speaking diligence

Accosted by violence

2011-11-06T22:44:00.002-07:00

Just read a short story by Flannery O'Connor, the introduction said it would be humorous and ironic. It was one of the most disturbing stories I've ever read. Seriously why do we have to read this stuff? Shouldn't there be a warning? I know the world is a terrible place, and bad things happen, but why do I have to be accosted by it?

This story starts out as a family road trip, then they end up rolling their car into a ditch; the family survives, but then they are followed up by an escaped psychopathic convict who with his two lackeys shoot the family. The end.

Seriously?

Grindstone

2011-10-23T23:33:00.002-06:00

Well, I am in an apartment now, I'm up to midterms in a new quarter of college, I guess I skipped the last 8 months, I have bounced around and landed here. I have about 100 credits or 2 years of college left, then I have to figure out very quickly what I am going to do next. Teach in another country? I don't know, maybe teach here in the states? I don't know, I haven't really been able to put anything into a concrete plan yet.

Right now I am just barely recovering from a bit of reverse culture shock, and a little bit of plain old lost-my-path-itis. I am barely keeping up with school right now, though the work is not very hard, I just have the darnedest time focusing on anything these days. I used to be amazing at focusing on a goal or on some kind of project, but lately I can't hardly put a 3 course dinner together for the life of me.

I will just keep going at what I'm doing, and hopefully get somewhere, and maybe find a plan. I don't know, I'm just glad things have settled down a little bit for my head to stop spinning from my little escapade half way around the world and back.

Ok, I guess I'm signing off now.

Me

Last day in Japan

2011-02-11T18:54:00.000-07:00

Well, what a day this has been. It started out as just a pleasent

day, waking up to snow on the trees in Gakuentoshi. I was so

surprised, though I had no idea what kind of day it would make

this I just trudded along, enjoying the snow taking pictures and

just taking in every minute of the spectacular show Japan is

with snow on it. Also it being my last day. I went and canceled

my phone, my friend who was going to help me with that was

late, so I had to try on my own, I did accomplish it though.

Next I went to the school and took some rare pictures of snow

on Gaidai, running short on time I went to the station and met

my teacher michael also my friend Daiki came too for coffee. I

then went to my house and finished packing, it was stressful

though I did it ok. My friends were already there waiting for

me so they seemed impatient, though we had plenty of time.

We were going to take a rental car to the airport with friends,

though we were afraid Michael wouldn't make it, but we all

squeezed into the backseat of a japanese car with 4 full size

guys. It was cramped we picked up Kana and headed for the

airport. however, guess what we did not anticipate? Yeah you

would have never guessed, a traffic jam! Not just any traffic

jam but the monster of all traffic jams. Every expressway in

Osaka was closed, due to snow! So what did we do? We got

off when we could, though it took 2 hours, we all thought long

and hard on what to do, even thinking of going to the

shinkansen, though we think it would have been impossible to

make it. So we fell to the most reasonable alternative, I took a

ferry alone across the bay to the airport. I wanted to go on the

ferry anyway, thoughh I gave in and decided to go with my

friends and take a rental car. Anyway, it was actually nice, I

met them as I left, and they could wave Bon Voyage to me as I

sailed away into the sunset on a ship bound for America. Ha

ha, that's so sappy, and I just thought about it as I wrote. I sat

next to a very nice Japanese lady, and I spoke Japanese with

her for quite a long time it was very enjoyable, then when we

got off, we had to load into a little bus, which the advertisers

did not inform us of. so this horrible ride, with all my luggage I

had to lift into the bus with no step to help me I struggled and

swung around as the bus made hard crazy turns around the

airport terminal. I then got off and was still struggling a bit

though I could handle it, but then a very kind lady came up and

offered to help me as I had 4 bags to carry, her family was with

her and I couldn't believe how kind she was. She even helped

me find my gate and try to call my friend. I must be the most

pathetic looking guy on the planet sometimes for people to go

through such trouble for me, I am honestly and truly thankfor

for the blassings I have in my friends and even in the strangers

who have come to the rescue in the past. I have got to be the

luckiest guy on the planet. After that I boarded the the airplane

just in time, with not much time to spare. Also when I sat down

I was seated next to two very kind people, one guy about my

age able to speak Japanese and English, on the other side of

me was seated a very kind lady, who had rode the ferry I was

on and watched me board and saw how many of my friends

were on the dock waving to me as I left. She also got her meal

upgraded to first class, but she said she did not want the extra

food and because I was young I should eat it instead, I at first

did not accept it but she insisted, so I got a really good meal on

the airplane, it was awesome! So most of the flight I spoke in

Japanese all the way to America, and some english too. The

guy even wanted my facebook after he met me and said, feel

free to visit me in Japan if you ever want to come back.

Somehow I make friends too easily, why? All in all I'd say it

was an enjoyable flight though I don't care for United so much,

but it is not bad. So next was San Francisco airport and I have

to say I don't like it, it is such a badly designed airport. So I

was then seated next to a nice guy, I think he worked for some

insurance company I think he said, we chatted about Japan a

bit and just had smalltalk which was a nice. I landed in Seattle

and I have to say the airport in Seattle is much nicer though the

security could use a bit better bedside manner, however I did

get them joking with me, and they started teasing me. I told

people I came from Japan and it stuns them and respond such

like, "good job!" and are nicer. Though one guy after I took my

Coat off, he asked me to take off my hoodie sweater too, then

found I had a regular sweater under it and a collared polo, so

he said "you must be cold!" I said, "well it was snowing in

Japan and it's cold in Spokane", then he said, "it looks like it

might snow tomorrow!"
As I walked up to the matal detector, he said "oh we need

your pants too!" I was like "What? my Pants?" then he laughed

and siad "no no! you're ok, go ahead!" Doah! Why was I

picked on? That's just not cool. Then I wandered around the

baggage claim area wondering where to go next since I found

my luggage. So then I got to my airplane with hours to spare

for my last flight, too bad, it would have been nice to just get

on and go, but oh well! Anyway, in the end I am glad I had this

time to write this all down while it's fresh in my mind. I still have

one more airplane to go, it takes off in a little over an hour, so

we will see just how much more of the adventure there is!

