Winter Break Day 1

I may be cheating death by writing this. My computer charger has a little rip in the cord and needs to be adjusted for about five minutes before it decides to work. Well, upon examination of the charger, it's getting really hot and I fear it will spark, set my sheets and, by extension, me on fire. If you notice a strange trail of letters, just picture me trying, with my last effort on Earth, to communicate with you - and know if they are something like "911" or "SOS", please contact someone with international connections. Maybe "SOS" is inappropriate because that may be only maritime but you get the idea.

Yesterday I went on a hike but I only kinda expected it. My friend said we should go for a hike or walk around the harbor. Assuming she was referring to the harbor-area, I ignored the "hike" part and made my way happily to Kobe. When I got to Sannomiya station, I was informed that we would be hiking up a mountain. Although she said the mountain was not that big - how much does that matter? Yes, I am aware that I am not climbing Mt. Fuji but this is still going to be a steep, breathtaking (literally) excursion! People do these things recreationally. This may have been the first plan of Shuko's (my friend) to kill me. I was not dressed properly, I wore the antithesis of hiking shoes and I am not in, what you would call, mountain hiking shape. So while doing my best impression of someone unaffected by walking straight up, she wanted to play a word game. We started with a Japanese word...the next person had to begin their word with the last letter from the previous word. Note: this game can be ended by using a word ending in "ん”(n). Words in Japanese end in this letter but no words begin with it. My strategy, although effective, was no accepted and we continued on. After half of the mountain was below us, we switched to English. I figured at this point, my brain would recover...nope. Shuko knows a lot of English words but wanted to learn new ones, so I had to think of (and then explain) about fifty new words - mostly ending in "ous". Our game continued until we got to whatever the summit was. I think she just decided to turn around and go back at some point - which was strange because if I was going to bust my ass going up - why not go all of the way?? The only reason I can fathom now is that after she killed me physically and mentally, she was attacking my spirit. Don't let any of my desperate rehashing fool you, Shuko is cute and I was happy the whole time - even if I was externally a sweating, struggling dude in a sweater vest. Oh, so once we hit the sweet, sweet ground..."why don't we go up here to look at the view?". I am convinced this suggestion was an improvisation to her plan - I didn't die, the first time...let's go back up the mountain. Great!

Since I've established my martyr act, I am also worried about my manliness. The other night, I waited outside at a train station for my friend, Chieko, to pick me up. As it turned out, she was stuck at work so I stood there for about thirty minutes before walking to her school. But, I was freezing! Granted, I was wearing a sweatshirt with no hat or gloves but it was only about 30..and then whatever effect the wind had. But still, I gave Gino such a hard time because he'd lost his ability to handle cold - is this happening to me? Is my blood thinning?

Stay tuned, tomorrow I am headed to Universal Studios Japan. I'll write back soon!Ha!! Shuko did not kill me the second time either! And my reward for not dying was the beautiful view of Kobe.

Straight up. Straight up.
This is a shrine for babies who've died before they were born...terribly sad but I still don't understand the backwards swastika thing
Pretty
Shuko is probably looking at the spot on the mountain she figures I would die.
A little higher up....new waterfall, still breathing at a normal rate
A beautiful waterfall at the base of the mountain - back when I was genki enough to take pictures and marvel at nature.

メリ クリマス

I've taken to writing entries sitting alone in the Brazilian restaurant I've come to love as one of my family. Writing and eating alone on Christmas should be reserved for psychopaths or...I don't know, Jews? I've worked on Christmas before but never having to miss a family get together. The feeling of working on Christmas was the same to me as it was in America. Something is always happening and there is a certain level of busyness but everything feels slow and mildly depressing. It's comforting to think that people at home are likely asleep for most of my Christmas. I suppose I shouldn't come off like I am the biggest Christmas freak. Like everyone else, I enjoy being with family and friends - but the actual holiday doesn't really mean all that much to me. I suppose I could say it's too commercialized...I mean, it is but that doesn't really affect me much. Let's see, it's usually more of a stress than it is a relief. Again, my family is small and not too focused on gifts, so I can't use that either. Ok, so I don't have a reason for lacking Christmas sentimentality - but I do.

All told, I miss the Christmas season and being able to see the family together, but I signed up for this so it's not a complaint. My one and only complaint of the day was that I had a four year old student say "Merry Christmas" before any co-worker (aside from Jacqui) did. I got to talk with Jeff this morning and he thought it unfair that we don't have Christmas off. Now I don't believe our school should be closed - Japan doesn't celebrate Christmas traditionally so I saw no purpose for that...but our co-workers know we celebrate Christmas, they know when it is, they know enough to make us plan Christmas themed lessons but not enough to give us the happy wishes.

