Done a many of things I thought were great but others see as normal or less. Done a few normal things that some perceive as great.
Perceive greatness, and it will be.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Eleven : Eleven
Why is it interesting, maybe even special, when someone spots the digital clock reading 11:11? What intrigues us about the quadruple ones, the double eleven? It could be knowledge of conspiracy or prophecy. It could be something only our subconcious knows. When I see 11:11, I even take note.
After waiting in line for my Vietnam visa, I noticed some numbers scribbled down indicating an expiration date. 28.01.11 or the 28th of Janurary, 2011. The new year being 01.01.11. Eleven : Eleven.
If the minutes and hours captivate us on the clock, imagine the next year. I'm not even sure where I'll be. Somewhere either in Cambodia or Vietnam! I'll be sure to take note. 11:11, I'm ready!!
After waiting in line for my Vietnam visa, I noticed some numbers scribbled down indicating an expiration date. 28.01.11 or the 28th of Janurary, 2011. The new year being 01.01.11. Eleven : Eleven.
If the minutes and hours captivate us on the clock, imagine the next year. I'm not even sure where I'll be. Somewhere either in Cambodia or Vietnam! I'll be sure to take note. 11:11, I'm ready!!
Sunday, November 21, 2010
New Camera
I finally purchased DSLR camera. After dishing out over 80000 yen for the new Canon Kiss X4 (T2i), I think I may be eating bean sprouts for the next 3 weeks. However, I think the investment is worth it since I will be going to SE Asia next month and also want to improve my photography skills to have a career in photography in the future.
So without further ado, some images from the new camera.
A field of cosmos flowers
Stone face expression
Autumn at Eigenji Temple
So without further ado, some images from the new camera.
A field of cosmos flowers
Stone face expression
Autumn at Eigenji Temple
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Monday, November 15, 2010
In Search of Red
Momiji is finally here. Momiji is to Autumn as Sakura is to Spring. It's when people enjoy the new colors brought by cold weather. Possibly the most beautiful being the Iroha Momiji or Japanese Maple.
A Japanese maple showing off on the trail.
On Saturday I decided it was time to visit Enryakuji. I've been meaning to climb Hieizan, which is the mountain that Enryakuji is built upon. The goal to climb up from Shiga prefecture and climb down into Kyoto was finally reached. It was also great timing, since the cooler weather helped keep me energized and the momiji were beautiful.
Something often not seen in Montana.
Makes me wish I was a monk.
Enryakuji itself was interesting to me. It is home to the Tendai sect of Buddhism. In 1571, maybe one of Japan's most bad-ass unifiers, Oda Nobunaga, set fire and and mayhem upon Enryakuji. Basically the monastery was powerful enough to be a threat to Oda Nobunaga. It must have been the fear of both mental control of the population through religion and the warrior monks who could oppose him physically.
A guardian of a small deserted mountain temple.
Besides this, it was also told that my favorite Japanese historical figure, Miyamoto Musashi, had a battle against over a dozen members of the Yoshikawa school of swordsmanship back in the early 1600s on Mt. Hiei. While climbing up the mountain alone, on a path that was nothing more than a dry river bed, I could only imagine what the forest around me has seen through the years.
A road less traveled.
After spending a few hours exploring the temple complex, it was getting late. With only about an hour left of daylight, I decided it was time to head down to Kyoto. A hike that would normally take 2 hours according to the trail marker. I didn't want to hike down in the dark, so I decided that I would inherit the spirit of the Hieizan Marathon Monks, and run down the mountain. Needless to say, I reached the bottom in about 40 minutes.
A view of Kyoto from atop Mt. Hiei.
After dinner in Kyoto it was home for an earlier night, for an early morning. The next day I would go to the Byoudouin. The temple so famous that it is on the back of every 10 yen coin.
The Pheonix Temple (Byoudouin)
After meeting my friend, Yuko, on Sunday at around 11AM we headed to Uji City to see the changing leaves and learn a little bit of History.
Yuko at the Byoudouin.
After some pictures and a tour of the temple complex we headed to a ocha-ya (tea shop) and had a green tea parfait. Since Yuko had plans to meet up with a friend in Kyoto later that evening, we headed back and parted ways at Kyoto station. From here I wandered around a nearby mall before heading home and preparing myself to once again be a teacher and not a student.
The art of tea
A Japanese maple showing off on the trail.
On Saturday I decided it was time to visit Enryakuji. I've been meaning to climb Hieizan, which is the mountain that Enryakuji is built upon. The goal to climb up from Shiga prefecture and climb down into Kyoto was finally reached. It was also great timing, since the cooler weather helped keep me energized and the momiji were beautiful.
Something often not seen in Montana.
Makes me wish I was a monk.
Enryakuji itself was interesting to me. It is home to the Tendai sect of Buddhism. In 1571, maybe one of Japan's most bad-ass unifiers, Oda Nobunaga, set fire and and mayhem upon Enryakuji. Basically the monastery was powerful enough to be a threat to Oda Nobunaga. It must have been the fear of both mental control of the population through religion and the warrior monks who could oppose him physically.
A guardian of a small deserted mountain temple.
Besides this, it was also told that my favorite Japanese historical figure, Miyamoto Musashi, had a battle against over a dozen members of the Yoshikawa school of swordsmanship back in the early 1600s on Mt. Hiei. While climbing up the mountain alone, on a path that was nothing more than a dry river bed, I could only imagine what the forest around me has seen through the years.
A road less traveled.
After spending a few hours exploring the temple complex, it was getting late. With only about an hour left of daylight, I decided it was time to head down to Kyoto. A hike that would normally take 2 hours according to the trail marker. I didn't want to hike down in the dark, so I decided that I would inherit the spirit of the Hieizan Marathon Monks, and run down the mountain. Needless to say, I reached the bottom in about 40 minutes.
A view of Kyoto from atop Mt. Hiei.
After dinner in Kyoto it was home for an earlier night, for an early morning. The next day I would go to the Byoudouin. The temple so famous that it is on the back of every 10 yen coin.
The Pheonix Temple (Byoudouin)
After meeting my friend, Yuko, on Sunday at around 11AM we headed to Uji City to see the changing leaves and learn a little bit of History.
Yuko at the Byoudouin.
After some pictures and a tour of the temple complex we headed to a ocha-ya (tea shop) and had a green tea parfait. Since Yuko had plans to meet up with a friend in Kyoto later that evening, we headed back and parted ways at Kyoto station. From here I wandered around a nearby mall before heading home and preparing myself to once again be a teacher and not a student.
The art of tea
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Media in Chevuru, India
When I went to India in May to build houses for the "Dalits" in the small town of Chevuru, Andra Pradesh, I never imagined that I would be able to see familiar faces almost 6 months later.
CNN covered a story about volunteers going to Chevuru, India and building houses. I think it is a great opportunity for both ARV (Association of Relief Volunteers) and the people of Chevuru to get this kind of publicity. Hopefully, getting the word out will create more interest so more people can be helped.
Here is the segment about ARV and Chevuru:
CNN covered a story about volunteers going to Chevuru, India and building houses. I think it is a great opportunity for both ARV (Association of Relief Volunteers) and the people of Chevuru to get this kind of publicity. Hopefully, getting the word out will create more interest so more people can be helped.
Here is the segment about ARV and Chevuru:
Monday, October 25, 2010
Traditon
This last weekend I spent some time learning about Tradition. My tradition of riding a 50cc motorbike for extended periods of time on a quest to find something unknown to me. Saturday afternoon after an oil change I headed out to the rural town of Shigaraki, about 30km south of Hino. After passing through Minakuchi I started climbing the twisting mountain roads. It was at this time that I was glad I just had clean oil to lubricate the little engine that could.
The goal of the day was to learn about pottery. Very old pottery. Shigaraki is known as one of the locations of "The Six Old Kilns" of Japan. Records show that potters developed specific kilns and techniques there dating as far back as the early Kamakura and early Muromachi period (circa 1333 - 1573). One thing is for certain, these were some old pots.
Ancient ceramic wrapped in the arms of time.
Upon arriving at the Shigaraki train station, which services a train that runs on diesel, I parked my motor bike in the free parking courtesy of rural Japan. From here I walked to the information center and was greeted with an English "Hello!" by an elderly woman. My guess is she was somewhere in her 60s. She immediately volunteered to take me around the town and show me the old kilns of Shigaraki. Considering her enthusiasm, I thought it best to agree to the proposal. Turns out she has only studied English independently, and her recent study material is an American TV show called "Brothers and Sisters." A show I have never heard of in my life, but impressive considering her English ability.
My Shigaraki tour guide and the ancient kilns.
The kiln interior.
