¡Perfecto!

We are now in the post-Christmas, pre-New Year’s holiday lull. Many people are heading back to work today…some others getting to enjoy another week of vacation. Whatever the case, NOW is the perfect time to watch and VOTE on some YouTube videos.

One of my dearest friends, Blake Edwards, has just finished a wonderful little film called ¡Perfecto! and he needs your help. This film is his entry into the Project Direct Contest—a contest associated with the Sundance Film Festival and YouTube. The film has already made it past hundreds of other entries and is now in the TOP TEN.

You can view it at www.youtube.com/projectdirect and vote on it to WIN! Simply go tot he "vote" tab and click on the ¡Perfecto! movie to watch it. If you like it, select the green thumbs up! BAM! You’ve voted! And helped to make a good man’s dream come true.

Guidelines to eating healthy over the holidays

With Christmas only a few days away, I know many people out there are consuming an increasing amount of sweets, treats, and casseroles. Parties and get-togethers abound with holiday themed cookies, cakes, and pies, as well as delicious (but fatty) dips, spreads, and mixes. In short, it’s very easy to consume millions of calories and loads of fat everyday!

I’m currently down in Atlanta with all my family and surrounded by yummy treats. For the next week I will have to opportunity to eat without end. To ensure that I don’t gain too much weight—but still enjoy the holidays—I’ve come up with these simple guidelines:

1. No eating of sweets/desserts before noon (except doughnuts and chocolate sundae Poptarts).

2. No eating of sweets/desserts after 8pm (except anything eggnog flavored).

3. Only small pieces of cakes and pies allowed (but as many of these small sizes as desired).

4. Any lunches composed entirely of cookies and fudge must also be accompanied by an apple or orange.

5. Homemade sweets take precedence over store bought treats, and multiple servings may be eaten to show politeness to the baker.
   

I expect following these little rules will help make this a great, but healthy sugar season. Happy holidays, ya’ll!

Top 10 Exclamations

Since being back I've been amazed and awed by simple things that make America different from Japan. A trip to a store usually invokes these feelings and I've found myself saying aloud all of the phrases below (some more than others).

1. Whoa, that guy is fat!
2. This steak is massive!
3. Haha, that cat is chubby.
4. Wow, look at all the bread!
5. Yikes, is that lady wearing pajamas at the store?
6. Man, this water glass is like a silo.
7. Eek, that dude is rude.
8. Hmm, is this shirt a large in people sizes or wookie?
9. Gasp! Look at all the cheese options!
10. Holy Tower of Babel! There are so many different kinds of people/languages around me!

Overall, I'm finding America to be a comfortable and bountiful place, but way, way too fat. I like the diversity and having all types of cultures mixing, but hate the overly sensitive "politically correct alarms" that go off whenever someone asserts their culture. I like America and love being back home...but I'd like to see my country improve some and become an even better place. I'd also like fewer reality TV shows and more Star Trek.

Most Important Thing

Relationships are the most important things in life. I’ve been back for 3 weeks and after spending time with family and friends in person (and over the phone), I really see how important relationships are in life.

We all of course know this; but sometimes need to say it out loud (or on a blog) to properly appreciate the fact. Coming back home after 3 years is strange/confusing/difficult because you drop down in a place that looks, sounds, and smells familiar, but feels a bit off. You turn around and see your old life and you think, “that was me then”, and then you look at yourself now and think, “this is who I’ve become since then”, and then you try to connect the lines to figure out how those two go together.

And while you’re thinking about that, your friend from college calls you up and you suddenly realize how despite all the adventures between then and now, you are still you and your friend is still your friend and you can click back together very easily and have a good laugh. THEN, you think, “the people in my life—those souls I love—give so much meaning to my life and they make sense of things no matter where I am”.

And finally you eat some homemade cookies you made with your sister and smile.

Rivendell / la casa de mi hermana

I’m in transition; I’ve come home from my Japan, English teaching life and I’m getting ready for my New York City, voice acting/other creative ventures life. I’m putting together myself using the pre-Japan pieces and the new parts I picked up in the Far East. This is honestly a resting time, a reflecting time, and a time to spend with my family and friends who I was away from for so long.

I couldn’t ask for a better place to do this than my sister’s home in North Carolina. Julie and her husband live in a beautiful, comfortable house filled with entertainment and good food. Their TV—which is the size of my old car—complete with a Wii and expansive game library ensure I’m never bored. I sleep in a big nice bed, get tasty meals, and just enjoy a relaxed life here. It’s wonderful.

