Neon Wonderland

2008-12-13T09:22:00.002+09:00

Also, 2 things I want to write before I forget...
One of my students was making a sentence using "I want to eat ____ for dinner."
He said, "I want to eat kiyukiyubee for dinner." I at first assumed this was some sort of meat on rice Japanese dish I had never heard of, but when my Japanese teacher looked at me with the same amount of confusion, I knew something was amiss. "Kiyukiyubee?" He spelled it out with his finger in the air, "Q-Q-B."
Then it clicked...BBQ.
Also, another teacher told me that she asked the first year students what the U.S.A was. A boy raised his hand eagerly, "I know!" "Yes?" He stated proudly, "The Universal Studios America."

I'd like to make a Best/Worst of 2008 list or something like that...hopefully will get that done within the next couple of days. Also, check out the 2 new links on the right side - Totally Looks Like and Once Upon a Win...

Radiohead, Kota Totori - 15 Step

2008-11-26T07:30:00.001+09:00

I promise I have not become a huge anime freak since moving here.
But Radiohead - 15 Step - by Kota Totori

is cool!

Nichijyo Nihon 3

2008-11-16T19:55:00.005+09:00

Every once in a while, I like to wander around one of the shopping meccas of that are Osakan department stores. Hanshin, Hankyu, Daimaru, Keihan...they are all 10+ floors of everything high class department stores should be.

Anyway, I usually jump into the sea of people that flood the basement level food stores to check out the most expensive grocery stores in town. In addition to normal foodstuffs, they have loads of prepared food vendors, and every kind of specialist you could imagine - tsukemono (Japanese pickles), tofu, Chinese food, sweets, rice crackers, herb tea, green tea, world coffees, countless others.

I'm always drawn to the perfect fruits. These are not the "Let me chop up this leftover banana and put it on a bowl of cereal" fruits. These are not, really, for personal consumption. These perfectly round, brilliant red apples, grapes so plump they look ready to burst, never blemished achievements of science and agriculture are the mannequins of the fruit world. And for this, they are not what one buys for family and for one's own consumption (so I've been told).

No, these special fruits, often sold in layers of packaging fit for diamond jewelry, are for gifts. It is in fact, their exorbitant prices that make them apt for gift-giving. After all, going to buy a $5 cantaloupe for the boss isn't going tack anything on to that end-of-the-year bonus. So, you're hoping for the highest percentage raise in your career yet? Only one thing will guarantee it (maybe...)

The $210 musk melon (sort of like a honeydew-cantaloupe cross).
$210 for one piece of fruit may sound crazy, but I guess if it means an extra thou/month next year, it's worth it after all...

After I quickly snapped a photo of it, a kind older woman came to tell me no pictures. Wouldn't want to disturb the sleeping beauties, I guess. Their glass case wasn't protection enough...
This International Herald Tribune article has some more info on the subject of gift fruit.

Kouyou

2008-11-16T19:42:00.003+09:00

Kouyou is "foliage" or "changing leaves" in Japanese. That time of year has come again and I checked out the beginning of the changing leaves in Kyoto this weekend. They we're quite at their peak yet, but some of the Japanese maples were definitely on their way. I went to Kinkakuji, the golden temple, for the first time...and the red and orange leaves added a beautiful contrast to the green trees and gold temple.

Nichijyo Nihon 2

2008-11-10T19:57:00.006+09:00

I know what you're thinking...classic American soda taste + yogurt = huh?
Before you say "god those Japanese are crazy" think again.
The thing is, this soda tastes nothing like Pepsi or like yogurt. Anyone who has tasted one of many Japanese "sodas" can vouch - these are clear carbonated drinks, akin to cream soda and ginger ale...usually called "ramune."
Anyway, Pepsi white basically tastes like a smooth ramune. Sorry, it's hard to describe.
Check out the Sangaria Company's US site for more Ramune fun.
Also, check out this top ten list of weird Japanese drinks and the follow up list of even more weird Japanese drinks.
My take: Pepsi Blue Hawaii was okay, but I won't be trying Bilk any time soon...

Bunkasai

2008-11-09T19:56:00.010+09:00

First off, thanks to Justin for making the best avatar ever (see left...) Woot for being Warhol-ified!

Perfection - This year's culture festival went well. I made a video with the English club (which is unfortunately too large to post on here...)
I'm sure I've mentioned before how the Japanese seem to pick a thing, their thing, hobby, and once it is chosen, damn if they don't do that one thing to perfection. I've had many people ask me about my interest. What is my thing? I don't know, I have many things that I'm descent at, but no one thing that I focus all of my attention on.
Anyway, I think it is this attitude, tied with the group-focus here, that creates sights such as my school's chorus competition. Now I know that at some not-so-great schools, the chorus competition can be a drag, students goof off, and god forbid they put their heart into their singing. I think of a musical my class had to do in 7th grade, a medley of 50s, 60s, and 70s pop hits, and god knows I tried to hide and open my mouth as minimally as possible to avoid complete humiliation.
These kids, however, feel compelled to give their all, as they are in competition with the other homerooms of the same grade.

Here are some of my student's drawings. She is 14 or 15 years old...

And some pictures from the Fureai Festival, the day after Bunkasai...
Miyamoto-kun making mitarashi dango

Playing shogi (who wants to teach me?!)

And a beatiful plate of sashimi I got at the post-bunkasai party...

2008-10-29T20:57:00.008+09:00

A few weeks ago, I went for a weekend trip to Mie Prefecture, southeast of Osaka.

First stop – Isejingu, what is considered to be the most revered shrine in Japan. I was forewarned that tourists cannot enter the main shrine complex, but instead have to crane their necks over fences, or peek through the slots to get a glimpse of anything on the inside. Nevertheless, the whole city of Ise is alive with the history of the shrine and it was an enjoyable visit in spite of not being able to see much of the buildings themselves. The entire area leading up the shrine is a pseudo-Colonial Williamsburg – buildings are kept in the Edo period style, with dark wood and cobbled walking streets. A myriad of traditional Japanese snacks and goods are sold along the way, keeping up the tradition of merchants who thrive from pilgrim route trade.

The first guy is making ink (mom and dad told me they saw this same thing on a tv show at home about Japan...) and the second place is a fish market where people lined around to get a free sample of freshly grilled fish (me included).

What one can see of the shrine is beautiful in its simplicity. Many shrines are often painted with bright reds and greens, what I think has been passed on from Chinese or Korean tradition. But Isejingu is kept in unfinished wood. The top spires of each building are painted gold, which provide a nice contrast to the earthy woods and surrounding conifers. Even though no one can enter the shrine (save what must have been an incredibly wealthy family holding a wedding there, along with Shinto priests of course), that doesn’t stop many Japanese from visiting the shrine each day.

After visiting Ise, I went to Futami, a seaside town just a few train stops away from Ise. As soon as Justin and I arrived, we headed straight for the oceanfront. Futami, a small, old tourist town, is home to Meoto-iwa, the “wedded rocks.” This shrine area consists of a seaside temple, complete with countless renderings of kaeru, frogs, what must be the shrine’s protective animal. The wedded rocks are two large boulders in the ocean tied together by a thick rope.
We stayed in a hostel that was actually run by the caretaker of a hillside temple. Tucked away on a hillside forest, the hostel, though basic and bare, was quiet and cheap.

Both to and from Mie, we took the longer train route. Though it was more troublesome to worry about making the right connection times, we went through a lot of beautiful countryside. There were a few small train lines that literally clinged to the sides of hills, passing alongside rather than tunneling through mountains. Additionally, taking this route allowed us to go straight through Ueno City, where we stopped on our way home.

Ueno is mainly known for its humble castle and for being home to the Iga Ninja clan, which, along with Shiga prefecture’s Kaga clan, is one of the most famous ninja schools in Japan.

So, of course, we bought into this ninja business (I found myself saying, “hey, am I really ever going to go to a ninja museum ever again?”) and went to the reproduction ninja house and museum. The house was a little kitchy, with our tour guide, donning a pink ninja robes (unfortunately sans face mask), demonstrated the secret features of the house. The museum offered a lot of interesting information (as well as a great photo-op)..for example, did you know that if a ninja had to remember something very important, he may injure himself upon hearing the information to ensure he would remember it? Also, ninjas used dyed rice to make color patterns to leave messages for other ninjas. And, ninjas often used Ueno City’s own ninja train (seen here) to get around the city. Well…

All in all, we had a nice weekend and I’ll be looking forward to the next trip out. Hopefully, we’ll be able to make it somewhere before the weather gets cold again!

Nichijyo Nihon 1

2008-10-29T20:52:00.004+09:00

The beginning of the mundane

I've been realizing lately that a lot of things in Japan have become normalized to me. Things that I was probably curious about or surprised to see when I first arrived no longer catch my attention. For this reason, I'm starting a personal crusade to take photos of normal, everyday Japanese life. I know that when I share these pictures with people at home, they will in fact be interesting, and that when I am home and I think back on my time here, these are some of the quirky things I'll want to remember.

So, the first of these photos is my lunch for today! I can't say I made it, really, because I bought all of the components pre-made and just stuck them in my bento box. We have two onigiri – rice balls – one with egg mixed into it and the other with salmon mixed in. Next to those is a tofu-fish cake with a piece of gobo in the middle (burdock root). In the other container is gobo sesame salad, green salad with a piece of kabocha (pumpkin), and hijiki (seaweed salad). And I'll drink (in Japan, they use the verb "to drink" for soup rather than "to eat") some of the school's miso soup with it. And let me say, damn do they have some good miso soup at lunchtime. Probably my favorite miso soup around. Anyway, stay tuned for more nichijyo nihon (everyday Japan).

2008-10-06T21:21:00.003+09:00

Monkey Park, Arashiyama, Kyoto

A little something...

2008-10-04T07:47:00.002+09:00

It is such a short walk
from my apartment to school every day
That predictably grows less interesting
the more I do it
And yet its clockwork of sensory chimes is satisfying

The first block is bars, with metal grates covering the windows,
Waiting for the end of the workday to give way to the salarymen’s need for a beer or two
In the second block, I pass the elementary school and sometimes its students
trotting in single file lines, donning yellow bucket hats
Smile and say hello
their crossing guard always wishes me a good morning

A young man with noticeably tight black dress pants, very thin, always white ironed shirt, dark tie

Shortly behind him comes the woman who reminds me of one of my coworkers
To myself, I call her by the coworker’s name
But the closer I get to her, the more I realize they don’t look all that much alike

Even in the brief 5-7 minutes, depending on how fast I walk, sometimes something unexpected appears

Today it was a massive shattered tannuki, the statue of a raccoon-bear placed outside of drinking establishments, a sort of good luck charm
It had fallen from a restaurant stoop
Like Cinderella’s broken pumpkin, there was a sadness, something bittersweet, in its joyous cracked face that spoke of the end of drunken revelry from the night before

Months ago it was flowers, a bouquet changed once or twice, then left for dead, leaning against a lightpole at a crosswalk
Someone told me that shortly before the flowers appeared, they had seen police there and blood on the street
From then on I waited patiently for the little green man to tell me when to go instead of relying on my own judgement
And to think there is a hospital just across the street too

But most of the time it’s nothing of much consequence
New drinks in the vending machines, switched from hot to cold and back to hot again
We don sweaters, jackets, coats and gloves
remove our gloves, coats, jackets, and sweaters
I’m sure I’ve become someone else’s addition
to an unconscious list checked off
every morning on our way away from home.

