Justin's Journey in New York

The End of an Era

2009-08-18T21:15:00.000-04:00

All good things must come to an end. The final episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation was entitled, “All Good Things…”, and while I was heartbroken to say good bye to one of the best shows ever on television, I knew that in life there comes a time when things must end.

This is the final entry of the JaBlog.

For more than 4 years I’ve been writing stories, posting photos, and uploading videos about my life in Japan, the south, and now New York City. I’ve been able to share my thoughts and adventures to an untold number of friends, family, and internet strangers. I’ve enjoyed it all, but I feel like it’s time to move on to something else and leave this blog as a monument and memory to the past.

I’d rather just go ahead and say, “that’s a wrap!” with the blog instead of slowly and gradually tapering off into rare and sporadic updates about things like dogs in bags (see below). I need a new angle, a new voice for blogging (perhaps one not so closely associate with my unique and easily-googled name). I still have many stories to tell…and the endless reaches of the information super highway will ring with them.

Thank you to everyone who has been a follower of my blog. I’ve enjoyed sharing my life with you.

Farewell, good bye, さよなら.

Enough with the dogs!

2009-08-10T21:26:00.003-04:00

New York has a market on ridiculously small sized dogs. I think breeders here have mixed Chihuahua and Miniature Terrier with every other medium/small size dog breed to produce a horde of teeny tiny pooches that serve as accessories to lonely and thoughtless people.

Okay, that was a bit harsh…and uncharacteristically ranty for the JaBlog. But recently I’ve just been astounded by all the bizarrely small dogs and how their owners treat them.

New York is a big, but very walkable city…walkable if your legs are larger than a rubber eraser. Most of these little dogs can’t go but four blocks before they’ve reached their physical limits and thus their owners must tote them around like little princes and princesses through the crowds. If not in their master’s arms, these little dogs will spend their afternoon tucked away inside a stylish bag. This is where I start thinking the dog is less of your companion and more like an accessory. Who wants to spend hours inside a mess bag being jostled about? Dogs should be free to run and dance and chase balls! They don’t need to go with you uptown to meet your botoxed friends…dogs don’t want to go to Starbucks…dogs don’t even drink coffee! They just want your love and affection and promise to treat them with the respect they deserve.

I saw one dog “carrier” that was really just a halter that encased the dog with his legs and head poking out. The dog was then carried over the shoulder like a purse. This looked cute…but also sad as the dog was immobile and degraded to purse status. Not cool.

Dogs are awesome animals and have been companions to us for thousands of years. I think it’s good people want to have them with them all the time…but I fear it’s not always practical…and the end result is turning them into trendy accessories bred for their cutest, tiniest size. Guinea pigs are more ferocious then some of the pups I’ve seen around! Come on, people! Enough already!

My Japan Legacy

2009-07-26T13:12:00.006-04:00

For those of you who have been reading the Jablog since its inception four years ago (yes, just recently had a 4 years anniversary! Holy cow!) you know that during my time in Japan I made a lot of wacky videos for the blog. Most of these were either moving photo montages or zany—but precious—duets with a little Shark Friend. All of these videos were uploaded to YouTube to be viewed be the masses and thus allow me to share my experiences and creativity with the world.

Most of the videos have been viewed a modest 200 times…a few of them around 700 times. But then there’s one that’s now been viewed over 8,000 times! 8, 588 times as of this morning!

What has caused this significantly disproportional number of viewings? A higher production value? A more meaningful message? Nah, the video that’s been viewed so many times is so popular because it’s vulgar, shocking, and simple…the pillars of what makes a good YouTube video.

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“Santa and the Japanese Kancho” is truly a moving piece of video and recently a friend contacted me to let me know he found it featured on another website that clearly explains some of the…er, hardships…of teaching in Japan (check it out at: http://www.tofugu.com/2009/07/22/how-to-defend-your-butt-from-japanese-children-kancho-survival-guide/).

After all I accomplished on my 3 year journey in Japan, the most notable and lasting image of me is dressed as Santa Claus and being attacked by orphans.

I think it’s hilarious.

The Obviously Enchanted Pair of Shoes

2009-07-21T20:20:00.001-04:00

We all go to thrift stores for one reason: to find secondhand magical items that will reveal our destiny. I’ve been searching through shops for years now, but it wasn’t until this past week that I finally found my special item.

I was in the “upscale” Good Will over in Chelsea that supposedly gets more of the “name brand” and “boutique” items when I found a pair of handmade black leather shoes. I’ve been looking for a pair of black shoes and knew instantly that this pair was special. Whenever I go shopping, I wait to get that “Wow! Yes this is the item!” feeling before committing to buying an item. When I saw these shoes I got that burst in my heart and prayed that they would fit. Being my destiny shoes, of course they fit perfectly!

I held the shoes in my hands and examined them carefully. The leather was worn, but still in excellent condition….the soles had been resoled meaning the previous owner had taken care to preserve the shoes. I wonder who owned these before me? And how did they come to be in this store? At only $20, I didn’t ponder too long before taking the shoes to the cashier and slapping down the cash.

Wearing the shoes makes me feel good and I enjoy the clicking sounds as I step and the leather murmur when I move my ankles around in them. I’m still not exactly sure what kind of enchantment these shoes have, but since shoes are made for walking, I figure they will take me somewhere good.

Outdoor movie rush

2009-07-13T19:41:00.003-04:00

“Attention everyone, the lawn will open in 5 minutes. Once the lawn is open, you may proceed in and take your spot on the grass for the movie. There’s plenty of space, so there’s no need to rush.”

No need to rush. Right…then why is the entire exterior of the lawn lined with eager blanket-holders ready to dash and lay claim to the precious grass space? I looked around at the other “summer outdoor film series” enthusiasts waiting in Bryant Park at 4:55pm on Monday afternoon. We were all here to relax on the spacious green area and enjoy a film projected on a large screen at one end of the lawn. Tall buildings struck out from beyond the trees and a dazzling sun was gradually setting behind them.

Every Monday night in the summer there’s a free movie shown in Bryant Park and people come with blankets and picnics and watch the movie in a beautiful outdoor setting. I imagined the experience to be laid back and chill…but when I arrived early as the officially appointed “space saver” for my group, I was met with a hundred other people waiting just beyond the roped off lawn with intense eyes staking out the best spaces on the lawn.

“The lawn will open in, 10...9…”
“Whoa, there’s a countdown?”
“8…7…”
“Why does everyone already have their blankets out?”
“6…”
“Is that girl wearing cleats?!”
“5…4…”
“Holy cow, I think everyone is gonna run for it!”
“3…2…”
“AAAHHHHH!!”
“1! GO!”

I ran with my sheet waving like a flag and darted around people who flung themselves to the ground claiming space. I dashed up the middle and planned to head as far to the front as possible. A dense wall of blankets sprung up in front of me and I slung my sheet to the ground. In about ten seconds every bit of grass was covered with a blanket and everyone was scrambling to stretch their coverings to their maximum breadth. What the heck was that?!

This was at 5:00pm. The movie started at 9:00pm. Fortunately, Marc and friends arrived a little later with food and wine and we reclined on the lawn enjoying the summer air. The film was “Dog Day Afternoon” staring Al Pacino and was a fun movie to see. The 6 hour investment was worth the experience…in part because you get to say, “Only in New York…”

More Random Murals

2009-07-01T15:28:00.005-04:00

Since the Spock mural caused such a craze on my blog a few weeks ago, I thought I'd put up some more pictures of random street murals that I've seen along the streets of NYC. Enjoy.

Nervous frogs, in Williamsburg

Joe Strummer, in Alphabet City

Shurikens beneath construction worker, in Brooklyn

A rather positive day, on Houston Street near First Avenue

Lost keys

2009-06-27T12:09:00.002-04:00

I never heard them jingle and clink as they spilled from my bag and hit the sidewalk. I was too absorbed in my iPod as I ran home from the gym. Somewhere between Avenue A and Fifth Avenue along 12th Street, my keys and I parted ways amongst the afternoon crowds.

I’ve never lost a set of keys before. I rarely lose anything…especially not one of the small everyday objects that play such important roles in our lives (i.e. keys, wallet, iPod, cell phone, infant). My first emotion upon realizing my keys weren’t in my bag was utter and complete dread. A deep and resonating boom echoed somewhere in the distance as my heart sank. Panic came next as I poured out everything in my bag and searched for the missing keys. I knew they weren’t there…I knew they weren’t back at the gym…I knew they were somewhere in the streets of New York City. Crap.

As if on cue the rain began to pour. Perfect…rain and locked out. I felt like R2-D2 from The Empire Strikes Back when he’s locked out of Yoda’s hut on Dagobah (perhaps a bit too obscure of a reference…). I had to find my keys…so I began the 1.5 mile walk back along the way I had come…my eyes scanning every inch of sidewalk with desperation and urgency. Could I find them?

I walked all the way back to the gym…and all the way home again. Nada. Nothing. 鍵
ない！ The keys were gone.

But where? I would have seen them if they were still in the middle of the sidewalk. So did someone pick them up? A human? An animal? A sewer gnome who regularly collects dropped items and adds them to his store of people treasures in his underground lair? I had no idea…all I knew was I had contributed to the lost items of NYC.

I’ll miss you keys. You have my drug store and grocery store MVP cards that get me deals on toothpaste and tomato sauce. Sigh. Life goes on.