All this reminds me of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Rivendell—the elven stronghold and rest stop in both The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. Tolkien wrote exciting stories filled with dangerous and horrible places (goblin-filled mountain caves, spider-invested forests) but he also gave the characters, and the reader, resting points along the way where safety and comfort were found. These points in their journey were times to renew their physical and emotion strength and also prepare them for the trials ahead. Rivendell is an enchanted outpost for the immortal Elves and thus is a place for songs, feasts, and safety. Every morning when I wake up at Julie’s house, I feel like I’m in Rivendell.

When I look at my life, I see a lot of good memories and success from Japan…and I also see a lot of potential and excitement from a future in NYC. But I’m not sure how those two parts fit together…because right now I really don’t know how to get to New York City, or how to get a job there, or anything! I’m like Frodo saying, “I’ll go to Mordor, but I don’t know the way…so Elrond, could you please let me crash at yours until I get my fellowship together?”

Haha, I love LOTR. Anyway, I think you understand what I’m trying to say. The point is: THANK YOU Julie and Paul for letting me stay here! After being away for so long, I’m so happy to have this time together.

Thanksgiving with the family

After 3 long years of no Thanksgivings, I’ve finally come home and have had a wonderful feast. おいしかったです！ It was delicious!

My mom and sister are amazing when it comes to cooking. They know how to plan out and prepare a fantastic meal. I usually just jump around the kitchen saying, “I’m hungry! When it is gonna be ready?!” Then they give me a job like making “pigs in a blanket” that is simple and occupies my time. Pigs in a blanket are little sausages wrapped up in yummy croissant bread and it’s the only thing I’ve ever made for Thanksgiving. This task suits me fine cause it requires a little bit of food-geometry (measuring out a balanced number of sausages to croissant dough and making sure everything is wrapped up tight) and when they are done I can eat as many as I want!

I’m so happy to be back home. Not just for the piggies, but also because of the comfort and joy of being back with family. Right now I’m chilling at my sister’s house and enjoying her Nintendo Wii (a little bit of Japan) and just getting myself together for the future.

I know some of you may be concerned about the future of the JaBlog since my Japan adventure is over. There are so many blogs out there in the void of cyberspace that have been left to drift and remain forever un-updated. But I assure you that my blog will continue…but probably with a title change. Stay tuned for the unfolding stories :)

America, the return

I’m sitting at my parent’s house eating Cinnamon Toast Crunch and watching Sponge Bob Square Pants. Holy cow, I’m back home.

I always knew this day would come…I mentioned it in my very first blog post a thousand years ago…but now that’s it’s here and I’m back and trying to fall back into the life I left, it all feels very weird.

I need time to process it all…the readjustment period it going to be interesting. There are loads of family and friends to see and hug…and lots of food I want to eat. I’m so happy I’ve returned at the holiday season so accomplishing both of these things is made easier.

I’m happy to be back. And ready for the next adventure.

Tokyo, Yoyogi, Shibuya, Ginza

The final series of photos from Tokyo.

"Harajuku folks" in Yoyogi Park

Purikura of me and Sheena

Shibuya at dusk

Sushi in Ginza

Tokyo skyline near the Imperial Palace

Tokyo, Asakusa

I visited Asakusa the other day to see a little bit of "old Japan" within modern Tokyo. The temple there is the main attraction with many tourists and pilgrims thronging its gates and grounds.


Entrance into Senso-ji

Five story pagoda

Lanterns and entrance way
Patrons and incense

Self-portrait

Dusk at the temple

Tokyo, Buddha, me and Sheena

Here are a few photos I took yesterday when Sheena and I visited Kamakura. Enjoy.


Big Buddha


Sheena and Justin

Tourists

Incense smoke

Incense burner and light

Us chilling out

I Want it That Way

I'm finished with work! I have free time! I made a video to entertain you!

For my students

To watch and cry a little as we say good bye...

:)

Your Last Chance!

So I'm finding it hard to manage to say good bye to everyone since I never planned ONE BIG FAREWELL PARTY event (instead I had lots of little ones). Thus, I'm giving everyone 2 more opportunities to say sayonara before I leave Oita-ken.


1. Friday, November 7th, 6pm - midnight, Beppu downtown. I'll be out having dinner and then a drink or two. Anyone welcome to join!


2. Saturday, November 8th, 1pm - 2pm, Beppu Kitahama bus stop (in front of Starbucks). This is where I ride off into the sunset. Final farewells, tears, hugs, and promises to never forget each other are welcome.

Reflections on packing

I’m in the process of going through all the stuff I’ve collected over the past few years and deciding on the very few items that I’m keeping. Transporting things back to America is going to be expensive and a hassle, so I’m really being vicious about the selection and chucking out A LOT of stuff (or giving the good stuff away to folks around here).

I can’t believe how many “memories”—in the forms of letters, pictures, notes, etc., I have tucked away in boxes and folders and drawers. Cleaning out and packing is taking forever because every 5 minutes I’m stopping to read something and drift off for a while to another time and place. Calendar books are especially powerful because I can see the dates of birthdays, parties, and events and remember who I was then, what I was doing, and what I was planning.