Vietnam II

2008-10-04T07:43:00.003+09:00

We cross borders with preconceived notions. From seemingly inconsequential ones –out of your own yard and into your next door neighbor’s, from one side of the tracks to another, cruising transversely across state lines…to overseas flights, making leaps and bounds through time zones and mountain ranges. Our own side of the story is familiar and is home to us, and whatever is beyond our own territory must be perceived in some other fashion. The Smiths next door have an indoor cat that makes the house smell of kitty litter, the crime rate in that side of town was the highest of all the city…my country was at war with many of the people in that nation.
Travelling to Vietnam from a country that is not my own made the experience even more removed. And when the journey came to a close I would realize how it shifted my perspective of Japan and the life I have made there over the past year. But first, I had to see Ha Long Bay.

Our boat trip was on one of many (hundreds?) of tour companies, all generally the same, depending on whether you would like to spend $30/night or $80/night. We quickly made friends with fellow travelers on the boat – Spaniards, Canadians, and an unforgettable Singaporean version of Japan’s mama-chans (snappy old women). Our tour guide’s enthusiasm quickly waned as the day went on. We were lucky that the drizzling rain slowly crept out of view, revealing stunning scenes of abrupt rocks and islands strewn across the bay in every direction. The tour sites included a world heritage cave and a “floating market” which turned out to be a few houses and fish farms tied together. We docked there and took kayaks out and around a nearby island. I purchased a bottle of wine from a local seller. And ended up having it taken away from me until the following morning because I was unaware of the boat’s $50 bottle opening fee. This lack of alcohol would be just the beginning of our grievances that night on the boat.

Our guide, who had jumped off the boat and onto a jellyfish, was obviously annoyed and in pain upon returning to the boat. We (all of the young travelers who had opted to spend the night on the boat, rather than in a hotel) got a sense of foreboding about the night ahead of us…

No booze to keep up happy (the boat sold beer at a high price) and immediately after dinner the crew all settled in to watch TV shirtless in the dining area. We were quite honestly afraid to bother them. No TV to be watched, we all sat on the top deck, eventually realizing that our boat had no lights on top (or else the crew did not want to turn them on for us). We gazed longingly at other boats (perhaps the $80/night ones) – karaoke inside of one boat, a fully lit top deck on another, the sounds of laughter and fun being had. Maybe their guides hadn’t been stung repeatedly by giant jellyfish. A rat ran across the deck. Our stomachs grumbled, each of us used to much bigger portions that were served at dinner. “Where are the boat ladies now that we need them?” one of our Spanish friends asked. “They are all over the place all day…they even had Oreos on those snack boats.” She began calling out to the dark water, “Boat Laaaady! Come here! I want some Oreos!” But we knew the boat ladies had packed it in for the night.
One of our friends went to his cabin to get something. When he returned, he informed the rest of us that he would be sleeping outside, on top of the deck, as he was not going to share his room with the cockroaches. Justin went to our room to check for bugs and in addition to those, watched a rat scurry out when he opened the cabin door.
Sleeping outside wouldn’t be so bad.

Upon returning to Hanoi, we were scheduled to catch a night bus south to Hue. We were talked into taking the “sleeper bus” rather than a regular bus. There were modified beds in the bus, big enough for me to lay down at a slight angle (though not big enough for a big angry American who was bothered that a Vietnamese child was in the supposedly longer bed that he said he had paid more for).
Steve’s friend Thien, whom we had met in Hue, warned us not to do anything at the rest stops along the way except pee. At the very first stop, in the middle of the dark countryside, I began to understand why she gave us this advice. Coming from the West, and even more so coming from Japan, one grows accustomed to decent highway stops, but this was a strange, lost scene from a David Lynch film, surreal in its utter realism. Leathery old women tended to strange simmering pots, stray dogs leered at the tourists coming and going coming and going. I made my way through a store and a kitchen and a yard to the toilets in the back. My mind flashed to Trainspotting , “the worst toilet in all of Scotland.” This was the worst toilet in all of Vietnam, I was sure of it. My nose and my gag reflex wouldn’t even let me fully enter the stall, so I opted to pee in a open concrete stall nearby. No soap, no sink, god please let me remember not to put my hands anywhere near my face until I can put them in an autoclave. I watched a lanky blonde 20 something year old order a sandwich from one of the women. And I wondered if he knew he was taking his life into his own hands. Maybe he knew and was okay with that.

10 Things I Hate About the Commandments

2008-09-09T21:23:00.001+09:00

This is super.

Part I

2008-09-06T13:29:00.002+09:00

Vietnam Part 1

I never would have imagined that it would feel so good to be back in Japan.
I also never would have imagined feeling such a strong desire to let it all be over with…
The very concept of a vacation is to get away from the everyday, whatever has become mundane. But nowhere is the definition of a “vacation” written beyond temporary movement.
And so with this attempt at a “take it as it comes” attitude, I set off for three weeks in Vietnam.
I’ll skip the details of planning our trip. One of my travel partners had visited the country before; however, he did not plan that trip. Basically we made several tactical errors which sometimes led to annoyance and regret mid-journey and, well, I won’t go into why those errors could have been easily avoided…but I learned much about paying attention to who says what about when and where.
i.e. Fly into Hanoi and out of Saigon or vice-versa…don’t force yourself into backtracking. And, pay attention to your timing. You don’t want to end up stuck in one place for longer than you’d like. Go ahead seasoned backpackers, laugh down your nose at my inexperience. “Isn’t that cute, she felt trapped somewhere for too long.”

After a brief scare en route to the airport, we had a lovely JAL flight and arrived in Hanoi at night where a friend met us at the airport. The “scare” was that the three of us completely missed a train transfer and we didn’t realize it until Justin said “I don’t remember passing this much green countryside on the way to KIX before.” And the greener it got, the quicker we understood that we were headed way south, way past the airport, and it would take quite a while to make our way back. The train we were on felt like it would never reach the next station and we ran to catch one going in the other direction. And in spite of making it back to the transfer point, we didn’t realize that our new, correct train would split, and we were one car away from going in the right direction. Back on the platform we laughed and decided we were getting our bad luck out of the way first, and even I craved a cigarette.
Flash forward through our delightful flight (seriously, JAL is the best airline I’ve ever flown...hot towels, free booze, personal TV with movies and games, full sized blankets, good leg room, and the stepped-up politeness of Japanese customer service) and we are suddenly in Hanoi, the capitol of Vietnam.
Steve’s friend went with us by taxi to our guesthouse. This was the only one at which we had made reservations. Unfortunately for Justin, he sat in the passenger seat and I think had his eyes closed most of the time. I’m not sure if all driving in Southeast Asia is like this, but basically, you go. And the horn is used not as an explicit warning, but as a constant, friendly (or not so) reminder that “(bee-beep) I’m here… (beep beep beep) now I’m here…(beeeeeeeeeee) don’t change lanes now…(be-be-be) move over I’m going faster than you…” Meanwhile in the backseat, we munched on dried jack fruit chips, happy with our inability to see how many times we were literally within an inch of other cars on the road.
The Lotus Guesthouse was supposedly one of the cheapest in town (less than 10USD/night), perhaps because it was about a 15 minute walk from the main Old Town-tourist center. I realized soon enough that it was not only the Lotus, but most places (including personal homes) in which the shower was simply perched in the bathroom. So basically, the toilet and sink and shower are all together and you have to be okay with everything in that room getting wet. Little did we know then that there were many things about the Lotus that would be prevalent in most places – rickety fans, non-working AC, cockroaches, and the smell of fish oil rising from the street outside below. I’m not trying to paint an unpleasant picture, but upon arrival, one doesn’t know if it’s “just this place” or if everywhere else is the same. Should I keep my hopes up or go ahead and change my standards now? Standard change complete.
Basically in Hanoi we did some touristy things – went to the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum, walked around the old quarter, walked by the lake with the pagoda island in the middle (What is that anyway?), ate at tourist restaurants and realized that paying anything more than $3/meal was way overpriced, and began acclimatizing to this ridiculously noisy, dusty, pulsating city. Bars closed at 11:30 and we were doomed to miss a real night out on the town.

And so concludes part 1 of the Vietnam trip...stay tuned for more.

Back from 'Nam

2008-08-20T18:45:00.003+09:00

The day before yesterday I slept for about 5 hours and our flight last night was from 11pm to 5:30am Japan time. A two and a half hour nap this morning did not cut it for me.
I am tired.

After 3 weeks of planes, boats, motorbikes, buses, and hoofing it around the cities, beaches, and countrysides of Vietnam I am truly glad to be back in Japan.

Luckily, I took ample notes to make for some interesting posts over the next week. And I happen to have a lovely week of summer vacation left to recover from our trip, so I should be able to appropriately cover all sorts of topics to give you a nice feel of what our (mis)adventures were like...

Stay tuned!

Fuji + Tenjin

2008-07-26T14:57:00.009+09:00

So it feels strange to say it, but I've climbed Mt. Fuji.
We took a bus from Osaka on Tuesday morning to Fuji and began our climb at the fifth station (about 2300m) at 5:30pm, hiked for 5-6 hours to the 8th station, where we rested for 2 hours in a hut. At 1:00am we woke and after a breakfast of rice and salmon, we began the cold, dark 3 hour trek to the summit.

Just as I had been warned, it was quite crowded towards the top because everyone wants to reach the summit for sunrise. But in a way, the loads of people racing to the top gives you a strange feeling of community with hikers from all over wanting to have the right to say that they tackled Fuji-san. From 3776 meters, the view of the stars at night, the approaching twilight, and the sunrise from well about the clouds really make everything worth it.

This Thursday and Friday saw one of the largest festivals in Japan, right here in Osaka, the Tenjin Matsuri. Basically the shrines open up and the gods are celebrated as they are carried down to the river. Parades, dancing, typical Japanese festival foods stalls, and fireworks take over a huge area of Osaka. I heard that hundreds of thousands of people go every year (perhaps even a million?!)...maybe that's why we lost Justin last night (!). Anyway, there were some fantastic costumes and it reminded me that festivals are definitely one of my favorite aspects of Japanese culture.

Anyway, off to sit around in the apartment because it's just too dang hot to go out and do anything. I'll be passing the days until Tuesday the same way...then it's off to Vietnam!

Econ 101 was not enough...

2008-07-19T18:34:00.002+09:00

Seems like everything on the news lately has been related to the economy and the great changes that are happening. Globalization has linked everything together and sometimes it is difficult to make all of the connections in our heads.

