Friday, September 23, 2005
The A-Bomb (not what you're thinking)
Well, last night turned into a very late night out - the latest night out I've had here in Japan. A big part of it was the lack of late trains here in Japan. All trains, even the intra-city subways, stop running around midnight. Funny how just yesterday I was bemoaning how the late trains in NY weren't late enough. Guess I should really appreciate them more?
First snail I've seen in a long time that wasn't served to me on a plate.
A few minutes after yesterday's novelty post, I went on a little cultural expedition of sorts. Foreign students like myself are encouraged to join one of the myriad of student clubs here at KG. Of course, none of the clubs were active before the Japanese students started showing up last week so I've had to wait nearly a month to explore my options. Since I seem to have an affinity for kanji and I yearn to express myself artistically, I figured I would check out the Shodô (書道) club, a.k.a. Japanese calligraphy.
Since it's a "traditional" art form, we practiced in a Japanese-style room (和室, washitsu) and sat on the floor. Ideally, shodô should be done while sitting in the seiza (正座) position but since that hurts like hell and takes a lot of practice to do right anyway they said it didn't matter. I suppose I could try practicing that in my dorm room sometimes, it would do me some good to be a little more flexible.
Here's the results of my first day. My first ever attempt is in the lower-left hand corner. Pretty skinny and ugly; as they put it, "more fatter is better." One of the girls in the club then painted an example for me to follow, seen directly above it. I then painted the one to the right and then the one below it. Some improvement, I would say, so not bad for an hour's work. You may notice that's the same character seen in the feitclub.com banner seen on every page of my website. It can be translated as "fight." Get it? It's just another part of my wicked pun of a sitename.
The artist poses with his best work of the day
I returned to dorm to prepare for an evening on the streets of Osaka. Since today was a national holiday, Autumnal Equinox Day (秋分の日, shûbun no hi), I felt it was in my best interest to start partying on Thursday night. Scott agreed, and we made a plan to meet in Shinsaibashi (心斎橋). I invited the aforementioned girl next to me in the computer room to join us but she eventually said she had other plans. I'll ask her again though, I think she's looking to party.
The best part of this story is where I had planned to go. I had heard some incidental information in Japanese class yesterday about someplace called "Club Absinthe." Hearing the A-word caught my attention: it's illegal in the States although I did have some at a New Year's party two years ago. This was the first I had heard of it since and I had no idea it was legal here in Japan. I asked if that was "just a name" or if they really served the good shit. She said she thought they did but she heard about it from a friend and had yet to go. Probing for more info (and also wondering if we might go together or something) I asked her where it was. She again said her friend knew but told me that her friend heard about it from a professor. Get this: it was one of my professors, the same cool guy who gave the only speech worth hearing at the Opening Ceremonies last month!
Since I knew him from class I figured it would be perfectly acceptable to knock on his office door and ask him about the club. The lights were out but he was in there, apparently about to rest up before his first class of the day. I hesitated to knock but I figured there was no harm in it; he wasn't asleep yet and invited me in. I must say, the professors' offices here are really nice. Lots of space, a private sink and obviously the A/C is under their complete control. His office was fucking freezing and I love that. He also had a bad-ass poster of some Japanese movie starring Ken Takakura. I swear, this guy is in the running for coolest teacher worldwide. He drew me a map of how to get to the place from Shinsaibashi station and also told me all about the owner, a Russian guy named Demitri who married a Japanese woman he met in Israel. Of course, they serve Middle Eastern food, an unexpected bonus! I thought I'd not find any here at all and I grew quite fond of it this summer.
Map in hand, I met Scott down in Shinsaibashi. Scott apparently used to live in this area so he was very familiar with all the streets and such, although he didn't know this particular place. He also had no idea what Absinthe was. He'd find out soon enough! The map worked perfectly. First, you walk down Midosuji St. (御堂筋通り) and turn right between the "OPA" building and Hotel Nikko. Follow this street until it comes to a T-stop. Turn right and look to the right.
Standing on Midosuji St. looking right. That's OPA on the left.
There she is! Of course, the sign is green.
It's actually called "Cafe Absinthe" but otherwise his directions were perfect. Sitting inside there was just like being back in New York, only cooler in a way. There were more foreigners inside than Japanese and the staff spoke to us in English, a nice change of pace. The menu was clear and easy to read too, with everything clearly written in both languages. Everyone was chill as fuck and nearly everyone was drinking or smoking (some both, can't do that in NY anymore). I ended up ordering a falafel sandwich which was a little pricey but not outrageously so. The beers were a little steep though, with the cheapest drafts at 600 Yen. My falafel was, of course, uniquely Japanese. Instead of a big burrito-like wrapped sandwich, I got four falafels individually placed in small pieces of pita bread with a dipping sauce and small pieces of vegetables on the side. Very tasty!
Alright, enough bullshit about the food: it's absinthe time. With two beers in my stomach and the last train and my wallet on my mind, I opted to try the basic, cheapest brand they offered (but still 800 Yen). Just one glass this one time. There was an amusing little ritual where the absinthe was poured over a sugar cube into a glass and then the cube was burned. Once the fire went out, I was told to pour water over the cube into the glass and drink the solution.
Fire GOOD!
If you've never drank absinthe, it tastes absolutely awful. The only flavor I can compare it to is licorice which I can't stand either. If you have drank it before and you know how it can make you feel, I'm afraid my story may disappoint you. Maybe it was just the brand or the fact that I only had one glass but I didn't get any of the funny effects. It was merely one stiff-ass drink, not that there's anything wrong with that! However, the prices were a little steep for us to make a night of it so Scott and I decided to leave. As I summoned the check, who should show up but my professor! I said hi and thanked him again, introduced him to Scott as he introduced me to all his friends. Two of them had actually been sitting next to us the entire evening. I wanted to kick myself for leaving as my professor was coming since I've never ever had an opportunity to hang out with an authority figure like that, but I was there with Scott and it would have been really awkward for him, I think. Maybe next time (and there will be a next time, I promise).
We took a stroll down a few side streets and reached a small park full of young people out for the evening. Since neither of us were tipsy enough, we opted to buy some beer in a nearby convenience store and drink in the park. That's perfectly legal here in Japan, by the way, another reason things are a little cooler here than in New York. Scott bought one first before I realized that was OK, then I went in for one of my own. In the store I made eye contact with a American guy wearing a Red Sox hat; we exchanged a "what's up" head nod. When I came out, I was surprised to see he and his Japanese (male) friend were chatting with Scott. We all ended up hanging out in the park for an hour or so, and eventually one of their Japanese (female) friends came by and joined us. It turns out both Japanese folks were KG students, although the American was at a different university in the area.
Scott demonstrates an inexpensive way to have fun in Japan, conbini ("conveni[ence]") drinking.
Free dance show in the park that night! As wild as New York is, you don't often see people doing choreographed dances for fun in public. Panhandling, maybe...
From left to right, Tôru, Rob/Bob (forgot which but both sound right) and Asuka. Fun side note: Tôru actually asked me if I had "fucked anyone" yet at KG.
While we were hanging out, it came time for me to leave if I was to catch the last train. Since we were having fun, Scott suggested I skip it and just stay out with him and eventually crash at his place. I agreed. We left the park and our new friends behind to recover Scott's bike and start the long trek towards his home. Along the way we took advantage of Japan's liberal attitude towards public micturition. Scott wasn't sure if it's completely legal but no one seemed to care when we went in a dark street corner.
When we reached Scott's bike there was a minor logistical problem: he had one and I didn't, so our only option was for me to sit on the back while Scott pedaled. This is a common sight in Japan but it wasn't easy. First, I had to hold my feet off the ground which required a fair amount of leg strength. Second, there was enough space for me but it wasn't padded at all, so every bump felt like getting kicked in the nuts. Did you know that every paved intersection in Japan has ridges? I do now!