Heaven forbid I find an old love note…those launch me into a kaleidoscope of sensations and a feeling of forgotten joy and a little sadness. So much has happened in 3 years…I have become a different person in many ways…all of them positive.

A few more adventures await…and one more week of work. I’m going to miss my students do much!!!

Departure!

DundundaDUN! I’m leaving Japan!!

Holy geisha ninjas! Yes, after 3 years and 3 months, I’m counting down the days until I depart these fair shores and head back to America. Of course my head and heart are full of emotions and thoughts and dreams and memories (more related blog entries to come), but today’s post is just to let folks know my plans for the next month:

Saturday, November 8^th: Depart Beppu from the Starbucks/Kitahama bus stop (where I’ve said a lot of good byes). Please come down if you need to confess your secret and undying love before I board the bus. I’ll be heading to Fukuoka next!

Monday, November 10^th: Depart Fukuoka for Tokyo!

Monday, November 24^th: Depart Tokyo for America.

I only have 2 more weeks of work left—totally crazy, my English teaching career is about to finish! All the insane and revolutionary lessons plans I’ve always been dreaming about but always too timid to do are on the board for these two weeks. Going out with a bang!

Monster Burger!

Ask any Japanese person, “What is a famous food in America?” and I bet 4 out of 5 times you’ll get, “hamburger” as the answer. There is this idea in Japan that Americans eat massive burgers as a part of our national diet. I guess there is some truth to this…but I must say that the biggest burger I’ve ever eaten was in Japan.

Behold the Yufuin Burger!

Yufuin is a cute little mountain town in Oita-ken that has grown considerably as a popular tourist destination in recent years. The main street is filled with folks on the weekends and like all towns/cities in Japan, Yufuin has its own famous food items that MUST be eaten when you visit. Up until recently, I think the most popular confectionary was the roll cake, but as times move forward, new items are popping up. The massive Yufuin burger is one of these and let me tell you, it is delicious.

I went to Yufuin with two of my students, Chi and Miyo, on a quest to eat the Yufuin burger. We waded through the crowds of people and found the burger joint where the man working there didn’t want to give us 3 of the big size burgers. “Women can’t eat a whole one!” he said, “The guy, sure, but maybe you ladies should get the smaller sized one.”

In the end, we got two special big ones and one medium (which was still large). We complimented the meal with bottles of coke (just like an American family would) and ate ourselves silly. Hooray!

Shikoku Trip

Here is a quick video about my recent trip to Shikoku.

Funny Sign

I came across this sign in a park and thought the picture was amusing. The Japanese says, “Please punt your doggie’s poopy with the nearest available hockey stick. Thank you!”

Of course, I could have mistaken a few of the kanji characters.

Reluctant Ride

The rain fell in sporadic bursts as the car sped down the highway in silence. I sat in the backseat calculating how much longer it would be until we reached the city.

“How many times have you done this?” asked one of the men in front. His uniform identified him as some kind of electrical engineer and his question came with a cloud of cigarette smoke that hovered in the closed car air.

“This is my second time hitch hiking to Fukuoka,” I said in a shallow breath trying to spare my lungs the poisonous air. “But I went on a week long hitch hike trip over Golden Week.”

A gruff acknowledgement sound was his only response and then smoky silence fell over the car once more.

There were four of us in the company car…three Japanese engineers, each with his own smoking cigarette, and me, a foolish foreigner out for another hitch hike (why pay for the train when the car ride is free?). I’d met them in Beppu on a rainy Friday evening when drivers were few. I’d talked to several prospects, but none were heading exactly to my destination and I was on the verge of giving up when suddenly their group walked by and casually said, “Okay, let’s go.”

I got in the car and initiated some polite introductory conversation only to be met with minimum responses. I quickly realized they were in typical Japanese working man mode: sit, smoke, sleep…do not speak. The man who had invited me into the car asked me a few questions, but soon retreated into his solitary calm. Being accustomed to this type of behavior, I opted to join them and found myself asleep along with the 2 other passengers. I will admit that just before I drifted off to sleep I thought, “I’m riding at night in a rain storm with 3 strange men. No one knows where I am and they could be going anywhere. I better be ready to aim for the eyes and groin.”

We were silent all the way into the city center where upon the “talkative” man said “Is anywhere okay to drop you off?” I told them, “Sure, I can find my way” and was released near the area I wanted to be in.

We parted ways after a 2 hour car ride with me saying, “Thank you so much! Please have a good night!” and them saying a flat, “OK.”

