That is what we have been titled by the Training Department at Head Office. And we are a force to be reckoned with! We are our own support network and the management know we all talk so they are careful to look after us, so as to look after themselves. It’s very empowering to know our little union is so influential!
“The Crew” is made up of 5 very different people who live in 2 cities, work at 3 schools and come from 4 different countries and all different walks of life. Through our common goal of teaching English in Japan for a year at the same company we have become great friends.
These people have become my family in this country and I am extremely blessed to have been welcomed into their little posse of four, back in July. Over the last 5 months I have gotten to know each of them through travelling, drinking, eating, singing, shopping, having tea, working out, bitching about work, laughing, crying (usually me – nothing’s changed there!), discussing all manner of crude, rude, ridiculous, hilarious, sexual, sexist, spiritual, religious, political, professional, practical and educational things. Sometimes these discussions turn into debates, arguments even, but we respect and appreciate each others’ views and we’re always honest.
Making a group of expat friends that you didn’t know before and may never know again after you leave is a real eye-opening experience. It provides a wonderful insight to who and what exists in other countries and to who and what you are as an individual. There’s no need for bullshit because they have no preconceptions about you and they are not tainted by anyone else’s opinions of you. It’s just you, as you are, however you want to represent yourself. Like a fresh start. And for me I’ve chosen to show all of myself, warts and all (literally with some of them who I’ve gone butt naked into a public bath with!) I have never felt more myself.
I feel more at ease and confident than ever before. And that’s not to say I don’t feel stupid, fat, ugly, inexperienced or worse sometimes – of course I still have all those self-conscious moments but I’m more ok with them. So what? So what, if I don’t seem cool, look beautiful, sound smart, or I say something embarrassing? It doesn’t really matter. Just live life to the fullest and do it truthfully and genuinely, that’s what’s most important.
The girls especially have shown me that vanity, fashion and flawlessness are not the priorities I thought they were. Fun and relevant sometimes yes, but health, happiness, comfort in your own skin, knowledge, freedom and expression are so far above them in the list of priorities that they should never be obsessed or stressed about. Of course I value looking after myself and looking good but it has been very liberating to go out on weekends without makeup and be encouraged to do so. Not to mention great for my skin and self esteem.
Though we are a diverse bunch, we all like minded in that our minds are open. We want to learn more, work hard, play harder, love truly, be better and continually discover. We love to travel and want to see as much of the world as possible, both geographically and culturally. We are all very liberal, passionate and opinionated. And I love that.
To give you a quick rundown of these fabulous four friends of mine here is a caption with mini profiles of each of them.
At Izumo “Love” Shrine, the oldest shrine in Japan, said to be the best place to pray for romantic relationships, home to 8 million deities. Left to right (after me):
Fiona, British (Scottish), fluent in Japanese, brilliant cook, talented singer, wicked sense of humour, has a 5 year long distance relationship with her Italian boyfriend, loves Dragon Ball, lived in Tokyo for a year at uni before, always cracks me up, this time been here 10 months, wants to work in international relations.
David, British (English), finished top of his class in linguistics, lost like 30 kilos, loves taking photos and scrapbooking, has a boyfriend doing the same job but up the other end of the country, is extremely knowledgeable about history, did a summer in Spain, always sings and dances with me, been here 9 months, wants to be an academic.
Karina, American (but Ukrainian born), fluent in Russian, intermediate in Japanese, black belt in Karate, loves rocks and books, has lived in Lithgow (Blue Mountains), Costa Rica and Alaska, is self-admittedly socially awkward and emotionally void except adorably cute and loveable, always surprises me with her violent stories, been here 13 months, wants to be a geologist.
Cheryl, British (English) but Australian/ German parents, grew up in outback Australia (Dad moved around in Army), lived in Northern Cypress, loves wine, very competitive, unashamedly extroverted, always entertains me with her crazy animated outbursts, been here 10 months, wants to be an activist for human trafficking (or a military leader),
We have all made a pact to reunite The Crew at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Before the first person leaves Japan, we have to exchange letters for our Time Capsule: 1 for what hope to have achieved for ourselves, 1 for what we hope each other has achieved and 1 silly joke one for each other too. Going to be interesting and hilarious! As everything is with these special guys. Don’t know what I’d do without them here,
same frog, new pond 