More chillin at home...

So, I am getting used to the women here; I no longer am getting fight or flight reflexes from them at least. The food portions here are like three times the size of Japan, and I have found massive discounts in electronics here. I got a 2 gb mini SD card for 20 dollars. They cost 150 in Japan right now. Granted, it is a no name brand, and it did have a mail in rebate of 20 dollars, but I wasn't even looking for one, it was just so cheap I snapped it up anyway. WHOO HOO! Now all I need is those silencing headphones, and I am good on the train rides back "home."

Much as I love Japan, I am looking forward to getting home, back to the states, and in particular back to the greater Seattle area. Folks around my parents house can be annoyingly "down home" in tastes, interests, knowledge, but they are nice, and I can talk to them without difficulty. This is good. Also, I seem to be doing OK with the girls here, I ain't get'n none, but I think I could if I set my mind to it. Unfortunately, I dont have a car, and that is really harshing my gig here. I have seen a lot of folks though, and that is good, right?

History Channel

Here are some thoughts on returning. Americans really are HUGE. I am not that big. This is ODD. Also, Americans do, in fact, wear short sleeve shirts in winter. I thought it was odd when I was told to put a long sleeve shirt on in Japan, and now I realize that it is acceptable here, and unacceptable in Japan. Odd, eh? Worse yet, I found a significant minority of women here attractive. It is a noticeably smaller number than Japan. Granted, when Americans look good, they look real good, but most of these women, so far, have been far below par. I am concerned. What ever shall I do? Otherwise, things are great here, family is good, and I have not seen anyone else so far. Odd, but I think that most of my friends here are gone. That means, that I have no friends in Japan, and none here as well. I guess I am a son of a bitch. Oh well, Ill buy a cat.

Vietnam!

Not the war silly, the apartment I had nabe (uh, soup, but better!) at tonight. Some very interesting Vietnamese people I met while out and about with Atsushi in Kanayama. Unlike Japanese, these people were full on, "hey whats up?!" We all got along well, and exchanged email addresses, and time passed. Today we met up again, at their apartment. It is owned by their company, they are all factory type people, and had some good food-if a bit salty, as Vietnamese tend to like their food. It was great for me, since nearly no one spoke any English. We spent the whole time yakking in Japanese. Just another reminder that I am studying a culture whose people bore me silly. Why cant they be lively and fun like Vietnamese people seem to always be? I gotta email my old roomate-also from Vietnam, and tell him hello. Anyway, here is some pics. A big ass bug from school, and some other stuff. Enjoy!

China

Did you know that China is now providing 13 percent of all peacekeeping forces to the UN? Why is China so on the ball with PR? We are totally playing good cop/bad cop with China, butu the rest of the world is only seeing the good cop for its smiling face! Crap crap crap! I should be learning Chinese.

Same crap different day here, but I did eat way too much this weekend, and it was mostly all meat. I had yaki niku on Friday, and then Brazillian BBQ on Saturday. I met up with some people from my online club, the first time anyone actually showed up, and it was cool. We ate, and then went to the Aichi Art Musuem to see an exhibit on Persian Antiquities; it was big, and very nice. Strange to look at a cup that is 6000 years old.

China

Did you know that China is now providing 13 percent of all peacekeeping forces to the UN? Why is China so on the ball with PR? We are totally playing good cop/bad cop with China, butu the rest of the world is only seeing the good cop for its smiling face! Crap crap crap! I should be learning Chinese.

Same crap different day here, but I did eat way too much this weekend, and it was mostly all meat. I had yaki niku on Friday, and then Brazillian BBQ on Saturday. I met up with some people from my online club, the first time anyone actually showed up, and it was cool. We ate, and then went to the Aichi Art Musuem to see an exhibit on Persian Antiquities; it was big, and very nice. Strange to look at a cup that is 6000 years old.

Pearl Jam-Roadhouse

Roll baby Roll...

Well, it's been a while, hasnt it? About two weeks. Nothing special happened. Had a fight with one of my friends, and she should have stopped calling, but she failed to do so. Some people don't make good choices. I would have missed her anyway, so I guess it is OK with me.

Still working the same gigs, but now with the Japanese class, I am putting in an about 54 hours a week including both jobs. I leave the house at 745, and return at 715 on Monday. On tuesday, I leave at 745 and return at 930 or 10; that is my class. It is in Nagoya. Wednesday, I return at 830, and then at 930 again on Thursday. I dont work or study after my regular job on Fridays, i just chill, but I really need to sign up for that tea ceremony class I been putting off.

The nice part about having no real home life is the productivity gains. Included in my 54 hours a week is about 10 hours a week of study time. I am lucky; I can do most of it at work, sitting at my desk-the 4 hours of class time are also inclued in that figure. I am actually getting more than ten, but I stopped keeping track of it; with ten minutes here and there piling up it got to difficult. Some days, I have two hours of homework, and I get that done at work, so I could be getting between 10 and 13 hours of study in.