Out of the dozens of rides I’ve taken, this one was the most uncomfortable…but has not deterred me from hitch hiking in Japan. I still love the experience of meeting random people on the road and taking a ride in their car. It’s the explorer part of me getting fed…and writer part of me getting new material. And the cheapskate part of me saving a couple thousand yen.

This inspired me!

This video is an amazing experience...and demonstrates a key point in life: dancing is AWESOME and FUN and makes you feel good (and possibly can unite the world).

Enjoy it! And travel!

Paper companion

(a picture from my day)

I spent an entire day reading a novel. This is something I never do. I like to savor novels…like really good pudding…taking small bites and putting down the spoon/novel before moving on to the next taste. The story becomes a companion to my life and I think about the characters and themes over the course of weeks sometimes. It’s a relaxing and engrossing way to experience a really good book because your moving and changing life parallel the moving and changing story and thus you’re able to deal with the characters in different moods and mindsets. Also, since I live in a place where English books can be in short supply, it’s a great way to ration them.

My day started off by the sea…a place I naturally seek out in summer. I sat on the familiar giant concrete barriers found all over the Japanese coast and read in the shade while little adorable kids screamed in the water. I then moved on to a fishing port where dozens of small boats were docked and creaked in the waves. Next was the McDonald’s parking lot where I began to think, “This is weird…it’s Saturday evening and I’m reading a book in my car in a parking lot.” Finally I ended inside the McDonald’s…or rather, on the second floor porch overlooking the mountains and coast line of Beppu…where young people chatted and smoked around me as I dug into the final chapters of the book.

I read from about 11am to 11pm with breaks scattered throughout for food, thoughts, and naps. I covered hundreds of pages in a day completely filled with lovely scenery, a compelling story, and fast food. I feel calm and inspired now…having spent the day in inward communing and peace.

And I also feel really ready for my crazy week in Tokyo next week when I finally get some vacation time!!! Woot woot! Party time, yo! ;)

Another series of good byes

Her black dress swishes back and forth as she walks away down the street. The neon lights and blinking signs buzzing around her gradually shrinking form. I stand and watch and think, “This is the last time I will see her…maybe forever.” The street is so familiar…filled with memories of the past year…and now there’s one more new memory…the vision of a friend walking away after we said good bye.

I always look back when say good bye to someone…it’s just my nature. A lot of my last memories of friends are of them walking away. Part of me hopes the other person will look back and smile one more time…making eye contact and waving…I also like to watch them for as long as I can…making as much of a final memory as I possible.

Now that July has come and gone, another load of friends and acquaintances have moved on from Japan. It’s the big yearly cycle…July is a time for farewells and the turning of another page in the book of life. Right now I’m a bit numb to it…this being the 4^th time I’ve said a big sayonara to close friends. It’s hard and makes you scroll through your cell phone address book taking stock of numbers you’ll never call again. Some entries get deleted…a lot of them remain…as a last standing monument to the good times you shared.

One of my friends who left, Selena, told me, “Don’t be sad it’s ending, be happy it happened.” Her words are wise and true…but it still doesn’t help Starbuck seem any less empty on a Friday afternoon when you’re supposed to be sharing coffee and making fun of ridiculous Japanese outfits.

The people around you make your world…and my world has just been changed dramatically. It’s not over…it’s not finished…it’s taking on a different form. I’m not sure what course my life will take in the coming months…but I will carry my memories with me as comforts and reminders of the good times I’ve had, and are sure to have again.

3 Years in Japan!

Today is my three year anniversary of being in Japan. On this day 3 years ago, I was arriving in Tokyo with a massive group of other foreigners and jumping head first into the world of Japan. Let’s look back at some old photos from that day…

First meal (picture is blurry to simulate how my jet-lagged eyes were seeing things in reality). I had NO IDEA what was going on in the restaurant that myself and a group of JETs stumbled into shortly after arriving in Shinjuku. I ordered this by pointing at a picture on the menu. It's some kind of sushi, but I'm not exactly sure what it’s called…haven’t eaten it since.

First view of Tokyo! A typhoon was on the way! Ominous beginnings…

First new friends. This is the opening ceremony for the new JETs and the two girls in front are Ata and Nicky (from New Zealand). We became instant friends! Seating around and behind them are a mix of other Oita-ken JETs and in the back is my dear friend, Betsy, who is a Chapel Hill alum like me. All of them are GONE…having departed from Japan over the past 2 years. Seeing this photo brings back a flood of memories.

First trash can! The loveable character Domo-kun in trashcan form…the first of many things that shouldn’t be, but unavoidably are, cute in Japan.

As I sit here today and think back on where I started from, I’m happy to say that my experiences in Japan have made me a better human being. I’ve grown up a lot over the past 3 years and become more positive, more independent, more patient, and surer of who I am and where I’m going. I also have better hair.