It's a little unorthodox here...Christmas is everywhere. Lights are up all over town, Christmas music blasts in every store, red and green adorn all types of decoration and there are signs wishing everyone a "Happy Fun Time Xmas" (and the like) but I have not figured out why. I've asked my Japanese friends and I've asked my students and I still really don't know why they're "celebrating" a Western holiday. The reason I put quotes around 'celebrating' is that all the people do is eat cake and give their kids a present. Being a little more sociological, I don't think it varies too much from America. Most Americans don't really celebrate Christmas for its intended purposes - they do so to see their families or pretend to be Christian again for one of two days a year. I feel like this entry is bordering on cynical - and I don't mean it to be so I'll move on.

This weekend, a bunch of friends and I gathered at Mike's house for a Christmas party called "Otsukaresecretsanta". "Otsukaresamadeshita" is the Japanese way to thank someone for their hard work, so we made a play on that. Our party was the second in a line of gaikokujin parties - the first was ArigatoGiving. A lot of the same faces appeared this weekend but we also cycled in a new batch. Mike mainly organized our gift-giving activities. We did a white-elephant 100 Yen gift exchange - which turned out to be much more entertaining than the regular gift exchange. Everyone vied for and eventually lost out on (to me!!) a mysterious gift within many balls of newspaper. Once my friend, Chieko (my official card-holder/present opener) finally got to the middle, we found a little dog nose/tongue mask. It served itself well in pictures and again in school this week.

I was given my friend, Shuko, in the gift exchange. Having known her all of a week and, therefore, knowing nothing...I just went to Kobe and spent about twice the limit because I didn't want to waste time finding something she might not like but fit the spending guidelines. The Body Shop translates cross-culturally I've learned! Easily the most enjoyable part of the night were Chieko's drunken antics. She came to the party having already began her alcohol adventure and wine just about did her in. One second she was sipping on coffee, the next she was passed out kneeling and hunched over a chair. After taking obligatory photos putting a Santa costume on her, we decided to get her to a bed. The process included...propping her up with her arms on peoples' shoulders - nope, she was still passed out, couldn't walk. So I threw her over my shoulder (thank you tiny Japanese girls) and carried her to bed, put her down and effectively wrapped her in a blanket as if she was a Japanese burrito. Something must've gone wrong because as we all exited the room, she fell off the bed and onto the ground. Let me tell you, she may be a little Japanese girl but dead-lifting anyone is difficult. Finally we got her to remain stable in bed - and, miraculously, she slept through all of this and remembered none of it. She woke about an hour later and rallied. Well done Chieko! If you know anything about my Japanese life, you know how this night ended.

What's coming up - ohh...BREAK! Even though I will be doing absolutely nothing for the first half of it, it's just about the right time. A week off from the kids is going to make me much less likely to throw one out a window when I return. And, on the 2nd, Gino is coming!! Even though he's only staying for a few days, I cannot wait. It's a little stressful to try planning for Gino - he gives me absolutely no ideas about what he might want to do - basically, it'd be like me coming to visit someone. I am happy doing pretty much whatever that doesn't involve discomfort, so I'll approach it that way! It's somewhere around 75 days until Becky comes! Becky, on the other hand, has spreadsheets and things broken out by time and activity. This is much easier for me because I show up, give her a place to stay, pretend to be a tour guide and fumble through remedial Japanese to impress her. We're going to Okinawa - you may remember my plan to re-enact The Karate Kid 3 - but another fabulous reason to go to Okinawa is that there are four Taco Bells there. My only hope is that they're not closed to the public because they're on American military bases. I'll present whatever form of ID I need to to run for the border again. The only remaining issue with Becky and my parents' visits is that, even though I trust them both, they have not booked yet so I refuse to totally believe either trip. In late April, my parents say they're coming - and then Dave/Scott/Andy/Aubrey come! I am going to have to go through another strenuous ordeal to get days off for their trip but it's all worth it. Alright, my Christmas dinner is about over and I don't want to be the loser that just sits in an empty restaurant hacking away on a laptop so I'll sign out, go home and put some pictures on here for you.

Merry Christmas to everyone and I can't wait to see and talk to you!

Mom, I am wearing the bitchin tie you sent me! It amused more adults than it did children but that's ok!

