The Tale of Two Cities

Let me just start off by saying that this is a belated post. How late it is? Hmmm...about 4 months or so?!?

A few months ago I had a semi-breakdown, well documented on this blog (isn't it lovely how neurosis is fully exposed on the internet, open to anyone and eveyrone to read?), where I told Matt that I am THIS CLOSE to packing up my bags and leaving Japan. The conversation sort of went like this:

"Where would you want to go?"

"I don't know. Anywhere but here. I am so OUTTA here." (Arms crossed, back turned. Pouting.)

"Why?"

"BECAUSE I DON'T LIKE IT THERE. Do I need a logical reason? Does my feeling not count for anything? Must I defend the way I feel? THIS ISN'T HIGH SCHOOL DEBATE!"

"But isn't it true that many would be so envious to be in you shoes, I mean, you don't have to work, I don't expect you to do anything, really, and you get to live in a different country, learn a different culture, and a different language? Maybe you should see this as an OPPORTUNITY instead of something negative."

"What kind of Bull-SH*T is that? If you tell me that I should feel lucky one more time, I am going to pounch you in the face."

".....(silence). Okay, if you feel that strongly about it, I'll talk to A-san. I will ask to be transfered to New York as an office manager." Translation: I'll give up my high-profile job with immediate exposure to the CEO being well-recognized for my efforts, doing exactly what I love and always dreamed of, and upon YOUR request, I will sacrifice it all and order office supplies and make coffee so you can hang out with your friends.

Of course, once he puts it that way, I shut up. What wife wants to be THE ONLY REASON why her husband does not reach his career ambitions? Can I really ask him to give up the one thing that he wants most, and not expect him to resent me for it later? Everyone thinks that I am the pushy one in the relationship (come one, admit it, you think it too) because I am loud and like to speak my mind, and that may be true, but you also can't deny that all the big decisions in our lives have been really geared towrads Matt's liking. Okay, the obvious reason is that Matt earns money and I don't, but sometimes I am not sure if my seemingly innocent, self-sacrificing husband is just the best, most cunning mind player in the world.

Well, it turned out totally coincidental that we were actually being considered for transfer to either the London or New York office. And NOT as an office manager (come one, isn't that the most ridiculous line of self-pity that you have ever heard?).

At that time, our two options both seemed doable--I had lived in London, tiwce actually, as a student, and thoroughly enjoyed both experiences. However, I wasn't sure if London was a place that I wished to reside, as an adult. It was, after all, another culture that I would have assimilate into, and make new friends (my friends were all students at the time). We would have to get new bank accounts, new credit cards...etc. All small things but add up to be quite a pain. On the upside, it at least in English, and the proximity to continental Europe can possible mean...weekend excursions in Paris?

New York, however, was the obvious first choice. I spent 10 years of my life in New Jersey, and therefore am already familiar with the city. I had always wanted, and in fact, always thought I would one day live in New York. My best friend Katy from high school told me the other day that she had re-read what I wrote in her senior year book, and it had said something completely horrendous, like "I will see you in NYC with our nice bags and shoes!"
Teenage years are such an embarssement.
I have MANY friends there, from all stages of my life since this seems like the one city that at one point or another young people live and work in. I also have close family there. Although East Coast living is not the same as laid-back California, we wouldn't have to open new bank accounts, would be able to rent and drive a car, develop relationships with doctors, and actually receive all of our mail and packages instead of having them sent to our mothers, who then have to mail them to us.

Another major consideration is, of course The Azuki. Since she is such a large part of our lives (we often feel like her servants. Like our purpose on earth is to fulfill her needs), I also had to consider dog-friendliness of those two cities. For me, it was down to: sure, both countries seem to love dogs, but what about their pet services industry? Are they ridiculousl? Totally unecessary? Completely insane to most people? Well, if they are not all of the above, then it just wouldn't do for our pup.

A quick search online revealed numerous doggie daycare, doggie grooming salons, dog runs...etc, but much more so for New York than London. For me, the answer was clear. New York was not only going to be the easiest place to transition for me, it also would be for our pup. She has a really good life here in Tokyo, and New York seems to be the one place that she will be able to maintain her opulent life style. Plus, there is no quarantine regulations in New York or any other mainland US states, while for the UK a 6 months preparation must be done ahead of time in order to avoid a lengthy quaratine. If Azuki was ever quarantine for 6 months because she was missing one document, I would never be able to forgive myself---being shut off from the world for that long...she would undoubtedly emerge a different animal.

So fast foward a few months and here we are, only about a month away from moving. There is a lot of mixed feeling--of course I am happy to be going back to the US, but at the same time, there are many things that I will miss about Tokyo. I also wouldn't rule out coming back to Tokyo one day, although that would take A LOT of financial incentive for us to do so.

So Azuki's adventures will continue, in the Big Apple. Stay tuned!