At one point we actually got stopped by a cop who didn't like what we were doing. He was more concerned that the bike might be stolen which is Japan's most common crime. Being foreigners, we obviously fit his description of "suspicious." However, our delay was negligible and he didn't even bother to ask for our papers. Indeed, I'm not even sure why he really stopped us.
Eventually we had to stop because I couldn't take all the bumping or the strain of holding my legs off the ground anymore. We made it all the way to Umeda which was still quite active despite the late hour. Scott locked his bike near a pedestrian bridge and we hit a nearby bar that Scott said "catered to foreigners." There were quite a few inside but it wasn't anything like the disparity we experienced in Cafe Absinthe. We each had one drink and then things got tricky. There was a cute Japanese girl sitting alone at the bar and Scott suggested I go talk to her. Naturally, I had a million reasons not to but they were all bullshit and I knew it. So I went to the bathroom first before approaching this complete stranger and trying to initiate conversation. Strictly speaking, I have never done anything like this in my entire life.
Oddly enough, I wasn't that nervous. Maybe it was the alcohol or maybe I was just starting to get used to the idea of meeting strangers. It was a moot point anyway; she simply wasn't interested. On Scott's suggestion, I tried to begin in English (something like "Would you like to talk?") since it was a foreigner bar and he assumed she was looking for one. She indicated that she didn't speak English. I tried a follow-up in Japanese (Hanashitai?) but she again passed on my offer to talk. No big deal, really; I'll probably never see her again so who cares.
We ended up meeting some people instead: a trio of girls from Morocco, a business-suit guy from New York and two British dudes. Everyone spoke English so the conversations came easily. I actually never drank another beer although I did smoke a few cigarettes; whenever one of the ladies pulled one out I offered to light it and got one in return. We ended up playing a casual game of darts using some machine. I have no idea how to play beyond throwing the darts towards the middle but no one really cared. One girl in particular was being very flirty, casually making contact with me whenever we passed one another. So I went ahead and flirted right back, touching her whenever she came near. Nothing dirty, mostly hands, arms, shoulders and the occasional waist. It felt liberating to finally be like those guys I always envied in bars, casually touching a complete stranger because we were both just having a good time.
Eventually Scott and I went back to his place; it was getting pretty late and we both tired. If I had been there alone or if I had my own place in Osaka, maybe I could have tried to initiate something else with that flirty girl. I don't know what, where or how, but I could have tried something. I probably should have tried to get her number but I didn't. So sue me. I had fun, and that's the point of that story. We taxied back to Scott's home and crashed. I actually slept fairly well this time and Scott said I didn't snore much at all.
When I woke up I felt very odd. My head hurt and standing up was difficult. I had read a bit about absinthe hangovers being rough on the equilibrium so I spent most of the morning lying or sitting on the floor (or in the bathroom). Scott had a bit of a hangover himself despite not drinking any absinthe. We had actually made plans to go to some kind of brewery today but we weren't in the mood to rush out and start drinking again so we cancelled. I felt bad that my plan had ended up affecting his plan but he insisted it was no big deal and we could just go some other time.
We ate lunch at Shin Osaka station which I only mention because it was particularly delicious. We had curry but this place was a little different. They offered two distinct styles, the typical Japanese style (which was curiously called "European Style" on their English menu) and a "dry taste" Indian-style. "Dry taste" was written 辛口 (karakuchi) and I recognized the first of those symbols as meaning "spicy." I chose the "dry taste" sauce and I was impressed. It was the best curry I've had in Japan, indeed, the best curry I had eaten in a while. Much spicier than normal! I also got the "half-cooked" (半熟, hanjuku) egg on top which turned out to be their way of saying soft-boiled.
Scott and I spent the day walking around Nanba and Umeda, checking out Den Den Town among other things. I took notice of the high concentration of "adult" video stores nestled in between (sometimes inside) the many electronics stores; Scott pointed out that it was a safe assumption that anyone interested in electronics this much was probably a connoisseur of the erotic arts (my words, not his). Somehow, these stores seemed a lot less seedy or creepy than the adult video stores you see in the U.S. Perhaps because porn doesn't quite carry the social stigma it does at home? Maybe they just had better lighting.
OK, I'm very tired. Not much else happened today anyway; we took it easy today so that we might try drinking again tomorrow. Typing a two day post is exhausting, especially one with pictures and tales of drinking and trying to meet women. Fuck trying, I did meet women. A winner is me!
つづく... (Click here to read more)
First snail I've seen in a long time that wasn't served to me on a plate.
A few minutes after yesterday's novelty post, I went on a little cultural expedition of sorts. Foreign students like myself are encouraged to join one of the myriad of student clubs here at KG. Of course, none of the clubs were active before the Japanese students started showing up last week so I've had to wait nearly a month to explore my options. Since I seem to have an affinity for kanji and I yearn to express myself artistically, I figured I would check out the Shodô (書道) club, a.k.a. Japanese calligraphy.
Since it's a "traditional" art form, we practiced in a Japanese-style room (和室, washitsu) and sat on the floor. Ideally, shodô should be done while sitting in the seiza (正座) position but since that hurts like hell and takes a lot of practice to do right anyway they said it didn't matter. I suppose I could try practicing that in my dorm room sometimes, it would do me some good to be a little more flexible.
Here's the results of my first day. My first ever attempt is in the lower-left hand corner. Pretty skinny and ugly; as they put it, "more fatter is better." One of the girls in the club then painted an example for me to follow, seen directly above it. I then painted the one to the right and then the one below it. Some improvement, I would say, so not bad for an hour's work. You may notice that's the same character seen in the feitclub.com banner seen on every page of my website. It can be translated as "fight." Get it? It's just another part of my wicked pun of a sitename.
The artist poses with his best work of the day
I returned to dorm to prepare for an evening on the streets of Osaka. Since today was a national holiday, Autumnal Equinox Day (秋分の日, shûbun no hi), I felt it was in my best interest to start partying on Thursday night. Scott agreed, and we made a plan to meet in Shinsaibashi (心斎橋). I invited the aforementioned girl next to me in the computer room to join us but she eventually said she had other plans. I'll ask her again though, I think she's looking to party.
The best part of this story is where I had planned to go. I had heard some incidental information in Japanese class yesterday about someplace called "Club Absinthe." Hearing the A-word caught my attention: it's illegal in the States although I did have some at a New Year's party two years ago. This was the first I had heard of it since and I had no idea it was legal here in Japan. I asked if that was "just a name" or if they really served the good shit. She said she thought they did but she heard about it from a friend and had yet to go. Probing for more info (and also wondering if we might go together or something) I asked her where it was. She again said her friend knew but told me that her friend heard about it from a professor. Get this: it was one of my professors, the same cool guy who gave the only speech worth hearing at the Opening Ceremonies last month!
Since I knew him from class I figured it would be perfectly acceptable to knock on his office door and ask him about the club. The lights were out but he was in there, apparently about to rest up before his first class of the day. I hesitated to knock but I figured there was no harm in it; he wasn't asleep yet and invited me in. I must say, the professors' offices here are really nice. Lots of space, a private sink and obviously the A/C is under their complete control. His office was fucking freezing and I love that. He also had a bad-ass poster of some Japanese movie starring Ken Takakura. I swear, this guy is in the running for coolest teacher worldwide. He drew me a map of how to get to the place from Shinsaibashi station and also told me all about the owner, a Russian guy named Demitri who married a Japanese woman he met in Israel. Of course, they serve Middle Eastern food, an unexpected bonus! I thought I'd not find any here at all and I grew quite fond of it this summer.
