Man, I'm tired. I'm wondering even what it is that I should be writing about at this time.
I tried to teach a couple of my students the word DEFENESTRATE (SP?) but I ran into a problem. The word is not in their dictionaries. Heck, it isn't even in my electronic dictionary. I felt like I had entered an twilight zone entitled “the vocabulary blackhole.” Then I got over it, and explained the word three different ways. They got it, but I don't think they'll remember... Although, I did leave it written on the back wall's blackboard. They never seem to erase stuff on it. Hehehe.
Is this my all? Did I go and surpass my limit? Or did I run headlong into it? I just got on the train about eight minutes ago. I realized the train was about to leave about 3-4 minutes before it was scheduled to leave. Regrettably I was all the way up the hill at school. I had become distracted in assisting the students. I like to think I'm a very active teacher. I hang out in the library when not in class and chat with the students after school. Today, they were working on preparations for their Sports festival. I was helping them create a wire basket so they could complete their Mikoshi. They needed a basket for the center of the mikoshi to hold a giant paper crane.
Explanation:
A mikoshi is a kind of thing that is hoisted on the shoulders of people in a parade. It's kind of a portable parade float... except Mikoshi are usually associated with shrines. In other words, it kind of has a cultural religious significance for people here in Japan. Either that, or it is just part of their perception of what a parade involves. Which brings me to my other question: Is it somehow wrong (on a catholic religious level) for me to assist the students in completing a mikoshi that will be used to parade around a giant paper crane covered in tin foil? I honestly don't think so, because I really don't think making a parade float is anything intrinsically wrong. If, however, I misunderstood the significance of the tin foil crane.... meh.
Now, I fear I must return to my previous topic. I realized I only had a little over three minutes left to get to the station right about the time we had completed the basket and were trying to figure out ways to reinforce the basic frame. Jumping up (okay, not that dramatically, but definitely sudden for the situation), I grabbed my bag and said farewell. That was after I asked the name of one of the students. I think I already forgot it, but I can't undo that mistake now. Oops. They said something about, “Will he make it” and “What does he intend to do, run?” as I went out the door.
Yep, they got that right. I ran. I ran so far away. I just raaaaan.... not a flock of seagulls. Bad timing I suppose, but yes, I did indeed run. Straight downhill, through puddles of water, and past a whole bunch of stopped cars that were waiting for the train to go. Yes, they already had the crosswalk down when I ran past that area to the station. I must have looked funny to everyone else. Strange Gaijin-san running full speed through the streets after a heavy downpour. Pausing as I ran along only long enough to pull a 1000en satsu (bill) out of my wallet, I rushed straight into the station and practically ran into the eki ticket machine.
Some baa-chan (older lady) who no doubt had finally just made her way into the station after getting off the train, said “Mada maniau yo, maniaimasu yo.” (You can still make it, you'll make it) Encouraged, I gather up my change and my ticket and went over to the window. Usually, the guy there stamps my ticket for me, but today he just held out his hand in the direction of the train and said quickly “Daijoubudesu. Nottekudasai.” Without hesitating, then I literally ran right past him and onto the train. I paused long enough for a little apologetic bow to the train engineer standing there.
Somehow I made it. My chest heaving. My muscles feeling afresh. I saw a couple of my students who had seen my headlong rush just kind of staring at me with bug eyes and smiles. I walked in and sat down trying to grasp at breath. Before fully recovering and whipping out my computer, I noticed that the guy next to me was playing Pokemon and that the students (not from my school) across from me were staring. I felt, in a word: alive. Then I wrote this.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Wordsmith
Forgive the bad poetry:
I sit at my furnace.
The heat is nearly unbearable.
I go about my craft with a relish.
Drawing up, I strike down hard.
My office chair squeaks against my steel-toe boots.
My anvil before me is a wall of white.
My hammer is leaking ink on my palm
My mind images the finished form.
First, one part forms up.
It is bumpy at best but still red-hot.
I strike afresh and new
The words realign a little better now.
Dipping it down in the cold water.
The sizzling saves my progress.
Left to Right and Top to Bottom
A coherent shape is slowly hardening.
Loading up my work yet again.
I mindfully work the bellows.
Sweat beads around my forehead
Sparks fly alongside aberrant adjectives.
The flames temper my steel.
My will resolves in character.
My character evolves in plots.
Editing its shape has no end.
Day in, I toil at my fire.
Day out, I check the piece.
The mettle is at its peak.
The final test is near.
My task is never at an end
Between fire and imagination
And steel and paper
I am the wordsmith at work
I sit at my furnace.
The heat is nearly unbearable.
I go about my craft with a relish.
Drawing up, I strike down hard.
My office chair squeaks against my steel-toe boots.
My anvil before me is a wall of white.
My hammer is leaking ink on my palm
My mind images the finished form.
First, one part forms up.
It is bumpy at best but still red-hot.
I strike afresh and new
The words realign a little better now.
Dipping it down in the cold water.
The sizzling saves my progress.
Left to Right and Top to Bottom
A coherent shape is slowly hardening.
Loading up my work yet again.
I mindfully work the bellows.
Sweat beads around my forehead
Sparks fly alongside aberrant adjectives.
The flames temper my steel.
My will resolves in character.
My character evolves in plots.
Editing its shape has no end.
Day in, I toil at my fire.
Day out, I check the piece.
The mettle is at its peak.
The final test is near.
My task is never at an end
Between fire and imagination
And steel and paper
I am the wordsmith at work
Schools Stuffs
It looks like I will be going to two Sports festivals in the next week or so. ^_^
Oh, and I regrettably can't tell you what schools either. The place where I am mainly based informed me (in a general information session, don't worry I'm not in trouble) that I am not supposed to talk about school outside of school. Jeez, you'd think I'd joined fight club or something. Anyway, I'm not actually clear on what they were trying to communicate because the words they were saying didn't quite jive with the Japanese writing before me. Basically, the Japanese was saying that outside of school, I am not allowed to complain, talk about specific students, or spread evil rumors about the schools where I am working.
However, what it seemed like they were saying was more general. I was being told all this in a mixture of English and Japanese because they were trying to be accommadating. What it sounded like they were saying in English was that I was not allowed to say anything period about the inner workings of school, the people there, or anything. Anyway, because the Japanese writing just reffered to negatives, I am just going to play around the edge between the two, I guess. Meaning I am going to use the contractural writing as a line in the sand never to cross.
