July 23, 2024 • 32 mins
We've got a new episode and a new microphone setup. We're loving the upgraded sound quality.
We start with more "owies", telling you about Barbara's recent car accident, caused by a loose dog. Shout out to airbags and seatbelts!
Next, Teja takes us to Tokyo for his pandemic-delayed high school reunion. Reconnecting with classmates from around the world revived the unique dynamics of their close-knit international group. Teja also reflects on how Tokyo has evolved into a cosmopolitan hub while maintaining its distinct Japanese charm, blending global influences seamlessly into everyday life.
In our final chapter, we challenge listeners to create a Living Forward dance for Instagram. Will anyone take us up on it? @wearelivingforward
See you in the episode!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Barbara (00:03):
We're using a new microphone today.
Teja (00:06):
Does it sound better.
Barbara (00:08):
Yeah, we're playing around.
Teja (00:09):
Are you sounding better?
Barbara (00:11):
Am I sounding better?
Teja (00:12):
Are you sounding better?
I?
Specifically am sounding better.
I mean, I'm not listening to itin the headphones.
Oh okay, I'm just guessing.
Barbara (00:19):
Yes, We'll see, though I guess we'll find out if we
sound better Listeners.
Why don't you tell us if wesound?
Teja (00:26):
better or not?
Do we sound better like this?
If I soften my voice, would Isound better?
Barbara (00:30):
How about if I talk like this?
Teja (00:32):
Do we sound better?
Experimenting with thetechnology.
Oh, the technology, yes.
Barbara (00:39):
Oh hey.
Teja (00:40):
What.
Barbara (00:41):
You went somewhere with that?
Teja (00:42):
No, no, I didn't.
Barbara (00:45):
I said experimenting with the technology.
Teja (00:46):
Of course you did.
Barbara (00:46):
Yes, that's what I said ?
Yes, you did it sounded goodabsolutely it still sounds good
yes, and then you went away, andnow you're back, and then we
had stuff, and so we've got ourfrequent flyer miles from my
going away.
I know, I know.
But then we got sort of stuckin our things again.
We had stuff going on like caraccidents.
Teja (01:11):
Oh boy.
Barbara (01:12):
Yeah.
Teja (01:14):
You know I was and we can talk about more of this part,
but it was the second to lastday of my going home to tokyo
for reunion when at 5 40 in themorning, I felt so bad, I get a,
I get a call from you yeah andI'm thinking.
(01:35):
First I thought oh, she forgotthat we're 14 hours ahead and
then and then it kept ringing.
I'm like I think I betteranswer this.
Yeah, and she had just been ina car accident.
Barbara (01:49):
Yes, yes, which was really scary.
I've never been in a majoraccident before, and this was a
major, major accident.
Teja (02:00):
Head-on collision.
Barbara (02:01):
Yeah.
Teja (02:02):
Some idiot went over the yellow line.
Barbara (02:04):
Because his dog.
He had a loose dog in the car,and so I'm just.
I was coming back from pickingup our daughter's things from
college and my she was not inthe car with us, though and then
my sister and brother-in-lawwere in a car behind me, and
(02:27):
we're just driving down the road, got stuff in the car a big
rented SUV and suddenly I justsee this guy coming at me.
And basically I had only amoment to think, What the heck
is this guy doing?
Before I was just surrounded byairbags, which is just.
(02:51):
It's the weirdest thing,because it happens so fast.
Teja (02:54):
Well, I'm glad that the airbag s deployed.
Barbara (02:56):
Well, yea h, me too, and the seatbelt was no joke.
And this was not long afterrecovery,
Right From my, from my surgery, right.
So.
So there I am and, and you know, now my sternum, the bone in
the front of my chest, ishurting and I've got this big
welt on the the left shoulderwhere the seatbelt got me.
(03:19):
But I guess you know the thething that I think of, because,
you know, working in a hospitaland at the beginning of my
career I worked at a rehabhospital and I saw all kinds of
people you know who'd been inmajor car accidents and had not
in fact been wearing a seatbeltand were ejected from the car.
So I was like well, here, I amstill in the seat and, yeah,
(03:43):
chest hurts, seat belt injury,but I did not get ejected from
the car, so I took that as a win.
Teja (host) so this guy with thethe dog, so the dogs in the car
just loose in the carBarbara (host) ju st loose in
the car.
thereFolks out there.
If
Teja (03:57):
If you have a loose animal in your car, don't drive just
don't, just don't drive, don'tdogs don't know how to drive,
neither do cats or fish and theydon't realize that you're
driving so they'll do thingslike try and jump in your lap
and do things and because theydon't get it luckily the dog
survived yeah, the dog would.
Barbara (04:16):
The dog was good, but this guy caused a four car
accident destroyed your sister'scar yeah, because he he hit me,
bounced off of me, went acrossthe road.
apparently again, I wassurrounded in airbags.
After like 0.5 seconds Icouldn't see anything, but I
(04:37):
heard all this stuff and so helike crashed into another car
across the street and then heswerved back across over to the
other side, took the front offmy sister and brother-in-law's
car and landed in the bushes.
And so by the time I struggleout of the car, there's a dog
running around.
(04:57):
There's some guy with likeblood on his face holding his
arm running after the dog.
My sister, who works for a vet,is also running after the dog
and I'm in pain.
There did just happen to be intraffic about three cars behind
my sister, a fire truck randomly, so there were firefighters on
(05:21):
the scene immediately while theywaited for the ones in the town
we were actually in have youchecked on station 19 for any
b-roll footage I know, yeah,that's our current.
Teja (05:34):
It's our one of our current watches yeah, you know,
because if you happen to seewhat probably was your accident,
yeah, well, yeah, they werejust getting footage right.
Barbara (05:42):
Right, you know, I mean , just might as well, let the
cameras roll as long as they'reon the road.
Yeah, I didn't check to see,like Herrera or someone.
Teja (05:47):
But why did your sister go check out the dog and not you?
Barbara (05:52):
Well, no, she did come over to me.
Teja (05:55):
Okay, I'm just kidding.
Barbara (05:57):
Yeah, no, it was chaos because people are in shock.
Teja (05:59):
I know they don't know to do and this guy was chasing
esther, he didn't care about youyeah, I anyway so that's, but
I'm okay, it's upsetting it tooka good couple weeks so I tried
to get a ticket to come homeearlier and I couldn't do that I
wasn't able to.
Barbara (06:16):
There was nothing available right, because there
you are, literally halfwayacross the planet literally yes,
halfway across the planet,literally.
Yes, halfway across the planet.
And, yeah, there was nothing wecould do.
Teja (06:26):
And we stayed in contact and you were okay.
I was okay, yeah, and yoursister's okay, brother-in-law's
okay, mm-hmm, and the peoplebehind you were, I presume okay.
Barbara (06:37):
Yeah, well, they were behind me.
They were behind you Right,okay, right.
Teja (06:41):
And then a month after that our daughter gets into an
accident.
Barbara (06:44):
Someone rear-ends her.
Teja (06:46):
Rear-ends her so badly that a month after the accident
we finally learned that the carhad been completely totaled.
