To bike, or not to bike...?

     It wasn't actually a question. It's a must.
     Laugh if you must, but I only learned how to ride a bike a few weeks before coming to Japan.

Me and my "suki" bike at Burnham Park

     I've been told that knowing how to ride the bike would be a big advantage and bus fares are expensive. As soon as I got the final confirmation for my scholarship, I set a date with my husband at the Burnham Park. I warned him though that he should not raise his voice at me or show any kind of frustration if I won't be able to get it right right away. True to his word, he didn't. We may have looked really silly back then because I caught a lot of grins from riders who were able to zig and zag back and forth at the park. Some even said "Uy ang sweet naman!" as if we were lovers on a date! And then someone even said "Para namang sa Koreanovela." Some kids were even laughing as I fumbled and teetered. But I didn't care. I wanted to know how to ride a bike. After 30 minutes I found my balance and was able to ride through the track, with stops now and then because there were too many riders and I was afraid of colliding with anybody. It took another date to learn how to navigate curves. My son, even challenged me to a race, confidently knowing he would win based on how he saw me ride.

Me and the bike (folding) that Sensei lent me for a while.

     Still though, the first time I rode a bike in Japan, I was still not confident about my riding skills. I couldn't get through narrow roads. I would get nervous when I would meet another rider on the street. I couldn't get pass people walking. I would stop for a while, wait for them to keep walking and if I saw a break I would continue pedaling. I sometimes would also stop and seemingly checking on my bike, but the truth was I was waiting for a clear path. Once we had to go to a shop, and there was a long stretch of ditch on the side of the path. I had to walk with my bike because I was afraid I would fall to the ditch. Going up was the same, I'd get down and walk with my bike. If I heard that somebody was behind me, I would also slow down and let the rider pass through. I always prayed I wouldn't meet any rider on the road and I chose the less travelled path, literally.
     I went at it everyday though. Soon enough, I could squeeze in through crowds, I wasn't afraid of meeting other riders, I could go through narrow roads. I could go as fast as I want to. I became more confident on the bike. I am trying now to learn to drive with one hand while holding the phone or an umbrella with the other. The Japanese are good at it. so far though, I have only been able to drive with one hand with the other on my leg and only at a short distance. In time...