So, as far as talking about class or school, well, I guess I just have to be really really vague, and only report the positive? Meh, I think I can do that. As soon as something more interesting than, “oh this one girl in class said that I was lazy and that she was crazy. Then she decided I was crazy too.” Or “This guy in class has decided that I think he's the best student in class because I keep asking him to answer questions.” I don't know, they seem only slightly better material than was is usually spewed in tweets.
That's about enough rambling today.
Oh, and I regrettably can't tell you what schools either. The place where I am mainly based informed me (in a general information session, don't worry I'm not in trouble) that I am not supposed to talk about school outside of school. Jeez, you'd think I'd joined fight club or something. Anyway, I'm not actually clear on what they were trying to communicate because the words they were saying didn't quite jive with the Japanese writing before me. Basically, the Japanese was saying that outside of school, I am not allowed to complain, talk about specific students, or spread evil rumors about the schools where I am working.
However, what it seemed like they were saying was more general. I was being told all this in a mixture of English and Japanese because they were trying to be accommadating. What it sounded like they were saying in English was that I was not allowed to say anything period about the inner workings of school, the people there, or anything. Anyway, because the Japanese writing just reffered to negatives, I am just going to play around the edge between the two, I guess. Meaning I am going to use the contractural writing as a line in the sand never to cross.
So, as far as talking about class or school, well, I guess I just have to be really really vague, and only report the positive? Meh, I think I can do that. As soon as something more interesting than, “oh this one girl in class said that I was lazy and that she was crazy. Then she decided I was crazy too.” Or “This guy in class has decided that I think he's the best student in class because I keep asking him to answer questions.” I don't know, they seem only slightly better material than was is usually spewed in tweets.
That's about enough rambling today.
Writing Ramblings on Tolkien
Really, of late. I've begun to wonder if that really is it. Wait, I suppose I should clarify. I have a dilemma that has been rattling around in my skull for some time now. The situation, or dilemma if you prefer the parallel structuring, is that there are tons and tons of literature that comes out each year, and most of that literature is of the fantasy, science fiction, and fiction type genres. This bothers me because those are exactly the genres in which I would like to finish something. So, I wonder how it is possible that these people who churn out a book nearly every year can possibly be putting out anything good? Or is that perhaps not the right question, but should I be more concerned with personal amounts of time spent on a book versus the proximal area of time?
The dilemma, in short, is exactly what does it take to make good literature, good literature? I don't want to write just for sales, neither though do I want something I've written to never enter the public square. Essentially, I question the validity of the living democracy's favorite picks for each year. After all, the nature of democracy is towards the hedonistic, so initially in theory at least, looking at their picks would at least reveal what is enjoyable, right? Where then does one draw the line between a good book and cheap thrill? After all, I guarantee you that if you had one hundred people try meth for a day, they would tell you that they love it and it was the best thing since sliced bread. However, the masses inclination towards something doesn't make it 'good'.
The dilemma being, of course, and at the risk of sounding redundant, what is 'good' literature? Following this path of logic further, I have determined that I must find examples of good literature and go from there. Of course, this decision in itself has it's own set of dilemmas pre-installed, but I can deal with most of those later. However, the dilemma in finding good literature becomes the major problem. In order to prevent further lock down in my progress, I have theorized that I must rely on friends, family, and other like-minded people as resources in this matter. As a matter of fact, I must let the thread unravel in due time and not press for an instantaneous answer.
In thinking about literature that I already hold in high esteem, one such book(?) immediately comes to mind: The Lord of the Rings. I have, of course, on many occasions tried to define what it is that makes Lord of the Rings so epic. There are the obvious things such as “Elvish Poetry,” “Detailed Density,” and “the realness of the characters.” However, that doesn't even begin to enter into a description of the writing style employed by Tolkien which can only be described as of the “high heraldic” variety. Therein a new dilemma arises, correct?
Does his “high heraldic” writing style belong only in pseudo-medieval type stories? Before this question can be answered though, the first issue becomes what exactly it is that makes something “high” or “heraldic”? Essentially, the dilemma becomes yet again defining something. Furthermore, I know it is something that I cannot do simply come up with on the fly. However, I will attempt to make a basic outline now.
I believe, first of all, that “High” refers at least partially to the intellectual level involved. “Heraldic,” on the other hand, must be connected with the “Epic-ness” of the matter involved. Therefore, the combination of the two, ie. The High Heraldic, points to a style that is justifiably complicated but at the same time potent with imagery, deeply solemn, and able to tug at one's heart strings. This style has to pervade the adjectives, the characters involved, and the story-based situations. Perhaps, If I were to try and define it in another way, I would say that “High Heraldic” draws on something very core to our being, perhaps because it resonates with truth, and has the ability to break one's heart through minor, yet epic, intricacies. Above all, perhaps this is no longer contained in the matter of defining the “high heraldic” but nonetheless, the book that employ's “high heraldic” must have replay value. When you read it a second time, it should feel like you are gaining a deeper knowledge not doing a robotic replay.
P.S. Perhaps, I am indeed a madman. I mean this is the Chestertonian sense because perhaps I rely on logic too much. Or do I really not only rely on logic? I leave you with that.
The dilemma, in short, is exactly what does it take to make good literature, good literature? I don't want to write just for sales, neither though do I want something I've written to never enter the public square. Essentially, I question the validity of the living democracy's favorite picks for each year. After all, the nature of democracy is towards the hedonistic, so initially in theory at least, looking at their picks would at least reveal what is enjoyable, right? Where then does one draw the line between a good book and cheap thrill? After all, I guarantee you that if you had one hundred people try meth for a day, they would tell you that they love it and it was the best thing since sliced bread. However, the masses inclination towards something doesn't make it 'good'.
The dilemma being, of course, and at the risk of sounding redundant, what is 'good' literature? Following this path of logic further, I have determined that I must find examples of good literature and go from there. Of course, this decision in itself has it's own set of dilemmas pre-installed, but I can deal with most of those later. However, the dilemma in finding good literature becomes the major problem. In order to prevent further lock down in my progress, I have theorized that I must rely on friends, family, and other like-minded people as resources in this matter. As a matter of fact, I must let the thread unravel in due time and not press for an instantaneous answer.
In thinking about literature that I already hold in high esteem, one such book(?) immediately comes to mind: The Lord of the Rings. I have, of course, on many occasions tried to define what it is that makes Lord of the Rings so epic. There are the obvious things such as “Elvish Poetry,” “Detailed Density,” and “the realness of the characters.” However, that doesn't even begin to enter into a description of the writing style employed by Tolkien which can only be described as of the “high heraldic” variety. Therein a new dilemma arises, correct?