From her I learned that Shigaraki-ware began as a necessity in agriculture but eventually became popular in Tea Ceremony due to a tea master named Murata Juko. The reason for the sudden rise in popularity in tea ceremonies, was due to the simplicity of Shigaraki-ware. Shigaraki-ware is not glazed, nor painted in any way. The colors are natural from the temperature, kiln and ash from the specific types of wood used during the baking process. This went along perfectly with the tea ceremonial concept of "wabi-suki," which emphasized such simplicity.
However, looking around Shigaraki shows a different form of popularity in Shigaraki ceramics. Nowadays Shigaraki is famous for Tanuki, a Japanese raccoon dog. Famous in Japanese folktales for being extra cunning and having magical powers including that of shape shifting, people seem to easily fall in love with this cute character. Unfortunately they are becoming rarer and rarer due to urbanization, and cute as they are, are considered pests.
Giant Shigaraki ceramic tanuki.
At the last kiln, I was introduced to the owner's daughter. My guess is she is somewhere around 22 years old, since she is attending university. She wanted to try to explain the kiln to me in English. After all, she is the next in line to take care of the ancient kiln, starting next year. After an explanation that went quickly from English to Japanese, we sat down in a rustic room and enjoyed tea out of Shigaraki tea cups. Here the conversation was light and with no real topic. Honestly I can't even recall saying much at all, except that I was surprised that the old wooden table I was sitting at was once a boat. Before I left, we exchanged contacts. She goes to school in Kyoto for ceramics, but every weekend returns to Shigaraki to learn from her grandfather. However, one thing I have learned is that the world is small so who knows when we will meet again.
When we left, the old woman showing me around asked me if I knew what the Japanese phrase, "ichigo ichie" 一期一会 meant? Surprisingly, I did know. Its directly translated as "one time, one meeting." However, I feel it is better translated as "one chance in a lifetime." The phrase was developed to describe sharing a tea ceremony with someone, and if you were ever to meet that person again the experience will never be the same as the first. Nowadays it is used for any meeting of this sort, not just tea ceremonies. I personally like to draw parallels to photography and the moment that is captured after the shutter opens and closes, never to be 100% the same again. She told me that that meeting was like "ichigo ichie."
After saying our goodbyes, I headed back to Hino to watch a Shamisen concert in a Buddhist temple on the night of a full moon. In Japan, its traditional to have parties during Autumn, called otsukimi, which translates simply as moon viewing. While uncreative in name, it is unique nonetheless. At this particular concert I was invited by a teacher at my school who has played the Shamisen for most of her life.
At the end of the day, I realized I spent most of my day learning and doing things very traditional. Something that I usually don't have the opportunity or real desire to do very often since the traditions most available to foreigners are temples and statues of the Buddha of mercy. Thankfully to an open invitation from a couple older women, I was allowed to grasp a deeper sense of such things. I guess most of my meetings this weekend resembled "ichigo ichie."
The next day was spent watching a Sumo exhibition. It was exciting to see the strongest certified sumo wrestler in the whole world, Hakuho Sho!
Sumo hair style
The living warrior god, Hakuho Sho!
The goal of the day was to learn about pottery. Very old pottery. Shigaraki is known as one of the locations of "The Six Old Kilns" of Japan. Records show that potters developed specific kilns and techniques there dating as far back as the early Kamakura and early Muromachi period (circa 1333 - 1573). One thing is for certain, these were some old pots.
Ancient ceramic wrapped in the arms of time.
Upon arriving at the Shigaraki train station, which services a train that runs on diesel, I parked my motor bike in the free parking courtesy of rural Japan. From here I walked to the information center and was greeted with an English "Hello!" by an elderly woman. My guess is she was somewhere in her 60s. She immediately volunteered to take me around the town and show me the old kilns of Shigaraki. Considering her enthusiasm, I thought it best to agree to the proposal. Turns out she has only studied English independently, and her recent study material is an American TV show called "Brothers and Sisters." A show I have never heard of in my life, but impressive considering her English ability.
My Shigaraki tour guide and the ancient kilns.
The kiln interior.
From her I learned that Shigaraki-ware began as a necessity in agriculture but eventually became popular in Tea Ceremony due to a tea master named Murata Juko. The reason for the sudden rise in popularity in tea ceremonies, was due to the simplicity of Shigaraki-ware. Shigaraki-ware is not glazed, nor painted in any way. The colors are natural from the temperature, kiln and ash from the specific types of wood used during the baking process. This went along perfectly with the tea ceremonial concept of "wabi-suki," which emphasized such simplicity.
However, looking around Shigaraki shows a different form of popularity in Shigaraki ceramics. Nowadays Shigaraki is famous for Tanuki, a Japanese raccoon dog. Famous in Japanese folktales for being extra cunning and having magical powers including that of shape shifting, people seem to easily fall in love with this cute character. Unfortunately they are becoming rarer and rarer due to urbanization, and cute as they are, are considered pests.
Giant Shigaraki ceramic tanuki.
At the last kiln, I was introduced to the owner's daughter. My guess is she is somewhere around 22 years old, since she is attending university. She wanted to try to explain the kiln to me in English. After all, she is the next in line to take care of the ancient kiln, starting next year. After an explanation that went quickly from English to Japanese, we sat down in a rustic room and enjoyed tea out of Shigaraki tea cups. Here the conversation was light and with no real topic. Honestly I can't even recall saying much at all, except that I was surprised that the old wooden table I was sitting at was once a boat. Before I left, we exchanged contacts. She goes to school in Kyoto for ceramics, but every weekend returns to Shigaraki to learn from her grandfather. However, one thing I have learned is that the world is small so who knows when we will meet again.
When we left, the old woman showing me around asked me if I knew what the Japanese phrase, "ichigo ichie" 一期一会 meant? Surprisingly, I did know. Its directly translated as "one time, one meeting." However, I feel it is better translated as "one chance in a lifetime." The phrase was developed to describe sharing a tea ceremony with someone, and if you were ever to meet that person again the experience will never be the same as the first. Nowadays it is used for any meeting of this sort, not just tea ceremonies. I personally like to draw parallels to photography and the moment that is captured after the shutter opens and closes, never to be 100% the same again. She told me that that meeting was like "ichigo ichie."
After saying our goodbyes, I headed back to Hino to watch a Shamisen concert in a Buddhist temple on the night of a full moon. In Japan, its traditional to have parties during Autumn, called otsukimi, which translates simply as moon viewing. While uncreative in name, it is unique nonetheless. At this particular concert I was invited by a teacher at my school who has played the Shamisen for most of her life.
At the end of the day, I realized I spent most of my day learning and doing things very traditional. Something that I usually don't have the opportunity or real desire to do very often since the traditions most available to foreigners are temples and statues of the Buddha of mercy. Thankfully to an open invitation from a couple older women, I was allowed to grasp a deeper sense of such things. I guess most of my meetings this weekend resembled "ichigo ichie."
The next day was spent watching a Sumo exhibition. It was exciting to see the strongest certified sumo wrestler in the whole world, Hakuho Sho!
Sumo hair style
The living warrior god, Hakuho Sho!
Friday, October 22, 2010
Eqinox
These last few weeks have been extremely busy. I was hoping to post a story about the bike ride that almost killed me, but haven't found the time. Even now I write this update on my iPhone. So here is what has happened the last month or so for those that are wondering.
At the end of September I went on a bike ride around Lake Biwa. I was going about 40km an hour when I had to make a sharp turn to avoid a car. I was coming down a montain road, the car was going up. There was a blind spot. The sharp turn caused my bike to slide out from under me. As I slid 2 meters on the pavement, I avoided the car in exchange for road rash. I was lucky not to hit my head because I was wearing no helmet! After about 2 weeks and about $40 worth of bandages I was on my way to recovery. It probably would have been cheaper to go to the hospital with my national health insurance and given bandages and antiseptic.
I bought the iPhone 4 after realizing it would only cost me $5 more a month.
I bought tickets to Thailand to volunteer at Baan Unrak again this year. I plan on riding a bus through Cambodia from Thailand to Vietnam and seeing Angkor Wat along the way. Then a train from Saigon to Hanoi, with the goal to spend a night in Halong Bay on a Junk Boat.
My passport is being renewed because there are not enough empty pages.
I'm studying Japanese to take the Japanaese Language Proficiency Test (N3 Level) in December.
I've been teaching like a mad man, and sleeping less than 6 hours a night.
I've put nearly 1500 kilometers on my motorbike within he last 2 months.
I'm practicing a dance routine to preform on Halloween.
I went to an art festival in my town and found a bakery where the grain is harvested and then baked by the same woman.
At the end of September I went on a bike ride around Lake Biwa. I was going about 40km an hour when I had to make a sharp turn to avoid a car. I was coming down a montain road, the car was going up. There was a blind spot. The sharp turn caused my bike to slide out from under me. As I slid 2 meters on the pavement, I avoided the car in exchange for road rash. I was lucky not to hit my head because I was wearing no helmet! After about 2 weeks and about $40 worth of bandages I was on my way to recovery. It probably would have been cheaper to go to the hospital with my national health insurance and given bandages and antiseptic.