Some overdue pictures

Once the teaching thing ends, professional karaoker.
Apparently there are snowman peeps!
Group shot! Left to right - Top: Shuko, Bottom: TJ, Sara, Matt, Lauren, Mike, Andrew, Atsuko, Carl - missing: Chieko - taking the picture!
Mike's face is really roughly as large as half of Andrew. Andrew and Atsuko give the Japanese peace sign picture pose.
From left to right: Chieko, Shuko and Sara - かわいい
This is my friend/initial training roommate TJ and Yumi, the lady with the unenviable task of teaching me Japanese.
Looks as if I am either petting Mike's head or hypnotizing him.
My second favorite Christmas present
My favorite Christmas present - canned cranberry sauce!
This is the notorious drunk man who travels from English school to English school in Himeji looking to speak with foreign teachers. He's really not as intimidating as the picture looks - but he did scare the crap out of me once. I don't remember if I wrote about it. If I didn't, someone remind me with a comment - this serves as a reminder and it tells me if someone is reading!
Karaoke in Hiroshima. We'll pretend they're wanting me to join them. In actuality, it was just a pose. But I'll dream.
Ai and Sakki. Ai may be the cutest person ever made.
Oh, Ai is making me eat natto - I am not sure who in readerland has tried this but it's...an acquired taste. I feel like this should be involved in an event for the Brophy: Year 2.
The spread at the ありがとうgiving!

Updates and GOBEL

First, let me announce the formation of my latest group. It's not only a group, it's a cause. This is a cause promoting international socialization...well, face to face socialization between Americans in another country. Everyone knows that the key to a successful organization is a wonderful acronym - (see USA, NASA, NAABP). I have charged myself with the responsibility of finding a dynamic and catchy acronym to gain supporters. Before I unveil my group name (note, at this point I really have nothing in mind), I must explain our mission statement and background.

Aside from being one of my best friends, Eric Gobel serves the world in many different capacities - including but not limited to: friend, son, surrogate son, caveman, neuroscientist, unrelenting sports fan and player, guy who has his shirt off too much, straight man that drinks with his pinky waving proudly, Backer's native son and brother to Monterrey Ralph. For all of his accomplishments and enviable traits, Northwestern University has decided that his work researching whatever he researches isn't worth enough to able to afford trips to see friends in far off lands. I am not sure I know anyone that would be here faster if he could than Gobel and it's because of that, I want to utilize all my possible avenues to have him accompany Andy, Aubrey, Dave and Scott on their journey to the Land of the Rising Sun in May.

Please stay tuned for updates of the recently created group - GOBEL (Give One Blogger Eric's Love)

In visitation news- Gino will be here in 22 days!! First and foremost, I have to think of creature comforts I miss from America that he can randomly bring to Japan. I was gonna say "smuggle" but I don't know who's reading - but now I just said it so I'll likely be writing my next entry from white collar Japanese prison. Did R-Blag just get arrested? Cool, scandal. We don't have that in Japan. You crazy fraudulent Americans. Anyways, if it's possible to bring Qdoba to Japan, I'll look forward to that almost as much as seeing Gino. Becky visits in 89 days! We are planning a trip to Okinawa - I am not sure how aware she is that I will look to entirely reenact Karate Kid 3 and spend no time doing anything else. One of the reasons I bring this up is because I took two days off and attached them to a weekend to make the trip possible. We are encouraged to take our days off during 'working days'. 'Working days' are days where no group lessons are scheduled and, thus, make shuffling lessons around much easier. Well, Becky is not coming during 'working days', so I must do additional work. After writing two letters requesting my two days to my manager and her boss, I was finally sent along to my training staff and they gave me the ok. From there, I've had to both tell and write a formal letter (of apology actually) to students - asking if it's possible to change our lesson dates. First, this has occurred four months before the days I want off. While I understand from the students' points of view, the whole rescheduling process seems needlessly complicated. But I am not here to rock the boat so I did what was asked - just quite the process.

Let's see- how about a teaching update. For the most part, things just carry right along and I can't even explain how quickly weeks go for me. But two weeks ago was Sankanbi or parent observations. People freaked out about these things. I suppose I can sympathize but the way I looked at it - the parents didn't really know what I was teaching anyways so they were learning alongside their children. My kids learn in class and that's what parents want to see - in some cases, the students learn better than their parents and that makes moms happy. More than anything, I learned that is much more critical to show you care about the kids than plan the perfect lesson. I'll be the first person to tell you that I don't always get through what I want in every class but I feel like my purpose here to give the kids exposure to American pronunciation. So I spend more time focusing on that than I've seen other teachers do - right or wrong. Parents were happy with this - at least according to my feedback, so those weeks weren't too bad. Crazy kids calmed down with parents in the room. Calm kids got really nervous and weird kids either became normal or a bit - or their weirdness was explained after seeing where they've come from.