Map in hand, I met Scott down in Shinsaibashi. Scott apparently used to live in this area so he was very familiar with all the streets and such, although he didn't know this particular place. He also had no idea what Absinthe was. He'd find out soon enough! The map worked perfectly. First, you walk down Midosuji St. (御堂筋通り) and turn right between the "OPA" building and Hotel Nikko. Follow this street until it comes to a T-stop. Turn right and look to the right.
Standing on Midosuji St. looking right. That's OPA on the left.
There she is! Of course, the sign is green.
It's actually called "Cafe Absinthe" but otherwise his directions were perfect. Sitting inside there was just like being back in New York, only cooler in a way. There were more foreigners inside than Japanese and the staff spoke to us in English, a nice change of pace. The menu was clear and easy to read too, with everything clearly written in both languages. Everyone was chill as fuck and nearly everyone was drinking or smoking (some both, can't do that in NY anymore). I ended up ordering a falafel sandwich which was a little pricey but not outrageously so. The beers were a little steep though, with the cheapest drafts at 600 Yen. My falafel was, of course, uniquely Japanese. Instead of a big burrito-like wrapped sandwich, I got four falafels individually placed in small pieces of pita bread with a dipping sauce and small pieces of vegetables on the side. Very tasty!
Alright, enough bullshit about the food: it's absinthe time. With two beers in my stomach and the last train and my wallet on my mind, I opted to try the basic, cheapest brand they offered (but still 800 Yen). Just one glass this one time. There was an amusing little ritual where the absinthe was poured over a sugar cube into a glass and then the cube was burned. Once the fire went out, I was told to pour water over the cube into the glass and drink the solution.
Fire GOOD!
If you've never drank absinthe, it tastes absolutely awful. The only flavor I can compare it to is licorice which I can't stand either. If you have drank it before and you know how it can make you feel, I'm afraid my story may disappoint you. Maybe it was just the brand or the fact that I only had one glass but I didn't get any of the funny effects. It was merely one stiff-ass drink, not that there's anything wrong with that! However, the prices were a little steep for us to make a night of it so Scott and I decided to leave. As I summoned the check, who should show up but my professor! I said hi and thanked him again, introduced him to Scott as he introduced me to all his friends. Two of them had actually been sitting next to us the entire evening. I wanted to kick myself for leaving as my professor was coming since I've never ever had an opportunity to hang out with an authority figure like that, but I was there with Scott and it would have been really awkward for him, I think. Maybe next time (and there will be a next time, I promise).
We took a stroll down a few side streets and reached a small park full of young people out for the evening. Since neither of us were tipsy enough, we opted to buy some beer in a nearby convenience store and drink in the park. That's perfectly legal here in Japan, by the way, another reason things are a little cooler here than in New York. Scott bought one first before I realized that was OK, then I went in for one of my own. In the store I made eye contact with a American guy wearing a Red Sox hat; we exchanged a "what's up" head nod. When I came out, I was surprised to see he and his Japanese (male) friend were chatting with Scott. We all ended up hanging out in the park for an hour or so, and eventually one of their Japanese (female) friends came by and joined us. It turns out both Japanese folks were KG students, although the American was at a different university in the area.
Scott demonstrates an inexpensive way to have fun in Japan, conbini ("conveni[ence]") drinking.
Free dance show in the park that night! As wild as New York is, you don't often see people doing choreographed dances for fun in public. Panhandling, maybe...
From left to right, Tôru, Rob/Bob (forgot which but both sound right) and Asuka. Fun side note: Tôru actually asked me if I had "fucked anyone" yet at KG.
While we were hanging out, it came time for me to leave if I was to catch the last train. Since we were having fun, Scott suggested I skip it and just stay out with him and eventually crash at his place. I agreed. We left the park and our new friends behind to recover Scott's bike and start the long trek towards his home. Along the way we took advantage of Japan's liberal attitude towards public micturition. Scott wasn't sure if it's completely legal but no one seemed to care when we went in a dark street corner.
When we reached Scott's bike there was a minor logistical problem: he had one and I didn't, so our only option was for me to sit on the back while Scott pedaled. This is a common sight in Japan but it wasn't easy. First, I had to hold my feet off the ground which required a fair amount of leg strength. Second, there was enough space for me but it wasn't padded at all, so every bump felt like getting kicked in the nuts. Did you know that every paved intersection in Japan has ridges? I do now!
At one point we actually got stopped by a cop who didn't like what we were doing. He was more concerned that the bike might be stolen which is Japan's most common crime. Being foreigners, we obviously fit his description of "suspicious." However, our delay was negligible and he didn't even bother to ask for our papers. Indeed, I'm not even sure why he really stopped us.
Eventually we had to stop because I couldn't take all the bumping or the strain of holding my legs off the ground anymore. We made it all the way to Umeda which was still quite active despite the late hour. Scott locked his bike near a pedestrian bridge and we hit a nearby bar that Scott said "catered to foreigners." There were quite a few inside but it wasn't anything like the disparity we experienced in Cafe Absinthe. We each had one drink and then things got tricky. There was a cute Japanese girl sitting alone at the bar and Scott suggested I go talk to her. Naturally, I had a million reasons not to but they were all bullshit and I knew it. So I went to the bathroom first before approaching this complete stranger and trying to initiate conversation. Strictly speaking, I have never done anything like this in my entire life.
Oddly enough, I wasn't that nervous. Maybe it was the alcohol or maybe I was just starting to get used to the idea of meeting strangers. It was a moot point anyway; she simply wasn't interested. On Scott's suggestion, I tried to begin in English (something like "Would you like to talk?") since it was a foreigner bar and he assumed she was looking for one. She indicated that she didn't speak English. I tried a follow-up in Japanese (Hanashitai?) but she again passed on my offer to talk. No big deal, really; I'll probably never see her again so who cares.
We ended up meeting some people instead: a trio of girls from Morocco, a business-suit guy from New York and two British dudes. Everyone spoke English so the conversations came easily. I actually never drank another beer although I did smoke a few cigarettes; whenever one of the ladies pulled one out I offered to light it and got one in return. We ended up playing a casual game of darts using some machine. I have no idea how to play beyond throwing the darts towards the middle but no one really cared. One girl in particular was being very flirty, casually making contact with me whenever we passed one another. So I went ahead and flirted right back, touching her whenever she came near. Nothing dirty, mostly hands, arms, shoulders and the occasional waist. It felt liberating to finally be like those guys I always envied in bars, casually touching a complete stranger because we were both just having a good time.
Eventually Scott and I went back to his place; it was getting pretty late and we both tired. If I had been there alone or if I had my own place in Osaka, maybe I could have tried to initiate something else with that flirty girl. I don't know what, where or how, but I could have tried something. I probably should have tried to get her number but I didn't. So sue me. I had fun, and that's the point of that story. We taxied back to Scott's home and crashed. I actually slept fairly well this time and Scott said I didn't snore much at all.
When I woke up I felt very odd. My head hurt and standing up was difficult. I had read a bit about absinthe hangovers being rough on the equilibrium so I spent most of the morning lying or sitting on the floor (or in the bathroom). Scott had a bit of a hangover himself despite not drinking any absinthe. We had actually made plans to go to some kind of brewery today but we weren't in the mood to rush out and start drinking again so we cancelled. I felt bad that my plan had ended up affecting his plan but he insisted it was no big deal and we could just go some other time.