I bought the iPhone 4 after realizing it would only cost me $5 more a month.
I bought tickets to Thailand to volunteer at Baan Unrak again this year. I plan on riding a bus through Cambodia from Thailand to Vietnam and seeing Angkor Wat along the way. Then a train from Saigon to Hanoi, with the goal to spend a night in Halong Bay on a Junk Boat.
My passport is being renewed because there are not enough empty pages.
I'm studying Japanese to take the Japanaese Language Proficiency Test (N3 Level) in December.
I've been teaching like a mad man, and sleeping less than 6 hours a night.
I've put nearly 1500 kilometers on my motorbike within he last 2 months.
I'm practicing a dance routine to preform on Halloween.
I went to an art festival in my town and found a bakery where the grain is harvested and then baked by the same woman.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn
Today marks the beginning of Autumn. It's pretty nice because the equinox is considered a holiday, although nothing is really celebrated.
Last night some of my Japanese friends and I went to a club in Kyoto. I was expecting it to be pretty chill being a Wednesday night, but I couldn't have been more wrong. There were more people than oxygen molecules, and the music was fantastic. The cover charge for the club was about 4000 yen which is pretty expensive in Japan. Usually cover prices are about half. But with big names such as RIP SLYME it's no wonder. Most names aren't known internationally, but it would be like going to a venue with 3 or four famous people in the U.S. With that considered, I guess the 4000 yen cover wasn't even that bad.
The energy was high, and it was probably some of the best House music I have heard in a long time. To be honest though, the club was a little too packed. It felt impossible to try to meet new people because there was just too many of them. When everyone is packed together so tightly, your not sure if they are friendly or just standing next to you. Also dancing was almost impossible, so it was basically jumping up and down and yelling. However it was a blast!
When my friend was driving home, everyone was passing out from exhaustion in the car. I tried staying awake but kept dozing. My friend was so tired that while he was driving he was constantly slapping his knee as hard as he could so that he wouldn't fall asleep. It was humorous, and at the same time it is too bad that I can't drive four wheeled vehicles in Japan. Needless to say, we all made it back alive. So I guess knee slapping does work.
After sleeping until about 5PM I decided it was time for dinner. I rode my Honda Cub to the nearby town, Minakuchi, for some spicy curry. Recently I have been riding my motor bike a lot. I am actually surprised how much I like it! Within this month I have already put on about 500 km. Which is pretty insane. But if I don't know what to do, I ride. When I want to explore, I ride. When I feel bad, I ride. When I need to go somewhere, I ride. I may be on that bike more than I am in my apartment.
Yesterday was hot like summer. Ironically on the first day of Autumn, today, it became much cooler. I actually wished I packed a light sweatshirt while I was riding. The feeling is strange. The smell has changed, but its familiar. I can feel Autumn in the air. It is nostalgic, and also a little depressing. I now know for sure I have been here for over a year because I can easily remember what I was doing at this time last year. It will be getting colder again. Somehow it seems like winter just ended. This means I only have about 5 months to decide my next move. To go back to the U.S. To move to another place in Japan. It's a tough choice because my current apartment is nice and the job pays well and is one of the best English teaching gigs in Japan. If I leave JET I could be thrown to the dogs. But I could also live in a more urban environment and possibly have a better life. After thinking a lot, I decided I want to stay in Shiga or move to Kyoto instead of Kumamoto if I decide Japan will still welcome me. I like the Kansai area and want to be closer to Kyoto. I hope when the time comes I know what to do. If I can become a JET prefectural advisor, that would be ideal. Move to a more populated area, help ALTs, and teach once and a while while still keeping all the benefits of JET.
Now I am thinking of returning to Thailand and exploring Vietnam. Soon I will have to buy my tickets if it is really going to happen.
Oh, and after 14 months of sitting on the floor. I finally bought a sofa.
Last night some of my Japanese friends and I went to a club in Kyoto. I was expecting it to be pretty chill being a Wednesday night, but I couldn't have been more wrong. There were more people than oxygen molecules, and the music was fantastic. The cover charge for the club was about 4000 yen which is pretty expensive in Japan. Usually cover prices are about half. But with big names such as RIP SLYME it's no wonder. Most names aren't known internationally, but it would be like going to a venue with 3 or four famous people in the U.S. With that considered, I guess the 4000 yen cover wasn't even that bad.
The energy was high, and it was probably some of the best House music I have heard in a long time. To be honest though, the club was a little too packed. It felt impossible to try to meet new people because there was just too many of them. When everyone is packed together so tightly, your not sure if they are friendly or just standing next to you. Also dancing was almost impossible, so it was basically jumping up and down and yelling. However it was a blast!
When my friend was driving home, everyone was passing out from exhaustion in the car. I tried staying awake but kept dozing. My friend was so tired that while he was driving he was constantly slapping his knee as hard as he could so that he wouldn't fall asleep. It was humorous, and at the same time it is too bad that I can't drive four wheeled vehicles in Japan. Needless to say, we all made it back alive. So I guess knee slapping does work.
After sleeping until about 5PM I decided it was time for dinner. I rode my Honda Cub to the nearby town, Minakuchi, for some spicy curry. Recently I have been riding my motor bike a lot. I am actually surprised how much I like it! Within this month I have already put on about 500 km. Which is pretty insane. But if I don't know what to do, I ride. When I want to explore, I ride. When I feel bad, I ride. When I need to go somewhere, I ride. I may be on that bike more than I am in my apartment.
Yesterday was hot like summer. Ironically on the first day of Autumn, today, it became much cooler. I actually wished I packed a light sweatshirt while I was riding. The feeling is strange. The smell has changed, but its familiar. I can feel Autumn in the air. It is nostalgic, and also a little depressing. I now know for sure I have been here for over a year because I can easily remember what I was doing at this time last year. It will be getting colder again. Somehow it seems like winter just ended. This means I only have about 5 months to decide my next move. To go back to the U.S. To move to another place in Japan. It's a tough choice because my current apartment is nice and the job pays well and is one of the best English teaching gigs in Japan. If I leave JET I could be thrown to the dogs. But I could also live in a more urban environment and possibly have a better life. After thinking a lot, I decided I want to stay in Shiga or move to Kyoto instead of Kumamoto if I decide Japan will still welcome me. I like the Kansai area and want to be closer to Kyoto. I hope when the time comes I know what to do. If I can become a JET prefectural advisor, that would be ideal. Move to a more populated area, help ALTs, and teach once and a while while still keeping all the benefits of JET.
Now I am thinking of returning to Thailand and exploring Vietnam. Soon I will have to buy my tickets if it is really going to happen.
Oh, and after 14 months of sitting on the floor. I finally bought a sofa.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Philosophical Picnic #3
I stand in the center. The middle of my existence. Nothing pulling on any side. It would be peaceful, but without any direction I just float, uncertain and empty. Maybe this is how it feels to be in space?
It as if I had to make a choice to stay or to leave. But nothing is pulling me to go either way. I want to keep running though. Keep going. I know now this is not because I am running away because I am not being chased, but I am running towards an undeniable goal. I also want to stay, because I am tired of running in space. Maybe it would be easier to embrace this perpetual solitude in my life. It seems fate draws me cards to keep me alone. When the cards are dealt I am givin' isolation.
When floating in space, it's hard to know who you are. Which way are you floating?
Monday, September 6, 2010
Wheels of Freedom
Classes started last week. Summer 'vacation' is officially over. Although I still had to go to school during summer I miss my 2 hour lunch breaks and the ability to come into work an hour later than usual.
My hundred million yen ride!
Not new, but beautiful.
Even though summer is over, except for the persistent sweaty heat wave this year, I am pretty happy. Last Friday I finally got my Honda Super Cub 50. After my school made a big deal about me getting a motorbike, which they really have no real say in except if I use it for work, I finally got to drive it home last week. The only thing I really needed help with from my school was someone to sign as my co-signer for a 100,000 yen ($1,200 USD) loan. Since I am a foreign resident, they wanted reassurance I would pay for the next 6 months and not just flee back to America on my new freedom machine. Thankfully my Board of Education supervisor signed and it was approved. If I had to pay for the bike upfront then I would have to wait until after the 10th of September and live for a month on bean sprouts and rice.
Anyway, after picking up the bike and enjoying Indian curry and naan in good company, I drove about 35km on the highway from Kusatsu to Hino. Since it was late, traffic wasn't too bad but there were a lot of trucks on the road. Overall it was great though! The summer night breeze was a great relief from the abundant hot and humid that I have grown accustomed to. I was back at my door step in about an hour and saved about 500 yen ($6) in train fees.