Does his “high heraldic” writing style belong only in pseudo-medieval type stories? Before this question can be answered though, the first issue becomes what exactly it is that makes something “high” or “heraldic”? Essentially, the dilemma becomes yet again defining something. Furthermore, I know it is something that I cannot do simply come up with on the fly. However, I will attempt to make a basic outline now.
I believe, first of all, that “High” refers at least partially to the intellectual level involved. “Heraldic,” on the other hand, must be connected with the “Epic-ness” of the matter involved. Therefore, the combination of the two, ie. The High Heraldic, points to a style that is justifiably complicated but at the same time potent with imagery, deeply solemn, and able to tug at one's heart strings. This style has to pervade the adjectives, the characters involved, and the story-based situations. Perhaps, If I were to try and define it in another way, I would say that “High Heraldic” draws on something very core to our being, perhaps because it resonates with truth, and has the ability to break one's heart through minor, yet epic, intricacies. Above all, perhaps this is no longer contained in the matter of defining the “high heraldic” but nonetheless, the book that employ's “high heraldic” must have replay value. When you read it a second time, it should feel like you are gaining a deeper knowledge not doing a robotic replay.
P.S. Perhaps, I am indeed a madman. I mean this is the Chestertonian sense because perhaps I rely on logic too much. Or do I really not only rely on logic? I leave you with that.
Fringe Write up
Monday
Bad news. I was really enjoying Fringe whilst it was fresh and new. I must be on episode eight now, or was it nine? Anyway... there's a pattern. In a kid's show like Phineas and Ferb, pattern's and repetitions in episodes comes across as cute and funny. In fact, they are rather expected. However, the pattern is something I am finding annoying. Actually, that's not quite right. CSI had a very repetetive pattern that actually made it very intriquing. I'm not sure how to explain how the Fringe's pattern is annoying.
Let me start over. SPOILER ALERT
If you are in anyway interested in watching the series, DO NOT read the following.
Every episode starts off with some weird event. A typically twisted, medically gross, and barely within the realm of the scientifically rational type of event. For example in the first episode, a plane full of people get attacked by a gas that literally strips them all the to bone.
Then, in every episode there is someone that potentially knows something. Our heroine, Duhham, then spends the rest of the episode trying to get an audience. It's always someone with whom she needs to talk.
Also, as a side piece of every episode, the old man Bishop needs some sort of random food thing to babble on about. One episode it's root beer, another it's christmas carols etc. Each time, it's something that is mildly related to the main episode thread.
Finally, the good (and very crazy) doctor and his son always work together with on some sort of crazy pseudo-science to save the day. The concepts are great, but does the crazy doctor Bishop really already have to know either the test subject, the evil scientist, or the Fringe science concept? I'd like something to seem like he didn't already know it.
Things could change with time, but eps 3-8 were way too similar. Episode 9 at least mentions Omaha, NE, so it gets brownie points. Actually, all in all, episode 9 felt fresh. Hard to explain why. Episodes ten and eleven tried a little harder to elaborate on some more things, so I actually enjoyed them. However, either I had mostly missed it until now or it really hadn't happened before, but the doctor did some overly crass descriptions this time around.
The things that I look forward to in each episode are things like more information on Massive Dynamic, better information on the Pattern, the newest concept for the episode, and most especially the progression of Dunham's relationship to her coworkers and her boss. Honestly, the tit for tat between her and her boss every episode is excellent. It even progresses and changes delightfully. Second of all, is her old (current) flame still alive after all that, is he really dead, or is did she really absorb a section of his subconscious.
There, now that I've given away nearly the entire framework for the series, enjoy!
P.S. The series would be insanely awesome if you only saw things from the limited perspective of Dunham. Then you wouldn't encounter things like Scott being keep in a pseudo-alive state so that his memories could be harvested. It would add the proper amount of mystery to whether Dunham really has his memories in her head or if she was really encountering him. They allowed the solution to come clear way too soon.
Bad news. I was really enjoying Fringe whilst it was fresh and new. I must be on episode eight now, or was it nine? Anyway... there's a pattern. In a kid's show like Phineas and Ferb, pattern's and repetitions in episodes comes across as cute and funny. In fact, they are rather expected. However, the pattern is something I am finding annoying. Actually, that's not quite right. CSI had a very repetetive pattern that actually made it very intriquing. I'm not sure how to explain how the Fringe's pattern is annoying.
Let me start over. SPOILER ALERT
If you are in anyway interested in watching the series, DO NOT read the following.
Every episode starts off with some weird event. A typically twisted, medically gross, and barely within the realm of the scientifically rational type of event. For example in the first episode, a plane full of people get attacked by a gas that literally strips them all the to bone.
Then, in every episode there is someone that potentially knows something. Our heroine, Duhham, then spends the rest of the episode trying to get an audience. It's always someone with whom she needs to talk.
Also, as a side piece of every episode, the old man Bishop needs some sort of random food thing to babble on about. One episode it's root beer, another it's christmas carols etc. Each time, it's something that is mildly related to the main episode thread.
Finally, the good (and very crazy) doctor and his son always work together with on some sort of crazy pseudo-science to save the day. The concepts are great, but does the crazy doctor Bishop really already have to know either the test subject, the evil scientist, or the Fringe science concept? I'd like something to seem like he didn't already know it.
Things could change with time, but eps 3-8 were way too similar. Episode 9 at least mentions Omaha, NE, so it gets brownie points. Actually, all in all, episode 9 felt fresh. Hard to explain why. Episodes ten and eleven tried a little harder to elaborate on some more things, so I actually enjoyed them. However, either I had mostly missed it until now or it really hadn't happened before, but the doctor did some overly crass descriptions this time around.
The things that I look forward to in each episode are things like more information on Massive Dynamic, better information on the Pattern, the newest concept for the episode, and most especially the progression of Dunham's relationship to her coworkers and her boss. Honestly, the tit for tat between her and her boss every episode is excellent. It even progresses and changes delightfully. Second of all, is her old (current) flame still alive after all that, is he really dead, or is did she really absorb a section of his subconscious.
There, now that I've given away nearly the entire framework for the series, enjoy!
P.S. The series would be insanely awesome if you only saw things from the limited perspective of Dunham. Then you wouldn't encounter things like Scott being keep in a pseudo-alive state so that his memories could be harvested. It would add the proper amount of mystery to whether Dunham really has his memories in her head or if she was really encountering him. They allowed the solution to come clear way too soon.
Saturday and Sunday, last week
Last Saturday. 11th
Laundry done. (Really, as if you cared.)
Shower head fixed. (It's black now!!)