I guess I missed Thanksgiving. Well I was aware it was existing halfway around the world but I trudged through another workday and barely thought about it. If it wasn't for Becky's gobbling turkey card, I would've not even acknowledged the day. Over the weekend after Thanksgiving, Mike planned a potluck of sorts dinner at his place. Most everyone made something for the dinner. Those who didn't, bought some food. In the same way I opted for the only non-dancing part of my 8th grade class's production of "West Side Story" - I decided to be the only person to contribute equally but by doing what I wanted. In this case, I supplied dishes and plasticware. Although Mike made a mockery of cranberry sauce (by using the wonderful canned sauce and mixing it with other crap - thereby creating something that did not resemble an aluminum can at all), everything was great. There was meat (not turkey), mashed potatoes, pasta, vegetables and a few Japanese dishes. Knowing my extreme distaste for natto (fermented soy beans, I think...they smell terrible and taste like slime and mini edamame) - Ai brought some to make me eat. I am apparently powerless against 4'9" constantly happy Japanese girls. Much in the same way I reacted after first trying natto (thanks to David for making me suffer before I came to Japan), I gagged three times and had to swallow hard to avoid vomiting with tears welling up.

What else? Oh, I went to Hiroshima this weekend. I didn't go to any of the historical sites - although I suppose it would've been the best time to not feel guilty - right during the Pearl Harbor anniversary. What I saw of the city was pretty standard - big, lots of lights, lots of Japanese people. They do have a really nice river running through the city center. But it was Susan's birthday. I met a few friends there and we gathered for a night of "Mexican" food and karaoke. I remarked during this weekend that I found it really strange that I've met so many people in Japan but my best friends remain the ones I met within my first 12 hours. I'm sure part of it was that we have a big life changing situation in common but they are all awesome and fun people so I am glad for that. Well, I need to get some sleep because a two hour Japanese lesson is not easy in the morning on little sleep. Pictures next time because the site isn't uploading today I guess.

Halloween-mon

I made a promise to Auntie Frizz before I left that I would look after and put her beanie and rasta dread wig to use. Proudly, I've kept my word and her hat/wig combo has become an international symbol of greatness! My friend, Mike, and I decided to collaborate on our Halloween costume this year. You see, Himeji is the owner of Japan's most worthless job (as voted on by people I don't know on a site and poll I don't know) - and that is a crossing guard. While I can advocate the usage of crossing guards on some streets in Himeji, we have guards manning streets where nary a bicyclist travels within a four hour period. But, rest assured, when that bike comes down the street, Mr. Crossing Guard snaps into action - lighted baton in hand and he stops the imaginary traffic so the bicyclist can proceed undeterred. The picture is a bit outdated on this link but so is the job I guess.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.quirkyjapan.or.tv/images/useless2.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.quirkyjapan.or.tv/useless.htm&usg=__uTYQQMVy6_evpOzouubZMeqGpEg=&h=167&w=209&sz=34&hl=en&start=12&sig2=GxDXl0goII4QpPqVY30Jwg&um=1&tbnid=F777XggHPi_byM:&tbnh=85&tbnw=106&ei=fIUlSbnYH4K0kAXg_KQe&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dhimeji%2Bcrossing%2Bguards%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN

Mike and I managed to find most the necessary clothes and props to become an unofficial crossing guard at a Workman shop in the burbs. What we couldn't find were hats. I offered my blond wig to Mike - the very same one that served me well as cracked out Lindsay Lohan last year. He declined and went as a straight-laced caucasian enforcer. I opted for the rasta wig.

Before heading out to the Gaijin bars for the evening, we made a pit stop at the bank. While I waited for the others to get their cash, I saw one of my Japanese teachers walking down the arcade on her phone. I was geared up - I only had one choice...clear the path from any transportation harm that could come her way. Stepping out near her and waving her along only prompted her to move away from me and pretend I didn't exist. Mind you, all she saw was some idiot dressed in a blue jumpsuit with a rasta wig. Clearly she didn't know it was so I yelled, "Hiroko-sensei!!!!" - I really wish I had a camera ready for her reaction. The Japanese know Halloween and what it's all about but it's not to the point where they expect ridiculousness. She got it - her jaw practically hit the floor and she couldn't say anything. It turned out this would be the highlight of my evening.

The next few hours were spent drinking...a lot. At random breaks from drinking, Mike and I would hit the streets and help the helpless cross the dangerous car-less avenues. We were not thanked - but it's a thankless job that someone has to man while the actual guards don't start for another night. Some people recognized and appreciated the costume right away. Some people remained confused, even after an explanation. I was discussing Halloween costumes with friends beforehand and I've come to realize that I enjoy having something only a few people get. Otherwise, I feel it's boring. I'm out to entertain myself and people like me (see Dead Dale).

Before the night got hazy, our group meandered between two bars and a club. At some point, I was coerced into drinking something called a "mind eraser". That should tell you enough. After rotating through bars and clubs, I excused myself to throw up. Following that vomit session, another came soon after it in a park nearby. Let me say one thing about my drunken antics - I am the most considerate and articulate drunk. I formally excuse myself and declare my intentions clearly and succinctly. I leave the area people congregate and I don't make a lot of noise. I return to the group and don't make a dramatic show. The night ended at a club I'd never seen before and haven't seen since. I walked in and immediately knew I hated it, sat outside for ten minutes and walked home. Granted, I wasn't 100% sure which direction I lived - so I picked one and committed. Thankfully it was correct and I made it to bed around 330.

