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beimprobable 
9:32am
She came back to work yesterday as smiles, just like her usual self. It was amazing and alarming. It's very Japanese to be stoic and to hide one's true heart beneath a veneer of somesort, and she is truly a master at this. It takes a lot of strength to be come to work like this and the more I observe her, the more and more I am learning to be just as strong. I am not there yet. But I will be.
I have been ruminating on a topic that is related to this idea of hiding one's real self here in Japan. There's a term for it. It's called Tatemae and it makes navigating relationships (any kind of relationship) very difficult. It's literally a front or a fake friendly persona Japanese people put on to smooth the sharp edges of social situations. But, most of the time, it causes other people a lot of trouble just trying to figure out if you really meant your words or the acceptance of your invitation or if they just didn't want to flat out refuse since it's rude to be so blunt.
Right, I'll probably do an actual post on that...eventually.
The point of this was an update and to say that she Amazes. Me. All. The. Time. And at the same time, I worry about her. I worry if she's really okay.