Rant on Cats

I know that by writing this I’m taking another step into the all-encompassing, life-consuming world of cat-fixation, but I figure I’d risk it since it makes a good story.

Here’s the thing: I don’t like cats. And, I’ve seen how they can take over the lives of people. My grandma, Mema, started with one cat she “rescued” from a Wal-Mart parking lot and now is known as the “Feline Baroness” of southern Atlanta with the responsibility of caring for (presumed) hundreds of cats in her local area. She’s seen about 8 generations of the wild strays and while entertaining to everyone in the family, it’s also a bit disconcerting (in part because they all have names like, “mama”, “baby-mama”, “granny” “baby-sister”. etc. based on how they’re related).

Here where I live in Beppu, I’ve stumbled upon a community of cats (tame, wild, and insane) who live in, around, behind, and close to/by my house. There have been eight feline characters in play over the last few months and I’ve noticed how (despite my general apathy for cats) my life and theirs are getting rather involved.

Things started small…me saying hello to them when I returned home (something I felt obliged to due because four wild ones would greet me outside the front door) and gradually become more friendly when I started feeding them from time to time (only when my housemate asked me to). Then I got sucked into their local cat wars. For political and social reasons I don’t fully understand, only some of strays are welcome at the house while others are hated and shouted at if they turn up at feeding time. I joined the alliance of the welcomed cats (all nice folks except for the slutty female with a goofy eye) and did my part in shouting at the menacing black and grey cats who slink around sometimes.

This got a bit more complicated when I learned that the one indoor cat (and the only one in my opinion who should receive my loyalty or food) hates all the other cats and sometimes attacks me for no reason (to date, I have been clawed and bleed three times and bit on the face—with bleeding—once).

Whatever…the lives of cats are similar to the lives of teenage girls with petty hatreds and unexpected psychotic behavior…you just deal with it. BUT, despite my careful relationship with everyone, I found myself in the middle of constant problems. Inside cat and black cat fight and howl at all hours of the day and have even moved their fur-flying battles to the living room; slutty female now only glares at me because I gave her kittens away to a friend; retarded black/white cat won’t move out from under my car when I need to leave; and someone keeps trying to break into my room in the middle of the night via the window screen (which is nosily pulled open with claws!).

So here I am telling the world about my life with the cats…a sure sign that I’m on a path to become my grandma. I can only hope my creativity in naming my cat army with equal hers (love ya, Mema!).

Horror Bugs

You never know what new and exciting experience Japan is going to give you to turn an ordinary day into a great story for a blog.

The other night I was lying (laying?) in bed reading a book when I was brutally attacked (emotionally) by a horror bug. It was past midnight and my eyes had just started to flutter and close when sudden dark movement woke me up to a panic. Crawling down my wall was a fantastically evil looking centipede with one thought on its mind—“get into Justin’s bed”. See picture below for a visual:

I image that if Satan, Medusa, and my 5^th grade math teacher (she was a bit evil) got together to design a horror bug, this is what it would look like. A hundred(ish) long legs flowing around a dark, insidious body…poisonous stinger and venom-covered fangs…defensive shielding and the ability to both absorb and discharge electrical energy…some of this may be my own imaginings, but you get the point. It’s scary! And nothing with that many legs should move that silently down a person’s wall in the middle of the night.

Anyway, the creature rapidly approached me, I jumped up and thought, “oh my gosh oh my gosh of my gosh” and started looking around for something to kill it with. The centipede was so huge that I honestly had to search my room for something big enough to kill it (cause it had to be done in one shot or else I risked being shot with a poison dart or having it regenerate before I could finish it off). I finally chose an anthology of Asian mythology and readied myself for the battle.

After some maneuvering and getting it out of my bed and back on the wall, I slammed the creature with the book and squinted as legs and antenna flew everywhere and guts splattered on the wall. UNBELIEVEABLE.

Needless to say, my dreams that night were less than charming.

Good morning sunshine

The sun is very, very bright outside the bus. My left eye won’t open because a dry contact is screaming for attention and my right eye is squinting blindly in the morning light. I’m searching through my pockets for my bus ticket…barely aware of things around me. I finally find it, hand it over to the driver, and weakly bow as the bus doors close and the bus drives away. I turn around in the parking lot and see about two dozen junior high school baseball players staring at me. My shirt is rumbled, my hair a bit askew, I feel all out of sorts. But, I try to maintain dignity and walk away towards home. Oh geeze, why did I stay out all night?

My mind begins to search through the past 24 hours…remembering the events that led to my current state.

It all began Saturday afternoon when I thought it was a good idea to hitch hike to Fukuoka. Sure I could have taken a bus or train…but then I wouldn’t have met the Tanaka family from Kitakyushu who had been attending their eldest son’s wedding that morning. I rode in their fancy car and chatted with Mrs. Tanaka about her enthusiasm for watching sports, but not playing them.