Barbara (06:53):
Even though it was only a one-year-old car.
Teja (06:56):
Yep.
Barbara (06:56):
So we are done with car accidents.
Thank you very much.
Teja (06:59):
So please, anybody out there if you're planning on
getting into an accident lettingyour dog?
Barbara (07:03):
loose in the car or tailgating, or at least with us.
Just leave us out of it.
Just leave us out of it, leaveus out of it.
We're done with that, thank youvery much.
Teja (07:11):
Thank you, and scene.
Barbara (07:15):
Yes, but we're really here, though, to talk about that
trip you were on.
You went back to Japan.
Teja (07:23):
I went home for a reunion, for my high school reunion, and
to see my father and my brotherand a bunch of friends and just
kind of reacquaint myself withmy neighborhoods, those stomping
grounds where I grew up, whereI was a little kid.
Barbara (07:40):
Yeah.
Teja (07:41):
It was great.
It was absolutely fantastic.
I graduated with about 38 guys.
It was an all-boys school.
Barbara (07:51):
Super, super small class, but we should mention
here.
Teja (07:54):
And very tight.
Barbara (07:55):
You had been planning to go back.
Teja (07:57):
Oh yeah.
Barbara (07:57):
In 2020.
Teja (07:59):
2021.
Because that would have beenour reunion.
Oh, okay, I thought it was 2020.
Barbara (08:05):
Okay, you'd been planning it in 2020.
Teja (08:08):
Right, because I graduated high school in 81.
Barbara (08:09):
Yeah, so that didn't happen.
Teja (08:11):
Right, it was COVID.
Japan had closed its borders.
And you're like no, I don'tthink so.
Yeah, and then, of course, justthe timing of everything.
So we finally had a reunionseveral years later.
It was excellent.
We had a lot of major events,dinners, we had, I think, 13 or
(08:32):
14 different countries, peoplecoming from.
Barbara (08:35):
It was excellent.
Teja (08:36):
It was absolutely wonderful and, of course, the
food was great and verynostalgic and very nostalgic.
I spent many days just walkingaround and getting a feel for
what Tokyo is now.
Ever since I came to the States, people have always said things
(08:59):
like even people who know thatit's my home say things like oh,
you're so lucky you get to goto japan, or that's so amazing,
or wow, that's the one placeI've always wanted to go.
Did you know that in japan?
Barbara (09:15):
blah, blah blah, you know like, have you heard
anything.
Teja (09:20):
I've said um, but there.
But there's so much truth tohow much a place means to you.
It doesn't matter where it isin the world, but if you grow up
somewhere and you're attachedto it, no matter how long it is
between visits.
(09:40):
When you go back, there's justa great sense of belonging.
And when I was younger, youlook for different ways in which
to engage and belong.
But I'm older now so there arethings that I don't need.
(10:06):
I don't need confirmation.
So when I was younger, I used,when I would go back, I would
just kind of like yeah, I'mstill here, I'm still part of
this, and the reason for that isbecause japanese culture tends
to be very closed.
So when, once you leave, yeahyou're no longer really part of
the community, but my friendsare all from all over the world
(10:31):
and my friends and I are reallyreally close.
I think probably a lot closerthan from what I've heard a lot
of the years before and yearsafter at our school, so yours
was just a particularly closeyear, absolutely close.
We all really support eachother and we organized this
(10:55):
thing and we talked, sharedphotographs and yearbooks and
stories and it was almost as ifit was yesterday.
And it had been seven years.
Our reunions in the past havebeen in the US or in Hawaii or
other places.
This is the first time since wegraduated in 1981 where we had
(11:19):
our full reunion.
Barbara (11:21):
Oh, I didn't realize that, okay, full reunion.
Oh, I didn't realize that.
Okay.
So is it like all reunionswhere you know there's the drunk
one and then there's the sillyone and then there's the
philosophical one, and you know,like, because you have roles to
play in you know the highschool reunion experience?
Teja (11:43):
yes and no.
Yes in that yes ah, okay well,because you kind of have to
cycle through.
Barbara (11:51):
Everyone takes turns oh , no see, but that's not
supposed to be the way it isthat's all that japanese sharing
and stuff is taking turns nohere in the states.
You, you double down doubledown on your high school
personality when you go toreunions.
So if you were, the one whoneeded someone to hold your hair
back over the toilet.
That is what you became.
Teja (12:13):
Was that who you were, so?
Barbara (12:14):
40 years later.
No, no, no, I was thephilosophical one.
Teja (12:18):
You had the hair, though.
Barbara (12:20):
Not, really, not, really.
No, I was the psychologist orsomething I don't have the hair
anymore, I don't know so, butyou could have worn a wig, but I
don't think you were thatperson, you know.
Teja (12:33):
No, I was not.
I didn't drink much.
Yes, ah, yes, I was always theclass clown.
Barbara (12:40):
Okay.
Teja (12:41):
I remember I used to stand up in the middle of the
cafeteria.
Barbara (12:47):
Oh dear.
Teja (12:48):
While everyone's eating.
Barbara (12:49):
Uh-huh.
Teja (12:51):
I don't remember why, uh-huh.
Okay, from what I understand,what I've been told,
Pathological need for attention.
More like I was trying to getmy jokes delivered.
Barbara (13:02):
UPS or FedEx.
Teja (13:05):
In this case hand-delivered.
Barbara (13:07):
Okay, all right.
Teja (13:08):
Yep, uh-huh, often not with great applause.
No, no More like sit the helldown yeah, yeah.
Barbara (13:18):
Well, I mean, in japan they have that saying right
about that's not.
Teja (13:22):
You're not the obvious one , or you're not the one who is
trying to get attention I?
Barbara (13:29):
I think you were a little obvious I think I was
very obvious.
Teja (13:33):
But even in japan there's always the class clown.
Barbara (13:36):
But also this is a very international group of people.
Teja (13:39):
True.
Barbara (13:39):
So when you've got that situation, then like, which
version of party life do youchoose?
You got you know European partylife, american party life,
south American party life, likeall these people are coming from
all over the place.
Like, how do you choose One bigmixed party life?
Like all these?
Teja (13:55):
people are coming from all over the place, like how do you
choose?
It's just one big mixed partylife.
Mm-hmm, okay With a wrapped inJapanese interface.
Barbara (14:10):
Oh, oh, uh-huh Okay.
Teja (14:15):
Meaning that?
Eh, wait a minute.
Okay, meaning that Wait?
Barbara (14:17):
a minute.
Do I have that right yet?
Okay, oh, I can't do it.
Teja (14:27):
How did I do?
Barbara (14:28):
Pretty good, okay, pretty good.
I tried.
Pretty good, okay, pretty goodI try, I try.
Teja (14:36):
The understanding is that in this moment, in this place,
for example, you interact as youwould in Japan, whereas if we
all got together in New YorkCity, which we did many years
ago you interact as if you're inNew York City.
Barbara (14:55):
I see.
Teja (14:55):
And so the what we call the TCK, the third culture kid
people who've grown up indifferent countries, or mixed
culture people.
