Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Alas, I'm home. (あら、帰っちゃった。)

Home again, home again, jiggity jig.

Except not, because good lord, Kyoto felt more like home than this does.

Not to mention the fact that the sheer convenience of everything there is simply mind-boggling in comparison.

Oh, and the improved fashion sense.

...and unfortunately the number of fat white tourists, but you take the good with the bad, eh?

But really, I say on my blog that I left my heart in Kyoto. It's the truth. I may find myself basing future job searches more on proximity to the old capital than my desired line of work... Oh dearie me.

My poor feet bear testament to my desire to get as much of my old haunts under my feet as possible. Oh dear indeed; good thing I don't work on my feet.

For those interested, my trip to visit my dear friend A mostly involved... eating. Eating lots of tasty, tasty food and wandering around Kyoto and generally having a good time for relatively little money. Funny; she's currently living there, and yet I was playing the local, pointing out all the spots to remember, where to get her hair done, where to go for foreign goods and the like.

And here I sit in Mie, not a clue about my new habitat and thoughts still stuck on Kyoto.

.... Mastusaka will grow on me?

Sigh.

Anyway, after a 3+ hour set of train rides (what I get for being cheap, what  can I say) we:

1) Went to a cake/pastry shop in 京都駅 (Kyoto eki, Kyoto station). A out おしゃれ'd me by a long way, which once again reminded me just how different our two new environments are.

....there's so little おしゃれ to be had in Matsusaka.

Sigh.

2) Took the subway back to her temporary place to put my bag away. Her new company is renting her a weekly apartment on their dime until her visa comes through (which was, coincidentally, today, but as the place is paid up for a while she's not moving quite yet), which is pretty damn nice of them, I think.

3) Popped over to her nearby supermarket to pick up food for dinner, etc. There I realize that, while the supermarket I have been frequenting is cheap... it is sorely, sorely lacking in so many essentials.

Thus, I must find a new one. Y has suggested Cosmos, so I shall try it next.

4) おしゃれ'd up (me, that is) and hit the town, aka Shijo-Sanjo-Kawaramachi area. Ooooh yea, now I was home, baby.

First we just wandered around a bit, heading for Kappa Sushi because we were in the mood for some super-cheap sushi times. After that we wandered a bit more, eventually leading to Lawson's for me to pick up the BUCK-TICK tickets I ordered online for the Nara gig (which turned out to be a pain in the butt due to a very picky Loppi machine, let me tell you). After that, we wandered around a bit more before stumbling onto Sex in the Moon, a bar I used to frequent back in my study abroad days. Unfortunately, it did not open for another hour or so, but A seemed interested in some cheap cocktails, so we wandered a bit more, scheduling a return trip.

We went to LOFT, which has been moved from its original side-street to lining Kawaramachi. What's up with that, I'd like to know. We dilly-dallied enough there to have time for a quick and cheap oolong-cha to split from the Lawson's before heading back to the bar, because everyone knows that drinking when thirty can only lead to horrible things.

We arrived at Sex on the Moon, only discover a bartender I didn't know working. No problem, but a little disappointing. We ordered a salad, some fried goodness, and two drinks to start. They would be followed by a kamikaze each (which I taught A is clearly the best value for one's money at such an establishment, as it is absolutely loaded with alcohol in comparison to, say, a cosmo), and me asking the bartender what his name was and why no one was there I knew.

Apparently, the entire crew I knew is long gone, and Yasushi-tenchou has been replaced by Shin-tenchou, who told us his name by pulling aside his shirt to show us the tattoo of his kanji on his left pectoral.

... have I mentioned how much I love Kyoto?

Unfortunately, Shin-tenchou was too busy chatting with the four loud, obnoxious girls at the counter to pay much attention to us (our fault, really; we should have sat there as well instead of at a table), and therefore I do not yet know if he can properly replace Yasushi-tenchou and his gang.

... considering I had a date with one of them, I highly doubt it.

After the bar, though, we gradually headed back home, as dinner proper was to be home-cooked, and our feet we killing us due to poor shoe choices.

We did pick up some knocked-down (due to the late hour) tofu donuts on the way, though. Yum yum.

5) We ate some mushroom risotto, and watched the first two episodes of Firefly together before curling up to chat late into the night. We hadn't seen each other physically in over a year, you know; we still have a lot of catching up to do, despite talking practically non-stop all weekend.

6) Woke up at a decent hour, and A made us her version of Eggs Benedict, which really only means less hollandaise (aka a reasonable amount) and the lack of English muffins that living in Japan brings. Very tasty, very rich, and a very good way to augment these weeks of jam and toast I've been suffering through living with.

7) Headed back out to the Shijo/Sanjo/Kawaramachi area for another day on the town, this time commencing with lunch at 一風堂, which makes the absolute best ramen I have ever eaten in my life.

Needless to say I had been craving it.

We then wandered, shopped, and wandered, eating a crepe, milk-tea boba, and a 抹茶カキ氷 (maccha kakigoori, matcha shaved ice) between us before heading back to her apartment once more. Though I had originally planned on leaving Tuesday morning before work, my paranoia got the better of me, and I was to set off on the last train Monday instead.

...I feel sort of sad about that now, as my housemate isn't even back from her weekend yet, and she stayed in Mie. Sigh.

Anyway, we watched some more things on her computer, she made me a salad, and then I was off to buy some おみやげ (omiyage, souvenirs) for my coworkers and an extremely cheap, extremely large eco-bag at the station before heading back to Mie.

Stupidly, I caught an early train out of Kyoto, not knowing that I would only get stuck further down the line when the boonies proved too powerfully remote to have more than one train an hour so late. So, due to my tendency to overestimate the amount of time I need to do things, and my general paranoia about being late, I left Kyoto and ended my weekend probably a good forty-five minutes before I had to.

... I suppose it's not much, in the grand scheme of things, but it matters when you're leaving on of your best friends and the geographical equivalent of the love of your life!

Sigh.

At least I have some good souvenirs... albeit in the shape of an eco bag, two moisturizers and advice from A on all manner of subjects.

Good souvenirs to me. I'll get おしゃれ things next time. You know, when I've had a paycheck.

Oh, and I did get the BUCK-TICK tickets, didn't I!

All in all, an excellent weekend which ended much, much too soon.



It was so very tough to make myself leave. Ultimately, I think it was that whole "I don't actually live here, and would therefore become a bum living under a bridge on the 鴨川 (Kamogawa, Kamo river)" thing that actually did it.

...a paying job and a place to live are nice, kids.

This is Edo, signing off and wishing Mie was just a bit closer to Kyoto after all.

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Ah ha ha... (アハハ。。。)

Ok, so, this time, it's sort of my fault entirely.

But really, who thinks to make a blog post two days in advance? It's nigh unheard of!

...er. I think. Hope. Assume.

And you know what happens when we assume.

Oh dearie dearie me.

So, another brief rundown of my schedule, for all those of you desirous of being in the loop. For those not... well. Why on earth are you reading this?

1- As I write this on Saturday morning, I am blasting the crap out of my room with the AC (19 degrees, what on earth) so as to keep it cool for quite a long period of time (hopefully) after I turn it off and go to work. Why? Because clothes must be dried inside this time of year to prevent mildew due to the humidity. Not only does my AC keep it cool, it keeps it dry.

I probably should not have done laundry last night, admittedly, but I figured that the early shift would be matched up with today's, so evreything would be hunky dorey.

Admittedly, it might be just fine. It's mainly my jeans that have me worried at the moment.

2- As you read this on Sunday morning, I should be jetting off toward Kyoto on the kintetsu to visit my dear friend for some fun times. Mostly, we plan on eating and meandering, but... hey. I consider that to be super fun times, my friends.