Bicycle fixed. I started by going to a shop nearby my place, but the lady there told me that the mechanic (I presume her husband) wouldn't be back for a week or more. After some questioning, she helped direct me towards a place down the street. Going there I ended up chatting with another customer who was getting his bicycle fixed. After his got fixed, I ended up chatting with the lady who was working the office. Maybe, I'll run into the guy who I chatted with again. He was pretty cool, but definitely stressed by life.
Last Sunday. 12th
I bicycled way too much today. Way, way too much today. I hope I won't be as tired tomorrow as I think I will be. I bicycled into town to the Cathedral again. Then after coming home and eating, I bicyled to Diamond City (aka Soleil). I realized upon entering the place that I was there once. “Mario Desserts” was the place name that triggered my memory. I only remember going somwhere in the building for okonomiyaki and then later for desert. I am completely amazed at how large the place is. Three floors of shops and one tiny section of the fourth floor with a movie theatre.
Random thought of the day. If the power goes out in a building and I am the only one in it to my knowledge, the last thing I will do is get out a flashlight and wander around. I will wear as dark a clothes as possible and sneak around without the light. If someone has intentionally killed the power to do something in the building, I don't want to be a walking target. Besides my eyes can adjust to the lack of light.
Laundry done. (Really, as if you cared.)
Shower head fixed. (It's black now!!)
Bicycle fixed. I started by going to a shop nearby my place, but the lady there told me that the mechanic (I presume her husband) wouldn't be back for a week or more. After some questioning, she helped direct me towards a place down the street. Going there I ended up chatting with another customer who was getting his bicycle fixed. After his got fixed, I ended up chatting with the lady who was working the office. Maybe, I'll run into the guy who I chatted with again. He was pretty cool, but definitely stressed by life.
Last Sunday. 12th
I bicycled way too much today. Way, way too much today. I hope I won't be as tired tomorrow as I think I will be. I bicycled into town to the Cathedral again. Then after coming home and eating, I bicyled to Diamond City (aka Soleil). I realized upon entering the place that I was there once. “Mario Desserts” was the place name that triggered my memory. I only remember going somwhere in the building for okonomiyaki and then later for desert. I am completely amazed at how large the place is. Three floors of shops and one tiny section of the fourth floor with a movie theatre.
Random thought of the day. If the power goes out in a building and I am the only one in it to my knowledge, the last thing I will do is get out a flashlight and wander around. I will wear as dark a clothes as possible and sneak around without the light. If someone has intentionally killed the power to do something in the building, I don't want to be a walking target. Besides my eyes can adjust to the lack of light.
More Current Week stuff
Let see. How has my week gone. First off, it was good!
I'm watching Fringe now in my apartment because it is raining outside. I was going to rent something today anyway, and this series looked interesting to me. I know, I know. I probably should have rented something that was uniquely Japanese, but I couldn't decide. To be excessively honest, I really want to see Scott Pilgrim again. However, it doesn't seem to have made it to Japan yet. I even went down to Diamond City (A gigantic mall that takes me about 15-20 minutes to get to by bicycle) and checked out their movie theatre. Besides that something-something Arietty, there wasn't a movie that I might want to see. I was a little dissappointed.
Oh, where was I? I meant to talk a little bit about Fringe. Simply wow. From a science fiction geek perspective, this is a must-see series. My best description is this: Take the series NUMB3RS switch all the mathmatics into pseudo science (or 'Fringe' science, to keep in step with the series), then tack on some fast-paced spy-based intrique, and add in a cranky old genius, that is the proper recipe for Fringe. Watching the series kind of makes me feel like I'm watching the makings of a modern Jules Verne. The imaginative genius behind of all the future sciences and weapons rivals even that of Eureka's mad happenings or perhaps it surpasses them.
Of course, this is only my assessment at this point. I am only on the fourth episode right now. Oh, that's right, I failed to mention that I rented the first half of the first season. Hehehe. It seemed more cost-effective to rent the first eleven episodes in their 750en pack than to rent the six cds separately for a total of about 2400 yen or so. The end result is that I have seven days to get through about 550 minutes of TV series stuff. The problem is the lack of a place to sit and watch in my room.
I have this fold up lawn chair type deal that I am using as a chair. Imagine that, I am using a chair as a chair. Idiosyncricies aside, I pulled one of the suitcases out of my closet to act as a desk. I rather like the setup, but I suppose if I had to come up with a complaint, the chair is a little too tall for the lower level of the desk.
Well, I guess I am tired enough to talk about the most inane of things right now, therefore I am ending my movie seqway.
I'm watching Fringe now in my apartment because it is raining outside. I was going to rent something today anyway, and this series looked interesting to me. I know, I know. I probably should have rented something that was uniquely Japanese, but I couldn't decide. To be excessively honest, I really want to see Scott Pilgrim again. However, it doesn't seem to have made it to Japan yet. I even went down to Diamond City (A gigantic mall that takes me about 15-20 minutes to get to by bicycle) and checked out their movie theatre. Besides that something-something Arietty, there wasn't a movie that I might want to see. I was a little dissappointed.
Oh, where was I? I meant to talk a little bit about Fringe. Simply wow. From a science fiction geek perspective, this is a must-see series. My best description is this: Take the series NUMB3RS switch all the mathmatics into pseudo science (or 'Fringe' science, to keep in step with the series), then tack on some fast-paced spy-based intrique, and add in a cranky old genius, that is the proper recipe for Fringe. Watching the series kind of makes me feel like I'm watching the makings of a modern Jules Verne. The imaginative genius behind of all the future sciences and weapons rivals even that of Eureka's mad happenings or perhaps it surpasses them.
Of course, this is only my assessment at this point. I am only on the fourth episode right now. Oh, that's right, I failed to mention that I rented the first half of the first season. Hehehe. It seemed more cost-effective to rent the first eleven episodes in their 750en pack than to rent the six cds separately for a total of about 2400 yen or so. The end result is that I have seven days to get through about 550 minutes of TV series stuff. The problem is the lack of a place to sit and watch in my room.
I have this fold up lawn chair type deal that I am using as a chair. Imagine that, I am using a chair as a chair. Idiosyncricies aside, I pulled one of the suitcases out of my closet to act as a desk. I rather like the setup, but I suppose if I had to come up with a complaint, the chair is a little too tall for the lower level of the desk.
Well, I guess I am tired enough to talk about the most inane of things right now, therefore I am ending my movie seqway.
Lame late information LAST WEEK
Umm, adventures from this week? I wonder if I had any ones that are noteworthy. Okay, so I know that things did happen, so for now I'll just start writing and see what comes to mind.