We code switch very, veryquickly, so we might be speaking
Japanese, but interacting asAmericans or Europeans or
non-Japanese, as Americans orEuropeans or or not non-Japanese
.
Or we may also be communicatingin non-Japanese another
(15:20):
language, but interacting asJapanese.
Okay, and we do that fluidly,mm.
And so people who don'tunderstand this interface.
Barbara (15:29):
Yes.
Teja (15:29):
Are feel left out.
Barbara (15:36):
And you know what's I mean?
It's not, it's like an inch.
I think I picture one of thoseum old telephone operators
panels where they're likeplugging and unplugging.
Teja (15:45):
Hello is this, mr johnson good to see you hear you again.
Very good, would you like me toget you in touch with the
president?
Okay, hold on one second please.
Okay, hold on.
Yeah, mr president.
Is mr johnson speaking here?
Yeah, okay, hold on, barbarayeah it's the president, oh it's
.
Barbara (16:02):
It's like that, only in your brain well, where else
would it be?
I.
Teja (16:15):
I spent a lot of time testing the food, not testing
the testing.
The sounds like a tastingrestaurant critic over here
tasting different foods okay.
I don't know why I said well,probably because I'm thinking
Japanese now.
Um, so I was tasting differentfoods that were not really
(16:39):
available growing up.
They didn't have as manydifferent cultural restaurants,
so Tokyo now has.
Barbara (16:45):
Oh, interesting Okay.
Teja (16:47):
I went to an exceptional Indian restaurant, that was just
so.
I walked in and I think the guythought I was probably part
Indian or Indian or somethinglike that.
I mean, I can look likeanything.
Barbara (17:01):
Yeah.
Teja (17:03):
So at first he was going to interact with me almost like
he was glad to see someone whounderstood him.
Barbara (17:11):
How disappointing for him.
But of course I didn't know.
Teja (17:15):
He could have been Japanese, he could have been
here forever, that's true, yeah.
So of course I walked in anddid the whole Japanese walk-in
feature Feature.
Well, I mean like the quick bow, and then the whole
communication, interaction, bodymovement stuff that is typical
(17:37):
of you know, when you enter aplace.
Oh, and of course, then heswitched to Japanese mode.
Okay so for the rest of thetime I was there.
Barbara (17:47):
Okay.
Teja (17:50):
Here is someone who's assuming the other person isn't
going to respond as a Japaneseand the other person is assuming
I'm not when in fact it wouldhave been easily.
You know I could have easilyconverted to whatever he needed
or he could have converted towhat I needed.
So this is a moment.
In the meantime, I'm eatingthis Indian food, which is
(18:10):
incredibly good oh yeah so in mymind I'm thinking wow, I had
the distinct feeling that theowners designed the place to
make them feel comfortable in aplace that's not india okay so
just the design of it and eventhe, uh, even the.
(18:34):
The television that was playingwas streaming Indian music
videos Indian music videos Iactually got some footage and
photographs of Indian musicvideos.
Barbara (18:49):
Okay.
Teja (18:49):
And they were really funny .
Oh okay, really really funny andvery well done and that, and
then the food, and so when Iwalked in, this whole
interchange was going on andthen, well, so when I first sat
down, there was a woman to myleft, uh, with three kids.
They I think were from irelandor I think scotland actually,
(19:15):
and so there was.
She was speaking with ascottish accent.
Her kids were speaking english.
They I think were from Irelandor I think Scotland actually,
and so they were.
She was speaking with aScottish accent.
Her kids were speaking Englishwith a somewhat slightly
Japanese accent.
Oh wow, and so I was thinking,okay, so she's been here a long
time, the kids were born here,probably something like that,
but they were also switchingback and forth between English
and Japanese.
And then they got up to go.
Barbara (19:36):
Yeah.
Teja (19:38):
And then they had left some mess on the table.
So the smallest one bowed andapologized to the Indian manager
.
Barbara (19:47):
Okay.
Teja (19:48):
Because that's what you would do.
Barbara (19:49):
Yes.
Teja (19:50):
I'm sorry for leaving such a mess at the table, because
the mom said to him you need togo apologize because he has to
clean it up.
Then, as soon as they left, aKorean mother and son sat down
next to me speaking in Korean.
So it's just like this, veryinteresting.
Barbara (20:08):
You know what would be easier.
Teja (20:09):
Yeah.
Barbara (20:09):
Flash cards.
Teja (20:12):
Everybody just carries around a deck of flash cards
Keep talking, keep talking, keeptalking and then whichever one
you're gonna be.
Barbara (20:17):
You just like hold the flashcard up at that moment and
if you want to switch, you justflip it to a different flashcard
.
Soooo oh is that so.
That's right?
Teja (20:28):
Ah, that's no good.
You're a little too loud.
What should I do?
So then?
What else did you do while youwere playing?
That's not good.
You're so noisy, what.
(20:50):
Do it again In places where Ifirst learned photography and
filmmaking.
My father had given me a Super8 film camera back when, I think
, when I was 13, 12.
He didn't give it to me, helent it to me it eventually
(21:11):
became mine.
He said in that summer.
He said just you know film andsee what you can learn.
Right, I walked to the.
The first footage I ever tookwas a train crossing.
Barbara (21:25):
Okay.
Teja (21:28):
Near Jugaoka, which is this, the train station near our
where we grew up.
So I walked to the samecrossing and I got footage on my
iPhone of the train passing by.
Barbara (21:43):
Oh, that's pretty cool yeah.
Teja (21:46):
So I was meant to put those two together, but just
things like that, just trying tokind of remembering what it was
like, just things like that,just trying to kind of
remembering what it was like.
But Tokyo has transformed sodramatically.
It has become very cosmopolitan.
Barbara (22:05):
I mean, it always seemed cosmopolitan to me.
Teja (22:08):
It is so, it's international.
Barbara (22:11):
Uh-huh.
Teja (22:12):
You can hear many, many languages.
Well, that's a big change fromthe last time I was there, in
the mid 90s all over and uh, I,I just I just thought it was
magnificent the way japan hasbeen able to transform but also
remain in many respects, veryjapanese what's an example of
(22:35):
that?
Well, when you walk down atypical street where there are
many stores, many stores uh,when we were kids, the owners of
(23:03):
the stores would do things likebefore they open the store in
the morning, they're out thereon the street sweeping the
street.
You're not going to find that.
You know, here in the unitedstates right you're not.
You might sweep in front of yourstore, but you're not going to
sweep the street, you know.
So this is kind of like takecare of your neighbor, kind of
thing, and make sureeverything's clean, and then the
bowing and the hello and allthat kind of thing and um, uh,
(23:24):
the thank yous, that that uh,you know, whenever you hear I I
find the united states, if Ihave to thank the person I'm
buying something from, thenthere's something.
Barbara (23:33):
There's something weird like why am I?
Teja (23:35):
thanking you, but in japan a lot of that's just so
systemic, it's so much part of.
So the, the communication andthe interactions and the look of
places still have that essence,even with the influences of all
(23:55):
the non-Japanese being about.
