G.K. Chesterton and the Maniac

First, I believe it is appropriate to say that I have finally returned to writing in this blog. Secondly, since I am no longer an exchange student living in Japan, my topics will dwell less on my life.

Of late, both in dwelling on ways to deepen my philosophy and seeking further literary enrichment, I have turned to one of my favorite books, "Orthodoxy" by G.K. Chesterton. First, having read it once during my high school years, I am reading or rather digesting a chapter each day before I go to bed. I remember the combination of his style and deep metaphysical topics to land much like lead in the stomach of one's mind when I had first passed through it's pages. I was pleased to discover that this time around the reading is more like a the proverbial "piece of cake" provided the cake be of similar consistency to the Lithuanian Torte. Which is to say, rather than being nearly incomprehensible it is quite palatable but best taken in small portions. The chapter I hold in greatest interest is "Maniac" detailing the basis for his philosophy that draws from the simple postulate that madmen exist.

The madman is not the man who has lost his reason. The madman is the man who has
lost everything except his reason. ~ G.K. Chesterton

Before I go on further on my commentary which is rapidly becoming a much like a "book report" of my school days, I have some other small things to pass on. I feel that I must pass on my condolences to all in Omaha who have been affected by the shooting that occurred at Von Maur this last week. It is a very shocking and saddening event, however I do not get the impression that it can be compared to Columbine or other tragedies that have occurred. Differentiating from plotting and planning to commit murder, I am under the impression that the killer this time had reached his "wit's end" and snapped. I bring this up because I heard some friends of mine gleefully comparing the killer's current location as being the same as Hitler's; that is Hell. This perspective coming from some fellow Christians saddened me. I am far from defending the killer, but I feel I must point out that at the end of the day one's final destination ought to be of the most significance. In the word's of G.K Chesterton "Christianity came in... startlingly with a sword, and clove one thing from another. It divided the crime from the criminal. The criminal we must forgive unto seventy times seven. The crime we must not forgive at all." What the killer did was an atrocity, one that I would prefer to never hear about again in my life, but the reality exists and I choose to approach it with my eyes to the heavens.

"Christianity has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and not tried." G.K. Chesterton

What really brought the point home to me as to the gravity of what happened at Von Maur occurred last night. I am a student of Karate and as such was practicing at the dojo last night when a certain member, Matt, had a seizure and collapsed backwards into and through one of our plate glass windows. Landing outside, he thankfully didn't immediately try and move, mostly, we think, due to the seizure. Alan and I retrieved him from the pile of glass not unscathed; Alan cut his toe. However, Matt sustained minor cuts from the glass on his hands and one small cut on his back but thankfully nothing on his head nor anything major. However, he was bleeding enough to leave bloodstains on my uniform and a little blood on my hand. Wrapped up in the situation I stayed around and helped clean up the glass and remove the rest of the window. When I left it was as though a spell was lifted and I went into a kind of shock. I never was the kind of person who could handle seeing a lot of blood (never could even dream of why someone would want to be a doctor) and the realization of what had happened hit me. Upon arriving home my mom noticed this about me and made me take a bath to calm my nerves. When I came out of the tub I no longer felt like the mess I was when I first arrived home. It affected me a lot but was only a little
event.

In related news, I have not heard anything recently but last I saw Matt, he had come out of the seizure and his mom was taking him to the hospital to see if any of his cuts were major enough to need stitches. He's a black belt though so he'll be fine.

Coming up later:
- The Golden Compass - Why Catholic's should be warned about this movie.
- The Lightning Thief - Why I like this book despite it clashing with G.K. Chesterton's philosophy concerning good literature.
- Kira-Kira - Why the book is not appropriate for children.
- Father Brown Short Stories - Why they rock.
- Small is still beautiful - Economics where families matter, my thoughts.

Return n final days

Two keys necessary for the normal... err.. geek... or well... anyone who uses a computer: the "any" key for those times when you must "press any key"
and the indispensible "panic" button for general frustration.
umm... on that note I should point out that I do indeed have a panic button.
とにかくパニックボタン持っていない？　僕なら持っているけどね。。。　偽者だから押そうとしても出来ない。

Well, anyway. I am back in America. Been back for a few weeks now. I spent the first week mostly asleep because I had so much fun the last 4 days in Japan that I got sick on arrival in America. Spent at least the first week almost exclusively in bed or at home lounging around、but that is depressing so I think I should mention at least in brief my last four days in Japan(for now, of course).

Friday Ouji and I hung out with some of the members of the Shizuoka Summer Tour from 2006. We started out doin karaoke and the last thing we did was billiards with Ramu, Kumiko, Takuma, and Yuudai.

Friday night was the last night I got any real sleep, and when I woke up I did a lot of packing. Later one, I went to Saturday Mass in the evening before hanging out with Maki and Ouji at an izakaya in the evening.

Sunday I got up early and went with the Karate club to a shiai(tournament), not to participate but I went so that I could watch. It was my first time going to a shiai with them and it was a blast. Sunday night was a farewell party with them. Of course after going to an Izakaya we went out to all-night karaoke... that is of course until about 6 in the morning. Following that I slept for a little while.

I had lunch with Ayami at a sushi restaurant at the Shizuoka Train Station. It was awesome because the fish were really really fresh. After that she helped me find a Japanese style shirt for my sister, along the way we did some other souvenir shopping.

That evening and night (monday night) I didn't get any sleep at all, between tying up loose ends and finishing packing. The next day Makaka's boyfriend was nice enough to give us a ride to the train station. There we met with our farewell party (Ramu, Yuudai, Kumiko, Tomoyo, Tomoko, Daisuke, Asami, Chinatsu(those last three were karate friends) before making our long trek home from Shizuoka to Tokyo to Chicago then all the way home. (18 hours+, most of which I slept through...)

bye- ya! バイヤー！

I AM LEAVING!!! YOU CANT STOP ME!!! err... actually probably could.. I would go willingly. he he.

Actually, I leave from Shizuoka sometime in the next 10 hours. From there I will be working my way back to America!!!!


These last few days have been a blast.. I will have to let you know more in detail because I am tired.. haven't completly packed and .. leave all too soon .. so laters.

そろそろ日本から出るから　皆さん　さよなら！　　とりあえずね。

It arrives.. なんか来るよ。。

また書こうとしている。　　
I am once again trying to write something.
２５日アメリカに帰っていく。　いやだ。。けどちょっと期待している
I will return to America on the 25th. I kind of want to go back but.. not.

Since I am still in Japan, I will throw in a little bit of an update.
Yesterday, with a ticket given to me by one of my students, I went and I saw the movie "All the kings men" wait...is that right? I think I forgot the name. Anyway, it was an okay movie.. kind of weird, and a little too politic-y for me.

Speaking of students though. Yesterday was the last day I got to teach for Koji. Kind of sad and all but really it was fun while it lasted.
又短くした。。。

御無沙汰 Long time no anything..

Wow, I think this would have to be considered the Revival of my account.
復活！

In saying that before I report on my lifestyle I have a short story to recount.
それを言っているのに僕の最近の生活について書く前に　小話がある。

I attended the graduation for the exchange students at Shizuoka University yesterday. Guess what? Despite being a exchange student, it ended up being a graduation that I wasn't supposed to attend. Only if you have a scholarship apparently. Oh well, I went under the assumption that since Ouji was told about it that I should go and attend too. You know, the whole grouping thing? My problem was while Ouji Nick and I are classified as the American group. The people living in the kaikan are not only categorized by nation apparently... I forgot that we are also sorted by age, gender and scholarship assignment (besides, of course, going off into our own chosen groups).. . view this however you want, this is the way the culture over here works. By your classification (which can be almost anything) rank is assigned.

えっと、　日本語のほうのはもっと短くするつもり。　　金曜日留学生卒業式を参加しに行ったけど　僕の卒業式じゃなかった。。。学費がなくしただけの人だから。　　奨学金があったら卒業する事が出来るらしい。。。ま。。子の場合で。。　仕方ないね　っと言いべきところだよね？　

GAMES:
Games? Games and Ed go hand and hand just in case you didn't know. I have acquired a single item that will make most gamers in America drool.
FINAL FANTASY 7 CRISIS CORE for the PSP. Yes, I bought it the day it came out. Well, actually had reserved it. :) It came with these cute earphones, but despite wanting to play it. I am reserving it for the plane flight home... when I have 13 hours where I can simply exist with a game system glued to my hands.

