Other Gaijin Impressions

Don't take my word for it, there are other gaijin bloggers and artists whose impressions of japan are equally interesting.

Here is the blog of Brad and Rachel White: thewhitesintokyo.blogspot.com He is a new teacher at St. Mary's and she will be subbing and hopefully getting a fulltime position soon.

My friend Regis (who is coming to Japan by the way in september) is a film maker and compiled his last experience (when we lived together in 2005 in TOkyo) into this amazing video. I make a few cameo appearances.....

Futako Fireworks Festival

Had a great time at the fireworks summer festival! I took everyone to get some Japanese summer kimono, as it is customary to wear them during the summer festival. We all had a blast and then went to eat Yakitori (chicken on skewers).

The owner of the Yakitori place liked us so much that he and two other customers joined us to sing karaoke. Only in Japan!

Hen na Gomi: Episode #2

So I took my new teacher friends over to my old neighborhood of Hiro-o. I led them down an alley that always had the best gomi (garbage) because its residents are so darn rich! Every gomi (garbage) day, my family would cruise the street and look for gomi. Sometimes dad would bring us in the van. Yeah, I know, pretty red-necky of us, but who could resist the gomi? My late Aunt Jean even joined in with Grandma when they visited. One time she was reaching out to grab a tanatalizing piece of gomi and the resident of the house popped their head out. She was so startled that she jumped in to our van without ducking her head and got a nasty bump!

Anyways, I took my new friends up the hill to my old house (which is gone by the way, but more on that later) and over to the gomi alley. Sure enough, within five minutes, we had some A-class gomi, this time in the form of Kabuki (Japanese comic opera) promotional ornaments! We caused quite a fuss as we walked around the Juban (the neighborhood down the hill from there). No one could believe we got such wonderful--and expensive--items in the trash! The shop ladies and the oriental bazaar couldn't believe it either and they kept prodding and studying the gomi to make sure it was the real thing.

They estimated that each ornament would bring in more than 1000 dollars at a flea market. Too bad. These gaijins are not selling. Justyna (my neighbor) and Brad and Rachel (married) are happy with their gomi-house-warming gifts!

On a sad note, our old apartment "Homat Rex" has been torn down and replaced with a stunning new white building. I preferred good old Homat Rex. I have played many road hockey games in this alley with my brothers and I remember building a snow fort here with dad one winter when it snowed a lot. We will miss you Homat Rex!

Bye for now. Double chin=must start jogging again and stop eating so much delicious food....

Hen na Gomi: Episode #1

Because of Japan's lack of space and the Japanese obsession with all things new, when garbage day comes around you can always find some interesting objects just laying there for the taking. Yesterday was the first in what will no doubt be a long line of hen na (strange) gomi (garbage) episodes.

I was walking out of the internet cafe when I saw what looked like some very high-quality ramen bowls. There were about eight so I thought, 'hey, this is perfect for my new house!!' I made sure no one was looking, scrambled over to the gomi pile and tore open the side of the bag. I was shocked to find that each ramen bowl was full.....


.....of fake ramen!!!! Yes, as with most restaurants in Japan, the one that produced this gomi was upgrading its food displays and was purging the old models. Japanese restaurants pride themselves on how fresh and life-like they can make the food models in front of their shops. This one truly goes down in the annals of surprise gomi experiences. Stay tuned for many more "Hen na Gomi" Episodes.

Last night I bought a male yukata (Japanese summer kimono) at a shop my mom used to go to called the oriental bazaar. Only 60 bucks for the thing. I plan on wearing it to the summer festival in my new neighborhood tonight. I will take lots of pictures.

Too Many Restaurants

Justyna (my colleague in the history department and fellow new teacher) and I went on a hike around our new neighborhood. We both found apartments in the same building a few blocks from Futako. One thing that we noticed as we walked around was that there were a ridiculous amount of restaurants in the area. I would estimate it at between 50 and 100 or so. All of them specialize in special things: ramen noodles, tapas-like small entrees to be eaten while you drink alcohol, sushi, pork cutlet, etc. I am still planning on dieting this year, but it is going to be much harder. There is also this nice green walking path that goes between the station and my house, so that should be a relaxing walk every day. The school is about 20 minutes by foot and 10 by bike from the apartment. Yesterday I also got a nice futon so I will have something to sleep on until my mattress arrives. 100 dollars for the futon, covers, two pillows, and sheets. Today at school we have a lesson on Japanese etiquette and discuss our insurance plans. Can't wait for the Obon (summer) festival in my new neighborhood on Saturday. I will be sure to take lots of picture.

The restaurant we went to last night specialized in various types of roasted fish. (below is one of the restaurant's specialties: tiny fish fried into a "tatami" mat and served with Japanese mayonnaise) The coolest part of the restaurant was its "Fresh Beer Machine" which tilts the beer glass as it pours to insure a "perfect head."

Hallelujah

Hallelujah is such a great song and there are so many versions. I realized the other day that I actually never have heard the origianl. This is weird because Leonard Cohen is my favorite! I looked it up, and I was surprised by what I found!



Aparently they like this song in Scandanavia. Here is one version on Swedish Idol:


In Klans in Klins, in Meina Bliks!!!!!
Dont Kvit Yoor Dee Jawb Jan!


Ok, now I know why the Fins, Swedes, and Norweigans like Hallelujah so much. Scandanavian children are forced to play this song before they are old enough to do nordic skiing.


This former member of the Velvet Underground likes it:


Bon Jovuliah!

Tokyo Dreams

What a surreal feeling it is, walking down the corridors of my old high school, seeing all my old teachers and administators. This is going to be a good year, and my　cohort of new teachers is going to make it even better. There are five or six new teachers coming in and we are all around the same age. We have been tramping around together, getting to know our new environment, searching for apartments, and celebrating. I am exhausted from translating everything for everyone (apartment details, menus, ingredients for the vegetarians, etc.) but I love translating so there are no complaints here.



My new apartment has been decided upon. It was a toss-up between a two-story thing that was a 15-minute bike-ride from both school and the nearest train station and a relatively spacious one-story right beside Futako station and a 10-minute bike-ride from the school. I chose the latter, and I move in to it on Monday. It is one the fourth floor and has a central kitchen, two bedrooms, and two small balconies. There is a supermarket across the street and a nice gym within five blocks.

Today is the start of Obon, the Japanese summer festival, so I am glad I got my apartment hooked up before the five-day vacation started. Our plans in the next few days are to go to some local festivals and maybe take a day trip to Mount Fuji.

I am missing everyone back home and I can`t wait to have you all as guests over here!