It still maintains thesemblance of what I remember
Tokyo to be, and so, even if yousmell Indian food or you smell
Mexican food or Chinese food orwhatever, generally speaking you
still get a sense that it'sJapanese, because otherwise it
(24:22):
becomes something that is justmixed in a very interesting way
like New York City.
New York City people say NewYork City New York City where my
mother lived for 30 years, so Iknow New York City very well,
very different from Tokyo.
But New York City is aconglomeration of all kinds of
languages, cultures and smellsand sounds and all that kind of
(24:45):
thing, and that's what New YorkCity is famous for and popular
for and why people love it.
That is what Tokyo would becomeif they were not able to
maintain the essence of Japan.
So that's what I was lookingfor when I was there and I found
(25:06):
it.
I found a lot of it, a lot ofevidence that it's still there.
Barbara (25:10):
Okay, yeah, I appreciate that.
Yeah, and then you got to seeyour brother and your father
while you were there too.
Teja (25:18):
Yep, my father, who is turning 90 very soon.
He makes violins.
Barbara (25:24):
He's very happy.
Yeah, from scratch.
Teja (25:28):
Yes, he makes violins from scratch like just I mean from
wood.
But yes, yeah, yeah, because heprobably doesn't actually use
his nails and no no, his toolshis tools yes are not always
wood I hope not.
Barbara (25:43):
If they're shaping wood , they can't also be wood.
One would think yes he's also.
Teja (25:51):
He goes to the gym three days a week, walks a lot, eats
very well, well, eats healthy,healthily and, uh, generally
doing okay.
So I'm very proud of him, he's,he's.
He still works, so to speakknow not where he used to work,
but you know he gets up everyday and he does stuff to keep
(26:12):
his mind.
Barbara (26:13):
Well, yeah, I mean most people.
I mean when you talk to peoplewho like retire and try to do
nothing it's usually awful.
They hate it.
Oh, yeah, yeah, but he's doingmore than that, but he's doing,
yeah, he looks like he's 70, youknow he yeah, but he's doing
more than that.
Teja (26:30):
But he's doing yeah, he looks like he's 70, you know he
walks fast, he's nimble and mybrother is also doing very well.
He's getting married, I thinknext month.
So I got to meet his fiance andhe's doing well.
He's busy also and they pickedme up at the airport.
Barbara (26:49):
Narita Airport.
Teja (26:50):
And um then, um, yeah, uh just spent a lot of time with
family and friends.
Barbara (26:56):
Good.
Teja (26:57):
I needed to.
Barbara (26:58):
Yeah.
Teja (26:59):
Yeah, you know.
Barbara (27:01):
So where to next?
Teja (27:04):
Uh, I'm thinking New York City.
Barbara (27:05):
Oh, oh, got it, Got it.
How about?
How about Boston?
Oh you ever been there?
I'm thinking New York City, ohgot it got it?
How about Boston?
You ever been there?
No, tell me about Boston.
I mean, it's in a lot of movies.
Teja (27:14):
Is it really?
Barbara (27:14):
Boston yeah, Boston's always the threat in movies.
Teja (27:17):
Oh.
So, for example, I suddenlyhave a new job opportunity.
I might have to move to BostonLike tomorrow.
Yeah right, In the snowstorm.
Barbara (27:24):
Yeah, well, yeah, I mean that's very specifically.
The Hallmark thing is, you know, I have to move to Boston, I
have to move tomorrow.
Teja (27:33):
Hallmark should move its headquarters to.
Barbara (27:35):
Boston To Boston, why not?
Teja (27:36):
Yeah, then they could just say, instead of I have to move
to Boston, I have to move downthe street.
Barbara (27:40):
It's like we're already here in Boston.
Yeah, exactly See.
Teja (27:51):
Yeah, yeah.
Or we could change the name ofthe city from boston to hallmark
.
And everyone drives a red truck.
Barbara (27:54):
Yeah, red pickup truck but I think we've taken a detour
that's true, yeah, yeah, uh,okay, very different, okay, very
very different, but uh, yeah,I'm glad you had a good trip
never long enough well,especially, I mean like there's
jet lag and you lose a day eachdirection because of the travel
time when you come back, youarrive at the same time you've
(28:17):
left, so my plane took off at 415 weird yeah and it arrived at
4 15.
So you want to pick a reallygood day.
Teja (28:29):
To travel.
Barbara (28:30):
Yeah, like it's got to be, like you've got to look at
the alignment of the stars andstuff, Because you're going to
have to live that day twice.
So you really want to plan oh.
Teja (28:43):
I see what you're saying.
Barbara (28:43):
Yeah.
Teja (28:44):
So essentially time travel .
Yes, if you're going to time,because it essentially is time
travel yes so actually, if youkept going the other way, you'd
just get younger and younger andyounger no, actually you'd get
older because you would remaingetting old, but you'd be moving
(29:05):
back in time oh, now you'rehurting my brain everyone would
look at you like oh, you haven'taged a bit, that's because I've
been traveling on japanairlines just around going west
for the past three years,refueled in the air.
30 years, right, exactly right30 years worth of peanuts well
(29:27):
on my protein is like especiallyallergic to peanuts.
Barbara (29:33):
Well, yeah, that would be a problem can I please have
something else?
Teja (29:37):
no longer allergic to peanuts because exposure therapy
that's right, although it'sexposure therapy was the great
food that I got on JapanAirlines.
Barbara (29:48):
I wouldn't mind it.
Yeah, there we go.
Teja (29:49):
I don't know why my voice went so high.
Barbara (29:50):
I don't know.
Well, it's been wonderfulhanging around with you people
today, and we will be on to anew conversational adventure
next time.
Teja (30:06):
Yes, we will.
Barbara (30:07):
Please do remember to, to you know, say how wonderful
this was.
Teja (30:13):
Give us some some five stars if you may, a little
review for us dance it click afollow dance it.
Tick tock, dance it ohinteresting.
Talk all about living forward.
Barbara (30:28):
I see, yeah, so they can make little custom TikTok
dances about living forwardRight.
Oof Okay.
Teja (30:36):
Doesn't sound right, okay.
Barbara (30:37):
That's a whole thing.
Yeah, so you can do that.
We'll love you for it and therest of the world will think
you're tiktok dance for livingforward oh, you have to forward
both of us will replicate it ohand we'll do it back for you oh,
I see, except we're not ontiktok.
(30:57):
It's a great we're on instagram.
So if you do an instagram, yeah, you do an instagram dance for
living forward then then we'llhave to do it back.
Teja (31:07):
You just have to make sure that you make it clear that
it's for living forward.
Either use it, you use, youknow.
Barbara (31:12):
Yeah.
Teja (31:13):
You use the phrase living forward.
Barbara (31:14):
Paper mask with Taya's face on it.
Teja (31:17):
Does it have to be paper?
Barbara (31:19):
Could be cardboard.
Teja (31:20):
What about gold?
Barbara (31:25):
That would be a little extra, but sure, okay, sure Just
want to make sure.