I'm not Mike

2009-06-24T11:10:00.006-04:00

College friends wedding update: out of a dozen male friends from my close-knit IV group, only 3 now remain unmarried. This past weekend celebrated the marriage of Mike to his lovely LeAnne down in Savannah, Georgia. The wedding “weekend” (extending from Wednesday to Sunday for me) was an absolute blast that included many a shenanigan as well as significant and intimate conversations with old friends. Compared to my NYC life, my time in Savannah was like visiting another world…the weather was sunny and hot, the food southern and heavy, the friends straight and coupled. The love and support that exists between this group of friends is amazing though and brings us all together.

The bachelor party crew was outfitted with shirts designed by Blake that assured we would get proper attention during our rowdy bar crawl. The groomsmen wore shirts adorned with Mike’s smiling face and reading, “I’m Not Mike”. This provided the contrast to Mike’s personal shirt that read, “I’m Mike. And I’m getting married!”

As you can imagine many people in bars and along the streets were curious about our group and this gave us the opportunity to shout, “This is Mike! And he’s getting married! YAY!” There’s no better way to celebrate a guy’s marriage than to draw as much attention to him as possible.

The night was a success and included some awesome karaoke. A very enthusiastic young woman at the karaoke place enjoyed assisting us with our singing. She also sat in Mike’s lap.

Good times. I love these guys.

Spock as Marilyn Monroe

2009-06-10T09:59:00.001-04:00

I found this bit of artwork on a wall in China Town when I was out for a sunny stroll the other day. I thought it was pretty cool and should be shared with the rest of the world via my blog. The combination of Mr. Spock of Star Trek fame and the eternally glamorous Ms. Monroe is striking and compelling in its unexpected mixing of two American pop culture icons. My general reaction was, “Oh wow! Cooool.” I hope yours will be the same.

Activist born

2009-06-01T22:26:00.006-04:00

Some of the best teachers in life are friends…those people you spend so much casual time with day to day and end up absorbing parts of their lives through your daily conversations. Sometimes these lessons are new knowledge that enlighten you and broaden your world view…other times these lessons are more like keys that unlock inspiration and power within you…bringing out qualities that were there all along but needed stirring to awaken them.

Last week there was a rally for marriage equality and my friend Evan invited me to come and participate. I had never been a part of a rally before and felt like it was time for me to make an effort and show the world that I believe in extending marriage rights to all couples—gay and straight. While highly controversial in political circles, this issue boils down to a simple matter of civil rights and giving same sex couples the same rights as everyone else.

I arrived at the Christopher Street meeting point and saw a mass of people carrying homemade signs and umbrellas. I had an umbrella, but I suddenly felt empty handed without an expressive sign.

This was quickly amended when I found Evan and he thrust a couple clipboards into my hands and told me to follow and watch him. The clipboards held a petition that was going to be sent to NY senators urging them to sign a marriage equality bill currently being reviewed. My task was to circulate amongst the crowd and gather signatures for the petition. While simple to do, this added step of engaging with others and urging them to sign an important petition upgraded me from “rally participant” to “gay rights activist”.

I watched Evan for a few moments, and then dived off on my own. My nervousness suddenly vanished in a surge of empowerment and I began speaking to everyone I could in the crowd. The clipboards were easily passed from person to person and I maneuvered past rainbow flags to keep up with them. I found my job satisfying and also a great way to talk to cute boys.

The rally started, cheers and chants were taught, and we began to march through the streets of NYC as a mass of civil liberty proponents. People on the sidewalks and in windows along the street stopped to take photos, cheer, and wave pink boas in support.

The march ended in Union Square where speeches were given and I continued to gather signatures. After it was all over and the crowd began to filter away into the subway and streets, I felt a new sense of security about my identity and a new urgency to fight for my rights. My rally participation was about me expressing to myself that I believe in marriage equality and giving me the opportunity as an American to work towards a better more just future. I had these feelings in me all along, but it took the encouragement of a friend to get me motivated and moving.

New York is evolving me as an individual and giving me the space to become a better person. I’ve already grown so much…and foresee a continuing unfolding of good things to come.

Beautiful

2009-05-19T16:34:00.007-04:00

This entry is simply to show you pictures of two beautiful ladies in my life.

1. Emily Marie, my 3 weeks old niece. She's my sister's first baby and super cute. Emily can also scream like a Ring Wraith and needs a lot of care and attention. She's the first baby I've ever really held and definitely the first baby I've ever rocked and soothed until she calmed down and went to sleep (briefly).

2. Sara Stanley! Er, Sara Dieter! She's a dear friend from university who just got married to her man, Ben, this past weekend. The wedding was lovely and Sara was gorgeous!

Weddings and babies...pretty cool Spring time. Now if only I could get that job...

The Subway

2009-05-14T12:45:00.003-04:00

Well today is my 3 month anniversary in NYC! Woohoo! In honor of this day and in an attempt to move on from the somewhat depressing previous entry, I’m going to tell you about the New York City subway!

I love the subway. My first impression was “Ack! Dirty!” and “Scary…” but over the months I’ve really grown to enjoy the mass transit beneath the concrete of the city. The subway runs 24 hours a day and there are always people riding. In a way the subway is the great equalizer in the city and you get a real mix of people and characters from all walks of life. I sometimes get excited by the things I see. For example…

While waiting for the train, you sometimes see rats and mice running around on the tracks. They always look really dirty, but still kind of cute.

One Tuesday night at 1am I had an entire train car to myself. The only strange anomaly was identical pale pink vomit at both ends of the car. I wasn’t sure if one person had puked at one end and then managed a completely spew free walk to the opposite end OR two people from the same party had puked at either end in unison.

At about 11pm one night in Williamsburg I saw an undercover drug bust occur on the opposite side of the tracks with lots of police and shouting and handcuffs.

A quartet once got on near Time Square and sang for money while I was trying to take a nap.

A homeless man carrying toothpaste asked me for a quarter to help him get back to the future.

A little dog escaped from his owner—a high heel wearing woman with sunglasses and diamonds—and ran past all the people while the lady shouted, “Marky! Come back! Mommy is gonna spank!”

Seeing my friend Tom on the same train but not believing it (because you rarely randomly run into someone you know) and ignoring him until my stop when I gave him a second look and could only manage a smirk before the doors closed (oops).

Dancing with Madonna in an impromptu dance party one night on the L train. Naw, that didn’t actually happen…yet.

In these times…

2009-04-23T09:23:00.000-04:00

I’m frustrated. I’m angry. I’m depressed. I consider ever dollar I spend and stress that my bank account is gradually decreasing. I’m tired. I’m anxious. I’m unemployed.

Everyone knows someone looking for work…a lot of you are probably looking for work yourselves. The sucky economy has hit so many and it’s hard to keep going when you face so many closed doors.

I worked as an usher yesterday at an event at Columbia University. I heard about it through a friend and was excited to have a reason to put on a suit and earn some cash. Most of my fellow ushers were also unemployed and we shared a mutual pain of rejection. We’ve all sent out multiple resumes (ranging from as few as 10 to as many as 50) and had an interview or two that ultimately resulted in a NO and maybe a bit more life experience.

Some will say struggling through this makes us stronger, builds some character and gives us a chance to grow and learn. Also it means we have free time to do all the things we normally couldn’t do! But then again, money really is a tool we need to do those things.

Today is a hard day and I don’t know what tomorrow will bring. I watch my inbox for interview invites and hope something will break. I consider increasingly drastic methods for finding jobs…and remind myself that I would make a valuable addition to any company.

I go on…continue the search, continue the fight, and hold on to hope.

My name is Justin. I want to start a career in non-profit and international relations. I’m a highly adaptable and positive person with demonstrated success in challenging environments. I believe in creating a better world and that we have the ability to do that right now. Let me hear from you.

Central Park

2009-04-20T09:40:00.006-04:00

Waiting for the coming of spring is a long and arduous process. The cold dregs of winter hang on in the air and wind and make us cry out for warmth and sun. By April we are all ready to put away out heavy coats and some even dare to wear flip flops on the first day of 65 degree weather.

Here in NYC, spring and winter have been stalled chit chatting at the doorway of seasons causing Gothamites to have moments of blissful warmth mixed with all too familiar days of cold and gloom (and sometimes snow). Hopefully winter is just about ready to head on out and let spring take over for the season.

This past Saturday we had the warmest weather yet and most of New York flocked to parks and open spaces to take in as much sun as possible. Below are some pictures of the long afternoon I spent with friends in Central Park.

Derek and Mike, two of my closest friends here in the city.

The sun and grass were so nice that Derek and I opted for a little nap. This proved to be difficult due to the rowdiness of the folks around.

Color effect! These are are some cool new friends I've made in NYC

We stayed until the sun began to set...such a nice afternoon

Celebrity Sightings!

2009-04-08T19:06:00.004-04:00

One of the many cool reasons to live in NYC is that sometimes you see famous people walking around acting all normal. As you know from previous posts, I love people watching and constantly reap a bountiful harvest each time I stroll down the street. Because I stare at almost everyone I pass, I occasionally get an extra surprise and see a celebrity! Below are the famous people I’ve see since moving here.

First sighting: Demetri Martin, comedian. I saw him on St. Mark’s on a Saturday night and noticed him when a young boy said, “Good luck with your career!” and hugged him. He then got into a car and drove away.