Final day

2011-02-10T09:27:00.003-07:00

Well I spend my final day on campus in Japan, it was one of the most heart wrenching experiences I've ever had. Many people came to campus just to say goodbye. It was really touching and made me very happy although it was hard to take all the sadness that was floating in the air. It was so hard to say goodbye and many refused to say it, I couldn't even say it sometimes. All the while just saying, I'm leaving for America, see you again! I didn't want to say I hope, because that seems false, I really want to come back but at the same time I think there is still that huge doubt in most of their minds which is where the sadness starts.

For several I was able to hold my tears, and was generally happy most of the day until my friend Yuji came with his girlfriend Eri. They are such a sweet couple, and Yuji has been a great all around general friend who took me for me, he didn't have any preconceptions about me and had no wall to push me out; we simply enjoyed each other's company. Saying goodbye to him and his girlfriend was really hard, as I was friends with her too and she is very sensitive, so I could feel it. I did a good job hiding the tears from the Tasaka-san for a while, but after a while I told her what happened, I'm glad though because then someone knows how I was really touched. After that I waited for Makita-san to come all the way to campus to just say goodbye to me, and avoid the staff and students. It was really hard, I wanted to say how much I appreciated her in my stay in Japan, but the more I said the more she wanted to cry, so I said it as simply as I could and spared her some tears. She really was sad about how much she appreciated how I helped Gaidai with the students. I feel she thought I had no reservations to help, but simply I just wanted to. I tried to tell her how it was just the way I am everywhere, and I am glad of it, but she still thought I did so much. That goodbye will always remember and keep the memory close to my heart. I tried to joke that she took too good care of me, so I had to help with the students of gaidai, but she said she didn't help them at all as a joke as well picking on my friend Daiki who was with me at the time.

Next I went to campus and went to the Dojo and collected my things before I left, surprising everyone there, but they all seemed happy to see me. I took pictures of everyone and traded some addresses, then left to go say goodbye to the staff of Gaidai. That was Tasaka-san, this goodbye was really final and with the entire staff, they all said their goodbyes and I left Gaidai with tears in my eyes. I will always remember this place with tenderness and love because that's how everyone felt toward me.

There were dozens of little stories like these for each person I said goodbye to, and really the hardest part was finding a friend who didn't know I was leaving so soon. I just didn't have enough time, I know tomorrow at the airport I will go with tears on my face and leave many tears behind on the faces of my friends, I can only hope my life again in America will be as great as it was here, I will definitely do my best to make it that way.

2nd floor thinking of second chances

2011-02-01T03:39:00.004-07:00

Well things are quickly closing in on the end of my stay in Japan, I keep coming up with more and more ways to seem to put off my time. Such as, I'm not leaving until next year, or not until next month, and now next week, 10 days, 9 days... and so forth. I don't want to believe I am leaving, but at the same time it is coming up and more and more I think of things I am going to miss. People I wish I could bring with me, and things I wish would always stay the same. I am doing my best to just enjoy my time here, but at the same time I know that the time is coming and I will have to say my final good byes. I really have enjoyed it here in Japan; there may have been some small problems, well not small but I look at them as insignificant. I have had such a great time and met so many great people that there is no way any insignificant problem could ever take them away.

The question now is what do I want to do before I leave, I have several days and a lot can be done in those few days. Some people get only a few days in their whole life to stay in such a different culture, and I can not take it for granted because I have been here for so long.

There are a few things I hope to be able to do. Maybe not such big deals, but I feel they are important to me. I hope to get a sweatshirt from the Kyudo club. I also want to take pictures with friends who I enjoy meeting every day but never really got a chance to do a lot with, but I know I will miss seeing them and I want to remember them.

People keep asking me if I am going to try going somewhere before I leave, but really I feel as though I want to spend my last days here near where I live and really etch the memory of this place into my head, rather than many small but colorful memories which I may end up forgetting sooner than later.

Today I spent hanging around campus enjoying the people around, talking, laughing, joking, and having fun conversations. I tried practicing a little Japanese, and just had a good time. I am somewhat worrying about my future in the US, everything seems quite up in the air, I just pray that things will work out, and I will do my best to continue with my life.

Language

2011-01-27T02:43:00.003-07:00

So I have been studying another language, and this does something to you, it makes you closer to understanding language. What do we use language for? We use it to share our needs, to share our feelings, and many other things. There is however one thing which absolutely drives me crazy, when someone decides to debate. Recently, well I guess not recently the internet has created a place where many people can give any kind of opinion they want, maybe even for nothing besides causing a reaction with little or no real interest in the thing debated about. This does something to the things which are important, it marginalizes them. People can do and say things which causes change, but not in the desire to improve, but in the desire to see things move and change for their own pleasure; disregarding the toils and pains of others who simply try to make this thing better in their work.

So when I am interested in something, and then find stupid opinions of people putting something down for little reason but for what I shared above, it drives me crazy. It makes me aggressive and I want to rebuttal, ridiculing them for their insensitive behavior and attempting to enlighten them as to why they are wrong. I go into debate mode, and I always feel like I am the shining Knight there to put right the indecencies of the dark world of the internet. Then I realize, this is only going on deaf ears. The quick witted assailants only wait for this bait to get taken by someone as me, and they use low-balled tactics to assail their victims not in debate but in vindictiveness toward the rebuttal.