All that studying seems to be helping quite a bit, but I still suck. It is hard to keep it all straight, and remember all these new words. Actually, they are not new, but you get the drift. Do you ever reflect on that "rose by any other name" bit? Linquistics; I can see why people are so interested in it, but it bears only a passing interest for me. Anyway, I am out of here; it is time for Drew Carrey, The X Files, and maybe some Northern Exposure if I am up late enough. Oh yeah, I also watch about 15 hours of TV a week now. That is the most I think I have ever watched!

NPR

Well, I got an extra day off. Nice thing is, it is the day before a three day weekend, so I have four days off. Of course, I am spending my extra day, or at least half of it, renewing my visa, so I am still being productive. Yes, it is that time again, and I am signing up for another year of this shit. I am can put in at least one more year doing what I am doing, but after that, something else needs to present itself. I swear I almost threw a sixth grader out the window yesterday. This one school has the worst ethos in its sixth grade classes, and one of its fifth. They are simply fuckers. I am really good at dealing with many things, but outright disrespect sends me over the top, and I cant speak well enough to put them in their place. Too bad, cause I could do it in a heartbeat in English. Oh well, contrastingly, almost every other student from the fourth grade down is wonderful. I dont know what went wrong with their sixth graders, but... Anyway, got my license, getting my visa, and it it is finally cooling down. All in all, it could be worse.

Trains

I finally passed the damn test. I have a Japanese driver’s license! It cost me nearly 450 US, and took two whole days off work to accomplish, on the second try, but now I have it, and life may continue.

Foo Fighters

I have recently noticed a rapid upswing in my japanese abilities. I am growing more and more able to carry on a conversation, and I rather like it. I have a real affinity now for Mexicans who come to the US without English, I dont think you realize how lonely that can be! And it readily explains to me why they ghetto themselves sometimes, it is nice to communicate above the level of a child sometimes.

Met a rather nice looking Vietnamese girl today, who spoke no English, and quiute a bit more Japanese than I could, but we all, there was a group, had a very nice conversation in Japanese. My old Vietnamese roomate would be very happy. He always maintained that Vietnamese women are the best in the world, and who am I to disagree?

Probably nothing, but it was fun. Anyway. See ya.

Fan

Class was cool, but no hotties. Damn. The class next door though, I dont know what it is, is filled with em. Sweet! It is wierd, I am behind the class in some ways, and like a million miles ahead in others. She kept having to explain my answers to her questions to the other students, but also kept trying to explain everything to me! Most of which I did not need, and some of which I did. Odd how that works out eh? Like I forgot that tsu, turns into ta in the negative. Just flat out did not know that! That is some basic shit I forgot. Tomorrow is back to work. I am still sick. Going on two weeks now with a dynamite hacking cough. Can you say pnuemonia? I can, but I cant spell it.

George Straight

Chillin. Spent the weekend in Osaka. It was cool; drank, and stayed up till 430 looing at the pretty ladies. No complaints in that department. Mike was the popular one. Some girl who claimed to be a principal wanted to make babies with him, but he was strong enough to resist...granted, it wasnt that hard when she talked. Japanese class starts tomorrow, and I am stoked for that. We shall see how the class is. I hope it is useful, and full of hotties. HEY! I said useful first, didnt I? I have my priorities straight! GFYS!

King Kong

OK, that damn thing was long! Who the hell came up with the idea of making that a three hour movie? I had to watch it in installments; and though i suppose it was good, it wasn't THAT good. I sholda rented jackass! Also, I just wanted to send a shout out to old Flava Flav; doing his thing since way back, and no the front page of the NYT. Only in America, eh? Made some damn fine salmon tonight, Itallian style, and it turned out rather well. I am stoked to have found that recipe; I ROCK!

NPR

I love podcasts. Going to try shabu shabu tonight; i am very excited about that. Sorry about no posts, but I am not busy. Funny how that works, but if I have 3 hours I will do something else, but if I have about 15 minutes I will post. Not so strange, I guess. Hope all is well...

Will this point to a trend in international organizations?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/18/AR2006091800400.html

Nothing yet!

check out this article, and tell me what you think. This is pretty damning stuff, I think... (and it is NOT the New York Times)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/16/AR2006091600193.html

Peter Gabriel

I guess it is a good way to be; all dressed up and no where I want to go. Better than all dressed up with no where to go. That always sucks. I went hiking this morning in Gifu. I just gave up and went out on my own, but it was fun anyway. Saw some nice stuff, and found that there is a lot more trail there than I first thought. I was just walk up to a fire lookout, about a 30 minute hike, but about 3 and a half hours later I got back to the car. I finally just turned around and came back. I would have kept going, but I did not bring any food, and, well, bad things happen when i dont eat. So now, I have been sitting here trying to decide if I am going to Nagoya to a party or not, and I finally decided that I am not. I hate those things anyway, and I am really quite tired. To hell with it; I am going no farther than the video store today, and we will wait and see about tomorrow!

Nagoya HO!

On my way out the door to Nagoya to buy that test application. Not so exciting, but I talked to my buddy Ben this morning, and that was nice. He has the most damn kids of anyone I know; he could barely talk for more than about 2 mnutes without one biting him. Funny stuff.