Chet, cast member for MTV’s Real World Brooklyn. Definitely a minor “celebrity” and really more of a twat (have you seen the show?) but I still thought it was cool to see him. He was walking along 14th Street near where I live. We actually made eye contact and I feel like he was looking at me thinking, “Hey, do you recognize me? Please recognize me! I was on the Real World!” I didn’t say anything to him.

Donald Faison, most notably the character Turk from Scrubs (also in the 1995 ground-breaking film, Clueless!). I saw him on Bowery Street shopping in some photograph art stores. He was with 3 other “normals” and I noticed him when he laughed (exactly like Turk does!). I called my mom and sister for this one.

Kiefer Sutherland, intense hero, Jack Bauer, on the TV series 24 (as well as multiple films like The Three Musketeers…oh, and he also is the spokesman for Calorie Mate, a Japanese snack food). I spotted him just this past week walking in Union Square on a rainy day. He casually strolled by not in a hurry at all (very different from his role in 24). I was actually talking to my mom on the phone when this occurred. I don’t think she was as excited as she was about Turk.

I know if I see any of the crew members of any of the Star Trek series (except Enterprise, what a lame fest…but then again Scott Bakula was captain on that show and I’d be excited to see him because he was on Quantum Leap) I will wet my pants and go up and ask to shake their hand. Lord help me if Patrick Stewart walks by! The combo of Capt. Picard and Professor X from X-Men would just blow me over and I would probably try to make him come with me for coffee so I could absorb as much of his refined charm as possible.

Who knows who I’ll see next. I’ll keep my eyes open (and my blog updated!).

Somebody done dropped their liquor

2009-04-03T11:49:00.002-04:00

A lot of stuff goes done on the streets of New York. Sometimes it gets ugly, violent, or done right wasteful. The other day I was walking home and I heard this big commotion coming from up ahead. I scanned the pedestrian masses and saw a man and woman shouting and gesturing wildly at each other. I was instantly enthralled, but knew I had to keep my staring to a minimum (cause that’s just rude). Below is the conversation exchanged between the pair.

Woman: I told you I done bought enough liquor for tonight!
Man: Well I thought we could use some more.
Woman: We have enough. We don’t need two more bottles.
Man: We do with your sister in town.
Woman: Now why do you have to bring that s*#t up? She’s only been here for a week.
Man: And she’s already finished off half my wine cellar.
Woman: (gruff laugh) Wine cellar? Some cheap a*@ bottles in a box under the kitchen table aint no wine cellar.
Man: Woman that aint the point!

Then there was some escalated shouting and grabbing of the paper bag with the liquor that ended with a rip! and smash, shatter-shatter-clink.

Strong smelling alcohol briefly flooded the sidewalk and drained away to the street. The couple moved on in a silent, but fuming huff with the woman mumbling and reaching for her cell phone.

I waited a minute or so and then took the photo of the broken bottles.

APRIL FOOL'S!

2009-04-01T20:54:00.002-04:00

The post entitled, "Return to Japan", is my April Fool's joke! I'm not going back to Japan...I'm staying right here in New York City!

I feel kind of bad for fooling people...but I couldn't resist a little April 1st fun.

I'll be in NYC for a while. I love it here!

Return to Japan

2009-04-01T10:34:00.002-04:00

This morning I woke up after a difficult night of tossing and turning knowing what I must do. Most of you out there don’t know it, but living in NYC has been a bit of a struggle and with the economic climate like it is, I just don’t think my dreams of living here are going to work out.

I’ve been actively seeking employment for the past 3 months. I’ve talked to a dozen people trying to network, I’ve crafted a beautiful resume, I’ve searched and searched for positions where I could excel, but STILL, I’m unemployed and drifting. I’m tired of the dead ends and I’m ready for a change.

So, I’m planning on heading back to Japan! I know I can get work as an English teacher there (have lots of old contacts writing me and offering me some work) and I also plan to pursue my voice acting dream. Plus, I really miss those beautiful green mountains and all those polite people.

I’m still young and flexible and I savor the adventure ahead of me! More to come soon!

Pigeon Mating

2009-03-27T15:08:00.001-04:00

Has anyone else seen this? Near where I live there are a bunch of pigeons that just hang around all day long and pick at bits of crap on the ground. It’s fun to run through them with a loved one causing dozens of dirty gray streaks to flutter up into the air and say, “It’s just like Venice!” (whether or not you’ve ever been to Venice with a loved one or not).

Recently I’ve started noticing some new behavior in their complex picking and flying away maneuvers…and after some internet research I’ve confirmed my hunch that the fluffy feathers and hopping around is indeed pigeon mating dancing.

I like watching the pair walk aimlessly around the sidewalk with the male all tall and puffing out his neck feathers. He tries really hard to get the female’s attention who usually just walks away with a blank expression of disinterest in her beady eyes. There’s some polite cooing too from the male and he follows the female relentlessly…until a stroller or taxi bears down on him and sends the love dance into escape flying.

I have to say if I were the girl bird I wouldn’t really be interested either. Pigeons are dirty with mixed matched feather colors and half of them lack two full sets of toes. I think the females hold out as long as nature allows hoping for a confused blue jay to come and sweep them from the filthy streets. I saw a blue jay in a tree above the pigeon enclave the other day. All he did was poop and screech and fly away. Too bad.

Union Square

2009-03-24T19:40:00.006-04:00

A girl in a lime green scarf wails homemade lyrics with her guitar; a man wearing a sky blue cap dances and performs air drums; a German art student discusses her new camera with a friend. An old Jamaican lady proselytizes with a worn Bible; a parade of Chihuahuas pull a tall blond girl; some preteens scream about a spilled Jamba Juice…these are just a few of the people I saw today in Union Square.

I walk through Union Square every day and it has become one of my favorite spots in the city. Just north of NYU, and between the East and West Villages, Union Square is a meeting point for a wide variety of Gothamites.

This is Nicholas the Cat with his human friend. They appear mostly on the weekends and calmly walk around the area to the amazement of all who see them. When I took the photo I was asked by Nicholas’s friend if I could spare a few dollars. I didn’t realize their Sunday constitutional was primarily a way to earn a buck. Since I took their picture, I of course helped them out a bit.

There’s a lifeguard stand in the middle of the open square facing 14th Street. I think it’s an advertisement for NYC lifeguards (apply today for the summer!) but mainly people use it to perch themselves up above the masses and do some lofting people watching. Evan and I hung out up there for more than an hour and saw some Jewish guys “save” (?) the blanket violinist dude (I don’t know their names, I just observe them and give them straight forward nicknames). The Jewish guys go around asking if you’re Jewish and then inviting you to Jewish events if you are. The blanket violinist plays most days somewhere in the square and is always seen wearing his blanket poncho and head scarf.

There are also hip hop dancers in purple hoodies, hacky sack players in shorts, police officers with crackly walkie talkies, and gothy teenage girls giving out free hugs (they had a sign). The diversity is endless and very inspiring and I love watching who passes by and eavesdropping on their conversations (eavesdropping is a NYC pastime!). Trust me, there’s a whole cast of characters for almost any movie or novel you’d want to write (especially if it’s some sort of drama series). I sometimes take a step back and realize that I’m also just a random person someone else is watching. That’s when I want to dress up like a superhero again and run around yelling, “CRY HAVOC!” Maybe when the weather warms up.

The horrible intercom mistake

2009-03-11T11:35:00.001-04:00

New York has lots of things I’m not accustomed to yet. One of these things is the whole ‘apartment building intercom buzz-in’ thing. When you go to visit your friend, you approach the front entrance, push past the people smoking by the door, and find your friend’s apartment number on buzz ‘em list. Once you locate the correct number/name, you hit the button, announce your presence, and then get buzzed in past one or two doors of security. It’s simple, really, but as we all know from out life experiences, simple is often the best catalyst for disaster.

I was going to visit my friend who lives between a dumpling shop and Dunkin Donuts just down the street. There is a single door up to his apartment with a simple metal box containing all the apartment numbers and buzz buttons. One this particular day I went up to the door and hit the appropriate button.

Buzzzzz
Intercom voice: Yeah?
Me: Let me in!!!!
Intercom voice: Who is it?
Me (annoyed at the delay): It’s a murder come to kill you!
Intercom: What?
Me (weary of an exchange I believed to be my friend teasing me): Open the door! I have bloodlust! Roar!
Intercom: Michael? Michael, geeze. Sigh.
Door opening buzzzzzzzz

I entered the building and went up to the third floor where my friend lives. But something wasn’t right…the stairway was different…the doors weren’t in the same place as I remembered. Realization began to dawn on me…I was in a different building…which means that wasn’t my friend on the intercom…which means I had just threatened a total stranger that I was a dangerous killer…oh dear.

I gracefully dashed back down the stairs and out the door. I then saw that I had gone into the doorway just before the dumpling shop, not the one after it. Oops. Lesson learned.

Observations of the City

2009-02-25T16:45:00.002-05:00

The apartment buildings are super old…50 years old is considered new. Tall stairways in elevator-less apartments all lean to one side after years of climbing feet.

There’s less blond hair walking around…a lot more dark hair.

The squirrels are huge and just as jittery as anywhere.

There’s a lot of dog poop on the sidewalks.

Homeless people sometimes sing.

Walking around you hear as much Spanish, Chinese, Hindi, French, Russian, etc., etc., as you do English (maybe more).