So what does one do? Ignore it and walk away and let people assail free of any retaliation. To simply allow them to wait for the chance to flood their minds in the sickening pleasure of someone's else displeasure? I am really at a loss. It is why I hate debate, it does nothing but set one up for this merciless attack which those of that malevolent disposition revel in.

So I digress, should I keep up the fight, or avoid these battles?

What a strange day

2011-01-14T02:56:00.005-07:00

Wow, that a crazy day, from the moment I got up to the time I got into my door, it's been one of those astounding days where everything surprises you around every corner. Today I went to the US Consulate in Osaka, it was a field trip sponsored by my university. Along with my classmates, some friends, and other students in Gaidai. I was supposed to be at the JR train station center gate by 8:45 but I missed my train by 5 seconds. Which made me approximately 5 minutes late. This is not good as we had to change trains to get to Osaka, but I don't know the way to get there. However I made it just in time to hop onto the 8:55 train to Osaka, which happened to be the same train as everyone else had got on. Lucky! Though it took some huffing on foot.

Well we got there and it was quite an enjoyable experience. I took a picture accidentally of the outside of the consulate, though I wasn't supposed to... Shh..! Don't tell anyone, as it could become a matter of national security! But really it was just the picture of a sign and my friend jumped into the frame, so it's kind of fuzzy. Anyway! We got in, sure enough I also set off the metal detector because I forgot to take my keys out of my pocket, so they had to run the metal detector, it was difficult as he was giving commands in Japanese, and I'm thinking to myself, "oh, turn around, ok I get it," but really I think I irritated the guy because of my slow response to his Japanese. So after that. So after that we went in and they gave a presentation about the consulate, what their jobs were, how they got there, what we can do, and generally answered any questions about consulate things we could think of. It was quite fun, they did some mock interviews for the Japanese students for getting their Visas to America. I gave it a try too, though I don't think I need a US visa, however I did get accepted! Ha ha. Tasaka-san said the interviewer sounded more like a comedian with me than an actual interview, and was a little worried that my interview took a little longer than it was supposed to, just 1 minute. Not that I took too long, but that maybe I failed the interview. However, if it were real, I would have a 2 year study visa for America! Woo hoo!

So, after I went to the consulate with my university this morning, which was pretty normal thing for my university. I headed for home (Kobe), and got to the city center, which is called Sannomiya, and as I was crossing the street to go find some food for lunch, this old man walks up to me; notices that I was a big tall American, and says in Japanese, "Koko wa Kobe toiu!" or in english; "This place is called Kobe!" waving his arms to indicate the area around us.
I then said, in Japanese, rather sarcastically to my ears I admit, though I have little more otherwise to say, "sou desu ka?" which means, "oh is that right?"
I said it a little bit too quietly though, as my Japanese I am not so confident with, so he didn't hear me.
Thinking I didn't understand he tried ending the conversation by saying "ganbatte ne" which means "do your best!"
and I said "hai! arigatou gozaimashita, ganbarimasu!" which means "thank you very much, I will do my best!" and he was said surprised, "WAKATTA?!!?" which you can guess means, "you understand me?"
and I responded, "sou desu ne!"
Flabbergasted, he turned all shades of red, and then wanted to talk some more, and then began making strange motions, jumping up and down indicating toward the ground and bending over touching the ground and then jumping up and down again. I then realized it was an earthquake in my confusion to this, and he then said "jishin" which means "earthquake" and then gave me a quick story of the earthquake in Japanese because he thought I didn't really understand what he was doing. He then asked me, "jishin, wakaru?" which means, "do you understand jishin?"
I then responded, "hai jishin, wakarimasu! earthquake" He was very encouraged at this and then told me he was there during the 1995 earthquake in Kobe, and saw houses fall down flat. I am not sure about if it was his house that fell down or not, but he did not seem very upset by the experience, so I am guessing he either got over it or his house was not harmed.
Then he invited me to have coffee with him and chat a little while as he seemed to have a lot he wanted to say. I agreed, and still greatly astonished, we quickly crossed the street, and found a nice little coffee shop, he bought me a cup of coffee and lunch to eat. We talked for about a half hour, this old 70 year old man and me in Japanese. It was very gratifying and fun speaking to him as I have been feeling a bit depressed about my level of Japanese and feeling I could have done better, but after this I feel it has been a success. He explained how he thought Buddhism and Christianity were similar and he had studied the bible he also told me about his travels to Israel and Egypt, and he took a train across Asia from Egypt to Japan. A very interesting conversation. He also works on a US aircraft carrier, installing light fixtures as far as I could tell from what I can understand of Japanese, he is a very interesting guy. We talked about the economy, family, ages, jobs, where we're from, and a number of other subjects. I described my family, and how I used to drive ambulance, but he was surprised with how young I am. I think he enjoyed the conversation though. And as we finished we went outside, he shook my hand, patted my shoulder and said "ganbatte ne!", "do your best!" and then we parted ways. Maybe to never see each other again, but I will definitely enjoy that conversation and just how crazy my life in Japan sometimes gets.

After that, I took a walk around sannomiya and the motomachi, thinking about the experience, I explored some areas I've never been, I found this long almost empty cooridor underground, which connects two stations of the Hanshin subway, it was filled with pictures and paintings for some reason, also a fishtank; though I don't know why there would be a fishtank just outside a subway terminal. Japan is quite strange in this way for some reason. I then walked all the way to the end, and up into the motomachi, and then walked all the way down to the JR nishi motomachi station, and then along the underside of the raised railroad tracks, looking at all the shops. which are in a big hallway more than a mile long, so I found where all the second hand stores are in Japan! There was all sorts of cool things, I almost bought some stuff, but I always have this lingering feeling in the back of my head, "you have to carry it all the way to America if you buy it!" So anyway, having walked around sannomiya for maybe 2 and a half miles, I went back to the station and rode to Gakuentoshi and made a stop at the Daie for some bread and cookies. Then I went to Sukiya for some "Gyuudon" (beef on rice). I was going to get it to go because I was a bit tired and wanted to go home, but a two friends of mine from school were in Sukiya and they just got their food. They asked me to join, and then I told them my whole story, in the best Japanese I could, (still needs a lot of work) but they thought I was really lucky for the free lunch, and one of them told me of their experience one day of an old guy who bought them food in Osaka. One of the friends was a faculty member in the school, and older lady, who I have had meals with before, she is very interested in English and always has questions as well for me when we meet up. She said it was really a lucky day for me because she wouldn't let me pay for my dinner this time as well! So there you have it, my strange and lucky day. Oh my orange I had for breakfast this morning was given to me by my friend Hiroki yesterday too. I feel like a bit of a Hobo now.