Fan again, but ITunes is opening!

Its a nice night. Cool; I might even need a blanket tonight. Been so damn hot here lately. Sweating on the toilet, have you ever sweated on the toilet? A memory of Japan that will not go into the "cherished" category. Didnt do much today, just studied a bit. I am heading tomorrow to get an application for the JLPT (japanese test). If I can make level 3 it would be nice, but it might be hard. I know I can do 4, but the challenge! So, tomorrow I will pick the app, and buy a study book. I really need to work on my speaking and listening. I am getting pretty good at reading and writing now. I spent all summer doing it-though a second grade book still whipped my ass today. My vocabulary is very limited. It is daunting to realize you know the name of practically nothing. I am illiterate with the speaking ability of a small child. It is humbling.

nothing.

I was a US Marine for eight years. Eight. I am finding it hard to self actualize with anything else at this point. For nearly ten years, when someone called roll, instead of answering back “here,’ or “ooh rah,” the common response, I answered back “KILL.” It was the first job I was ever truly good at, and that haunts me to this day. I am still more comfortable around men who have held a rifle, than those who have not. I find life to be too easy. Personal issues are murderously hard, but with day-to-day stuff I ask the same question a Gunnery Sergeant once asked; “Is someone going to die?” Invariably, the answer is no.

I can get my way by yelling most of the time, if I wanted to. I am good at that. I could probably also fight for it. However, that is not me anymore. I am a hippie, and the world does not accept those responses. I don’t even kill insects; really, I don’t. I don’t want to kill-ever; period. But killing is all I thought about for nearly ten years. I faced that choice, and I know that I can kill. IF I DECIDE to kill something will die; I could not have done what I have done without making that determination. That is why I said “KILL” for all those years. I never wanted to forget, or to let anyone else forget, that our job was to KILL, or facilitate others to KILL, the ENEMY. I never got to choose that enemy before, but now I can; I do.

I cannot go back. I don’t want to kill. I can, I long to, but I cannot. I am a different man. I don’t fit in there, and I don’t fit in here. My life has lost focus. I have a goal, and a destination, but that destination is not a permanent one. I want to speak Japanese. Why? I don’t know anymore, but I will do it. I may never do anything else in my life. I may die poor and forgotten, but I doubt it. This is what I must do. My life is not what I wanted, but the life I wanted is not a life anyone would want. I am a drunk, and a lonely one at that, but what is that pain? It is nothing. I have survived worse; pain I kept from you, and most others. I did it like I did everything else; alone. If you think you know it all, you don’t.

I am thankful for my pain. It taught me how much I did not know, mostly about myself. I am thankful for my loneliness; it taught me to appreciate love. I am thankful for my life; it has taught me everything I know. I regret two things, but I recognize that one may have been for the best. I don’t want to kill. I have seen what that does to people. Afterwards, you aren’t people. You are a Marine (or a soldier), and you will never be anything else.

I can do it. I can take a life. But I don’t want to look at myself after. I want to spend my whole life able to look myself in the mirror and know that every time I fuck someone over I can apologize to them; if I choose to. Death is closer to me than I like it to be. We are all delicate.

But I miss that rifle, and I miss saying "KILL" every day and meaning it. I miss knowing what I am. Something that time forgot, a throwback through all of human history: a killer, a soldier, a Marine. If you never carried it, dont talk to me about out it.

The only thing I regret more is Ho. Again, if you dont know, you never will. I am who I am; for better or worse.

Regret. My word for today. Now go fuck yourself; I dont want to hear it.

I miss it. I miss the feel of a rifle in my hands, and the sweat that never seemed to stop. Disomfort, anger, motivation. Motivation is a word that few I know understand. I have neither moved on, nor stayed where I was. I do not want to kill, or see the death that comes with it, but I also dont like this peacful life I live. I am trapped between worlds of pain and pleasure. I dont know what I want to do, but I know what I can not do. Roads are closed, bridges burned. Life is one minute to the next, but I am not who I apppear. I am different. I am angry, and I dont want to hurt anyone. who am I? I dont think I ever knew.

the fan again.

The French add troops, the FDA gives a nod to “plan B”, and I sit here and sweat. Japan is hot this time of year, have I mentioned that yet? I think I have gotten fatter-if that is possible. Too much wine, and not enough women (is it ever enough), but the song part seems to be right on. Mike is coming out from Osaka today, and we will be meeting with a couple of choirgirls from around the bend tonight. Should be a fun weekend; tonight is drinks and diner. Tomorrow is BBQ, fireworks, and a club or two in Nagoya. Today is waiting for Mike.

With about ten days left of vacation, I have done so much, and yet so little. Mostly, I sat on my ass and watched movies, but I also got about 2 hours of studying done a day, and visited a whole bunch of temples, shrines, and festivals around the area. Saw three prefectures, and drank at least my weight in booze. Hell of a vacation Earl. I need a vacation from my vacation!