They dropped me off at the expressway entrance to the city where I hailed another ride into downtown. This time I got an English-speaking business man who owes several diners and shops in town. He asked me to hand out some flyers on the street in return for the ride…a trade I happily agreed to. I only had to pass out 6…but about 40 people walked by before I was able to give them away (I don’t think I was aggressive enough).

Then came a series of random encounters with friends and strangers, old and new, that eventually led to me staying out all night in the smoke and lights of Tenjin. I met loads of new folks and ended up joining up with them for the night. Since my hitch hiking trip last month I’ve found that I have no trouble meeting new people and becoming instant friends. By 5am we were eating McDonald’s and going through the usual lament of, “why did we stay out all night?”

The sun came up and the responsible people who had gone to bed the night before were starting to come out onto the streets. This is always a weird time when the tired/drunk/crazy people who partied all night meet the clean/genki/responsible people who are on their way to work/wherever. It really puts the “out all night” thing into perspective.

The bus arrived; I stumbled aboard and shut the curtain. Ah yes, now is the time for sleep.

Mud Volleyball!

These pictures are real. No photoshopping was used. The mud, the filth, and utter abandonment of all things clean is exactly what a day of mud volleyball is all about.

Our two teams: Freedom and No Borders. The former was well suited for a rousing battle cry (freedom!). Our teams’ motto: “We are CRAZY!” All of this was chosen by the Japanese members.

Start of the day. Sheena and I are pumped and ready (and clean).

This quickly changed when Sheena decided to tackle me. I showed her!

Utterly muddy thanks to Matt. We look like orcs from Lord of the Rings.

Hitch Hiking in Japan

Here is my masterpiece! The original was 18 minutes long...but I edited that down to 10 min. Check it out and enjoy, yo!

I'm Back

7 days, 6 prefectures, 19 car rides. My hitch hiking adventure around Kyushu was a success.

The only thing I can think to compare it to is perhaps Homer’s, The Odyssey. Over the course of the week I met lots of people, saw big cities and rural countryside, and had an experience that I’m still in shock about.

I’m in the process of compiling my pictures, video, and thoughts and will get a video up soon to share my adventures. In a nutshell, it was totally awesome and life changing.

The Undiscovered Country

First, look at the picture. Then the calendar. But make sure it’s a Japanese calendar so you see that it’s Golden Week! What do you think I’m going to be doing for the next 8 days?! That’s right, HITCH HIKING AROUND JAPAN!

Okay, I actually really need to get moving today, but wanted to put up something to let you all know that I’m about to embark on a very random and hopefully exciting journey. During my time in Japan, I’ve gone on lots of trips…most of them well planned (especially if Lisa was involved). But this time I want to go out there and do something spontaneous and unique. Japan is a good place for hitch hiking because unlike most other countries, Japan is still a safe place. PLUS, the Japanese have the reputation of taking care of foreigners on the open road.

This trip is a lot of things for me…one of those being a soul-searching, walkabout. The past four months have been marked by a great deal of change in my life in a year that has been full of ups and downs and all arounds. I need an escape, an adventure, a challenge.

When I return, I promise to put all my stories and pictures into an entertaining montage. Until then, safe journey.

Oh! Sorry! Er, uh…wait…

So the other day I was shopping for a black jacket at a department store downtown (realized I didn’t have an appropriate light weight nice jacket and hoping to take advantage of any spring sales) when I had the urge to pee. Naturally my shopping experience was disrupted by this urge, so I decided to seek out the restroom. Have you ever noticed how the bathrooms at department stores are always WAY in the back corner and you have to follow all these signs around before finally finding it? Anyway, after a 5 mile trek through camping supplies, casual wear, and suits, I finally rounded the corner to the bathrooms. And what should jump out and scare me but… (look at picture below)

A naked family!

WHOA! was my first thought followed by me mumbling, “Oh! Sorry! Er, uh…wait…” Yes, for a moment I actually thought these out of work mannequins were a real family having a private moment in the back of the store (hey it’s Japan…a lot of weird things have happened here).

Their pose was so natural and lifelike. The man turning to his wife and asking her thoughts on dinner while she stares off thinking about the upcoming PTA meeting…all the while their little son giggling about being naked in public. The lighting, their composition, and the whole scene was just beautiful…and gave me a good chuckle. Whoever put them there must have thought, “This is going to rock! All those patrons coming to bathroom are going to appreciate my mannequin family. Matsumoto san may not want you out on the floor, but I will give you new life here.” Well department store employee, I do appreciate it. Arigatou.