If I take the 8:49 train, I only have to make one change-over! Huzzah! Definitely worth it, as the later trains are 8:50 and 9:06, requiring two and five changes respectively. I can wake up a scoche earlier for uninterrupted train time.

More likelihood of me dozing off during, eh? Just set my alarm and away we go.

3- As I write this now (something like fifteen hours later than that previous now), I just came back from an amazing welcome party, which really made me think that I made the right choice in coming to work with my school. Amazing feeling, amazing time, amazing people. You are all just amazing.

4- Melon and I are going to see BUCK-TICK. Twice. In Nara and Kyoto. How cool are we?

And that's quite enough for one day, I think. Details (maybe) on any and all of the above at a later time and date.

This is Edo, signing off and realizing that packing for a two-day trip isn't as easy as it seems.

EDIT- Yes, this has been back-posted; apparently, I left after hitting the wrong button. Oops indeed. 

Friday, August 27, 2010

Oh, well. (やれやれ。)

Well, dear readers, I have to apologize for this post.

It seems that a regular day of work (aka Edo gets home around 11) followed by an early day of work (aka Edo needs to leave the house at aroung 9:20 in the am after waking up far too early for her own discerning tastes) means that there is little time for posting in between.

Clearly, I should have foreseen this and written something before work yesterday.

But you know how it goes.

Or, well... maybe you don't.

But sometimes it goes so that I forget to write up a blog post. Because that's the way the world works.

Suffice it to say that I have early work today and tomorrow, and there's a welcome party for me and Y tomorrow evening at the restaurant connected to our school. I'll be fairly busy for the next to days, and thus a bit separated from the blogosphere, as it were.

In the meantime, please enjoy the new SMAP single, which I heard first on Music Station... two weeks ago, and then again on SMAPxSMAP this Monday evening.


This first bit is some sort of drawing for getting back-stage at the live, I believe... pulling numbers from the front of the singles received by the fanclub? This is neither of the shows I saw, and I don't have the time to pay close attention, so no clue whatsoever.

This is Edo, signing off raring to go to work with a bit of Kimutaku to get her going in the morning.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Food and other rarities. (食事と他の珍しいこと。)

Hey, sometimes, I find myself strapped for a title.You don't see me judging your blog when you're not feeling particularly creative that day, do you?

Sheesh.

Anyway, as promised in my title, I do have a little bit of food to share with you all.

Metaphorically, of course. I've already eaten it all. (Which may explain my ridiculously high weight as betrayed by the bathroom scale earlier this evening... good lord.)

オムライス (omuraisu, omelet rice)


Darn tootin' I made myself some omuraisu. And that's a picture from my cell phone, if you'll believe it. Talk about quality in a small package! (Even though I'm still bitter about not getting to use my old phone... mumble grumble.)

Usually, I tend to shy away from omuraisu due to its tendency for a high ketchup content--though the "rice" portion is meant to be "chicken rice," which is basically  version of fried rice based around the main ingredient of chicken, oftentimes it is replaced with "ketchup rice," which is more or less the same thing, only doused in ketchup.

And while I may be slowly getting myself to like tomatoes in my food, rice doused in ketchup is where I draw the line.

...anything doused in ketchup, actually, but that's not the point I'm trying to make now.

ANYWAY, though I really like the concept of omuraisu (eggs and fried rice, how can you go wrong?), due to the ketchup issue, I tend to dislike it in restaurants.

Thus, I said to myself, why not go for a home-made, sans-ketchup version?

You are indeed a genius, I replied.

... then quickly stopped speaking aloud lest someone have me committed.

Ahem.

Anyway, I would give you the recipe, but I basically followed the one from My Lunch Can Beat Up Your Lunch, and would rather direct you to that lovely site than blatantly plagiarize her work here.

However, as you may notice by looking closely at the above photograph, I replaced the mushrooms in her recipe with carrots. This was not, in fact, intentional; I had a nice bag of mushrooms from the grocery store I was all set to use, all for only 78 yen! However, when I started to clean them, I popped one into my mouth out of curiosity.

The thing taste bloody awful.

Thus, unwilling to put spoiled mushrooms (they were only 78 yen, I reasoned, and thus likely to have some flaw) in my masterpiece, I chunked the lot and chopped up a carrot (also purchased at the grocery store for a very reasonable price) as a replacement. Personally, I think it was a good choice, though the recipe would certainly not have minded a few mushrooms.

(I told Y about this, and she supposes that they're a type of mushroom--I couldn't remember the name--that simply needs to be cooked. I agreed that this may in fact be the case, and regretted chunking out half of my mushroom purchase. However, better safe than sorry, eh?)

...however, with this omuraisu I made last night, the leftover I made this afternoon to get rid of the other half of the chicken rice, and the egg sandwich I had yesterday for lunch to use up my almost-stale bread... I have had six eggs in the past two days alone. Closer to twelve in the past week, I'd wager.

... I love me some Japanese eggs, but I do wonder if this is healthy.

Y, appalled, said that she believes the upper limit is something around three a week.

...good lord, I hope not. For the sake of both my health and my tastebuds.

Because I love me some Japanese eggs. And now that I've figured out how to make such darn tasty omuraisu.... Oh goodness gracious me.

In other news, I have that same kids class that I neglected to discuss in detail last week tomorrow, along with another class right before it containing roughly the same age group.

Suffice it to say I am less than thrilled about the prospect of work tomorrow.

I really need to quit being such a negative person, don't I.

(I only just realized this now, but... you do realize that I tend to write these in advance, yes? So, I'm actually writing this on Tuesday night, though it's up on Wednesday. Thus, "last night" was Monday, and "tomorrow" is Wednesday. Yes, confusing, I know, but bear with me. I have a schedule to maintain.

Oh, dear. I've gone and forgotten to take out that salmon fillet for my dinner tomorrow again. Better do it before I forget.

This is Edo, signing off and wishing that having a working phone meant people would try to contact her more often.

EDIT- Hm... it appears as though I was hasty in judging myself overly porky. Apparently, my BMI is 21.7 ~ 22... though you wouldn't think it to look at my pooch, and I wouldn't think it the way I've been fitting into my pants lately. You live and learn, I suppose? Or perhaps I've just become so used to my svelte Japanese form that I think of anything larger as far too chunky... admittedly, most of that former svelte-ness was unhealthy and spawned from being under-fed by crazy okaa-san and having influenza for a week...

I still enjoyed it!

Monday, August 23, 2010

The best intentions... (一番いい意図は。。。)

...oft come to naught.

Or is it that they pave the line to hell?

Either way, I shouldn't put off my posts until the next day. Because this (aka me waking up late and then doing a number of things in the morning slightly more important than updating this little thought dump of mine) usually happens when I do.

Alas, we live and we learn.

So, quick update, because the longer I leave these things... the lazier I get, apparently.

1) Have my cell phone.

HOORAY!

...albeit after another two or so hours sitting in the AU shop waiting for absolutely nothing as far as I can tell.

Oh, and there was a problem with my middle name on the registration, as my health insurance card only has the first letter written down in English (though, I must point out, the entire thing in katakana.) Ergo, I could not register my middle name in English or katakana, and only my initial and the Japanese pronunciation of it. Stupid, yes, but at that point I was ready to say "you can call me Bob if you want to, just give me the damn phone woman!"

Luckily the woman who actually gave me the phone and got it all set up was a a different lady, so I managed to keep my rage in check.

She also gave me a jar of... some sort of sauce as, I assume, a recompense for my trouble. Yea, I liked her much better.

And yes, I have decided on an email, after much internal debate and a bit of clicking through my iTunes playlist when my first choice turned out to be taken (go figure.)