Most people aren’t rude, they’re just focused on what they’re doing and where they’re going that they don’t take any extra time for pleasantries.

Restaurants are usually small with tables for two. Takeout is as popular as dining in.

Walk North or South in Manhattan for 10-15 minutes and you’ll noticeably change neighborhoods. The people, the shops, the air will all become something new and distinctive.

Lots of people ask for directions. Especially about where 8th Ave. is (this has happened to me 3 times in the past week…I’m going to have to go check out 8th Ave.).

Most buildings have a sublevel accessible by a trap door located just outside on the sidewalk. These are often left open and can be dangerous for a careless pedestrian.

Metal grates line sidewalks and provide ventilation for the subway underneath. I walk on them a lot and wonder if it’s safe.

There are specialist lawyers who work exclusively on cases involving trapdoor and metal grate accidents.

Pizza slices are eaten folded up and while you walk fast down the street.

The Statue of Liberty appears when you least expect it…like from the window of a plane, a view between two skyscrapers, or from the Ikea Brooklyn cafeteria.

NYC: days 1 – 4

2009-02-18T20:26:00.001-05:00

It feels like college in some ways. I think that’s mostly because my room reminds me a lot of my college dorm room—a long rectangle with a tall ceiling surrounded by white stone walls and a heating pipe that runs beside the window. The room is also furnished in a similar way with a bed and a simple desk and chair. This leaves a whole lot of white wall…a prospective canvas for elaborate photo projects later on.

The building in which I live is also like my college dorm…tall, brick exterior, built a while ago. There are several of these same buildings all together filled with residents (many of them young people) so it gives the feel of a community—just like living in the dorms.

Then there are the buses that idle and roar outside my window from time to time…just like when I was in college. At least there aren’t any loud hall mates shouting over video games next door.

There’s also this sense of excitement at the newness and open-endedness of my new home. Like my first few days at college, my first few days here have been a time when every new restaurant I pass or person I meet has the possibility of become a new part of my life.

New York is a massive collection of things…people, buildings, ideas…and every time I walk around town I watch and observe all the things I see. I’m in an observing/analyzing mode as I try to understand my new home and how to live here. So far I love it…I love the potential for growth, new friendships, and new discoveries. I’m also a bit intimated by everything. It’s like a big bellowing machine with grinding and steaming parts that I don’t fully understand, but I know can crush a foot or chop off a hand if I’m not careful.

Hmmm, maybe that’s too harsh…but the dirty subway is a bit scary—especially compared to the comparatively clean, high tech system found in Japan.

Anyway, I’m liking the feel of the city…the convenience of my apartment…and the gradually unfolding of life here.

First sight

2009-02-15T13:43:00.001-05:00

The plane eased downward through the clouds as the pilot announced our descent into the New York City area. I looked out the window at the gray and white mass of clouds wondering if I would be able to see much of the city from the air. The crowded plane murmured and chirped as the passengers prepared for the landing.

Suddenly the clouds broke away and the sky was clear, the setting sun bright over the land. I saw some buildings and roads…then water…and then a thin green figure far below. Green figure? OMG, the Statue of Liberty?! YES! That’s the Statue of Liberty! And Ellis Island! And that’s Manhattan!

The rigid and crowded cityscape of New York rose sharply from the flat water and I gawked at the chaotic browns and grays of the buildings. I couldn’t believe all the buildings and roads…this was New York City…this was my new home.

The plane turned and my view of the city was blocked by the wing. A moment later we were bouncing on the runway…and soon I was standing outside the airport repeating my address over and over in my head so I could confidently tell it to the taxi driver.

As I rode in the cab towards Manhattan, the tall peaks of the buildings were constantly in view in the distance. I looked at everything trying to absorb it all; a tall man carrying a load of roses, two police officers chatting on the sidewalk, a guy on a skateboard pushing past cars at a stoplight, a woman pulling a dog in a wagon. Everything was New York and I felt like I had so much to learn.

I crossed the street to me new apartment building smiling like a kid. I was excited, but a part of my brain was refusing to believe it all and assured me this was a dream. I was in New York…to live in New York…to start some kind of new life in New York.

Pharaoh’s tomb and cardboard boxes

2009-02-12T14:02:00.003-05:00

Recently my dad and I got the chance to go see a special Ancient Egyptian and Tutankhamun exhibit in downtown Atlanta. Both being learned scholars of ancient history, we enjoyed the exhibit that covered a lot of the 3,000 years of Egyptian civilization with a special focus on the tomb and relics of Tutankhamun. The entire exhibit contained hundreds of artifacts and lots of information on ancient Egypt and really gave us a sense and image of that long ago empire.

The description of Tutankhamun’s tomb upon opening in 1922 was a “series of small rooms cluttered with objects from floor to ceiling.” The scene that met archeologist was overwhelming due to its historical uniqueness and value, and also because it meant one heck of a clean-up job for them (a job that took nearly 10 years to complete all the examining, preserving, and cataloguing). But through it all the researchers were rewarded with beautiful and significant artifacts that stirred their hearts and imaginations.

I have had a similar experience here at my parent’s house going through old boxes of stored stuff from my past.

Instead of a stone tomb, I have a garage and bedroom; my relics aren’t in golden vessels covered in hieroglyphs, but rather come in cardboard boxes scrawled on with black Sharpie. The dust and cobwebs are the same…and the stirring of emotion that comes with examining the items found inside.

There are books from university that remind me of my favorite classes, toys and action figures from childhood to my early 20’s, clothes I would never wear now, and pictures of friends and events from the past ten years. A lot of the items carry a peculiar “time lag” effect with them…even though they aren’t that old, they are from a pre-Japan life when I was quiet a bit different in some ways from who I am now. Things that were cool to a “university student Justin” seem a bit immature to the “world traveler Justin”.

One example, these cups with Adult Swim characters on them (black, foreground) and two large plastic cups stolen from my university dining hall (clear, background).

At one time they were trophies and reserved for special drinks (like the sometimes imposing mixed drinks my friends and I attempted at age 21-22). But now their context is lost in myth and would really only make sense to a handful of close friends.

This is just something I was thinking about…and decided to write about it instead of packing and filling out my tax returns. NYC in T-minus 2 days!

Countdown to NYC

2009-02-02T16:01:00.002-05:00

In less than 2 weeks I’ll be living in New York City. I have my one-way plane ticket and a place to live upon arrival. My bags are yet to be packed, but I’ve had a lot of practice doing that, so no worries.

I’m leaving the heart of the south on February 14th, Valentine’s Day. I think that’s pretty cool. If nothing else, it gives me permission to avoid the “Omg! I don’t have a sweetheart on Valentine’s Day!” drama that can arise. I’ll be too busy trying to confidently hail a cab and walk hurriedly through crowds of fashion-savvy New Yorkers.

It will be really hard to leave the south…and my family. I’ve enjoyed my time here so much…and it’s been invaluable time to reconnect with family and places that serve as my foundation. I love the south more now than ever before…and I think I had to go to Japan to be able to really appreciate the culture and charm of this part of America.

In the last 3 months I’ve eaten a lot of good food, given and received a lot of warm hugs, and watched a lot of stupid TV. I’ve cried and laugh and yelled and apologized to people who I’ll always love and been reminded of where I came from and how much potential I have to go wherever I want.

In this time of transition and change, I’m reminded of one of my favorite Tolkien poems…a few lines that seem to sum up my life at this time:

"The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way
Where many paths and errands meet.
And wither then? I cannot say.”

True dat.

Real Haunted House

2009-01-30T15:28:00.001-05:00

Video about a recent trip to a real haunted house in rural Georgia.

Floating Aliens

2009-01-28T10:17:00.008-05:00

I went to the Georgia Aquarium with my mom the other day and had an enchanting time looking at all the creatures. We stand quietly watching fins flap through the water and unblinking eyes gaze back through the glass. The aquarium is the most scifi-like place you can go to…all those strange animals that are so different from what we see in our dry, land world. When I stand and stare at the fish or crabs swimming and creeping, I can’t help but think about outer space and aliens.

Here are some of my favorite photos of the jellyfish…voted "most alien-like" in a recent survey. Enjoy.

Unflushed blogs

2009-01-19T20:54:00.000-05:00

I did something a bit disheartening today. I went down a rather long list of bookmarked blogs and cleared out all the ones that haven’t been updated in the last year. It was disheartening because I read through all this super outdated material on abandoned URLs and ended up feeling a terrible sense of loss. I deleted 10 blogs! That’s 10 people who just decided one day to stop writing and updating the faceless masses of the internet on their daily adventures. No more stories about wacky teaching experiences, no more diatribes on customer service at Sears, no more cherry pie reviews for out-of-the-way diners in the Midwest. Boom, all gone. And left to float in increasingly absurdity in the expanse of cyberspace.

At first it was kind of neat to see what friends were doing in early 2008…and then it was late 2007…and as I went along the ending dates got older…sometime in 2006…and after that I couldn’t see properly due to a welling up of tears in my eyes. What had happened to these people? What became of their virtual voice? And would it perhaps have been better if the blogs had been taken down instead of left to sit with unchanging pages?