Mixed media.
That would be a little extra.
Teja (31:33):
But sure, okay, sure, just want to make sure.
Mixed media, little cubist,little uh potato paintings, yeah
, oh, I remember those littlepotato stamps, those in like
kindergarten.
Barbara (31:46):
We'd better stop now all right have a wonderful week
or so until we hear from you,until you hear from us next,
that's right.
We're using a new microphone today.
Teja (00:06):
Does it sound better.
Barbara (00:08):
Yeah, we're playing around.
Teja (00:09):
Are you sounding better?
Barbara (00:11):
Am I sounding better?
Teja (00:12):
Are you sounding better?
I?
Specifically am sounding better.
I mean, I'm not listening to itin the headphones.
Oh okay, I'm just guessing.
Barbara (00:19):
Yes, We'll see, though I guess we'll find out if we
sound better Listeners.
Why don't you tell us if wesound?
Teja (00:26):
better or not?
Do we sound better like this?
If I soften my voice, would Isound better?
Barbara (00:30):
How about if I talk like this?
Teja (00:32):
Do we sound better?
Experimenting with thetechnology.
Oh, the technology, yes.
Barbara (00:39):
Oh hey.
Teja (00:40):
What.
Barbara (00:41):
You went somewhere with that?
Teja (00:42):
No, no, I didn't.
Barbara (00:45):
I said experimenting with the technology.
Teja (00:46):
Of course you did.
Barbara (00:46):
Yes, that's what I said ?
Yes, you did it sounded goodabsolutely it still sounds good
yes, and then you went away, andnow you're back, and then we
had stuff, and so we've got ourfrequent flyer miles from my
going away.
I know, I know.
But then we got sort of stuckin our things again.
We had stuff going on like caraccidents.
Teja (01:11):
Oh boy.
Barbara (01:12):
Yeah.
Teja (01:14):
You know I was and we can talk about more of this part,
but it was the second to lastday of my going home to tokyo
for reunion when at 5 40 in themorning, I felt so bad, I get a,
I get a call from you yeah andI'm thinking.
(01:35):
First I thought oh, she forgotthat we're 14 hours ahead and
then and then it kept ringing.
I'm like I think I betteranswer this.
Yeah, and she had just been ina car accident.
Barbara (01:49):
Yes, yes, which was really scary.
I've never been in a majoraccident before, and this was a
major, major accident.
Teja (02:00):
Head-on collision.
Barbara (02:01):
Yeah.
Teja (02:02):
Some idiot went over the yellow line.
Barbara (02:04):
Because his dog.
He had a loose dog in the car,and so I'm just.
I was coming back from pickingup our daughter's things from
college and my she was not inthe car with us, though and then
my sister and brother-in-lawwere in a car behind me, and
(02:27):
we're just driving down the road, got stuff in the car a big
rented SUV and suddenly I justsee this guy coming at me.
And basically I had only amoment to think, What the heck
is this guy doing?
Before I was just surrounded byairbags, which is just.
(02:51):
It's the weirdest thing,because it happens so fast.
Teja (02:54):
Well, I'm glad that the airbag s deployed.
Barbara (02:56):
Well, yea h, me too, and the seatbelt was no joke.
And this was not long afterrecovery,
Right From my, from my surgery, right.
So.
So there I am and, and you know, now my sternum, the bone in
the front of my chest, ishurting and I've got this big
welt on the the left shoulderwhere the seatbelt got me.
(03:19):
But I guess you know the thething that I think of, because,
you know, working in a hospitaland at the beginning of my
career I worked at a rehabhospital and I saw all kinds of
people you know who'd been inmajor car accidents and had not
in fact been wearing a seatbeltand were ejected from the car.
So I was like well, here, I amstill in the seat and, yeah,
(03:43):
chest hurts, seat belt injury,but I did not get ejected from
the car, so I took that as a win.
Teja (host) so this guy with thethe dog, so the dogs in the car
just loose in the carBarbara (host) ju st loose in
the car.
thereFolks out there.
If
Teja (03:57):
If you have a loose animal in your car, don't drive just
don't, just don't drive, don'tdogs don't know how to drive,
neither do cats or fish and theydon't realize that you're
driving so they'll do thingslike try and jump in your lap
and do things and because theydon't get it luckily the dog
survived yeah, the dog would.
Barbara (04:16):
The dog was good, but this guy caused a four car
accident destroyed your sister'scar yeah, because he he hit me,
bounced off of me, went acrossthe road.
apparently again, I wassurrounded in airbags.
After like 0.5 seconds Icouldn't see anything, but I
(04:37):
heard all this stuff and so helike crashed into another car
across the street and then heswerved back across over to the
other side, took the front offmy sister and brother-in-law's
car and landed in the bushes.
And so by the time I struggleout of the car, there's a dog
running around.
(04:57):
There's some guy with likeblood on his face holding his
arm running after the dog.
My sister, who works for a vet,is also running after the dog
and I'm in pain.
There did just happen to be intraffic about three cars behind
my sister, a fire truck randomly, so there were firefighters on
(05:21):
the scene immediately while theywaited for the ones in the town
we were actually in have youchecked on station 19 for any
b-roll footage I know, yeah,that's our current.
Teja (05:34):
It's our one of our current watches yeah, you know,
because if you happen to seewhat probably was your accident,
yeah, well, yeah, they werejust getting footage right.
Barbara (05:42):
Right, you know, I mean , just might as well, let the
cameras roll as long as they'reon the road.
Yeah, I didn't check to see,like Herrera or someone.
Teja (05:47):
But why did your sister go check out the dog and not you?
Barbara (05:52):
Well, no, she did come over to me.
Teja (05:55):
Okay, I'm just kidding.
Barbara (05:57):
Yeah, no, it was chaos because people are in shock.
Teja (05:59):
I know they don't know to do and this guy was chasing
esther, he didn't care about youyeah, I anyway so that's, but
I'm okay, it's upsetting it tooka good couple weeks so I tried
to get a ticket to come homeearlier and I couldn't do that I
wasn't able to.
Barbara (06:16):
There was nothing available right, because there
you are, literally halfwayacross the planet literally yes,
halfway across the planet,literally.
Yes, halfway across the planet.
And, yeah, there was nothing wecould do.
Teja (06:26):
And we stayed in contact and you were okay.
I was okay, yeah, and yoursister's okay, brother-in-law's
okay, mm-hmm, and the peoplebehind you were, I presume okay.
Barbara (06:37):
Yeah, well, they were behind me.
They were behind you Right,okay, right.
Teja (06:41):
And then a month after that our daughter gets into an
accident.
Barbara (06:44):
Someone rear-ends her.
Teja (06:46):
Rear-ends her so badly that a month after the accident
we finally learned that the carhad been completely totaled.
Barbara (06:53):
Even though it was only a one-year-old car.
Teja (06:56):
Yep.
Barbara (06:56):
So we are done with car accidents.
Thank you very much.
Teja (06:59):
So please, anybody out there if you're planning on
getting into an accident lettingyour dog?
Barbara (07:03):
loose in the car or tailgating, or at least with us.