We ate lunch at Shin Osaka station which I only mention because it was particularly delicious. We had curry but this place was a little different. They offered two distinct styles, the typical Japanese style (which was curiously called "European Style" on their English menu) and a "dry taste" Indian-style. "Dry taste" was written 辛口 (karakuchi) and I recognized the first of those symbols as meaning "spicy." I chose the "dry taste" sauce and I was impressed. It was the best curry I've had in Japan, indeed, the best curry I had eaten in a while. Much spicier than normal! I also got the "half-cooked" (半熟, hanjuku) egg on top which turned out to be their way of saying soft-boiled.
Scott and I spent the day walking around Nanba and Umeda, checking out Den Den Town among other things. I took notice of the high concentration of "adult" video stores nestled in between (sometimes inside) the many electronics stores; Scott pointed out that it was a safe assumption that anyone interested in electronics this much was probably a connoisseur of the erotic arts (my words, not his). Somehow, these stores seemed a lot less seedy or creepy than the adult video stores you see in the U.S. Perhaps because porn doesn't quite carry the social stigma it does at home? Maybe they just had better lighting.
OK, I'm very tired. Not much else happened today anyway; we took it easy today so that we might try drinking again tomorrow. Typing a two day post is exhausting, especially one with pictures and tales of drinking and trying to meet women. Fuck trying, I did meet women. A winner is me!
つづく... (Click here to read more)
Thursday, September 22, 2005
And There Was Much Rejoicing
Just chilling in the computer lounge right now, talking with a girl I met in Albany last year, when two items from the NY Times jumped out and grabbed my attention:
Deal Is Reached to Put Toilets on City Streets - I've never understood why this wasn't done ten or fifteen years ago. If this prevents even one person from pissing on the streets, it's worth it.
Metro-North Will Schedule Latest Trains Even Later - I never missed that last train but I was plenty scared that I might someday. Again, I look forward to the day when they run 24 hours a day. If the city never sleeps, why should Metro-North?
つづく... (Click here to read more)
Deal Is Reached to Put Toilets on City Streets - I've never understood why this wasn't done ten or fifteen years ago. If this prevents even one person from pissing on the streets, it's worth it.
Metro-North Will Schedule Latest Trains Even Later - I never missed that last train but I was plenty scared that I might someday. Again, I look forward to the day when they run 24 hours a day. If the city never sleeps, why should Metro-North?
つづく... (Click here to read more)
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
No Pushing!
Hey, things are starting to get a little crowded here at feitclub.com with the announced arrivals of a few of my fellow students here at Kansai Gaidai. One of whom, amazingly, is actually Megan, the girl with the tattoo who I later anxiously introduced myself to. What are the odds on that? Since most visitors come and go without saying anything, I can therefore deduce that there are at least six or seven KG students reading this blog on a regular basis. I suppose this violates, in principle, the first and second rule but it feels good to know that people are out there, reading my words. Not that I don't love writing for the sake of writing, but an audience makes everything better!
I actually ran into Megan in the computer room at school this morning and we shared a few words. Once my classes were finished I ended up reading a bit of her blog, which seems to go back three years! Holy Crap! I'm only a year and a half into mine and it took me nearly five months to "find my voice," so to speak. I tried to imagine where I'll be after three years of blogging...I should be about ready to graduate and return to the job market. Hmm, mixed emotions there.
I ended up having Chinese food for dinner. While I was eating it I realized that I kind of missed the over-sauced, unhealthy Chinese food we have in the states. Not that this wasn't delicious, but I was thinking that American Chinese food is actually a unique creation that most people here have never eaten. I started wondering if some smart folks shouldn't try to import American Chinese food and market it as some kind of "fusion" food or something. I think fortune cookies and General Tso's chicken would go over really big here. Quick, someone jump on this idea and send me a check!
Walking home from the restaurant I nearly ran into a fellow student walking home. I tend to walk pretty fast but I always feel weird about rushing past someone unless I'm really in a hurry to get somewhere, which I wasn't. So I kind of slowed down but then I realized I was now intentionally slowing my pace so I could walk behind her, which struck me as odd. Somewhere in this jumble of thoughts, she turned around and said "Hi."
I said "Hi."
"How's it going?"
"Fine, thanks." Right here, the old me would have let the conversation die. Instead, I kept it going with "How are you?" She responded and we ended up talking all the way back to the dorms (she lives next door in Seminar House 3). This might sound like a trivial matter but I have to actively remind myself to do things like this. This is how most people behave and how most people meet other people. True, I don't have to do little things like this but every step I take towards socializing is a victory for my new resolve. I know, in one sense, it's not productive or particularly healthy to concern myself with what's "normal" since that has no relevance; we are who we are, I think. However, given that I don't like who I am and I loathe being alone, it's up to me to do more to be social. No matter how many of my friends might say I'm "handsome," "smart," "charming" or even "fascinating," (those are all actual quotes) unless I behave a certain way in public no one is going to bother talking to me, let alone get to know me, befriend me or fall in love with me.
We've all heard the expression, "It takes money to make money." Well, it also takes friendliness to make friends. If I had realized that fifteen or twenty years ago my life might be very different today.
つづく... (Click here to read more)
I actually ran into Megan in the computer room at school this morning and we shared a few words. Once my classes were finished I ended up reading a bit of her blog, which seems to go back three years! Holy Crap! I'm only a year and a half into mine and it took me nearly five months to "find my voice," so to speak. I tried to imagine where I'll be after three years of blogging...I should be about ready to graduate and return to the job market. Hmm, mixed emotions there.
I ended up having Chinese food for dinner. While I was eating it I realized that I kind of missed the over-sauced, unhealthy Chinese food we have in the states. Not that this wasn't delicious, but I was thinking that American Chinese food is actually a unique creation that most people here have never eaten. I started wondering if some smart folks shouldn't try to import American Chinese food and market it as some kind of "fusion" food or something. I think fortune cookies and General Tso's chicken would go over really big here. Quick, someone jump on this idea and send me a check!
Walking home from the restaurant I nearly ran into a fellow student walking home. I tend to walk pretty fast but I always feel weird about rushing past someone unless I'm really in a hurry to get somewhere, which I wasn't. So I kind of slowed down but then I realized I was now intentionally slowing my pace so I could walk behind her, which struck me as odd. Somewhere in this jumble of thoughts, she turned around and said "Hi."
I said "Hi."
"How's it going?"
"Fine, thanks." Right here, the old me would have let the conversation die. Instead, I kept it going with "How are you?" She responded and we ended up talking all the way back to the dorms (she lives next door in Seminar House 3). This might sound like a trivial matter but I have to actively remind myself to do things like this. This is how most people behave and how most people meet other people. True, I don't have to do little things like this but every step I take towards socializing is a victory for my new resolve. I know, in one sense, it's not productive or particularly healthy to concern myself with what's "normal" since that has no relevance; we are who we are, I think. However, given that I don't like who I am and I loathe being alone, it's up to me to do more to be social. No matter how many of my friends might say I'm "handsome," "smart," "charming" or even "fascinating," (those are all actual quotes) unless I behave a certain way in public no one is going to bother talking to me, let alone get to know me, befriend me or fall in love with me.
We've all heard the expression, "It takes money to make money." Well, it also takes friendliness to make friends. If I had realized that fifteen or twenty years ago my life might be very different today.
つづく... (Click here to read more)
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
Transformation
Now that the Japanese students have formally begun their school year, the entire campus has transformed. The first three weeks of the semester, everything was oddly quiet. All of the foreign students study in one building so the other six or seven buildings just sat empty. The sports fields were silent save for an occasional practice and generally the entire property just felt empty. Now everyone is here and people are doing everything. It's better this way I think and I wonder why we spent so long here by ourselves. Was it intentional to allow us to adjust or is the just a consequence of trying to have our academic calendar resemble an American university's?