In the past several years I’ve moved 5 times and each time I’ve taking fewer things to the next place than I original brought to the last. This is in part because every time I move I say, “I’m never packing up and moving this stuff again!” which translates to me actually not packing some things up and just giving them away to whoever is close by. I’ve also learned the value of traveling light in life. Honestly, most people have too much stuff. And the longer you live, the more stuff you get…until one day you die and then your loved ones have to sift through all your stuff and ask, “Why did he have so much stuff?”

My point being: you really only need a few** things in life (**”few” being defined by lots of factors that deserve their own blog entry).

This philosophy can be carried over to blogs. At this point in my life I’m working hard to move forward…moving to New York, getting a new job, starting a new life that will challenge and inspire me…so when it comes to stale blogs, I just wish they had been flushed away instead of sitting idle saying, This life has stopped and will not move forward anymore. March 2007 was the height of my life and there is no reason to regale you any further with commentary on my dare care for dogs.

Woohooshhhh! Outdated blogs and last week’s Wal-Mart goldfish down into the depths of the departed.

I wonder what I’ll eventually do with the JaBlog…

New Year, New Title…New York!

2009-01-15T13:25:00.000-05:00

The JaBlog is taking on a new look and I’m setting a new course for my next big adventure in life: New York City. After readjusting back to life in America and doing some serious thinking about the future, I’m ready to take the next step and head to one of the most amazing cities in the world.

I have some big plans and big dreams for the Big Apple…and I’ll keep you updated on those as the weeks go by.

Photos of a quiet battlefield

2009-01-08T11:41:00.006-05:00

Despite my first experience of getting ridiculously lost (the “ridiculous” referring to my navigational skills, not to my level of lostness), I persevered and went back to Nash Farm, the Civil War Historical Battlefield Park (see previous post). This time I found the wooded trail…that was actually mostly a gravel driveway and about 20 meters of dead leaves…and arrived within minutes.

Here are some photos I took of the area:

Close up of a tree overlooking the site of cavalry charge.

Same tree farther back (I really like this tree).

Gravel road for Confederate and Union ghosts to wander.

Big ol’ southern sky.

Me.

Old South and how I got lost in the woods

2009-01-03T14:23:00.000-05:00

So my parents live near this totally awesome Civil War battlefield. I’ve never really been that interested in the American Civil War because growing up I always preferred ancient history with the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans. BUT, since I did grow up southern, I did get a fair amount of southern history mixed with some Gone with the Wind movie watching. This southern epic gave me a strong impression of the Civil War as a really messy, bloody and horrible time with the starving, destitute Scarlet and hospital-leg-amputation scenes. Who wants to endure all that when you could instead read about Greek heroes with their orations and protector goddesses?

ANYWAY, it hasn’t been until recently when I was away from my southern home that I gained a new appreciation and interest in southern history. The south is a place you experience through its friendly people and delicious food. This can be said of many places perhaps, but the southern hospitality is unique in the world and mixed with the more enduring “red neck” qualities of the area, you get a relaxing and fun place to live.

All this said, the other day I found myself heading down the road to see the historic Civil War battlefield called Nash Farm. It’s a spacious and rolling green area with an old dirt road down the center and a lake at one end. They actually have reenactments there every year and I must say I’m really keen to see one (I love costume parties!).

After walking around a while I decided to head home…but I opted for the “wooded trail” option as opposed to the “dangerously along the side of the road” route that I had taken to get to Nash Farm (American drivers do not respect the pedestrian). This is where my real adventure began.

I called my parents asking for directions to the trail opening and was told things about roads and gravel driveways and small openings in the trees…you know, vague things that could be confusing and lead to wrong turns and doom.

I found a few gravel driveways and maybe an opening the trees…and decided to blaze ahead. The trail become less of a trail and eventually stopped all together. I looked around and didn’t feel like going back to find the right way…instead I used my supreme ranger skills to strike out deeper into the forest (I actually looked back and glimpsed the roof of a house just before it was lost to the shadows of the trees and thinking, “hmmm, perhaps this is not the best idea…”).

Trees become thorns and briars…these led to entanglement and blood! I panicked! Sharks are attracted by blood! Wait, I’m in the woods, not the sea. Stay calm. Oh no, the sun is setting.

I hiked on through the woods and was thankful for winter and dormant snakes since I was smashing through deep underbrush where snakes surly dwell. Eventually I found something that looked like an abandoned road and that lead to a trail (the same one I should have been on the whole time?). Then I found some people’s backyard and jumped their fence as discreetly as possible to escape the wild and return to suburban life. I emerged covered in leaves, scrapes, and a wild expression on my face (I imagined). I walked quickly past some lawn statues that seemed to snicker at my state (cause honestly, what was my problem?) but kept going until I reached the neighborhood road. It was a fun outing…and taught me that I’m not in tame Japan anymore. Here’s southern boy country.

¡Perfecto!

2008-12-29T11:10:00.003-05:00

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

2008-12-22T15:48:00.002-05:00

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:

No eating of sweets/desserts before noon (except doughnuts and chocolate sundae Poptarts).
No eating of sweets/desserts after 8pm (except anything eggnog flavored).
Only small pieces of cakes and pies allowed (but as many of these small sizes as desired).
Any lunches composed entirely of cookies and fudge must also be accompanied by an apple or orange.
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

2008-12-16T08:12:00.004-05:00

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).

Whoa, that guy is fat!
This steak is massive!
Haha, that cat is chubby.
Wow, look at all the bread!
Yikes, is that lady wearing pajamas at the store?
Man, this water glass is like a silo.
Eek, that dude is rude.
Hmm, is this shirt a large in people sizes or wookie?
Gasp! Look at all the cheese options!
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

2008-12-10T22:50:00.000-05:00

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

2008-12-05T13:14:00.001-05:00

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

2008-12-02T10:20:00.004-05:00

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

2008-11-25T08:39:00.001-05:00

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

2008-11-21T20:43:00.005-05:00

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

2008-11-19T21:39:00.008-05:00

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

2008-11-17T23:06:00.008-05:00

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

2008-11-14T04:57:00.001-05:00

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

For my students

2008-11-04T05:53:00.001-05:00

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

:)

Your Last Chance!

2008-11-04T02:10:00.002-05:00

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

2008-10-24T10:12:00.000-04:00

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!

2008-10-17T22:20:00.002-04:00

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!

2008-10-01T09:20:00.006-04:00

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

2008-09-18T10:50:00.001-04:00

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

Funny Sign

2008-09-04T09:18:00.001-04:00

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

2008-08-28T08:42:00.001-04:00

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!

2008-08-15T21:15:00.001-04:00

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

2008-08-09T12:12:00.003-04:00

(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

2008-07-31T10:20:00.000-04:00

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!

2008-07-23T09:37:00.006-04:00

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

2008-07-16T08:51:00.002-04:00

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

2008-06-26T00:54:00.003-04:00

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

2008-06-13T10:04:00.000-04:00

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!

2008-06-05T09:42:00.008-04:00

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

2008-05-08T21:49:00.001-04:00

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

2008-05-05T21:27:00.002-04:00

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

2008-04-28T20:42:00.002-04:00

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…

2008-04-15T08:16:00.001-04:00

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

2008-04-09T02:10:00.002-04:00

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

2008-03-24T17:25:00.001-04:00

Here's what I did on Thursday.

Fantastic Day

2008-03-15T22:18:00.002-04:00

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!

2008-03-06T22:50:00.002-05:00

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!

2008-02-27T08:49:00.001-05:00

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…

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).

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.

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.

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!

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.

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

2008-02-15T23:38:00.003-05:00

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.

Transient Living

2008-02-04T08:57:00.000-05:00

I just said good bye to a group of close friends…again…for the third time since I arrived in Japan. It sucks.

Living aboard has innumerable wonders that inspire, enlighten, and entertain on a daily basis…but there are also some really hard, heart-breaking trials to deal with too. Saying good bye to close friends is one the toughest.

Being a foreigner in a foreign land usually means you get to meet all kinds of other foreigners around you. And living in Beppu—the city with highest number of foreigners per capita after Tokyo—I’ve met a lot of people from all around the world. It’s not unusual to be in a group of a dozen or so folks and have a dozen or so countries represented…our house parties are like mini UN socials with accents, slang, and laughter roaring together in an international mix. BUT, these people you meet…these friends you make…are almost always destined to leave Japan after a finite amount of time. Whether it’s weeks, months of even blessed years, the bounds you form must be made to stretch across the oceans of the world because so many people have to leave and go back home.

Since I’ve been in Japan for 2 years, 4 months, and 2 days, I’ve seen a lot of people go. And it’s hard to keep going through this process. I’m writing today as a way to deal with the sadness in me…funnel it out and make use of the emotion…turning tears into rivers that will serve to carry my creativity in little ships of memories to the ocean that’s the Web.

Haha, I hope Baker reads that and groans ;)

See, I’m feeling better already.

I heard someone once call Beppu a transient town…a port so many people travel through on their journey. The rhythm of life here is constantly in a state of renewal and change…which means things can’t ever get dull as long as I’m living too. I guess I just have to learn to flow with the cycle of new arrivals and tearful departures…and then hold on to the friendships that are stable around me.

To those who have left, I wish you a safe journey home…may we meet again one day. And to those who will arrive soon, welcome to Beppu…I hope you brought your party hat.

じゃ　またね！

Ding Dong! (or "ping pong" in Japanese)

2008-01-19T04:35:00.000-05:00

Living in big apartment building in Beppu has many advantages such as smelling other people’s dinners cooking, hearing other people’s children screaming, and having random folks ring your doorbell with all kinds of exciting things to tell you.