Train again

Busy weekend, went out and about in Aichi on saturday and saw some shrines. Saturday I checked out that new "pirates of" movie, and I was not so impressed; my steak dinner before the movie, however, was top notch all the way. 225g rib eye with potatoe, corn salad, and blooming onion. Sweet. Today I went to two or three temples in Gifu, as well as a big ass mall. Malls are cool; you can look at girls. I like that. Tonight I am going to an Obon festival to see everybody dancing. It is pretty damn hot, so I dont think I will be doing much dancing myeslf, but maybe. You never know, eh?

My best friend-the electric fan!

Just another day in paradise. I am trying to decided whether I will do something today or not. It is just that simple. I could take a drive out to, uh, somewhere. I have a car and plenty of time, however, driving by yourself is kind of dull. I don’t even have a radio, for gods sake! I would like to drive out to Nagano and go camping, but I am not sure I can actually find the place. Driving in Japan is hard; not just because of the “wrong side of the road” thing either. It is just hard. A trip that would take me 45 minutes-say from Puyallup to Seattle will either take 2 hours, or cost an arm and a leg in toll fees. And the Japanese drivers? Lets just say nothing, and leave it there.



That was from yesterday! I did none of that stuff, actually. I ended up at a hanabi (fireworks festival) in Inuyama; about 20 minutes away on the train. It was too damn hot, and I got bored of it, but it was better than sitting at home bored I suppose-more girls to look at! I have been having some issues with my computer lately, and I spent this morning cleaning and updating-general maintence stuff. It is working much better now, but I will have to wait and see what happens when i reopen my my bit torrent program; I think it is the cause of my woes. However, I really want to watch Northern Exposure, and so I will put up with it for the weeks it takes to download all 32 gigs.

Anyway, today is another study day I think. I have been doing very well there! About 1-2 hours every day. I would like to study more, but I am lazy, and my poor brain gets tired. If I could keep up 5 days a week, two hours a day, I would be very happy about my efforts; however, I dont seem to be able to do that during school. I am too tired to pull it off, and usually manage only about 5-6 hours a week. Not enough to get much better, I think. Ofcourse, my study hours do not include any day to day stuff that I have to use Japanese, but I dont think that is an excuse, and it is not as common as I would like it to be!

Anyway, here are some pics from the last weeks activities-mostly hanabi, and matsuri (fireworks, and just plain festivals) around the area.

BBC Podcast

Who thinks Castro is dead? Could be the best damn thing that ever happened to Cuba, but then again, I thought that Arafat's passing might be the same for Palestine, and we can all see how well that is going. Wait and see, wait and see.

Chilling at home again, wondering what I will be doing today. I think it will be a hour or two of study at Starbucks, followed by a trip to Nagoya for no apparent reason. I need to get busy on my drivers license. My international permit is only good through November, and the drivers test has a 90% first time failure rate. They are really anal retentive here, in case you haven’t heard. Mellow out people; you only live once!

The Unger Report

Well I am back in Konan; I took a trip with one of my school's teachers to Nagano Prefecture. It was a pricey trip, but, as expected, it was worth it. I got to go to my first onsen/hot spring resort, and then we all had dinner, and lots of drinks while karaoke played on. I also saw a wasabi farm, a winery, an art museum, and an old post town from the Edo period. All cool. Here is some pics...

Anne Coulter is a CUNT

Why the hell is it that people with the most outlandish ideas about their opposition are the most popular? She drones on about liberals this, and liberals that; as if there is this cookie cutter block cut laying about somewhere that creates the "liberal mind." She has lost it, utterly. Do not get me wrong here; this is the exact same thing I noticed at University, where I was labeled a jack booted republican for the slightest deviation from, shall we say, "The party line." Again, are all republicans the same? Do people not realize that they are exhibiting classic us against them mentalities?

I admit to being a social liberal; nothing you can say to me will EVER convince me that gays, black folk, or any other race or creed is any worse or better than I am, but you are welcome to try. I will listen if you do. ALL PEOPLE ARE EQUAL. Though I am having a real hard time loving Islamic extremists, cute and cuddly they are NOT.

So anyway, I am now teaching 6 lessons a week at 5000 yen an hour. Not bad, but I only wanted to work 2 nights a week. I just cant say no to the money! I will be blowing a good chunk of change this month, I tell you what. I have been averaging about 2500 yen a day so far. With nothing to do, I shop. I should hike, but I have to work at night, and every hike I know is at least an hour a way on unfamiliar roads, and it is HOT-damn hot, as Robyn Williams might say. Its the kind of hot that hits you as you walk out of an air-conditioned room-100 degrees and raining hot.

Saturday I am heading to my first onsen in Japan, with my favorite school, Kusai Elementary. It is will be expensive-about 300 bucks (36000 yen), but I am assuming it will be worth it. Since it is a teacher’s trip, it is not a profit-making venture, and every dollar may be well spent. Or, not. We shall see.

Alan Jackson

In response to some strange comments, I feel compelled to clarify my last post. 6000 yen is NOT enough to buy a hooker in Japan. That is reference to the money spent on food, drink, and karaoke in Nagoya last night. Really, are all your minds in the gutter, and if so, why are you asking me censor potential hooker references?

