Thursday morning I left the apartment and got on the Expressway that takes me to the office. We live on an island and there is a long bridge that connects us to the main land. As I was about ½ way across the bridge the car sputtered and died. Luckily the car is a hybrid so it has a battery. I was able to limp along at about 20 km/hr until the next exit (with cars whipping by me). The picture is the actual bridge.
I got off at the exit, made my way down off the bridge, got out into a busy intersection, and then………..the battery died. So there I am stuck in the middle of a busy intersection with no way to move. I kicked on the blinkers and sat wondering what to do next. Luckily a couple nice guys from a truck behind me and came and helped me push the car to a side street. After they pushed me off the road they disappeared back into the crowd.
So there I was. What to do now? I do not have Japanese AAA. I do not know who the hell to call. I tried my Admin aide. She did not answer the phone. I called Tracy. Other than sympathy (and probably an internal chuckle) she did not have much. Luckily I was able to get in touch with a co-worker who lives in the same building. She offered to stop and get me.
Sounds simple right? No, it is not. I did not have an address where I was. There are no street signs in English. I did not remember what exit I got off. I told here “I am under the big bridge, next to a factory, by a big tower”. Not much to go on.
The only way to reliably get around by vehicle here is with GPS and a phone number. So I had to find a phone number for her to plug into here GPS to find my location. Unfortunately it was early in the morning so none of the local businesses were open.
Finally I found an open door. There was a guy behind the counter. “Eigo ga wakarimasu ka?” I said. I got a blank stare than an “iie”. I asked if he understood English and he said no. Crap. I made some sign like a telephone and finally he figured out I needed a phone number. By the way – Tracy and I will be experts at charades when we get back.
I got the number and my ride found me after about 20 minutes. I cleaned out the broken car, threw the keys in it, and left it on the side of the road.
What would have been a non-event in the US was quite an ordeal here in Japan. It was a small reminder that we are strangers in a strange land.
It was an interesting start to the day. It did get better thankfully………..
So there I was. What to do now? I do not have Japanese AAA. I do not know who the hell to call. I tried my Admin aide. She did not answer the phone. I called Tracy. Other than sympathy (and probably an internal chuckle) she did not have much. Luckily I was able to get in touch with a co-worker who lives in the same building. She offered to stop and get me.
Sounds simple right? No, it is not. I did not have an address where I was. There are no street signs in English. I did not remember what exit I got off. I told here “I am under the big bridge, next to a factory, by a big tower”. Not much to go on.
The only way to reliably get around by vehicle here is with GPS and a phone number. So I had to find a phone number for her to plug into here GPS to find my location. Unfortunately it was early in the morning so none of the local businesses were open.
Finally I found an open door. There was a guy behind the counter. “Eigo ga wakarimasu ka?” I said. I got a blank stare than an “iie”. I asked if he understood English and he said no. Crap. I made some sign like a telephone and finally he figured out I needed a phone number. By the way – Tracy and I will be experts at charades when we get back.
I got the number and my ride found me after about 20 minutes. I cleaned out the broken car, threw the keys in it, and left it on the side of the road.
What would have been a non-event in the US was quite an ordeal here in Japan. It was a small reminder that we are strangers in a strange land.
It was an interesting start to the day. It did get better thankfully………..