...suffice it to say that my email is not even close to any of the ones I brainstormed on this blog. Such is life.

2) I have been a veritable social butterfly this weekend.

On Saturday night, I went to a party in Tsu with two of my co-workers, held in the foreign dorm at Mie university. All right, for a party, though I mostly just regretted the fact that I've been convinced to drink beer. The stuff leaves an awful taste in your mouth, and I still don't find it too appetizing going down.

Sort of a fun drive over and back, though; Route 23 is the hippest and happening...est street in all of Mie, it seems, and seeing everything along it sort of made me feel better about living out here in the boonies.

Namely, we saw two Kappa Sushi joints.

I'm so easily pleased.

Sunday night, we went to see the fireworks in Yokkaichi, which is even farther away than Tsu--thus we took the train. Well worth the trip, though, as the show lasted something like an hour and a half, with some pretty massively spectacular explosions. It was right over the bay, so we were pretty darn close, even though it took us forever to find seats.

Coming back was, as expected, a 満員電車 (manindensha, cram-packed like sardines train) situation, at least for the span of one station.

However, for once in my life, 満員 was probably the second best thing that happened to me that night. (The fireworks were pretty good, yo.)

My coworkers and I had been sort of giggling over two young men with bright blonde hair, squatting in front of us as we waited for the train. I commented on the squatting-bad-ass pose, and how I wanted to touch their ふわふわ (fuwafuwa, fluffy) hair. My housemate agreed.

Anyway, when we got on, I and the two young men had the same idea: as we were at the back of the train, we wanted to press our asses up against the wall so as to be less pressed against other people. A good strategy, for all you frequent train-riders out there, though sometimes absolutely impossible.

Anyway, I crammed into a corner, with the shorter (and cuter) of the two blondies beside me. Crunched up against, more like, but in that sort of situation, there's nothing you can do. (I did hear him remark to his friend once I was pressed against him, though at the time I was unsure whether or not he was remarking on his amazing luck or horribly misfortune. Now, however....) My housemate went to the other side of the train with her beau, so I just made sure to reach out and grab my other coworker (we'll call her Y to make things easier, shall we?) to pull her towards me and against the wall.

As it was hotter than hell outside, the train wasn't much of an improvement. Naturally, I squeezed my right hand up out of the crush (the one against blondie) to wave the cheap little fan that I had received at the fireworks, trying to keep myself and Y cool and to keep Y relatively free from the stench of the teenage boys that had crammed in behind her (yeurgh.) We giggled a little, and were generally merry yet not aggravating.

After a few seconds, blondie gingerly plucked the fan from my fingers and began to fan us himself.

This is where my inner thirteen-year-old girl began to squeal in rapturous delight.

The outer twenty-two-year-old wasn't too upset about it either.

I commented, of course, on how nice he was to fan us like that, which he of course denied (come on, this is Japan), and then it sprung into a conversation. Mostly between me and blondie--I kept making sure not to leave Y out, but she's not as confident with her Japanese, so she seemed happy to let me take over.

Beside, she didn't think he was cute, apparently.

We talked about where we were from, exchanged names (though nicknames on all our parts; I got his full first name out of him, but that's about as far as we got), where we lived (Matsusaka?! That's far!) and he pointed out on the map beside us where we would be going and where we would have to change trains. He, of course, lived in Yokkaichi; only one stop away.

I never thought I'd say it, but the good thing about the boonies? Stops are far apart. I probably got a good five minutes of chatting with blondie (ok, Kazu) about everything and nothing; that I'm an English teacher in Matsusaka, that he lives and works in Yokkaichi (at something that may be a bar, may be an izakaya, may be a host club) and that the fireworks were great. I sort of suggestively pulled out my phone at one point, but either he didn't get the hint or didn't care to take out chat beyond one stop on the Kintetsu--he gestured that his was stuck in his pocket and got off the train soon after, telling me to come and hang out in Yokkaichi sometime.

The last exchange was quite fun, especially if I heard it right... He handed back my fan very solemnly as we pulled up to his station, so I decided to play along.

うち: どうも。
金髪: いいえ。 (頭を下げる)
うち: なーにそれ?!ナンパされるみたい!
金髪: うん、ナンパしてるから。
 Or, for you English speakers:
Me: Thank you (overly formal.)
Blondie: But of course. (also overly formal, along with a bow of his head)
Me: What's that?! It's like you're hitting on me!
Blondie: Course, that's because I am.
Admittedly, I may have misheard his last line, but since I'm already on the ego high from a cute Japanese man striking up a conversation with me of his own volition, let me ride it out, will you? 

And of course, in all likelihood, I will never see this man again in my life (my meager internet stalking has so far revealed naught), but at the same time, it was all good fun. And hey, you never know.

Definitely a good end to the night, in any case.

3) Y and I pulled a gaijin smash on the way home.

Though we were dubious, we did indeed have to change trains, true to blondie's word. There was (luckily, we thought) a train sitting on the platform when we disembarked to change, whose next stop was Matsusaka. What luck! As it was just about to depart, we did not stop to think and simply ran to board.

After it pulled away from the station, we noticed how very nice it was on the inside.

And the fact that the seats were numbered.

Oops. We got on a super-express, expensive train.

This suspicion was confirmed when a guy came around to collect tickets. And thus, the gaijin smash. Pretend you don't speak a damn word of Japanese (helped by the fact that we were both wearing men's jinbei and looked like total morons) and look hopelessly lost, confused, and good-natured. It's disgusting how well it works, and we got to Matsusaka way faster than we should have. Without paying an extra dime.

I feel sort of bad about it, admittedly, but it's less our fault than you'd think. If people weren't so willing to believe that all whiteys are morons who only speak English and can't be helped.... well. (a) it would require an entire upset of the system, and (b) we wouldn't be able to gaijin smash anymore.

And we all know that will never happen, and thus we continue to smash our way through tricky situations, using racism and xenophobia to our advantage.

It's sort of noble, really, when you think about it.

....ahem.

4) I have no children's classes tomorrow.

Hooray!

I have the class from hell from last Wednesday again this week, though. Along with another just before who are in a similar age group.

Something tells me that my weakness with children is going to get beaten out of me with a stick.

Either that or I'm just going to learn to dread Wednesdays.

As I am the cynical type, you all know which one I'm expecting.

5) My posting today was partially delayed by my shopping trip. There's a mad cheap supermarket very close to my home which my housemate introduced me to last week, and I love it to pieces. Probably not good for me to have access to so much cheap food, but... hey.

No wonder I'm not losing any weight.

Had another egg-sausage-sandwich with a side of cucumber for lunch today since my bread was getting old, but I think I'll be ambitious and use that chicken I bought today to make some オムライス (omuraisu, omelet rice) tonight. I'll tell you how that goes.

Also bought myself some nice frozen salmon, so hopefully I can figure out how to make some 鮭塩焼き (shakeshioyaki, salmon grilled with salt) soon so as to better balance out my bento.

6) Found a Book-Off near the 23. Must visit, maybe tomorrow.

7) I killed a spider about the size of my hand on Sunday morning. Or was it Saturday night...? Either way, dude was huge and I smooshed him with a fly-swatter. I have never been more thankful for my lack of bug-fear, as that thing would have shaken many to their very cores.

Made a brown splat on the floor too, what a pain. There may be one on the ceiling as well, but as I can't see it, it's not a problem.

...my housemate may disagree when she gets back from her beau's. Oh well.

Seven points is good enough for one post, don't you think?

This is Edo, signing off and still wishing she had her old phone back... and that Mixi was easier to stalk with.