In 2006 the Honda Cub was named the best motorcycle of all time on a show aired by the Discovery Channel. You can watch their review of it with Chinese subtitles!
Today I took it out for its second spin around my area. I went to Minakuchi to make a spare key for the bike and buy some groceries. Minakuchi is about 20 minutes away from Hino. But when I came back I wanted to drive some more. So I headed up to Yokaichi which is north of me by about 25 minutes. However I got lost so spent about 20 minutes wandering around, which I didn't care about too much.
For being a 50cc engine, it seems pretty quick to me. Granted it maxes out on flat areas around 60km/hr. Which can be scary on the highway sometimes although the speed limit is 60km/hr. Most cars go about 80km/hr. The roads out to Yokaichi were very hilly though, so I was maxing out at about 40km/hr up hill on a road with cars whizzing by at about 70km/hr. Technically for 50cc vehicles if you go over 30/km you are breaking the speed limit. But it seems like nobody except grandmothers follow that rule.
My hundred million yen ride!
Not new, but beautiful.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
When Under the Influence of Depression, Don't Attempt to Fly
A sad story.
On Monday I went to the city of Kusatsu to check out a green Honda Super Cub 50 that I am trying to purchase. When I was on my way back home I waited at Minami Kusatsu station for about 40 minutes.
Why?
A freight train came through.
So?
It went through someone.
Japan has one of the world’s highest suicide rates. In Japan, suicide is the leading cause of death for males aged 20-44 and women aged 15-34. For some, jumping in front of a fast moving train is the easiest, considering train stations can be found every ten or so kilometers. Oddly the rail company charges the family members a fee for causing traffic disruption if it is found that the cause was suicide.
Monday, was it suicide? I don’t know. All I know is my train pulled into the station for a scheduled 30 second stop, the freight train was passing through on the adjacent platform and it sounded its shrill whistle and slammed on its emergency breaks leaving the residual smell of burning rubber in an electrical fire.
Before anything was announced, I already knew just by the expressions of those on the platform that probably witnessed it. Our train, although on another track, didn’t leave until police came and the body was removed. All I saw was some blood and a blue tarp concealing the victim being carried away by police.
I don’t know what to think about it, just a feeling of sadness. Did someone throw themselves in front of the train? What was so painful in their life that they thought an oncoming train would be more peaceful? Was it an accident? Was someone drunk? Did someone trip?
I read in the paper today that a drunken man from Hino City (Not my town, a city near Tokyo) knocked another person in front of a train near Shinjuku, Tokyo. The event at Minami Kusatsu didn’t even make the paper since it’s not news to most Japanese. Was it a man, a woman, a child? I would be sad for the person, if the person was injured or killed by accident. I would be sad for the loved ones if it was suicide.
The faces of the people around me. On the platform. In the train. Shock in the eyes of the people standing on the platform. Grandmothers holding back tears. Irritated salary men. Oblivious children. And the man across from me with a small unsettling smile. The nearly perfect white circle in the sky expressionless to what it has seen many times in its lifetime.
On Monday I went to the city of Kusatsu to check out a green Honda Super Cub 50 that I am trying to purchase. When I was on my way back home I waited at Minami Kusatsu station for about 40 minutes.
Why?
A freight train came through.
So?
It went through someone.
Japan has one of the world’s highest suicide rates. In Japan, suicide is the leading cause of death for males aged 20-44 and women aged 15-34. For some, jumping in front of a fast moving train is the easiest, considering train stations can be found every ten or so kilometers. Oddly the rail company charges the family members a fee for causing traffic disruption if it is found that the cause was suicide.
Monday, was it suicide? I don’t know. All I know is my train pulled into the station for a scheduled 30 second stop, the freight train was passing through on the adjacent platform and it sounded its shrill whistle and slammed on its emergency breaks leaving the residual smell of burning rubber in an electrical fire.
Before anything was announced, I already knew just by the expressions of those on the platform that probably witnessed it. Our train, although on another track, didn’t leave until police came and the body was removed. All I saw was some blood and a blue tarp concealing the victim being carried away by police.
I don’t know what to think about it, just a feeling of sadness. Did someone throw themselves in front of the train? What was so painful in their life that they thought an oncoming train would be more peaceful? Was it an accident? Was someone drunk? Did someone trip?
I read in the paper today that a drunken man from Hino City (Not my town, a city near Tokyo) knocked another person in front of a train near Shinjuku, Tokyo. The event at Minami Kusatsu didn’t even make the paper since it’s not news to most Japanese. Was it a man, a woman, a child? I would be sad for the person, if the person was injured or killed by accident. I would be sad for the loved ones if it was suicide.
The faces of the people around me. On the platform. In the train. Shock in the eyes of the people standing on the platform. Grandmothers holding back tears. Irritated salary men. Oblivious children. And the man across from me with a small unsettling smile. The nearly perfect white circle in the sky expressionless to what it has seen many times in its lifetime.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
In A Race With The Sun
I’ve been to 3,776 m (12,388 ft) and back again.
Two weekends ago I reached one of my goals, climbing Mt. Fuji. I left my town and boarded a bus for Shizuoka prefecture along with around 30 Japanese ready to climb to the highest point in Japan! After about 12 hours and no sleep on a bus, picking up a few others along the way, we arrived at the Yoshida Trail Head 5th Station at around 11PM. At this elevation most of my companions thought it was freezing, I thought it was refreshing. We waited for about 40 minutes to adjust to the altitude change and slowly we made our way up the mountain.
Maki trying to sleep on the bus.
While climbing the gradual incline to the 6th station, I was happy I didn’t put on my warm clothes yet. Actually I had to take off my rain pants in order to stay cool enough without getting tired from heat. I like my weather crisp when I hike. The cold weather keeps me going, refreshed and awake. Everything was going well from the 5th station to the 6th station. I even saw a shooting star, which was amazing. At this altitude, although not even half way up the mountain, the stars seemed so close. I could almost taste them. We were lucky to be hiking on a night when a meteor shower was happening.
My climbing party
After the 7th station one of the members of our group, a girl named Mai, started falling victim to altitude sickness. The hike between the 7th and 8th station was very long and although we were taking it slow, almost too slow to my liking, by the time we arrived at the 8th station and met up with a few others, Mai was in rough shape. The path had become steep and rocky. Before arriving it looked like she could fall over at any time. I followed her closely to make sure she wouldn’t. It was decided that her and another girl Maron who wasn’t feeling well would stay at the 8th station, rest and climb down after feeling better. One man volunteered to stay behind in order to help, since he climbed Fuji before and said it was fine if he didn’t make it to the top again. This was good because when climbing a mountain, your party should usually always consist of 3 people. If one gets injured, one can go for help while the other stays with the injured person.
After everything was sorted and we piled warm clothes on Mai and Maron, we lifted the two girls into the back of a small abandoned flat bed tractor to protect them from the wind. A storm was coming. It was about 3AM, the 4 remaining members of our party continued on.
Taking a break around the 8th station.
Between the 8th and 9th station we started to lose visibility and the typhoon that was hitting Japan was bringing strong winds to the top of Fuji. The sky was getting brighter; I knew we wouldn’t make it to the summit to see the sunrise. About half way between station 8 and 9 we were climbing a steep incline in a misty fog thicker than almost anything I’ve ever seen. We were in the clouds. Another girl of our team was falling ill and was looking faint.
The first sight of dawn.
While we all lay against the volcanic rock catching our breath and regaining our strength, I take a deep breath from my O2 can. Then suddenly the clouds around us flash orange, and dim out. At first I thought it was the result of the altitude. Then it happens again, and again, and becomes brighter. It was beautiful, and I thought I may have died and was now floating in heaven. Then suddenly the mist parts a little and a beam of golden light shoots through the sky. It’s the sun! Only for a moment do I see the golden disk before I’m enveloped in clouds once again.
The sun through the clouds.
I really wanted to see the sunrise from the top of Fuji. I also wanted it to be clear. But nonetheless the sunrise was breath taking although most of my breath was gone. I have never been in the clouds when the sun has risen. All the tiny particles of water that make a cloud, light up with the color of the morning sun.
Still not done we press on to the 9th station. I try to keep the group moving. I go to the front of the line. I know Asuka isn’t feeling well, so I make sure to ask her if she is alright. She says she is fine, but I know every 20 steps forward is going to be 3 minutes waiting. I really want to make it to the top, but I also want everyone to make it with me.
We reach the 9th station and meet up with another group of 7. Our group is the only one who had to break off before this point. But that didn’t mean everyone was O.K. After a decision process that seemed to last forever, following in Japanese tradition, it was decided that Asuka would stay behind with another girl and head down. She wanted to make it to the top so badly that she had to hold back tears knowing she couldn’t go on. With only 3 members of my group remaining, we merged with the other 6 we met at station 9. One more station to go until the top!