Just leave us out of it.
Just leave us out of it, leaveus out of it.
We're done with that, thank youvery much.
Teja (07:11):
Thank you, and scene.
Barbara (07:15):
Yes, but we're really here, though, to talk about that
trip you were on.
You went back to Japan.
Teja (07:23):
I went home for a reunion, for my high school reunion, and
to see my father and my brotherand a bunch of friends and just
kind of reacquaint myself withmy neighborhoods, those stomping
grounds where I grew up, whereI was a little kid.
Barbara (07:40):
Yeah.
Teja (07:41):
It was great.
It was absolutely fantastic.
I graduated with about 38 guys.
It was an all-boys school.
Barbara (07:51):
Super, super small class, but we should mention
here.
Teja (07:54):
And very tight.
Barbara (07:55):
You had been planning to go back.
Teja (07:57):
Oh yeah.
Barbara (07:57):
In 2020.
Teja (07:59):
2021.
Because that would have beenour reunion.
Oh, okay, I thought it was 2020.
Barbara (08:05):
Okay, you'd been planning it in 2020.
Teja (08:08):
Right, because I graduated high school in 81.
Barbara (08:09):
Yeah, so that didn't happen.
Teja (08:11):
Right, it was COVID.
Japan had closed its borders.
And you're like no, I don'tthink so.
Yeah, and then, of course, justthe timing of everything.
So we finally had a reunionseveral years later.
It was excellent.
We had a lot of major events,dinners, we had, I think, 13 or
(08:32):
14 different countries, peoplecoming from.
Barbara (08:35):
It was excellent.
Teja (08:36):
It was absolutely wonderful and, of course, the
food was great and verynostalgic and very nostalgic.
I spent many days just walkingaround and getting a feel for
what Tokyo is now.
Ever since I came to the States, people have always said things
(08:59):
like even people who know thatit's my home say things like oh,
you're so lucky you get to goto japan, or that's so amazing,
or wow, that's the one placeI've always wanted to go.
Did you know that in japan?
Barbara (09:15):
blah, blah blah, you know like, have you heard
anything.
Teja (09:20):
I've said um, but there.
But there's so much truth tohow much a place means to you.
It doesn't matter where it isin the world, but if you grow up
somewhere and you're attachedto it, no matter how long it is
between visits.
(09:40):
When you go back, there's justa great sense of belonging.
And when I was younger, youlook for different ways in which
to engage and belong.
But I'm older now so there arethings that I don't need.
(10:06):
I don't need confirmation.
So when I was younger, I used,when I would go back, I would
just kind of like yeah, I'mstill here, I'm still part of
this, and the reason for that isbecause japanese culture tends
to be very closed.
So when, once you leave, yeahyou're no longer really part of
the community, but my friendsare all from all over the world
(10:31):
and my friends and I are reallyreally close.
I think probably a lot closerthan from what I've heard a lot
of the years before and yearsafter at our school, so yours
was just a particularly closeyear, absolutely close.
We all really support eachother and we organized this
(10:55):
thing and we talked, sharedphotographs and yearbooks and
stories and it was almost as ifit was yesterday.
And it had been seven years.
Our reunions in the past havebeen in the US or in Hawaii or
other places.
This is the first time since wegraduated in 1981 where we had
(11:19):
our full reunion.
Barbara (11:21):
Oh, I didn't realize that, okay, full reunion.
Oh, I didn't realize that.
Okay.
So is it like all reunionswhere you know there's the drunk
one and then there's the sillyone and then there's the
philosophical one, and you know,like, because you have roles to
play in you know the highschool reunion experience?
Teja (11:43):
yes and no.
Yes in that yes ah, okay well,because you kind of have to
cycle through.
Barbara (11:51):
Everyone takes turns oh , no see, but that's not
supposed to be the way it isthat's all that japanese sharing
and stuff is taking turns nohere in the states.
You, you double down doubledown on your high school
personality when you go toreunions.
So if you were, the one whoneeded someone to hold your hair
back over the toilet.
That is what you became.
Teja (12:13):
Was that who you were, so?
Barbara (12:14):
40 years later.
No, no, no, I was thephilosophical one.
Teja (12:18):
You had the hair, though.
Barbara (12:20):
Not, really, not, really.
No, I was the psychologist orsomething I don't have the hair
anymore, I don't know so, butyou could have worn a wig, but I
don't think you were thatperson, you know.
Teja (12:33):
No, I was not.
I didn't drink much.
Yes, ah, yes, I was always theclass clown.
Barbara (12:40):
Okay.
Teja (12:41):
I remember I used to stand up in the middle of the
cafeteria.
Barbara (12:47):
Oh dear.
Teja (12:48):
While everyone's eating.
Barbara (12:49):
Uh-huh.
Teja (12:51):
I don't remember why, uh-huh.
Okay, from what I understand,what I've been told,
Pathological need for attention.
More like I was trying to getmy jokes delivered.
Barbara (13:02):
UPS or FedEx.
Teja (13:05):
In this case hand-delivered.
Barbara (13:07):
Okay, all right.
Teja (13:08):
Yep, uh-huh, often not with great applause.
No, no More like sit the helldown yeah, yeah.
Barbara (13:18):
Well, I mean, in japan they have that saying right
about that's not.
Teja (13:22):
You're not the obvious one , or you're not the one who is
trying to get attention I?
Barbara (13:29):
I think you were a little obvious I think I was
very obvious.
Teja (13:33):
But even in japan there's always the class clown.
Barbara (13:36):
But also this is a very international group of people.
Teja (13:39):
True.
Barbara (13:39):
So when you've got that situation, then like, which
version of party life do youchoose?
You got you know European partylife, american party life,
south American party life, likeall these people are coming from
all over the place.
Like, how do you choose One bigmixed party life?
Like all these?
Teja (13:55):
people are coming from all over the place, like how do you
choose?
It's just one big mixed partylife.
Mm-hmm, okay With a wrapped inJapanese interface.
Barbara (14:10):
Oh, oh, uh-huh Okay.
Teja (14:15):
Meaning that?
Eh, wait a minute.
Okay, meaning that Wait?
Barbara (14:17):
a minute.
Do I have that right yet?
Okay, oh, I can't do it.
Teja (14:27):
How did I do?
Barbara (14:28):
Pretty good, okay, pretty good.
I tried.
Pretty good, okay, pretty goodI try, I try.
Teja (14:36):
The understanding is that in this moment, in this place,
for example, you interact as youwould in Japan, whereas if we
all got together in New YorkCity, which we did many years
ago you interact as if you're inNew York City.
Barbara (14:55):
I see.
Teja (14:55):
And so the what we call the TCK, the third culture kid
people who've grown up indifferent countries, or mixed
culture people.
We code switch very, veryquickly, so we might be speaking
Japanese, but interacting asAmericans or Europeans or
non-Japanese, as Americans orEuropeans or or not non-Japanese
.
Or we may also be communicatingin non-Japanese another
(15:20):
language, but interacting asJapanese.
Okay, and we do that fluidly,mm.
