Well, here I am at Starbucks again. I miss americanos with cremera. I think they have never actually had a good cup of coffee served in this country. Poor bastards, and poor me. Just finished two hours of Kanji practice and boy is my head aching. I hate Japanese. Why didn't I move to Spain??? I went out last night, and got home about six this morning. It was OK. Unfortunately I am stuck on the subway for transport, and so I can either be home by midnight, or by six, and nothing in between. I danced, I drank, and I looked at girls. Then I had curry, walked a million miles, and went to bed.
I also went to Nagoya Castle yesterday. Great exhibit, but the walls seem to be in poor shape. They have trees growing out of them, and that can not be good for them! The castle was built in 1602 at the behest of Tokugawa Ieyasu and served as a regional power center for the bakufu. Then the US bombed the shit out of it in WWII and it was rebuilt in 1959. They are still trying to raise the funds to finish the job. I hope they do! I am excited to see another local castle as well. It is the only privately owned castle left in Japan, and it remains in the possession of the family that built it-probably around 1600 or so I would guess. Cool, huh? Tomorrow, work… more kid’s classes. Big fun in the city baby, big fun. CYA
Friday, November 25, 2005
Sunday, November 20, 2005
NOVA Sucks!
Hello all! I am doing fine here in ra ra land. Turns out I am a natural teacher-which means I am having a dickens of a time making myself work within the botched crap that Nova passes for lesson plans. As far as Nova is concerned I am no more a teacher than a plumber. Of course I, being the ass that I am, refer to my students as customers and spend every minute just trying not to flee. I like the customers, but I feel bad they are getting ripped off by this crap!
Anyway, a funny thing happened at the bank. The teller knew a little English, and so I was happy as hell trying to get my bank account started. We make simple small talk, and it turns out she studied in junior high-like six years ago or more, and she can still make a decent conversation! So, I tell her I am a Nova teacher, but that I am a crappy teacher. She says, you’re a sweet teacher, and promptly tells me she wants to take lessons at Nova. I almost cried it was so cute, and died because I am terrified I made a new customer for that devil! Really, she just wanted to hang out with little old me, and flattered as I was-she really was cute in a “I wear too much make-up” way, I had to flee, and quickly before I changed my mind. I have never seen a Japanese women act in such a forward fashion; it was refreshing! Any deviation from the norm here is a major step, and I try to encourage it whenever I see it.
Anyway, my work is OK. It is an hour from my pad-yes, I commute an hour for my crappy job, and I must walk, take a subway, a train, and walk again to make it there. The Japanese staff treats us like we are idiots, and some of us really are. I myself, have become resigned to a year of drudgery punctuated by bouts of drunken windmill chasing. This is my life, such as it is.
An interesting side note here: I met a girl, Tiffany, at my initial Nova interview in Seattle, and it turned out we were going to Nagoya together! We shared a flight here, the same hotel (not room) in Osaka, the same train to Nagoya, the same orientation and training class (yes, there were several), and now, guess what? We work in the same branch two days a week. How friggin weird is that?
OK, so did everyone figure out that my photos were of the pad I live in? Well if you didn’t you know now. Happy?
Anyway, a funny thing happened at the bank. The teller knew a little English, and so I was happy as hell trying to get my bank account started. We make simple small talk, and it turns out she studied in junior high-like six years ago or more, and she can still make a decent conversation! So, I tell her I am a Nova teacher, but that I am a crappy teacher. She says, you’re a sweet teacher, and promptly tells me she wants to take lessons at Nova. I almost cried it was so cute, and died because I am terrified I made a new customer for that devil! Really, she just wanted to hang out with little old me, and flattered as I was-she really was cute in a “I wear too much make-up” way, I had to flee, and quickly before I changed my mind. I have never seen a Japanese women act in such a forward fashion; it was refreshing! Any deviation from the norm here is a major step, and I try to encourage it whenever I see it.
Anyway, my work is OK. It is an hour from my pad-yes, I commute an hour for my crappy job, and I must walk, take a subway, a train, and walk again to make it there. The Japanese staff treats us like we are idiots, and some of us really are. I myself, have become resigned to a year of drudgery punctuated by bouts of drunken windmill chasing. This is my life, such as it is.
An interesting side note here: I met a girl, Tiffany, at my initial Nova interview in Seattle, and it turned out we were going to Nagoya together! We shared a flight here, the same hotel (not room) in Osaka, the same train to Nagoya, the same orientation and training class (yes, there were several), and now, guess what? We work in the same branch two days a week. How friggin weird is that?