Five and a half hours of sleep wasn't enough time to counteract the alcohol in my system (Mike's either - I'd find out later). My Saturdays consist of eight lessons normally but this was a special day and I only had five - but two of them were in my first two hours, 10 and 11am. Even worse was that the first class was a floor lesson - no tables, young boy. We'll put it this way - I was spinning every time I stood up and felt miserable. We did some coloring and other assorted grounded activities. This day was not shaping up to be happy. My 11:00 was going better because I was able to teach while sitting in a chair and not making my stomach more and more pissed off at me with every motion.

But then....

With about ten minutes left in the lesson, I felt the saliva in the back of my mouth. Ohhhh, we know what comes next. I ran out of the room and downstairs...threw up four times, quickly gathered myself and returned to finish the lesson. That's a puke and rally. My hangover was conquered and the little dude learned English - in a really good lesson actually (well, aside from the three minute 'teacher gotta expel the demons' hiatus). All in all, it was a successful Halloween. Here are some pictures:

Sword fight.
After my baton was broken...noooo!!!!!!!
Tell me that's not the creepiest costume ever - I have zero idea what it is.
Sw
Crossing guard, Spiderman and I think Megumi is a witch but one can never be sure.
Sitcom coming soon....

What's that word for what the written piece is called??

So I guess there is a new president-elect. If you think I'll go off about how suddenly proud I am to be an American, you probably don't know me very well. While I do believe that Obama's victory is good for America socially, I have no idea what it means beyond that. Unexpectedly, on the day he was elected, a lot of my students' parents commented on it. Well, they mostly just said "Obama, president America." I've discovered in the past few weeks that my students know who Obama is but I don't think they know of him as anything more than a popular American who now leads the country. Well, I'd put myself in that category if I thought about it. Although I was aware I'd get the reaction I ultimately got, I decided one day to explain the electoral process to one of the my adult students. She was nothing short of totally confounded. The predictable question came, "So, the person with more votes could lose?"

People in Obama, Japan were pretty happy - http://jp.youtube.com/results?search_query=obama%2C+japan&search_type=&aq=f

Sunday night I took a nine hour bus ride to Tokyo to visit my friend, Merrily. As you may recall, this was my second bus trip up to Tokyo. This one was met with a few more challenges. The first trip was during the summer so I needed air conditioning nailing me or I'd sweat myself to death. Other than that, the trip was painless. Three factors were making this nightmarish. First, I was in an aisle seat. I hate aisle seats in airplanes and I have discovered that I also hate them on buses. I don't fall asleep sitting straight up - and when there is a bus of pitch black silence, there is nothing else to but sleep or get pissed that you can't sleep. Another factor was that I had a neighbor on this ride. On the first Tokyo run, I was in a solo seat and I could contort myself to a relatively comfortable position. My neighbor was not terrible but he did smoke and smelled as such. He also tended to get a little close to sleeping on my shoulder. From what Mom tells me, I slept on some girl's shoulder on an airplane when I was a young chap. So I know it's the pot calling the kettle black but it was creepy. Don't people have some kind of internal monitor for these things? "Um, I am getting close to making a stranger relationship into something with a little more meaning." The last and worst of the second bus additions was a digital clock at the front of the bus. We left at 11:30pm and were scheduled to arrive near 9:00am. There aren't many more disheartening things than sleeping during a long trip and waking up to find that only 20 minutes had passed. I went through that cycle about six times on this ride. All in all, it ended up well...I made it to Shinjuku a little early and unlike the first trip, I didn't feel like death warmed over because of the summer heat.

After hanging out in Merr's hotel for a while, we went to Tsukiji for sushi - this is one of the must go-to's in Japan for me. Tsukiji is the area where fish is auctioned off each morning so the places nearest to the market have the freshest fish - it's truly amazing. The place Merr and I went to was kaitan sushi (conveyor belt style) - this is only really acceptable in two situations...you are in Tsukiji, Japan and you are trying to set a record for number of plates eaten. Amongst other things, I decided to try this grey/green paste stuff in a roll. Before taking the challenge, I asked the chef what it was - "kanimiso" or "crab brains." After some research, I learned that it was just a concoction of internal crab organs and a little brain. Like most things like this, it's considered something of a delicacy. And, like of most of those things, I don't get it. It tasted like rotting fish and cement. Either way, I tried. With everything I try in Japan - there is one constant...amused locals so while it tasted nasty, I did get sympathy and props for trying from market patrons.