Check out Adbusters
for an alternative to mainstream news outlets.
Also, Japan could take a huge hint from this article. Of course the levels of consumerism at home and in Japan seem pretty comparable at face value. I know so many girls here who have no problem saying that their hobby is shopping. I met a girl the same age as me the other week who visited California last spring. When I asked what she did there, all she could do was manage to tell me about Rodeo Drive and show off her Loius Vuitton bag, which to her delight was cheaper in the US than it would have been in Japan. Cheaper being about $1000.
Right...

Bon-Odori, Summer Vacation....

2008-07-18T17:56:00.006+09:00

hey all...
wow i feel like i have so much to say today!
first off, a few photos from a great matsuri in nozaki last weekend. thanks to joe, who in spite of his americanity and mexican background, is actually japanese, for bringing me along and to cute little old ladies for inviting me to join in their dance.

This guy was awesome, I've never seen such a ham for the camera before.
Basically every area in Japan has their own version of this festival. In Nozaki it dates back to this area being a place where poor, unwanted people were sent. So the words to many of the songs deal with their merchant backgrounds and the history of the area.

Summer vacation started today. But let me assure you, no Alice Cooper "schools out for the summer" version exists here. The teachers will go in to school every day, the students will go in almost every day for club activities. And the days when the kids aren't at club, especially if they are 3rd grade students, they might be at juku, cram school, where apparently, they get their "real" education (i.e. where they prepare for high school entrance exams). Well, lucky for me, I get "study leave," which means I'm going to study Mt. Fuji, Vietnam, the inside of my eyelids, the bottom of a few beer glasses, etc. But hey, I am going to school for a few days during summer holiday for English club, so I don't feel like a completely useless blob.

Things that I've enjoyed lately:
There is a new season of Project Runway on
Kakigori
Being the proud owner of a kitchen table (new to me)
Accepting my loss in the battle over hair frizz...I've been straightening my hair practically every day but finally I've decided going wavy/curly could be okay. Tried out some pin-curls last night (of course everyone at school thought I got a perm)...want to try some other retro looks soon...yay victory rolls!

also, i have unfortunately been reading too much perez hilton lately, which has only increased my love for dita von teese. all i know is if i was famous, i'd want her stylist's number...check out the photo gallery on here.

Anyway, it might be post-Fuji, pre-Vietnam for the next update, we're off to the southeast for a completely different asia.
until then...Chào ông!

Family Matters

2008-06-29T22:30:00.001+09:00

Watched it after school all the time.
Now it's better than ever.

See more funny videos at CollegeHumor

simple magic

2008-06-13T23:18:00.002+09:00

simple magic is discovering something for yourself.
take kerouac's on the road for example.
i have not read it before now. and i am simply in love with it...
everything about it, the time, the places, the jazz, the abruptness, the uncertainty, everything.
it's so fresh and new to me, it's amazing.it is certainly only feeding my obsession for everything 1940s/1950s vintage...i want to write some more posts that dive deeper into this (well-known?) secret of mine, this fascination...

anyway, kerouac has taken me down a bumpier road than some of the old tv shows and movies have done...i have read tom wolfe and hunter thompson and now i see where they came from. i'm starting a little closer to some beginning to the madness of the later counter-culture documenters who flourished shortly thereafter.

the whole era is exciting to me, because the characters and stories that it left behind are coolly cynical rather than blatantly and sometimes sloppily critical of today's society.

anyway, i'm just plain happy to have that feeling of loving a book so much right now that i want the taste of every thought, every sentence, every word to linger. linger. linger.

REALLY???

2008-06-05T18:26:00.002+09:00

For some reason this annoys me.
Maybe it's that I feel like I have the privilege of turning on my TV and seeing this stuff on a daily basis. Maybe it's because I know that I should be on there instead of whatever 10 contestants they did choose. Maybe it's because I know that it will just confirm many US viewers' beliefs that "god the Japanese are SO crazy!" and maybe there is some truth to that, but it's not ABC's job to inform them of this. I had to figure out the craziness on my own, but noooo, it'll be on a silver platter Tuesdays at 9:00 EST.

When I reread all of my reasons, I know that it's actually just the one that I care about.
I wanna be on a Japanese TV show dammit!

Reunion Tour Pt. 2

2008-05-03T12:16:00.010+09:00

More from our trip down south...
Lucky for me, this week is golden week, which means that I get an extra 2 days off work. Pretty nice for having just gotten back from vacation.

This one if from a toy museum in Kurashiki. They had tons of old toys form all of Japan. My favorite room was the kite room. They also had a Guiness record-holding top. The largest with the longest man-powered spin (a little over an hour I think).
Here's a view of Hiroshima. The city itself was very beautiful. On the left you can see a t-shaped bridge. This was the intended target of the A-bomb drop (it didn't hit the bridge directly though). And on the right is the A-bomb dome. This is the only original structure left as it was. The Peace Museum was a really good museum; very powerful, moving, and educational.

Some koi flags hanging in preparation for kodomo-no-hi, children's day, which is on May 5.

A friendly shika on Miyajima, with the famed "floating torii" in the background. Miyajima is probably one of the prettiest places I have seen here. Blue-green seas, amazing temples and shrines, and friendly deer wandering everywhere.

Another temple on Miyajima.
Roasting fresh (delicious) kaki (oysters). We ate at this awesome restaurant where I had the best fried oysters ever!
Posing with the most awesome video game mascot ever. God I love Sonic. Especially Sonic 2.
Also, the pic above is post-spontaneous haircut. We both decided to walk in and get cuts, which admittedly did not turn out as well as was hoped. But, with a little styling, and a good flat iron, it was nothing I couldnt fix (and get used to...eventually!).

Whirlwind of an Emily

2008-04-29T10:52:00.005+09:00

Hisashiburi all...long time no blog.
Well, the beginning of the new school year was marked with lots of super busy days, and for the last week and a half I have had a friend from home visiting...lots going on.
We have a a great time together, seeing as having her here has forced me to go out and do something pretty much every day. But it's well worth it...the weather has been perfect and we've seen some of the best sights I've seen since coming to Japan.Allow me to make a long story somewhat shorter (something like my hair that was spontaneously chopped off during our trip to Hiroshima)...
when Emily first arrived, we did all of the Kansai sights first - downtown Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, etc.
In Kyoto, we saw the Miyako Odori.
This is the Cherry Blossom dance, founded by the Inoue school of geiko (geisha). The costumes were amazing, with at least 40 or 50 girls on stage in the finale. Unfortunately, we could not take photos there, so you'll have to check out the link and/or the official page for more info.
On Friday, we headed south (or west, on a Japanese map) to Okayama, Kurashiki, and then on to Hiroshima and Miyajima.
In Okayama we visited Okayama castle and its surrounding gardens, regarded as one of the top three gardens in Japan. I'm not sure what garden rating scale that is on, to me, it's all pretty.
Okay so now we're up to Okayama, moving on to Kurashiki. However, it's going to take a little time for me to post a lot more pictures so I'm going to hold off and make another post with more from the rest of our long weekend.
Soon...

Kyushu and Sakura

2008-04-06T08:23:00.001+09:00

Hi all...
So, I enjoyed a lovely long spring vacation for the last couple of weeks.
For almost a week, I headed down to Kyushu, the big southern island in Japan, for some hiking, first-time camping, and onsenning.
The hiking was great, but I won't lie, the camping took a little while for this city girl to get used to. The issue was this - it was much colder than we had expected, and seeing as my feet have been literally numb all winter, it was not nice to have it rain our first night out and for me to not really have the proper cold weather gear. So, after the first night, I was, let's just say a little grumpy (maybe my camping buddies would like to add to that description).
After getting over the cold (and switching sleeping bags to get the one that goes to -15C rather than -2C (go ahead and call me a baby...), I was able to appreciate some really awesome scenery. We climbed Mt. Daisen (around 1500m) and got great views of Mt. Aso.The place where we camped out had a great rustic onsen within walking distance, so we went there for 2 nights to relax after days of hiking. After camping, we headed back into Beppu, our ferry port, where we stayed for one night at a hostel. Beppu is known as the onsen capital of Japan. Riding around town, you can see a seemingly endless number of hot spots where steam rises steadily from the ground at hot springs and onsens. We visited Beppu Onsen Hoyoland where I got to do a sulfur bath (which is not as painful as it sounds) and 2 different types of mud baths.
The overnight ferry between Osaka and Beppu is comfortable and a cheaper alternative to the bullet train.

We planned the timing of our trip well because after returning to Kansai, the cherry blossoms are now in full bloom. So, it's off to some hanami parties and to join the rest of the population who has been hibernating all winter waiting for this week of warm weather and flowery air to come.
These are from Shukugawa, between Osaka and Kobe.

In other news, if anyone has any gardening tips for a first time green-thumb hopeful, send them my way. So far I have - rosemary, basil, spearmint, a mini-eggplant, and a mini-tomato. Over-water? Under-water? I'm clueless.

2008-03-23T20:31:00.002+09:00

I usually associate the Olympics with fond memories...the excitement of seeing the world's best athletes join together, the way in which they bring together cultures, and erode many of the racial, religious, political, and other typically dividing aspects of the world we share. There is so much symbolism sweeping through the games, on so many levels. Unfortunately, this year, that symbolism seems to be taking a turn towards something less than honorable.

Honestly, I was not surprised when I found out that Beijing got the bid for the 2008 games. "China" seems to be on the lips of every policy-maker, every manufacturing competitor, every economic and globalization analyst. And of course the name of the country itself is stamped onto many of the products we all use every day. Let me check out what's on my desk...my laptop, speakers, some scissors, pens...I guarantee something here was made in China.

Anyway, after what has been happening recently in Tibet, Im really starting to think that holding the Olympics in China and beginning the start of the torch's journey in Tibet, is not only unfair, it is a slap in the face of the Tibetan people. They are not letting foreign journalists into Tibet now, at all. So we should just believe whatever the communist party's media puts out there. I mean they won't even call the Dalai Lama's followers by a legitimate term...the people of a nation are a "clique," which seems to translate to a band of thugs.
This gem really did it for me:
"The Dalai is a jackal in Buddhist monk's robes, an evil spirit with a human face and the heart of a beast," Tibet's Communist Party secretary, Zhang Qingli, told a teleconference of regional officials, according to the China Tibet News.
Uh-huh.