I really enjoyed Wednesday because I sat in the Library and read (yes, I know) out of the 四字熟語 dictionary. (For those of you who don't know, they are words/phrases in Japanese that are comprised of four Kanji that are packed with meaning.) I found some really good ones, but by the time I was done my head was really starting to hurt. It felt like I actually was given a chance to think since I came here.
I've started my application to take the N1 this december. I had nearly forgotten the thing existed, and then I found an application pack in the bookstore. I could barely believe that I had forgotten about it. So, I bought the application pack and a book to study for the JLPT. I think if I can actually pass the highest JLPT test this time, I'll start focusing more on the Kanji Kentei which is the major kanji test. Anyway, I suppose that is enough about studying for now.
My shower head is totally broken. I mean, it is broken so badly that I'm having someone come and fix it saturday.
Ramune flavored Taiyaki. Yeah, trust me I reacted the same way. What???? Anyway, it is actually really good, so I recommend it it you get the chance. It is kind of like Taiyaki, but the flavor is a lot lighter and therefore more
School? Umm, you really don't care trust me. All I've been doing still is introductions.
I really enjoyed Wednesday because I sat in the Library and read (yes, I know) out of the 四字熟語 dictionary. (For those of you who don't know, they are words/phrases in Japanese that are comprised of four Kanji that are packed with meaning.) I found some really good ones, but by the time I was done my head was really starting to hurt. It felt like I actually was given a chance to think since I came here.
I've started my application to take the N1 this december. I had nearly forgotten the thing existed, and then I found an application pack in the bookstore. I could barely believe that I had forgotten about it. So, I bought the application pack and a book to study for the JLPT. I think if I can actually pass the highest JLPT test this time, I'll start focusing more on the Kanji Kentei which is the major kanji test. Anyway, I suppose that is enough about studying for now.
My shower head is totally broken. I mean, it is broken so badly that I'm having someone come and fix it saturday.
Ramune flavored Taiyaki. Yeah, trust me I reacted the same way. What???? Anyway, it is actually really good, so I recommend it it you get the chance. It is kind of like Taiyaki, but the flavor is a lot lighter and therefore more
School? Umm, you really don't care trust me. All I've been doing still is introductions.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Sat and Sun, my fun?
Saturday
Well, to be honest, this was probably one of the more pathetic weekends. I spent Saturday almost entirely at home in my apartment fussing about and playing video games/reading. Actually, I spent most of the afternoon hiding from the sun and trying to understand my laundry machine. I banned myself from leaving the apartment until I had done my laundry. This presented a problem because I didn’t want to do my laundry, and I really wasn’t sure how to use the new Japanese laundry machine I had.
The story there begins around noonish when I set about making sure my laundry was sorted into Darks and Lights. I decided to start with the lights because they were mostly T-shirts and, such so if something went wrong, I could replace them. Well, nothing went wrong, but to honest I’m not sure when I am supposed to put the detergent into the washer. So, after learning that I had to click the “power” button in order to just start the machine, I just poured some detergent into the washer. Then I adjusted the water level and clicked start. However, I must have clicked it twice because nothing happened with the washer for over an hour. Apparently, if I click the button once, that results in “start” but if I click it a second time, that temporarily pauses the thing until I un-click it.
The next problem to occur was the stupid thing kept beeping every 20 or so minutes, but it wasn’t done. It was still half full of water. I couldn’t figure it out. So, I think my whites got washed two or three times in that water. Eventually, let’s say around three or so, I realized the drain hose was attached to the side of the washer and pointing straight up. No wonder it wasn’t draining. It had no way to drain. Unhooking that and pointing it towards the drain changed everything. A half-hour later, the wash was done and 50-75% dry. Then I hung it all up to dry which was the easy part of the process I think.
Since I ran out of hangers and hanging space with just my whites, I decided to wait until they were mostly dry before running the black load. Considering how hot, sunny and dry it was outside, this turned out to be ideal. By about 4:30 or so, the whites were almost completely dry, so while I folded stuff, I made the black load start. Without drawing out the details, I can safely tell you that it was somewhere around six pm before I finally left the apartment.
After going out, I accomplished two things:
Food bought from a Family Mart I found as I explored East of where I live. 5$
A external DVD drive for my laptop so that I can watch rented Japanese movies. 45$
I failed to rent a DVD though because I needed proof of address with me which I thought I didn’t have, but it turned out later when I got back to my apartment that I did have.
I am pleased to point out that the DVD rental place that I found, had both Burn Notice and the A-team TV series. Not that I plan on renting either, but that it is good to know Japanese people can experience both.
Sunday
I woke up stuck in a dream in which I was writing a story in Japanese. I have now begun writing it in English. Again, like all the stories I’ve started, I may never finish it, but I’ll try.
So, the main adventure for Sunday amounts to three things:
1. Mass in English?
The cathedral offers Mass in English… something I plan to never participate in again. First of all, I could understand more of the mass when it was in Japanese than at that English Mass. Why? The easy answer is that the Mass was not in English. It was in a mixture of Tagalog, Spanish, English and a touch of Japanese. The priest was awesome because he could obviously speak all four, but to be honest, I was weirded out by how hippi-ish the Mass was. It had acoustic Guitar music, a philipino translation of the readings into English (which honestly had strange English), and lots of random interjections by the priest in some other language. Besides, I couldn’t understand why, but the ones who I would consider the Tagalog speakers in room would chatter amongst themselves all the way through the Mass. It was really pathetic and distracting. I think I have experience culture shock in the form of Japanese culture suddenly feeling normal.
2. Hondori
Really nothing much to report on hondori, except to say that I don’t think it has changed a bit. At the same time, it has dramatically changed. I was pleased to note that he arcade has about four shooting games that I didn’t recognize including a Silent Hill rehash, and I also noticed that the card-based games in the arcade are all unfamiliar as well.
3. Fukuya
This is where I am as I write this now. Wow, I am amazed at how large this place is, but I am ecstatic to note that I have finally found a good grocery store. Furthermore, it is right where I have to pass by to get to and from work. Also, I found JLPT N1 sign up information as well as study books. I, of course bought one of each, but thus far have gained a policy with games and books.
1 study book: when completed may get another
1 video game each for PSP and DS: when completed may get another
1 reading book: when completed may get another.
These are respectfully: N1 study book, Jeanne D’arc for PSP, still nothing for DS, and Natsu by Mori Hiroshi. We’ll see how long my policy lasts eh?
Well, to be honest, this was probably one of the more pathetic weekends. I spent Saturday almost entirely at home in my apartment fussing about and playing video games/reading. Actually, I spent most of the afternoon hiding from the sun and trying to understand my laundry machine. I banned myself from leaving the apartment until I had done my laundry. This presented a problem because I didn’t want to do my laundry, and I really wasn’t sure how to use the new Japanese laundry machine I had.
