Monday, September 01, 2008
No Labor Day for me
Dammit, it's hot again. What happened? Last week was gray and a little gloomy but it was nice and cool, so I didn't turn on the A/C once. Yet here I sit on Monday night, dripping with sweat again! No fair, Japan, no fair at all.
Today was the first day of the fall semester which meant the school was no longer empty and creepy. It didn't mean any classes though, so when the children all left early, I was told by the principal to go home as well. It was a lucky break as I had forgotten to bring a lunch and there's no shops near the schools where I work.
Speaking of food, I went out on Friday to hang out with a bunch of JETs at a Mexican restaurant in Shinsaibashi. It was a damn good meal and a lot of fun meeting more new people. Of course, included in the group were a few not-so-new people who I simply haven't seen since last year. We actually went out to The Blarney Stone for a couple drinks afterward and I hung in there as best I could before heading home to Mako. She's been a real sport in supporting my social wants lately. I hope this doesn't become a problem in the long term, because I do enjoy going out and drinking/dining with English speaking people for a change.
I found myself going out again on Saturday because I got invited to see Tigers-Giants at Koshien, a real thrill! A few teachers from one of my schools got their hands on a pack of tickets and they asked me if I wanted to go. I stunned them all by showing up in full gear: a Tigers cap, a Tigers jersey and a big plastic bat for cheering or banging against things. By the third inning my hand was sore from smacking it with the bat, so I went and bought a second bat so I could hit the two of them together, pain-free. It was a very good decision. In case you missed it, you can scroll down and see a picture (in Twitter) and a video I posted live during the game. Not bad for a guy with three beers in him.
Once the game was over I met Mako at her parents' house (they live in that area) for yet another beer (her Dad insisted!) before spending the night. I'm not sure why we were sleeping over but I get the feeling they just love guests. Every time I visit they tell me to tell my family to come to Japan and stay in their house. So Mom, Salena, hurry up and get over here so they can have more guests.
Spending all day Sunday at their house was a little draining. I don't have much to do when I'm over there, so as friendly as they are I eventually just really, really want to go back to my apartment. I think part of it is the wall Mako erects around herself, blocking all PDA including hugs. I'm the kind of guy who LOVES hugs and my weekends are the ideal time to snuggle with Mako, so hanging out in the one place we can't do that...well, that's very trying. I understood all the stealth crap when we were merely dating, but we're goddamn husband and wife now. My father-in-law has openly asked me to have children, therefore he is keenly aware that we BONE. So why not hug around Mom and Dad?
We took a trip to the western side of Kobe, some area called Suma. There was this mountain with a cable car that we rode, leading us to a weird roller-coaster-like lift (if roller coasters just went up really slowly) to an even higher point on the mountain. None of it was particularly exciting or anything, but it offered a nice view of the city and the sea. Here's that view on Twitpic.
So things around here are pretty quiet. I'm back to work but there's no sign yet of when I will be actually working while at work. But I've got plenty of books to read, so don't worry about me. This heat, on the other hand, has got to go. I was getting used to eating a meal at home without wiping myself down afterward.
Hey, Fukuda just resigned. I've been here one year and I've seen two Prime Ministers resign in that time. Yeah, they're in trouble over here.
Today was the first day of the fall semester which meant the school was no longer empty and creepy. It didn't mean any classes though, so when the children all left early, I was told by the principal to go home as well. It was a lucky break as I had forgotten to bring a lunch and there's no shops near the schools where I work.
Speaking of food, I went out on Friday to hang out with a bunch of JETs at a Mexican restaurant in Shinsaibashi. It was a damn good meal and a lot of fun meeting more new people. Of course, included in the group were a few not-so-new people who I simply haven't seen since last year. We actually went out to The Blarney Stone for a couple drinks afterward and I hung in there as best I could before heading home to Mako. She's been a real sport in supporting my social wants lately. I hope this doesn't become a problem in the long term, because I do enjoy going out and drinking/dining with English speaking people for a change.
I found myself going out again on Saturday because I got invited to see Tigers-Giants at Koshien, a real thrill! A few teachers from one of my schools got their hands on a pack of tickets and they asked me if I wanted to go. I stunned them all by showing up in full gear: a Tigers cap, a Tigers jersey and a big plastic bat for cheering or banging against things. By the third inning my hand was sore from smacking it with the bat, so I went and bought a second bat so I could hit the two of them together, pain-free. It was a very good decision. In case you missed it, you can scroll down and see a picture (in Twitter) and a video I posted live during the game. Not bad for a guy with three beers in him.
Once the game was over I met Mako at her parents' house (they live in that area) for yet another beer (her Dad insisted!) before spending the night. I'm not sure why we were sleeping over but I get the feeling they just love guests. Every time I visit they tell me to tell my family to come to Japan and stay in their house. So Mom, Salena, hurry up and get over here so they can have more guests.
Spending all day Sunday at their house was a little draining. I don't have much to do when I'm over there, so as friendly as they are I eventually just really, really want to go back to my apartment. I think part of it is the wall Mako erects around herself, blocking all PDA including hugs. I'm the kind of guy who LOVES hugs and my weekends are the ideal time to snuggle with Mako, so hanging out in the one place we can't do that...well, that's very trying. I understood all the stealth crap when we were merely dating, but we're goddamn husband and wife now. My father-in-law has openly asked me to have children, therefore he is keenly aware that we BONE. So why not hug around Mom and Dad?
We took a trip to the western side of Kobe, some area called Suma. There was this mountain with a cable car that we rode, leading us to a weird roller-coaster-like lift (if roller coasters just went up really slowly) to an even higher point on the mountain. None of it was particularly exciting or anything, but it offered a nice view of the city and the sea. Here's that view on Twitpic.
So things around here are pretty quiet. I'm back to work but there's no sign yet of when I will be actually working while at work. But I've got plenty of books to read, so don't worry about me. This heat, on the other hand, has got to go. I was getting used to eating a meal at home without wiping myself down afterward.
Hey, Fukuda just resigned. I've been here one year and I've seen two Prime Ministers resign in that time. Yeah, they're in trouble over here.
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Oh, the price you pay for not taking EAS104 at SUNY. "Some area called Suma?" Check out the "Tale of Genji" (in which Genji is exiled to Suma) and also Matsuo Basho's work (in which he alludes to Genji in his haiku). Really, this place is redolent with historical importance. Master it, and maybe your father-in-law will let you smooch your wife in the confines of the house, like Genji did. (O.K., that's an exaggeration. Genji *always* had sex in the dark of night behind closed doors, but still, it could endear you to your inlaws.)
If you're implying that this knowledge could increase my chances of getting laid (even if it is by my wife), you should really include that kind of endorsement in the course description!
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