Anyway, I just hope every gives it some thought. There are petitions to be signed, money to be donated, and Olympics to be turned off this year. I know if I happen to see any of the games, the usual rush of excitement will be replaced by a bad taste in my mouth.

http://www.freetibet.org/

2008-03-23T20:08:00.004+09:00

So, last Sunday after not aquiring tickets to the Osaka Sumo Tournament (I guess I can wait until next year to see lots of nearly-naked flesh slamming), I was hanging out in Ame-mura checking out the crazy fashion when a couple of white guys who looked a little lost appeared in the middle of the circle, videotaping all that was around them. One of my friends asked them, "You making a documentary?"
So a conversation started until we reached the "So when did you arrive/what are you doing here?" One guy says "My band is playing here tonight..." I asked who.
"Horse the Band."
"Youre f*%$ing kidding me!"
So I proceeded to explain that they were one of Justins (and I'll admit, now my) favorite bands, that Justin would be there momentarily, etc.
So basically, we ended up hanging out with them all day, showing them around some Osaka spots, then Justin and I stuck around for the show. Which, by the way, we got in for free. I felt like a rock star. It didn't hurt that besides the guys in the band and their touring buddies, we were definitely the only gaijin there, so I'm sure everyone just thought we really were with the band. Nice.
Well, anyway, it was a great time. Instead of hanging out with a bunch of crazy fat (sorry, muscular) guys, I hung out with a bunch of crazy skinny (read: a little mentally unstable and thin, not really really thin) guys...
Also, Justin and I decided to make our own abilities charts because well, we're dorks.

Justin: 1. Coca-cola consumption, 2. Ninja speed, 3. Death sleep (does not wake in the face of 23984 alarm clocks), 4. 25th degree blackbelt in Heilongjieng province cooking

Jessica: 1. Ni-faux-go (faking Nihongo (Japanese)...it's all in the nod), 2. trapper keeper, 3. llama whisperer, 4. ice cream garbage disposal

Out.

I <3 Firefox...

2008-03-23T19:51:00.006+09:00

Well, I downloaded Firefox and it looks like my pictures are working now!

Finally!

So, I have a lot of catching up to do (which I may or may not do. ) I might just go from here on out and upload as I go. So below we have a little USJ (Universal Studios Japan), the Daito AET enkai (told you I made some Japanese friends), a little Suminodo JHS graduation and I'll create another post for the super fun time I had last Sunday.The people in the bottom picture are the two 3rd year English teachers and the Suminodo AET from last year, Dan.

It's only because I've been angry...

2008-03-23T17:26:00.002+09:00

that i havent posted in so long. not angry at life or anything like that. angry at blogger. for not posting my pictures. ever!
because i know my writing is only so interesting and the blog is a thousand times more interesting with photos than without. i even tried just uploading everything to picasa, but for some reason google hates me. so here i am, going to try again.
first, ill attempt some picture posts, then on to the writing.
wish me luck!

Hick

2008-02-10T19:21:00.001+09:00

First, a little politics...I felt speical to vote in the first ever global primary for the Democratic presidential nominee. Basically all American expats have 22 deligates at the Democratic convention (why doesnt the GOP do this as well?) so yay for voting...can't wait until November.

The "2" party system, the electoral college, the politicians who all say whatever they need to to get elected...it can be disheartening. It can lead people to say "why bother?" Im not a pessimist but I wish that action could more often match wits with rhetoric. I wont knock anyone until I see what their actions are, but it really is time for some change, time for something new. Time for hope, time for waking up and seeing the myriad of ways that globalization and corporatization are affecting everyones lives. Time to take some responsibility.

Still, we are a part of the system, the machine, and I dont think it would be right to complain and whine about what people are and aren't doing right without at least, at the minimum level of action, voting. It's a flawed system, but does NOT voting really do any good? I can't see that it does.

A few things... http://www.zcommunications.org/
http://www.alternet.org/
And really, I don't think slogans get any more awesome than this.

In unrelated news, a strange new lifeform was discovered on top of Nozaki mountain outside of Osaka Japan. Well gul-dern.

It's Ko-bayh, not Ko-bee

2008-01-27T08:36:00.000+09:00

No, I didnt crack my "vegitarianism" and chow down on some steak that leads a more comfortable life than me...no Kobe beef for me yesterday, but I did enjoy a Japanese city that seems to be somewhat overlooked in the guidebooks. Maybe because of its internationalism, it is not touted as a big tourist destination because tourists want to come to Japan to see Japan, right? But for someone living here, its really nice to visit a city where there are places that remind me of what I like best about American cities - you can walk from section to section and experience many cultures within city blocks of one another. So while the guidebooks might mention stopping by only for the steak if you can afford it, there are many more interesting things in Kobe than cow.
Skipped out on the sake breweries yesterday, but I did see Kitano, the foreigners' neighborhood where foreign dignitaries built houses. Its a little Disney-esque, a little bit Embassy Row, but interesting nevertheless. Theres a sort of Middle Eastern section complete with a mosque. And the reknowned Chinatown (again, people from the states - NY, San Fran - this Chinatowns got nothing on you), where the ?-mans (anything filled steamed buns), goma sweets (sesame), and meat on a stick vendors sit at every corner. The little area is filled with smells of food and sights of red lanterns, and typical Chinese images that often contrast in loudness with the more subdued nature of Japanese neighborhoods.
It was hard to believe that 13 years ago the city was devastated by the Great Hanshin Earthquake, as it is called here, where more than 6000 people died. And yet in rebuilding, the interstates soar up in the sky and the ferris wheel and buildings dare the faults to shift again.

Unfortunately blogger is hating me once again and I can't put any photos up so I'll have to save them for later...

Pretty girls and boys

2008-01-19T16:28:00.000+09:00

Yay for pictures working again!!!

Below are two pics from 20 year old Daito girls and boys at last weeks seijin no hi, coming of age day. Their outfits were sooooo amazing.

Then below you'll see yours truly in a kimono store. I went there with one of my teacher's daughters, Yui, who is 21. My kimono is sort of like the girls' below. Its bright and colorful with long sleeves, appropriate for an unmarried woman. If one is going to a wedding, going to get married, or going to a more solemn occation, the pattern and colors used would not be as loud as these. Needless to say, it was a lot of fun!

Also the pic below is of some teru teru bozu. These are in Nara, children put them out when it is raining in hopes that they will stop the rain.

Anyway, now that I know pics are up and running, I'll post again soon.

じゃあ、またね！

Not baby poop...

2008-01-15T17:22:00.000+09:00

But it looks like it huh?
This is definitely ichiban on my list of yucky foods in Japan. Many people love it, and I hope just as many hate it. I got this, kanimiso, on top of a maki roll. I had ordered sushi I knew and decided to be adventurous and get one I didn't know. I know that kani means crab, so I figured, hey, that's gotta be somewhat tasty if it involves crab, right? Wrong. It's crab brain (and I have noticed that the Japanese like to make use of every crustacean (among other creature) part useable. Thus, I give you, crab brain.
Tastes about as good as it looks.
Or as I like to say, "It tasted like the ocean pooped in my mouth."
Yum!

Slowpoke

2008-01-14T13:14:00.000+09:00

Hey all,

I know I've been kinda slow about uploading pictures and making posts...I've been busy ok!
As we speak I've been trying to put up new photos on here and on Picasa but I'm having technical difficulties!

Had a busy weekend, went down to the airport to renew my voucher for Justins ticket and headed to Nara yesterday to catch the Wakasakusa-yama yaki, thats Mt. Wakakusa Burning. They set off fireworks and celebrate the burning of the mountiain. Sort of a New Year/welcome new life celebration. Today is a national holiday, Seijin no hi (Coming of Age Day) when 20 year olds celebrate their entrance to adulthood. Got some good pictures of the happy kids dressed to the nines in their kimonos, suits, hakama pants, and all sorts of beautiful and sometimes crazy getups.

Next weekend, a Mr. Justin will be returning to town and the following weekend I'm pretty busy with a mochi-tsuki (mochi-making) event that JET is putting on (which usually goes either way - great or sucky), but I'm being an optimist for the moment.

The dreaded recontracting decision is now T-minus 25 days away...as of right now, I'm feeling pretty good about it. Feeling like the scales have slowly been tipping in a positive direction and are continuing to slide. We'll see if it levels back off, but I kind of hope not. The more I lean towards one side, the easier the decision will be.

I've been using some free time in school to start writing a new short story and so far it's coming along pretty well. This is what I can describe so far - foreigner living in Japan responds to a strange ad in a classified section, her apparently new employers, a private detective agency, lead her down a mysterious path towards impossible logic...blah blah blah. I dont exactly know where it's going right now, we'll see.

That's all for now but I'll try putting some photos up again soon!

2008-01-08T22:37:00.000+09:00

in the words of k.w., "dont act like i never told 'ya"

http://www.myspace.com/leathermouthlives

also, check out http://www.chopsticktattoo.org/splashy.html

they're cool.

too long

2008-01-08T21:58:00.000+09:00

Hey all...first off, sorry that its been so long since i've posted anything. i dont know if i'm apologizing to any readers i may or may not have or if im apologizing to myself.

also, the pic above is fuji-san from the nozomi shinkansen, osaka to tokyo.

Well, anyway, lots and lots to think about lately...my form for recontracting with the JET program is due in less than a month (gulp). i won't lie, the only reason i dare talk about anything like that right now is because i just came from a kick-ass new year's party at the izakaya downstairs (pakusutei. ぱっくす亭）. Hells ya, that's right i just typed hiragana AND kanji! woo!

and as a slight aside, there was a barrel (you did no misread, a BARREL) of sake there, so right, honesty is first in line.

so...lots and lots going on. new years resolutions abound (by the way, i hate new years resolutions thats why i dont really make them). so i have this visual separation between work and outside of work right now...theres a certain kind/amount of satisfaction/fufillment that i can get from each, and of course the amount of work that i put into each changes what i get out of each. i want to put forth more effort at work and then at the same time i feel like all that will end up mattering in the long run are the things i do outside of work. i dunno...stupid freakin JET motto..."every situation is different," ya well, you're right, shut up.

Thats my capsule hotel in Tokyo.

Had a lovely Christmas and New Years at home with the folks and friends (though I must say, the Daito-shi Xmas party was fab...)

I will soon post all pics on Picasa (Sorry for the delay).

Our beautiful nabe (thanks Joe-san and Aki-chan).

Also, this is New Year's at home...seriously, we can take good pictures, but I think this is our "audition for the next Wes Craven film" shot. We really should have put some fangs on Justin. Also, my cat Tiger died the day after Christmas. It was sad, but I did tell him to stay alive until I was home for break. He listened to me, so by golly, thank a lot Tiger. It was real.

And finally, Kanye West kicks my ass. I know the rest of the world bought "Graduation" like months and months ago, but I just got it, so it like I have my own little postdated secret. Nevertheless, "Flashing lights" is so Japan-approproate. Also, I have to say, its totally rad that he used Takashi Murakami for the artwork. And if you only know him (or don't) for the famous Louis Vuitton "LV" bag pattern, shame on you, go check out his real stuff...

Thats all for now, hope to be a better blogger this year (and if you know me and new year's resolutions, please dont hold me to that...)

明けましておめでとう！night night 2007, morning 2008!

Making haste...

2007-11-17T12:34:00.000+09:00

This pic is from the martial arts demonstration in Himeji a few weeks ago. I'll give you one guess as to whether I came anywhere close to hitting the target. Let's just say archery is not a hidden talent of mine.