By now visibility was about 4 feet in all directions. Half way from the 9th station to the 10th (the top) I started to feel the altitude affecting me. Much later than most of the members, but I decided to take a few deep breaths of my canned O2, which helped a little and kept me pushing forward. It was freezing. The water in the clouds clung to my orange rain coat in the form of frost. I lost one glove somewhere so only could really keep my left hand warm, the right I wrapped in the bandana I got while in India.
Somewhere around 6AM we passed through the Shinto torii gate, signifying that we made it to the summit. I got the last stamp on my wooden walking stick at a Shinto shrine that also doubled as the 10th gate of Fuji. The weather was cold, like late November, and visibility was near zero. So I couldn’t see the caldera or the vastness of land below the holy mountain. Only an hour or so to rest and it was time to head back.
The torii at the top.
Going down was much easier. Every step forward was a step towards oxygen. We took a small short-cut through the sand/ash pits. I enjoyed it, since if you ran a little you could slide most of the way. You would suffer a shoe full of sand and stone though. But this seemed easier than resisting the natural flow and stopping yourself from slipping down the mountain.
Slopes of sand into clouds.
That evening it was soaking in an onsen (hot spring) and a small party. Then sleep, sounder than the dead. Staying awake for almost 40 hours and climbing up and down a mountain during that time is definitely a test of endurance.
Overall, a great experience. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately) one I will have to re-live, since I want to see the sun rise over the horizon while standing upon the tallest point in the land of the rising sun. I want to see the land below, out to the ocean under a clear blue sky.
会う日まで。
Two weekends ago I reached one of my goals, climbing Mt. Fuji. I left my town and boarded a bus for Shizuoka prefecture along with around 30 Japanese ready to climb to the highest point in Japan! After about 12 hours and no sleep on a bus, picking up a few others along the way, we arrived at the Yoshida Trail Head 5th Station at around 11PM. At this elevation most of my companions thought it was freezing, I thought it was refreshing. We waited for about 40 minutes to adjust to the altitude change and slowly we made our way up the mountain.
Maki trying to sleep on the bus.
While climbing the gradual incline to the 6th station, I was happy I didn’t put on my warm clothes yet. Actually I had to take off my rain pants in order to stay cool enough without getting tired from heat. I like my weather crisp when I hike. The cold weather keeps me going, refreshed and awake. Everything was going well from the 5th station to the 6th station. I even saw a shooting star, which was amazing. At this altitude, although not even half way up the mountain, the stars seemed so close. I could almost taste them. We were lucky to be hiking on a night when a meteor shower was happening.
My climbing party
After the 7th station one of the members of our group, a girl named Mai, started falling victim to altitude sickness. The hike between the 7th and 8th station was very long and although we were taking it slow, almost too slow to my liking, by the time we arrived at the 8th station and met up with a few others, Mai was in rough shape. The path had become steep and rocky. Before arriving it looked like she could fall over at any time. I followed her closely to make sure she wouldn’t. It was decided that her and another girl Maron who wasn’t feeling well would stay at the 8th station, rest and climb down after feeling better. One man volunteered to stay behind in order to help, since he climbed Fuji before and said it was fine if he didn’t make it to the top again. This was good because when climbing a mountain, your party should usually always consist of 3 people. If one gets injured, one can go for help while the other stays with the injured person.
After everything was sorted and we piled warm clothes on Mai and Maron, we lifted the two girls into the back of a small abandoned flat bed tractor to protect them from the wind. A storm was coming. It was about 3AM, the 4 remaining members of our party continued on.
Taking a break around the 8th station.
Between the 8th and 9th station we started to lose visibility and the typhoon that was hitting Japan was bringing strong winds to the top of Fuji. The sky was getting brighter; I knew we wouldn’t make it to the summit to see the sunrise. About half way between station 8 and 9 we were climbing a steep incline in a misty fog thicker than almost anything I’ve ever seen. We were in the clouds. Another girl of our team was falling ill and was looking faint.
The first sight of dawn.
While we all lay against the volcanic rock catching our breath and regaining our strength, I take a deep breath from my O2 can. Then suddenly the clouds around us flash orange, and dim out. At first I thought it was the result of the altitude. Then it happens again, and again, and becomes brighter. It was beautiful, and I thought I may have died and was now floating in heaven. Then suddenly the mist parts a little and a beam of golden light shoots through the sky. It’s the sun! Only for a moment do I see the golden disk before I’m enveloped in clouds once again.
The sun through the clouds.
I really wanted to see the sunrise from the top of Fuji. I also wanted it to be clear. But nonetheless the sunrise was breath taking although most of my breath was gone. I have never been in the clouds when the sun has risen. All the tiny particles of water that make a cloud, light up with the color of the morning sun.
Still not done we press on to the 9th station. I try to keep the group moving. I go to the front of the line. I know Asuka isn’t feeling well, so I make sure to ask her if she is alright. She says she is fine, but I know every 20 steps forward is going to be 3 minutes waiting. I really want to make it to the top, but I also want everyone to make it with me.
We reach the 9th station and meet up with another group of 7. Our group is the only one who had to break off before this point. But that didn’t mean everyone was O.K. After a decision process that seemed to last forever, following in Japanese tradition, it was decided that Asuka would stay behind with another girl and head down. She wanted to make it to the top so badly that she had to hold back tears knowing she couldn’t go on. With only 3 members of my group remaining, we merged with the other 6 we met at station 9. One more station to go until the top!
By now visibility was about 4 feet in all directions. Half way from the 9th station to the 10th (the top) I started to feel the altitude affecting me. Much later than most of the members, but I decided to take a few deep breaths of my canned O2, which helped a little and kept me pushing forward. It was freezing. The water in the clouds clung to my orange rain coat in the form of frost. I lost one glove somewhere so only could really keep my left hand warm, the right I wrapped in the bandana I got while in India.
Somewhere around 6AM we passed through the Shinto torii gate, signifying that we made it to the summit. I got the last stamp on my wooden walking stick at a Shinto shrine that also doubled as the 10th gate of Fuji. The weather was cold, like late November, and visibility was near zero. So I couldn’t see the caldera or the vastness of land below the holy mountain. Only an hour or so to rest and it was time to head back.
The torii at the top.
Going down was much easier. Every step forward was a step towards oxygen. We took a small short-cut through the sand/ash pits. I enjoyed it, since if you ran a little you could slide most of the way. You would suffer a shoe full of sand and stone though. But this seemed easier than resisting the natural flow and stopping yourself from slipping down the mountain.
Slopes of sand into clouds.
That evening it was soaking in an onsen (hot spring) and a small party. Then sleep, sounder than the dead. Staying awake for almost 40 hours and climbing up and down a mountain during that time is definitely a test of endurance.
Overall, a great experience. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately) one I will have to re-live, since I want to see the sun rise over the horizon while standing upon the tallest point in the land of the rising sun. I want to see the land below, out to the ocean under a clear blue sky.
会う日まで。
Friday, August 13, 2010
Riding 6 Horses at Once
So after being here in my remote town that is highly isolated for over a year, I decided it was time to find a way to make things a little easier.
Yesterday I woke up at 5AM. Why you ask? Because I live far away from everything. Trains upon trains upon trains away from my destination for the day. The destination being a city called Moriyama. Having to transfer at 3 stations and a bus ride, about 2 hours later I find myself at the Shiga License Center. That's right! I spent a good whole day, about 12 hours including transport time, getting my Japanese scooter license. Now I can ride anything under 50cc, which basically means 49cc mopeds (approx 6 horses)!
Licensing in Japan is a pain the the ass. Everything is so bureaucratic that it makes the DMV in America look like a cake walk...or maybe not! Anyway, licensing in Japan is super strict. The reason for this is because of a lack of space and the government trying to control the number of vehicles on the road. Probably the most easiest license, the scooter license, takes a whole day with a difficult written test where you can only really miss about 3 questions out of 48 (about half failed), lectures, 2 hour driving course, and some more stuff that I really couldn't understand. Not to mention there was a typhoon happening. Which actually delayed the trains by 20min or so. Which is a big deal in Japan where everything is precisely on time. I got to the license center at 8:30AM and didn't leave until about 4:30PM.
Needless to say, I passed! Thank my lucky stars because I really didn't want to haul my sorry ass back out to the license center and pay another 10,000 yen ($110) if I failed. Not to mention to sign up for the class I have to also go to another city, since my town doesn't have a police office. Like I said, everything is so far away from Hino! But now, that I can drive a scooter, hopefully things will be closer. Most exciting of all, is I don't have to ride my super expensive private train line, the Omi-tetsudo, when I want to go to Kyoto. To get to the JR station I had to pay 400 yen ($4.30) every time! I also had to leave Kyoto by 10PM but now I can stay until 11:30PM, granted I won't be able to drink alcohol since I would be driving which seems like one of the only valid reasons why I would stay that late. BUT, it is nice to have the option and save some cash!