Muddy Consequences

So I live Beppu, Japan’s onsen capital and have the pleasure of enjoying any number of the many diverse hot springs around the city. Some are big, some are scorching hot, some are outdoor, all are naked, and a few have mud. I’d never experienced the mud onsen until two weeks ago when a couple friends were visiting and we opted to try it out.

The mud onsen is an old establishment up in the hills of Beppu near some authentic steam vents that bellow hot steam out all the time. The scene of white hissing clouds spewing out of the earth is impressive and makes you think, “Will Beppu blow up one day?”

Our party of four arrived and followed a long covered wooden outdoor walkway (that’s a lot of adjectives) to the changing room and mud pools. The facilities were rather Spartan with only stone floors and utilitarian water facets. But we weren’t here for the shower; we were here for the mud!

The prime pool was outdoor and was pretty warm with dirty water on top, and squishy, make you go, “Oh ewww, gross!” mud on the bottom. We waded in and floated around and read the sign about “not putting mud on the head”. The water was fun, but I was imagining more mud—covering me from head to toe—sucking out toxins and enriching my skin. I reached down to the bottom of the pool and scooped up a handful of the earth slim. It oozed in my hand…daring me to smear it on. I laughed and did so…and was soon a monstrous swamp thing (except for my hair/head because of the sign).

After a repeated process of smearing, washing off, and smearing some more, we decided we’d had enough mud and headed out. There were only two showers to wash off with…and no soap was allowed (these place was serious about their mud)…so I was a bit concerned about my level of cleanliness upon leaving the onsen. Oh how this thought would come to haunt me…

Natural onsens often have a sulfur smell associated with them and the mud I was so excitedly covering myself with was full of the rotten egg odor. I had been warned that the mud-sulfur smell would linger…but I didn’t expect it to be too bad.

Several days passed…and I still smelled a bit odd. I had showered, but there was still a smell. All the clothes I wore took on the smell…as well as bed sheets and even my car. It was like a minor, kind of boring nightmare.

Finally, after about four days, the smell was gone. I was free. And I highly recommend the mud onsen to all visitors of Beppu.

Julie and Paul?! You guys coming to visit??

Mt. Tsurumi Adventure

Here's what I did on Thursday.

Fantastic Day

It’s 9:30 in the morning and I’m waiting outside the central post office in Beppu with a lunchbox cooler filled with beer and chips. I’m waiting for my friend to pick me up and take me to a barbeque. The only thing is, it’s 9:30am…the bbq couldn’t possible start this early…so why did he ask me to be ready so early…

After 2.5 years in Japan, this type of situation isn’t that unusual. I know that before I get to the bbq, there will be a series of misadventures and unexpected twists. As this thought goes through me mind, my friend arrives with a HUGE smile. “Jasuten! Let’s go!” And off we go.

First stop, another parking lot where we meet another guy with a big truck. He buys tea for everyone and then we follow him down the road. We turn off the main road and begin a long, difficult, dangerous climb into the mountains. Up and up we go along narrow roads where cars have to dance around each other just to get by. Finally we reach what appears to be an archeological site with lots of old stone pieces and statues scattered around. I’m given a pair of gloves and told, “Today will be a hard day.”

Ah, okay…so it’s manual labor to start the morning off with. We wait while the guy with the truck prays at a gravestone set into a cliff. Two other guys arrive with gloves and crowbars and rope. I ask, “What are we doing today?” to my friend and he says, “We are making a garden for my friend,” and then points to the large stone columns on the ground. Shortly after we begin loading the large and heavy stone pieces into the truck….each one use to be part of an old Japanese house dating back about 100 years. The final stone is about 4 feet long and weighs 10,000lbs. (about). We use ropes and pulleys and long pieces of wood to load it onto the truck…reminded me of ancient Egyptians building the Pyramids.

Next, we head to the truck guy’s house in back in the city where we unload the stones, prepare the ground, and begin making an interesting stone garden. Long story short, I got some good exercise, sunburn, free beer and fried chicken, and laughs with my new friends.

But the day isn’t over! The bbq hasn’t even started yet! It’s now 3:30pm and I’m at my friend’s house where we all decide to take a nap (glorious thing to do after hard work!). I sleep and dream about Egyptians. About 2 hours later I wake up feeling cold. “Jasten, here is a coat,” says my friend as he gives me a warm coat to wear. Within minutes voices are heard outside…many voices…those of women and children…the bbq is about to begin!

I head outside to the little Japanese grill where a table full of meat waits to be cooked. Beef, chicken, pork, unknown meats all get flamed covered and served up. My plate is constantly refilled…I consume more meat in one hour than I have in the past month. I also get a fresh beer in my hand every time one of my friends gets up to get another beer. The stars come out, the children run around asking to play, I feel good.

Saturday was a fantastic day.