Just this morning a girl came by asking if I had any kids who would like to join her English conversation class. Her question was funny on a couple levels: 1.) I don’t have any kids…I don’t even have a spouse…so the thought of having a kid old enough to speak is crazy! 2.) I already speak English…and I speak it rather well, if I do say so myself…so if I did have any kids, I think I would be their English conversation teacher.

I’ve also answered the door to the familiar Jehovah’s Witnesses (who always speak advanced English!) with their many pamphlets and endless attempts to get me to join their Bible study. I’ve learned how to respectfully listen and then firmly tell them I’m not interested so they don’t keep sending delegations to save me.

Of course the most unique group who has came a’knocking was what I call, “the happy sunshine people” who meet every morning at the city park at 5am. They are on a mission to make the world a better place through early morning meetings and group breakfasts (or something like that…I didn’t catch it all). They were very nice ladies.

Ah yes, the many 5 minute visitors who patron my doorbell with smiles and offers. I never know who is going to stop by next. Perhaps it will be a CoCo curry deliveryman with the wrong address—one can only hope!

New Year's in Kansai

2008-01-13T06:27:00.001-05:00

Pictures of my trip to Kansai!

I stole from Paris Hilton

2008-01-07T09:18:00.000-05:00

Recently I asked my dear friend, Sheena, if she, given the option, would give up the need to sleep (just think of how much more productive one could be!). She said she wouldn’t because she wants to be able to dream and have a break from reality. I pondered this thought and quickly came to agree with her. Dreams are amazing little side quests to our lives and provide outlets for our thoughts and emotions…and sometimes give us the opportunity to be superheroes or see Mars or go on dates with Deanna Troi from Star Trek.

In a dream I had the other night I stole from Paris Hilton and got to eat some very tasty carrot cake. I don’t remember every part of the dream, but I do remember vacationing in Paris Hilton’s mountain mansion and having the chance to rifle through her shoe closet while she was out. I wasn’t stealing shoes for myself…but rather for Sheena and Selena who were waiting for me in the Burger King a few miles away. No, I didn’t care about the shoes…I instead went after Paris’ cell phone so I could have contact info for half of Hollywood (albeit perhaps the skankier half). While in the process of choosing between sparkles or leather heels (again, not for me, but for my friends…), I also found a hoard of carrot cake (one of my favorite desserts!). I was very practical about taking the cake and was sure to wrap it up neatly in plastic wrap before wiping my finger prints off all surfaces.

As I was leaving the Hilton mansion with cake, shoes, and phone, a massive Bigfoot creature appeared just outside the front door. Everyone started screaming and I knew I only had seconds before the monster broke into the house. This is the point the dream became something extra special! In the dream I was thinking, “oh dear, I’m getting scared…don’t like this…going to have to run and hide and blablabla…I just want to enjoy this bit of petty theft without the hassle of defending myself against a tired urban myth…” And while thinking this I realized, “hey wait, I’m dreaming…this is in my head…my imagination…so that means I can anything!” A second later Bigfoot was breaking through the wall and instead of being scared, I was getting stronger. I had enough realization in my dream to give myself superpowers and quickly repelled the beast with one big energy shockwave from my hands.

The dream petered out after that…I remember the house filling with water and something about a cat and my cousin Miranda…and then I woke up.

Anyway, I wanted to report this to everyone to give you something interesting to read as you start your week (for many people after a holiday). The next time you find yourself in a dream—which should be the next time you fall soundly asleep—try to take control and see what you can do. For surly the limits of what you can do/be in a dream are only bound by the limits of your imagination.

Happy New Year!

2008-01-03T20:31:00.000-05:00

It’s 2008—the Year of the Rat—the Summer Olympics in China—and the year I’m finally getting serious about my future. Yes, that’s right, after adventuring around in Japan for the past 2.5 years, I think it’s time for me to get my goals and dreams together and get on a path to greater things. I’m posting this on my blog so it’s out there and I can’t procrastinate and push it aside anymore.

Resolutions anyone? Come on, tis the best time of year to make some positive changes in your life. Here are mine!

1.) Improve my Japanese! I have a good textbook and a cool sensei…so I just need to get my butt in gear and learn that Nihongo.

2.) Produce more creative works…aka WRITE MORE…and then get it published. I want to find a writing contest and make a submission in the next 3 months. I feel like I have a creative hurricane inside me just blowing around in a chaotic roar and I’d like to funnel that storm into a brilliant story or paper. Creating things makes me happy…and I haven’t been writing enough over the last few months.

3.) Figure out the next step of my life’s journey. This is the tough one…and one I’d reckon a lot of people are stuck on. What’s next? Where should I go? What should I do? Who am I?! Factors like job/career, relationship, dreams, opportunities, and destiny all intertwine here…and it can be hard to find the right direction to go in. BUT, the most important part is having a vision of where you want to go. I need to first figure that out.

So there you go! What do you think?

In other news, I just got back from a New Year’s trip to Kansai with some really awesome folks. I’ll have an update with pictures from that trip soon.

Happy going everyone.

Merii Kurisumasu

2007-12-21T21:56:00.000-05:00

Holy nativity scenes! Tis almost Christmas!

Hey everyone, HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

I’ve had a lot of folks back home asking me if Japan celebrates Christmas so I thought I’d do some internationalization and lay out the exciting details about how Santa, Baby Jesus, and Rudolph are recognized here.

First, YES, Christmas is celebrated in Japan. BUT like all western things importer here, Christmas doesn’t look/feel like it does back home. Right now all over Japan there are Christmas decorations like illumination, Santa and Frosty posters, and precariously placed reindeer on rooftops. Many stores and businesses have Christmas trees, but as far as I can tell they’re all artificial (which makes sense since trees are precious in Japan and used only for making chopsticks).

Second, some people so exchange gifts…but this is mostly with parents giving a few things to children or couples exchanging gifts. I don’t think there is any concept of Santa being the one to deliver the gifts since Japanese homes don’t have chimneys (so how on earth would the fat man get inside?!).

Third, the food…omg, this is the best part. Back home, the food at Christmas time is some of the best all year. The turkey, pies, casseroles…all so wonderful. But here in Japan, people eat KFC and cake.

Yes, some how KFC pulled off a “Christmas Chicken Bucket Ruse” and the cake companies added to this by creating the “Christmas Cake Myth”…so many people order up a special holiday KFC bucket (must order in advance) and finish the finger-licking meal off with a lovely cake. When I tell Japanese people that Americans don’t eat these things at Christmas, they always give me they shocked “really?!” face.

So Christmas is a bit different here in Japan…but as we all know, the Christmas spirit isn’t something around us, but rather it’s something inside us (cue cheesy “awwwe”).

I’ll be here in Beppu for the big day, and then taking a trip up to Kansai for New Year’s…which is the big holiday in Japan. I’ll let you guys know how it all goes.

November Update!

2007-11-25T05:19:00.001-05:00

Here you go!

Beppu vs. Ajimu

2007-10-18T04:03:00.000-04:00

WHOSH! That’s the sound of time/life flying by! That’s what I’ve been hearing everyday for the past 3ish weeks as I’ve been settling into my new life in Beppu. I knew I’d have to hit the ground running as soon as I got back to Japan, so all the moving and driving and meeting and unpacking and cleaning and shopping and freaking out has gone rather well.

Here’s a quick rundown of Ajimu (my old home) versus Beppu (my new home) to give you an idea of where I’m living now.

AJIMU
- Population: about 8,000
- Number of…
Grocery stores: 2 (both small)
Restaurants: 1.5 (Joyfull was my standby and then there was another place open only for lunch during the week)
Bars: never really found one
People between 20 and 30 years old: well, there was me and…
- Famous for: turtle soup and wine
- Notable features: countryside beauty, Kyushu’s tallest waterfall, lots of rice fields.

BEPPU
- Population: A lot more than Ajimu
- Number of…
Grocery stores: Tons! Including a large one right down the street!
Restaurants: Innumerable! All my favorites, many within walking distance.
Bars: Still counting! Downtown is about 10 minutes walk from my apartment!
People between 20 and 30 years old: A whole lot! With APU (international university) in town, Beppu has the largest foreign population after Tokyo!
- Famous for: Onsen! It’s the hot spring capital of Japan.
- Notable features: beautiful green mountains that border a blue sea, a ferry to Osaka, lots of hills for good running workout.

Okay, so it looks like Beppu might sort of beat out Ajimu…but I still have a lot of love for my old inaka town. I’ve been by a few times to pick up some of my stuff and I always stop just to look and remember all the good times there. Sure it was really dark at night and sometimes spiders the size of face-huggers from ALIENS would run around my house and it took half an hour to get anywhere and that was only by car because there were no trains in my town…BUT still, it’s a very nice place (and all the isolating inspired great things like Shark Friend).

So yeah, Beppu is rocking and I’m happy to be here. I’ll have more soon…got to go and make some dinner before heading off to work.

Justin's Europe Trip

2007-10-06T07:58:00.001-04:00

Here's where I was in September!

Thank you everyone!

2007-09-23T16:48:00.000-04:00

It’s almost 5pm on Sunday afternoon and I should be packing my bags for Japan. But as I’m rolling t-shirts and trying to fit muffin mix amongst dress shoes, I keep dropping little tears and saying, “I can’t go, I can’t leave home again.”