Saturday, August 21, 2010

It still ain't easy, but it's getting better. (まだ簡単じゃないけど、だんだんよくなってるやん。)

... what a long title. That's what I get for trying for symmetry.

And failing miserably in the Japanese, I might add. But that's for grammar's sake, really... or can I say "簡単ちゃうけど" and not sound like an idiot? Hm. Definitely something to look into.

When I, you know, have the time to study that language they speak here.

As it stands, I'm doing more of a study of English. Namely, speaking loudly, slowly, and exaggeratedly. Doesn't help with foreign tourists usually, but you need to do it as a language teacher.

And it's very awkward when you mosey back to the teacher's room and start talking like a flipping idiot all the time.

I suppose that, after a while, one gets used to flipping back and forth between "teaching" voice and "normal" voice, but at the moment.. yikes.

Also, it's apparently dangerous for one's native accent to work around two people with strong opposing accents, and one person whose accent changes depending on who she's talking to.

Yes, that's right; I've begun to emulate my boss and head teacher. Completely unintentionally, and yet noticeable (at least by me; no one else has commented yet.) I worry about being unintentionally insulting, but really, it's a trait of everyone who has even a slight knack for languages; if you don't learn to start mimicking intonations and accents subconsciously, you're never going to get it.

Probably also why I picked up Kansai-ben faster than others.

... good lord, I didn't mean for this to turn into a rant on how good my language skills are. Because really, compared to a lot of people, they're quite crap.

And anyway, my throat is bordering on sore and my cheeks hurt from the permi-grin I've taken to wearing (on orders!), so I suppose the karma goes around.

Had two kids' lessons today and co-taught one yesterday; all three went much better than the fiasco on Wednesday, and my confidence has thus been bolstered. We'll see how long that lasts...

Also got to teach two guys around my age as my last lesson tonight, which was quite fun. However, as it was fun and as they were around the age of a good portion of my Japanese friends, I may or may not have been a bit too lenient with their tendency to use a crap-ton of Japanese in the lesson.

Also, one was quite cute, so that didn't help. I consider it a massive success that I wasn't blushing through most of the lesson. (Ok, well, really, he wasn't that cute...) Good guys, though; very enjoyable and definitely a good end to the day. Especially considering I pretty much had four lessons back-to-back from five to nine, and thus was more than a little burned out. Much easier to be perky and cheerful with good, eager students.

In non-job news (thank goodness, I can hear most of you saying), I got my new health insurance card today, and you know what that means...

CELL PHONE!

Not, however, until Sunday at the earliest; the AU shop and I have the same hours on Saturdays, which is sort of a pain. Being one step closer is, nevertheless, reassuring.

...though knowing my luck lately, something else is bound to happen, delaying my ability to communicate regularly by yet another week or so. Who knows. I've learned that it's best not to count my chickens and all that twaddle.

At the moment, I'll just be happy about the fact that if I suddenly fall ill with... oh, tuberculosis, any nearby clinic will be able to treat me with only thirty percent (I think) out of pocket, and no questions asked. Huzzah for national health insurance!

... come on, you saw the "liberal-arts graduate" bit up there in the corner, you knew it was coming.

Hm. Is it bad that my entries are getting shorter and shorter now that they're about my actual life?

... try to keep that loud, resounding "no" to yourselves, please.

Must jet off to bed now; early day tomorrow, and I have enough of an issue getting my lunch packed on time when I start at two in the afternoon!

(Yes, to bed. Remember, I can post from the past, and therefore keep my schedule fairly situated while still keeping everything convenient for myself.)

This is Edo, signing off hoping to post again with a cell-phone in hand.

PS- Though this is technically a day late in Japan, thanks to massive time differences, it's perfectly all right in America-land.

Ahem.

Today is my mom's birthday! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOMMY!

Thursday, August 19, 2010

It ain't easy. (簡単ちゃうな。)

Ah, it's fun battling the wiles of a finicky wireless system supplied by an ever-changing source of internet.

And if it's not ever-changing, then I have no idea what its problem is, really. Because jumping from 1.0 Mbps to 36 and back again in a matter of seconds for no discernible reason other than capriciousness... that's just not cool.

Is all wireless in Japan this way? Any thoughts? Anyone?

...Why do I even bother.

Well, bit of news number one, the Japan weight loss system has yet to kick in, unfortunately.

This could be because I am driving everywhere. Curses.

I might walk if it wasn't so godawful hot and muggy.

I may be a desert child, but good lord at least we don't have all of this humidity nonsense. That's just not right.

Bit of news number two, everyone here seems to use 関西弁 (Kansai-ben, Kansai dialect), and reacts normally when I use it. Which is freakin' awesome, because I love me some Kansai-ben. Also, it sort of confirms my theory that dialect-speakers don't really know that they're speaking dialect for the most part... Some people in Kyoto noticed my Kansai-ben and commented upon it, but here, it's sort of just taken for granted. I mean, I don't think they'd be shocked and appalled if I started speaking 標準語 (hyoujungo, standard Japanese...though I might), but it's definitely assumed that I (a) understand Kansai and (b) speak it.

And I love it.

Trust me, you too will learn this when you spend the better part of five years learning a language; you want people to assume you speak it and then challenge you, not assume ignorance and throw broken English at you.

And hey, though everything so far I've seen has been insisting that Mie is in the 東海 (Toukai) region, the fact that the natives seem to disagree is pretty damn cool.

Because we all know that Kansai is better, am I right?

(...er, even though Kansai technically isn't a region, and is in fact used to refer to what is generally known as 近畿 [Kinki] with a few variations... um.)

But I'm sure you all really want to know about work, am I right?

Suuure you do.

Anyway. I have now taught three (count 'em, three) lessons, two of which were one-on-one (the "man-on-man" classification my school uses just doesn't seem to apply, does it) and one of which was a class of six five year olds.

...Let's just say that Edo's feelings on small children have not changed a wink and move on. The trauma is still too fresh.

Two days ago, my first lesson was with a fourteen year old girl who is quite good for her age. She is prone to the giggles, as most girls that age are I feel, but it was a good lesson, as we got through my entire plan without a hitch and she seemed receptive to pretty much everything. She even reported to the staff that she had fun, so hey, score one for the new teacher! That was the only lesson I taught that day; I spent the rest watching and taking notes. And also eating.

No wonder I'm still a fatty.

Yesterday, I was only supposed to have the one lesson with an eighteen year old high school student, but my boss sprung a young kids' lesson on me... kind of a sink or swim instance, I feel.

....suffice it to say I think I sank. Into the Marianas Trench.

Boss thought it was ok though. Just that I have to work a bit harder on overcoming my weakness with children.

...personally, I think that they're not human until about thirteen or so, and as such caged appropriately. But oh well. Presumably, I'll grow to love them all in a few months. That remains to be seen.

I'm not one to be defeated, though, so I will continue to 頑張る (ganbaru, try my best/work hard) until my dying breath.

...whichc may come sooner than originally scheduled.

An ALT friend has apparently been acitng out Ultraman... perhaps I should do something similar. Except, with Pokemon, of course. We all have to stay true to our childhood routes, after all!

Anyway.

In contrast, my planned lesson later went great: we talked about sports and colleges, and how people who go to Doshisha always get good jobs, and how feeder high schools are totally unfair. It was quite fun, and that student also reported that my lesson was very enjoyable. Score two for the new teacher!

.... let's pretend that my failure of a kids class did not negate every last score I could have possibly made, eh?

Anyway. Aside from that, I went and opened my savings account at the post office yesterday, with only a little bit of confusion on the parts of myself and the attendant. We got through it all right, though, and she even filled in my postal code on the application form since I had forgotten it.

And thus, today, I am off to attempt to get my cell phone! Huzzah!

