On the two-week anniversary of my arrival in Japan, I decided to take the day off.
We do have dinner plans with friends lined up this evening, but I've spent most of the day lounging on the futon in our Airbnb, in true "Deeva" fashion. Catching up on correspondence; learning the Italian piece I'm performing in Kobe next week; posting photos; looking ahead to things we might still explore during our remaining time in Tokyo. Couldn't have picked a better day for it, either: a huge storm is brewing in Tokyo, and the sound of rain and thunder have me tightening the blankets around my chest...
One thing I love about spending a significant amount of time here in Asia is the freedom to take the occasional day or half-day to just chill. Do some laundry, work on music, get some computer things done, study my Japanese. Seems like a normal thing to do when home in Seattle, but most people travel with such a sense of urgency -- places they HAVE to go, things they HAVE to see, all within a very strict time limit. If we had only come for the 4-5 days allotted by those who so graciously brought me here to sing, I know for a fact that this trip would have felt exactly that way.
Personally, I prefer to have only one or two vaguely planned destinations in mind per day, and just see what happens from there. So many of the incredible restaurants and sites we've experienced so far have been discovered by accident, because we have had the luxury of time. And I'm so grateful that we have!
Perhaps I'd have climbed the Tokyo Tower, visited the Imperial Palace, and explored Tsukiji Market by noon today, if I hadn't decided to prioritize self-care. I know that the sights and sounds and delicious tastes would have been worth trekking around Tokyo for this morning. But those places will all be here tomorrow -- as will I -- and I think that all of the things we've already tasted, seen, and felt here deserve a few hours of absorption and appreciation as well... n'est-ce pas?
I realize this is a somewhat strange introduction to a blog that's meant to be full of wise and helpful advice for my students and fellow musicians... So, I guess my advice for the day would be this:
When traveling (especially as a performer) -- if and when you have the choice -- CHOOSE TIME.
Choose to stay a few more days (or weeks) if you can, over getting back as soon as possible to squeeze in a few more students or work days or local gigs. Choose meandering strolls and happy surprises over zipping around between each meticulously-planned location, with hardly a moment to ponder them. Choose lengthy, fully appreciated visits to fewer places; choose to take fewer photos and spend more time actually gazing, wondering, feeling, and connecting to each space.
Even if you don't have the luxury of extra days or weeks in a given spot, choose a fewer number of meaningful places over speed-visiting several dozen sites per day. Japan, in particular, is very crowded and the cities can be loud, bright, noisy and somewhat obnoxious. Many of the "must-see" sites and attractions are packed most of the time, so don't worry about seeing more than one of those per day! Most importantly, really try not to let a day go by without spending some time in a shrine, temple, or natural space... both because they're (IMHO) the best part of exploring Japan, and also to prevent burn-out!
Meanwhile, I'm spending the day at "home," thoroughly enjoying this rather raucous thunderstorm. There's also the comfort of warm, tart, and spicy tea; the homey scent of line-drying laundry (that's just been moved in out of the rain); the sound my brilliant, innovative sweetheart clicking away at his computer keys; and the thought that out there, across a vast ocean, I have an army of loving friends and family who care about me and might actually bother to read this entire entry! :)
We do have dinner plans with friends lined up this evening, but I've spent most of the day lounging on the futon in our Airbnb, in true "Deeva" fashion. Catching up on correspondence; learning the Italian piece I'm performing in Kobe next week; posting photos; looking ahead to things we might still explore during our remaining time in Tokyo. Couldn't have picked a better day for it, either: a huge storm is brewing in Tokyo, and the sound of rain and thunder have me tightening the blankets around my chest...
One thing I love about spending a significant amount of time here in Asia is the freedom to take the occasional day or half-day to just chill. Do some laundry, work on music, get some computer things done, study my Japanese. Seems like a normal thing to do when home in Seattle, but most people travel with such a sense of urgency -- places they HAVE to go, things they HAVE to see, all within a very strict time limit. If we had only come for the 4-5 days allotted by those who so graciously brought me here to sing, I know for a fact that this trip would have felt exactly that way.
Personally, I prefer to have only one or two vaguely planned destinations in mind per day, and just see what happens from there. So many of the incredible restaurants and sites we've experienced so far have been discovered by accident, because we have had the luxury of time. And I'm so grateful that we have!
Perhaps I'd have climbed the Tokyo Tower, visited the Imperial Palace, and explored Tsukiji Market by noon today, if I hadn't decided to prioritize self-care. I know that the sights and sounds and delicious tastes would have been worth trekking around Tokyo for this morning. But those places will all be here tomorrow -- as will I -- and I think that all of the things we've already tasted, seen, and felt here deserve a few hours of absorption and appreciation as well... n'est-ce pas?
I realize this is a somewhat strange introduction to a blog that's meant to be full of wise and helpful advice for my students and fellow musicians... So, I guess my advice for the day would be this:
When traveling (especially as a performer) -- if and when you have the choice -- CHOOSE TIME.
Choose to stay a few more days (or weeks) if you can, over getting back as soon as possible to squeeze in a few more students or work days or local gigs. Choose meandering strolls and happy surprises over zipping around between each meticulously-planned location, with hardly a moment to ponder them. Choose lengthy, fully appreciated visits to fewer places; choose to take fewer photos and spend more time actually gazing, wondering, feeling, and connecting to each space.
Even if you don't have the luxury of extra days or weeks in a given spot, choose a fewer number of meaningful places over speed-visiting several dozen sites per day. Japan, in particular, is very crowded and the cities can be loud, bright, noisy and somewhat obnoxious. Many of the "must-see" sites and attractions are packed most of the time, so don't worry about seeing more than one of those per day! Most importantly, really try not to let a day go by without spending some time in a shrine, temple, or natural space... both because they're (IMHO) the best part of exploring Japan, and also to prevent burn-out!
Meanwhile, I'm spending the day at "home," thoroughly enjoying this rather raucous thunderstorm. There's also the comfort of warm, tart, and spicy tea; the homey scent of line-drying laundry (that's just been moved in out of the rain); the sound my brilliant, innovative sweetheart clicking away at his computer keys; and the thought that out there, across a vast ocean, I have an army of loving friends and family who care about me and might actually bother to read this entire entry! :)
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