テレビゲーム？　日本でもかっこいいと思うけどね　ファイナルファンタジー七クライシスコアというゲームを買ったばかり。　アメリカにいるゲーム屋達は待つしかない。　まだ発売してないからね。　今プレーしていないけど。　それは飛行機にいる十三時間でプレーするつもりだからよ。　楽しみにしています。　それと　寂しくならないようにしてる。。。　。。。
それとアメリカに帰っていってから　日本語のゲームは買い難いから買っておいている。

The short update on last month really doesn't do it justice so I will try and say somethings here.

Went to the General Hiroshima area. Hung out.. came back... crashed. zzzZZZ In Hiroshima mostly crashed in Manga Cafes.. so well umm maybe needed to sleep.. so I slept a lot after coming back to Shizuoka.

一週間ぐらい　広島と福山におって　友達達と遊んだばかり　それ以外　一つのアドバイス。。漫画喫茶店に泊まるのはいいんだけど　連発しないほうがいいよ。　四泊した。。　かなり疲れってきちゃった。

This week has been the beginning of goodbyes.
I hung out with people like Marta, Makaka, Ouji, Wareyu(sp?) (karaoke!!), Ramu, Kumiko, Takuma, Yuudai,(Karaoke!! Billiards 9ball-taught Ramu how to play - after that she won.. twice!!) Rika, Misato (Hello?goodbye?), karate club (karate practice) Sanae, Aki, Chiho, .... etc.

さよならの連発が始まります。。。

Midst of Traveling 旅行中

Whoa!!
Hold the Horses.... I have been flying about like a lunatic for the last few weeks. My parents are here in Japan and I am showing them around. Update later.


待って　待って。。　世界ははや過ぎて！！！　　両親が来たから案内しているから後でもっと書くつもり！

Traveling 旅行している

Well, Just another day isnt happening anymore. I am off in Hiroshima now after having a lot of fun in Fukuyama since last Wednesday, but more on that later.
Ouji and I spent our first night in Hiroshima in a comfort inn hotel. Waking up we had the free breakfast that was at the hotel. A japanese/western mix food style. There was onigiri(salmon and conbu), inarizushi, bread, toast, cereal(real cornflakes!), salad, fruit salad, etc. I mostly stuck to onigiri with salmon in it because I thought the protein would allow it to stick in my stomach a little longer.
Polishing off breakfast and following our check out we went and sat in Starbucks for almost three hours. We sat their for an unusual amount of time because we were awaiting responses from the people we could hang out with today. After a bit we were able to confirm a meeting with Eri and Aki from 2 years ago. With that Ouji and I dropped our luggage off and perused Hiroshimas parco(A 8 story mall, that is mainly clothes) after acquiring a map.
After a while we met up with them and went to a place called Marina Hop, which is kind of like an outdoor mall. There we did some shopping and ended up going to Sega World and playing games together. Note: I found SNAPPLE!
From there we went with them to Diamond City which is more like a mall than a city. There we had Hiroshima style Okonomiyaki and a custard like ice cream. Maybe, I shouldnt have eaten it but the guy who was selling it was really entertaining. He takes the ice cream and puts it on a stick like thing that and uses that to put your ice cream on the cone he has you hold. The custard sticks so well that he flips the cone out of your hand and flips it around as you try and retrieve it. TORUKO/Turk ice cream supposedly.
Oh, I forget to point out that Hidemi also joined us when we ate. However while we were eating the ice cream Yuri and Ayako joined us about when we said farewell to the others. Yuri and Ayako took us to do karaoke but along the way we stopped at a gas station and convenience store. The interesting thing was that the Gas Station had a convenience store attached. Okay, for those of you that dont know this is actually impossibly rare in Japan. It is the first I have seen since coming.
Now, I find myself watching Brave Story while I post this blog. I am in a Manga kissaten for the night. Laters

Cicada 蝉 せみ？

I have an official statement to make: Cicadas can be deadly... no, they won't bite, sting, spit or otherwise do such thinks as pick your eyes out. They will however simply terrify the daylights out of you at three in the morning before your daylights have even come for the day. A situation that could potentially result in a heart attack, if not only a adrenaline induced insomnia. As if their normal buzzing wasn't bad enough, I had made to venture from the lobby back to my dorm room for what I can't remember. Thankfully, I wasn't carrying anything. In the dead silence of night I made my way up the first flight of stairs but was stopped by the sight of something on the top step. At first glance, I recognized it. Of late, I have seen many lying on the sides of the street completetly inactive. The live ones stay safe in their glades and attempt to simply make your ears fall off. I digress however, before me there was a cicade lying much like dog that had been asked to play dead with its legs pointedly in the air. "Well, I suppose I should toss it out the window to save the body from being crushed by some oblivious sleepwalker," I reasoned as I imagined with a grimace the carcass before me going "squish." You see, I traverse the halls barefoot, so this was not in the least a pleasant thought for myself. I completed my journey to the top step, and stretched out my right hand. I made to pick it up and as if in reaction to the warmful presence in its vicinity the legs sprang to life and flailed helplessly at the air. What happened next caught me completely off guard, as I saw a flurry of brown movement which I can only surmise to have been that of the wings. In the shock and the loud blast of sound that was similar to a electric current with a slight cold, I am not sure what exactly happened. I had blinked, and in that instant had found myself at the base of the stairs on guard with the previously thought dead body nowhere in sight. I searched my surroundings. The couple unihabited webs on the ceiling were still in place, the spider the size of a pringles cap was still in his resting place in the upper corner, and the floor was as usual, clean. I set back along my course up the stairs, eyes alert, hands ready, and body quite in shock. It wasn't visible on the open window's sill, there wasn't anything resting on the stairs going further up, and the laundry room before me only had the dead beetle resting on the floor that had been there earlier when I did my laundry. I relaxed my guard a little and returned to my room in hopes doing so would stir forth memories of my original errand. However, I had not yet quite forgetten the cicada.
fin.

Youtube Phase 3 中間圏 Mesosphere

Last phase for now.
とりあえず最後

Whiteberry - Natsumatsuri

I've now heard this song almost everytime I have done karaoke with a group mainly comprised of Japanese. The title means Summer Festival and the words pertain to that.
夏祭り。。。　よくカラオケで出ている。

King Gidra (キングギドラ)　- Unstoppable

Thanks to Kazu for singing this at Karaoke. This is one of the first Hip hop/rap songs that I have heard in Japanese that rocks.
かず！この歌を歌ってくれて　ありがとう！！　初めてそういう最高なラップな歌を日本語で聴いた。

Sakura (cherry blossoms!)

Another Sakura entitled song... Japan must have a hundred or so with that title.
桜という名前が付けた歌。。多すぎる！　

God's Child

Only the song is important, the song was used as the opening song for a japanese drama called Trick. The song rocks.
トリックというドラマの歌だった。　

Pachelbel rant

... it's got spanish subtitles!!! Sorry can't find the Japanese subbed one, but the subtitles help you identify the songs later on in it.
ごめんね、日本語の字幕がない。。あるわけじゃいないね。　それなのにつけたスペイン語の字幕はビデオの中の歌の名を明らかにするから選んだ。

The evolution of dance ()
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMH0bHeiRNg

a classic...
懐かしいじゃないかなー？

Crazy, ninja-like gymnast
http://youtube.com/watch?v=z34JYwNGFtw&mode=related&search=

umm.. wow. I wanna be able to do that too.
。。。すげ。　やりたいけど。。。

Youtube Phase 2 成層圏 Stratosphere

Phase 2

There are too many videos so it might take loading time:
ビデオは多すぎるかもしれないからロード時間がかかる。。

Swedish Chef, the remix...

Random muppets clip, ne?
日本人はマペットを知らないね？

Chrono Trigger Resurrection

This is for anyone who plays video games, some no name group took a classic RPG game and change it into 3-d. Regrettably due to copyright issues it was cancelled but this video remains.
クロノトリッガーは三次元にしたらこういう風になると思うが著作権の問題があってこれを作ったグループやめた。

Fata morgana (what's that mean???)