This is Edo, signing off and hoping that the people in the Matsusaka AU are just as nice as the people in the Kyoto-eki AU.

EDIT- One hour in the store later, and I still don't have a phone. Why? Because the guy at the health insurance office mis-printed the reading of my name on my insurance card. The lady at the post office didn't notice. And of course, the lady at the AU shop didn't notice until we had just about finished, and I had been sitting waiting for fifteen minutes waiting for everything to finish up.

Now I have to get to the health insurance office, get them to change my card, and get back to the AU shop to get my phone before the second of September, lest I go through that all again.

I had to try very hard not to break down sobbing in front of this woman. I was not going to give her the satisfaction.

This was all after spending a good ten minutes trying to decide whether I could get a phone before my gaijin card came through, and then deciding that I had to use my credit card for the first month, which I did not want to do but settled for just to get my damn phone. Just to keep it all in perspective.

And now I have to beg one of my bosses to take me back to the government office to get the damn health insurance checked out.

It has not been a very good first week.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Workin' for the money. (お金のために働いてる。)

...you know, I say that, and yet I haven't gotten a cent yet.

Although I suppose that you could say I am living rent-free at the moment, since I won't pay my first month until I am paid in September... and I have received two (count em, two) free meals from my boss so far. (Admittedly, one of them was a cheap conbini bento...)

But theoretically, all the work I do from this point on is for a salary, so that's definitely something.

Whether that salary will actually be significant for my wants needs remains to be seen, but if it isn't, I think that I'll need to adjust some priorities.

... it really doesn't help that BUCK-TICK tickets go on sale this month, and I'm responsible for buying for Melon and for myself. Good-bye, 12600 yen. I'd get reimbursed, but we'd really like to go to the Kyoto and Nara shows (aren't we just hedonists), so she'll just cough up for the Nara tickets. Theoretically. It all depends on how fast things go, really. Ahem.

But I was going to talk about work, wasn't I?

Well, luckily, it all seems much more doable (and enjoyable, yippee) now that I've seen six (count 'em, six) classes in action. I admit that for the first bit I run the risk of teaching in a style uncannily similar to that of my boss... but I suppose I'll get over that soon enough.

Monday being the teachers' typical day off (with one of the four having to work along with the boss), most of the classes were a more basic level. Unfortunately, this is really the sort of class I would prefer, because goodness knows I'm not getting my Japanese practice anywhere else--I also think that it's easier to bond in Japanese, but what do I know. I am torn, thus, between wanting to work more on Mondays, and not wanting to work more on Mondays--fun classes, yes, but there goes my semblance of a weekend. Wednesday off just isn't the same.

Although I suppose that since technically the other new girl and I are working six-day weeks for this first bit (Monday through Saturday, huzzah), I can handle a lot more than I think I can.

...although it is only Tuesday, eh? Perhaps I'll collapse into a trembling heap come Thursday.

Anyway. Though most of this week was supposed to be observation on our parts, due to the fact that the boss is doing some outside-the-school teaching today, the new girl and I have been delegated one class each--luckily, I think that I have gotten the better part of the deal, as my class is a man-to-man with a young girl who is apparently very good at English. Admittedly, the idea of teaching children still intimidates me a little bit, but I suppose I'll get over it.

Eventually.

Though maybe I'll always walk in with a slight sense of dread settled in the pit of my stomach, hoping that today is not the day they all decide to mutiny.

...but a man-to-man (or woman-to-girl?) should be all right.

Funny how I'm less intimidated by the students who are older than I am. Somehow, they just seem less forgiving; adults understand nerves and new-job-jitters, along with the human propensity for error. Children attack you viciously at the first sign of weakness.

...or is that wolverines.

Or maybe both.

I suppose I'll have more interesting news after I actually take my own class today. After that, though, it's going to be mostly observation again until... Thursday? Friday, perhaps? Definitely a lot of sitting, watching and absorbing, which I appreciate.

In other exciting news, I'm off to apply for my gaijin card today.




外国人登録証明書 (gaikokujintourokushoumeisho; foreigner registration card)

Sure, it may sound awful, but it's easier than carrying around my passport, and it will allow me to finally get my cell phone.

...Well, hopefully I only need the paper they give me saying "the card's being processed," because otherwise that phone could be a while yet. Apparently these things take a while out here in the boondocks. The paper was fine in Kyoto, but in Matsusaka.... hmm.

I was supposed to pop over to the bookstore today before work, but I consider this a detour well taken. The books will still be there tomorrow.

...er. Theoretically, anyway.

And, of course, because everything seems better in threes... the last bit of exciting news for today!

Last night, I drove home from work.



....ok, so it sounds sort of silly when I say it like that, but think about it. I, an American, used to driving on the right side of the rode, drove home from work in Japan. On the left. Without crashing!

HOORAY!

It wasn't nearly as scary as I had thought, though that might be because I waited until late and night when there was barely anyone on the roads (oh, inaka). Still, it has instilled confidence in me, and now I shall feel safe(ish) driving all the way to the AU store on my lonesome later this week.

Though I will be rather pissed if they don't give me a phone. Or, reactivate my old one, what have you.

This is Edo, signing off and hoping that the AU shops in Mie are just as advanced and forward-thinking about their foreign customers as those in ビックカメラ in Kyoto.

Sunday, August 15, 2010

So this is real life? (これって、本物の人生なの?)

So, the first day of training/work went all right. Quite a lot to soak in all at once, but I presume that it will become easier once we actually start sitting in on lessons.

The fact that I'm scheduled to take four lessons this coming Saturday does have me a little bit worried, though. I suppose it's nothing I can't handle, really; I managed thesis after all, didn't I... but still.

At the same time I hope that I really am suited for this teaching thing, and don't turn out to be the absolute pits at it.

Though I suppose you can only discover that through experience, eh?

...goodness gracious me, this is already turning into an "Edo rants about her life" blog, as I feared.

...well, rest assured knowing that it's "Edo rants about her life in Japan"?

I did say that the content would change once I moved. Admittedly, I did not, at the time, realize how much... though now that I have a life and work to attend and prepare for, I don't really have the time to sit down and work out those long, detailed posts I was writing before.

...she said as though she actually put any kind of thought into her previous fangirl-esque ramblings. Ahem.

But really, the point of this blog now is to more or less give a sort of "slice of life" look at my life in Japan, though I suppose that there are so many blogs out there with that very same aim that it certainly doesn't merit any special kind of attention.... But really, how many of them are based in Matsusaka, I ask you.

Ah ha, only mine, you answer? And don't you forget it.

In other news, my Japanese is really lagging lately, and I do wonder if it has something to do with the fact that, all summer, I really had very little to do with it, at least actively. Watching SMAPxSMAP is all well and good, but if you're not producing it... well. Admittedly, it was no fault of my own that the lady at the スーパー (suupaa, super market) today did not understand プラスティックバッグ (purasutikku baggu, plastic bag), as that is perfectly decent and understandable Japanese. Although as the gentleman working at the shop next door did not understand エコバッグ (eko baggu, enviromentally-concious bag), I suppose it might have been some sort of massive cultural misunderstanding having to do with Mie being rather out of the loop.

Or maybe people see my big, gaijin self and assume that I can't possibly be speaking their language still. Who knows. The lady at the services counter was very kind when I thought I'd lost my sunglasses (I had; in the car), and didn't seem to consider my Japanese at all odd, so perhaps it's an age thing?

Who knows.

Although I suppose it really isn't healthy when tonight in the shower the thought popped into my head that, not only do I want to start dating again because I'm fairly lonely in a romantic sense, but also because I desperately need the Japanese practice.