Kyudo Taikai

2010-05-23T07:17:00.000-06:00

What a day, I don’t know where to start! Well, I’ll start from the beginning. I woke up early and got ready for a big day in Sogoundokoen where there was a big Kyudo event. I didn’t know yesterdays was going to be so long, but I knew todays was going to be all day, so I prepared myself for it this time. So I made some breakfast (peanut butter and honey sandwich) and then headed to the gakuentoshi station there I met other ichinensei (first year students of kyudo like myself) and we hopped on the train. Of course they jumped into the girl car! I’m glad I was paying attention I went to the next car, they didn’t realize till I told them. Sometimes people don’t even pay attention. It’s crazy, I feel old and young at the same time. First I am 25 years old and have had a lot of experience in many things, but also I’ve been tossed into the 1^st year students who are all 18 and 19 years old and have a lot to learn but at the same time I can’t hardly read or speak Japanese so I’m really in the same shoes. So we made it to the station and met up with the rest of the group then headed to the big tournament for the greater Kansai area. It was quite a thing, 1000 plus people who do Kyudo and over 500 competitors. I have been lucky enough to be in one of the more respected Kyudo clubs in the area, they have one of the oldest Kyudo teachers and very respected as well. We had never met but he already wanted to give me the privilege to go down and watch the Men’s team tournament finals with him in at the judge’s table. It was awesome and nerve wrecking at the same time. I really don’t feel like I deserved the honor more than anyone else, I’m just an American who is trying his best to learn the Japanese language and culture. So I nervously accompanied the Sensei with a fellow club member who speaks English just in case and we went down and watched one of the biggest Kyudo tournaments in Japan together at the Judges table. It really was awesome, and a totally amazing privilege.

The next cool thing was that the ninensei (2^ndyear) and sannensei (3^rd year) club members took all the ichinensei (1^st year) members to dinner at a quite nice Italian restaurant, which was a 10 – 15 min walk from the station, which also happened to be in the same building as my apartment, so the whole club walked me home! I was in a good mood even though today has been a long day, so I was talkative and got along with everyone even though my Japanese is so terrible. I have really been having trouble feeling a little alienated from everyone because I can’t contribute to any conversation, but today has been good.

First Day in Japan

2010-04-07T02:16:00.004-06:00

Well, there is a lot they don’t tell you about traveling to Japan, and yet it’s not as difficult as you would imagine, but it can be more difficult than you can imagine at the same time. My first full day was packed with amazement and adventure, but first I have to start with my first evening. In what turned out to be the longest day of my life, was a fun filled and most stressful event to ever happen to me (except breaking my ankle in the Yaak 2 miles from a road and an hour drive from civilization, I have to say that was pretty stressful). I started out the day having spent the night at a friend’s place in Seattle, getting ready to pick up my visa for traveling to Japan. It took a long time to get it in order, so long that when I finally got the visa it was only 4 hours before my flight took off. I went into the Japan Consulate to find out if my Visa was ready and the man at the desk recognized me from the week before and hand/finger signaled with an X indicating it wasn’t there, my heart fell through the five stories of below that floor and probably ended up somewhere in the basement. He told me that it was printed and almost ready to give to me except it had to get a final OK from the Japanese embassy and that may not be until that afternoon; which was too late for my flight. I sulked my way to the car and spoke with my friend, who really wanted to drive to the local hospital, as someone she knew needed some support from a horrific accident their son was in. I agreed to that she should go, and I would stay at the consulate and wait to see if my Visa came in soon (although with little hope in my heart). Well while I was waiting for the phone call from the Japanese consulate, I called my insurance company to work out my final details for my car insurance while I am gone, then I was called Oh Wow, but it was one of my Japanese friends in America who had been helping me plan out my first day in Japan, or I would be virtually lost and without a clue as to what to do or where to go in Japan alone. Well I spoke with her and explained that I had only 4 ½ hours of time before my flight and that there was a high likelihood that my Visa would not be in for probably another 3 or 4 hours anyway (she has been worried about my trip since I started planning it, especially in part with my Visa, as I have to admit I am not the best planner in the world; I’m just good at doing everything at the last moment—hurray for high stress! My friend thinks I’m a troublemaker and so does my study abroad advisor in eastern, he always knows he’s in for work when I come to his office). So anyway, to my utter amazement while I was talking to her on the phone, having just explained all my troubles, a phone call came in on the line, I switched lines and it was the Japanese Consulate! They said it was ready and I could come get it, I about leaped so high I could have hit my head on the ceiling. After thanking the man, I switched back to my friend’s line and told the good news. I ran to the elevator and into the consulate, they gave me my Visa and I called my friend who was at the hospital was so happy to hear it, and she immediately got to the car and headed my way. So we went to the airport, and I got on my flight! Number 271.