Today I finally met my "Speaking Partner." The university has this program in place where interested students can be introduced to other students so that they can chat and get to know one another. I signed up and first made contact with my speaking partner via e-mail in August and we had brief exchanges about religion, the Bible, and Fight Club. Yet just a day or two after I arrived in Japan, she left on a trip to Iceland. Yes, Iceland! So these last few weeks I've been watching everyone else talk to their speaking partners, hang out with them or visit their homes while I've just been on my own.
No matter, she's back from Iceland and we had lunch together today! Her name is Yui and she brought photographs from her trip which I appreciated. Iceland is a very beautiful place and apparently it's cold there right now. For some reason I though it was actually warm in the summer but I guess they call it "Iceland" for a reason: all the photos were of people bundled up in overcoats and fuzzy hoods. It reminded me of Alaska with scenic glaciers and huge tracts of undeveloped, natural scenery. Seems like a wonderful place to visit!
Anyway, Yui and I got along very well. She's a student of English so our conversation went much more smoothly than the meetings I had this past weekend. Both us would dip between Japanese and English when necessary, helping each other with new or unfamiliar words. She actually went and saw Fight Club after talking to me about it which was pretty cool; she wasn't into the fighting but she definitely enjoyed the story. Sounds like a "thumbs up" to me. She mentioned that she was eager to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory because she "likes Johnny Depp" like every other Japanese girl I have ever met. Similarly, she was surprised to hear that this new movie is actually a remake of an old movie (itself based on an even older book). I guess the Gene Wilder version didn't get much play over here in Japan? Too bad, I still prefer the original.
As far as our "partnership" I don't know where exactly we go from here. I suppose we'll just try to make arrangements to meet up on campus every now and then. I know she lives in Kyoto so I hope we can meet up there sometime as I want to go back there real soon. I'm sure there's literally hundreds of things there I would enjoy seeing.
I think I'll keep things short tonight; with my busy weekend I'm actually starting to fall behind on my numerous e-mail contacts. Maintaining these "penpal" exchanges can be a struggle sometimes but considering how each one of them could potentially turn into a face-to-face meeting, I think it's worth the effort. Speaking of which, since e-mail has virtually replaced the written letter, do think we'll ever come up with a new word for "penpal?" Or will it live on in our lexicon despite the fact that few "penpals" actually involve pens? I guess we will always "dial" a phone number even though there are no more rotary phones.
つづく... (Click here to read more)
Today I finally met my "Speaking Partner." The university has this program in place where interested students can be introduced to other students so that they can chat and get to know one another. I signed up and first made contact with my speaking partner via e-mail in August and we had brief exchanges about religion, the Bible, and Fight Club. Yet just a day or two after I arrived in Japan, she left on a trip to Iceland. Yes, Iceland! So these last few weeks I've been watching everyone else talk to their speaking partners, hang out with them or visit their homes while I've just been on my own.
No matter, she's back from Iceland and we had lunch together today! Her name is Yui and she brought photographs from her trip which I appreciated. Iceland is a very beautiful place and apparently it's cold there right now. For some reason I though it was actually warm in the summer but I guess they call it "Iceland" for a reason: all the photos were of people bundled up in overcoats and fuzzy hoods. It reminded me of Alaska with scenic glaciers and huge tracts of undeveloped, natural scenery. Seems like a wonderful place to visit!
Anyway, Yui and I got along very well. She's a student of English so our conversation went much more smoothly than the meetings I had this past weekend. Both us would dip between Japanese and English when necessary, helping each other with new or unfamiliar words. She actually went and saw Fight Club after talking to me about it which was pretty cool; she wasn't into the fighting but she definitely enjoyed the story. Sounds like a "thumbs up" to me. She mentioned that she was eager to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory because she "likes Johnny Depp" like every other Japanese girl I have ever met. Similarly, she was surprised to hear that this new movie is actually a remake of an old movie (itself based on an even older book). I guess the Gene Wilder version didn't get much play over here in Japan? Too bad, I still prefer the original.
As far as our "partnership" I don't know where exactly we go from here. I suppose we'll just try to make arrangements to meet up on campus every now and then. I know she lives in Kyoto so I hope we can meet up there sometime as I want to go back there real soon. I'm sure there's literally hundreds of things there I would enjoy seeing.
I think I'll keep things short tonight; with my busy weekend I'm actually starting to fall behind on my numerous e-mail contacts. Maintaining these "penpal" exchanges can be a struggle sometimes but considering how each one of them could potentially turn into a face-to-face meeting, I think it's worth the effort. Speaking of which, since e-mail has virtually replaced the written letter, do think we'll ever come up with a new word for "penpal?" Or will it live on in our lexicon despite the fact that few "penpals" actually involve pens? I guess we will always "dial" a phone number even though there are no more rotary phones.
つづく... (Click here to read more)
Monday, September 19, 2005
Kobe!
That's right, I said Kôbe!! Not the beef or the basketball wiz, I'm talking about the beautiful port city of Kobe, Japan. Not only did I see it for the first time today, I met a young lady there while I was at it.
Like yesterday I was very cautious to avoid a repeat of Friday's debacle. I had Mako's mobile number and we spoke on the phone Sunday night. Plus, we made very detailed arrangements of precisely where and when we would meet. We didn't exchange photos which I suppose is more of a risk for me than for her (after all, there aren't that many Americans walking in a given area at a given time so I'm easy to pick out of a crowd) but it was a risk I was willing to take. Worst case scenario: if she didn't make it I could always just explore a new city on my own. But she did make it and we met precisely where she had picked out in Sannomiya Station.
Formal wear for the upscale Tigers fans.
Random shots from our walk through Kobe.
Our first stop was Kobe's Chinatown. I wish I had been hungry because there were delicious looking meat buns everywhere! It was pretty small as Chinatowns go but it was a lot cleaner than most of the other ones I have seen, and even though it was small it seemed very lively, much more so than the shitty-ass one in Boston. I bought a bubble tea (known here as miruku tii) which was overpriced and undersized but I needed something to sooth my throat. I don't think I mentioned this recently but my dreams of an end to summer heat and humidity were short-lived. This weekend has been quite summer-like and I just want the whole mess to be over already.
It seems like every Chinatown around the world has a gate like this so where the hell is it in New York?
Some kind of festival in progress. Pay 200 Yen, turn the wheel and they ring the gong. Don't ask me what it all means.
From Chinatown we walked towards the harbor area to "Meriken Park" for some great views. I was actually kind of negligent when it came to taking pictures because I wanted to take pictures of just about everything. There were fountains with water running throughout the park, a memorial for the Great Hanshin earthquake and just lots of neat looking things. Why didn't I take more pictures? Frankly, I was busy trying to talk to Mako and stopping to take a picture is a real conversation-stopper and concentration breaker. Don't worry, I'll go back again sometime and take more pictures, I promise!
Mako said that tower is "the symbol of Kobe." Not bad, as symbols go.
Just panned a bit to the right. That big hotel is where Mako works.
We walked through the park to Harbor Island, an artificially created development (one of many around here) offering commercial and residential space by the water. It was around this time that we opted to eat. Of the options we saw, a Korean restaurant jumped out as particularly tasty looking and affordable as well. We both ordered some bibimbap which was actually listed as bibinba in the menu. I guess transliterating sounds between languages is never an exact science. Sadly, it wasn't nearly as spicy as the first time I had this dish over the summer. Man, do I love referencing trivial shit like past meals thanks to this blog! Anyway, I was very interested in the tea they gave us to drink as it had a flavor I couldn't quite place. Mako filled me in: it's "oksusu-cha," made with corn! Very odd but tasty, I thought. Best of all, it was free.