Now I am off to climb to the highest point in Japan (by foot). Mt. Fuji...in a typhoon.
Yesterday I woke up at 5AM. Why you ask? Because I live far away from everything. Trains upon trains upon trains away from my destination for the day. The destination being a city called Moriyama. Having to transfer at 3 stations and a bus ride, about 2 hours later I find myself at the Shiga License Center. That's right! I spent a good whole day, about 12 hours including transport time, getting my Japanese scooter license. Now I can ride anything under 50cc, which basically means 49cc mopeds (approx 6 horses)!
Licensing in Japan is a pain the the ass. Everything is so bureaucratic that it makes the DMV in America look like a cake walk...or maybe not! Anyway, licensing in Japan is super strict. The reason for this is because of a lack of space and the government trying to control the number of vehicles on the road. Probably the most easiest license, the scooter license, takes a whole day with a difficult written test where you can only really miss about 3 questions out of 48 (about half failed), lectures, 2 hour driving course, and some more stuff that I really couldn't understand. Not to mention there was a typhoon happening. Which actually delayed the trains by 20min or so. Which is a big deal in Japan where everything is precisely on time. I got to the license center at 8:30AM and didn't leave until about 4:30PM.
Needless to say, I passed! Thank my lucky stars because I really didn't want to haul my sorry ass back out to the license center and pay another 10,000 yen ($110) if I failed. Not to mention to sign up for the class I have to also go to another city, since my town doesn't have a police office. Like I said, everything is so far away from Hino! But now, that I can drive a scooter, hopefully things will be closer. Most exciting of all, is I don't have to ride my super expensive private train line, the Omi-tetsudo, when I want to go to Kyoto. To get to the JR station I had to pay 400 yen ($4.30) every time! I also had to leave Kyoto by 10PM but now I can stay until 11:30PM, granted I won't be able to drink alcohol since I would be driving which seems like one of the only valid reasons why I would stay that late. BUT, it is nice to have the option and save some cash!
Now I am off to climb to the highest point in Japan (by foot). Mt. Fuji...in a typhoon.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Time is Slippery Like Glue
It was officially one year since I landed on Japanese soil as a JET on the 26th of July. Today is the day I took the Shinkansen to Shiga, had an awkward meeting with some government officials and taken away from the city into the winding roads of the Japanese country side to my new home in the small town of Hino to meet more government officials. Alone, miles away from the next JET, but not afraid. Just tired from the journey and excited to start a new life.
The sultry days of summer have returned once more. Now I know it is not easy to ride my bike to the next town. However, I still have the desire to try because it's something to do. I probably wont though.
Summer night in Hino
Time has passed fast. I am glad that I am staying for another year, even if it is just so I don't have to move again and fit my life back into a suitcase. I have been to new places in far off countries, and new places just beyond my doorstep. Both, just as amazing in their own right. I have met many faces, many I will never see again but never forget. And in this time, I loose track of time itself. There is so much I still want to do! So much I want to learn. So much to make me stronger. What is it? I still haven't found what I am looking for. I still have not found myself. It's slippery.
Time has passed slow. The monotony of life. The everyday work that is required so that one can survive. At my desk and in these confined walls where my mind can't wander freely, time sticks. Minutes are hours, hours are days and days are weeks. This kind of time is hard to shake loose, many times it follows me home. It makes me slower, but not relaxed. The mind becomes lazy because of lazyness. Even my free time is dictated by the next work day. Is this really free? At least I can pretend and give into the illusion that it is. It is this slow down of time that makes time so quick. For when it decides to speed up, sometimes I forget to catch up.
Is time slippery or sticky? Like wet glue! Sometimes you get stuck, but sometimes you can piece something together and make it work. If your not patient though, nothing will hold together. If your too patient, the glue's power is wasted. One year gone! One more to go. I need to find more pieces of something without getting stuck in a sticky mess.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Gion Matsuri
Lately I have been in a weird funk due to a lot of reasons. Today was a day that reminds me why I am here and what I love about living in Japan.
Every July, the city of Kyoto hosts the famous Gion Matsuri where basically there are lots of people and huge shrines are lifted and carried around the city. I started the day off late, missing the morning portion of the festival but arrived around noon to meet up with some friends for lunch and evening festivities. I also got some great pictures because I had something resembling a real camera with me!
Who likes short shorts?
Lunch with a friend.
Believe it or not, one of the reasons this day was so great is because I spent it with some beautiful women. I would post photos of these beautiful women but actually since I want to respect their privacy and God only knows who might steal them for their personal albums (I know I would...), you will just have to take my word for it. To make up for it, I will post pictures of cute kids!
This kid can milk the pose.
Why are Asian kids so cute?
I guess this festival is so famous that even the Yakuza like to show up and celebrate. I didn't take the best picture to prove this, because I really enjoy my head firmly planted to my neck. Of course I am only joking, everyone knows Yakuza are nice guys...right?
If your looking for Mafia Suzuki check the chest tattoo in the upper left.
A portable shrine parade!
Happy faces of the festival, and the death stare from beyond!
After watching the shrine floats being carried through the streets and meeting some exchange students from Germany, it was time to make friends with the local Shinto priest.
A very cheerful fella...really! Like Yoda with a very cool hat.
The priest gave all of us rice crackers and sprinkled curry powder on one of the fine ladies with me that evening.
After being blessed in some Shinto voodoo or something, we had some dinner and sat by the river to share a drink and watch the fire dancer.
My favorite picture of the evening.
I don't know what it was. Being in the company of beautiful women all night, being in one of my favorite cities on earth, being at a energetic festival or the joy of finally having the opportunity to take some sweet pictures! For most of my readers, they probably already know that I love photography. I want to share what I see with you! I want the way that I see the world to be a different way for you to see the world. I wish all my entries could be full of pictures like this.
Without going into much detail, all I can say is that this night has hit something in my soul. Something that needed to be lit and has been out for far too long. What spark ignited it, I can't say for sure! But I feel...happy tonight!
Every July, the city of Kyoto hosts the famous Gion Matsuri where basically there are lots of people and huge shrines are lifted and carried around the city. I started the day off late, missing the morning portion of the festival but arrived around noon to meet up with some friends for lunch and evening festivities. I also got some great pictures because I had something resembling a real camera with me!
Who likes short shorts?
Lunch with a friend.
Believe it or not, one of the reasons this day was so great is because I spent it with some beautiful women. I would post photos of these beautiful women but actually since I want to respect their privacy and God only knows who might steal them for their personal albums (I know I would...), you will just have to take my word for it. To make up for it, I will post pictures of cute kids!
This kid can milk the pose.
Why are Asian kids so cute?
I guess this festival is so famous that even the Yakuza like to show up and celebrate. I didn't take the best picture to prove this, because I really enjoy my head firmly planted to my neck. Of course I am only joking, everyone knows Yakuza are nice guys...right?
If your looking for Mafia Suzuki check the chest tattoo in the upper left.
A portable shrine parade!
Happy faces of the festival, and the death stare from beyond!
After watching the shrine floats being carried through the streets and meeting some exchange students from Germany, it was time to make friends with the local Shinto priest.
A very cheerful fella...really! Like Yoda with a very cool hat.
The priest gave all of us rice crackers and sprinkled curry powder on one of the fine ladies with me that evening.
After being blessed in some Shinto voodoo or something, we had some dinner and sat by the river to share a drink and watch the fire dancer.
My favorite picture of the evening.
I don't know what it was. Being in the company of beautiful women all night, being in one of my favorite cities on earth, being at a energetic festival or the joy of finally having the opportunity to take some sweet pictures! For most of my readers, they probably already know that I love photography. I want to share what I see with you! I want the way that I see the world to be a different way for you to see the world. I wish all my entries could be full of pictures like this.
Without going into much detail, all I can say is that this night has hit something in my soul. Something that needed to be lit and has been out for far too long. What spark ignited it, I can't say for sure! But I feel...happy tonight!
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Frustrating
Time is not a calendar or a clock. It is nothing but the actions taken.
I need more action.
Celebrating America's Independence Day from across he Pacific.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Need a New Phone
This post diverges a bit from the usual purpose of this blog, but is also related to Japan.
When I came back to Japan in 2009 I decided to use the mobile phone I purchased in 2007 when I was a student here. It is a great phone, the Sharp 910SH. The model was actually released in August 2006. After using the phone for almost 2 full years and having it sit in a box for one year between each year, the battery has decided to give up. Now everytime a receive a call, send a text message or connect to the internet the phone shuts off. If it's plugged in, it works fine, and if I use an external battery pack it can send messages. I could buy a new battery for $40, or since I am not tied to a contract I could purchase a new phone. With smart phones on the market such as the HTC Desire and the new Apple iPhone 4, purchasing a new phone seems tempting.