Tsukiji was really my only must-do in Tokyo. The rest of the day, I made suggestions of places we should check out- and we did. Merr's parents met up with us and we explored Shibuya, Shinjuku and Harajuku before having dinner on the 45th floor of Merr's hotel, looking out over Tokyo - absolutely breathtaking. Once the night came, it was time to head back to Himeji. It was a long trip for only a day but it was worth it. On the way home, I stopped at McDonald's near my apartment. While you could argue there is never really a reason to go to McDonald's, I learned that when there is a weird looking foreigner (American) in McDonald's at 1:30am, you should just go home. My second chance came when he asked if I spoke English. Dammit, I do and told him so. He latched on and had me immersed in a conversation I wanted no part of for about 15 minutes before I even got to order. Telling me his life story seemed to be on his agenda. Finally we made it to the present where he asked if I knew any cheap hotels in Himeji. I apologized because I didn't - and wouldn't you know it, he asked to crash on my floor. Let's be clear - I really enjoy helping people but there was absolutely no way this was happening. I expressed my skepticism and countered with, "hey, it's alright man - do you know where I can get a girl for the night?" Well, apparently I now look like a sleaze or a pimp. Do these things happen to other people or am I the only person who seems surprised all of the time?

I saw online that Boyz II Men is coming to Kobe on 12/22!! The first thought that crossed my mind was Dave doing the dance for the "Song for Mama" and I was mentally on board to see the Philly Four - until the price appeared - 50,000 Yen or about $500. That dampened my spirits and I wondered what I'd have to get to justify a $500 ticket. Even though I have no desire for it, the minimum would be a lap dance. I randomly asked my friend, Lianne, the same question and she responded with the same exact answer. This means, a lap dance plus concert is the standard expected from such a lofty ticket price.

Being here so long has its ups and downs when it comes to language. I take about ten Japanese language lessons a month and they are paying off pretty well. The language isn't terribly complicated in structure but there are a ton of ways to the same thing depending on the level of politeness. I figure if I learn the most polite form - things can be altered. Also, there are particles....a lot of particles. The sentence "I went on the bullet train from Tokyo to Osaka and the train from Osaka to Himeji and came home at 3am this morning" would be "Watashi wa shinkansen de Tokyo kara Osaka made to denshu de Osaka kara Himeji made ite asamoi san ji ni kaerimashita." Hmm, maybe the amount isn't too different from English but it seems like it. Ah well, it's coming along and I hope to be able to take a low level fluency test in a few months. On the flipside of that coin, I am forgetting English. It's really astounding how much you rely on constant practice. Even though a majority of my day is speaking and hearing English, my level is dwindling. The English I use in school is always simplified and the English I hear is Engrish - and that turns my English into Engrish at times. I've talked about this with a few friends here and we're all going through the same thing. We forget easy words and catch ourselves omitting articles and things a lot because it's easier to stick with words people need to know in order to communicate. I'll share Susan's story - paraphrased, "I was talking to my dad and I was describing the spice level of something and said 'it has two of those, you know, hollow, chili peppers?' 'Hollow chili peppers?' 'Yeah, you know....pictures of them and they look hollow...I can't think of the word.' 'You mean outlines?' 'Yeah!!! Outlines of chili peppers'."

Despite all that, I am having a great time teaching and a great time in Japan. The time is coming soon to decide whether to extend the contract and it looks like I will...for six months to start. I would like to be emergency teacher - which means simply that I would travel around to all of our schools in Japan and fill in where needed on a temporary basis. It would be a move up in the company and give me the chance to experience more of the country. The other possibility is becoming a trainer but that depends more on the availability of a position. Even if I don't get those chances, I can always stay in Himeji - assuming I am offered an extension. Since my manager volunteered to write me a recommendation, that shouldn't be an issue. If I end up getting the emergency teacher or trainer position, I'd like to move the contract a week or two so I can come home for a bit before starting. We'll see....Oh, and as I uploaded pictures I was reminded to write about Halloween and November 1st.


From the "Romantic Train Ride" in Arashiyama - on the outskirts of Kyoto.
Kyoto - at the very beginning of leaf color changing season
Karaoke madness....eyes closed = passion
I did not kill this child
Tokyo from an observation deck
Can't hide the pain
Kanimiso - crab brains
The menu from Outback in Osaka - Gobel, if you ever read this - I went there for you.
Haha, Lahu-chi's. It took some persuading to get to write on the board long enough to get the picture.

Some dos and don'ts

I received some inspiration from my friend, Sara, for this entry. There are a good number of people that have access to this blog- a lot are coming to visit and some live in Japan. So I'll ask those coming to Japan to please read and keep some of this in mind and if anyone would have anything to add that would also be great. These are little things to keep in mind about Japan so that you aren't surprised, pissed, overwhelmed or confused.