I'm talking so much about Kobe I haven't really said much about Mako yet. I think our conversation went a little smoother than my meeting yesterday with Mayumi. I don't know if I spoke better Japanese or if Mako spoke better English or somewhere in between, but I felt much better about the whole affair today compared to yesterday. Sure, there were plenty of awkward silences and at times we couldn't understand one another but unless I meet a native English speaker that's unavoidable. Frankly, even when I do meet native English speakers we have those problems!
After lunch, we walked through a busy shopping area to find a bus. Kobe is kind of built on a slant so the plan was to take a bus uphill (past everything we had already seen), see some new things near the top of the hill and then walk our way back down to the station. The bus was quite crowded; I guess because of the holiday a lot of people went out on the town for some sightseeing. I kind of fell asleep on the bus for a few seconds but I don't think Mako noticed because we weren't sitting next to each other. Not that falling asleep is a crime but it doesn't make me seem very active.
No, it's not a church, but Mako said people get married there. So what is it then?
Once we reached a sufficient elevation we started walking up. The weather was hot and uncooperative there was no turning back. Well, I guess there was, but not until after seeing the sights!
First up was this jinja (神社) which had some steep stairs but paid off with a terrific view of city. Well, it would have been better if it hadn't been such a hazy, cloudy day but it still looked very nice. I thought it was very interesting when Mako, without explanation, went into a little "worship" routine by ringing the bell and clapping her hands. I'm not sure if she wanted me to follow suit or she just went through it all for her own reasons. She did say and I didn't ask.
That's right, I'm wearing a new belt.
From the shrine we kept walking uphill, exploring the area. Apparently the Kitano neighborhood was once very popular with foreign residents so much of the architecture is decidely European. Many of the restaurants were foreign-themed and had staff dressed in traditional clothes from...well, I'm not sure where, but they sure weren't Japanese clothes. Eventually the heat got to us and we had to stop for a beverage from a machine, although we were just steps away from our goal: the Uroko House.
This century-old house was once a hang-out for rich foreign-types and now we all get to walk around inside. Our tickets included a towelette that had been kept in a freezer (worth the price of admission alone). All the decor was intended to preserve that of turn-of-the-century Victorian style, but I found an amusing anachronism: sitting next to a book by Charles Dickens was an old-looking but obviously contemporary work by John le Carré. That's like putting a tazer next to artifacts from World War II! I pointed this out to Mako to her amusement. At least, I think she was amused. Reading Japanese laughter is not as easy as it sounds.
Included in the house was a small but interesting art museum. I could not discern any pattern in the exhibited works, other than that many of the pieces were Russian. One of the first things in the lobby was a striking painting of Lenin addressing the masses. The third floor was dedicated to the work of a Japanese artist who looked to be inspired by European work. I'm pretty sure that was the first time I've seen a Japanese artist paint Jesus before.
From the house we walked all the way down to the station, stopping for some ice cream. Walking down through the city I think I realized what it was about the city of Kobe that I found so appealing. Built on an gradient, right by the sea, Chinatown, lots of appealing architecture...this place reminds me of San Francisco! I'm not completely sure why the city feels so "Western," if that makes any sense. Maybe it has something to do with its history as a port city, maybe it's the decades of foreigners living there, but I immediately felt very comfortable hanging out there.
This reads: "Danger fully to the female environment. Correct crime prevention!" I think the guys on the right just look lonely.
Yes, it's a working water wheel. As soon as I saw this, I was sure that Kobe was awesome.
Mako and I rode the same train back towards Osaka although she got off an earlier stop than I did. I don't want to get ahead of myself here but I felt totally jazzed about today. I saw a new city, met a new person and I think it all went great. Part of me wonders if Mako felt the same way. This could be nothing, but when we were on the train it wasn't crowded at all but she seemed to be standing very close to me. Eh, forget it: nothing happened and if I think it did it'll all go horribly wrong. Let's just say that I had fun and I hope to see Mako again, the sooner the better.
As soon as I got back to the dorm I spent two hours with some students from my Justice class finishing up a little group project. Then I spent the rest of the evening repairing my blog (you may have noticed that things looked a bit off these last few days), typing this new post and doing my laundry.
Short school week starts tomorrow and ends Thursday. Who will I meet next? Wait and see...
つづく... (Click here to read more)
Like yesterday I was very cautious to avoid a repeat of Friday's debacle. I had Mako's mobile number and we spoke on the phone Sunday night. Plus, we made very detailed arrangements of precisely where and when we would meet. We didn't exchange photos which I suppose is more of a risk for me than for her (after all, there aren't that many Americans walking in a given area at a given time so I'm easy to pick out of a crowd) but it was a risk I was willing to take. Worst case scenario: if she didn't make it I could always just explore a new city on my own. But she did make it and we met precisely where she had picked out in Sannomiya Station.
Formal wear for the upscale Tigers fans.
Random shots from our walk through Kobe.
Our first stop was Kobe's Chinatown. I wish I had been hungry because there were delicious looking meat buns everywhere! It was pretty small as Chinatowns go but it was a lot cleaner than most of the other ones I have seen, and even though it was small it seemed very lively, much more so than the shitty-ass one in Boston. I bought a bubble tea (known here as miruku tii) which was overpriced and undersized but I needed something to sooth my throat. I don't think I mentioned this recently but my dreams of an end to summer heat and humidity were short-lived. This weekend has been quite summer-like and I just want the whole mess to be over already.
It seems like every Chinatown around the world has a gate like this so where the hell is it in New York?
Some kind of festival in progress. Pay 200 Yen, turn the wheel and they ring the gong. Don't ask me what it all means.
From Chinatown we walked towards the harbor area to "Meriken Park" for some great views. I was actually kind of negligent when it came to taking pictures because I wanted to take pictures of just about everything. There were fountains with water running throughout the park, a memorial for the Great Hanshin earthquake and just lots of neat looking things. Why didn't I take more pictures? Frankly, I was busy trying to talk to Mako and stopping to take a picture is a real conversation-stopper and concentration breaker. Don't worry, I'll go back again sometime and take more pictures, I promise!
Mako said that tower is "the symbol of Kobe." Not bad, as symbols go.
Just panned a bit to the right. That big hotel is where Mako works.
We walked through the park to Harbor Island, an artificially created development (one of many around here) offering commercial and residential space by the water. It was around this time that we opted to eat. Of the options we saw, a Korean restaurant jumped out as particularly tasty looking and affordable as well. We both ordered some bibimbap which was actually listed as bibinba in the menu. I guess transliterating sounds between languages is never an exact science. Sadly, it wasn't nearly as spicy as the first time I had this dish over the summer. Man, do I love referencing trivial shit like past meals thanks to this blog! Anyway, I was very interested in the tea they gave us to drink as it had a flavor I couldn't quite place. Mako filled me in: it's "oksusu-cha," made with corn! Very odd but tasty, I thought. Best of all, it was free.
I'm talking so much about Kobe I haven't really said much about Mako yet. I think our conversation went a little smoother than my meeting yesterday with Mayumi. I don't know if I spoke better Japanese or if Mako spoke better English or somewhere in between, but I felt much better about the whole affair today compared to yesterday. Sure, there were plenty of awkward silences and at times we couldn't understand one another but unless I meet a native English speaker that's unavoidable. Frankly, even when I do meet native English speakers we have those problems!
After lunch, we walked through a busy shopping area to find a bus. Kobe is kind of built on a slant so the plan was to take a bus uphill (past everything we had already seen), see some new things near the top of the hill and then walk our way back down to the station. The bus was quite crowded; I guess because of the holiday a lot of people went out on the town for some sightseeing. I kind of fell asleep on the bus for a few seconds but I don't think Mako noticed because we weren't sitting next to each other. Not that falling asleep is a crime but it doesn't make me seem very active.