Really strange... or so I thought until I saw their other video:
変だとおもうね、このグループのほかのビデオを見よう。。

Ding Dong also by EAV

Both videos are really strange. I'm not sure if this one is the best for the young... Weasels?
やっぱり面白い

Gym Class Heroes - cupid's chokehold (Re-interpreted)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_x0I4YEYdyE

Remake of the original..
原作じゃないけど　原作より歌の意味に合う。

Gym Class Heroes - cupid's chokehold original

It's a very negative interpretation of the song in this one, but the first makes it seem cool. Random note, the actual singer of this song likes to brush his teeth in his videos...
歯ブラシが好きな歌手だよ。　次のはそれをもっと示している。

Gym Class Heroes - The queen and I

A song about over drinking, sorta. Note, the toothbrush.
飲みすぎについて歌。　　だけど　歯ブラシ

That's all
とりあえず以上

Youtube Phase 1 対流圏 troposphere

A selection of videos from my bookmarks:
面白いビデオ、ぜひみてください！　
(note: learned how to embed them, so if you have the free time you can watch them all, without leaving here. ここで見られる！

DBZ live action?

Someone doing a Live action version of Dragonball Z. . . funny/a little amazing
ドラゴンボールゼットみたいね？　　実は作った人はドラゴンボールで使われた音響効果

Agar Main kahoon.... (If I were to say ... )

Umm, yeah it's in Hindi, but I think if you watch the typical bollywood exaggerated expressions you can get the jist. (I looked up the lyrics...however.)
ヒンディー語だけど　基本的に見たら意味が分かると思うけど。。　僕だったら歌詞を見た。　

Eli re eli from the movie Yaadein (memories)
http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=LLsecMB75p0&mode=related&search=

While, we are doing bollywood stuff, I thought to throw this one in, also. It's funny. The lyrics have no special relation to the song unless you know the movie's plot.
今度歌詞は分からなくていいけどちょっと悲しいね？

Coca Cola? no no, this is a movie clip.

Also from the same movie, but... the only thing noteworthy, at least from my perspective, is the obvious coca-cola placement.
コカコラー？　見たでしょう、派手に置いたな。

Reply to "Gullible is not in the dictionary"

You are suceptible to something else ... RICK ROCK! err... Just watch the first minute, that's all that is funny. However, if you want to watch the video, go ahead... I guess.
最初の一分だけは面白いよ。　それ以外は。。。えっと英語が分からないと冗談がわからないとおもうけど。

Guild Wars Dance video. Techno.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCepqvZDiQw&mode=related&search=

An example of what all those video gamers do in their free time... while playing games. wait... and they are not american either! .. that's german at the end, I think.
暇なゲーム屋達。。ドイツ人だし。　すげー。

Bilingual... umm octolingual? 　or not

Be warned this video is really annoying... English, Japanese, Portuguese?, German, Chinese, Italian?, Spanish, french... ooh, I just realized the video tells you which version is which... not bad at guessing am I?
言語は八つである　日本語の発音は悪かったね？

That's all for this bout.　
とりあえず以上だ。

Still not interesting? まだ面白くない？

Sorry guys, Schools out! Well, it has technically been out for about a week now but that hardly means I am doing anything intelligent. I've decided to kind of take one week and just avoid doing any actual studying or anything. Although playing Final Fantasy 9, and Myst/Riven in Japanese... (beat myst and am actually working on Riven.. used guides to beat myst because the kanji were all small and fuzzy. riven's better in that aspect.) Yeah going back to the subject, all I want to say is that playing games in Japanese some how works it self into being some sort of studying.

As for some other stuff that I have been up to, I read through the 5th, 6th and final Harry Potter books over last week. It all started with a desire to see the 5th movie because Ouji kept talking about it. Before seeing a movie, my personal rule dictates that I have to read the book that is associated with a movie if there is one. Of course, this means I acquired the 5th book and read through it. Well, one thing leads to another, and since Nick offered to loan me the last book once he finished reading it, I ended up buying and reading the 6th also. When all is said and done, despite having read all of the books, I still won't see the 5th movie until I get back to America. Mainly because it will cost me about 10 dollars to see it here.

To be honest, I used to be someone who thought that Harry Potter was likely something evil. As a result of that line of thought, I at first read the books just to give it a fair look over. Currently, I am quite in the midst of rethinking that stance. However, I will say one thing and that is; I still don't agree that the revolving theme in the books, that of death, is dealt with in a way appropriate for children. Nor are the books written with enough difficulty to merit an adult's attention. The books simply land in categorical limbo for me.

On the other hand, while I was reading the books I grew curious as to what it means to be a writer. As a result of this line of thought, I have spent a lot of time in front of my computer writing random descriptions, weaving plots and trying to create convincing characters. The problem is... I am enjoying it.. but haven't made anything I really like. It's fun, and it makes me want to read all sorts of things.

That's all for this update.

boring update つまらないなアップデート！

YAY! Tests are coming to an end! I finished one more today. Next week leaves only 3 tests/presentations or whatever things. Umm that's all I guess...

I dunno what else to talk about sorry, all I have been up to for the last week is study - test. study - test. study - another test. bleagh... it's almost over, I guess, that is as far tests and school stuff is concerned.

Oh, one short thing: I saw Death Note the movie 2 the last name. It was really engaging!! That's all.

Shizuoka Mayor 静岡の市長

Well, guess what? I got up today, and while munching on some senbei (rice cracker thingy) I put on my suit. Only to discover two things: No tie, and it's raining. So, leaving with Nick and Ouji we headed for city hall threatening to hail a taxi the entire time. Luckily we made it to city hall without getting drenched thanks to our umbrellas.

After a short meeting with Harasawa sensei we proceeded by elevator to the 8th floor via the eleventh floor.... why the elevator couldn't stop on the 8th floor I still don't understand. There we met up with two men from the mayor's office who we exchanged greetings and were informed of the order they wanted us to sit in the Mayor's office. Then after 5 minutes of akward silence we were allowed to enter into the Mayor's office.

It was really interesting. We all got a little introduction and then in between either conversation by the two office workers or the Mayor, we got asked questions like "What sort of culture shock have you experienced?" "How's Japan?" and other little questions. Although, I think the best thing I have to take from the experience is that the Mayor mentioned the Huskers and asked how they were doing this year. It turns out he had been to a game when in the US one time. Sweet.

I'll have pictures when they get back to Harasawa-sensei from the Mayor's office.

Well, to switch notes...
It feels like a lot has happened this week but really not too much has happened I think... Next week is chock full of reports and tests so I am getting busy with all sorts of preparatory work... but besides that I should be in bed now but there's a party going on. Sasha (pronounced zasha), one of the germans, has his Ping pong club here in the next room so I got to know them a little. I learned the kanji for "eagle."

Besides that I haven't gone anywhere today... at all. We are in a Typhoon threat area. Actually it has been raining and blowing all day pretty hard... it seems to have laid off a little but it was pretty bad earlier. Btw we had a little argument here today about Hurricane and Typhoon and what was the difference. Checked Webster. A Typhoon is a Hurricane that occurs in the region of the Phillipines or China sea. Otherwise they both mean big ugly rainy storm.... or storm with over 76mph winds that is ocean based.

To take advantage of the time indoors I made mochi... more on that later. I have to work on my presentation about my experience... :)

Newt/gecko! イモリ・ヤモリ

-6-
As requested by my cousin I am supposed to throw up some Engrish examples. Exhibit A is a Women's clothing store.

I guess I spoke too soon. About the bike that is. I got a flat Thursday, this time in the front tire. I fixed it Friday. Yeesh... all my luck.


Exhibit B is .. well.. maybe a salon, I am not sure.

I went to a japanese tea ceremony thing at school Friday with a bunch of other exchange students a group of korean students visiting Shizuoka. It was pretty amusing. Most of us/nearly all of us really have no clue how to participate in tea ceremony. So, there were lots of mistakes and funny occurences but I still am not sure I could explain the details of tea ceremony right.

Basically, we all entered the place and after they shifted us around into a circle around the edge of the room, the passing of the kashi(candy.. kinda). Before you take your kashi off the tray and set it in front of you, you have to bow and say something like "I'll go ahead of you." Then you wait until everyone has done so and then you slowly unwrap it and eat it. When finished you carefully wrap up the remains(leaf/packaging etc) and make it pretty.

At this point the actually tea part begins. In a nutshell, you get tea along with bowing and picking up the cup with your right hand and placing it on your left hand. Then before you drink you make the part that is before you at the beginning switch to the opposite side with 3 turns. Then when you are done you do the same thing in reverse. Then more bowing etc.

We all got to try our hand at whisking the tea properly. . . my partner said he couldn't get it right but I got told that I did a really good job. . . not that I had any clue what I was doing. I just mimiced to the best of my ability.