And so people who don'tunderstand this interface.
Barbara (15:29):
Yes.
Teja (15:29):
Are feel left out.
Barbara (15:36):
And you know what's I mean?
It's not, it's like an inch.
I think I picture one of thoseum old telephone operators
panels where they're likeplugging and unplugging.
Teja (15:45):
Hello is this, mr johnson good to see you hear you again.
Very good, would you like me toget you in touch with the
president?
Okay, hold on one second please.
Okay, hold on.
Yeah, mr president.
Is mr johnson speaking here?
Yeah, okay, hold on, barbarayeah it's the president, oh it's
.
Barbara (16:02):
It's like that, only in your brain well, where else
would it be?
I.
Teja (16:15):
I spent a lot of time testing the food, not testing
the testing.
The sounds like a tastingrestaurant critic over here
tasting different foods okay.
I don't know why I said well,probably because I'm thinking
Japanese now.
Um, so I was tasting differentfoods that were not really
(16:39):
available growing up.
They didn't have as manydifferent cultural restaurants,
so Tokyo now has.
Barbara (16:45):
Oh, interesting Okay.
Teja (16:47):
I went to an exceptional Indian restaurant, that was just
so.
I walked in and I think the guythought I was probably part
Indian or Indian or somethinglike that.
I mean, I can look likeanything.
Barbara (17:01):
Yeah.
Teja (17:03):
So at first he was going to interact with me almost like
he was glad to see someone whounderstood him.
Barbara (17:11):
How disappointing for him.
But of course I didn't know.
Teja (17:15):
He could have been Japanese, he could have been
here forever, that's true, yeah.
So of course I walked in anddid the whole Japanese walk-in
feature Feature.
Well, I mean like the quick bow, and then the whole
communication, interaction, bodymovement stuff that is typical
(17:37):
of you know, when you enter aplace.
Oh, and of course, then heswitched to Japanese mode.
Okay so for the rest of thetime I was there.
Barbara (17:47):
Okay.
Teja (17:50):
Here is someone who's assuming the other person isn't
going to respond as a Japaneseand the other person is assuming
I'm not when in fact it wouldhave been easily.
You know I could have easilyconverted to whatever he needed
or he could have converted towhat I needed.
So this is a moment.
In the meantime, I'm eatingthis Indian food, which is
(18:10):
incredibly good oh yeah so in mymind I'm thinking wow, I had
the distinct feeling that theowners designed the place to
make them feel comfortable in aplace that's not india okay so
just the design of it and eventhe, uh, even the.
(18:34):
The television that was playingwas streaming Indian music
videos Indian music videos Iactually got some footage and
photographs of Indian musicvideos.
Barbara (18:49):
Okay.
Teja (18:49):
And they were really funny .
Oh okay, really really funny andvery well done and that, and
then the food, and so when Iwalked in, this whole
interchange was going on andthen, well, so when I first sat
down, there was a woman to myleft, uh, with three kids.
They I think were from irelandor I think scotland actually,
(19:15):
and so there was.
She was speaking with ascottish accent.
Her kids were speaking english.
They I think were from Irelandor I think Scotland actually,
and so they were.
She was speaking with aScottish accent.
Her kids were speaking Englishwith a somewhat slightly
Japanese accent.
Oh wow, and so I was thinking,okay, so she's been here a long
time, the kids were born here,probably something like that,
but they were also switchingback and forth between English
and Japanese.
And then they got up to go.
Barbara (19:36):
Yeah.
Teja (19:38):
And then they had left some mess on the table.
So the smallest one bowed andapologized to the Indian manager
.
Barbara (19:47):
Okay.
Teja (19:48):
Because that's what you would do.
Barbara (19:49):
Yes.
Teja (19:50):
I'm sorry for leaving such a mess at the table, because
the mom said to him you need togo apologize because he has to
clean it up.
Then, as soon as they left, aKorean mother and son sat down
next to me speaking in Korean.
So it's just like this, veryinteresting.
Barbara (20:08):
You know what would be easier.
Teja (20:09):
Yeah.
Barbara (20:09):
Flash cards.
Teja (20:12):
Everybody just carries around a deck of flash cards
Keep talking, keep talking, keeptalking and then whichever one
you're gonna be.
Barbara (20:17):
You just like hold the flashcard up at that moment and
if you want to switch, you justflip it to a different flashcard
.
Soooo oh is that so.
That's right?
Teja (20:28):
Ah, that's no good.
You're a little too loud.
What should I do?
So then?
What else did you do while youwere playing?
That's not good.
You're so noisy, what.
(20:50):
Do it again In places where Ifirst learned photography and
filmmaking.
My father had given me a Super8 film camera back when, I think
, when I was 13, 12.
He didn't give it to me, helent it to me it eventually
(21:11):
became mine.
He said in that summer.
He said just you know film andsee what you can learn.
Right, I walked to the.
The first footage I ever tookwas a train crossing.
Barbara (21:25):
Okay.
Teja (21:28):
Near Jugaoka, which is this, the train station near our
where we grew up.
So I walked to the samecrossing and I got footage on my
iPhone of the train passing by.
Barbara (21:43):
Oh, that's pretty cool yeah.
Teja (21:46):
So I was meant to put those two together, but just
things like that, just trying tokind of remembering what it was
like, just things like that,just trying to kind of
remembering what it was like.
But Tokyo has transformed sodramatically.
It has become very cosmopolitan.
Barbara (22:05):
I mean, it always seemed cosmopolitan to me.
Teja (22:08):
It is so, it's international.
Barbara (22:11):
Uh-huh.
Teja (22:12):
You can hear many, many languages.
Well, that's a big change fromthe last time I was there, in
the mid 90s all over and uh, I,I just I just thought it was
magnificent the way japan hasbeen able to transform but also
remain in many respects, veryjapanese what's an example of
(22:35):
that?
Well, when you walk down atypical street where there are
many stores, many stores uh,when we were kids, the owners of
(23:03):
the stores would do things likebefore they open the store in
the morning, they're out thereon the street sweeping the
street.
You're not going to find that.
You know, here in the unitedstates right you're not.
You might sweep in front of yourstore, but you're not going to
sweep the street, you know.
So this is kind of like takecare of your neighbor, kind of
thing, and make sureeverything's clean, and then the
bowing and the hello and allthat kind of thing and um, uh,
(23:24):
the thank yous, that that uh,you know, whenever you hear I I
find the united states, if Ihave to thank the person I'm
buying something from, thenthere's something.
Barbara (23:33):
There's something weird like why am I?
Teja (23:35):
thanking you, but in japan a lot of that's just so
systemic, it's so much part of.
So the, the communication andthe interactions and the look of
places still have that essence,even with the influences of all
(23:55):
the non-Japanese being about.
It still maintains thesemblance of what I remember
Tokyo to be, and so, even if yousmell Indian food or you smell
Mexican food or Chinese food orwhatever, generally speaking you
still get a sense that it'sJapanese, because otherwise it
(24:22):
becomes something that is justmixed in a very interesting way
like New York City.