...I promise that is not my primary intention, and is really only  a perk of sorts.

...remember how I said I get too personal on this blog sometimes?

I think I'd better stop for the night before I say something really silly.

This is Edo, signing off wondering if she's still jet-lagged or just tired from her seven-ish hours of training.

Friday, August 13, 2010

Moved. (引っ越した。)

I'd say "moved in," but that implies a lot more unpacking than I have yet done.

Well kids, here I am at last, in my wa-tastic home in Matsusaka, land of green things and not a heck of a lot to do, according to my coworkers. However, as all I've done so far is eat curry, shower and sleep, it's so far been quite satisfying.

But more on that sleep thing. I am, as you may have guessed, still slightly jet-lagged... and even sleeping for something like twelve hours hasn't given me that bright-eyed and bushy-tailed vigour for which you all know me. (Quit snickering.)

But I hate to leave you ll empty handed, and I did promise something on the last post, didn't I? Which, of course, technically I don't owe you until tomorrow, but since you lose a day moving to Japan...

Oh, what the hey. I said my update schedule would get a little mucky, and a little mucky it will get.

When I wake up properly, I'll share some pictures of my new city with you lot, but for now...

BUCK-TICK released the video for their new single.

And I am happy as a clam in mud.



It's the opening song for some anime series or other, so technically I could have already been hearing some brief snippet of it, but the single itself isn't released until September (guess who's going to be first in line!), so an early video certainly spells "awesome" for me, my friends.

And a darn nice video it is too. I am rather intrigued by it's artistic style, I must say.

And the song is pretty darn good too.

...yea, that's all the "review" you're getting out of me the morning after 24+ hours awake and traveling.

This is Edo, signing off an hoping some sun exposure will kick her brain back into the present... whenever that is.

PS- I take it all back about Hawaiian Airlines; apparently, they're far kinder and more customer friendly than their phone personnel would have you believe. More on this later. 

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Weather is a pain. (天気はイヤ。)

Well, dear readers, this is it. By the time you read this, I should be an hour in the air on the way to Honolulu, a good portion of my stress alleviated (hopefully) and all my bags with me.

Sure, one is overweight, one is pushing the limit, and both my carry-ons may conspire to break my back, but somehow, I'll manage.

...and hopefully Typhoon #4 won't slow me down.



Yes, that's right, the weather itself is plotting against me.

And lucky me, according to predictions, it's going to be right smack-dab over central Japan when I'm supposed to be landing. And, you know, riding a ferry for forty-five minutes across a bay.

Could I be any luckier?

According to my boss, there are three possibilities:

1) My plane gets diverted, and I'm stuck in some other airport waiting for the airline to get me to Chubu International at a later time, with my bags god knows where.

2) I get to Chubu, but the ferries are canceled, leaving me to either (a) blow my money on a hotel for the night, or (b) blow my money on a train to Matsusaka, which would also involve me hauling all of my luggage through train stations and goodness knows how many train-changes.

3) The typhoon is mild/the typhoon misses the Chubu/Kinki area, and everything is just dandy.

We all know which one I hope happens, and yet we also all know which one I think is going to happen.

I'm going to come out of this with a lot less money than I had originally expected. Hotels are expensive. So much for eating in that first month...

It sort of sucks, being a cynic.

And then there's the fact that my paranoia has presented me with the possibility that the typhoon takes hold of our plane, tosses us around a bit before tossing us unceremoniously into the Pacific Ocean, never to be heard from again.

...this is not a good thing for my mother to be reading as I'm in the air, let me tell you.

UPDATE- Hooray for me and for everyone flying into Chubu/Narita/KIX in the next few days! (And, really, everyone in Japan from Kanto downwards who now won't have to worry quite so much about their shoji screens.) It looks like Typhoon #4 took my advice and decided to skip Japan in favor of a bit more sightseeing in Korea. Atta boy, I knew you wouldn't let me down!

Sorry about the link being in Japanese; but you can still see the updated "projected path," which is really the important bit. Fah to you, Yoimuri Shinbun, and your too-early reporting! Fah I say!

Ahem.

It also sucks that Hawaiian Airlines won't let me check in online for my flight tomorrow morning. (Yes, yes, time travel, I'm writing this on Tuesday, blah blah.)

Why? I couldn't tell you. I can tell you what the internet told me:

Specialized assistance is required, please check-in with an agent at the Hawaiian Airlines Airport Ticket Counter.

And, for those visual learners among you:



I like how it tells me afterward that I can check in up to 24 hours in advance.Why lie to my face, HAL? Why not just accept it and tell me "no, you're not doing it, so sad, bye bye"? False hope does not good customer service make.

...yea. This better damn well be something to do with them checking my bags all the way through to Chubu, otherwise there will be hell to pay. Especially because you get a discount for paying your checked-bag fees online.

Oh, I will be pissed if they make me pay the airport fee when they specifically did not allow me to use the online check-in.

Especially since (a) they shouldn't be charging me for bags in the first place, since I'm technically taking an international journey, and (b) there are already going to be some overweight fees involved that I'm not too pleased about.

So, remember how I was so angry with HAL for making me pay for my bags earlier? How I declared that I would do my darnedest never to employ their services again?

Well, you know, I'm tempted to start a campaign against them now, because this is bloody ridiculous.

Then again, maybe it's all Expedia's fault.

Perhaps this what I get for cheap deals and easy booking.

Perhaps expensive baggage fees, inconvenience, and a general lack of help from the actual airlines is what every Expedia customer must inevitably go through as recompense for their love of a bargain.

...I really don't like that idea, guys, and I don't mind telling you. Being punished for my frugal nature is not something that I think should happen in a fair and just universe.

Yes, yes, I know it's not a fair and just universe, but let me dream.


Well, hopefully, dear readers, I'll be updating again from the other side of the Pacific, from my new home in Matsusaka... and not from a hotel in Chubu, fit to burst with frustration and anger and scraping the bottom of my monetary reserves. Or from Narita airport, waiting dejectedly for the next flight to Chubu, more bag fees imminent...


Yea. I hope it's from the house. (Come on, Typhoon-san, let the JMA be right!)


This is Edo, signing off wondering if this is a bad omen for the beginning of her adult life.


PS- I told you this would get more interesting once moved. I'm only in the air and look at all the drama we have already! Be prepared for a little more pop culture next post though; I expect you to be on the edges of your respective seats, music fans!

(Though, uh, don't be too upset if it's a little late. I'm moving across the ocean and starting a new job, for goodness sake!)

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Travel with ease. (楽な旅行。)

Since I'm going to be making that ridiculously long trip to Japan soon (as my seemingly endless packing would have me know), I thought that I would share the knowledge that I have learned the hard way during my two past trips, to better serve you, my dear readers, should you ever find yourself making the journey in the years to come.

Mind, if you're moving, like I am this time, you won't be able to follow some of my rules. I'll point those out for you, and apologize... though not too profusely, because hey, we're in the same boat. Empathy is all you're going to get from me, punk.

Note that I have tagged this entry with my "gaijin" label; if you follow my tips, you may very well be one step further away from "painfully obvious gaijin before you even arrive.

Trust me, it's a good thing. No one likes the painfully obvious outsider. Heck, you won't even like yourself much, come the third day in. Ah, the pressure of the gaze. There's a paper in that somewhere, I just know it.

Anyway, let's get right down to business, shall we?



Edo's Tips for Traveling to (and from) Japan

(Alas, my sense of alliteration was merely titillated, and not truly satisfied. Next time.)

1)  Pack appropriately.

This is a big one, and it applies now matter what you're ultimate goal in traveling is. Plan outfits, check out weather conditions, and think ahead. Don't leave packing to the night before, and try to set aside at least half a day to get everything together, plus any number of extra hours if you, like me, have a tendency of finding things you've forgotten over a course of days.