The story there begins around noonish when I set about making sure my laundry was sorted into Darks and Lights. I decided to start with the lights because they were mostly T-shirts and, such so if something went wrong, I could replace them. Well, nothing went wrong, but to honest I’m not sure when I am supposed to put the detergent into the washer. So, after learning that I had to click the “power” button in order to just start the machine, I just poured some detergent into the washer. Then I adjusted the water level and clicked start. However, I must have clicked it twice because nothing happened with the washer for over an hour. Apparently, if I click the button once, that results in “start” but if I click it a second time, that temporarily pauses the thing until I un-click it.
The next problem to occur was the stupid thing kept beeping every 20 or so minutes, but it wasn’t done. It was still half full of water. I couldn’t figure it out. So, I think my whites got washed two or three times in that water. Eventually, let’s say around three or so, I realized the drain hose was attached to the side of the washer and pointing straight up. No wonder it wasn’t draining. It had no way to drain. Unhooking that and pointing it towards the drain changed everything. A half-hour later, the wash was done and 50-75% dry. Then I hung it all up to dry which was the easy part of the process I think.
Since I ran out of hangers and hanging space with just my whites, I decided to wait until they were mostly dry before running the black load. Considering how hot, sunny and dry it was outside, this turned out to be ideal. By about 4:30 or so, the whites were almost completely dry, so while I folded stuff, I made the black load start. Without drawing out the details, I can safely tell you that it was somewhere around six pm before I finally left the apartment.
After going out, I accomplished two things:
Food bought from a Family Mart I found as I explored East of where I live. 5$
A external DVD drive for my laptop so that I can watch rented Japanese movies. 45$
I failed to rent a DVD though because I needed proof of address with me which I thought I didn’t have, but it turned out later when I got back to my apartment that I did have.
I am pleased to point out that the DVD rental place that I found, had both Burn Notice and the A-team TV series. Not that I plan on renting either, but that it is good to know Japanese people can experience both.
Sunday
I woke up stuck in a dream in which I was writing a story in Japanese. I have now begun writing it in English. Again, like all the stories I’ve started, I may never finish it, but I’ll try.
So, the main adventure for Sunday amounts to three things:
1. Mass in English?
The cathedral offers Mass in English… something I plan to never participate in again. First of all, I could understand more of the mass when it was in Japanese than at that English Mass. Why? The easy answer is that the Mass was not in English. It was in a mixture of Tagalog, Spanish, English and a touch of Japanese. The priest was awesome because he could obviously speak all four, but to be honest, I was weirded out by how hippi-ish the Mass was. It had acoustic Guitar music, a philipino translation of the readings into English (which honestly had strange English), and lots of random interjections by the priest in some other language. Besides, I couldn’t understand why, but the ones who I would consider the Tagalog speakers in room would chatter amongst themselves all the way through the Mass. It was really pathetic and distracting. I think I have experience culture shock in the form of Japanese culture suddenly feeling normal.
2. Hondori
Really nothing much to report on hondori, except to say that I don’t think it has changed a bit. At the same time, it has dramatically changed. I was pleased to note that he arcade has about four shooting games that I didn’t recognize including a Silent Hill rehash, and I also noticed that the card-based games in the arcade are all unfamiliar as well.
3. Fukuya
This is where I am as I write this now. Wow, I am amazed at how large this place is, but I am ecstatic to note that I have finally found a good grocery store. Furthermore, it is right where I have to pass by to get to and from work. Also, I found JLPT N1 sign up information as well as study books. I, of course bought one of each, but thus far have gained a policy with games and books.
1 study book: when completed may get another
1 video game each for PSP and DS: when completed may get another
1 reading book: when completed may get another.
These are respectfully: N1 study book, Jeanne D’arc for PSP, still nothing for DS, and Natsu by Mori Hiroshi. We’ll see how long my policy lasts eh?
Tri-school Area
Thus far, an assessment as such:
Wednesday at White Tree High School
This school is, first of all, the farthest from where I live. I’m serious, we’re looking at about 1 hour and fifteen minutes one way and that is on the conservative side of guesstimating. However, having survived the first day getting there and back, I am now confident that I won’t get lost.
So, I walk to Hiroshima station at an ungodly hour of the morning and board a train to some obscure section north of Hiroshima. The train at the last three stops suddenly fills with lots of students, and I figure that if I were to follow them when the train stops that I will probably properly approach White Tree High School. I am, of course, mistaken. I accidentally followed the junior high school students instead of the High School ones. Thankfully there was an ALT with the junior high students who asked me, “Oh, are you a new ALT here to help with the Junior high students?”
“Oops, I must be following the wrong group then. I’m supposed to be going to the High School.”
Then a small communication fiasco ensued as the other ALT used his little Japanese, and I acted like I didn’t know any. I was luckily in time though to catch back up with the high school students. Hmm, I think I caught two of them smoking, but they ducked around a corner and greeted me? They must have been feeling sheepish because they actually engaged me in conversation.
The rest of the day went rather well, I think. The school only has me helping with three classes and all I had to do was self-introduction practice as well as my own personal introduction of myself, family, and hometown. I used a lot of pictures taken from the last week when I was in America.
The part of the day that was the most fun was when I was hanging out in the cool, air conditioned library and incidentally startled a couple of the students when they came in to do their daily amount of cleaning. I only spoke to them in English, and they kind of kept panicking. I do think though that it helped them up their capability with the basics.
That wasn’t the funny part though. Later, one of the students returned because she had homework the school was requiring her to work on after school. One of the teachers came in and oblivious to the presence of the student, engaged me in Japanese. Trying not to be rude, I responded and went along with the conversation. The student’s eyes bugged out and stared at us. I just casually walked past and smiling said… “bareta.” Bareta, basically, means “oops, I was found out.” To make a long story short, with the help of the teacher covering for me, I asked the student to keep it a secret. Of course, we didn’t have that conversation with her, until she quit busting a gut. She was laughing really hard.
Thursday at Great Light -East High School
Okay, so first of all that translation of the school name is just weird, but it should serve as a sufficient barrier for those who are trying to know too much about me without my knowledge.
This is first of all, my base school. I am at this school three days of the week, but my first day was a Thursday in the middle of the school year at the beginning of the second semester. With the help of the Audio visual office in the school, I was supplied with what essentially was a “smart cart.” I’m sorry. There really there isn’t anything major to report except some funny incidences with the students.