Japan is not America. There are a lot of similarities and the daily life vaguely resembles Western life but there are some minor and some major differences. People here do not generally speak English. While a lot of signs include English - the amount people speak is very limited. Granted, they speak more English than Americans speak Japanese. One helpful thing is that a lot of words are borrowed from English so if you pronounce certain things with more vowel sounds and change L's to R's, you might be able to get your point across. Less is always more - if you can ask in Japanese, use as few words as possible because the more words you use, the more likely you are to confuse people. I know this is an over-blown generalization now but the shoe fits...being louder doesn't make people understand any better. Imagine if I yelled, "Doko eki ni desuka?" at you...chances are I could yell this until I was hoarse and you'd have no idea that I asked where the train station is.

You will definitely know when you have to take your shoes off. This is necessary when entering a home and there are a few places of business (schools, restaurants) that ask you to remove your shoes. You'll see steps or shelves with a bunch of shoes. I've never been caught off guard so I don't think it's that tough.

In the train station, you buy tickets from little machines. I think most of them have an English language setting. Once you buy the ticket, you take it to the gate and put it in the machine and walk through and grab the ticket on the other side. If you wait too long, the ticket will get sucked back into the machine and you'll have to talk to someone and who knows how that will end up. Once you've arrived at your destination you put the ticket in the machine again and this time the machine takes the ticket and you're done. If you've done something wrong, little doors will close and you have to try communicating with the train station workers. Overall, it's pretty intuitive but some people have issues. People wait lines by arrows for the trains because that's where they stop and people (de)board.

On the train, you shouldn't talk on your phone. It won't matter much because people visiting won't have them but people don't talk on their phones on trains. Also, if the train is any bit crowded and you have a backpack, take it off and place it between your legs to make more room.

Most places are cash-only. Some places take credit cards - department stores, American shops but generally everything is cash-based.

There is no tipping in Japan. It's mainly because they are being paid for their work. That's a point of pride and tipping is considered somewhat rude - this includes waiters, taxi drivers, barbers, etc.

In restaurants most people drink water. Usually it comes in very small glasses. You can always ask for refills or some places give you a pitcher. Soft drinks are available but they are expensive and there are no free refills - same goes with coffee (except Mister Donut). The portions are smaller than you think. If you want to eat traditional Japanese foods - you should learn to love noodles and rice. Generally the food is not very salty and, therefore, may taste a little bland to you. Not everything is sushi - as a matter of fact, it's not as pervasive as you'd think. It's definitely more accepted here as normal than America but it's not everywhere...I have a good number of students who don't like fish - that shocked me. They do ALL eat rice and miso soup.

Drinking alcohol in public is perfectly acceptable. But a caveat to that is that drinking anything while walking or wandering around stores or whatever is considered rude. People do it but it's frowned upon and you may get dirty looks. It's the same but a little worse with eating. Usually if you are out of peoples' way and standing still against a wall or something, eating and drinking is fine.

You get a bag for almost everything.

Garbage cans in public are really difficult to find. Normally there garbage cans near grocery stores and convenience stores but I am not sure where else with regularity.

Most people wait for the lights to cross streets. Some people cross but most of the time, there is a gathering of people waiting for lights.

Oh, and there are money trays that you put money onto. Handing money to people kinda takes them off guard.

That's all I can think of right now - I'll try taking some notes while I'm out to see if I can think of other things.


Here are some random pictures:
Two new Japanese friends - Yuka and her husband
Aya and Meredith. Two pictures were being taken and they looked at the other camera. Meredith is from Port Hadlock, WA!!
Mike and I looking American - notice the Budweiser and Snickers
Himeji Crossing Guard - the inspiration for our Halloween costume
Suspended chopsticks, of course

Ohhhhh Hanshin Tigers

One of the goals before leaving was to attend a Japanese baseball game. I never knew the wonders until I saw that insufferable Anthony Bourdain - even despite his presence, I thought the game look captivating. As soon as I got here, I realized that tickets would be next to impossible to come by because their fans are a little bit crazy and every game sells out. Thankfully I work for a school that caters to wealthier kids, with wealthier parents. My friend and roommate from training, TJ, sent me a message and asked if I wanted to go to a game. Quicker than Jamie Lynn Spears got preg-o again, I told him I would love to attend. So I was going to the final home regular season game for the Hanshin Tigers against the Hiroshima Carp. I met TJ, Sara and two of their Japanese teacher friends and we made our way from Kobe to Koshien (15 minute local train). For those who've been to both, Wrigley and Fenway just sorta come out of nowhere..."oh, there's a stadium." After stepping out of the train station, I knew we were close - after all there were thousands of people dressed in jerseys and awesome pants (see below) but I had no idea where the park was. We walked seemingly closer and closer and people kept funneling in towards one place but I was still a bit confused. A little bit ahead and above us were a few highways and a set of train tracks that were concrete over a green base. And behind the highways/train tracks, there was the stadium. It couldn't have been more than fifty feet tall and camouflaged perfectly because the outside was the same green as the highway and we arrived at dusk on a rainy night.

