My first day at work turned out to be very exciting. I was given a complete tour of the building I was going to work at for the next two weeks and was introduced to several people whose names I dared not repeat for fear of offending them. I learned pretty quickly to address people by their last name followed by a san. My name became Anusan for the next three weeks - two in Japan and one back in the US where people insisted on adding the respectful suffix to remind me of my time in Japan.

JMy first day at work turned out to be very exciting. I was given a complete tour of the building I was going to work at for the next two weeks and was introduced to several people whose names I dared not repeat for fear of offending them. I learned pretty quickly to address people by their last name followed by a san. My name became Anusan for the next three weeks - two in Japan and one back in the US where people insisted on adding the respectful suffix to remind me of my time in Japan.

I was thrilled when a very senior executive came by to say Hello and exchanged business cards with me in the traditional Japanese style. He placed his card with both hands gently in my horribly gawky outstretched hand bowing slightly. Typically awkward, I started pushing my card into his hands, then changed my mind and tried holding it with both hands, dropped it and then tried to force a smile on my face as I retrieved it and placed it in his hands with a bow that brought Charlie Chaplin to mind. This was a good lesson though because I met several people after that and each time bowed self-consciously and gave them my business card with both hands, awfully glad that there was no mirror around. I was very aware of the fact that I must seem very ill mannered to this gentle race of people who always sat after I took my seat, ate the first bite after everyone was served and never spoke louder than my whisper. I tried desperately to remember all the good manners that I was taught during my convent years - the nuns at school would not be too proud of the way I behaved.

I was very aware of the fact that I must seem very ill mannered to this gentle race of people who always sat after I took my seat, ate the first bite after everyone was served and never spoke louder than my whisper.

After the first day I lost my interpreter and was given another person whose one year stint in the US made him most eligible as my new interpreter. He always had his dictionary with him and I had mine and by the fourth day we were even exchanging jokes by pointing to words in the dictionary. He would wait for me at the station at 8.30 every morning and would greet me with a smile and a Ohayo Gozaimas (Good Morning) but soon I beat him to it by being there a few minutes earlier and greeting him in Japanese before he could say anything. He would always point out a seat for me to sit apologizing profusely if there was no vacant seat. I'm still trying to figure out why he should apologize for the train being full.

The one weekend I had in Japan was spent sightseeing, with my Japanese friends from work acting as my tourist guides. I was absolutely amazed by the fact that after working more than 12 hours every day of the week they took the whole weekend to show me around. I felt guilty that I was responsible for them not spending time at home with their families. Some uncomplaining women must be cursing the gaijin (foreigner) who kept their husbands away from home even over the weekend. Then again I think Japanese women are so used to their husbands being away that this may not have been something new.

I saw the little Japanese gardens, perfect in their beauty, with not a weed to be found and realized that this was part of their culture - perfection. The temples I visited reminded me of the ones back home in India. The peace and quiet in the temples made me think back to the little I had read of Zen. What really surprised me was that there could exist such a peaceful place in the middle of such a busy and crowded city. The visit to the temple inspired me to read more about Japanese temples and it has increased my interest in their culture. I try to recall that deep sense of peace that I felt in the temple that day. In some ways I think it is very natural that people there are so peaceful and gentle - everything in Japan emphasizes these traits.

I also did visit Roppongi, a very popular place for foreigners. It turned out to be the most noisy, lively and unlikely of places I visited in Japan. There were a lot of Indian restaurants there and in honor of my visit we dined at an Indian restaurant - I must say I was taken aback when a fellow desi (Indian) addressed me in Japanese and bowed respectfully after seating me.

As my last day approached I felt a sense of sadness that was totally unexpected. I never develop attachments to places I visit for a short time.

On my first day I was counting the days to my departure, by the third day I stopped keeping track and by the second week whenever I realized there were only a few days left I would count again to see if I could increase the number by a day. On my last day I actually felt close to tears when my interpreter, chaperone and friend gave me several beautiful Japanese gifts wrapped in the most wonderful way possible, and said sincerely - "Anusan, I hope you meet someday, somewhere again me."

It was strange that a person like me who loved to talk to people, hated to be alone for more than a short period of time, enjoyed noise and hated formality would love this land of peace, quiet and politeness so much. Needless to say I am awaiting my next visit and have already started preparing for it by reading anything I see with the word Japan or Zen in it.

Of course I don't foresee a trip in the near future but if it does happen I am ready - ready to visit my friends who keep in touch with me, ready to experience once again the peace I felt in the temple and ready to try out living in a temple to see if I can also experience that intangible, elusive and mysterious joy that people call Zen.

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