Remember medications, and pack them in your carry-on. This seems like basic advice you can get anywhere, but don't write it off--pants, you can live without, but when you start bleeding from the eyeballs due to a few missed pills, you'll really wish you heeded my advice.

(This applies even if you're not on eye-vessel-clotting medication.)

2) Know yourself.

This actually fits almost entirely into the above, but is important enough to merit its own section.

Know what you need, and know what you can live without. Know what you can deal with substituting, and know what you absolutely, positively, must have no matter what. In my case, it's my particular Crest toothpaste and my Bed Head shampoo and conditioner.




What can I say, I like soft hair and superb oral hygiene.

...too much information?

This also applies to carry-on luggage. What do you need to entertain you for (possibly) eleven hours at a time? Do you need four different, massively heavy books, or would your iPod and the in-flight entertainment suit you fine?

Admittedly, this is something you're going to have to figure out with some experience under your belt; it helps if you're a regular flier. Look back and try to remember what you tend to do on flights. Do you really read your books, or do you inevitably leave them shoved at the bottom of your bag, best intentions lost in the jet stream?

I only bring this up because I have the problem of underestimating my ability to keep myself entertained. Though I often pack any number of books, at least two game systems along with my iPod in my carry-on, more often than not I just listen to my music for the entirety of the flight, with maybe a movie thrown in for good measure.

(I must admit, however, that the bursitis in my left hip keeps me up and moving for most of the flight; those of you with stationary habits may be more inclined to employ a number of different entertainment means.)

But... if you're moving? So sorry, you're going to be cramming everything you possibly can into that carry-on so as not to add on to your checked luggage's weight. Keep this in mind, however, and place your vital entertainment needs on the top of the bag. 

3) Move around.

In case you hadn't noticed, it's a long flight. Even if you're separating it out into a six-hour and eight-hour chunk like myself, sitting immobile for that period of time is not going to feel like such a good plan when you're trying to stand up after landing. Even for those without my accursed joint issues, a lack of movement and a funky angle (I swear they position those seats so as to obtain maximum pain from my poor abused body) are never good in the long haul for our tender frames.

If you don't, like me, enjoy wandering the halls, dodging attendants and children as you go, just try to get up and use the restroom every hour or so. It's a good schedule to keep for your back and hips, and hey. An empty bladder is a happy bladder.

This trip, I also plan on wrapping one of those handy-dandy Thermacare heat-wraps around my hip at the half-way point; I'll tell you how that goes, and whether or not the poorly jointed among you should consider the investment.


I myself received a sample package in the mail, so truly, this is a risk-free test.

4) Stay hydrated.

Man, I sound like every magazine article on the topic now, don't I. Oh, well; if it's good advice, you deserve to hear it twice.

Most long-haul flights will send attendants up and down the aisles every hour or so with trays of water, as airlines too understand the necessity of hydration in the common traveler. If, however, you find yourself a bit parched with no refreshment in sight, simply flag someone down and request some water. If they have a decent bone in their body, the attendant should be happy to fetch you some.  

It should also be free, so no worries there. You'll find there's a lot more convenience and customer service on any flight that passes the five-hour mark. After all, attendants know better--if they make you miserable, you have a whole flight to take your revenge.*

5) Bring a brush.

This applies to a number of vanity items, actually; deodorant, eyeliner, hairclips, sandpaper. Whatever will make you feel slightly less grungy when you have to get off of the plane and go through customs deserves a spot in your carry-on and no mistake. Remember, you're spending the better part of the day in the air, and while you may not be exercising or working up a swear necessarily, you're crammed into a metal tube with something like one hundred and fifty other people. There will be some funk, and some frump.

Be prepared.

Besides, it's always easier to handle immigration officers when you feel pretty. Or, at least, not like something that got mauled by a dingo on the way over.

This is also why it's a good idea to move around and stay hydrated. Oh, and maybe chew some gum during the descent; helps with ear popping and makes your breath palatable. A win-win if I ever saw one.

Well, I may think of some more before the big day, but these are definitely the five tips to keep in mind when making the arduous journey across the Pacific. Listen to Edo, and your trip should be as easy as it can be.

... I suppose I should have amended that title a little bit. No 14+ hour journey will ever be easy, dear readers, and I hate to be the one to break it to you.

This is Edo, signing off with years taken off of her life due to the stress of packing her life away into two suitcases and a carry-on.

(*I do not in any way advocate the exacting of revenge on bitchy flight attendants; this is merely an observation. Ahem.)

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Nothing better than naked time. (裸の時間は一番や。)

Whenever I find myself strapped for post topics, I delve back through the annals of memory, desperately searching for something that I did in Japan that is (a) not too personal to share with an audience of strangers and (b) interesting enough to keep said strangers entertained.

It's a tough line to walk, let me tell you.

And yet I suppose that it is the line that all we bloggers must face... at least, those of us who like to keep our internet and real-life identities a little bit separate. Call me paranoid, but hey.

Needless to say, it works best when I can think of something which I have experienced, yet is broad and general enough to speak about in entirely non-personal ways.

Thus, today's topic of 温泉 (onsen; hot springs.)


Actually, that's technically a 露天風呂 (rotenburo; outdoor bath), a sub-set of onsen, but hey. They're prettier to look at.

And yes, as you may have surmised by both the title of this post and the two gentlemen in the picture above, onsen involve naked time.

But that is no reason to withdraw in fear! Return to me, gentle Western readers!

Though I admit, I do sort of get where you're coming from. Admittedly, I got over it as soon as I dropped that pesky "teenager" classification, and was the better for it.

But before I get into exulting the benefits of public nudity, let's hear what JTB has to say on the subject, shall we? (As we all know I'm better at the snark than the thoughtful exposition pieces.)

As Japan is a country of volcanic activity, natural hot springs abound: there are said to be around 19,500 of them.
The custom of bathing in hot springs in Japan dates back over 2,000 years. Hotels and ryokan and other tourist accommodation have developed around most hot springs. Travelling to such resort areas is a favourite form of recreation among Japanese people. Although many large resort areas have developed around famous hot springs, there are still numerous springs along sea coasts and in the mountains that remain undeveloped, and in their natural state.
...hm. I guess they're not much better, really.

They also seem to think that the only locations worth mentioning are "near Tokyo," "Northern Japan" and Beppu (which they so tastefully define as "Western Japan"... pah.) The 関西人 (kansaijin; Kansai person) in me protests mightily, especially since Wakayama is renowned for its excellent onsen, two of which I have been to and been amazed by.

Dude. They were in a cave. On the ocean.


In a cave. On the ocean. I was there.


Really, guys. If you don't want to drop everything and go there right now, you're missing the whole point of this post.

You're naked. By the ocean. And then you're soaking in the hot, sulfury water. As the ocean smashes against the rocks in front of you.

Sweet Genji, I'm getting all worked up just remembering it.

Oh, the Hotel Urashima. The premises may look straight out of an 80s hotel flick, and you may have to take a ferry to get there, but oh my goodness are the onsen worth it.

Six of them, in fact, including the two in the caves. Our goal was to bathe in each and every one, but due to crowds and time constraints, we only got around to... oh, three or four, I believe.

Not to mention the fact that the men got the "Jungle Bath" on the weekend we were guests. Talk about unfair.

Though really, I think that may have been a misnomer, and we weren't really missing out on anything. It's Wakayama, not Okinawa. Come on.  

Anyway.

