Craig and I took a different route on the way to a restaurant yesterday - essentially our first time out since the Iraq war has started. The atmosphere was interesting, in that there was no hostility, but more an awareness that I had never had before. A sense that I really do stick out - and not just to the Japanese, but to the other communities in Japan. We rode our bikes through what seemed to be a heavily populated Arab community nearby our house, and after that we landed smack dab in the middle of an anti-war protest. The stares were endless. People don't even know for sure that I'm "American", but it is a common assumption here. I don't think my "New York" sweatshirt helped much either. It made me nervous, but it also brought on the realization that I am here as a representative of my country. Peaceful relations is still my standard of living, and my Arab friends are still as much my friends now as they were before. America doesn't hate the Middle East, we are just taking action that our leaders feel is the best for remedying the situation quickly. Maybe I wouldn't be so nervous if our grant director had not sent all the embassy warnings on avoiding Arabic groups and avoiding war protest....oopsie! But I am not going to shut myself in and hide. First, Japan is generally in support of the war. Second, I am not at war with anyone here, in fact I am here just as me. The me I was before and the me I am now. If anyone knows me, they will agree. If anything changes, it should be an overall sense of unity with those around me as we all sit back and watch to see what happens.
Posted by Kristen at March 22, 2003 09:17 AM
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