KIMbia Athletics

I encountered so many fantastic Japanese people today! It began with the San Francisco State graduate-turned hotel bellhop. He gave me directions to the nearest public pool and doubled my Japanese vocabulary by explaining that “Ohio” means “good morning”! I’ve had plenty of opportunities to overuse both this word and my second Japanese phrase, “Arigato” (Thank You) throughout the course of the day.

Michelle Takes on the Public Pool System of Osaka…
Armed with verbal directions and a city map, I set off from the hotel in search of the pool. It’s great to finally experience the city without being separated from it by the glass windows of a bus. I took the scenic route, which parallels the city canal. I’m so relieved that this waterway cuts through the city; it gives a connection to nature that otherwise seems very difficult to find. Not that the shops and alleyways and buildings that have replaced a more natural world aren’t fascinating in their own way, but I’m finding more and more that I prefer a balance of human development and green places.

I manage to arrive at the pool without becoming ridiculously lost (one point to Michelle), but then have to confront the challenge of a) payment for the use of the pool and b) finding the locker room in a completely English-free environment (one point to The Pool). After much gesturing, hand motioning, and wasted breath in futile spoken conversation, I successfully pay and am admitted into the indoor pool area (two points to The Pool for requiring such effort to complete a very simple process). The time in the pool ended up teaching me a few valuable lessons along the way…

Lesson 1 - Shoes must not be worn in pool locker rooms!
The Japanese do not share the American fear of walking barefooted in public places, a fact that an elderly Japanese women helped me to learn (again plenty of gesturing and useless spoken phrases all around) before guiding me through a sliding door to the pool area itself.

Lesson 2 - Swim caps must be worn at all times in the pool!
Unaware that goggles are only half of the necessary pool equipment in Japan, I hopped into an open lane, eager to get my 1/2 mile swim started (and finished!). However, before I could push off of the wall, I notice four lifeguards waving like crazy and rushing in my direction. Thankfully, one of them spoke enough English to explain the problem, that swimming always requires a cap. As I studied the 100% hair coverage of the other people in the pool, I couldn’t disagree. The group was so apologetic for their approach and unbelievably eager to help me use the pool though. I have been absolutely awed by the attentiveness, friendliness, and politeness of every single Japanese person I have encountered so far. I ended up buying a swim cap, and learning more Japanese in the process (I can now say ‘My name is Michelle’).

Throughout the rest of the afternoon, I continued my exploration of Osaka. I picked an alleyway that looked interesting, and ventured into a tiny cafe. It was a huge stroke of luck - I immediately found myself in fascinating conversation with an American woman who has been working in Osaka for the last seven years. She gave me directions to the Hanging Gardens, as well as explicit instructions about how to travel to nearby Kyoto.

I arrived back to the hotel in perfect time to meet with the outstanding USATF medical staff. Thanks to the expert care of Julie, Tom, and Ben, I feel like tonight’s run should go really well (I’ve been battling tibialis-posterior tendonitis for the last month). I’m hanging out in the Athlete Room of the hotel now; there’s an unbroken stream of noises from the Wii behind me, as well as games of chess, Jenga, and Connect-Four on the surrounding tables. Many people had to undergo drug testing today - it sounds pretty brutal…not just urine tests, but blood is drawn as well.