In another story, I was looking through the Kodansha Encyclopedia of Japan (english version from 1983) , something I have been doing pretty often, and found something kind of disturbing. In the Adultry「姦通罪」 section in reads, : "Until the 1947 revision of the Penal code, Japan's adultry laws punished women far more severely than men. Under the present code, however, adultery is no longer a criminal act." The fact of the matter is that I don't know if this still holds true but the entry goes on to explain the past laws and how the postwar constitution's part on equality prevents such as being a criminal act. Also, towards the end it mentions that the decision was also partially based in Japan's tolerance for husbands' extramarital affairs. Also, "Adultery is still considered grounds for divorce." Oh, random entry thing too, you are considered an adult in Japan once you become 20.

Another random thing is that the sigting of a small creature in the hallway on the second floor here. A not wholly unwelcome critter, and more importantly not a cockroach or a spider. We had a gecho/newt, and while the jury is still out as to what it is was... it is undeniably cute.

なんか言いたい事があったんだけどな～　　覚えていないけど。。。
ドカーン、自爆。　　結局覚えてない。。
ま、最近天気はそんな悪くないと思う。　ただ暑い。。　ま　そういう事と言いたいけど　今雨を降るのはまた始まった。。。

Watermelon? 西瓜

-8-

Watermelons are 'spensive here but I found some at the dollar store, slices that is. For only a DOLLAR!!!!! Which is phenomal because a soccer ball sized watermelon typically costs 10+ dollars ... yeesh. Haven't eaten the watermelon yet but it looks good.　

Just to let Brent and whoever else cares, I yet again did a bunch of tinkering around with my bike. This time the chain had snapped so I went a bought a new chain. Only to accidently break the new chain in the process and somehow make the old one usuable. A little hard to explain but basically the old chain is fixed and the bike is in good condition again.

Survived Korean test barely… ouch. Not much to say here except when I see the Japanese I can’t seem to remember the korean but if I see the korean I can typically remember what it means. So, I think I might have gotten 11-12 out of 20 right on the last test… mostly because I only answered 15 of the questions.

But more important than anything else, I completed Xenosaga I. If nothing else I am glad, because the ending rocked as far as graphics, story continuation, and music. Wow.　　　And here is a picture of my desk following the experience.

Fact you can ignore if you would like but I encountered a little creature in the kitchen the other night. Good news is he is now dead, bad news is he was a cockroach. Did you know that if you only smash their abdomen and then attempt to clean up with a tissue that the legs still function just fine??? Nothing quite like the shock of the all the legs flailing when you think the things already dead… especially at one in the morning.

Banks close at 3 in the afternoon!!!! What is that??? I have this insurance thing, that I had questions about so I put off paying for only in time to find that the cut off date for the first payment was Monday. So, I go to the bank to pay for it, and while I am checking my account out from the ATM, 2 maybe 3 minutes pass and the bank closes. The doors shut while I was standing just before the entrance at the ATM. Yeesh, I thought it closed at 4pm, but oh well, it closed so I went to City Hall about 2 minutes away.

City Hall’s bank was also closed so I got directed to some guy who, when he found out that I will be leaving Japan by October did a whole bunch of things. Somehow the result was that my bill went from about 500 dollars to about 150, for the rest of my insurance. Actually, I understood what happened but, yeah.. . .

Short note, I went last weekend with the karate group for a welcome party for all the new freshmen that have joined. Only 15 of the came, but then again that’s still a lot.

日本語を読める人達へ　僕はこの学期二つの英語の授業で手伝っている。　楽しいためとか。　でも本当の理由は先生はすげー面白い。　でも今週の月曜日のは特に面白かった。　授業で皆は「英語で」ラブレッター　または　愛の手紙を書いた。勿論匿名だった。　でも僕も書いたけど日本語で書いた。　どうしてかまだ分からないけど皆はまだ　僕は日本語があまり分からないと思われている。　それなのに僕の書いた手紙は　一つの間違いだけがあったみたい。　
申しは　「申うし」　ではないですね。　

でも申し暇だったらご覧ください

匿名のクラスメートへ

多分私の名前でも知らないでしょう。　私もあなたの名前にも知っていませんが今二ヶ月以上同じ授業を受けてます。　申し良かったらあなたの事ちょってでも知りたいんですから今週の金曜日“お茶”でもどうですか。　六時半駅と近いスタバで会わないですか。私は一人で座っていても飲み物を二杯持ちます。

無名のクラスメートより

そして僕の日本語は本当にまだまだと思っているんだけど　申し僕は日本語で挨拶をしたら　その「日本語で話した！！」か「日本語うまいですね」と言う反応は嫌だと思う。　　特にもう二ヶ月以上その人を知り合いとしていていた。　わかてくれるかな～。

六級

Weeds 雑草

The path along the ground is overgrown.
I search amongst the weeds but it is not there.
Is there but one rose amongst these briars?
It cannot not be. or is it possibly the wrong season?
My shoes vanished awhile back when they were outgrown.
I stray from life's path to seek a new pair.
The shops I stray to are all full of liars.
I don't speak to speak. while seeking a reason.
~"the don't ask me, it's only 6am now" rambling

It might be safer to ignore the above ramblings, but putting that aside I have announcement to make. HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND HAPPY FATHERS DAY!!! - to my Dad!

This public service has been brought to you by Charlies Chicken wings, "burnt to a crisp so even with their heads off they can't cross the road." Laters.

追っかけられる夢 Chasing dreams

Just for my friends to know I was able to accomplish something today I haven't done in about 9 months. I played the piano with a passion. I took all might sheet music with me to school and for about 2 hours just hammered the keys. I feel kind of bad because all my past memorization is pretty much gone. However my fingers find themselves fast becoming comfortable with past songs. I mostly did finger exercises but it's a start. I intend to play at least once or twice a week, if possible.

I am starting too many powerpoint projects. I have to do one for the computer class I am taking. It will be about my home town, Omaha! I have also started a short one detailing usage of various internet based tools for learning Japanese such as rikaichan. Beyond that I will be doing a picture based one for my presentation about "mochi" which I can only really start after I have begun the research.

The final project is for Daisai the movie (http://www.daisaimovie.org/). It was a project started last year at the Fall Matsuri at Shizuoka University to be about the festival itself. I somehow end up on it from what I understand, mostly because I ended up on stage with the karate club during the festival. My project is to create a presentation to introduce what the movie is all about. I cannot start, of course, until I have seen the movie, which will happen tommorrow.

夢の分析は面白いと思う。　　申し追っかけられる夢がよく見たら生活の中でなんか不安があるみたい。　それはそうだと思う。　小さい頃「４歳」から１１・１２歳ぐらい蜘蛛が追われている夢をよく見てた。　　普通にその夢の背景はピラミッドの中だった。　いつも逃げている僕は部屋から次の部屋まで永遠に走っていたのは続けた。　ある日同じ夢が起こっていたけど今度意思を固めた僕は振り向いて攻撃した。　　その大きくて黒い蜘蛛を手で壁に投げた。　　その蜘蛛は一発で殺すこと出来なくてこれを終えてしまう方法を探そうと思っていた。　その時僕がいた部屋の配置がいきなり分かってきた。　　部屋の真ん中広いプールがあった。　逃げている夢中していたからその部屋に入った時見えなかったかもしれない。　でも周りが分かってきたから考えずにその気絶され蜘蛛の体を取ってプールに投げた。　　青かったプールは真っ黒になった。　墨のようになったみたい。　　今でもそういう黒い水が入ったプールの部屋に夢の中で訪ねてしまっている。　　そういう部屋に現れたら起きるまで僕の戦った日を思い出してしまう。　　不思議だと思うけどなんと思う？

日本語。。Japanese

おす！
久し振りなので日本語でポストしようと思っていた。　三ヶ月間だけは残っているみたい。　九月の末ぐらい帰らなきゃならない、アメリカに。　　ちょっと悩んでいるかな。。本当に帰りたいかどうか分からない。　勿論家族に会いたい。　でもね、帰ってから日本語を学ぶ為の時間は少なくなっちゃと思う。　　希望は帰った後日本語能力試験を合格出来る能力はもう身に付けた。　　でも今の所沢山読めるけど創造するのはまだ難しい。　それより僕の弱点は聞き取るのは弱点になっている。　どうしてか？　えっと、僕だったら見るのほうが聞くより分かり易い。　漢字が見られるから。　　漢字を見たら意味が大体与えられるけど。。。　　　どうせ・とにかく　まだ勉強しているところだから大丈夫　ただこのヶ月もっと上手になるしかない。　　　　負けずに頑張る。

