Internet. In three weeks. Maybe.
Oh you just wait baby.
Monthly Archive for August, 2007
2007/08/10
Even though I know that’s not what they’re saying, I keep hearing that the grand sponsors include “Sexy House” which I believe is actually spelt “Sekisui House” but that’s close enough for me.
Today involved meeting the mayor, which went smoother than I’d thought it would. I did get an odd stare when I gave him a mug with “Bridgeton NJ” engraved on it, but later I discovered that was because he thought it said “Bridgestone” as in the tire makers. And I can see why that would be a bit odd. “Thank you for welcoming me to your country! Here’s a mug with the name of a tire company on it. Enjoy!”
An afternoon nap prepared me for an evening party of lots of Japanese food and constantly refilled beer glasses. Christ. I’m not a big fan of beer, but I’m sure I’ll consume my share in Japan. Not exactly a complaint, but I could barely take a sip without someone saying “Here, have some more!” Outstanding.
After returning home from the party I attempted to go to the “snack bar” across the street tonight, but in my long two minute walk, they closed down. Guess they’re not much of a busy place. Oh well. Spending the rest of the night being a bum felt a little dirty, but christ I’m tired. I gotta get my Japanese training back in gear but considering half of my stuff is websites, I guess I’ll have to wait a while longer. Oh well, I’ll enjoy my time before the students come back in September.
2007/08/09
Ugh…we missed the last train…
Well, that was stupid. Not just missing the train. For the first time in my life I drank too much to remember what exactly happened. But, and here’s the weird thing, my wallet was no lighter at the end of the night. How I was drinking is somewhat of a mystery…that’s not good. Luckily I have all my belongings and outside of a bit of a stomach ache, feel fine. I’ll have to be more careful, although I guess we’re all allowed a few mistakes in life.
Today was pretty uneventful, I guess. Didn’t get home until 8:30 in the AM. Didn’t get to sleep until maybe 9:30 or so. Woke up a few hours later feeling a bit better, and finished watching my Arrested Development DVDs. Ah, such a damn fine show. This having been the third time I watched through the entire show, I’m still amazed how it gets funnier each time. There are so many little things that characters will say or mutter that seem fairly innocent, but really foreshadow large portions of the later episodes. Mind-boggingly awesome.
Tomorrow I go to meet the mayor of my new residence, then get to attend a party in my honor. Saturday I’m off to Osaka to meet up with a friend and do a little shopping. Next week will be interesting because I don’t really know what I’m supposed to be doing. No kids are in school right now and I don’t think there’s much for me to do, but I don’t want to ever give off the impression that I don’t want to be helpful. ’cause I do. Just don’t know exactly how yet. Ah the joys of starting a new job. Of course, I guess everyone I work with has seen people go through this many times over, I’m really the one who’s adjusting the most. Just can’t seem to be able to admit that to myself.
2007/08/08
Drove in Japan for the first time today. The adjusting to the whole left/right thing isn’t as bad as I might have thought, but it’s the little things that bug you. Like, I take a right turn now and have to focus more than I’m used to. That and driving an automatic instead of manual makes everything seem off. My right hand got a little jumpy as it was so used to changing the gears. Also, listening to the little motor in this car struggle up the hills was really odd to my brain. It’s interesting how you can attune yourself to the car you drive. I never really put much thought into it before.
Going to go out tonight to Nara City and meet up with the other set of ALTs that are coming to Nara and then enjoy myself a drink or two. Haven’t taken the trains yet, so this should all be very interesting. Hope I get there all cool and stuff. Not exactly sure when the last trains are, but I’m sure someone does know and I’ll figure my way back. Should be fun.
2007/08/07
Got myself a cellphone tonight. Lucky me! Seriously! Holy wow is it nice to be somewhat connected again. Already spent a lot of time emailing tons of folk. That bit of connection to the rest of the world is somehow really re-ensuring. And that’s also going to make me cut tonight’s writing a little short as I ant to actually talk to someone other than myself for a change. Ta!