I’m about to start my third year and Japan and this is the hardest goodbye to my family that I’ve ever had. The past two months have been split between my home(s) in the south and a trip in Europe and all along the way I’ve been loved and supported by my parents, my sister and brother-in-law, my grandparents and uncles and aunts and cousins, my Mexican buddy, long time friends, newly met friends, and complete strangers. I’ve been blessed and cared for so much—thank you!!

I feel good about the future that awaits me in Japan with a new job in a new city. There’s A LOT to do when I return, but I know Beppu is the best place for me right now. The hardest part is leaving all that I have here in America. Honestly, I’m so amazed at how my family has taken care of me while I’ve been here.

Julie and Paul, I love staying with you two. You house is so lovely and there’s always good food there. Thank you for the Wii party and giving so much while I was there. I’ll be waiting for you in Japan! Come and visit!!

Mom and Dad, thank you so much for all you’ve done for me. The love of a parent for their child must be the greatest form of love capable by human beings. I’ve been so comfortable here and leaving is breaking my heart. I love you both so much.

As I’ve said before, living in Japan is a dream of mine…and often times in order to accomplish our dreams, we have to sacrifice something. The end result is of course more amazing than the initial tears, but still those tears do hurt.

Good bye America, I’ll see you again another day.

Good bye

2007-07-24T08:58:00.001-04:00

On Friday afternoon I found myself in a place I haven’t been since I first arrived in Japan. I was standing on the stage in the school gym, sweating in the heat while wearing a tie, and reading a speech I wrote in Japanese. The first time I was there I was introducing myself to the students and teachers of Ajimu High School…and this time I was saying good bye.

It’s amazing thing to stand in front of all my students and tell them how much they’ve meant to me these past two years. I was deeply touched by their applause and cheering as I walked off stage and given a bouquet of flowers. I will miss them all so much…even the ones who always slapped my butt and grabbed my crotch.

This is ESS, English Speakers Society, English club. These kids were some of the best. Man we've had some crazy times.

On Sunday I leave Ajimu and the inaka life I’ve known since arriving in Japan. Along with this farewell are the many good byes to friends who are returning to their home countries. Saying so many sayonaras is draining, but I like to think that no farewell is permanent and that somewhere alone the way, in the future, in another life, I will see these dear friends again.

This chapter in my life is coming to a close…but the story is far from over.

See you later everyone!

Shark Friend, Series Finale

2007-07-17T03:57:00.001-04:00

One more video to cap off a year of extreme personal growth.

Final Decision

2007-07-06T06:08:00.001-04:00

Finally, we know where I'm going...

Bling and Irises

2007-07-02T21:52:00.000-04:00

Well July has suddenly come upon us and the countdown to the end of the 2006-2007 JET Contract year is on. What better way to spend one of the last remaining weekends than donning oneself in flashy bling for a fancy dinner and then viewing lovely irises the following day? Still with me, mom? Let’s just go to the pictures…

BEHOLD, Justin all blinged out. No, I am not Michael Jackson.

Here’s Diego reverting back to his thug image days. I told him the bandana suited him, but he refused to wear it into the restaurant.

Our lovely female friends at dinner (Rhoda was the inspiration for the evening).

After out night out (and sleeping in Rhoda’s house where temperatures approach that of the sun) we teamed up with Sheena and took a stroll into the countryside to view some irises. While I wasn’t bursting with anticipation at first, the flower viewing turned out to be a very nice afternoon. Except for when spiders starting attacking us in the gazebo over the dried up lake.

The field of purple and white stretched endlessly into the green hills (flower pictures! it's like your blog, Julie!).

RABBIT! No wait, INDIAN!

Me and Diego.

I feel like I’ve neglected my blog recently…this is because I’ve been so unsettled about my future that I’ve been waiting to post until I had something BIG and IMPORTANT to announce. Just to give you all an update, I will soon be deciding whether or not I’ll be staying in Japan another year. After months of discussion with my bosses in Oita-ken, it turns out that I cannot remain a third year on JET. However, I’ve been looking for other jobs and have been offered a position with a private English company. I’m at an important crossroads and this week will involve a lot of thinking and praying about the future.

My love to you all.

Extreme Diagnosis

2007-06-22T04:53:00.000-04:00

This blog entry is coming to you under fever-induced delirium so I hope the humor carries over.

Right now I’m suffering from terrible flu-like symptoms and after a day without any improvement, I decided to try to look online to see if I could figure out what might be wrong with me (I rarely get sick and even when I am I don’t let it slow me down…but this episode of illness is taking a toll).

I found an easy to use flow chart to diagnosis my symptoms and while the chart wasn’t much help, the end result was hilarious (**warning, dark humor ahead).

Observe:

1. Is the person an infant of child? NO.
2. Does your fever come and go and does your temperature stay between 97° and 102°? YES.
3. Have you had a fever for weeks along with tiredness and a sore throat? NO
4. Do you have a sore throat, a dry cough, tiredness, mild headaches or muscle aches? YES.
5. Do you have aches, chills, nausea, vomiting, cramps or watery diarrhea? YES.
6. Are you short of breath and do you have a cough that produces yellow, green or tan mucus? Not really...

Conclusion: You may have a serious infection, such as TUBERCULOSIS or AIDS.

Hmmm…perhaps a bit hasty on the emergency diagnosis…and speaks loudly of the dangers of uninformed self-diagnosis. But at least I got a big laugh out of the extreme ending.

Thieves Strike Again!

2007-06-17T08:59:00.000-04:00

A while ago (like MONTHS ago) I posted an entry about two little girls breaking into my house and stealing a bunch of my cookies. These two culprits still come by every now and then and do things like yell at me in Japanese, kick my shins, and try their best to get into my house (I lock my door only because of them). Last week they came by to call me a liar and steal my broom.

Apparently there was some confusion about my country of origin due to an incident that occurred the other week when a visiting friend told some students he was from Mexico when we were driving by the play ground (the kids always shout “herro!” and things like “Are you from America?!” and my friend responded back, “NO, I’m Mexican!” and thus this sent the school was sent into chaos).

So the two little girls came by to call me a liar kick my shins (I wish I was joking, but this is all true). I tried to clear up the misunderstanding, but really all they were interested in was getting into my house. I repeatedly told them NO! and while trying to block their entry, one of them grabbed a broom that was near the door. She said, “thank you very much!” and started running down the street. I sighed, weighed my options, then quickly put on my shoes and ran after her.

Imagine this scene, two little girls running and screaming down a main road in town with a foreigner running after them growling. I caught up to the one holding the broom after running past her friend who screamed and jumped into a rice field. We briefly played tug-of-war while a minivan drove by with staring eyes and gasping mouths. I gain control of the broom, smacked the girl on the feet and dashed back home (I had a hot date and needed to get showered and into the city so there was no time for a lecture).

Hooray Ajimu!

Sarah's Japan Video

2007-06-12T23:16:00.001-04:00

My friend from home who made it to visit me here, Sarah, made an awesome video. I'm honored to post it to my blog.

Sarah Wilda visits Japan!

2007-06-12T05:42:00.001-04:00

Follow the link to view the video!

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8292254095754614041

(still working on technical issues)

UPDATE?!

2007-06-11T06:04:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone! Sorry for not updating recently. I actually have some super HOT videos just dying to be uploaded, but for some reason YouTube is playing a joke on me and everytime I try to share my vision with the masses, I get a big I DON'T THINK SO PUNY HUMAN reaction from the Robots in control of the internet.

Fear not, I'm working to overcome this problem and get the blog updated. Just hang in there!

Happy Times

2007-05-14T07:14:00.000-04:00

Warm spring is here, the teenagers I hang out with 5 days a week are genki, and I have enough of a life that I don’t need to resort to making Shark Friend videos to fill my time. Life is good! This post is purely to help spread the positive karma to all who graciously view my blog.

The Rose…one of my favorite karaoke songs is Bette Midler’s “The Rose”. All joking aside, the song’s message of love is very powerful and one that I’ve taken to heart. And yes, this particular rose was a gift.

Japanese ema…these are small wooden plaques found at Shinto shrines that people write wishes on in hopes of the gods reading them and granting their desires. I wrote one of these back in April as part of my campaign of hope to stay in Japan (still waiting for the final answer…).

Scottish breakfast…thank you Rhoda and Rhoda’s parents! I was treated to a delicious and filling breakfast served up Scottish style this past Saturday consisting of eggs, bacon, these potato cakes things, and ketchup all inside a nice bread roll—a truly remarkable deviation from Japanese breakfast of soup, rice, and pickles.

Fun night out…just look at the ridiculously smile on my face! This is Rhoda, me and Diego at Hit Parade—the 50’s themed restaurant/night club in Beppu. Awesome night.

Hong Kong!

2007-05-10T04:08:00.001-04:00

Check it out!

Pirates and Ninjas

2007-04-25T06:37:00.000-04:00

Living out in the middle of no where in an empty apartment building is pretty spooky most nights, but there are also some really cool bonuses too. Like say you wanted to throw a wild party and invite 50 of your closest friends from all over Oita-ken…then you could be AS LOUD AS YOU WANT and have the honor of hosting a truly enjoyable fancy dress party. That’s what occurred out here in Ajimu this past Saturday night. The theme this time: “PIRATES AND NINJAS, what kind of bad a$$ are you?!”