雨、雨、雨。　梅雨が始まったみたい。　　今日ずっと雨が降ってきた。　　そして明日も降水率は高い。　いや、僕は天気官じゃないんだけど日本へ来てから天気を知るのはちょっと大事にしているようになってきたみたい。　雨だったら学校へ行く為に準備しなきゃならないから。

め、つまらない話ばかりしているのは　御免。

蜘蛛が好きじゃない。　エイリエンみたいな種類が会館で増えている。　でも日本だから殺しては駄目かな。　　もう一匹の命を消したけどやっぱり僕の部屋に侵入したから。　　他の蜘蛛の存在を見過ごすつもりだけど寝ている時蜘蛛に会いたくないね。　

皆はパイレット三番目もう見た？　スパイダーマン３？　両方は最高だと思っている。　　ジャックは相変わらず面白かったけど猿は確かにピーナツが大好きだね。　　うん、ジャックと言う猿について話している、"The undead monkey(ゾンビなので死ねない猿)。" 　スパイダーマン３だったら僕の一番スパイダマンの敵が出たから凄かった！　ベノムだ　　ま、たぶん黒が好きだから。　　是非時間があったら見てください！！

寝るつもりだからこれ以上今今日書かない。　お休み、また！

Mama まま

This is gonna have to be blitz posting. Lets see. I had a really cool experience Saturday night with a bunch of my friends. Ramu, Kazu, Takuma, Kumiko, Takenouchi-sensei, Steve, and Ouji. We went and did Karaoke at a "Snack" place. I am not sure what exactly the word "snack" when written in Japanese is supposed to imply but all of us filled up a small cubby hole called Kurumi "sunakku"(snack!). There while being served snacks and beverages by a single "hostess" everyone lovingly refers to as Mama the group enjoys singing.... well something like that. Given we are here in Japan and there is a "right" ritual for practically everything in this situation you are expected to sing at "Mama's pace."
Not sure exactly what that means but given the evening and the situation it would have been best if I had a repertoire of Japanese love ballads, enka or the like. However, American brat that I have become is my Japanese repertoire is limited to a few random Japanese songs and bands like B'z, Asikun, and various female singers songs that I wouldn't attempt to sing. Despite this lacking I was able to pull some good B'z songs and an old classic that we call Sukiyaki in English. It's Japanese title is "ue wo muite" ("turn to look upwards" or something along those lines.)
Which if you actually know the song's lyrics its really depressing and not what you think would be good for what is usually a "live it up" experience.
While I am distracted some other songs I like to sing at Karaoke(english they may be) are Eminem - Lose Yourself, Styx - Roboto, Snow - Red Hot Chili Peppers, .. . etc. Before I get too far off topic and can no longer resurface upon the path.
I mention the song selection seems to be important with "Mama's pace" but I think that is only the preperatory step. The next step is when you sing, you must apply a proper attitude. That is stand up, sing from the heart (no wimpy singing... full lungs kind of thing) and above all try and involve Mama in the song. I am glad Karaoke is such a fun simple thing. Although, trying to sing for someone else was kind of fun. I made the mistake of trying to Sing "Lonestar - I'm Already There." Boy, I sang it my way alright, didn't know it had all those lyrics for one, and I found I certaintly don't have that country twang at all, for two. But if you just act like you know what you are singing no one will say anything. Mainly because everybody in my group doesn't listen to country. :)

Okay, well now that I have embarressed myself by admitting to singing these songs I can continue on and switch topics.

zzzZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ. Falls asleep at the keyboard.

... ... ... ... dotテンてん店点天展槇纏

I think it is about time I posted agin.. agen.. . a-gain... again, before I forget how to spell again.

Then I forgot what I wanted to talk about.

I'll remember eventually. So, until that time comes I will just continue to type and let you all know that I really haven't been doing anything lately. I have had to come to terms with Statistics. I was getting sick of actively trying to evaluate my reasons for decisions on a weekly scale. Hoping I could just get a clear understanding of where I am going and then bounce off that whenever necessary. Kind of like a search for moral truth instead of a pragmatic wandering. So, I am taking this current time to not proceed without a solid view for my remaining months in Japan.

Well, wether or not you needed that little bit of information or not I remembered what I wanted to say.

I was wrong about the lack of Thunderstorms... we had one yesterday. Nice and loud and electrical. Boom, Zap... Thwoooooom! It was awesome. I didn't go anywhere so it didn't bother me.

Also, a massive important sighting.. well not really but it was weird. I saw 4 helicopters in Shizuoka all at the same time. This is weird because it's the first through fourth helicopters I have seen in Japan. They looked military, but were mostly just black. I originally was confused as to whether something had happened or not, but the guy at the local curry shop gave me a different insight. They were possibly just doing drills for earthquake rescue or something like that.

I haven't finalized my thoughts on what to do for my time that remains here in Japan. Definitely want to get out of Japan what I can, but don't want to be stressed out either.

Laters ya'll

自転車 Bicycle

Hey ya'll!

I fixed my bike!!!! umm... not that anyone knew there was anything wrong with it. I got a flat in it last Friday and had been borrowing Ouji's bike off and on since then. However I bit the bullet and took apart the back assembly in hopes of repairing/replacing the tube. The tube was found to be rather sound with the exception of a small hole revealed by submerging the tube. I patched the hole and then attempted to put it all back together only to be almost done and realize not only was the tire not holding air but I forgot to attach the chain before starting. So, because I had somewhere to go and it rained while I was there, I hauled the bike into the lobby... around 11pm or so and took it all apart again, found another hole, and patched it up again. Then I properly put everthing back together again, and am quite confident in the future it will take hardly anytime to fix it in the future if anything happens. Oh, and my problem of constantly having to fix the chain (probably in excess of 15 times since the new year) is probably completely over. I hope.

Also, now that transportations fixed I can try and deal with homework. I've had to give up all hope for completeting Statistics homework(2 reports for tommorrow besides the usual). I could probably do it(if I had 10 hours of free time between now and the class...) but the time required is beyond what is available in a weeks time. I feel really stupid for getting in over my head in this class but I will learn what I can while I am here. It will make taking Stats, stateside feel like a breeze.. I think.

Later's ya'll

Etherealism 霊妙主義

I thought I should put something into writing again.

Did you know that I miss the sound of thunder?　

雷鳴をめちゃ聞きたいです。

No seriously, when it rains here it doesn’t pour it just soaks.. forever. I have only heard thunder once since being in Japan, and a real good downpour is rare too. They tend to have a kind of half baked rain that is just a step above drizzle. Meh.　Maybe because I said this it will start raining heavily more often. .

Japanese, or people sometimes have weird thought processes. I don’t know what you should call it but it’s something like “Picky” syndrome. Basically if it’s not quality you don’t want it. I can sort of understand it if it is limited to material things but if it stretches into the relationships realm it’s too much.

I can’t really explain it but I can give an example. Let’s say it’s your birthday and one of your friends says “Happy Birthday” to you. Another friend notices it and says “It’s your Birthday? Happy Birthday!” Is there anything wrong with that???? Apparently there is to some people. The qualitiy is lacking. It says to them you didn’t really remember which can be extrapolated to mean you don’t care about them.

To be honest I think this way of thought is too much. Regrettably it can be applied to about anything relationship-wise. I tend to prefer that my friend said “Happy Birthday” than that he thought it himself. If he did or didn’t remember on his own I don’t care, I simply prefer the action to have occurred in and of itself.

Chalk up another thing I miss. Driving. On the other hand I don’t even want to consider driving in Japan, the cars and roads are all too small, but the AC would be nice.

Japans’s too non-idealistic and lacking in principles to drive the country and America is the opposite idealistic, still relatively new and steeped in principle. To oversimplify it. America seeks to create waves while Japan seeks to go with the flow. The problem is both can misread the situation, accidently creating waves that cause more damage then good or following the "flow" into obstacles, like rocks/walls etc. Maybe..

Now to change topic abruptly. Rice fields. Recently I've been able to see a bird that looks like a heron hanging out on them. They just kind of stand there and don't move but they are pretty cool.
There was one day when I wished I had my camera. When I was going to school it was raining. The coupling of the fields and the puddles around had ripples that revealed the slow steady raindrops. That gave me real calming feeling. Then later on that day the weather calmed and the surfaces of the fields that had filled up with water acted like mirrors and showed a perfect reflection of their surroundings. I was really regretting not having my camera that day...