Been pretty busy as of late...midyear seminar has come and gone, pretty painlessly I might add. It's basically a meeting for all Osaka JETs on teaching. I had been expecting hell but it really wasn't that bad, and dare I say, somewhat informative.

I'm starting to get frustrated at myself for not writing more often. I'm satisfied with the blog; it's more that I haven't been doing any other kind of writing at all. I know for a fact that if I took the time to do it, I could produce some quality stuff, but when I do have free time, I'm either to tired to put forth the creative effort, or, I feel like studying Japanese takes top priority. I'm not so sure that it should...

Next weekend, I'm going to Koyasan to stay overnight at a Buddhist temple, which I'm really looking forward to. It'll also be perfect time for fall foliage viewing. Time here is really only punctuated by the weekends. School weeks come and go and everything else is measured by what's going on during the weekend.

Anyway, I can tell my thoughts are not exactly together right now, so maybe next time I write I'll actually have something to say.

morudauyo

2007-11-04T08:05:00.000+09:00

well, it's supposed to be "moldau" as in the moldau river as in the orchestral piece written by smetana. somewhere along the line, it was shortened from a 12 minute musical journey down the river to a 2-3 minute piece with lyrics, in japanese.

nevertheless, the kids at school (and the teachers of course) put me in awe at the amount of practice and dedication that goes into something like last week's culture day. each grade competed in a chorus competition (in which the crowning moment was all of the 3rd year students singing moldau...when each class sang the song separately and the winner was announced, their was an upset. the class everyone though would win didnt and i felt really bad for one of the "bad" boys because he was conducting the class that was supposed to win and i could tell he was disappointed).

anyway, aside from lots of singing, as you can see by a few new photos ive posted (check the web album), i was busy as well making a display on virginia, complete with slideshow and virginia music. i was also in the teachers drama, in which i danced with 3 other teachers to some crazy hip hop mix with "now that we found love what are we gonna do with it" somehow blended in. it was loads of fun but lets just say hip hop dance, in case you didnt figure this out already, is not my forte. but luckily, as ive been slowly figuring out, its all about quantity here - quantity of dedication, hours spent, enthusiasm - not quality of the end product. lucky for me.

yesterday i headed out to himeji with another diato-an jet to check out a martial arts festival (bujitsu matsuri) and to see the castle. himeji castle is one of the few in japan left completely intact after ww2 and it is known as a good example of japanese castle architecture. one of the most interesting things were some of the ghost stories told about parts of the castle, as well as a place on the ground where it is believed that samurai went to commit seppuku (harakiri). the martial arts fest was nice too, i have a few pictures of kendo, naginata (bowstaff), archery (i got to shoot a bow and arrow, with assistance of course...my friend has this photo somewhere, ill get it later)...anyway, it was a pretty sweet day but after the craziness of last week im really looking forward to a sunday of chilling out and doing nothing.

heres a video from a taiku (drum) fesitval i went to 2 weeks ago...

ciao!

strangeness

2007-10-29T20:50:00.000+09:00

i feel like ive been coming out of a fog recently...perhaps this is the reason for the lack of posts recently...ive been really busy, kinda tired, but finally i feel like im coming around after a week or so of hardcore contemplation. this week is especially busy with bunkasai being on friday (culture festival). im doing a project on virginia, and im also performing in a hip hop dance with 3 other teachers (!). do not fear, there will be photos for all to see.

i dont think there'll be too much halloween celebrating on wednesday, but i am wearing some cat ears into school (and taking some candy if i can find some)...

thanks to emily, if i did have a jack-o-lantern this year, it would definitely look like this:

Sorta

2007-10-19T11:52:00.000+09:00

This is kinda like my life here.

Bloc Party, Flux

2007-10-13T08:05:00.000+09:00

check out the link to my photos page (on the left side of the page). right now only nara is up there, but i'll be adding more soon!

Taiiku no hi

2007-10-09T08:13:00.000+09:00

Hello all...so so so much to talk about today after a crazy week.

One thing is I think I might start putting more pictures up on Picasa web albums. They are the service Google offers, so I technically already have an account through here. It would be a lot easier than trying to put a crap-ton of pictures up on here.

First, Sports Day was on Sunday (actually, the national holiday was yesterday, Monday). The students all compete by class in races and relays. They plan the whole thing out so so much, there are many practices to try to get everything to run perfectly (which it pretty much did). The 3rd year students (san nensei) are super excited since its their last time, so its bittersweet and you can tell the whole ordeal is something that the students and teachers and families care a lot about.

I learned rajio taisou in preparation, which in spite of looking quite silly, feels pretty nice as far as stretching goes. Also, they're really into old Chinese communist band music here. Ok, it's not really that, but that's all I can think of when the brass beat is pumping and children are marching migi, hidari, migi, hidari (right, left, right left). I participated in the PTA tug of war and in the teacher's relay (I ran 100 meters...didnt run track and field in high school for nothing). I was going to run in the girls' 800 meter race until I checked out the record times. So 800 meters is a little less than half a mile I believe. Some of these times were 3:20ish...thats freakin fast. I realized I wasnt ready for that, so I passed.

The most awesome things to watch were the san nensei special activities - dance team and kumi-taiso. Dance was all of the san nensei girls, they did three songs (one of them unfortunately being Britney Spear's "Crazy" - they were really excited when I told them I knew all of the words to the song). Then all of the boys do kumi-taiso, which is like a mixture of gymnastics and cheerleading. They don't cheer, they build structures with their bodies, progressing from 2-person positions all the way up to like 40 or 50 boys.

Below is a video of one of my favorite forms:

After the long day was said and done, the teachers got together for our second enkai (party). We took a bus to this restaurant in the foothills one town over. The restaurant was by far the nicest, most beautiful and traditional Japanese restaurant I've been to thus far. IT had an onsen that we got to use first (Japanese bath house), so you wash up and relax before going to eat. We sat in a big U shape on tatamit and were served by older ladies in kimonos. The food was traditional Japanese and they just kept bringing out different things - sashimi, nabe (soup cooked at the table), some apparently very expensive mushroom soup, fried fish, and to my surprise (well, not really), whale. Ok, I am all for trying new things. There are so many things here that I've just shoved in my mouth without question (ahem, natto toast), in the sake of, "oh just give it a try." However, because I go out of my way to not eat meat like beef and pork and chicken, I found it a bit hypocritical to then eat whale, which I just assumed was not endangered, but who knows. Luckily, there were so many things on the tray and people pick and choose, so I'm sure no one noticed my untouched whale. A fantastic night all in all and I'm sorry I feel like I skim over the details in here, there's just so much to write!

Also, I'm really hooked on the first song that the dance team did - Ikenai Taiyou, by Orange Range. Kind of a rocky boy band thing going on, but damn is it catchy. Check it out. Here's the video.

I was going to talk about my day in Nara yesterday, but after all of the sports, I'm tired. Maybe later! I'll be sure to let everyone know if I decide to put photos on the web album, in which case I'll just put a link up. Jya mata!

Burma

2007-09-29T10:04:00.000+09:00

So far, I haven't used the blog to spout off (too much) on any of my political views, but today that day has come.
Every day I read the news online from various sources and I've become appalled, inspired, and anxious in watching the recent developments in Burma unfold.
The government in Burma killed over 3,000 people in 1988 during similar peaceful protests. We cannot simply watch from afar in anticipation of another massacre. As with any social injustice, it is difficult at first to understand how anyone, from afar, could help. These websites offer some good resources:
http://www.altsean.org/
http://www.uscampaignforburma.org/
http://www.voicesforburma.org/

Finally, read some of the blog reports that were coming out of Burma. That is, until the junta blocked the internet and banned political blogs. These were places in which people there, putting their lives in danger, were telling what was really going on. And now there's an information blackout. These pages
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/asia/article3001622.ece
http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/2007/09/28/myanmar-soldiers-back-down-in-mandalay/
have accounts and links to other blogs.
One stated:
"Buddhist monks are chanting: "All humans be free from killing and torturing, Our compassion and love spread all over country" and "Peace on earth."" And now the believers of such a prayer are being shot and killed.

If you're still reading, go check out those pages and learn more.

Also

2007-09-25T23:20:00.000+09:00

I do get a paycheck nowadays, and what better way to utilize said income than to buy a sweet new pair of Pumas. Of course I had to get the largest women's size readily available (25 cm, or a US 7), so theyre a little tight. Sorry feet, the squeeze is worth it.

Kishiwada + Umeda Pics

2007-09-25T22:55:00.001+09:00

Sorry for the delay on the pics. Also, I would like to thank whoever has posted the newest episode of Heroes online in record time. Thank you for giving me hope for a happy fall lineup of online TV watching (now we'll just have to wait until next year when Lost starts back up again...)

Lantern danjiri

They might look happy, but they were tired

So cute.

That is one heavy parade float.

Osaka night from atop the Umeda sky building.

Shoutout to Enma!

2007-09-22T20:50:00.000+09:00

Allo all...it's been a little while, but I've been busy as hell what with planning new lessons, spending all of my money on a new pair of Pumas and at the stupid Carrefour (French international store with the most badass wine selection ever), and enjoying yet another 3 day weekend (thank you Japan for holiday such as Respect for the Aged Day and the Autumnal Equinox. So last weekend was the Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri which was a fantastic time...I'm about to head out the door, so plenty of photos to come soon.
Also, I'd like to say that I am officially mad at facebook - I've tried 3 times to save videos for friends and it hasn't happened yet. Boo facebook.

Kyphotos.

2007-09-13T18:59:00.001+09:00

Massive torii gate outside of Heian-jingu shrine

Pretty yukattas

Heian-jingo

Guarding the door

Magic street

I forget the name of this shrine but it was quite pretty

Hamachi and Kyoto

2007-09-13T07:46:00.000+09:00

New favorite sushi: Hamachi, or yellowfin tuna. Dericious (I am not making fun of Japanese people, I have really seen things with the word "dericious" written on them, so there. Also, pumpkin is amazing and we should eat more of it in the States than we do (i.e. it's not only good in pie!). Have to make this one a relatively brief post seeing as I have to be at work in about 30 minutes.
Sunday night I went out with my coworkers to an amazing sushi restuarant...I've never seen so much sushi in my life. They were, of course, worried that I could not use chopsticks or eat raw fish to which I wanted to reply, "Are you kidding me?" Needless to say, I got my fill of fish and beer, and even made my own little speech in Japanese thanking them and apologizing for my bad Japanese.
Monday I went into Kyoto by a pretty posh train that does not come with a posh price tag. I basically wandered around, which is okay in Kyoto, because you're bound to run into something (i.e. a shrine, temple, narrow wooden magical street (yes, this happened)), so my lack of a plan was okay. There are stores for everything here - kimonos, hair accessories, hangbags, geta (wodden platform shoes), fans, all specifically for that one need. I did see what appeared to be two geisha in a taxi along the aforementioned magical street. They may not have actually been geisha, but I didn't mind because real or fake, I was entranced and nearly ran into a wall with my head turned all the way around looking at them. In addition to seeing the geisha, I timed my arrival to a temple just right, as a very expensive wedding was about to begin. I saw the Shinto priests play strange intsruments as they led the small procession into the shrine. I will not post the picture I took of the procession, it feels a bit intrusive. The bride is wrapped from head to toe in a white sheet. The party is very small, but from what I hear, this is just the beginning of a very very elaborate and pricey wedding (where the after parties bring the whole family).
Well, I need to leave for work now, so pictures will have to wait until later!