Anyway; tonight I making Tom Kha Gai for a friend dropping by later-not the one with the impressively short skirt, but this one has attributes enviable in and of themselves as well. Well, it will be a kind of Tom K; about half of the ingredients are unavailable, or at least I cannot read the labels on them. Either way, I do not have em. Like most things I make, it will be a strange variation on the theme of X food.

Also, I have continued to spend recklessly on this second day of vacation. I purchased a DVD-RAM drive, for about a 100. I am just now starting to burn some of my old media to DVD. I have to make some room so I can download Northern Exposure in its entirety. I am very excited to return to Sicily, Alaska and see some old friends, and moose. Soon…

Ok, so I will post some pics of last night for the curious-mentally curious, all you bi-curious will have to find your interesting pics elsewhere. My friend Usami and I put together an evening at a restaurant in Nagoya for about 10 people. We had a dinner set that included a spicy, spicy bubbling hot pot of kimchi, pork, and various other goodies. A nomihodai (all you can drink), and assorted side dishes representing variations on the theme of spicy.

Next we hit up karaoke in Le Jac-complete with YET ANOTHER nomihodai. My voice was crap, but I drank away my pain!

Anyway, check it out, and be sure to look for any above mentioned points of interest.

ELVIS

6000 yen. Best Cash I ever spent. I swear that skirt was 6inches, and she too shy to talk. Where am I, and do I deserve this?

Coltrane

Well, I have a three day weekend that started about 7 hours ago, and a bottle of decent sake-reishu, if you can believe what a coincidence that is. Of course, I do have to return to work again on Tuesday, and then find a way to make it through the rest of the week. Two days, to be precise. I am off again on Thursday-though I do have a part time job in the evening on Thurs. Sounds good, but what if I told you there was more? Thursday is in fact the start of my summer vacation. I will not return to work again until the 5th of September. I have six weeks of paid vacation to take-what ever shall I do? I joke, but I really don’t know. A nice problem to have; I know, but I am legitimately concerned that I may actually drink myself to death out of boredom. I don’t know if you know this, but Sake comes in big damn bottles, and there seems to be a never ending supply here.

I did not get into the Japanese class I wanted to take; though I did get on the waiting list. It was the summer intensive class at the YWCA. I am now in the market for a replacement class, but I dont think I will find it. If only I had discovered that class sooner; I could have made it happen. Of course, I only have to kill three students to get in, and so it is theoretically possible still, but probably not worth the hassle and mental problems such a course of action entails. Best to save that one for when you really need it.

So anyway, my online club is not performing just yet. I am working at a less than diligent pace to put it together, but I have found that people suck. I have developed a pet peeve; besides that I despise the term Gaijin, I mean. I am sick of people asking me, within the first hour we meet, without fail, to teach them English. I am debating adopting an "I don’t speak English for free" policy to combat this trend. Language leeches are the bane of my existence. International Japan my ass. If your only reason for meeting with foreign people is to practice English; you are an ass, and a boring one at that. You know most of these people learn the language to travel, and then when they arrive they EAT ONLY JAPANESE FOOD? Ass masters; the lot of em!

Bush

Ok, so its been awhile since my last update, but I am back now-no worries. It was a pain to update when I only had a connection at work, but I now have internet at home again-in my own name and everything! It is costing me about 55 a month for it though, so it better stay up! Good thing I have that part time gig; that helps a lot.

So here are some pictures for you; a pic of me on the top of some damn mountain I hiked up. In Japan, they do not use switchbacks very often, so instead of an even ascent, I walked straight up the damn mountain. Imagine my surprise at that. It was a great hike though.

After that is SCHOOL LUNCH! Just a little introduction what the kids, and me, get here. Hope all is well, and look for me online again!

nothing at all

Long damn weekend, long damn day.  Saturday was supposed to be my big day of fun and excitement, but it turned into a cluster.   WTF is up with that?   Today, my boss at the part time place lets me know that he is not paying me for the first day I worked, because I did not teach.   So, I sat and listened all the other teachers classes for three hours, against my will, for free.  Then, after that, the idiot calls me to take over another two classes on my day off because someone called in sick    What do you think I told him?  I have plans-BIG plans that I cannot cancel.  I will be sitting at Starbucks for an hour or so, followed by my watching a movie at home alone.   Screw them!  I am already working one more day a week than agreed, and filling in for him on call when he needs it.  You want to save some money?  Well, save it tonight by not having any teachers to pay.  

                       

Anyway, today was rough, but by my first class I was feeling human again.  Now I just feel like a tired human, instead of some weird half dead demon thing.   Improvement!  Anyway, back to the grind; I have to sit at my desk and read a book about John Rabe.  Great cat; you should check him out.   It is a hard life, but somebody gotta do it.

HOW OLD ARE YOU?

Sitting in the staff room, pretending I am working!  Just got done with my second second grade class today.   Great kids, nice teacher too, but she drives me nuts when I am working.  She always translates EVERYTHING I say, tries to run the class, and gives the students the answers without giving them time to think.   I like to count to for; she doesn't wait long enough to count.  Oh well.