Questions/comments that seem to be coming mainstays for asking the new ALT are:
Are you married? Do you have a girlfriend? (Yes, they’ve asked them in that order.) Your eyes blue. Your skin is very, very white. How old are you? Do you speak Japanese? What is your favorite sport? What is your favorite thing? What is your hobby? What is your favorite food (Japanese/American)? When is your Birthday?
In Japanese:
Looks like Mario/luigi. Looks like Tom Cruise. Ikemen. (handsome) Wakai. (young) kekkan sugokunai? (Veins)
Later when I was in the library though, two of the students talked with me for a long time. I was surprised at their boldness. Then my supervisor, I guess, came in to talk with me and spoke (again, yes) only in Japanese. I just responded in English because I didn’t want to have to ask a library full of students to keep it a secret. Instead my supervisor was awesome.
He told the two students that, “of course, he understands Japanese, but he probably speaks it even better than you do.”
“So, then why won’t he speak it for us?”
“He’s trying to teach you English. He’s like that”
Friday at the commercial High School
I arrived early: WAY too early. We’re talking almost two hours early. It turned out okay, but the teachers were very, very surprised. They also warmed up to me faster than the other schools, because I had to actively engage them in Japanese. One of them, Sato-san, I think, even came over to give me advice on getting a cell phone. He insisted over and over that I get a smartphone and use skype to contact friends and family. Actually, I think he partially just wanted to show off that he had one. Man, I’ll admit it. I am really tempted to get one too.
There are tons of students at this school. It looks like I don’t even visit the same classes each week for a long period of time. Many of the guys are very outspoken, even in English. I was very surprised because they were really quiet at the other schools. Since the school is known for its men’s baseball teams, the teachers are little understanding when their male baseball players are tired in class.
After school, I volunteered and helped with the ESS groups speeches. They will be giving speeches in about a month. I was actually, really amazed. Either they are just geniuses at writing or their proofreader is really, really phenomenal. Though the speeches were only one page long, they were well crafted. I’m used to turning people’s papers into a sea of red ink, even my own, but short of stylistic changes like “didn’t shed tears” to “Didn’t shed a single tear,” I couldn’t find anything to change. Their reading ability and pronunciation will come with time, but even their first time readings were pretty good. I wish them luck in trying to memorize the things.
Things that I learned:
I need to buy my own slippers for each school. Ones that fit!
I need to bring lunch to each of the schools. Preferably ones purchased before I arrive there. I especially need to bring one to White tree HS because there isn’t even a conbeni in the school
Wednesday at White Tree High School
This school is, first of all, the farthest from where I live. I’m serious, we’re looking at about 1 hour and fifteen minutes one way and that is on the conservative side of guesstimating. However, having survived the first day getting there and back, I am now confident that I won’t get lost.
So, I walk to Hiroshima station at an ungodly hour of the morning and board a train to some obscure section north of Hiroshima. The train at the last three stops suddenly fills with lots of students, and I figure that if I were to follow them when the train stops that I will probably properly approach White Tree High School. I am, of course, mistaken. I accidentally followed the junior high school students instead of the High School ones. Thankfully there was an ALT with the junior high students who asked me, “Oh, are you a new ALT here to help with the Junior high students?”
“Oops, I must be following the wrong group then. I’m supposed to be going to the High School.”
Then a small communication fiasco ensued as the other ALT used his little Japanese, and I acted like I didn’t know any. I was luckily in time though to catch back up with the high school students. Hmm, I think I caught two of them smoking, but they ducked around a corner and greeted me? They must have been feeling sheepish because they actually engaged me in conversation.
The rest of the day went rather well, I think. The school only has me helping with three classes and all I had to do was self-introduction practice as well as my own personal introduction of myself, family, and hometown. I used a lot of pictures taken from the last week when I was in America.
The part of the day that was the most fun was when I was hanging out in the cool, air conditioned library and incidentally startled a couple of the students when they came in to do their daily amount of cleaning. I only spoke to them in English, and they kind of kept panicking. I do think though that it helped them up their capability with the basics.
That wasn’t the funny part though. Later, one of the students returned because she had homework the school was requiring her to work on after school. One of the teachers came in and oblivious to the presence of the student, engaged me in Japanese. Trying not to be rude, I responded and went along with the conversation. The student’s eyes bugged out and stared at us. I just casually walked past and smiling said… “bareta.” Bareta, basically, means “oops, I was found out.” To make a long story short, with the help of the teacher covering for me, I asked the student to keep it a secret. Of course, we didn’t have that conversation with her, until she quit busting a gut. She was laughing really hard.
Thursday at Great Light -East High School
Okay, so first of all that translation of the school name is just weird, but it should serve as a sufficient barrier for those who are trying to know too much about me without my knowledge.
This is first of all, my base school. I am at this school three days of the week, but my first day was a Thursday in the middle of the school year at the beginning of the second semester. With the help of the Audio visual office in the school, I was supplied with what essentially was a “smart cart.” I’m sorry. There really there isn’t anything major to report except some funny incidences with the students.
Questions/comments that seem to be coming mainstays for asking the new ALT are:
Are you married? Do you have a girlfriend? (Yes, they’ve asked them in that order.) Your eyes blue. Your skin is very, very white. How old are you? Do you speak Japanese? What is your favorite sport? What is your favorite thing? What is your hobby? What is your favorite food (Japanese/American)? When is your Birthday?
In Japanese:
Looks like Mario/luigi. Looks like Tom Cruise. Ikemen. (handsome) Wakai. (young) kekkan sugokunai? (Veins)
Later when I was in the library though, two of the students talked with me for a long time. I was surprised at their boldness. Then my supervisor, I guess, came in to talk with me and spoke (again, yes) only in Japanese. I just responded in English because I didn’t want to have to ask a library full of students to keep it a secret. Instead my supervisor was awesome.
He told the two students that, “of course, he understands Japanese, but he probably speaks it even better than you do.”
“So, then why won’t he speak it for us?”
“He’s trying to teach you English. He’s like that”
Friday at the commercial High School
I arrived early: WAY too early. We’re talking almost two hours early. It turned out okay, but the teachers were very, very surprised. They also warmed up to me faster than the other schools, because I had to actively engage them in Japanese. One of them, Sato-san, I think, even came over to give me advice on getting a cell phone. He insisted over and over that I get a smartphone and use skype to contact friends and family. Actually, I think he partially just wanted to show off that he had one. Man, I’ll admit it. I am really tempted to get one too.
There are tons of students at this school. It looks like I don’t even visit the same classes each week for a long period of time. Many of the guys are very outspoken, even in English. I was very surprised because they were really quiet at the other schools. Since the school is known for its men’s baseball teams, the teachers are little understanding when their male baseball players are tired in class.