Trend of the times 大勢

I know.. I literally just posted but I realized that I a lot has been happening.

I had to read this chapter in a book by Kenneth Pyle; Japan Rising. This book actually just came out this year and I would reccommend it for anyone interested in Japanese foreign policy. The section I had to read concerned Japanese Foreign style. Or rather what parts of Japanese culture have formed the base for it. I just want to give a short summary for the chapter's points of interest for me.

Generally speaking, a nation's foreign style forms into patterns over time based on its experience and its reactions to them. Kind of similar to how someone's personality develops over time. These patterns while not set in stone to give way easily to the winds of time.

Japan's Foreign style is based in 6 major categories according to Kenneth Pyle. All of these basically grow out of Japan's history of Feudalism and borrowing. Japan has the unique aspect of being an island country that is quite separated from its neigbors and having what is “often regarded as one of “only two fully proven cases of feudalism””(39). In a true case of feudalism you have what John herz has termed as the "security dilemma." A situation similar to the international world where all sides are locked in an unending power struggle. One side increases its power and the other groups see this and become nervous(i.e. insecure) and then seek to become stronger too. It's circular, see? All sides keep seeking more power than their neigbors for greater security but is has no end.

The fact that Japan in the past did some heavy borrowing from China was originally thought to be because of a romantic attractivenesss that the Japanese held of the Chinese Empire. However it is now believed that Japan perceived China as a threat to their independence/security. The reaction was to seek to understand the "threat" and then borrow and improve upon what made that "threat" stronger than them. In light of that way of thinking one can make better sense of Japan's reaction to the growing west following the Meiji restoration.

The main six origins of the Japanese National Style are:
1. An Attentiveness to Power: For one thing, Japan has lacked the religious/ideological base that absolute power can be a bad thing. In addition, Japan's leaders generally came from the Samurai class; a class which relied on power for existence. Growing out of this reliance Japan always is holding up its invisible ruler to predict threats. It's also the reason Japan has kept itself algned with the most ascendant powers over the last 100 years; First England, Then Germany, Now America.

2. A strong Pragmatism and the lack of Transcendent and Universal Ideals: Japan seeks to grow its own power in a pragmatic fashion. That is to say they react situation by situation in favor of their country. This comes from Japan's sense of nationalism「国家主義」 built over time and its lack of any core Ideals or principles to stand for. This is to say that Japan a country who relies on trade for survival to watch the winds of change in internationl relationships and to seize favorable oppourtunities as they blow through.

3. Use of Adaptation and Accommodation: Japan has a history where its leaders simply explain away their actions as "beyond one's control" or "couldn't be helped「しょうがなかった」." Currently this thought process comes from Japan's reliance on trade leaving Japan to adapt to the international framework of the times or suffer. The way the Japanese express this is through a reference to "the trend of the times「大勢」" as a factor beyond one's control. As a result Japan possesses a adapation system based in seeking to always "go with the flow" as opposed to "making waves."

4. Maintaining Autonomy and Seeking a Regional Hegemony: Before the International world came along, Japan was self-sufficient but as a result of it's economic growth Japan has actually become reliant on the international world. It's kind of funny how Japan sought to maintain its autonomy through the economy but in turn has actually almost lost that. On the other side of the coin however, Japan's severe growth has given it the opportunity to be an almost economic "Asian brain" so to speak giving it a kind of Regional Hegemony.

5. Its Emulation and Innovation: As Japan lacks the emphasis on inner truth allows Japan to look at foriegn cultures from an "objective" perspective. Japan combines this with its historic emphasis on an imitative form of learning 「習う」. Japan uses this combination to adapt and innovate what it deems useful by first mastering the existing technique and then, only after the imitation is complete, improving upon the past model.

6. Its Rank and Honor: The Japanese obsession with prestige and rank was passed on by the Samurai after they were converted to the Nation's bueaucrats in the Meiji Restoration. Their forms of politeness following the Restoration "were by no means simply indicators of breeding and refinement, but direct and explicit idioms of power(63)." Moreover Japan takes this perspective and applies it on an international scale, thereby making honor and prestige nearly as vital as trade to the nation's survival.

Rober Wohlstetter wrote on Pearl Harbor: “war with the United States was not chosen. The decision for war was rather forced by the desire to avoid the more terrible alternative of losing status or abandoning the national objectives.”

Also, as another note. Following the war, the Emperor's reaons for surrendering dealt with the tides of time「大勢」 acting against Japan and that it must adapt to survive. A way of saying things that can leave foreigners wondering if the Japanese are trying to paint themselves as the victim...

That's the basic summary of how Kenneth Pyle perceives the Japanese National Style

Later's ya'll

Cold place.. 寒い場所

. . . .can you.. ..imagine it? Waking up alone in that place without light? It’s horrible. You try to speak but your whispering voice simply receives no echo. “Where are the walls, the barriers?” you wonder.. ..but, that’s only the beginning. You’re not falling so there’s definitely something under you. But.. .. it’s not hard or soft, damp or dry.. it seems to be just, just there. Where are you?

出来る？　想像出来るかな？　その光のない場所で起きている？　最低だ。　話そうとするけど君の囁いている声はただ響かなかった。　“壁と結界はどこか？”とおもっている。。　。。けど、これから話が始まる。　落ちていないので確かに君の下になにかがある。　でも。。　。。硬くないし柔らかくないし、湿っぽくないし水気のないし　ただ存在しているだけだそうだ。 今どこにいる？

Actually I am not giving you the answer sorry.

実は答えをもらえないから、ごめんね。

This is a copy of an email I received from my school back in America in case anyone is wondering whether I am keeping up on the happenings in America or not.

4-20-2007

President Bush has requested that bells toll across America for the victims
of this week's tragic Virginia Tech shooting. Accordingly, UNO's
Henningson Campanile will toll its bells for one minute beginning at 11
a.m., followed by a moment of silence and memorial service at the Campanile
with UNO campus ministries.

Basically, I am proud to point out that my school is taking time to do their part.

Comparing Japan and America again. You know when we want to tally something in America we use like a 5 line shaped thing that looks like a fence? When the Japanese go to tally something they use a certain Kanji because it has 5 strokes; 正.

Sorry guys, I really have been out of it again. It was Golden week last week. That means one week and no school. Just my luck of course, I caught a cold so I spent the first couple days in bed and the rest trying to get enough studying done to survive the next week.

Short addendum... golden week was last last week... the week following Golden week ended today.. There's another festival going at at Shizuoka but I need to study so I will not be able to go at all.

As far as school is going, it is slowly becoming easier to read my Economics book and Statistics book, instead of looking up about 30+ words a page, I only have to look up about 10-15. Well, that’s until I start the next chapter.. .. chapter beginnings seem to have lots of new vocabulary.

On the plus side I finally got to see some of my Friends from the Shizuoka Summer Tour last year. Six of us got together and went bowling. That was a blast. The funniest part was the score screen was called “Mario Bowl.”

Oh yeah, and the spiders are coming out again.. slowly but surely. Joy oh joy.

Later.

雨の雫 Rain Drop

This is a simple short and sweet post. Well, maybe.

Quick thanks to the Chouinards for their Letter and especially to Becca for another great masterpiece. Thanks!!!

School is keeping me rightfully busy. I wish I could state a list of intersting things that I have done recently but I can't. It's been school, eat, study, sleep, computer, study and more study.

On the other hand, I was really starting to stress out the beginning of this week. Mostly because it's been raining a lot recently and going places in the rain is annoying. But when you don't have anywhere to go and there is a hot bath waiting for you isn't it great just to go outside and enjoy the rain? I went out barefoot Tuesday this week a little after midnight when it was only lightly raining and didn't come back in until I was thoroughly drenched. It just feels really awesome to have the rain pouring off you as you go through karate routines.

Also, in anticipation of the extended study period I have next week I went out and had some cheap kaiten (revolving) sushi with some friends today on the way home from school. Next week is, after all, Golden week. When I find out what it is a celebration of, I will let you know but for now it seems like Japan's version of Spring break; a week where everyone doesn't have school and people do a lot of traveling. Personally, I will treat it as catch up time for once again jumping in with both feet forward and getting well in over my head. Sometimes I wonder if I just like getting into difficult situations to try and turn them around.

Laters ya'll!

Tempus

Well, My updates here have not been occuring as often as they should. The first week of school has come and gone and again a lot has happened.

