Navigating the Maze

I was not a model airplane kind of kid. Anything that involved sequential instructions— the model airplanes, the erector sets, later, biology lab— was just not my wheelhouse. I can justify it by saying that my imaginative mind saw multiple ways to interpret a direction and that might be true. But maybe more honest to just admit that this wasn’t one of my intelligences. And it followed me into adulthood. 

 

However… having to learn how to navigate a computer and stay on top of the proliferation of devices needed to keep my work afloat— not teaching, of course, but arranging the teaching, making my way through aps and QR codes and GPS directions and beyond, has forced me to come to terms with navigating the maze of unforgiving detailed instructions that have one solution only. Where a cap or a space between words or unfound code can send the whole mess spinning into disaster. And as a result, I can finally admit I’m intelligent enough to do it. My confidence has increased and my ability to breathe through things that don’t work at first rather than throw my hands up in dismay has improved.

 

Today, for example. Zadie wanted me to get an extension of our 10 am check out time so we might watch the Superbowl. I navigated through my new Air B&B ap, figured out how to message the host and where to find the reply and managed an hour extension. Then Zadie, ever-fearless in this world, did the lion’s share of figuring out how to get the ap to watch the Superbowl and connect it to the TV. All I had to do was pay the 50 cents fee. We got to watch it all the way through the 3^rd quarter— "Go Seahawks!" and “Good Job, Bad Bunny!” and then set off with our luggage to Ueno Station. 

 

There we found a money-changing machine to get my last 8,000 yen from my $50 bill. Found the lockers, switched to the English instructions, put in the money, opened the locker and got the slip with both a number and QR code to unlock it at the end. Things were going well!

 

On to a walk in the park with no GPS, following my newly-found-familiarity with the territory. We took a pedal boat out on the lake. Walked back to the neighborhood I went to alone the other day where I had stayed 10 years ago, with the hope of lunching at a restaurant I passed. Alas, closed and many places we found were (Monday thing?), but finally found one that was open, would only take cash and we spent the last of our yen down to our coins counted out on the table. A stroll to the Nezu Shrine and walk through some 100 Tori gates, soaking up some sun and serenity with the five hours remaining before heading to the airport. 

 

Made our way back (still no GPS), returned to the lockers and punched in the numbers and it worked!! Then to buy the Skyline Ticket to the airport, found the place and the line and our car number with our seats and on to the airport. Got our boarding passes, checked our bags (both on machines), through security, through Immigration and walking to the gate, Zadie turned to me with a smile and said, “Well, that went smoothly!” 

 

And it did. All of it. The whole trip. So many unknowns, so much thinking on our feet, so many decisions to make every day—"What to do? When to go? What to eat and where? What little gifts to buy? Which train to take? How much money left on our cards?" On and on and on. 

 

Trusting in our intelligence, we did it all. And here let me publicly state that my 14-year-old granddaughter and I are good traveling companions. Yes, there were moments when I felt I had to drag her out of the house and aim for some cultural immersion, and yes, the moment we got home, she often retreated to her room with her phone. But hey, she’s 14 hanging out with a guy 60 years older, so one should keep expectations mild! But in general, we enjoyed each other’s company, shared some lovely planned and unplanned moments, and didn’t get into a single fight or argument over our eight days together. 

 

Well, there’s still the flight ahead where she insists that she should get the aisle and me the middle seat. And while I’m writing this at the airport, she’s anxious to find some shops to load up on snacks. But all in all, it has been a special time together that I think will echo on in the years to come.

 

Okay, off for the snacks!