The new iPhone 4 is selling like cocaine in Columbia, making it impossible to purchase one. Must be good right? This is where I look back at my trusty Sharp 910SH which is about 4 years old.
Apple markets FaceTime as one of the best new features of their phone. The ability to have a video call. So what?! My Sharp 910SH also has a front facing camera, which can call any other camera that has a screen over any 3G network in Japan. Sure beats apple's new "innovation" which only works over wi-fi.
FaceTime on 3G
I like having a nice camera on my phone. One that is good enough to replace a normal point and shoot. That way when I go out, I don't need to pack my phone and a camera into my pocket. The iPhone 4 has a 5MP camera with flash and can also record HD video. But wait a minute?
My Sharp 910SH also has a 5 MP camera with a flash (farther from the lens resulting in a better picture) AND it also has a 3x OPTICAL zoom. Something the new iPhone 4 doesn't have, nor the HTC Desire. Hmm, I thought camera technology was suppose to be advancing. People are excited about a technology released only a few days ago that was available, and better, 4 years ago! Maybe the the "4" in iPhone 4 stands for 4 year old technology, and the Desire means you will desire more. If you want an example of images from my phone, just look at 90% of the pictures on my blog. Granted, my 910SH can't record HD video. =(
5MP with flash
3x optical zoom
Oh and internet. I can connect to the internet. But to be honest, the Sharp 910SH can't provide the experience a modern smart phone can. It can view normal PC web pages, but the formatting is off. Nonetheless Japan has a mobile version of almost any website.
Yahoo Japan Mobile
Comparing the HTC Desire to the iPhone 4 though, at least you can view Adobe Flash websites on the Desire. Apple has boycotted Flashplayer saying that it isn't good and the new standard will be HTML 5. Too bad consumers can't choose how to use their products when it comes to Apple. WHO CARES! Flash is used now! Every browser will support HTML 5. Nobody likes a N. Korean dictatorship, unless your the one following Dear Leader! It really makes me think Apple is better at developing marketing techniques than it is technology. Especially since Japanese are lining up just as much as their American counterparts, for a phone offering less for more money.
I was really looking forward to the new Apple iPhone 4. There are many good applications, but now after it's release and price tag that offers me only a pinch more hardware than my current 4 year old phone, it isn't worth it. I guess I will be going for the HTC Desire or upgrade to another normal Japanese cellphone which seems smarter than a "smart phone."
When I came back to Japan in 2009 I decided to use the mobile phone I purchased in 2007 when I was a student here. It is a great phone, the Sharp 910SH. The model was actually released in August 2006. After using the phone for almost 2 full years and having it sit in a box for one year between each year, the battery has decided to give up. Now everytime a receive a call, send a text message or connect to the internet the phone shuts off. If it's plugged in, it works fine, and if I use an external battery pack it can send messages. I could buy a new battery for $40, or since I am not tied to a contract I could purchase a new phone. With smart phones on the market such as the HTC Desire and the new Apple iPhone 4, purchasing a new phone seems tempting.
The new iPhone 4 is selling like cocaine in Columbia, making it impossible to purchase one. Must be good right? This is where I look back at my trusty Sharp 910SH which is about 4 years old.
Apple markets FaceTime as one of the best new features of their phone. The ability to have a video call. So what?! My Sharp 910SH also has a front facing camera, which can call any other camera that has a screen over any 3G network in Japan. Sure beats apple's new "innovation" which only works over wi-fi.
FaceTime on 3G
I like having a nice camera on my phone. One that is good enough to replace a normal point and shoot. That way when I go out, I don't need to pack my phone and a camera into my pocket. The iPhone 4 has a 5MP camera with flash and can also record HD video. But wait a minute?
My Sharp 910SH also has a 5 MP camera with a flash (farther from the lens resulting in a better picture) AND it also has a 3x OPTICAL zoom. Something the new iPhone 4 doesn't have, nor the HTC Desire. Hmm, I thought camera technology was suppose to be advancing. People are excited about a technology released only a few days ago that was available, and better, 4 years ago! Maybe the the "4" in iPhone 4 stands for 4 year old technology, and the Desire means you will desire more. If you want an example of images from my phone, just look at 90% of the pictures on my blog. Granted, my 910SH can't record HD video. =(
5MP with flash
3x optical zoom
Oh and internet. I can connect to the internet. But to be honest, the Sharp 910SH can't provide the experience a modern smart phone can. It can view normal PC web pages, but the formatting is off. Nonetheless Japan has a mobile version of almost any website.
Yahoo Japan Mobile
Comparing the HTC Desire to the iPhone 4 though, at least you can view Adobe Flash websites on the Desire. Apple has boycotted Flashplayer saying that it isn't good and the new standard will be HTML 5. Too bad consumers can't choose how to use their products when it comes to Apple. WHO CARES! Flash is used now! Every browser will support HTML 5. Nobody likes a N. Korean dictatorship, unless your the one following Dear Leader! It really makes me think Apple is better at developing marketing techniques than it is technology. Especially since Japanese are lining up just as much as their American counterparts, for a phone offering less for more money.
I was really looking forward to the new Apple iPhone 4. There are many good applications, but now after it's release and price tag that offers me only a pinch more hardware than my current 4 year old phone, it isn't worth it. I guess I will be going for the HTC Desire or upgrade to another normal Japanese cellphone which seems smarter than a "smart phone."
Rainy season
The last two days have been a break in the rainy weather of tsuyu. About 2 more weeks until rainy season will come to a close.
I've been pretty busy these last couple weeks. Doing lots of speaking tests with my 3rd year students, since the mid-term is here. Today I also visited two of my elementary schools. Out of four classes, only one was bad. Especially when a kid somehow pulled out a 7" blade resembling some kind of ninja gardening tool. The petting of the blade was a bit disturbing. But I just looked at him like if he didn't put it away it was going through his skull. I think somehow he was allowed to have it since it was just in a plastic bag hanging at the side of his desk. Besides this semi-shocking experience, the class had disruptive students per usual.
And finally, my sanctuary has been compromised. I've seen students pass in front of my house on the way to school, and I know they saw me. Then a couple weeks ago, there were four first grade girls waiting in the park across from my house, and they decided to ambush me with questions about Justin Beiber. They know from talking to me in school that I basically think he is a terrible singer. But somehow they try to still talk to me about him and other pop stars on the same level. And now, it is about twice a week at my front door!! I try to be nice, and of course enjoy that they try many times to use the English they have learned, which I encourage. But sometimes it can be a bit much. I felt bad today since they caught me when I already had one foot in my door, and decided to just wave and say goodbye. Believe me it is hard when there are three little smiling girls running up to you screaming your name like you are a rock-star while carrying their ipod filled with Justin Beiber. It is almost like kicking a small kitten out of a doorway.
Now only if this happened with women somewhere between the ages of 20 and 28...
I've been pretty busy these last couple weeks. Doing lots of speaking tests with my 3rd year students, since the mid-term is here. Today I also visited two of my elementary schools. Out of four classes, only one was bad. Especially when a kid somehow pulled out a 7" blade resembling some kind of ninja gardening tool. The petting of the blade was a bit disturbing. But I just looked at him like if he didn't put it away it was going through his skull. I think somehow he was allowed to have it since it was just in a plastic bag hanging at the side of his desk. Besides this semi-shocking experience, the class had disruptive students per usual.
And finally, my sanctuary has been compromised. I've seen students pass in front of my house on the way to school, and I know they saw me. Then a couple weeks ago, there were four first grade girls waiting in the park across from my house, and they decided to ambush me with questions about Justin Beiber. They know from talking to me in school that I basically think he is a terrible singer. But somehow they try to still talk to me about him and other pop stars on the same level. And now, it is about twice a week at my front door!! I try to be nice, and of course enjoy that they try many times to use the English they have learned, which I encourage. But sometimes it can be a bit much. I felt bad today since they caught me when I already had one foot in my door, and decided to just wave and say goodbye. Believe me it is hard when there are three little smiling girls running up to you screaming your name like you are a rock-star while carrying their ipod filled with Justin Beiber. It is almost like kicking a small kitten out of a doorway.
Now only if this happened with women somewhere between the ages of 20 and 28...
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Life's a song
Yesterday my school had a chorus contest. All the classes at school, totaling 11, competed against each other singing various songs. It was a great diversion from the normal mundane day. Listening to students sing for 8 hours passes much faster than reading Yahoo News and Wikipedia for 6 hours.
Contest
Today was not a special day. I only taught one class, two of them were cancelled, and basically surfed the internet reading up on two smart phones, the new Apple iphone 4 or the HTC desire. Next week the iphone 4 will be coming to Japan, and I am in need of a new phone since my current one decided to stop doing all the things that phones do best.
