out laughing every time the large Southern woman would yell 'Amen!' or 'Praise the Lord!' after everything the pastor said.
Honestly, it wasn't even the lure of maybe finding a hot American soldier, because really, the army fatigues and crew cuts and the horrible, arrogant, whiny, accent really do nothing for me. It was the promise of the food court after. Yes, I realize this is immature and how you get children to go to church, but hey, the thought of Burger King, Pizza Hut, Krispy Kreme, Baskin Robbins, Taco Bell, Subway, KFC, and bagels all under one roof, is enough to get me there once a month. Plus the O
reos, Chunks Ahoy and peanut butter at the church. AND ALL IN AMERICAN SIZED PORTIONS! AND Lipton Iced Tea! Unfortunately, these are the only things you can get unless you're living on the base. And you can't even get on base unless you're escorted by someone who lives on it. But there are American clothing shops (with American sizes), American supermarkets (with Eggos and Delissio pizza and tater tots! Or so I've heard...I wasn't even allowed in), and tax free American book stores. Now just to find someone who's willing to buy these things for me...It wasn't until I was surrounded by all these familiar things, could understand everything written around me and being spoken around me (so much for living in my own little world), that I really realized how hard the last month has been to get around and h
ow doing simple day to day things are such a challenge. We really do take what we have for granted. I could easily speak to the people around me (and didn't have to slow down), I didn't feel like a giant (in fact I'm considered average, if not skinny in American standards!), and I definitely did not feel like all eyes were on the gaijin (that's me btw). I could blend in and not worry if I was being rude, even if just for a few hours. Everyone should definitely at some point have to stay a few weeks in a country where you're not the norm, to understand what it's like when someone from another country is coming to Canada, the U.S., or the U.K., and then maybe the world would be a happier place. :)If only I was near a Canadian base, I could get my Timmy's fix. So although I was hesitant, and would much rather have been introduced to Buddhism or Shinto, I did find somewhere which can be my respite once a month, my own little safe haven of North American culture and big greasy burgers. Amen!