最近僕はこのブログをあまり最新のものにしていないですね。　新学期の最初の週間はもう去ってしまいました。

First off, my micro economics class is going to kill me. I can mostly understand the lectures and am going to be recording them with a voice recorder. That way I can listen again later. However, the class has no tests, no attendence record, and no homework. Only a 400+page book and a Final. The final is the only graded thing in the class. Tough. On the other hand that could be my saving grace because when the test comes my Japanese will be better.

最初に僕のミクロ経済の授業は僕を殺されます。　公園が大体分かります。　そして録音機器で録音するので後でもう一回聞きなおします。 しかし授業は試験がないし欠席は禁止じゃないしやっぱり宿題も無いです。　ただ４００枚＋の本と終末試験があります。　最終試験だけは成績と関係があります。大変.　逆に　試験が来るとき僕の日本語はもっとうまくなるからいいことだと思います。

Secondly, interesting things I was told. In class the first week of school I was informed of three things (well, rather the class was). The first two were in a level 5 class and the last was in a level 4 class.

The first is that Japanese think of lines as a sign something is popular. So, without thinking they will line up and buy things they never planned on buying. “It’s like, oh what’s this? A line? (joins the line) . . . (five minutes later) I wonder what this line is for, must be good. (finally gets close) Oh, it’s Ice Cream, and it’s expensive. Oh well, I made it all the way here so I may as well buy it.” Yeah, I think that kind of lining up is really hard to understand.

The second had to deal with culture shock. Same teacher as the previous thing, possibly the same class time. Basically the handout we were given was about culture shock having 5 stages. To sum it up:

1. Honeymoon phase. Everything is new and awesome

2. Who am I really? Doubt sets in questioning of one’s reality

3. Ugh, I hate this place! Confusion turns to ange

4. Aw, it’s not so bad. You begin to form your will and step forward

5. Second home. You may as well be in your native country.

Then the teacher asked us to name what level we think we are. Apparently everyone in level 5 is stage 5 except me. I was stage 1 a week ago, stage 2 Sunday, stage 3 last semester’s final’s week, stage 4 currently, and in Stage 5 when I went back down to Hiroshima over spring break. Basically, my thoughts are about this go up and down near daily. Whenever I am out of the kaikan I am in stage 1 or 3, mainly because I am either observing or being observed. Note to self, do not express opinions differing from the rest of the class in class. I had to try and explain why I don’t believe in Culture Shock. I don’t think it got across. Basically, I can activate a kind of stage 1 just by seeing a new part of Japan. So. . . I don’t think they are concrete.

The third was more of a multiple informing than a single message. We were informed in excess of 7 times about the condition that we as level three students are in. “This class is going to be really difficult for you level 3 people,” “I don’t know, you level three people are going to learn a lot but I don’t know about grades,” and “If you are in level three I can’t gurantee good grades, but good luck” were all said to us. Hmm, so am I supposed to expect to have bad grades just because of my level and not because of my work??

On a positive note the Drama we are watching in his class is very amusing. It’s called Kurosagi: “In this world, there are three types of swindlers. Those who defraud other peoples money, Shirosagi. Those who deceive others by manipulating their feelings, Akasagi. And then, using the Shirosagi and Akasagi as his only source of food is the ultimate Sagi(swindler) in history. His name is . . . . . . Kurosagi.”

Shiro = White Sagi = swindler/heron aka = red kuro = black

Basically it’s about Kurosagi and how he takes on Shirosagi and Akasagi, but it also has it’s twist because he’s doing it for revenge.

あるドラマ知っているかな？　クロサギというドラマ。　聴解の授業で見ている。　僕としてかっこいいドラマ。　“この世の中には三種類の詐欺師がいる。人を騙して金銭を巻き上げる「シロサギ」、異性をえさとして人の心をもてあそぶ「アカサギ」。そして、シロサギとアカサギだけをえさとする史上最強の詐欺師がいる。詐欺師を騙す詐欺師。その名は、「クロサギ」。”　かっこよくない？　日本人だったらもう知っていると思うけど　サギは二つの意味がある、詐欺と鷺だ。とにかく話はおもしろい。

In other news, I played soccer Sunday, there was a welcome party for the new students in the kaikan last Saturday, and last Friday we had a housewarming party for Marta (poland). Those were my weekend highlights.

Well actually to be more accurate this was last weekend and not the weekend that just began TODAY!! Where has all the time gone??

手遅れの桜の花！ Belated Cherry Blossoms!

Everybody! 皆さん！

To start off school has started and I am as usual keeping busy!
第一学校が始まりました。　僕は常に忙しいです。　

A single Cherry blossom flower on the surface of the moat.
桜　堀の水正面の上に。




Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter have all already passed.
シュロの主日、聖木曜日、聖金曜日、復活祭の祝日も　全部もう去りました。

Palm Sunday had monster sized palm branches!
シュロの主日のヤシのシュロは巨大な奴でした！

As for Easter Vigil, I was surprised. It was really similar to the way we do it in America. Outside bonfire, Candles + a dark church, lot's of readings, and moreover a good and long homily. Sorry no pictures for Easter but "Thanks!" to my family for the letter.
復活祭の夜のミサにはビックリさせた。 アメリカで見た仕方と凄く似ていました。　外の焚き火、ろうそくと電気を消した教会、いっぱいの聖書の予言、その上よくて長い説教でした。　　復活祭の写真がないのは御免なさい。　でもイースターの手紙を送ってくれた家族に「ありがとう！」を伝えたいです。

Sakura! 　A close up!
桜！ 接写です！

Since the new semester has begun, old friends have left the dorms and friends I haven't met yet have come.　So, the dorms are quite lively right now.
新学期が始まったのでいろな友達は寮から出ました。　でもまだ会っていない友達が来ました。　だから今寮は丁度にぎやかです。





News! I bought a copy of the bible in Japanese now that I am confident enough to read it.
Actually it has a lot of Furigana so even if I don't know a word I can easily look it up.
お知れせです。　やっと日本語の聖書を買いました。今の所凄くいい読む練習になってしまいます。　
実はふりがなが付けたので知らない言葉があったら調べやすいです。







This is a full blooming sakura tree by the moat of Sunpu Park.

この写真は駿府公園の堀の上に桜が満開です。

The Entrance Ceremonies for incoming Graduate students and Freshman occurred. I went with my karate group to Granship( a big conference building) and outside it invited students to join our club. The line of people filing in took about an hour. TOO LONG.

入学式が起こりました。 空手道部の人達と一緒に遊学している人達を誘いにグランシップに行きました。 建物に入っている人達の入る時間は一時間ぐらいでした。　長過ぎました。





My pictures of cherry blossoms (sakura!!) were all taken when the Shizuoka Festival was occuring. 　This picture is a good representative of the festival.
僕の桜の写真たちは全部静岡祭りが起こっているときでした。　特にこの写真はその祭りの典型だと思います。







A path made of Sakura.
歩いている道の上に綺麗な桜が咲いています。












Umm、my favorite picture. Sakura above the moat and on the water. Serene.
えっと、僕のいちばん好きな桜の写真です。　堀の上と水の上に。　平静。











To Be Continued. . . .
つづく. . .

弱肉強食 Survival of the Fittest

Another week goes by and I don’t post anything.

また一週間が経ってポストが無かった。

Well, Let’s see. In a nutshell:

1^st survived Graduation week.

Events: Oikon. Field day games. Congratulating seniors after their graduation ceremony. A party for my Tutor on Friday.

2^nd Survived a Trip. A Seishun(spring) 18 ticket trip.

Events: noted below but I saw Osaka. Slept at an internet café. Met up and hung with the Hayashibara’s for a day, and ended up staying one night there. (Thanks!!) Hung out with Kishi in Hiroshima, saw Miyajima and Hiroshima Castle, went to a Japanese-Irish bar called Molly Malones(Yeah, had guiness). Crashed at Kishis (thanks man!!) for 2 days. Did Karaoke with Emi and Kishi one night. Bowled with Emi, Ayumi, and Tomoko. Then trekked from Hiroshima to Osaka where I stayed at the same internet café again. The next day I spent the morning touring Kyoto, alone. Kinda boring, makes you appreciate friends. Kyoto=Temples, a Kyoto Tower and a really tall (twelve stories) train station with an awesome view! Returns home the same day Ouji returned from America.

3^rd Surviving the Aftermath of a trip (laundry, lack of food reserves etc.)