Thinking about this though, I question my job. I am here for another year. I get paid well. I live in a foreign country. My job isn't hard, in my opinion. I am very glad I have signed on for another year, because I still haven't experienced everything I want to yet. Plus my life outside of school is pretty damn amazing!
But back to work. I question, am I a good ALT? Do my co-workers think I am lazy? After all, I just surf the internet, study Japanese, or read a book for a better half of my day and get paid for it. I don't participate in the "cleaning time," or get involved with club activities. Granted I have never been assigned anything to clean, and never really "invited" to go to a club activity. Could I be more pro-active in my school? The more I think about it, the more the answer is YES! I could be!
The thing about being an ALT is. You arrive in a foreign country and then are shown a desk in a staffroom at some school. You are disorientated from JET lag, culture difference and a new language. Nobody really tells you what to do. You just sit there. You REALLY wish you could be doing something, but you just keep sitting there because you really don't know where everyone else is anyway. For one month, there are really no students in the school.
You design your self intro lesson. Then you find yourself just struggling to find out what the plan is for the next class because you don't know when you can talk to your team teaching partner. You really want to be involved. This goes on for about four months. Adrift in an unfamiliar place, not sure where your going or what you should be doing.
Then after four months, the situation doesn't change. But you get use to it. You get use to reading Yahoo News until you have a headache. Staring at a Japanese text book day dreaming about the weekend. Basically, you get used to being lazy and doing nothing.
Then sometime in April or May you start getting more work. Japan seems to make a little more sense, and the teachers try to talk to you about something once and a while. But it has almost been a year and still you haven't joined students in their clubs or tried to force your way into cleaning duties. Why should you? When the clock hits 4PM it is time to go home and do some more pointless crap, like check your email and facebook because your work blocks it.
Somehow this seems like an utter waste to me! What could I be doing at work to make my job more fulfilling and to make my co-workers appreciate me, or ALT's in general? I always tell myself, I am gonna go to the Kendo club today and watch it for an hour or so. But sitting in my desk for 2 hours doing nothing waiting for club time to roll around, makes me just want to escape from school faster than Houdini.
Only 1 more year! Is that really enough? I hear horror stories of foreign English teachers in the private sector, if I ever choose to relocated within Japan. I know JET does give the best benefits as far as 20 paid holidays a year, subsidized national health insurance, and helps cut threw a lot of the Japanese bureaucratic tape.
If I go back to the U.S. will I enjoy it? I know there are things I will REALLY miss about Japan. Can I get a job that pays as well without having to work crazy amounts of hours? Good thing I have about 7 more months until I really have to start thinking about it. Unfortunately, time flies fast.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
The dryer part of June
As the rainy season descends upon mid June with full force, the last couple weeks have been sunny and warm. With the weather warming up, I am also warming up to my small town of Hino.
Since returning from India, I have been busy visiting elementary schools, making English picture dictionaries for 200 students, making friends, drinking coffee and watching movies on a bed sheet.
In May, the next day I returned from India actually, I met a girl named Ayumi through a mutual friend. In June I made her and a friend Mexican tacos. Turns out that she is pretty cool and knows a lot of other young people that live in my town. Within the last week I have met about ten 26 year old Japanese people who live in my town! We have been to Kyoto to eat Okinawan food and go to a club named World where DJ Taku Takahashi from m-flo was playing. It was pretty amazing, except that I don't actually remember hearing Takahashi play. I remember seeing him enter the club, but never remember him on stage. Either way, the DJ that was spinning was pretty damn amazing!
Taku Takahashi
Besides this, in my very own town in the middle of nowhere above the Hino Damn, we set up a projector and watched a concert DVD. Something unique to countryside living. In the city you would probably be dealing with the police about noise pollution complaints.
One thing is for certain! I am beyond excited to have similar aged friends in my town. On Tuesday we plan on watching some people play futsal.
I was also invited by one of the part time teachers at Hino Junior High School to watch her play the koto. So I watched for a couple hours although I left early since most things traditionally Japanese seem to be dragged out extremely long, which can lead me to get extremely bored.
I also revisited a coffee shop in my town for the second time called Ren-Rou. I've most likely now been to every cafe in Hino, and have recently decided that Ren-Rou is my favorite. They don't have amazing or cheap coffee, but for Hino it is the best! Also the environment is relaxing and the music that is usually played is also pretty good. The owner seems like a friendly guy and the cafe seems like a place that I may become a regular customer of. Not to mention, it helps support local business.
The business card of a caffeine dealer.
Since returning from India, I have been busy visiting elementary schools, making English picture dictionaries for 200 students, making friends, drinking coffee and watching movies on a bed sheet.
In May, the next day I returned from India actually, I met a girl named Ayumi through a mutual friend. In June I made her and a friend Mexican tacos. Turns out that she is pretty cool and knows a lot of other young people that live in my town. Within the last week I have met about ten 26 year old Japanese people who live in my town! We have been to Kyoto to eat Okinawan food and go to a club named World where DJ Taku Takahashi from m-flo was playing. It was pretty amazing, except that I don't actually remember hearing Takahashi play. I remember seeing him enter the club, but never remember him on stage. Either way, the DJ that was spinning was pretty damn amazing!
Taku Takahashi
Besides this, in my very own town in the middle of nowhere above the Hino Damn, we set up a projector and watched a concert DVD. Something unique to countryside living. In the city you would probably be dealing with the police about noise pollution complaints.
One thing is for certain! I am beyond excited to have similar aged friends in my town. On Tuesday we plan on watching some people play futsal.
I was also invited by one of the part time teachers at Hino Junior High School to watch her play the koto. So I watched for a couple hours although I left early since most things traditionally Japanese seem to be dragged out extremely long, which can lead me to get extremely bored.
I also revisited a coffee shop in my town for the second time called Ren-Rou. I've most likely now been to every cafe in Hino, and have recently decided that Ren-Rou is my favorite. They don't have amazing or cheap coffee, but for Hino it is the best! Also the environment is relaxing and the music that is usually played is also pretty good. The owner seems like a friendly guy and the cafe seems like a place that I may become a regular customer of. Not to mention, it helps support local business.
The business card of a caffeine dealer.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Rugby
On May 29th, 30th and 31st I went to Tokushima prefecture to participate in a touch rugby tournament. I almost backed out of the tournament because I was running very low on cash due to my trip to India and the 22,000 yen price tag was a bit high to play a game I had completely no experience playing. It turned out I was already confirmed, which I didn't think I was, so I basically had no choice but to pay the fee and compete. I was more or less looking forward to finally landing on the Japanese island of Shikoku which would complete one of my goals of going to the 4 main large islands of Japan.
The name of our team was the Biwako Basselopes. Biwako is the lake in Shiga, and the largest in Japan. A Basselope is some kind of fictional animal, that I think we created, which is a cross between a bass and a antelope. Utterly ridiculous, and perfectly perfect!
Biwako Basselopes' cheer.
Overall the games were pretty good. And although I was on the B team, considered to be less skilled than our A team, we won more matches! Overall we won 2, lost 2, and tied our last game. Not bad considering many of our players have never played rugby before. I am not a real good competitive team sports player. I guess I just never have my "head in the game." I usually think people care too much about something that means absolutely nothing. I mean there is very little risk in your own life. I guess I just am not one for fame and so the idea of glory in this case means little to me. People pretend they are at war. Thankfully, my team mates seemed to have the idea of fun a couple of notches above demolition.
Everyone wants white lemons.
Forming defense.
In the end, meeting people from all around Japan was what I enjoyed the best. I met some really great people with all kinds of interests, and hopefully made some friends along the way. Even if great distances separate us in the future.
New friend from Seattle, WA.
The name of our team was the Biwako Basselopes. Biwako is the lake in Shiga, and the largest in Japan. A Basselope is some kind of fictional animal, that I think we created, which is a cross between a bass and a antelope. Utterly ridiculous, and perfectly perfect!
Biwako Basselopes' cheer.
Overall the games were pretty good. And although I was on the B team, considered to be less skilled than our A team, we won more matches! Overall we won 2, lost 2, and tied our last game. Not bad considering many of our players have never played rugby before. I am not a real good competitive team sports player. I guess I just never have my "head in the game." I usually think people care too much about something that means absolutely nothing. I mean there is very little risk in your own life. I guess I just am not one for fame and so the idea of glory in this case means little to me. People pretend they are at war. Thankfully, my team mates seemed to have the idea of fun a couple of notches above demolition.
Everyone wants white lemons.
Forming defense.
In the end, meeting people from all around Japan was what I enjoyed the best. I met some really great people with all kinds of interests, and hopefully made some friends along the way. Even if great distances separate us in the future.
New friend from Seattle, WA.
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