Like I was saying before. Onsen is a beautiful thing, not only because you get to soak in ridiculously hot water and emerge feeling as clean and as warm as you could ever hope to be (seriously; best way to warm up on a winter evening, especially if you have to walk back to your hostel half a mile away...), but because you get to be naked with other people, hopefully your close friends.

Why is that a beautiful thing, you ask, already covering your respective jiggly bits self-consciously?

Well, I'll tell you.

I could go into research about the human condition and how it's been proven that we're healthier when we can accept and deal with the naked human form, especially as separate from sex, and pull out study after study, textbook after textbook to prove my point...

But I think that, in this sort of setting, it's much better to work from personal experience.

With the knowledge of three extra years, I thoroughly regret being too prudish during my first trip to Japan to make use of the onsen during a program trip to Onuma National Park. At the time, I felt the way many Americans do now--embarrassed, nervous, and thoroughly uncomfortable about the idea of baring myself in front of friends, much less people I had never even seen before.

However, somewhere along the line, I wised up--I'm a little unsure as to exactly when my first time in an onsen was, so you can all rest assured that there was nothing at all mentally scarring about it. Needless to say, I can't be happier I did. Some of my fondest memories from my time studying abroad are from onsen (or, to a lesser extent, plain old 銭湯 [sentou; public bath/bath-house]), and I truly do think that my time in them helped me to bond with my lady friends.

What I'm trying to say, with all my rambling, is that it's good to be naked. It's good to see other naked people, and to realize that no one is perfect--to realize that anything about your body you may have thought of as odd, off, or even downright strange is, in fact, perfectly normal, and that people come in every conceivably shape and size. Americans (yes, I'm picking on us again) have a thing about nudity that simply makes no sense to me; our aversion to it and tendency to link it always to sex is ultimately on of our downfalls. We feel pressured to look like models in magazines, who are either airbrushed, photo shopped, or both, not to mention ultimately unhealthy in many ways. We are never exposed to normal people, and we never are given the chance to feel good about ourselves because of it.

Aside from that, being naked with friends is an excellent bonding experience. I'm not sure what it is, but there's something both liberating and comforting about being with people in the all-together. No embarrassment, no separation based on fashion and its implied wealth, and true companionship that can only be shared when you realize that "hey, we're all normal, and not a one of us is perfect."

Because absolutely no one is perfect, and the faster you realize that, the faster you can accept and truly appreciate yourself.

...and then you can always say "hey, I've seen you naked, you can tell me," or similar derivations thereof.

Sorry, the snark always sneaks in when I feel I'm getting a bit too serious.

In short: onsen are amazing, and truly one of the best parts of living in Japan, especially if you're only going to be there for a short time. Don't let the nudity throw you off, and you may come to find that you appreciate it just as much as I do.

In really short: go to an onsen. Quick as you can. I mean it.

This is Edo, signing off already making plans in her head for her first "welcome back" onsen trip...

Friday, August 6, 2010

Home again, home again. (また帰ったな。)

For possibly the last time; at least, the last time I will truly be able to call this my home.

Wow. Didn't mean to get all deep with the first line there. Seeing as how both my mother and grandmother have begun to tear up by this point, I suppose I'd better change the subject quickly.

Ahem.

I promised a Thursday return, and a Thursday return is what you'll get. However, don't go blaming me if today's post isn't up to my usual caliber of wit and astute social commentary; I'm never my best after a week on a lake with unusual sleep patterns and, as mentioned before, atypical bathing possibilities. 

...sometimes I wonder if I share a bit too much information on this blog.

Anyway.

While away, I of course thought of a few more e-mail options. Because really, what else do I have to do whilst lying awake, staring at the sandstone cliffs outside and wondering how close that last lightning strike actually was?

(Oh, I jest. My ribcage only shuddered with the strength of the thunder two or three times.)

Now let's see... what number were we on again...

13) the blind bandit

My lucky number! Which is appropriate, considering how much of a true fan-geek I will be revealed to be with this option...

And this one isn't even really Japan-related. Not technically or officially, anyway.

I mentioned my love for Avatar: The Last Airbender a few posts ago. (And don't be mistaken, dear readers; my love is for the television series, and anything even remotely related to M. Night Shamwow is not even worthy of sharing the title with that masterwork.) Well, this idea takes that love out into the world and shows it a good time.

... Yea. It's a stretched metaphor, but such is life.

Anyway. For those of you who don't understand the reference, "The Blind Bandit" is the wrestling name of my favorite character, Toph Bei Fong, who is, and I quote, "the bad-ass-est bad-ass who ever bad-assed."

(You know you're an academic when you start citing your own commentary.)


She's awesome.

But, uh, ultimately, kinda only tangentially related to the main (intended) topic of this blog. So we move on.

14) break damage limit

We have covered that I'm a horrible nerd, yes?

Good, I'd hate to have to go over all that again.

Simply put, "Break Damage Limit" is an attribute of sorts that you can add to weapons in Final Fantasy X. As you may have already guessed, it allows the weapon's user to "break" the damage limit, which is typically set at 9999 points. This is, of course, very helpful later in the game, and certainly makes your characters more impressive.

However, it is a very difficult attribute to work out yourself--the items required are few and far between. So, most people (myself included) only ever come across it in the Celestial Weapons, which are for the most part ridiculously complicated side quests that aren't worth the trouble.

In the case of Auron and Yuna, though, that is not the case.

And thus I wind up cruising through the latter bits of the game, cackling evilly as I send one fiend after the other to the farplane with brutally overpowered attacks and "Holy" spells. (Tell me what that says, that the most powerful attack in the game by far is white magic spell with that such religious connotations. And that on top of the whole dogmatic-religion-isn't-so-great plot of the game... it makes you wonder.)

... once again, revealing myself to be a total and utter nerd. I am ok with this. As I've said time and time again, if I'm going to make a career out of video games, I'd better darn well have an interest in them.

... I couldn't find a suitable image demonstrating what I'm talking about here, so just have a nice picture of Auron lookin' cool.


I really do abuse this blog sometimes.

15) one mp cost

In that same vein, another weapon add on in Final Fantasy X. Again, pretty self evident for you video gaming types--every magic spell, despite the power, only costs one MP, or magic point.


It makes Yuna a much more useful character, let me tell you. Being able to cast "Holy" at the drop of a hat certainly makes those boss battles a lot easier to deal with.


Well, of course she's not as cool as Auron, but she tries.

16) saguaro no ko

Breaking away from the "inner nerd" theme a bit, this is going back to the "I'm from the desert, remember?" theme. For those of you unaware (which is, I admit, probably most of you) the saguaro is a very significant part of my home's image. I'll ask Wikipedia to help me out again:

The saguaro (pronounced /səˈwɑroʊ/; scientific name Carnegiea gigantea) is a large, tree-sized cactus species in the monotypic genus Carnegiea. It is native to the Sonoran Desert in the U.S. state of Arizona, the Mexican state of Sonora, a small part of Baja California in the San Felipe Desert and an extremely small area of California, U.S. The saguaro blossom is the State Wildflower of Arizona.



I mostly wanted that blurb to help you with the pronunciation; we Arizona natives either know it from birth or learn it on our first day of kindergarten, but the general public tends to be a little confused by our adaptations of the native dialects.

Why? Well, because combining English and Japanese is the hip thing to do nowadays, don't you know. And I thought it made things a bit more interesting, a bit more detailed. I'm always keen on detail, after all.

...well, now you see what happens when you rush me. Shoddy content which is in large merely a testament to my inner nerdy nature. Oh well, you asked for it.

This is Edo, signing off a bit nervous with so much of her true character revealed.

PS- In more real-life news... I have a visa! Yes, that's right my friends, I am now a legal member of the Japanese workforce!

... Just give me another week or so to be a legal, participating member, all right?