No, it's not a church, but Mako said people get married there. So what is it then?
Once we reached a sufficient elevation we started walking up. The weather was hot and uncooperative there was no turning back. Well, I guess there was, but not until after seeing the sights!
First up was this jinja (神社) which had some steep stairs but paid off with a terrific view of city. Well, it would have been better if it hadn't been such a hazy, cloudy day but it still looked very nice. I thought it was very interesting when Mako, without explanation, went into a little "worship" routine by ringing the bell and clapping her hands. I'm not sure if she wanted me to follow suit or she just went through it all for her own reasons. She did say and I didn't ask.
That's right, I'm wearing a new belt.
From the shrine we kept walking uphill, exploring the area. Apparently the Kitano neighborhood was once very popular with foreign residents so much of the architecture is decidely European. Many of the restaurants were foreign-themed and had staff dressed in traditional clothes from...well, I'm not sure where, but they sure weren't Japanese clothes. Eventually the heat got to us and we had to stop for a beverage from a machine, although we were just steps away from our goal: the Uroko House.
This century-old house was once a hang-out for rich foreign-types and now we all get to walk around inside. Our tickets included a towelette that had been kept in a freezer (worth the price of admission alone). All the decor was intended to preserve that of turn-of-the-century Victorian style, but I found an amusing anachronism: sitting next to a book by Charles Dickens was an old-looking but obviously contemporary work by John le Carré. That's like putting a tazer next to artifacts from World War II! I pointed this out to Mako to her amusement. At least, I think she was amused. Reading Japanese laughter is not as easy as it sounds.
Included in the house was a small but interesting art museum. I could not discern any pattern in the exhibited works, other than that many of the pieces were Russian. One of the first things in the lobby was a striking painting of Lenin addressing the masses. The third floor was dedicated to the work of a Japanese artist who looked to be inspired by European work. I'm pretty sure that was the first time I've seen a Japanese artist paint Jesus before.
From the house we walked all the way down to the station, stopping for some ice cream. Walking down through the city I think I realized what it was about the city of Kobe that I found so appealing. Built on an gradient, right by the sea, Chinatown, lots of appealing architecture...this place reminds me of San Francisco! I'm not completely sure why the city feels so "Western," if that makes any sense. Maybe it has something to do with its history as a port city, maybe it's the decades of foreigners living there, but I immediately felt very comfortable hanging out there.
This reads: "Danger fully to the female environment. Correct crime prevention!" I think the guys on the right just look lonely.
Yes, it's a working water wheel. As soon as I saw this, I was sure that Kobe was awesome.
Mako and I rode the same train back towards Osaka although she got off an earlier stop than I did. I don't want to get ahead of myself here but I felt totally jazzed about today. I saw a new city, met a new person and I think it all went great. Part of me wonders if Mako felt the same way. This could be nothing, but when we were on the train it wasn't crowded at all but she seemed to be standing very close to me. Eh, forget it: nothing happened and if I think it did it'll all go horribly wrong. Let's just say that I had fun and I hope to see Mako again, the sooner the better.
As soon as I got back to the dorm I spent two hours with some students from my Justice class finishing up a little group project. Then I spent the rest of the evening repairing my blog (you may have noticed that things looked a bit off these last few days), typing this new post and doing my laundry.
Short school week starts tomorrow and ends Thursday. Who will I meet next? Wait and see...
つづく... (Click here to read more)
Sunday, September 18, 2005
Can't Stop
Friday night I arranged a meeting in downtown Osaka with a woman over the Internet, got "stood up" (more or less) and spent the rest of the evening upset about it. Today I got right back on the horse and met another woman via the Internet in downtown Osaka only this time, it worked (more or less).
Since the Japanese students at my university only really started this past Friday, I have been exploring a number of Internet venues to meet new people. OK, that's not entirely true: I also do it because I'm much more comfortable typing than talking to a real person, but I'm working on that. Anyway, the first attempt at meeting one of those people failed miserably on Friday and you all heard that story already. Today I orchestrated a meeting with a young woman I met on Japan Guide, a site solely about Japan with a fairly bustling forum of people looking to meet other people. Unlike those jaded people over at CL, I have found that nearly half of the people I have contacted via this forum respond at least once.
Our discussion about potentially meeting today actually started before the unpleasantness on Friday but I took the lessons I learned from that day to heart. Scott had some very good advice: never agree to meet anyone without knowing their mobile contact information. He also said never meet anyone without seeing their picture first which I consider a good idea but not necessarily a deal breaker. Either way, in preparing for today's outing I asked Mayumi for both and she sent them to me last night. I was still a little nervous that she might back out so I made sure to check my e-mail this morning before leaving for the station. On an unrelated personal note, I finally made myself an oatmeal & boiled egg breakfast in the kitchen this morning. The Japanese microwave was a little complicated but posted instructions made everything go smoothly.
I arrived a little too early at Hirakata City Station so I killed some time watching the TV. Or should I say, TVs. There's a whole panel of television sets (I think it's some kind of satellite promotion) and for most of the day they're on and you can watch any channel you want. The only one that has sound is the big one in the middle; I'll try to remember to photograph it next time I'm in the station. Yesterday's Yankee game was being broadcast on tape delay so that's what everyone else was watching. Personally, I had already read the results of the game on the Internet this morning so I was trying to watch Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas on one of the small screens. I love that crazy, profane movies can just be aired here unedited; anything goes! Well, almost anything: it's against the law in Japan to show naked genitalia. Not even in porn!
After watching the end of the game (which the Yanks won 1-0) I made my way via two trains to the "heart" of Osaka, Umeda. As soon as I arrived I sent an e-mail to Mayumi who responded quickly. We e-mailed back and forth a couple times to narrow our locations down and then we met. Conversation was difficult for many reasons. The language barrier was probably the largest reason, although noise in the city contrasting with Mayumi's soft-spokenness didn't help. But we were actually talking a little bit so the stigma of Friday was officially buried. Hooray for me!
First objective was to sit down and have lunch. Much to my surprise, Mayumi said there was a Mexican restaurant in the area. After hearing stories from a few classmates about a trip to a local Mexican joint in Makino, I had burritos on my mind so I thought it was a wonderful idea. I'm sure you won't be surprised to hear that the food didn't live up to tacos and such back home but it was more about meeting a new person than eating fine cuisine. Besides, it wasn't terrible or anything, just uninspired. It still feels weird to eat with a knife and fork in this country too.
After the meal we walked around the area so I could try and do a little shopping. I thought I might buy a new belt because even now that I'm wearing my jeans (the ones that were too tight six months ago) I find myself tugging them up constantly. I guess I must be losing more weight? It's a problem I embrace but it's still a problem that needs a solution. We walked through a variety of trendy shops but most of the belts were too flashy or too damned expensive (10000+ Yen on occasion, damn). Eventually we walked over to Yodobashi Camera which is a large electronics store paired with a department store, curiously named "Comme ça Ism." It's been a long time since I took French but my sister would know: does that make any goddamn sense?
In the electronics store I tried to solve my computer problem by buying a voltage adapter. Not knowing where to find it, I tried asking for help but I was told by the clerk that you don't need an adapter when bringing appliances from the U.S. to Japan. I'm not 100% if that's true or not but I decided to put that quest on hold just to be safe. So we returned to the clothing section to look for belts. Eventually, I think I picked a decent one for less than 2000 Yen which should serve me nicely. I was sure to ask Mayumi if there was anything she wanted to look for since I felt I was hogging all the attention. She said she goes shopping often enough so she didn't need anything right now.
We eventually parted after about three hours together. I'd say the encounter was pretty "successful" in that it occurred and I had fun. It was really hard to have a real conversation but, in theory, the more times I try and do this the easier it should get. The next attempt may come sooner than you think (I won't give any more hints than that)!