New job is going well, it is easy as being the only boy in an all girls school, and I am getting paid like a mad man.   Also, I am teaching at a company in the city I live in, so I am meeting working folk in my area.  The company is KTX, and they make plastic stuff for cars-moldings, etc…  Hopefully it will continue to work out well.  I like the money very much, and it is only 4 hours a week.

 

Today is going to be a long day though.  I go from work to work, and then it is on the train to Nagoya to meet a friend in Sakae for a drink or two-starting at 9.  I am already hung over from last night too!   Imagine yourself tired and hung over, and then insert 40 kids screaming 1, 2, 3…12 about fifty times at the top of their lungs.  Yes, the second grade did numbers today, and how old are you?   How very exciting!

money money money!

Hey all...FYI, I do not have internet again.  The damn free wifi once again proved there no such thing as a free lunch.  Oh well.  I signed up for internet again, but it is going to be a few weeks until it gets all set up.  After that, however, there should be no further interuptions to the free flow of information between me and everyone else.  Same crap different day here, but I might nailed a part time gig teaching english to a companies employees.  45 bucks an hour, 32 hours a month.  Nice chunk of change to make my paying for internet seem cheaper.  I am cool with that, cause internet here is 50 some bucks a month!  Assholes.  Anyway, nothing is for sure on that gig until I get the first check, so I will let you know!  Anyway, see ya round the world!  RR

Kids playing in the park outside my window...

On a hot damn day. It is still hot at 5! Today was the day that would not end. I had 4 classes-one 5th and 3 1st grade, starting right off the bat at 855. So I was done teaching by 2, and I get off at 430. I sat and read for two hours, trying not to sleep! I like it better when I get my first class 2nd period. Then I study for an hour before I work, and read for an hour-or play with the kids, after my last class. It is a much better schedule.

I am getting ready to jump in the shower now; I am going to a school party at some restaurant. They are picking me up because, I suspect, they want to get the foreign guy drunk. It should be fun, but I am so tired from SITTING ON MY ASS FOR TWO HOURS that I just want to sleep. Work is hell eh?

Daniel-dont laugh at me please!

OK, so here is a slice of life in Japan for you. This is my fourth grade, well, one of my fourth grade classes at Hotei Elem. We are doing our "feelings" lesson-are you... yes I am/no Im not. Not the most exciting lesson, but it is pretty cool. I like the game actually, but it is only a vocabulary exercise. I like to seperate girls against boys. I think they like that, but hell, they are easy to please all in all. This was my sixth class of the day, and I was, and am, exausted. It is Friday, and I am updating my blog, chatting with Kim, and drinking sake. Probably on my way to be before too long!

In my defense, however, last night was a late one. I went to a language exchange party-kind of the equivelent of UW's kaiwa table, except half and half English and Japnaese. It is always fun; it is usually me and four Japanese people at our own table yakking it up. Funny how I cant seem to get away from white folk, and they can't seem to find em. Well, that is not my problem, is it?

So, I have realized that my Japanese is getting pretty damn good compared to six months ago. I still have no idea what is going on, but I am can rattle on for many minutes on certain subjects; mostly about me! Anyway, enough about that, lets talk about me; Johnny Bravo. Yeah, baby. Gimmee some sugar. Ok, not really sure where that came from, but OK! I am off to the races then, ya'll take care.

Staind

Just another day in not paradise, at least the weather is warm. I been sweating up a storm of late, today even and I did nothing for most of the day. They had some parents visiting day, and I had no classes to teach. Therefore, I sat on my bum and read, or studied. The last hour I played dodge ball, followed by soccer with the kids. That was fun, but I was really sweating after that. I just finished dinner; Thai Red Curry, but it was not that great. Mediocre to good, I suppose, and I took a walk. I figured the weather is good, and I have nothing better to do really. Nice evenings are a nice thing. I remember the evenings in 29 Palms; they were so nice compared to the days of intense heat. They made it worth living out there I think. I rather miss the desert sometimes. Anyway, I am on the third episode of Band of Brothers. Good trash that show; very motivating. It always makes me want to assault something!

Interesting

82 People Could Read This...(Pretty Amazing Actually)
Body: Body: i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae.

The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!


Makes learning Japanese seem impossible.

Garth Brooks

A Night Riders Lament; in a very liberal fashion, this song is my life. Liberal in that I have never ridden a horse, let alone ridden the great divide. Nor have I ever once in my life met a man named cookie, or Black Jim. However, it is a good song.
This, and Belleua Wood, are two of my favorites from him. Most are not aware, but it was at the battle of Belleua Wood where the Marines earned their nickname; Devildogs. The Germans defending against their onsluaght refferred to them-vice the Army, or French units, as Teufelhunden. German for, geuss what? Mostly, this was becuase they did what Marines do, they killed a lot of people and died bravely. Here is a link.

http://www.scuttlebuttsmallchow.com/fountain.html


Interesting history for ye whoefully underinformed.

