Mah, mah, Mah Telephone!

For those wondering, the title of this blog is taken from the Lady Gaga ft. Beyonce song 'Telephone' where Lady Gaga goes all gangster and starts trying to rap the lyrics "my telephone" in her own Lady Gaga fashion.

Which has nothing really to do with this post except for the word 'phone.' A device which allows for verbal communication between people over far distances without direct contact. It operates through radio waves and transmits signals which travel through the air and eventually are received and result in the newest form of human communication. The term 'cell phone' is used in reference to these small mobile devices which have established a significant popularity in the current day and age, especially among the youth.

And especially in Japan.

Where the phones are so tricked out that, really, you may never need another gadget again.

Here, let me give you an example or analogy. Japanese phones are to American phones as Rocket ships and space exploration are to the Caveman's wheel. Yeah, that intense. Overall, they look normal, pretty basic structure and design, until you try to do something. Then the simple key pad suddenly becomes complicated and intense. No joke. On American phones, basic ones I mean, not the crazy advanced iPhone, we can call people, manage contacts, occasionally text, and keep data. On a BASIC Japanese phone, you can call people, send texts, manage contacts, keep data, send emails, listen to music, watch tv, hold a video chat, take pictures, take movies, send those pictures and movies to friends, manage dates and schedules, use a calculator, check the weather, look at maps, use a GPS, and charge it in the sunlight.

That's just some of the things my phone does. And it cost me 0 yen. Of course, I'll be getting the bill for the plan later but, according to my host father (who is amazing), I got a really good deal and relatively cheap plan.

Now, you may be wondering how I got all of this and for 0 yen. Allow me to tell you a story about the kindness of Japanese people. It's a slightly long story, so you may want to go get a cup of coffee/tea and a biscuit if you think you may get hungry.

Start the day I meet my host family. After my school's representative left, having joined us for lunch (a jolly affair), my host mother and father took me to the local area of Jiyugaoka, a shopping district and lovely setting, where there was a docomo shop. For those wondering, docomo is one of the primary phone companies and manufacturers in Japan. This particular shop is big and extremely friendly. The store employees all greeted us with a happy 'irrashaimase!' upon entrance (the equivalent of 'welcome' in America, except happier and they all say it while bowing) and we swiftly were directed to wait on comfy chairs before we could begin the phone acquisition process. Of course, sitting was interrupted by the curiosity of the phones everywhere all looking extremely shiny and pretty and interesting.

And then, after about 20 minutes, a gent in a puffy blue jacket comes up and politely asks what's going on (in Japanese. Thank God for my host father) and begins to immediately point out the best phones and deals. We chatted (meaning my host family and he chatted) for a good more 20 minutes before our number was called, taking down notes and getting all sorts of juicy tidbits. And so, when sitting at the counter and attempting to pick out some of the rapid fire Japanese, we discover that this man, Mr. Blue Jacket, has not only just made it so that I can get a decent phone which would usually cost about 6,000 yen, but I can, through deals and discounts, get the phone for 0 yen. Not too shabby.

For those wondering why I had to go with my host family to the phone store, in order to get a Japanese phone you must have a sponsor to indicate you won't be a jerk and just run off with it and be irresponsible. Therefore, I couldn't get a phone without the help of my family acting as my sponsor/proxy.

So now we're looking at this snazzy little phone for 0 yen and almost done wrapping things up when the clerk brings over this big wheel thing and sets it down in front of me. Confusing? Yes. "You turn it to find out your prize," says my host father. Disbelief was rampant. Yet, when I turn the crank and a little yellow ball pops out, both my host father, Mr. Blue Jacket, and the clerk all make excited vocalizations and next thing I know I'm being given a gift pack from the Body Shop FOR FREE along with my phone which I paid 0 yen for and a free phone charm.

Talk about perks.

Not only that, but when we left the shop, Mr. Blue Jacket immediately tells me he can set up my phone for me and does so, swiftly clicking through menus and buttons and setting up the foreign object for use. Honestly, this guy was amazing. He came up to complete strangers, one of them foreign, tells them the best deals and ways to get absolute discounts on the phones, and then helps the ignorant foreign girl set up her phone. For nothing except a thank you. Which I kept saying over and over and over because, really, it was more kind that I could ever imagine.

"Kindness is not for other people," Mr. Blue Jacket said, gesturing to me and my host father after saying something in Japanese. Then he smiled. "It's a Japanese proverb. Kindness is a not for myself, but for other people. When you are a kind to other people, you feel good. And kindness comes back to you. Kindness is never for yourself."

And that, ladies and gentleman, is probably one of the biggest lessons anyone can learn in their lives.

And I was told it the first day of actually being in Japan by a random guy in a blue puffy jacket who, out of completely blind kindness, helped me in more ways than I can describe.

"This is a my hobby," Mr. Blue Jacket said, gesturing to the phones. "All the time, I read these [insert gesture to phone magazine]. Every day, I in here [insert gesture to shop]. Ofuro mo [translation: Also in the bath]."

Explanation I got later? Mr. Blue Jacket was what my host father referred to as an otaku. He had one focus and interest, and that was the phones. He read all the fine print, knew all the deals, the details, and ins and outs of the industry and products. Talk about a fortunate encounter.

It is customary in Japan to give gifts to people. Something I was aware of when I was preparing to come here. So, I was lucky enough to have a small little magnet in my bag with a picture of a Maine light house on it. When we were leaving, I bowed low to Mr. Blue Jacket, holding out the magnet with both hands (don't forget to always use BOTH hands when presenting something) and saying "Doomo arigatou gozaimasu!" [Translation: thank you very much (formal)]. He took it, saying 'Oh?' and looking at in with interest. "What is this?"

"A magnet, from my hometown in Maine," I told him, my face probably turning a lovely shade and feeling extremely self conscious (how could I not? It was peanuts compared to what he had just given me).

"MAGNET!" He yelled, suddenly getting extremely excited. "Wow! I love magnets! Also my hobby!" Surprise surprise! He pointed to the small picture. "Maine, right? Steven King!"

Yokatta means 'that's good,' or 'I'm relived' or 'I'm glad.' Upon saying it here, I meant it in all forms. Granted, a small magnet of coastal Maine is really nothing compared to a phone for 0 yen and free set up done completely out of kindness, but I was at least glad he liked it so much.

And that is just one example of the kindness which is practically ubiquidous here. No joke. Everyone is so kind and patient and helpful, it's like being in Disney land without all the crazy costumes and synthetic imagery.

And so, I have a phone which does pretty much everything except brush my teeth and a Japanese proverb I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

If only I can remember what it was in Japanese.

-Ai out.