Reflecting on it now there was no way I could have made it to the airplane if I had come any later than that very moment. Although there was a little time to eat a quick cheese burger at a burger joint just outside the airplane terminal just before leaving US soil (the last thing I ate in the US). So then I found myself on the plane, tired because I had drug probably 100 pounds of luggage half way across the airport—twice, and I had driven 11 hours the day before across Washington and Idaho from Montana. I sat between a young man, on my left, who was across the aisle from his family and on my right was what what seemed to be a very sleepy American who had a shaved head. Neither one of them talked to me during the whole 12 hour flight. I could not sleep because of crying babies, being in a middle isle seat, and I had nothing to rest my head on, the seats were just close enough together in front that I could not stretch out or lean forward in the seat—I am made too tall for airline seating, although the seats were fairly comfortable considering the amount of foot space. The flight attendants were amazing, very nice and just great people, and they fed us like kings! The food on the plane was fantastic! I had for the first meal a Korean style dinner, and some kind of peanut oil stir-fry and a bowl of rice with tea and coffee. There was another snack later on, ham sandwiches and mixed nuts. Then the last meal was a beef roast with pasta and salad not to mention fruit as well. Anyway that’s enough of the food, it was just great. So I watched a bunch of movies on the flight, they were free! Avatar, The Incredible Mr. Fox (hilarious movie), and some Chinese or Korean action movie about kung-fu wizards—it was awesome! Anyway the flight got into Korea, somehow I ended up being the last one off of the plane, and I have to say the international airport there was really hard to figure out; it was not good at explaining how to get anywhere, even though every sign was translated into at least 4 languages. It took a long time to get through a second line of security, even though I was just transferring onto another flight. I ended up in the security line for the whole 1 ½ hour layover though they never did have any trouble with my luggage. I even had a metal spoon in my bag, (sorry Nancy for stealing your spoon! I couldn’t even buy a postcard for you either!). Anyway I was the last off the plane and the last to get to the flight, slowed down because another flight got in front of me into the security line. I was the last to get onto my transfer flight too to Kansai/Osaka Airport. One of the flight attendants was running down the hall yell out for the last passenger to Kansai, which was me of course, she found me and we ran down the walk-o-vater things (I can’t think of what they are called). She even commandeered one of the little airport cart drivers car to get us to the airplane on time, (why on earth would they put a transfer flight on the freaking other side of the airport almost a half mile away?) I got there in just the nick of time, the last passenger on the plane, but I definitely broke a sweat getting there in time. All the flight attendants smiled at me and seemed to be relieved to see me. They were so nice too. I have to say I love Asiana airlines. The airplane took off at exactly the time they were planning and I was off again. I had just enough time to eat an in-flight-meal and fill out my disembarkation form.

Well, I landed and again was the last one to be off the plane because I had to put my two bags at two different overhead compartments since there was no room in the one, and there were too many people to get my other bag right away. I got into the Foreigner Passport Inspection line and there was already like a hundred people or more in there, the line snaked from end to end of the room. I stood there for an hour almost just to spend a whole of 2 minutes in front of the inspector. Well 10:00pm rolled around and that’s when almost everything in the airport shuts down for the night, besides just the basic security and loading and unloading. I was freaked out because I had to find the MKcounter which is a bus-limousine service which would take me to my stay for the night. I was worried because that they might shut down and so do the shuttle busses to Sannomiya, which was my alternate destination if I could not make it in time to the limousine service. I finally got out of security and customs, found the booth. The driver was waiting for me and we were off, no time to even stop to update facebook on the wi-fi in the airport. The ride was amazing; the driver was a professional to say the least. I did not know you could drive a big van like that. I don’t even think I could make it with my little car down the alley ways and streets that he went through to drop off the five other passengers two spoke French, two others spoke English and Japanese, and another guy was Japanese, they all got off at different locations somewhere in Osaka, and of course my stop was the very last stop 1 ½ hours away, although it was not too bad for just $30.