Barrack Obama

Interesting guy with a cool voice. Do you ever have those mornings when you wonder where the hell all the time has come from? I have 30 minutes until I leave, and I am done. I usually clean house in the morning, but I am not going to do that today. Too lazy. Last night I watched LOST episodes 16-19. I am not looking forward to running out of episodes to watch. That is such a great show-although the DAVE episode I watched last night was a bit predictable in parts, but it did end with a surprise!

Anyway, I am all set to go hiking; I just need someplace to go! I am trying to figure out what to do on during my vacation in August. I am off for, well, august, plus parts of july and september. I am thinking I ought to go home, as I think I would actually SAVE money by doing so. Japan is expensive, and having nothing to do makes it REALLY expensive; what with train fairs, entrance fees. Etc, etc... HOWEVER...I did come all this way. We shall see...

NPR

Well, I guess you can tell I had a week off; no time to post. I went all over the area I live in, and even made it to Osaka again, and from there I saw Kyoto-finally. I must say that I wish I had gotten my folks there while they were here, but I must also say that I was in many ways unimpressed. I expected less commerce from the cultural heart of Japan. It seemed to look a lot like a giant store that was stocked with more culturally significant wares. It was fun though, and the temples were impressive.

Work is going well, again. I am enjoying my job still. Today was cool. Turns out one of the teacher is from Okinawa, and we were talking, and it ended up with me and several older ladies yacking on for about 2 hours. It was fun. I will be bringing some pictures from Oki to work tomorrow to show off. Thankfully I bought my thumb drive eh?

My phone finally broke. I can't listen to music on it anymore. Oh well, I guess it is only a phone, dictionary, and camera now. What a gyp! =)

Anyway, here is some pictures. Enjoy!

rain

Woke up at 6, while chekcing my email I found George Bush picked Tony Snow as his new press sectretary. How friggin funny is that? He is not making any effort to appeal to anyone who disagrees with him. Can you tell he is NOT up for re-election?

Skyliner-Charlie Barnet!

Found an interesting article on the internet in China; how the government and business censor the findings and availabitlity of search engines, blogs, and news. Very interesting stuff. A great deal of it focused on the issue of Google "selling out" their freedom of speech creditials for profit. The article makes a good arguement that they in fact did not, entirely, sell out.

The internet is a rather large chink in Chinese armor, and this is an important subject. The conclusion brings up a point I have myself made on several occasions. That people get used to making choices. If you start of choosing between Coke and Pepsi, you will eventually wonder why you can't have a Mountain Dew instead. A slippery slope leading to increased freedom, though not likely democratization in China anytime soon. China will never have an American Style deomcracy, and I am not so sure that bothers the Chinese much. They have their own thing going, and some day they will get it just the way they like it.

So, the ready availability of points of view radically different from the party line-literally, in this case, should increasingly bring pressure from below on the party for concessions towards greater freedom of expression, and the slope slides on. Why dont you check out some info on Chinese internet?

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/23/magazine/23google.html?pagewanted=1
http://www.opennetinitiative.net/studies/china/

For an interesting experiment, I recomend you use this link to Google China, and search for Falon Gong. Then compare the tone of the results to a similar search on Google.com. I doubt you will be terribly surprised, but it is fun anyway!
http://www.google.cn/

So, anyway, school was great today, but the kids are a handful at this school. Ther e were a lot more show offs, and jerks than usual. Strange, but the staff is nice, and the building is close to home so I am willing to work with them. I am just waiting for Golden Week next week from Tuesday until Monday. I will be off, and may just finally make it to Kyoto. I have a sleeping bag, a tent, and a car. I am good to go anywhere! Whoo hoo!!!! Exciting ne? My life rocks. Of course, if history is any judge I will do far less than I could and be very happy with that. I am boring, what can I say? Well, my bottle of sake awaits, and I am tired of typing. See ya!

On the road to find out

Missing some friends tonight. I wish I could pack up friends like socks and carry them with me. Seeing them online is not the same as seeing them. Oh well. Tomorrow is another day, and I have kids to play with. =)

bats outside

Home again. I must admit that I do not yet really know what to do with all my new found free time! I am off most evenings, and have very little do now; now that everyone has gone home, that is. School is still going great. I am not enjoying my current school as much as my first, but the kids are the same, and I am enjoying them very much. I spent my last 40 minutes today playing dodge ball with one of the sixth grade classes-it was a blast. I think today I played dodge ball twice, and climbed the monkey bars. I might have done something else too, but I forget things you know. Lunch today was crap. Today and tomorrow is fifth grade, they have a HUGE fifth grade class; nearly twice the size of the others. Kinda wierd, actually. So anyway, same thing different day. wish me luck!

damn loud train

Chillin at the crib. Just wanted to let ya'll know we are on day four, and it is STILL a ROCKIN job. ALTIA kicks ass...

Black Muddy River

So I show up at work, some lady brings me coffee and I sit on my ass for an hour or so studying. After that, I go do two classes. After those classes, I go to one classroom, where I eat my lunch with students-same lunch in fact (different trays though). After lunch, I sit on my ass for a about 30 minutes drinking more delivered coffee, and then do two more classes. Following which I am told to get the hell out of the school. I didn't leave, but I could have!

