Osaka - Homerun

Shrines! Shrines everywhere! ⛩

It's raining. A good time to start the day with something that comes from this part of the earth, but that I have completely neglected here. Meditation. 10 minutes, and I'm totally clear. I need that too, because the first nights in a new accommodation are always difficult.
As I finish a few things on my laptop and look out the window on the 14th floor, I am amazed. On the building opposite, directly at eye level, there is a small shrine.

Pre-Show 💃

I'm writing on the blog and then heading to the baseball stadium. Last night I received an email with detailed instructions and something to present at 7-11.
On the way to the baseball stadium, I quickly take care of the handover at one of the numerous 7-11. At the counter, I show my email with the words 'Ticket pickup, please.' Then over to the stadium.

At this point, it should be said that it is my very first visit to a stadium ever, and that in a foreign country. For a sport that I have no idea about. In a language that I don't understand. If so, why not. 😅

I notice the toilets; I have no idea if this is also the case in German stadiums. On the right there is an entrance, on the left an exit. Efficient.

If I had informed myself about the stadium, I would have probably come in short clothes. It's soooo hot here, and I'm sitting here with jeans, sweater and jacket because of the rain. 💦

I watch the pre-show. A girl band sings something very meaningful. 'Update', followed by something Japanese. As if I understand anything, but that doesn't matter at all. I enjoy it, let it in, let it flow through my system. I am rewarded with teary eyes full of happiness.

Then the people next to me stand up, then everyone. I join in, a children's choir starts singing, next to it the Japanese flag. Then it must be the national anthem.

Let's go ⚾

When I booked the ticket, I had no idea about the teams, who the visitors are, etc. Now I'm sitting here, with the fans of the Saitama Seibu Lions in the visitor's block. I like the logo, it's an adult version of 'Kimba, the white lion'.
And what do lions eat for breakfast? Buffaloes. More specifically, the 'Orix Buffaloes'. At least I hope so, because the Buffaloes are the favorites.

After a while of watching, I at least understand which is my team. I still don't understand the rules, because my active Wii Baseball time is too long ago.
Here, too, I notice the security. This exaggerated consideration when it comes to changing positions. Because then he bows very deeply, not blocking anyone's view.

I have to give the Buffaloes ultras credit, they know how to create a musical atmosphere. It would have been even more fun to sit in that block than to sit here. At least that was my opinion until the fifth inning. At that point, we were behind 3-0. But then, out of nowhere, with a single hit, we caught up, 3-3. I'm starting to like the sport.

We are the champions 🥇

The more I like it, the more I look up the rules and scores. 'Aaaaah, that's how it works.' Then it keeps pulling me from inning to inning.

In the eighth inning, we take the lead and I'm excited.

At the beginning of the ninth inning, I now also stand with the people, clap and cheer, support them. I don't sing along, because in the end I could insult someone's mother due to wrong pronunciation. But in an unexpected moment, I catch myself saying 'Let's go, ...' before I stop before the name.
I watch a three-hour game whose rules I didn't know beforehand,
with two teams I've never heard of before,
in a country where after 7 weeks I still only understand a handful of the language, and I'm just blissfully happy as a child.
And I high-five the locals with tears of joy when the last hit is made. Once again, I'm on the winning side.

And yes, as the stereotypes go, people cleanly take their trash with them and throw it away accordingly. I love it.

Hell, hell, hell! 🕹

With an earworm fan chant, I briefly go to the mall to buy groceries. I probably won't get used to shopping on Sundays.

After a quick meal at the accommodation, I continue to the game arcade. I have about an hour before my phone call home. It has been raining continuously since this morning. There it is again, plastic. This time in the form of rain protection from shopping bags. Something new again.

In the game arcade, I exchange my money for coins, but I only manage to lose €4. That's what I spend on rhythm games with drumsticks or clapping buttons. I'm having a good time.

Wanna duck? 🤨

Speaking of 'having a good time', on the way back to the hotel, an Asian woman approaches me in pouring rain. She asks me something. Then I understand, at least her words.
'Massage?'.
Wait, she's looking for a massage? And she's asking the obviously foreigner? When she adds 'Sex', the penny drops for me too. 😅

Fears and the 'Why?' 😱

In the phone call, we touch on some topics, including the topic of fear. My opinion on that?

Fear is based, like many things in life, on a lack of information. Like, for example, in interpersonal relationships or at work.
'Oh, you meant it that way!' or 'Oh, I didn't know that. 🦙' are just two manifestations of information deficits that arise from a lack of knowledge. And a lack of knowledge is often rooted in a lack of proper communication. If you close the information deficit, you bury expectations.

The same is true for fear. You don't know what's coming because you have an information deficit. You lack the information in the form of experiences.
'I won't change jobs because [...]' or 'I'm afraid to do that because [...]' are just two typical statements. You lack the information in the form of experiences. And how do you get rid of this information deficit?

Well, how do you get rid of the fear of rejection? How do you get rid of the fear of going on stage for the first time?
You have to be rejected. You have to go on stage first. Then you will find out what information has been hidden from you. And it may also hurt, as much as physical pain.

But we are all here only because we stand on the shoulders of giants who have shot their fears into the wind. Because of our parents. And their parents. And their parents...