I arrived at my friend’s mother’s house, and she was so nice, I only hope she thought I was nice too, though I was really very tired. I got to finally take a shower! I had not had one for 2 days, and it was so nice! She gave me a Japanese style sweet candy, udon I think is what it’s called—it is so delicious. I got on the internet answered some e-mails and got to sleep in a bed. I was so exhausted. I then still had only 6 hours of sleep, I just couldn’t sleep any longer than that as I had to make it to Sannomiya by 10am. My friend’s Mom made a traditional Japanese style breakfast, rice, fish, miso soup, an egg roll, natto, and green tea. It was awesome! I ate everything in sight. I was a little afraid of the natto at first, because it’s supposed to be fermented beans and they are very slimy, but it tastes pretty good I think. We made a run to Sannomiya while stopping to pick up my friend’s grandmother, not before stopping at a candy bakery, and then again for water. She bought me a gift at the bakery, and then we finally made it to Sannomiya JR Station. That is where I met with the faculty of Kobe City University. We went to the information center where I had an interview for my apartment, not even before I could take my luggage someplace to store. I’m glad I wore a suit that day! They seemed liked me and I got accepted, and I think I impressed Misa-san, the coordinator of the international student program in Kobe City University, because I wore the suit to the interview. I also met one other student from America who was also trying to get an apartment at the same place. I also met another student from New York studying here too, and he was also interviewed to get an apartment too. We all made our way to the University, slowly dragging the luggage across Kobe. We dropped all of it finally at the University’s office and we went and had some coffee in the student union center, then we met with our Mentors. Now this was where the day really got started. The plan was to get to get our apartments, to register at the alien registration office, get bank accounts, and also cell-phones. Not necessarily in that order—we had lunch first with the mentors and the guy from New York who speaks great Japanese. I got a big bowl of noodles with some kind of breaded shrimp on top and more tea. We then rode the subway and the bus to get registered at the alien registration office and got apartments. Again I got reacquainted with my luggage! Drug the luggage for probably another half hour to the apartment complex. I was flat out tired, but I still had no phone! How can you survive in Japan without a phone? Luckily, after checking in, getting the keys and dropping my luggage off in my new home, my mentor seemed happy to take me again into the shopping district of Kobe and get a cell-phone, the guy from New York seemed too tired to be in on that. So my mentor and I went to get a cell-phone after riding the subway, and transferring to a second line, we got there just in time before the stores closed, as a matter of fact, after the phone was purchased it was 8pm and the store had closed. Amazing! So we then went to a convenience store and got a little dinner, onigiri, rice rolled with meat and seaweed. I also bought Karintou! My mentor warned me that it was really sweet, and I said yes I know very well, and he was surprised I knew it already, and knew exactly what I was looking for too! Thanks to Kai and Saki for giving me some when they were in America. I was standing outside the convenience store and finally got to take my first picture of the day with my new 8.1 megapixel phone, free with a 2 year contract, yay! Oh and I learned a strange custom in Japan, when you buy something like a cell phone is customary for the store to give you a small token or gift along with it, in my case it was wet toilet wipes, sometimes you get toilet paper too—strange. I had lost my American phone somewhere in my friend’s house I had thought and I was using it as a quick camera to take pictures of my trip. The picture I finally got to take was of me eating Karintou, and onigiri in front of a Japanese convenience store. So my mentor and I were on our way again, back to the university part of town near where I live. When to our dread, the whole subway came to a screeching halt. There was a horrific accident in the Gakuen-toshi station (the station where I live), and we could not get there on the subway. Apparently according to my mentor it this almost never happens as far as he’s ever been concerned. All of this was reported in Japanese of course, luckily I had a guide. So it made out to be a long ride, we ended up taking two more subways trains and catching a local train, to be picked up by his parents by car and driven back to my apartment. I got to meet many people, practice Japanese, and experience just about every way to travel in Japan in the very first day. I also got a crash course in how to use money in Japan too, coins for the win! It was hilarious because my mentor told his parents about the crazy stuff that had been happening to me the first day. About my visa and being a troublemaker, and also losing my cell phone, which turned out having been in my bag the whole time, oh man! So that was the end of my day. I finally got to sleep soundly for a whole night.
Well that’s about all I have left to say now for my first full day in Japan, it’s getting late now on the second day, and I have just been sitting here writing this all day, besides having walked to McDonald’s this morning and that’s about it. I’m a pretty tired guy. I still don’t even own any toilet paper yet. So I should go buy some now. A pillow might be nice too, so anyway, I’ll be back to write more.

Ok so I’m back it’s been two days, and boy the craziness of this place just keeps coming. So it’s Sunday and I was supposed to meet my Mentor (Kazuya) and the other students from America and their mentors too in Sannomiya. First though I did a bit of shopping today too at the super market, I got some bread and peanut butter and honey for lunch. I was supposed to meet with my neighbor here from New York but he kind of flaked on me, so I called Kazuya and told him I was going to be late, and I will have to ride the subway alone for the first time, all the way to Sannomiya, not the most desirable thing to do only 3 days into my adventure in Japan, but I wanted to make friends and I was willing for the challenge. Turned out it was pretty easy to figure out the subway and I made it there in good time, of course I had to run from my apartment to the station and I made it just in time for the 4:00pm train. Wow there was a lot of people, I couldn’t believe how many there were, I thought it was the same size city as Seattle but it seems like there are more here. Kazuya says it’s the last day of spring vacation and everyone is out doing their last chance of shopping, so that explains that. We went shopping at the Hiyakuin ($1 store) for some little things I need around my apartment, and then we went to a Toriyaki restaurant. It was good stuff, had lots of fun with the mentors and Ben from EWU. It was quite an interesting day to say the least. I also found that on weekends there is like a bazaar down the street at the Campus Square, apparently the mentors didn’t know about that so I felt special knowing something they didn’t, but that’s about as far as that goes. We ate piles of food, it was all delicious as usual and then we rode the sub back to my station and that was the end of the night.

Monday, I had an oral language examination, not as difficult as I had thought which is good, but my Japanese is definitely not where I would like it to be, it takes too long for me to think of something to respond with. Anyway, while I was waiting for my test time I took the liberty of walking around the campus, had a cup of coffee and watched as the students all rushed in for the first day of school. There were no class that I knew of yet, it is kind of an entrance ceremony these two days (Monday and Tuesday). There were lots of people sitting on the ground on tarps doing cherry blossom viewing and eating food, a nice way to spend time in my opinion. There were lots of campus clubs looking for new members, I might join the music club, and they were looking for a drummer. The guy was quite excited when he found out I knew how to play the drums. Apparently most drummers here are girls because well, there are mostly girls here, 3 to 1 us guys are outnumbered—an interesting predicament I would say. So anyway, after I met with my teacher (Baba-sensei) she introduced me to the volunteer coordinator of the school and she then introduced me to some students who wanted to show me around the campus we had lunch together, I had chicken-toriudon—it was delicious. The students didn’t speak much English so I tried my best to speak as much Japanese as I could, it was a good thing. The students then showed me around after lunch introducing me to other friends of theirs and I hope I made some new friends or at least some familiar faces smiles in a totally new place. It has been fun though, lots of people seem happy to get to know me; they have been asking for my phone number and inviting me to small events and such.. Some have even seen me talking to their friends around campus and later just walked up to talk to me, which is pretty cool and quite brave—I don’t think I could do that. I have game of “guess my age” and nobody ever gets it, it’s great, and what’s better is I guess pretty accurately everyone else’s age. Anyway that was pretty much all of my day. Later one of Mayu’s friends recognized me from Facebook and walked up and introduced herself to me, it was nice finding someone who actually knows people I know. Just meeting a random person in the Cafeteria I found someone who knows my friend Rie. I have to say people are really nice around here, and it has been exactly as I had thought and hoped it would be. A lot of fun, I just hope that it doesn’t wear off, but who knows, there are a few things that have been frustrating me still, no internet in my apartment, and money not flowing so well. I also don’t know what classes are going to be like so we’ll find out soon! I did open a bank account here in Japan (with Kazuya’s help), at least that part is done. I have found that in Japan everything is extremely well structured and everything is done in one way and no other way with many things—it is quite interesting and different from the US. Also I get the same questions a lot from people I meet. First, why do you study Japanese and why did you decide to come here. Then, what do you think of Japan. I realize now that these are the simplest and the most frustrating questions to answer, they take a long time to get a satisfactory answer across and now I know that when I’m back in the US I’ll keep from tossing those questions at people when it comes to English. So anyway, my day ended over a bowl of soba noodles and chicken with a new friend and I headed back to my apartment, tucked away nicely just a little 15 minute walk from campus. Tuesday I will meet my new teachers and get my class schedule. Hopefully I will buy bedding and pay my rent. Laters!