Kawaiiiiiiiiii!

2007-09-06T17:55:00.000+09:00

I am kawaii, or so I have been told. For all who don't know kawaii means "cute" in Japanese but the true meaning of the kawaii pop culture craze is hardly done justice by this definition. From Disney junk to girls dressing like little miss muffet to stuff like this it is far from being just "cute."
For all who aren't down with Japan fashion (J-fash? Jashion?), wikipedia delivers, as always, a concise but pretty decent overview of the styles. I really wish I could just stop every fashionista I see and ask for a picture...
The first week of school is almost finished (not to mention my first week at my first real job) but because of said job and getting up early this morning and going out tonight for a friends birthday, I am too tired to give all of the details now.
Later kids.

Just a little bit.

2007-09-02T23:30:00.000+09:00

Two things that have made me happy:
This kid Be sure to watch some of his others. I'm not sure why they are so funny to me but I laughed a lot.

This show. Apparently it's been on BBC, it's called Japanorama, and its fabulous. Jonathan Ross covers all sorts of J-popular culture phenom. Sweet.

Night night.

Buddha in the Big City

2007-09-01T16:50:00.000+09:00

Last weekend before school starts. That means I actually have to work for that money that just got deposited into my bank account yesterday by the Board of Education. Lame.

Above is a picture of some delicious okonomiyaki. Traditional Kansai cuisine...Its basically lettuce/cabbage, egg, some kind of batter, seasoning, and some type of meat (I had squid in mine), fried on a griddle and covered in a sweet sauce. I don't know what's in the sauce but it is delicious.

Had an enjoyable night last night with some other Daito newbies...we went to a chain Italian restaurant. If the place had nothing else going for them, they do have massively large bottle of wine for about 1000 yen. That's like 9 bucks. Nice. Between two of those, four of us, some "Shrimp risotto" that was really shrimp and rice in tomato soup, a good time was had.

I went to Shitennoji temple today, the oldest temple in Japan (with some reconstruction over the years). Unfortunately, I'm having a hard time finding much information on the history of the temple, but it is definately the most awesome place I have been so far here in Japan.

I stood at a pond within the temple walls, watching a loon dive underwater, bringing up a fat fish to swallow down without fail every time. A Buddhist monk watched the bird nearby, each of us entranced by its feeding routine. All the while, the temple bell rang in irregular intervals, creating a surreal atmosphere in which only the loon, the monk, the bell, and myself existed. I don't know what it was but at the pond, something was temporarily suspended. As soon as the loon had finished feasting, it dried its wings by holding them abreast in the breeze, pushing two turtles off of a floating wood perch to make room for itself. Once the bird was satisfied with airing out, it picked up and flew away, leaving the monk and I behind at the pond, with only the turtles and black fish and a statue of a Boddhisatva across the way to captivate us. After the bird left, so did the monk. After the monk left, so did the sound of the bells, momentarily. I could hear car horns in the distance again and children on a nearby playground. Wherever I had been, it existed no more.

Incense. Wheels. Candles. Prayers tied to trees. Prayers being burned. Prayers being dipped in water. Prayers with coins. I looked through glass to see the back of a monk. He was sitting in front of a shrine, irregularly pulling the thick cord that rang the temple bell. People were kneeling behind him, children crawling around. "This is a temple for memorials. For sightseeing, please do not enter." Waft the incense around your head as if smelling the aroma of a simmering stew. Bow, clap twice, bow. Rub the statue. I saw my own reflection in the glass and tried my hardest to stand close enough to see past myself and into the shrine. I stood as reverently as I could, slightly bowing my head, my lower spine, slowly retreating into myself.

Enjoy the pictures (all are at Shitennoji except for the last one which was at another shrine along the way):

Osaka, Rinku Town, Daito-shi

2007-08-24T20:04:00.000+09:00

Konbanwa all!
Back in home sweet home Daito-shi after a 3 day haitus in Rinku Town where we did a Japanese language seminar at the Kansai Japanese Language Institute. It was a really great place and really kickstarted my quest for Japanese - Im not going to kid myself and say "fluency" so we'll go with - "semi-comprehension." Rinku Town is about 1 hr., 15min. southwest of Daito, pretty much right across the mainland from Kansai International Airport (which I hear, by the way, is slowly sinking back into the sea from which it was built). Some of the other pics are from Justin and me venturing into Dotombori (right picture, food capital of Nihon) last weekend where people would wait in line in 95 degree heat in front of open grills for takoyaki (fried octopus doughballs). They are delicious, but really, it's freaking hot out there. That ugly man to your left is the Osaka clown (Osaka no piero), who for some reason, is a famous landmark. Also got to see the running man that is on the Dotombori Bridge (amindst an entire wall of neon) that is my official blog photo. That photo in now way shows the scale of the actual place. We found a restaurant (well, we didnt find it considering thats pretty much the whole area, so rather, we chose a restaurant) where you order via touch screen. This took some guessing on our part and lots of thanks that pictures are everywhere. I've been doing pretty well learning hiragana and katakana, so I can read a little, but throw in all the kanji and I'm in trouble. I do know the kanji for Osaka, soy, and alcohol. Woo. But seriously, you can ask a Japanese person how many kanji there are and they will most certainly laugh at you. The last few pictures are from the Daito fesitival. There was food, fun, lanterns, and lots of really cute children running around wearing yukattas (summer versions of kimonos). I met four future students who were very sweet and enthusiastic, so now I'm really looking forward to the school year.

I'll probably head into school again sometime this week to sit around and get used to being there (and probably meet a lot of new people whose names it will take me weeks to remember). Also one day this week, the new JETs get to go a Daito ceremony where we will meet the mayor. That's right, hanging out with the big guys...

(Rinku Town right, just to the right of this shot in the water is Kansai International. I took a few pics of it, but you can't really tell its a huge airport, it just looks like a flat big island. Still, after thinking about it for a while and riding on massive train systems all the time, it makes me start to feel like I'm not actually part of a world in which people really and truly build incredible things like that. Who says "hey, great idea, we have no space, but we want a new massive airport. guess we'll just have to build an island to put it on!" or "hey the population density of this island we live on is crazy! let's start building up into the air, down under the ground, and hell, just add on some islands for good measure!" right, japan. Below, Daito-shi fesitval...

The kids in the middle are catching goldfish (didn't I have to at least knock down some milk bottles or throw beanbags in a hoop to get fish when I was a kid?) and adorable girls who probably thought I was a weirdo asking to take their picture. "Eh, shashin daijobu des ka?"

You too have to waste time...

2007-08-21T22:34:00.000+09:00

I wrote this when I arrived at Shin-Osaka station 2 hours early to meet Justin at the station. I had planned on walking around outside at a train-switching in Osaka but it was just too damn hot outside. So I went on to Shin Osaka and realized I brought no music to listen to, nothing to read. There were no magazines or papers in English, so I bought a blank notebook that has an empty escalator on the front and it says "It's nice, this shop. Located in your town. We inform only the most important shopping information. The key to shopping is gentleness and quality. Have more wonderful time here to keep your mind calm."

Okay thanks, I'll do that. And since I had to waste time, so will you, reading this, for it is lengthy. Heregoes:

"This is certainly the first time I've sat down at length to write since I've been in Japan. Usually I would struggle awkwardly to cover up something like this from the stranger sitting next to me to keep him or her from reading over my shoulder but my guess is that the woman next to me now, even if she does read English, cannot make out words from this chicken-scratch. I am at a train station, Shin Osaka to be exact. I gave myself plenty of time to get here, thinking that I could waste time walking around the nearby neighborhoods, but I should have known better. The heat outside, through my umbrella, sunglasses, clothes, skin, lungs, is unbearable. I quickly retreated back into the staion, wondering if all of this in and out of air conditioning will trigger a headache. Will I ever stop sweating? I think of Malaysia, Thailand, the weight of wet jungles and reasses my complaints. No AC in the ladies room? It sure as hell feels cool on those subway cars. So who cares if you feel drips down your back while you squat to take a piss.

Two hours on hand. Too early for a beer. I'd be asleep by the time I got back to Kyobashi. A bookstore. Perchance, maybe just maybe, there's something in English. I ooze through people, scanning row after row of beautiful covers and catch only those titles with anything in hiragana. Something-no-something-ga-mi-something-ka. Just when I thought nothing could look more beautiful than a book, there lie the Japanese books, their unreadableness making them more unattainable to me, and subsequently, more attractive. They seduce because of my lack of understanding.

I would read anything at this point. Martha Stewart Living. The Harvard Business Review. Hunting and Fishing.

Every so often, you see another foreigner. Passing through, fresh of the Shinkansen from Tokyo or Kyoto. Funny how we seek each other out, catching glimpses across a sea of Japanese, almost expecting a nod of approval from one another. "Yup, I'm doing this thing too." "Brave ones aren't we?" A slight vibration and the sound of the fastest train in the world coming to a halt somewhere beneath my feet. End of this line, time to change trains. In your town you look for people from the same street. In your sity, for those from the same neighborhood. In the country, from those of the same city, county, province, prefecture. In the world, the generality of the similarities we seek out is absurd. English. West. White. North America. Europe. I bet I have more in common with the woman sitting next to me than with the whole state of Utah.

So different, and yet so amazingly, predicatbly, the same Children are playing in a ball pit next to me, their parents watching from the outside, smiling and waving to their little ones. Girls check their reflections in bathroom mirrors. We drink coffee to stay awake, look around at one another, cautious of never staring or locking eyes. Business or pleasure. Local or rapid express. Reserved seat or unresearved. No other foreigners in sight.

When you first pull into Kyoto on the bullet train, you expect to look beyond the station gates and into the past. All I can remember is the New Kyoto Hotel, or something like that, and concrete and electric lines and towers and neon that looks like a match in the deepest cave in comparison to the brightness of Tokyo. No shrines or lanterns or dragons in sight, just a quick stop and return to speed southwest to Osaka.

I don't see how someone like me could sit here and ever dare say they'd fit in. Even with linguistic perfection, the latest fashions, electronic gadget mastery, and 100 local friends' numbers programmed neatly into my cell phone, the lady sitting next to me, who has nodded off to sleep now, will never mistake me for being Japanese.

Whoever said that which doesnt kill you only makes you stranger really had something there.