All in all, my life will be some variation on this schedule for the next year. I am not unhappy about this. I love the kids, I like the teachers, and the school lunch is not bad at all. Do I need to bring up the coffee again? I am really enjoying my new job here, but that does NOT mean I am good at it! Someday, perhaps, but right now I suck! Oh well, I like playing with the kids anyway.

So my parents have been visiting for about a week. I feel bad, because I was not really able to plan them a good visit. I wanted to set everything up, but I was either too lazy or too busy. I am not sure which. Either way, I am trying to show them every thing I can, and direct them to everything else. It is all I can do. Unfortunatly, I do not think they will be making it to Kyoto this time. I guess it will be incentive to return. I feel bad about that, but in context-I have never been to Kyoto either.

I bought a rice cooker, fridge, iron, ironing board, and various kitchen utensils at the "recycle shop." I ALMOST have a livable apartment-with an extra bedroom. Can you beat that? Hmmmmm...ne?

Also, just in case anyone was wondering-I dont miss Nova. I just miss my students!

She's your cocaine

6 hours and several, ok, perhaps more, chu hais later I am happy to announce I had a great evening. I met a black man from Baltimore who was very interesting to talk with. VERY interesting. The first deep and intellectual conversation I have had in Japan with any substance. It was cathartic, and quite enjoyable-the kind of conversation that 90% of the world would not understand, and 5% would not care about. I still do not agree that “racism” in Japan is actually misrepresented “nationalism” though. I have a different idea of nationalism. To my mind, racism harnessed towards political, etc ends would constitute nationalism-not the failure of some dude to let me into a hotel because I am not Japanese. That is racism to me, simple and pure. However, since there is really no acceptable definition of nationalism as a sociological construct the answer (and who is right) will have to remain a mystery.

Happiness is a long conversation about something, rather than nothing. I am free.

Thus far, I am 1 for 1 on my quote challenges, yet I am inspired to try it again. This time I ask not for who said it, but rather what was said. Good luck, those bored enough to try.

A quote by Rick Blaine is my guardo camino for the evening.

when doves cry

Dont want to jump the gun, but Altia seems on the up and up. Nice, but not too slick. More to come...

My new pad...

My new pad is a 2DK. 2 bedroom dining room and kitchen. Below, you will find pictures of my, wait for it, 2 bedrooms, dining room/kitchen. The last is the view from the bedroom. Not special, but not bad. Enjoy.

Bout over it

Feeling better today, but my stomach is still a little a-twitter. It could be, however, due to the fact that TODAY IS MY LAST DAY AT NOVA. "Woooo!" I wonder who my last students will be? Will it be a fun day? I hope so. I have not really told any of my students I am leaving-I will just not be there on Saturday. Didn't really know what to say, and most of them dont really care anyway. NOVA turns over instructors so often it must keep it really interesting for the students; always someone new to talk to.

Anyway, looking forward to being out of there, going to miss the students (individually), and excited to be going somewhere new. Again, "Woooo!"

bunch of crap

OK, so the last few days have been a bunch of crap. I got food poisoning on saturday night, and tried to go to work on sunday. Big mistake, that was really rough. After that I got sick on monday, and called in sick. Now it is tuesday and i still dont feel good, but I can't afford to call in sick again so i am off to work sick again. 8 hours of dancing monkey while ill is NOT how I like to spend my days. Wish me luck.

Details

http://www.city.konan.lg.jp/english/index.html

http://altiacentral.com/index.php

Ok, here is the details for my new job. I am working for ALTIA, in Konan City. The first link above is my new city, the second is my new company. I will be working at 5 elementary schools monday through friday, 830 to 430 or so. The pay is about 400 more than NOVA, and the rent is about the same. I will be living in Konan starting April 1st. Bennies include a possible car, a school that probably no one speaks english at, and an apaprtment that I have not yet seen! Wish me luck...

Dude...we're in Japan.

Just a few minutes reflection on the fact that I am actually in Japan now. Have been here long enough to have settled into a sort of bored indifference to that fact, in fact. =) I imagined it for so long, and so far it is similar to what I expected. I did not expect to have such a difficult time with the fact that I live so close to my ex fiannce. I dont really want to call, but I also expected her to be a part of this for so long that it is impossible to seperate them within my mind in so many ways. I am not losing any sleep over it, but there are inumerable things here to remind me. She was intrinsicly Japanese, and here everything is intrinsicly Japanese. The personalities, tics, and enunciation are similar. I can not help but think of her. But I have not called. I suppose I am not over her yet, but I am doing a wonderful job of carrying on anyway. Some who know her well would tell you that I have not mentioned her name in nearly a year now. On purpose, I must admit, and I am sure we both know that she always lies beneath the surface of our conversations. Life is hard, isnt it? She is not good enough anymore; others have taught me that. I hope they know who they are-though I am not allowed to mention their names. Some know her; some do not. She is amazing, and I owe her a great debt. Did I mention Japan beat Korea? I was rooting for Korea. Damn. Cant win fer losin.