I have returned!

2009-01-05T01:59:00.003-07:00

Well, it's been a REALLY long time since I updated this place, but I am back. A lot has changed and a lot has stayed the same. I definitely have new opinions and old habitual prejudices reformed. I might even have a clearer picture of the big picture, sorry for the cliché.
I am far more predisposed to a larger multicultural environment, so views of culture and social interaction are definitely guaranteed in the foreseeable future.

Anyway I am back and thought I'd say something about it!

2006-03-20T17:27:00.000-07:00

Well this post is coming straight off of the local coffee shop's finished wood table (they have wi-fi here). So I thought that I might have a better chance at coming up with an interesting post with a difference in surroundings.

As I sit here pondering life's mysteries, sipping my White Chocolate steamer. I can't help but think that I don't have much to write about mainly because my mind is being quite fully stimulated with the pleasent welcoming atmosphere this shop airs. There is a large television on the wall tuned to a canadian channel airing some sort of cartoon but it is not a program bent toward educating children in the least actually it has rather disturbing images of cloud like looking figures doing some uncomprehendable action to a goal of unknown understanding. For the most part I pay little attention to the television as my attention is tuned mainly to the screen I'm writing in, also the temporature of my drink as to how fast I should be drinking it before it becomes rather unsavory.

Nestled safely in forest between two mountains with a river flowing through all forming a valley is this little town where this coffee shop takes up business. For as small a town as this is it is rare to even find a shop like this; gormet coffee prepared by a certified berrista, it is quite a treat for a country origin guy like me. I've lived in this little town of 900 for 15 years and before that I lived in an even smaller town. So as you can see I have quite a different viewpoint for the avarage guy who would be found on the internet. The thing is though is that a place like this can't actually exist in a town like this, there is just to little business in this town to hold up a one product type shop as this, I mean even the grocery store has a hardware store renting one side of the building and believe it or not there is a full pharmacy just next to the electrical sockets and lighebulbs asle.

Though this is kind of a cramped little town it's not to bad to retire in and is kind of a low speed low energy kind of town it is home to me, and someday I plan on retireing here. That is after I have lived everywhere else.

Signing out.

Sweetness!

2006-03-13T20:35:00.000-07:00

Cool new image I edited, what do ya think?

This is a test entry using.

2006-03-10T13:07:00.000-07:00

We only accept AMERICAN EXPRESS HERE. LOL.

Catch Phrases

2006-03-04T12:32:00.000-07:00

Ever notice them? Sometimes they are like wow! And then they are just plain dumb. Like of course "Bow-Chika-Bow-Wow" from "red vs. blue" is at the moment the most awesome catch phrase in existance it means nothing and yet means absolutely nothing at the same time (and yes I know that is a double negetive, but a double negetive always equal a positive, go do the math!).

Then there are 'stupider' catch phrases like "hex-yes", or old worn out varieties suchlike "wasup" and "peace"... Occasionally people will take old catch phrases and twist them into 'newish' phrases, take for instance "peace" which has been changed into "peace-out" wich has been resurrected numerous and countless, countless, times. Also there was a small period where wasup became "Wasabe!" but most people do not really know that 'wasabe' is a japanese hot souce. I always try to inform them of the fact that they are using a condiment as a catch phrase wich is from a third parties position quite possibly the most stupid thing anyone has ever heard and that isn't a double negetive, it's just a negetive, a really annoying repeated in its own right kind of negetive. And besides they probably shouldn't use that term unless they have at least tried wasabe souce first (I know I have!--bow-chika-bow-wow).

Oh and no Ben Alpha I am not copying your post. I actually have been inending on posting about "catch phrases" for quite some time and figured now is as good a time as any. And we might have just inadvertantly stumbled on the very best catch phrase ever. Besides your "Face!" or "your Mom" also the slightly improved "wash your face!" or the what I like to call, the super compound catch phrase: "your mom washes your face".

Oh and and lets not forget your favorite cook show catch
phrases "bam," "pow," "wow," "slam," and then the mixed types "kapow" even "kapowee". These are just lame attepts at making what would normally be a normal and well informing cooking show that would be marginally interesting to watch into a lame cheesy attept to gather watchers. But who watches the HGTV channel anyway; besides your mom of course?

In closing, I look good in red--thank you "The H Star!"

Signing out.

Shillyshally

2006-03-01T13:27:00.000-07:00

Hey I just finished a book last night, it's taken me two or three weeks to read it, I wish I hadn't procrastinated reading it. I spent four or so hours last night reading till my eyes burned but it was a great book. You know procrastination don't help anyone nor yourself. As a matter of fact it not only dosn't help but sets you back at the same time. It even makes you weaker, you have cooshy job somewhere and little work to do, but hey you have this broken down shed, or car, or porch that needs cleaned. The more you put it off the weaker you get. Reading a book for instance, it feeds and exercises your mind. If you don't read that book when you can, you can't get to the next one and work your mind even more. It's been proven that learning and working your mind keeps you healthy in both body and mind; you will live longer.