About 17 minutes until arrival. When they say 2:37, they mean 2:37. Note to self: bring a book. Bring music. Bring comfort. Bring eyes that absorb and the ability to be okay not returning any of that which one receives."

If you're still reading after that, thanks.

Also, I highly recommend reading David Mitchell's "Ghost Written," the song "Nattaiya" by Rip Slyme, and homemade udon. Heading to Osaka for the next 3 days for a language seminar. Until then.

2007-08-17T21:25:00.000+09:00

First, a math equation for everyone...

(Unpasteurized apple juice) +

(Kirin The Gold) +

(mix that junk up) =

Golden Snow Monkey!!! (new gaijin drink senasation soon to sweep the nation)

Justin says: "I invented it, so it has to be good! Banzai!"

Jessica says: "No more yucky beer taste! Just milky apple juice! Yum! Kampai!"

Pretty Daito sunset...

This has just been a quick picture update...no need to fear, I did plenty of writing sitting at the Shinosaka station the other day, so a more thorough update will be here soon...Happy weekend everyone. Also, heading out for my first karaoke tomorrow so I'm sure I'll have some great stories from that...might even miss the last train home. Ja mata!

First venture into Osaka

2007-08-11T14:34:00.000+09:00

Well, in spite of it being 33 degrees outside (and no, I still dont know what that means), I decided to test out my navigation skills and make my way to Osaka Castle by train. It was really not that hard...I only made one mistake of going in the wrong direction, but I wasn't too far off, so I just backtracked by walking. What I saw of Osaka was beautiful, and I never actually went into the big city. I went to Osaka Castle and opted to pay the 600yen to get in. The price was only worth seeing the view of the city from the top story (the rest of the inside was exhibits/museum type stuff because this is actually a reconstruction from what remained after the castle was messed up pretty bad in WWII)...so, my feet are aching now and Im back home safe. Enjoy the pics...

Osaka-jo! (originally built in the 16th century)

View of the city from atop the castle

"Sumimasen ga, watashi-no shashin, uh, tsuke-te, er, onegai-shimasu?"
This worked well enough.

Pretty shrine along the (long) walk from the (wrong) station to the castle.

Lovely example of Japanglish.

Shashin tachi

2007-08-10T15:45:00.000+09:00

That means photos...also, I'm sure it's hot in the US right now but it feels like an oven outside. Seriously. Some random strange things I have discovered recently: the correct way to use a Japanese toilet (i.e. how to face front), Japanese toilets have 2 flush options to save water, one for number 1 and one for number 2, how to be incredibly anal retentive about recycling, public trash cans are pretty much nonexistant, whole fried sardines just taste like fishy french fries, ramen is amazing.

Tokyo Tower

A bridge in Daito-shi with a glimpse of Osaka in the background.

Tanuki! See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanuki

The Daito-shi Shinto shrine...

Some candy for my friends...you know who you are.

Thats all for now folks...ja mata!

2007-08-09T08:42:00.000+09:00

Whew! Good god, this has been honestly the most exhausting, exciting, whirlwind of a week in my life! Hopefully over the next few days after taking care of essentials (alien registration card, meeting all of the bosses, opening a bank account, getting a ketai (cell phone), and more, I'll be able to sit down for a bit to myself and take some deep breaths. After an amazing time in Tokyo (including a great visit to Shin-koenji with Justin and one of his cousins, some vintage clothing stores where tshirts that are $2 at home in Goodwill are about $30, and a couple of bars), my time in the capital came to an end. Yesterday we boarded the shinkansen (bullet train) to head for Osaka. The view out of the right side of the train revealed incredible mountains, including a glimpse of Fuji-san, whose peak was hidden behind clouds. Upon arriving in Osaka (by the way, all train stations are mazes, literally, mazes that are seemingly endless, living, breathing entities whose veins never stop pumping)...we were greeting and taken by our supervisors out of the main city and into our new homes in Daito. Daito is about a 30 min. car ride and a 10-15 min. train ride into the heart of Osaka. My apartment is so great! I have a full bath, kitchen, balcony (overlooking the fabulous Lubky Round pachinko parlor), and 2 tatami rooms - a living room and my bedroom. Oh, and did I mention that there's an izakaya on the first floor of our building? That's a traditional Japanese bar/restaurant. I will never go hungry or thirsty again!

There are so many little things that have made being here so surreal and I suppose that now and later, it will be those little things that make every day here new and wacky and funny and intense and amazing...

Much more to come but I am off to meet some head honchos and hopefully get some stuff for the apartment!

Finally here!

2007-08-06T07:17:00.000+09:00

Ohio gozaimasu!

Well, after three days on about 12 hours of sleep, an overbooked plane, an overweight plane, and Indian airplane food at very strange times during our timewarp of a flight, I'm finally here in Tokyo and will be here until Wedesday when I head down to Osaka. I made it to the hotel just in time to run up to my room, change clothes and head back out into Shinjuku with Justin. Not going to go into too much detail right now, but I wanted to put up at least a couple of pics for now. Enjoy!

Above: how not to pack.

Shinjuku.

Sorry I cut your face off Justin.

Also, ask Justin why you shouldnt take things out of mini-fridges that are not yours.

More to come...

Like OMG!

2007-07-31T12:49:00.000+09:00

Sometimes I feel myself slowly slipping backwards into teenagedom but luckily my nails are dug into some semblance of adulthood deep enough to keep me hanging on.

Going to a rock show tomorrow night, a date with myself and a farewell to the southside.

So annoyed with myself at the way I've fixated on a certain internet message that tells me "is not available" when I am.

Obsessed with watching Anthony Bourdain's travel show "No Reservations." Check out the episode he does in Osaka. Hanshin Tigers!

LMAO with giddiness.

Out.

Might regret this later...

2007-07-27T13:19:00.000+09:00

Okay so that's probably not a good start to a blog, but thankfully the internet gives me the power to create and destroy as I please. So tonight's post is a mixture of things, several of which I might be asking forgiveness for later. I have the strange urge to take these writings a step farther by making them public domain. I apologize for any ridiculousness that follows. I also apologize if, in the future, I decide that putting personal writings on here was a bad idea so I and subsequentially decide to nix them...so without further ado:

Words from your yesterday

Why is it that, when you’re opposite of me
When today is tomorrow for you
Everything is backwards and I begin to question
The meaning of it all…you, me, everything
I look forward to a night of anxious dreams as you look forward to a day of hope and wonder
I look forward to departure, I too will live in the future
But for now, I sink
The light of the surface slowly fades from my vision until the lights of the city awaken me again
The liveliness, fastpaced, consistency of your world makes mine seem ever so dull and thick, ever so slow and gooey, a long and continuous drip in the face of the waterfall that you are witness to
Soon enough my eyes and mind and heart will match the pace, I too will be shocked and consumed as you are now
But I adore you so
Are we so confined by hemispheres and international date lines?
I will have mine and you yours and yet we will indeed share something of an idea, a vision of looking in, our noses pressed against a window that does not belong to either of us
Noses pressed against the glass, shallow little hot breaths making a fuss of condensation, gatekeepers looking upon us both disdainfully, wondering what we’re doing there
Our breath is the same
If I can’t sleep at night, paralyzed with anticipation, then I can’t dream
If I can’t dream then I can’t feel the extremes of the joy of my own utopian ideal, the suffering of loss, the pride of creation
I apologize for any misunderstanding, I assure you, it was all my fault
I sat alone with the tv on, fulfilling my role as my own cheap date, the light from the screen flickering in reflection upon my glazed-over eyes
There were many songs that reminded me of you, of us
There was something that affected me; knowing that I had so much time to think and that you were too busy, too excited, too far gone
I was left alone, free to wander to the edges of all the “what ifs” the universe had to offer, while you were left to millions, all with the desire to stare you down in the middle of the afternoon, while
I was left to sleepless nights and the curiosity that is feeling alone in a world of billions
Soon enough I will know
Soon enough we will know.
And for now, alone, amidst billions, with strange songs streaming from small speakers, I hope and, well, I pray.
Yes, I pray. Shocking though it may seem.
You did it to me.
You made me pray. You tricky sneaky thing you.
“Let it work. Please. I don’t ask for much, often. I’m sorry. Let it work.”
A prayer for functionality. Ironic in that I should be praying for the functionality of my prayer.
So am I masking my own stress in the veins of our existence? Perhaps, and that is wrong. That is something that only I can resolve. If this is the case, I am sorry. Trust, huh? That’s what I need. What about faith? Can there be trust without faith?
For now, have a good afternoon whilst I simmer at the approaching midnight hour. For now, I send you my pride, my embrace, my love, my stupid bloody valentine that you put on a mix cd that you made for me what now seems like ages ago. For now, until then.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So, after that feeble attempt at a poem, I’ve decided that a journal entry-like piece, a poorly constructed personal essay at best, is what will ease my heart at this time. The song that is my “sign” is pumping through my laptop’s humble speakers. The Killers, “Read my mind.” Nothing in the song about Japan. Yet, the music video is what saved me. Goddamned MTV2 for actually playing music. I was shaken and stirred…just got off the phone with my mom, not sure how or why or with whom or when I would go to Japan. What if I didn’t get into JET? What would I do, move back to Newport News and get a job? Like hell I would. Like hell. Then the video appeared on my screen, opening with a faraway shot of the Tokyo skyline. I’m not 100% sold on the idea of fate as dominating free choice, in spite of the “Dare Fatis Vela” written on my back (“sail where fate directs”). I got completely sucked in, my eyes glued to the screen, sitting on the floor looking like a broken child, nose almost pressed to the screen. “That’s Japan,” I thought. “That could be my new life.” It was a sign. New life huh? I didn’t know that was what I was looking for. Something. Anything. But here. There. That would be wonderful.

I'm Big in Japan

2007-07-25T05:26:00.000+09:00

Okay, I'm not big in Japan quite yet. Maybe that's because I'm not there yet. Has anyone else seen those t-shirts that say "I'm Big in Japan" ? Well, I'm assuming I should not get one, at least, not yet...My ultimate master plan is to start a band in Japan, from which I will become big. My mom asked, "what are you going to do?" What am I going to do? C'mon mom, I'll sing, play guitar, maybe even throw in some keyboards for good measure. Actually, no, nix the keyboards. Anyway, I don't think it matters how exceptionally musically talented I am (i.e. on-key)...I will simply rely on spunk.

And maybe I'll name my band Nikita. Or something with the word "Chernobyl" in it. I always thought that would go well in a band name...

So...for anyone who cares, I have heard from Justin, he is alive and well. Perhaps a little shocked, I imagine him walking around Shinjuku looking like a deer in headlights. Except the passing cars all stop to stare him down. Hopefully, he'll post his own details soon enough.

Watched "The Notorious Bettie Page" last night and really enjoyed it. Gretchen Mol looked gorgeous as the pinup queen. Not only did the movie do a great job of keeping the bio straightforward and not too over-the-top (as one might expect for such a iconic persona) but the style of the film itself was wonderfully thought out. I'm really surprised that this movie did not get more attention when it was released. It's definately the best thing I've seen in a while.