Once we split up I decided to stay in the area a bit longer so it would be dinnertime when I got back to Hirakata. I figured the best way to do that was to just check out that huge electronics store again and just browse for a while. More importantly, I really had to take a crap.
Why blog about this everyday occurrence? Well, because it wasn't as easy at it should have been. I kept exploring different restrooms and I kept running into the old-fashioned squat toilets and I just can't work up the nerve to use them. I suppose if it was an absolute crisis and it came down to crapping my pants or squatting over one of those ghastly things (a decision I had to make on my last trip to Japan), I would just succumb and try my best. Otherwise, it's just so gross. I mean, I don't see how anyone does it without shitting on their feet or pants! There's not even anything to hold onto for balance, what if I fucking slip? That's not a story I want to try and explain to anybody in any language. Irregardless, I eventually found a wonderful "washlet" and my problems were solved (with an automatic bidet as a bonus).
Browsing the electronics store was kinda fun. No, there weren't fucking robots or anything incredible future devices on sale, although I did get to marvel at some huge HDTVs which seem to get cheaper every year. By the time I have my own place I should be able to actually afford one of these bad boys. I also took a gander at the new iPod Nano...fucking unbeliveable! It's about the size of a credit card (including thickness) but it can hold 2-4 gigabytes of data! Holding it in my hand was surreal. It actually seemed to be a reasonable price (the 2GB model was 21800 Yen, about $200) as well. I'm going to look into that a bit but at this point that thing seems like a must-buy.
Eventually I came home, had dinner at Yoshinoya again (so tasty yet so affordable) and spent the rest of the evening at home. No school tomorrow, it's Respect for the Aged Day here in Japan. I've got a plan but I won't say another world until it's happened. Or not.
つづく... (Click here to read more)
Since the Japanese students at my university only really started this past Friday, I have been exploring a number of Internet venues to meet new people. OK, that's not entirely true: I also do it because I'm much more comfortable typing than talking to a real person, but I'm working on that. Anyway, the first attempt at meeting one of those people failed miserably on Friday and you all heard that story already. Today I orchestrated a meeting with a young woman I met on Japan Guide, a site solely about Japan with a fairly bustling forum of people looking to meet other people. Unlike those jaded people over at CL, I have found that nearly half of the people I have contacted via this forum respond at least once.
Our discussion about potentially meeting today actually started before the unpleasantness on Friday but I took the lessons I learned from that day to heart. Scott had some very good advice: never agree to meet anyone without knowing their mobile contact information. He also said never meet anyone without seeing their picture first which I consider a good idea but not necessarily a deal breaker. Either way, in preparing for today's outing I asked Mayumi for both and she sent them to me last night. I was still a little nervous that she might back out so I made sure to check my e-mail this morning before leaving for the station. On an unrelated personal note, I finally made myself an oatmeal & boiled egg breakfast in the kitchen this morning. The Japanese microwave was a little complicated but posted instructions made everything go smoothly.
I arrived a little too early at Hirakata City Station so I killed some time watching the TV. Or should I say, TVs. There's a whole panel of television sets (I think it's some kind of satellite promotion) and for most of the day they're on and you can watch any channel you want. The only one that has sound is the big one in the middle; I'll try to remember to photograph it next time I'm in the station. Yesterday's Yankee game was being broadcast on tape delay so that's what everyone else was watching. Personally, I had already read the results of the game on the Internet this morning so I was trying to watch Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas on one of the small screens. I love that crazy, profane movies can just be aired here unedited; anything goes! Well, almost anything: it's against the law in Japan to show naked genitalia. Not even in porn!
After watching the end of the game (which the Yanks won 1-0) I made my way via two trains to the "heart" of Osaka, Umeda. As soon as I arrived I sent an e-mail to Mayumi who responded quickly. We e-mailed back and forth a couple times to narrow our locations down and then we met. Conversation was difficult for many reasons. The language barrier was probably the largest reason, although noise in the city contrasting with Mayumi's soft-spokenness didn't help. But we were actually talking a little bit so the stigma of Friday was officially buried. Hooray for me!
First objective was to sit down and have lunch. Much to my surprise, Mayumi said there was a Mexican restaurant in the area. After hearing stories from a few classmates about a trip to a local Mexican joint in Makino, I had burritos on my mind so I thought it was a wonderful idea. I'm sure you won't be surprised to hear that the food didn't live up to tacos and such back home but it was more about meeting a new person than eating fine cuisine. Besides, it wasn't terrible or anything, just uninspired. It still feels weird to eat with a knife and fork in this country too.
After the meal we walked around the area so I could try and do a little shopping. I thought I might buy a new belt because even now that I'm wearing my jeans (the ones that were too tight six months ago) I find myself tugging them up constantly. I guess I must be losing more weight? It's a problem I embrace but it's still a problem that needs a solution. We walked through a variety of trendy shops but most of the belts were too flashy or too damned expensive (10000+ Yen on occasion, damn). Eventually we walked over to Yodobashi Camera which is a large electronics store paired with a department store, curiously named "Comme ça Ism." It's been a long time since I took French but my sister would know: does that make any goddamn sense?
In the electronics store I tried to solve my computer problem by buying a voltage adapter. Not knowing where to find it, I tried asking for help but I was told by the clerk that you don't need an adapter when bringing appliances from the U.S. to Japan. I'm not 100% if that's true or not but I decided to put that quest on hold just to be safe. So we returned to the clothing section to look for belts. Eventually, I think I picked a decent one for less than 2000 Yen which should serve me nicely. I was sure to ask Mayumi if there was anything she wanted to look for since I felt I was hogging all the attention. She said she goes shopping often enough so she didn't need anything right now.
We eventually parted after about three hours together. I'd say the encounter was pretty "successful" in that it occurred and I had fun. It was really hard to have a real conversation but, in theory, the more times I try and do this the easier it should get. The next attempt may come sooner than you think (I won't give any more hints than that)!
Once we split up I decided to stay in the area a bit longer so it would be dinnertime when I got back to Hirakata. I figured the best way to do that was to just check out that huge electronics store again and just browse for a while. More importantly, I really had to take a crap.
Why blog about this everyday occurrence? Well, because it wasn't as easy at it should have been. I kept exploring different restrooms and I kept running into the old-fashioned squat toilets and I just can't work up the nerve to use them. I suppose if it was an absolute crisis and it came down to crapping my pants or squatting over one of those ghastly things (a decision I had to make on my last trip to Japan), I would just succumb and try my best. Otherwise, it's just so gross. I mean, I don't see how anyone does it without shitting on their feet or pants! There's not even anything to hold onto for balance, what if I fucking slip? That's not a story I want to try and explain to anybody in any language. Irregardless, I eventually found a wonderful "washlet" and my problems were solved (with an automatic bidet as a bonus).
Browsing the electronics store was kinda fun. No, there weren't fucking robots or anything incredible future devices on sale, although I did get to marvel at some huge HDTVs which seem to get cheaper every year. By the time I have my own place I should be able to actually afford one of these bad boys. I also took a gander at the new iPod Nano...fucking unbeliveable! It's about the size of a credit card (including thickness) but it can hold 2-4 gigabytes of data! Holding it in my hand was surreal. It actually seemed to be a reasonable price (the 2GB model was 21800 Yen, about $200) as well. I'm going to look into that a bit but at this point that thing seems like a must-buy.
Eventually I came home, had dinner at Yoshinoya again (so tasty yet so affordable) and spent the rest of the evening at home. No school tomorrow, it's Respect for the Aged Day here in Japan. I've got a plan but I won't say another world until it's happened. Or not.
つづく... (Click here to read more)
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