Events: Laundry, groceries, bank, cleaning my room, giving souvenirs out. Seeing Hanami (cherry blossom viewing) Sunpu park’s Sakura trees are really beautiful.

4^th Preparing to Survive the Start of School.

Events: Lots of listening practice and grammar to be studied before that placement test.

OSAKA 大阪

Hey! Guess where I am? I am in a internet cafe in osaka! Yesterday I hung out with Nana and saw Osaka Castle and a whole bunch of random Osaka places. It was a lot fun. Well, that is all for now. Laters

旗印・義旗 Banner

Oicon = REALLY long party for graduates. A Graduation party.

Or in my case, the party for the 16(possibly 17) seniors, or sempai’s for the karate group I joined.

Well, I was late actually in attending the entire thing, but it was a blast. They started at 12:30 in the aftertoon with a kind of exercise and sports team based olympics. I arrived late (about 1:30pm or so) , just in time to watch the last half of the teams do a 5 person three legged time race thing. It was funny.

I then joined Team mini for the next two games which were “umm” and volleyball. “Umm” was a kind of relay race using pocky and a rubber band. You have the pocky in your mouth and after running back and forth across the room you try and pass off the rubbber band to the next person’s mouth held pocky. Yeah… you can imagine the chaos.

Yeah, volleyball. You know this game, but have you played it with a rubber ball about 20 inches in diameter? Well, how about in a room with a twenty foot high roof? No? Well, in addition to that our net was about 6-7 feet up in the air so a lot of the tactics we used involved the ceiling... it was funny. One of the guys said that I was the “katsuyakusha” of everyone. In other words, I was very active. However, I don’t know whether it was a compliment or if I was being a detriment to “team play.” I tend to focus on simple tactics, Get the ball on to the otherside. The theory is that the other team will defeat themselves. . . . no comment.

Okay… following all that we tallied the scores and my team ended up last. . . most spirited or something like that.

6:30 Purikura with Mini group as a batsu game momento.

7:00 Izakaya number one.　　Drinks lots of Ginger ale

9:00 heads to the next one and waits there until 45 after.

Ikki, songs, craziness. HELP I can’t speak english moments.

11:30 or so in the evening Karaoke

6:00am karaoke ends

7.00 am I attempt to crash and fail.

Studys all day and then sleeps all night.

The next day: Thursday,

Graduation ceremony was unsucessfully attended because that wasn’t the goal of my group. We stayed outside and greeted our Seniors(senpais). All of us decked in our karate uniforms, with the exception of me and a couple of the girls who decided to wear suits. I failed to have the foresight to retrieve mine from the dojo at school, a 30 minute bike away. Oh well, suits are cool.

Afterwards we went to a restaurant without our seniors who were stuck with their respective colleges(gakubu). It was interesting because they were playing Last Samurai on the TV there. They started talking about history so it was interesting. It’s hard to explain.. they kind of likened me to Tom Cruise’s situation. You know foreigner among japanese… that’s where the likeness ends I guess.

After that I toured Parco( the new Parco) that arrived in Shizuoka. It’s a really big really trendy and expensive 7 or 8 story mall like thing. I toured with two of my friends from Karate. We went to the top and checked a music place out and then went back down and left, it was too crowded anyway.

That’s all.

Short note on Nimanendou a (glasses place). I went and got my a glasses cloth there and the service was really good. They even cleaned my glasses. Actually it wasn’t the service, the products or much of anything. I finally didn’y get the strange “It’s a foreigner” looks while I was speaking. Phew, maybe I can actually speak japanese.

Later’s all

ごめんね、　翻訳する時間がなくなちゃった。　土曜日から旅行するので。
またね

桜海老 Cherry blossom Shrimp

Here it is St. Patricks day. In America that is. Never been one to celebrate things at the right time, I spent all Saturday morning and afternoon volunteering. Then in the evening Nick made Pizza and we had party. Now, here it is near midnight and while I could go out and celebrate it with a guiness at a local foreigners bar. I would have to go alone. Then I thought about it and realized, I think I celebrated it in the best way possible. I spent the time with friends.

My morning activities consisted of joining up with Kousuke (ko-skay) and participating in a cooking activity that was entirely done in English. I think I had the most trouble just speaking enlgish… Japanese just kept coming out. I think it was because I could more easily communicate with them in Japanese than English… although they really could understand a lot of English the answers were a little slow in coming. Although, its funny, if I am going to say anything in any language, I try and make it come out fast. I go slow if I am reading something, repeat a memorized phrase or something like that but if I am actually talking, both Japanese and English come out fast.

Back to the topic. We cooked a Tempura (breading and fried) dish special to Shizuoka. It had Sakura shrimp in it. (sakura btw is Cherry blossoms, but to me Cherry blossom shrimp sounds funny) They are really tiny shrimp special to Shizuoka. Shizuoka bay and a place in Taiwan are the only places in the world these shrimp exist so they are quite expensive.

My group cooked our mixture of sweet potatoe, scallions, batter, and shrimp, but we couldn’t get it to stay in globs. It kept separating. It was kind of amusing. However the product in the end tasted more like potatoe than shrimp. All in all though it was a lot of fun.

After that (litterally.. .. only a 5 minute gap) I rushed back to the kaikan(dorms) and led our “Take over the world” club for 2 hours. We mostly talked about random stuff. It was awesome, as usual. Plus we had a new recruit today.

Okay following all that I had a short break in the afternoon where I began to study a little and then decided to get up and do something. So I went downtown and did a little book shopping. I need to not do that anymore. Books cost money. However I bought three books and am threatening a fourth. Before anyone panics, it’s not like I am buying useless books. Rather the problem is they are excellent study materials that I do not have enough time to go through in a month.

I bought the Kanji test step book for test level 4( on a scale of 1-10, 10 being the easiest), nevermind that I am still in book six.

I also bought a book of Listening problem questions for the Japanese language proficiency test that had 4 CD’s attached.

Also, as a totally extra thing, I bought a korean book complete with 2 CD’s for proper listening and mainly phrases and key usage notes.

The fourth book I am threatening is the Bible. I want some light reading, but I decided to pass for now and ask at my church if they have a copy I could buy from them. I do not want an English alongside Japanese translated version( it’s too bulky). Actually I want one that has furigana (characters that allow me to understand readings) attached and has a soft binding. Oh, and it is key that it has the proper canon, none of this Apocrypha removed thing. As if it was an Apocrypha to begin with… hmph. Well, I will ask tommorrow after Church an maybe get a copy. (side note: Asked but well, they only had a really big copy(4inches thick!), but they said will get in a smaller one so that I can have a copy. It was pretty interesting.)

Okay, Shocked people behind the counter. When I went to buy the books my mere presence seemed to terrify the two girls behind the counter. Oh well.

Saturday Pizza party, Nick made pizza, we ate pizza. FUN!

Sunday: My Karate group hung out with kids!! We apparently appeared on TV! We also made it very fun for them having to karate drills.

Digging a hole.. needs picture.. I am attempting to grow something, mostly spurred on by Nam jun who is growing lettuce. The problem is the back is soooo rocky!! When digging I seriously find more rock than dirt. I found a rock the size of hmm… well about the size of 2 softballs put together. It’s one of the ones in the picture..

Later!

日本語の部分！

土曜日の日曜日は凄く忙しかったけど楽しかった！　

土曜日の朝ESSと一緒に英会話の料理パーティをした。　作った食べ物は静岡の特別の食べ物。　　桜海老天ぷらを作った！　僕のグループはジャガイモをちょっと使いすぎたけど　美味しかった。　　

その後　会館に戻った。　会話クラブを司会した。　　一時間は英語、つぎの一時間は日本語。　　めちゃ楽しい！

晩では　ニックはピザを作ったから　皆と一緒にピザパーティをした。　当然抱けど　みなは　ピザを食べた。　：）　　

昼では　本を三冊買った。　漢字試験四級の本「まだ六級をやっているから買っておくだけ」。　日本語能力試験の読解の本を買った、CD四枚が付けたから　詳しく聞き取る練習をする事が出来る。　最後のは　한국말「韓国言葉」の本を買ってしまった。。　CD二枚が付けたので発音の練習しようと思う。。。

最後の面白いことは僕は　会館の外でちょっと何かを植えてみているけど最初に土を掘っているけど　石ばかりを見つけている。　でも　あきらめたくないので　まだ掘っているけど。。　できるか。　　実はスイカを植えてみたいけど。。　まあ　出来ないところ　出来るようにする。

またね！