Here are just a few pictures from the night…I got too involved in making punch and socializing to take a lot of pictures, but there may be more images coming later. The night was pretty sweet and I enjoyed the drunken chaos contrast since most nights are quaint and quiet around here. Memorable moments include: guessing how much rum to put in the 10 liter pirate punch bowl, catching a few couples making out in the darkness around my apartment building (you know who you are!), announcing my engagement to Sheena (this was laaate into the night…), waking up to have EVER bit of floor space covered with a sleeping person (you guys were great to come).

Me and Tori as a really sweet pirates.

Shawn and Tori, what a beautiful couple.

Rhoda, Ninja Princess Extreme (she lost her purse, but the Usa police found it later).

Karl…uh…he was some kind of onsen ninja somethingornother

(he put coffee grounds on his face).

Kate as Tinkerbelle! What a great take on the pirate theme.

Okay, I’m off to Hong Kong in the morning! See ya’ll in next, next week!

Just a regular day

2007-04-19T07:50:00.000-04:00

Here are some interesting statistics about an average day in my life:

Number of times…
1. I hear someone say “herro” to me in a day = 75.
2. Someone looks away laughing when I respond = 72.
3. I ask someone “how are you?” = 50.
4. I’m answered with a blank stare = 25.
5. I bow in a day = 100.
6. I bow while driving my car = 20.
7. Someone helps fix my hair while I’m sitting at my desk = 5.
8. Someone calls me “cute” or “cool” in Japanese thinking I don’t understand = 7.
9. Someone asks me an inappropriate question about my personal life = 25.
10. I ignore these questions = 10.
11. I respond with “That’s private!” = 10.
12. I answer the question with the goal of increasing my “coolness level” = 5
(depends on who’s asking).
13. I get touched on the butt or crotch in a day = 10.
14. I catch someone openly staring at my crotch = 3 (more if I’m in the onsen).
15. I’m confused about what’s going on around me = 10.
16. I’m utterly lost about what’s going on around me = 5.
17. I’m struck by the beauty of the inaka = 3.
18. I’m struck by the energy of the young people around me = 10.
19. I feel at home in this place = almost always.

And here are the various names I go by in Ajimu. Different young people call me different things, but I’ve come to answer to all of them:

1. Justin
2. Jastin
3. Jasutein
4. Justini
5. George
6. Jackson
7. Steve

Campaign of Hope

2007-04-10T05:59:00.001-04:00

I have a dream.

Ted and Yumiko Wedding!

2007-04-09T18:05:00.001-04:00

A little wedding video...because videos are more fun than text updates.

Sakura Blooming

2007-04-03T22:40:00.001-04:00

Here's a spring time update.

My young friends

2007-03-22T07:34:00.000-04:00

Wednesday was a holiday here in Japan and I had the opportunity to spend the day with some really cool people. A friend of mine, who I shall call Tanabee, graciously offered to take myself and a group of graduated young people on a road trip in his big, sweet van. We awed at mountain views, ate delicious food, engaged in English-Japanese conversations, and all around enjoyed a day off work. Please allow me to share the photos with you.

Swings at the top of a mountain…the positioning of the swings on the hill makes you gasp every time you swing out cause you feel like you’re flying over the edge.
Eating DELICIOUS cheese cake flavored ice cream…what a happy crew!

These kids are amazing people and my day with them was so fun. You can see where I get inspiration for my hairstyles. Ah, I love Japan for many reasons, but maybe the biggest is because I can be friends with folks like these. Ajimu for life!

I’ll eat anything! (maybe)

2007-03-11T01:14:00.000-05:00

Japanese cuisine can include all kinds of wonderfully scary/tasty things—many of them being some sort of sea creature with its eyes still intact and looking at you. Sushi has become one of my favorite meals and after a year and a half here, I really enjoy eating raw octopus and fish eggs (and don’t forget the raw horse meat!).

This being said, there are still times when I must say DAME (that means “don’t”) to a particular food item.

For example, the other day I had a wonderful meal with some friends and included in one of the dishes was a happy little shrimp smiling up at me (see photo above). He looked like he had just come from the sea with all his antenna (is that what you call them?) still pointing out and his little eyes glistening in a dreamy gaze. My first clue that maybe this wasn’t the best thing to try is the fact that we had to ask the waiter, “How do you eat this?”

“Just pop him in your mouth,” we were told. Okay, sounds easy…let’s try!

I would come to regret this.
This is me feeling not only pain in my palette, but also in my mouth…you see, the little shrimp’s pointy bits were stabbing the insides of my cheeks and gums. It was kind of like chewing on long tooth picks.

In the end I managed to get it all down…but was left with some mouth pain and a lingering taste of shrimpy saltiness. Not the best moment of my week, but I did feel stronger for the experience.

Now, please don’t let this discourage any of you from trying the many exciting dishes Japan has to offer. The food here really is amazing and I have rarely had a bad experience (this shrimp story was an anomaly—that’s why I’m writing about it…and I just wanted to throw up an update).

Two Wrongs Make a Right

2007-03-11T00:51:00.000-05:00

First, just to explain the title, the above photo is of my dear friends, Jared and Steph Long…but in Japan where “l” and “r” is a mystery for some, their name sometimes becomes “Wrong”. Get it?

Anyway, as you all know, I live a very glamorous life out here in Ajimu. My weekdays are filled with uniform-clad teenagers and countryside serenity…and my weekends are 48 hours of pure Bacchus-inspired merriment.

Well, sort of.

The last two weekends have been fun times as I’ve had the chance to hang out with Jared and Steph (and they are such nice people!). Last weekend was the 80’s dance in Oita City where Jared was DJ-ing and I was dressed up as Spike from TRANSFORMERS (maybe two of you will know who Spike is). The night started slow but gradually grew to a pretty groovy dance party (in part due to my really great idea of group tequila shots!). See below.

Lick it, shoot it, suck it!

This past weekend, the Longs came out to the inaka to visit me and enjoy some of the sites that the countryside has to offer. I rarely get visitors, but am always happy to serve as tour guide.

Steph and Jared at the Ajimu waterfall (Kyushu’s tallest).

Jared and I after we had just passed a group of Korean tourist who wanted to give us all high fives…it was pretty funny (Steph said Jared and I looked “special” in this photo).

Fun times, yo. KOREA!

Tokyo, Yokohama, and My Birthday!

2007-03-02T03:40:00.000-05:00

The breakdown: I spent 5 days up in Tokyo (Japan’s mega capital) and Yokohama (city just beside Tokyo that has a futuristic utopian feel) to attend a conference and celebrate my birthday (February 28th, thanks everyone for the messages and wishes). Lisa was my primary travel companion and besides her weird urges for almonds and zero calorie jelly, we had a great time together.

The above picture is Landmark Tower in Yokohama that served as our, well, landmark as we navigated the spotless streets and long moving walkways of the city (seriously, Yokohama made me think of Earth in the Star Trek universe—all perfect and peaceful with white buildings and ferries wheels).

Even though I’ve been to Tokyo before, there are still many parts of the city I wanted to explore. To help with this, I opted for a FREE TOUR of these desired areas with a volunteer tour guide (check out tokyofreeguide.com). Below is a picture of our guide, his friend, and Lisa. They’re all Japanese…can you spot the Japanese-American? With our guide’s knowledge of the city, Lisa and I had a fun time and accomplished our sightseeing goals (even though Lisa kept wanting to go into weird stores that made our guide nervous).

After two days and about 11 billion yen in Tokyo, we headed over to Yokohama for our conference. Lisa continued to crave almonds and zero calorie jelly (at this point I started emailing her boyfriend asking if I should intervene or something) and we enjoyed a night out in the area’s renowned China Town to celebrate my quarter century mark (25, baby!). Below are pictures of the evening…and after spending several days up in the Kanto area, we were all saying things like, “I’m almost out of money!” or “Either I have another beer tonight or lunch tomorrow…can’t swing both” It was cool.

Lisa, Rhoda, and Andy in China Town

Crazy British Andy and me...we ordered the same thing!

And here's Lisa and Rhoda...also ordered the same food!

Lisa! (where are your almonds now!)

Boku wa nekojita desu!

Harajuku Girls

2007-02-28T05:56:00.000-05:00

Thanks to the Asian-loving pop star, Gwen Stefani, the term “Harajuku Girls” has become familiar to many around the western world. For those of you out there (such as my mom, for example) who don’t know who Gwen is or what Harajuku means, allow me to explain.

Harajuku is one of the ultra-cool districts of Tokyo. It’s perhaps most famous for being the hangout spot for some of Tokyo’s wilder citizens...and since it’s Japan that means they aren’t really that wild…but, boy howdy, they sure can dress neat!

Teenagers from all around come to Harajuku dressed in varying degrees of wildness. Some only wear frilly costumes and big platform shoes…others dye their hair and style it in spikey works of art…and the most extreme Harajuku kids complete their look with vibrant make-up and punky attitudes.

Basically, on a nice Sunday afternoon, one can walk around Harajuku and see lots of young people dressed up in colorful costumes. They do this possibly as a reaction against the uniformity of Japanese society…or perhaps they just enjoy a good costume day (I can relate!). During my recent trip to Tokyo, I made sure to stop by the area and take a few pictures of the Harajuku Girls (the boys I saw didn’t look like they wanted me to take their photo).

More to come about my trip to Tokyo!