While making suggestions, I should mention the book "The Best American Nonrequired Reading."
I have the 2006 version which includes short stories, comics/graphics novel sections, nonfiction (mostly political) and humor. I'd like to get some of the other editions of this series and will look forward to the 2007 edition.

Speaking of books, has everyone heard of "The Dangerous Book for Boys?" It's all over the bestsellers right now (knocked off, I'm sure by Harry & Co.). So, this book is about how boys nowadays should be getting off their lazy butts and parents should be giving them room to go outside and get dirty, get scraped up, have fun, learn lessons in toughness, etc. I have not read the book but something about its premise and popularity keeps bothering me. Now I am all for kids going outside and playing, not being overprotected by their parents. I was definatley a tomboy so I can appreciate the authors' (Conn and Hal Iggledon) intent. Apparently, there is a chapter in the book devoted to girls and I'd be interested to have a look. I saw one of the authors interviewed on television and he was explaining, however, that boys have specific lessons in "boy" things that they need to learn; this is why the book was targeted at boys and not at girls. I'm not quite sure I understand this. What rugged, outdoorsy (masculine?) things to boys need which girls do not? Don't all children need the same lessons in self-sufficiency, self-reliance, and overcoming fear? I'm sure many feminists have already jumped all over this one and I'm barely missing the boat. If anyone has read the book or seen any pieces following the same argument as my own, let me know...I'd like to read more.

I'm attempting to suck in all things that I'm afraid I won't have in Japan over the course of the next week or so - watching Miami Ink and Top Chef, having a good 'ol cookout with the family, driving my car around town, and other various Americana cliches. That seems to be it for today!

How do you keep a raccoon out of a tomato garden?

2007-07-19T04:20:00.000+09:00

Well, the answer is I don't know. But that was the question last typed into a search field on my laptop. My dad has tomatoes planted, of which we have eaten zero because of a sneaky nocturnal thief with a nose for the ripe ones. Racoon: probably 10, Family: 0.

The picture here? We'll call it Choice A. For a secret project. More on that later...by later that could mean months from now...

Just a few notes on recent means of keeping myself occupied:
Bought the new Darkest Hour CD "Deliver Us" - I am still jealous of all you NoVa kids who were best buds with these guys in high school.
Went and saw "Ratatouille" - Pretty cute, somewhat Disney predicatable. I enjoyed it though, especially Patton Oswald as the mouse. Pixar is getting really incredible when it comes to designing/illustrating backgrounds. Some scenes of Paris really looked like photography rather than animation.
Found out that there is an abundance of peanut butter in Japan. Okay maybe not an abundance, but whoever told me that PB is hard to find there, one of my friends from Japan informed me that she ate it all the time at home. The food of the gods will be mine.
Finished (I think?) my short story. I am pretty proud to have just reached an end, to have gotten some closure. It's called "Nowhere to Nowhere," and if anyone can suggest any legit places online where I can have it critiqued, edited, reviewed, etc., let me know.
Frowned when I found out the new As I Lay Dying CD will not be released until August 21. Similarly, the film "Charlie Bartlett" is coming out on the day I go up to DC (August 3). Hopefully both will be exported worldwide. If not, someone is shipping me AILD and someone is bootlegging the movie for me.
Proved that getting free stuff from doing things online is not always a hoax. I've been doing surveys for HarrisPoll online for about 3 years now, never cashing in my points, always waiting to reach the next level of prizes such as automatic change sorters, subscriptions to Newsweek, and talking moo-cow cookie jars. I ended up finding a practically weightless little MP3 player that holds about 100 songs. This is one time where I've really felt that I got something for nothing.

Japanese word of the day (and by "day" I mean the frequency at which I post on this blog):
garasu; glass
Example sentence: Sumimasen, watashi no me ni jakkan garasu ga desu. Itai!; Excuse me, I have some glass in my eye. Ouch!

That is all boys and girls.

2007-07-12T12:31:00.000+09:00

No this is not my arm.

Figured I'd give Justin (well, Chance at Jack Brown's Tattoo Revival in Fredericksburg) some free publicity.

25 days and counting...

2007-07-10T01:48:00.000+09:00

I feel like I'm getting ready to move to another galaxy instead of another country. My head feels like a fat man after Thanksgiving dinner…I really need to unbutton my trousers a bit, give myself some room to breathe. Between:
*figuring out how to pack for a year
*travelling to the Deep South for some farewell nostalgia and boiled peanuts
*visiting my grandfather in rehab (physical therapy, not drugs you jerks)
*writing a short story that won't let me sleep at night
*learning enough Japanese to be polite
*getting ready to sell my car
I have my work cut out for me and am quite thankful that I opted not to get a summer job for these 2.5 months in Virginia.
Additionally, as you have just learned, I enjoy making lists and have been constructing them right and left, until no detail of my life is left out.
While in South Carolina, I was able to take a step back and recognize my list-making obsession. If something is not on a written list, it is on a list in my head, and often plagues me until it has been completed. I've forgotten what it's like to ease back and take things as they come, rather than pouncing on them immediately. I've forgotten that as soon as you capture one mouse, you see another scurry away from the corner of vision; now you must go after him too. But really, the mice are everywhere, in the walls, in the floors, in the ceiling. I need to learn to live with mice.

One thing on a list, the one above in fact, that I will not let get away is the short story. I was browsing through old files of mine and noticed that when it comes to stories, I always always always leave them unfinished. Great starts happen, filled with vigor and passion, and about one third of the way in, BAM! It's not writer's block, and it's not even laziness. It's more like mental apathy. I've gotten out all that I initially thought of and without an attempt at foresight, I've left my plots, my characters, my settings, my participles, all of them, dangling in the wind. I don't even have the courtesy to say, "Just hold on! I'll be back in a bit! Let me figure out what's next!" Nope, I leave them, and I know that eventually they get sick of waiting on me and let go, plunging into oblivion.

The story that woke me up at 4:45 am last week…well, let's just say I was so pissed off as to be awoken by it that I figured it had what was coming. A beginning, middle, and end. And you thought I'd just leave you alone, huh? I've been working on it all week, still chugging along, but I'm beginning the process of rereading and editing and I'm scared as hell. I have so many snippets that are well written but incredible misplaced. So many things that felt wonderful coming out and in retrospect look like the same crap I could find in my sixth grade journals. Still, the thought of finishing a lengthy piece, even if it is bunk, even if no one reads it, feels better than just adding more to the pile of forgotten souls at the bottom of the abyss to which they fell.

For your enjoyment, some things I've grown fond of this summer:
HBO's new show The Flight of the Concohrds - brilliant! Two guys in an indie band from New Zealand move to New York to make it big.
Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird - great writing advice for beginners or pros, an easy read, witty, inspiring.
Special K cereal with chocolate, a banana, soymilk - delicious and nutritious. Eating chocolate cereal is always a good idea, but since it's Special K, I don't feel so bad about it.
Aroma's Café, City Center, Newport News - definitely the best place to hang out and get a cup of java in Bad News. Friends don't let friends drink Starbucks.

Though he didn't ask me to do this, I'm writing it anyway. A quick update on our good friend Justin, also moving to Japan. He's leaving in less than 2 short weeks. He'll be living with a cousin in Tokyo while looking for a job and an apartment. I think it's really funny that he has hidden his new tattoo from his parents by wearing long sleeves the whole time he's been at home. It's North Carolina in the middle of July. Who wears long sleeve shorts in 95 degrees, 90% humidity? I'm sure they suspect something. Speaking of said tattoo, you can check out pics at www.myspace.com/1tattoos and going to Chance's page & photos (you have to be a myspace member to see these)…

Well, that is all for now.

Time for a little beat

2007-06-22T08:39:00.000+09:00

If you're not in the mood for syrupy soul bearing, better turn a corner here. I can't remember if I mentioned this in the first post or not, but I will be posting some creative writing every once in a while on here. The other night I was really in the mood to jump down the throat of the next person who crossed me, and luckily the next passerby was able to escape as I hunkered down with some caffeine in a corner so as to avoid doling out any verbal abuses. This is what I ended up with:

Decorate the sky with your incandescent cries
Speeding across the countryside
The sound of bullet trains drowns out the beating of a nervous heart
I look forward to the day when city lights welcome me with warm open arms
Like the light of something otherworldly at the end of operating room tables
When I'm not blinded by the sound of traffic and business, not deafened by the glare of neon and reflections in tinted windows
These definitions have eluded dictionaries for ages past
And even a seemingly endless flood of information through headphones and lcd screens, on scrolling headlines and in handheld worlds, cannot capture the words now
When
parallax
angles
separate
skies
The names of stars are still the same

Welcome to Wonderland!

2007-06-21T04:23:00.000+09:00

Hello all! This is the beginning of what I hope will be a great way to let everyone in what my life in Japan is like. This is the first time I've had a blog like this and I hope to use it not only as a means of communicating with family and friends at home, but as a way of writing to keep myself sane, posting photos, and inserting other various knickknacks for everyone's enjoyment.

Right now, I am still subsiding in the Eastern Time Zone, Newport News, Virginia, to be precise. I thought that this summer would consist of my sitting on my ass pretending to learn Japanese while waiting for August to roll around. That has not been the case however; between some family medical issues, reading several books that have been staring me down for years whilst I ignored them for sociology requirements, actually learning some Japanese, and getting lists of preparations for the move together, I have not been quite as bored as I thought I'd be. (I am, however, sitting on my ass right now).

In case anyone reading doesn't know, I'll be relocating to Daito-shi, Osaka-fu, Japan this August with the JET Program (Japan Exchange Teaching). Daito is a city about 7 miles east of Osaka, located to the south of Kyoto and to the west of Nara.
Take a look see . I will be teaching English in a public junior high school (middle school).

AOL had the headlines right: it is time to move to Japan!

Jessica's Summer Reading List, thus far:
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Robert M. Pirsig
Brave New World, Aldous Huxley
The Fuck-Up, Arthur Nersesian
Galapagos, Kurt Vonnegut
Siddhartha, Hermann Hesse
The Makioka Sisters, Junichiro Tanizaki
Madness and Civilization, Michele Foucault

Thanks to my Dad, I have a handy-dandy currency conversion chart to stick in my wallet until I realize that spending 1200 on lunch might not be so bad. Right now, ¥123 is $1. So, ¥12363 is $100. I will literally be making millions as a recent college grad. Genius!

Anyway, I'll probably write every once in a while for the remainder of the summer (read: whenever I find myself sitting on my ass), and will hopefully find some form of diligence once August rolls around. Thanks for reading!

Also, if you're in a pensive mood (or a mood which could possibly stomach any of my attempts at writing lit., poetry, and/or other forms besides this one, I'll post some creative writing every once in a while to mix it up a bit.

Ja matta!