Sue Six
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Anyone who’s ever lived in a foreign country knows what it’s like to misunderstand the natives and their ways of doing things. Even if you’ve mastered the language, you’re still a foreigner and some things are just… strange! Confusion is common, and we may find ourselves wondering more than we’d like to admit, “Why do they do it THAT way?”
I spent time in several foreign countries, but by far my longest adventure overseas was in Japan. I lived there almost seven years. My first trip over, I only knew the words for colors and numbers in Japanese. And I could ask questions (but I had no idea what the answers people gave me were). Later on, I conducted nearly my whole life in Japanese. Even now, I know there is a lot I don't know, and I think I speak only “pidgin” Japanese. But friends humor me and tell me my Japanese is amazing.
I’m easily humored.
This collection of short stories mixes fact with fiction, which is something the foreigner may be unsure of anyway, in their non-native surroundings. Even after six years living in Japan, and having “amazing Japanese,” many times when I'm there, I'm still not quite sure what's going on, so I simply go along. Understanding might not ever come anyway, and going along is just easier.
Except for dealing with bankers, police officers, immigration officers, train officials, about 30% of taxi drivers, surly convenience store clerks, and the occasional stumble upon the local “mafia wanna-be’s”—aside from dealings with these people, it is nearly always fun! The fiction stories have elements of truth in them, but are purely from my imagination, set in Japan and based on my own understanding of the culture during the various times I have called that place “home.”
Sue Six has always been fascinated by people from other cultures. Growing up on the East Coast, she was intrigued by the refugees that her mom worked with as they adapted to life in the United States. As a child, she was probably a pest, but Sue hung out with these folks as much as they let her. Thus began the childhood imagination that carried her to far-away lands and untold adventures! In college, she went to Japan for her junior year. This first venture out of the United States was not quite so grand as she’d hoped it would be, but the die was cast. Sue went back to finish college, then returned to Japan two years later to teach English. Then home, then back to Japan. Repeat, repeat. Repeat. Fertile ground for confusion! Sue currently lives in Wichita, Kansas, with her imagination and a continuing sense of adventure. Living in a different culture from where she grew up, she’s still not always sure about “these Midwesterners.” (The feeling is often mutual….) This is Sue’s first book. Emiko (EH-mee-ko) is a professional graphics designer and illustrator. After working for a graphic design company, today she is a freelance artist. She’s been running her own business for 15 years. The idea for illustrating Fish Tree Tales happened when Sue was in Japan in 2007. She and Emiko were at one of their favorite coffee shops when it was suggested that Emiko could illustrate Sue’s stories. They laughed and joked about it, then the conversation moved on to other things. A few days later, they joked about it again, until finally they realized ~ they could do this! After Sue returned to the States, she and Emiko began collaborating on the project. These are Emiko’s first illustrations in the USA.
I’ve heard it said that first impressions are made in two seconds. Or one. Instant impressions. Unforgettable impressions.
One of the earliest memories I carry around about Japan is wrapped in this idea of first impressions. It was in a music store, back in the days when they still sold records as well as CDs. It was a hip place with very funky music, colorful and energetic. People were flipping through the vinyl, heads bobbing to what was playing through the store speakers, oblivious to each other.
I imagined the people who worked there did it to pay the rent, but at night, they played in their own bands, stoking their first loves. Who could blame them, doing what they loved to do and hovering around the stuff during the day? And it’s not unlikely. I met many “ordinary” college age people who were singers or guitarists, keyboard players or drummers, in a band. Music rocks Japan! At least until after college.
That day, when I stepped into the music store, one of the staff caught my eye. Later, many, many times, I saw similar things and came to barely notice the difference, but that first time it was quite remarkable. I also claim the innocent ignorance of youth. I was a junior in college, but this was my very first trip abroad. AND I’d lived most of my life up to then out in the country, on farms, in Maryland and Virginia. I’d only lived a few years outside that environment. And so I was duped into thinking this was an anomaly of genes.
There he stood, a lovely young Japanese man with a wide moon face, high cheekbones, dark and brooding almond-shaped eyes, flawless golden-olive skin, jet eyebrows, and a head of thick, bleach-blond hair.