Top Ten of Tokyo!

Tokyo was awesome! It’s such an amazing city filled with life and lights and random characters around every corner. Thanks to my dear friends, Sheena, Selena, and Zach for making it an especially special birthday weekend.

Here is a TOP TEN of the weekend:

10. Having Starbucks coffee overlooking the Shibuya Crossing—the busiest cross walk in the world.

9. Napping in Yoyogi Park near Harajuku where loads of musicians come to play their guitars.

8. Riding the subways and trains all over the city and having Sheena and Zach do all the navigating (cause the train lines are complicated).

7. Smoking strawberry sheesha in Roppongi at 4am.

6. Eating Zach’s perfect chocolate chip cookies.

5. Following Nigerians to the clubs they work for and using their cheap drink coupons.

4. Dancing all night long for two nights in a row.

3. Dancing with a hot half-Japanese, half-Columbian.

2. Watching Selena defend Sheena from a group of punk guys who were hitting on her in the middle of the sidewalk by the kebab stand.

1. Laughing and hanging with some dear friends for 3 awesome days.

It was a great weekend filled with fun…and about 6 hours of sleep total. Tokyo never disappoints.

誕生日おめでとう！ Happy Birthday!

Yip yip yeah! I’m 26, fools! I am solidly in my twenties now with the years refining my dreams, looks, and dance moves (at least 2 of those). I’m taking this opportunity to reflect on some of my past, memorable birthday experiences…

1. February 2006: Heroes, Demons, and Deities Costume Birthday Party Extravaganza! This is the night I dressed as Baldur from Nordic Mythology and 50 drunken friends invaded my rural apartment in Ajimu. Twas truly epic (and took me days to recover in body and home).

2. February 2005: Anything Asian Costume Birthday Party! Looking back on it, the theme seems kind of racist, but at the time it was totally appropriate as my departure for Japan was neigh! It was the first night I ever had Japanese sake…and also the first time I ever wielded a samurai sword.

3. February 2004: Superhero Costume Birthday Party! Thanks to my dear friend, Caroline, I was able to have my first costume party ever. This was a night everyone became heroes and a cat jumped into a batch of radioactive punch. I also danced with a crazy woman who lived in the apartment downstairs.

4. February 2001: Chucky Cheese Birthday Party! Yes, I was 19 years old for this one…but my friends were the ones treating me. Plus ball pits are awesome!

5. February 1999: Surprise Party! My parents totally fooled me and invited all my friends over for a grand surprise party. It was just like you see on TV…I tried to plan something fun with all my friends, they were all busy, I got depressed, lonely, and then BOOM! I find all my chums in the kitchen with Pepsi and cake. My friend Ben Howell managed to spill an entire 3-liter on himself and the floor…and my best friend Baker couldn’t make it because of a cello concert (yes, Baker, I still remember!). Still a good time.

6. February at some point in the 1980’s: McDonald’s Birthday Party! A must-have event for kids in the 80’s. I most remember the cake covered in McDonald’s characters made entirely of sugar. I wanted to eat The Hamburgerler, but my mom said it was too much sugar (yes, mom, I still remember!)

And now we come to February 2008…muhahahahahaha! This year I’ll be celebrating in Tokyo with some friends…and I expect to have a good time. I’ll be sure to put up some pictures and tales when I get back.

Valentine’s Day, A recap

Cheery cheery cupids, tis our most beloved holiday, Balentine’s Day (the Japanese pronounce it with more of a ‘b’ than a ‘v’ sound). This greeting card/chocolate truffle company-spawned celebration of affection has made its way all the way over to Japan where, in typical Japanesey fashion, the western traditions have been altered a bit to the amusement of everyone.

In Japan, Valentine’s Day is all about giving chocolate. No cards, no flowers or diamond rings, just chocolate. Not so unusual, you westerns might say…well just wait…cause here in Japan it’s only the girls who have the responsibility/obligation to give the chocolate. Boys get a completely free day where they wait for friends, admirers, and co-workers to shower them with sweets. This practice is so well inscribed into the holiday tradition that the Japanese have terms both “friend” chocolate (for when you willingly, happily give it) and “obligation” chocolate (for when you buy large amounts to give out to all your male coworkers down at the Sony office so you will maintain good standing with everyone).

Of course I’m a boy, so I love this holiday ;)

This year I did get some lovely treats including beer from my friend, Kate, who decided to branch out from the typical chocolate. While back home in the South, beer for Valentine’s Day would be trashy/completely appropriate, here in Japan it’s just cute (look at the pink box!).


I also scored a little cake from a Japanese friend, Kaba-chan (see cake photo above), and some other assorted sweets from my students. All in all, I feel assured and loved and will continue to think fondly of all who complied with the Balentine’s tradition.