Sayonara Japan

Three months had passed, I had gotten our passports and still hadn’t heard anything from Lucy. I had been in contact with her from time to time but didn’t want to seem desperate or pushy.  I began to wonder if it was just a “pipe dream”.  You would have thought there would have been at least one person interested.   I didn’t know if I had just wasted all my hard-earned money. 

I just kept hoping and praying that the right person would answer my profile.  I explained to Lucy how particular I was about someone being around my daughter.  I know that there are crazies out there, but I’m like a bloodhound and can sniff them out. 

The phone rang.  It was the call I was waiting for.  Lucy’s voice was on the other end.  She told me that there was this nice buyer named Paul Jenson. He was screened, paid the “bride price” and she wanted to know If I wanted to meet him.  Lucy said that he was willing to send for me and Sonoko.  I told Lucy to let me review his profile and picture and I would get back with her in a couple of days.  Lucy’s voice was a little agitated.  She asked me not to keep her waiting long because she had to get back with Paul.   I hadn’t seen this side of Lucy before.  She was running a business and was waiting to get paid her commission and wanted to seal the deal. 

That same day, after leaving work and picking up Sonoko from daycare, I called Kanna and asked her if I could stop by to talk to her about something.   She said that would be fine. When I got to Kanna’s house she had tea and muffins waiting for me and Sonoko.  We sat, talked and I asked her opinion about Paul  She looked at his picture and read his profile.  She said he looked “good on paper”, but she would have to make that decision on what was best for her and Sonoko.  The last thing Kanna said to me before we left was, “ You know if things don’t work out you can always come back home.  You won’t know if you don’t take a leap of faith”

I won the “lottery” getting picked by Paul Jenson as his mail order bride.  I was excited, nervous, and scared at the same time.  The culture, cuisine, people, language, and customs were all different.  I had so many questions for Paul.  He knew I had a daughter.  How would he and Sonoko get along?  Did he want her to call him dad or Paul? Would we move into his house, or would we look for one together? Would I be expected to work, or would I be a housewife?  All of these and more questions were swirling around in my head. 

I saw Paul’s picture and read his profile. He was an average looking white man, with money.  I knew that because the “bride price” was steep. Paul was a “techie” who made his wealth by investing in a tech start up company.  The company made him millions and he continued to invest in stocks, bonds, and other companies. His profile read that he was more of an analytical person than emotional.  With that being said, I wondered why he would be looking for a person like me?  Would I be attracted to him? What would expect from me?  I guess I couldn’t be too choosy.  I was a woman with a young child that wasn’t his. I didn’t have a higher education, just a GED.   What did I have to offer him?  Could I even love a total stranger?  This set up was no different than an arranged marriage.  I still had time to back out before making a trip all the way across the country. Not trying to be snobbish or stereotypical but Asian countries were far more advanced than other countries.  Would my Sonoko have the same advantages in the United States as she would have had in Japan?  I had already given notice to Kanna when I applied for my passport.   Check.  I gave my landlord 30 days’ notice.  Check. I informed Sonoko’s school that she was leaving.  Check.  Goodbye Japan forever.  

Paul got right on booking our flight and sent us a copy of the itinerary; we were leaving in 1 week.  He  wired me money  to reimburse me for the passports. And gave me additional money for baggage fees, food, and incidentals.  He booked the flight and arranged for me and Sonoko to fly from Tokyo to Washington DC, Reagan National Airport.  The flight on Japanese Line Air was going to take about 14 hours.  He would pick us up from the airport and drive us to his house in McLean, Virginia which was about 20 minutes away.  I liked the fact that Paul was a planner and very organized, that was a plus.  Also, he was very trusting to send money to a person he had never met.  I could have taken the money and changed my mind or be the runaway mail order bride.  Things were surreal.  I was really going to America. 

Kanna took us to the airport where we said our goodbyes. We cried, hugged, and promised to call each other at least once a week.  She said that I was like a daughter to her.  It touched my soul.    

I wondered how Sonoko would do on this 14-hour trip, she was a big girl now 6 years old.  She liked car trips, but this was different.  I made sure that I had her snacks, favorite stuffed animal, and blanket in my carry on bag. I know people have their thoughts on this, but I even brought some Benadryl in case she got cranky and needed to sleep.  Outside of the airport I checked the luggage and paid the fee.  No customer service, no people, everything was technology now.  When we walked inside the airport, the line wrapped around the terminal.  To my surprise there were actual people attending the ticket counter.  Paul said all I had to do was go up to the counter, give them my name and they would pull up two tickets. I went up to the counter to give the attendant my name, she pulled up the two tickets on Japanese Line Air.  She asked me to have a seat until they started boarding the plane. To my surprise Paul booked us in first-class. 

In about 20 minutes they called us to board the plane.  I handed the flight attendant our tickets and she directed us through the portal that led to the first-class section.  There was another attendant who smiled and greeted us.  A curtain separated us from the rest of the passengers and a door separated us from the pilot.  Sonoko and I got special attention.  We were special for once.  The flight attendant gave us a menu so we could select a full meal and drink.  The prices were outrageous.  It felt so good not to have to worry about money.  We watched a movie and listened to music too.  Paul wired a hefty sum of money for our expenses.

The takeoff was kind of scary.   My palms were sweaty as I gripped my seat until my knuckles turned white.  My stomach turned a little queasy.  But, after the plane leveled off, I felt a little better.  I let Sonoko look out the window at the clouds and mountains when the seatbelt sign flashed and said that it was okay to walk around.  The greenery looked like a patchwork quilt,  cars looked like matchbox toys and people looked like grasshoppers. My ears were popping so I grabbed a stick of gum out of my bag and began to chew.  I felt better.  Only 10 more hours to go.  I was going to take a short nap.  Sonoko and I must have been exhausted, because when woke up we had 2 hours left of the flight.  I started to get anxious, and my palms were sweaty.  What would be the first thing I would do upon meeting Paul? What would Paul do?  The pilot announced on the intercom for everyone to fasten their seatbelts and get ready to land in Washington, DC Reagan International Airport.  He said that the temperature was 75 degrees and sunny.  “Thank you for flying Japanese Line Air and enjoy the rest of your afternoon!”

I grabbed my carryon bag and Sonoko.  The flight attendants let those in first-class deboard the plane first.  They thanked us also.  My first experience flying was a great one other than my ears popping and getting stopped up.  When we came off the plane, Paul was the first one in line waiting for us.  He was smiling from ear to ear, showing all his teeth.  He was dressed in a pullover crew neck blue T-shirt and a pair of light blue jeans.  Paul had a blue baseball cap with an eagle on it and sunshades on the rim.  To make sure I would recognize him, he held a cardboard sign that said, “Paul Jenson” and with his other hand he caressed a  bouquet of flowers.   I ran to him with Sonoko in tow.  I hugged him and he kissed me on the forehead.  He picked up a half sleepy Sonoko and hugged her.