OK, so did everyone figure out that my photos were of the pad I live in? Well if you didn’t you know now. Happy?
Friday, November 18, 2005
Friday, November 11, 2005
Nagoya seems nice!
My favorite part of flying has always been take offs and landings. Of course, did you ever hear someone tell you they loved to sit for hours doing nothing? Of course I like take offs and landings, that is the only time anything happens-unless you are like me and lucky about seats. I always seem to end up near an attractive woman. Case in point; the time I almost got off the plane in Sacramento. I was in fact on the way to Seattle, but I nearly followed a blonde home for the hell of it. The last time I flew, I sat between an Asian and a blonde. There is no better place to be that between two women, but there can also be no worse place too. I was happy.
How long has it been since I was happy? I think I was unhappy for a long time in my life, and it occurs to me today that it is no longer true. I am happy. I am free of all attachments, and all responsibilities. The Marine Corps has no say on me, I have no woman, and no kids either. I am a stranger in a not-so-strange land, a land I fought to return to. I don’t speak the language well, but I am not sad about that. I don’t really want to talk to anyone anyway. I think I just want to be alone for a while. Of course, I cant help but to look at all the pretty girls going by, but that is endemic to my half of the species, and I am unable to do much about it.
So here I am, in Japan. I have to ask myself; now what? The truth is I don’t know. As the honorable Mr Diamond said, “being lost is worth the thrill of coming home,” and I have to believe that is true. I don’t mean home as in Puyallup, but as in that place inside that says you belong. I am still seeking something I have never found, and I don’t know what it is. I think the effort I have expended in seeking it will be rewarded someday. Otherwise, I could not continue, and as I said, I am happy here, now. Not content, but happy.
So anyway, here I am in Japan. I love my apartment, but my roommates are sketch. I figured both would be, so this is an improvement on my expectations. Tomorrow my stuff arrives, and I will get settled in for the long haul. As of right now, job unseen, I think I can do two years right where I am very easily. I just need to buy a bike to cut down on my commute. More to come about everything, and nothing at all.
How long has it been since I was happy? I think I was unhappy for a long time in my life, and it occurs to me today that it is no longer true. I am happy. I am free of all attachments, and all responsibilities. The Marine Corps has no say on me, I have no woman, and no kids either. I am a stranger in a not-so-strange land, a land I fought to return to. I don’t speak the language well, but I am not sad about that. I don’t really want to talk to anyone anyway. I think I just want to be alone for a while. Of course, I cant help but to look at all the pretty girls going by, but that is endemic to my half of the species, and I am unable to do much about it.
So here I am, in Japan. I have to ask myself; now what? The truth is I don’t know. As the honorable Mr Diamond said, “being lost is worth the thrill of coming home,” and I have to believe that is true. I don’t mean home as in Puyallup, but as in that place inside that says you belong. I am still seeking something I have never found, and I don’t know what it is. I think the effort I have expended in seeking it will be rewarded someday. Otherwise, I could not continue, and as I said, I am happy here, now. Not content, but happy.
So anyway, here I am in Japan. I love my apartment, but my roommates are sketch. I figured both would be, so this is an improvement on my expectations. Tomorrow my stuff arrives, and I will get settled in for the long haul. As of right now, job unseen, I think I can do two years right where I am very easily. I just need to buy a bike to cut down on my commute. More to come about everything, and nothing at all.
I have arrived in Osaka!
Osaka, Japan Ilcuore Hotel room 508
I arrived in Japan last night after a 11.5 hour flight. Incidentally, I have decided that my next life goal is to bang a JAL flight attendant. First meal was Ramen with kimchi, it was really good. For breakfast today I think I will be getting some onigiri, and then head out to meet the group to be taken to my new accomadations in Nagoya. This means a train ride. Trains in Japan are always fun. Wish me luck with my Australian and British roomates. They moved in last week, and have probably already established all the good spots in the house. I hope they are cool; I dont want to have to be an asshole. Of course I will if needed. Take care,
R~R
I arrived in Japan last night after a 11.5 hour flight. Incidentally, I have decided that my next life goal is to bang a JAL flight attendant. First meal was Ramen with kimchi, it was really good. For breakfast today I think I will be getting some onigiri, and then head out to meet the group to be taken to my new accomadations in Nagoya. This means a train ride. Trains in Japan are always fun. Wish me luck with my Australian and British roomates. They moved in last week, and have probably already established all the good spots in the house. I hope they are cool; I dont want to have to be an asshole. Of course I will if needed. Take care,
R~R
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