I admit I'm a bit of a procrastinator I even linger a little to long in bed at times, and I always regret it. I'm groggy twice as long when I wake up and I'm usually tired most of the day, also I go to bed way to late which makes me sleep even longer the next day--yes I am working on it. Usually when I put a post like this up it's because I need to get it through my own head.

I must also admit that though sleeping is a big cunctation (10 dollar word of the day) for me; I have a distaste of other types of it--When I make a plan to do something I do it. I do not like waiting on things to happen. I don't understand why people will say they are going to do this, but it will not be till say the day after tomorrow, or 2 - 3 hours from now. But I suppose if it was now it would be doing something along the lines of pushing off the things they are supposed to do now.

Anyway that's all I have for now and it helps me figure things out hope it helps someone else. Now I'm going to go get ready to do things I have been putting off.

Signing out ...

"foray" A sudden short attack, an initial attept.

2006-02-28T03:14:00.000-07:00

You know I almost never have anything to say on my own, but if I'm asked a question I can talk for hours, isn't that the weirdest thing? I mean, I can sit and listen to a converstation quietly for literally hours, and not say a word, but ask me a good question that I can answer and I'll just talk for ever, I'll endeavour to explain every aspect that I can see of the subject, with diligence and persistance. Don't tell me to stop or you would hurt me, unless I am really being out of line, and have no right to.

I don't want anything I explain to not be understood, if I make you have to ask a question then I have not explained it well enough. Although a method of teaching is causing you to think of the answer yourself. In one way to hold your hand, and in another to let you figure it out for your own good.

This might explain why my friends don't ask me to many questions,
:-P.., (Just kidding).

2006-02-23T03:23:00.000-07:00

I don't know but I think I need a life. Have you ever been in those places where absolutely nothing that you do or spend your precious time does not make any bit of a difference; but it dosn't matter at all? Where your entire life just seems to be gathered up together in one place and then seems to amount to absolutely nothing? Someone looks at you and says; "So, what do you do with your time?". If you had to choose to go this way or that way and reveal your opinion and taking of the meaning of life, where this person looks in wholly at your thoughts on life, and depending on the person your opinion could potentially help or hinder their moral development. Also being a teststage for you in their consideration of your own standing in their respect. Now I'm not one to care of where I stand with someone elses respect unless I already respect them, and I try to respect everyone unless they deem otherwise, so you can see where I am sitting.

When you go about your life not caring who you step on, walk over, or just pass by you many times miss out on potentially life improving scenarios. I mean think about it, do you know where you are going to end up in say 2 years, 5 years, or even 15 years? I'm going to assume I'm talking to my age group or within 5 or so years in either direction. Many of you are thinking of what job you are going to have, the next instument to purchase, or what car to buy, and even what girl/guy to flirt with, maybe who your next boss is going to be. Which is where I come in with my point, when you talk with people who will help you out a long this road, eg. girl/guy to start a relationship with, the next boss, car salesperson, relitive, avarage joe, or some random person who might want to help you out. So many people just brush off the difficult person, give them filler opinions to get the subject off of you, but I've learned that if you are just a genuine person to someone and be relitively friendly it more often than not comes back to you.

For instance what you do to someone who dosn't seem to have any barring on your path can often times come back to haunt you in good or bad ways. If you meet this girl and then decide that it wouldn't work out and brush her off she's going to brush you off too. Many times it benefits you and the other person in the future even if it seems to be miniscule in reality, it isn't always. What say the other person gets to know you and meets someone who need this, and you can help them. But if you have no relationship how is that going to help you out or the other person? Respect is gained all the way around, progression, relationship circles, and just general happyness. I mean the other day I had my car cleaned out by the most unlikeliest bunch, what can be wrong about that? Also one day a friend of mine told this family that I would be a great candidate for house sitting for the, and when I was in the middle of moving and had to sleep on a couch for 3 weeks 2 of those weeks I spent house sitting and sleeping on a big king-sized bed. And no this whole thing isn't about just being nice to eachother and equality, it's about being careful what you say to someone, don't just brush off unlikely ideas, I mean look at the hoola hoop, that was a multi-million dollar idea and what was it? It was a rediculous plastic ring--sheesh!

I don't know if what I say is going to help anyone or maybe just to help myself, but it's always better to be nice to someone and not be negitive because being negitive just puts you in a bad and depressing place. So go out and say howdy to someone you don't really want to talk to. Give them a cookie, and don't spit in it this time.

Signing out.

Ninjas vs. Batman

2006-02-18T22:42:00.000-07:00

Ninjas are cool Batman is a ninja. Though the number one difference between Batman and ninjas is that ninjas will go on wild killing rampages but Batman will just knock you out. Batman has cool cars and airplanes but ninjas can poison you and cut your head off. Batman doesn’t have a sword, ninjas don’t have billions of dollars. Anyway this was just a test for the e-mail feature I wanted to see if it really worked.

...

2006-02-18T22:29:00.000-07:00

............................hello.................................

Up and Running.

2006-01-05T00:56:00.000-07:00

Ok so after an extint of computer problems and odd behavioral difficulties, I'm back. Also during the time of computer reconstruction, I forgot my username and password to here, took me a half hour of searching and trying to remember the title, that's when a friend of mine said why don't you just use your e-mail, I hadn't immediately seen the "forgot your password" link so I overlooked it (personal problem there). Anyway thank you to well you know who you are *waves*

Speaking

Plastered Page

2005-09-08T20:00:00.000-06:00

Alright, I am here and here is where I am. I decided to try out the blog thing, lots of hype we'll see what we will see.

I was thinking of sharing some funny things, and thinking of sharing some serious things, and maybe just possibly some pictures. It remains to be seen, anyway here it is my plastered page of un-conventional information distributing.

:-P