2007/08/06
Well, that straight up wins as the best commercial I’ve seen in Japan so far. Little girl is talking about something, someone screams WIENER PLEASE and her father feeds her a miniature hot-dog. Outstanding.
So today, we went all about to two of the farthest schools I’ll work at and one that’s relatively close. I do not think I’ve ever encountered any sort of motion sickness in my life, but the amount of twists and turns in the roads today made my head spin. Located deep in some mountains, Oto Elementary and Junior High are packed into one amazingly nice building. And there I’ll have to teach about, oh, 12 students, I think.
Got my bank account set up, told the post office about my address (Okay?) and saw the car I’ll be driving on the days I go to the far away schools. Tomorrow I’ll get to see the other 6 schools that I visit. Wednesday, as far as I know, is free. The second group of JET folk arrived on Sunday, and will be in Nara City on Wednesday night, perhaps I’ll go along if I get details on exactly when and where to go. This lack of internet and phone thing is really starting to get to me. And it will be at least a week until I can even attempt getting a cellphone and then internet is a ways off too. Oh well. What doesn’t kill you, eh?
2007/08/05
1) Guess how much rice you’re going to want to eat. Pour about half of that into the rice cooker.
2) Cut that amount in half. You’ll never eat as much as you’d think.
3) Fuck! Too much rice! How ever will you eat it all?
2007/08/04
Did my laundry today.
I wonder if there is an equivalent Japanese thought to the known “wash your car and it will rain” bit because I along with several neighbors rushed out to grab clothing off the lines when it started to pour. And it’s been off-and-oning like hell ever since. I was planning on walking around Gojo today to get myself acquainted, but my dumb-ass forgot to buy another umbrella after leaving the first one I bought in the Tokyo hotel. Whoops.
I could attempt to book it towards the local convenience store, buy and umbrella and walk around, but after the past week or so, I just feel like being a goddamned bum. Well, that’s not entirely true. I partially feel like I should be out there, meeting people and all that jazz. Societal obligations and all that jazz. But I is tired. Conflict of interests right there.
I wonder what it is that makes me feel guilty about spending a day just cleaning up stuff, doing laundry and loafing around the house. I’m not quite fond of this gut feeling that I should be doing something but not knowing what it is. Perhaps it is all part of this “adjusting period” I’m currently going through. I must admit that in many regards I am extremely lucky with my placement in Japan. Apartment is beautiful and quite convenient to many things. So I have a good feeling it won’t be long until I finally feel settled in and complete again. I’m looking forward to it. Should be really good times. Even if they’re a little wet.
2007/08/03
They say that one of the stages of adapting to a new culture is being enraged by all the slight little differences in a new culture. Wonder when that stage will hit me. Or even if it will.
Right now, I’m feeling isolation. No internet in my apartment and no cell phone. Ouch. I guess the amount I’ve come to rely on these technologies may be a bit extreme, but the sheer convenience they give is outstanding. Now, it is not as if I will live like this forever but the temporary loss is a tad shocking to the system. Once I get my foreigner registration card and bank account, I can get a cellphone. Then, around the 17th of August I can apply for internet, but that may take a few days to go through and actually get me das interwebs. But nothing is really bad. In fact, so far I’ve been having a blast. But the separation from the technological communicative world is something that really makes me analyze a lot of what I do. That all said, I don’t think I could ever just leave it all behind. The convenience and the good that it brings is too much.
To elaborate and just talk about other things, I headed out with some of the other JET folk in the area and a few friends of theirs last night. Man, did I feel the odd man out as it was pure chance that I actually was able to go along. Someone just happened to be near me at the right time. Had I gone home a minute earlier, I’d have been left in the dust, no one able to contact me.
But, I was able to go, and it was awesome. We first went to someone’s house and cooked dinner. Bunch of random things, but it was awesome and delicious. Then we headed off to a karaoke bar and sang until 1 am. There should be Facebook photos and videos floating around well before I actually get to post this on the net. Exciting stuff. Maybe now that those are making their way onto the internet, other people will realize I’m not dead, haha.