New York City people say NewYork City New York City where my
mother lived for 30 years, so Iknow New York City very well,
very different from Tokyo.
But New York City is aconglomeration of all kinds of
languages, cultures and smellsand sounds and all that kind of
(24:45):
thing, and that's what New YorkCity is famous for and popular
for and why people love it.
That is what Tokyo would becomeif they were not able to
maintain the essence of Japan.
So that's what I was lookingfor when I was there and I found
(25:06):
it.
I found a lot of it, a lot ofevidence that it's still there.
Barbara (25:10):
Okay, yeah, I appreciate that.
Yeah, and then you got to seeyour brother and your father
while you were there too.
Teja (25:18):
Yep, my father, who is turning 90 very soon.
He makes violins.
Barbara (25:24):
He's very happy.
Yeah, from scratch.
Teja (25:28):
Yes, he makes violins from scratch like just I mean from
wood.
But yes, yeah, yeah, because heprobably doesn't actually use
his nails and no no, his toolshis tools yes are not always
wood I hope not.
Barbara (25:43):
If they're shaping wood , they can't also be wood.
One would think yes he's also.
Teja (25:51):
He goes to the gym three days a week, walks a lot, eats
very well, well, eats healthy,healthily and, uh, generally
doing okay.
So I'm very proud of him, he's,he's.
He still works, so to speakknow not where he used to work,
but you know he gets up everyday and he does stuff to keep
(26:12):
his mind.
Barbara (26:13):
Well, yeah, I mean most people.
I mean when you talk to peoplewho like retire and try to do
nothing it's usually awful.
They hate it.
Oh, yeah, yeah, but he's doingmore than that, but he's doing,
yeah, he looks like he's 70, youknow he yeah, but he's doing
more than that.
Teja (26:30):
But he's doing yeah, he looks like he's 70, you know he
walks fast, he's nimble and mybrother is also doing very well.
He's getting married, I thinknext month.
So I got to meet his fiance andhe's doing well.
He's busy also and they pickedme up at the airport.
Barbara (26:49):
Narita Airport.
Teja (26:50):
And um then, um, yeah, uh just spent a lot of time with
family and friends.
Barbara (26:56):
Good.
Teja (26:57):
I needed to.
Barbara (26:58):
Yeah.
Teja (26:59):
Yeah, you know.
Barbara (27:01):
So where to next?
Teja (27:04):
Uh, I'm thinking New York City.
Barbara (27:05):
Oh, oh, got it, Got it.
How about?
How about Boston?
Oh you ever been there?
I'm thinking New York City, ohgot it got it?
How about Boston?
You ever been there?
No, tell me about Boston.
I mean, it's in a lot of movies.
Teja (27:14):
Is it really?
Barbara (27:14):
Boston yeah, Boston's always the threat in movies.
Teja (27:17):
Oh.
So, for example, I suddenlyhave a new job opportunity.
I might have to move to BostonLike tomorrow.
Yeah right, In the snowstorm.
Barbara (27:24):
Yeah, well, yeah, I mean that's very specifically.
The Hallmark thing is, you know, I have to move to Boston, I
have to move tomorrow.
Teja (27:33):
Hallmark should move its headquarters to.
Barbara (27:35):
Boston To Boston, why not?
Teja (27:36):
Yeah, then they could just say, instead of I have to move
to Boston, I have to move downthe street.
Barbara (27:40):
It's like we're already here in Boston.
Yeah, exactly See.
Teja (27:51):
Yeah, yeah.
Or we could change the name ofthe city from boston to hallmark
.
And everyone drives a red truck.
Barbara (27:54):
Yeah, red pickup truck but I think we've taken a detour
that's true, yeah, yeah, uh,okay, very different, okay, very
very different, but uh, yeah,I'm glad you had a good trip
never long enough well,especially, I mean like there's
jet lag and you lose a day eachdirection because of the travel
time when you come back, youarrive at the same time you've
(28:17):
left, so my plane took off at 415 weird yeah and it arrived at
4 15.
So you want to pick a reallygood day.
Teja (28:29):
To travel.
Barbara (28:30):
Yeah, like it's got to be, like you've got to look at
the alignment of the stars andstuff, Because you're going to
have to live that day twice.
So you really want to plan oh.
Teja (28:43):
I see what you're saying.
Barbara (28:43):
Yeah.
Teja (28:44):
So essentially time travel .
Yes, if you're going to time,because it essentially is time
travel yes so actually, if youkept going the other way, you'd
just get younger and younger andyounger no, actually you'd get
older because you would remaingetting old, but you'd be moving
(29:05):
back in time oh, now you'rehurting my brain everyone would
look at you like oh, you haven'taged a bit, that's because I've
been traveling on japanairlines just around going west
for the past three years,refueled in the air.
30 years, right, exactly right30 years worth of peanuts well
(29:27):
on my protein is like especiallyallergic to peanuts.
Barbara (29:33):
Well, yeah, that would be a problem can I please have
something else?
Teja (29:37):
no longer allergic to peanuts because exposure therapy
that's right, although it'sexposure therapy was the great
food that I got on JapanAirlines.
Barbara (29:48):
I wouldn't mind it.
Yeah, there we go.
Teja (29:49):
I don't know why my voice went so high.
Barbara (29:50):
I don't know.
Well, it's been wonderfulhanging around with you people
today, and we will be on to anew conversational adventure
next time.
Teja (30:06):
Yes, we will.
Barbara (30:07):
Please do remember to, to you know, say how wonderful
this was.
Teja (30:13):
Give us some some five stars if you may, a little
review for us dance it click afollow dance it.
Tick tock, dance it ohinteresting.
Talk all about living forward.
Barbara (30:28):
I see, yeah, so they can make little custom TikTok
dances about living forwardRight.
Oof Okay.
Teja (30:36):
Doesn't sound right, okay.
Barbara (30:37):
That's a whole thing.
Yeah, so you can do that.
We'll love you for it and therest of the world will think
you're tiktok dance for livingforward oh, you have to forward
both of us will replicate it ohand we'll do it back for you oh,
I see, except we're not ontiktok.
(30:57):
It's a great we're on instagram.
So if you do an instagram, yeah, you do an instagram dance for
living forward then then we'llhave to do it back.
Teja (31:07):
You just have to make sure that you make it clear that
it's for living forward.
Either use it, you use, youknow.
Barbara (31:12):
Yeah.
Teja (31:13):
You use the phrase living forward.
Barbara (31:14):
Paper mask with Taya's face on it.
Teja (31:17):
Does it have to be paper?
Barbara (31:19):
Could be cardboard.
Teja (31:20):
What about gold?
Barbara (31:25):
That would be a little extra, but sure, okay, sure Just
want to make sure.
Mixed media.
That would be a little extra.
Teja (31:33):
But sure, okay, sure, just want to make sure.
Mixed media, little cubist,little uh potato paintings, yeah
, oh, I remember those littlepotato stamps, those in like
kindergarten.
Barbara (31:46):
We'd better stop now all right have a wonderful week
or so until we hear from you,until you hear from us next,
that's right.
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