After stopping at the souvenir shop, we were ready to go inside. The inside of the stadium is hard to describe. The concession area was terribly narrow and they had ramps leading into the gates. People were crammed like sardines - some waiting in long long lines for food, some in the designated smoking area (I wish I had a picture of this - it was more ridiculous than smoking rooms at airports), women waiting in winding lines or men walking into the barely-covered urinal rooms. It's not everyday you go to a stadium and dudes are just peeing while people walk behind them. Finally we headed to our seats. The park looks like a glorified minor league park - except the capacity was over 50,000. Rain was coming down softly but steadily but no one could care less. That, in itself, is surprising because the Japanese usually freak out when there's rain - they run everywhere with umbrellas like the next great typhoon is nearing. But at the baseball game, it's just part of the event I guess. One thing I noticed right away was that the covered seats in the park (basically between home/first and home/third) were maybe 2/3 full and the uncovered seats were almost totally occupied. I know in America - if there are open seats near the field, we jump on those lickity split...especially if they're covered and it's raining but not here. I am not sure if it's an issue of honoring the ticket or if it's because the main cheering sections were located in the outfield - I would buy either reason as valid.

Before I knew what happened, the game started. There was no national anthem. There really isn't much stadium-created pageantry and the PA guy was very muted when he announced the first batter. After Hanshin got out of the top of the first, the cheering started and it did not quit until the end of the Hanshin half-inning. We were given these plastic little Fred Flinstone bat things and you bang them together like a boom stick. I find this annoying in America because it's a passing fancy that distracts people into paying attention - like "the wave". In Japan, I was OK with it and participated fully because....everyone does. There is singing, rhythmic bat banging, cheering and chanting and it's non-stop. Each hitter has his own songs and all of the fans know and sing them. I worried about this beforehand because I didn't want to be given dirty looks but once you've heard one, they're pretty much all the same. One of the standards they use was a song that centered around the phrase "Ka-toe-bah-say (player's name)" - "katobase" means essentially "get a hit." The game continued in this pattern until the middle of the 7th - it was balloon time. During the top of the inning, everyone began blowing up their penis looking balloons. So we waited and waited while the American pitching for the Tigers allowed a run and made the inning excruciatingly long. Finally it was time, the Hanshin Tigers fight song started, most people sang...my friends and I mumbled until the "Oh-oh-oh-oh Hanshin Tigers....fure fure fure fure" part and then people let the balloons go. It creates a really cool look with a bunch of multi-colored penis balloons flying up and then coming down. I only wish I performed better. My balloons must have had a problem with premature ejaculation because they went up and then right down. I was left disappointed and unfulfilled, but the spectacle was pretty cool. So, the Tigers got a 2-run homer in the bottom of the 8th by their superstar, Kanemoto, and won 5-3. All in all, just a once in a lifetime event and I can't wait to get back next season. So I've included some photos but before I stop the writing, let me tell you about the greatest curse I've ever heard of:

In 1985, much to Japanese people's surprise, the Hanshin Tigers faced the Seibu Lions and took their first and only victory in the Japan Series, largely due to star slugger Randy Bass, a gaijin (foreigner) player for the team.

The rabid fan base went wild, and a riotous celebration gathered at Ebisubashi Bridge in Dotonbori, Osaka. There, an assemblage of supporters yelled the players names, and with every name a fan resembling a member of the victorious team leapt from the bridge into the waiting canal. However, lacking someone to imitate MVP Randy Bass, the rabid crowd seized a Colonel Sanders (like Bass, the Colonel had a beard and was not Japanese) plastic statue from a nearby KFC and tossed it off the bridge as an effigy.

This impulsive maneuver was to cost the team greatly, beginning the Curse of the Colonel. Urban legend has it that the Tigers will not win the championship again until the statue is recovered. Also at KFC restaurants in the Kansai region, the Colonel is either chained to the stores or brought inside.



Yes, congratulation. But only one.
Flying Phalli
TJ, Sara and the two Japanese teachers - whose names I've forgotten...sorry.
A look across the field where the right field stands prepared to launch
At their full power
Crazy 1980s vendors - Donata biiru wa desuka?
View from our seats- there was an unexplained entrance to the field in the middle of the stands.
TJ - but, more importantly, the pants I must find.
Hanshin Tigers Taxi