After school, I volunteered and helped with the ESS groups speeches. They will be giving speeches in about a month. I was actually, really amazed. Either they are just geniuses at writing or their proofreader is really, really phenomenal. Though the speeches were only one page long, they were well crafted. I’m used to turning people’s papers into a sea of red ink, even my own, but short of stylistic changes like “didn’t shed tears” to “Didn’t shed a single tear,” I couldn’t find anything to change. Their reading ability and pronunciation will come with time, but even their first time readings were pretty good. I wish them luck in trying to memorize the things.
Things that I learned:
I need to buy my own slippers for each school. Ones that fit!
I need to bring lunch to each of the schools. Preferably ones purchased before I arrive there. I especially need to bring one to White tree HS because there isn’t even a conbeni in the school
In Japan!!!
I'm in Japan! I've made it to Hiroshima! I've got an apartment! That's all!
… Psyche! After spending some time in Shinjuku, Tokyo, three of us bound for Hiroshima boarded a shinkansen in Tokyo Station. Our prefectural advisor who is living in Tokyo, Ai-san, graciously guided us from our hotel through Shinkjuku station all the way to the boarding platform for our trip to Hiroshima. Before boarding the train, of course, we bought bento's (y'know boxed lunches?), something to drink, and something on which to snack.
After chatting and calming each other's nerves for almost four hours, my two colleagues got off the train at Fukuyama. We plan to connect with eachother in Saijou sometime, and though the hope is to meet there for a Fall Festival in October, I fear that we may all be working on that day. Once I get more situated, I will be sure to contact them.
So, as I was waiting for the Shinkansen (bullet train) to start moving again, I noted that I could see them meeting their Fukuyama contact. Quickly, I whipped out my camera and captured a few shots of their first arrival at Fukuyama station. While they were no doubt going through the stress of self-introductions, I, on the other hand, had to sit on the train, alone, for about another 25 minutes dealing with the silence. I took the opportunity to listen to music on my Sony walkman and that seemed to help me remain calm.
After arriving in Hiroshima, I quickly met with Murata-san, my supervisor(?), and after some confusion, we met with two members of Hiroshima's board of education as well as Mochidzuki-san (who is not from Shizuoka btw) who is kind of responsible for me but above Murata-san. I would say that introductions went well.
My afternoon was then spent with Murata-san and a real estate agent. As was expected, they already had pretty much found the best place for me, but I did get to check out two places for comparison. My home is practically right in front of the new baseball stadium in Hiroshima. It is called Mazda Stadium and Hiroshima's Carp baseball team won their game last night by a Sayonara home run in the 12th innning. We, meaning Murata-san's family and me, all quit watching the game during the seventh inning because the Carps were losing. We regret that now, but the grocery store nearby will have a store-wide 5% discount because the Carps won.
My apartment has a dining room/kitchen and one fair sized room and runs about 400$ a month. However, I will be spending a lot of money to get things like a laundry machine, a refrigerator, a stove top thing, a futon and perhaps a desk as well. I've decided not to worry about getting a TV for now, but instead to get that later when I can afford a decent sized one. In the meantime, as soon as I am basically settled, I hope to get the internet connected because without that I won't feel connected.
It's crazy to say this, but I remember a lot of the streets, stores and such here in Hiroshima. However, there are so many places I don't know, and Mazda Stadium has made a good section of Hioshima to become more developed. Now, I am totally pysched for being here.
… Psyche! After spending some time in Shinjuku, Tokyo, three of us bound for Hiroshima boarded a shinkansen in Tokyo Station. Our prefectural advisor who is living in Tokyo, Ai-san, graciously guided us from our hotel through Shinkjuku station all the way to the boarding platform for our trip to Hiroshima. Before boarding the train, of course, we bought bento's (y'know boxed lunches?), something to drink, and something on which to snack.
After chatting and calming each other's nerves for almost four hours, my two colleagues got off the train at Fukuyama. We plan to connect with eachother in Saijou sometime, and though the hope is to meet there for a Fall Festival in October, I fear that we may all be working on that day. Once I get more situated, I will be sure to contact them.
So, as I was waiting for the Shinkansen (bullet train) to start moving again, I noted that I could see them meeting their Fukuyama contact. Quickly, I whipped out my camera and captured a few shots of their first arrival at Fukuyama station. While they were no doubt going through the stress of self-introductions, I, on the other hand, had to sit on the train, alone, for about another 25 minutes dealing with the silence. I took the opportunity to listen to music on my Sony walkman and that seemed to help me remain calm.
After arriving in Hiroshima, I quickly met with Murata-san, my supervisor(?), and after some confusion, we met with two members of Hiroshima's board of education as well as Mochidzuki-san (who is not from Shizuoka btw) who is kind of responsible for me but above Murata-san. I would say that introductions went well.
My afternoon was then spent with Murata-san and a real estate agent. As was expected, they already had pretty much found the best place for me, but I did get to check out two places for comparison. My home is practically right in front of the new baseball stadium in Hiroshima. It is called Mazda Stadium and Hiroshima's Carp baseball team won their game last night by a Sayonara home run in the 12th innning. We, meaning Murata-san's family and me, all quit watching the game during the seventh inning because the Carps were losing. We regret that now, but the grocery store nearby will have a store-wide 5% discount because the Carps won.
My apartment has a dining room/kitchen and one fair sized room and runs about 400$ a month. However, I will be spending a lot of money to get things like a laundry machine, a refrigerator, a stove top thing, a futon and perhaps a desk as well. I've decided not to worry about getting a TV for now, but instead to get that later when I can afford a decent sized one. In the meantime, as soon as I am basically settled, I hope to get the internet connected because without that I won't feel connected.
It's crazy to say this, but I remember a lot of the streets, stores and such here in Hiroshima. However, there are so many places I don't know, and Mazda Stadium has made a good section of Hioshima to become more developed. Now, I am totally pysched for being here.
Flying...
I am now of the opinion that flying is much like a mental rebirth. These long flights especially have the feel what I can express as an aerial baptism. I do not mean baptism in a religious sense, of course, but more so in the sense of being brought into new life. Although, I suppose that is exactly what baptism does.
We sit in a metal tube far above the sky surrounded by silent bodies who are all content to exist in their own worlds.
We watch movies alone among many in silence.
We listen to music that no one else can hear.
We have dinner with many people, but not one dinner conversation is struck.
As our minds go numb and we pass in and out of sleep, eventually a kind of numbing ensues, and we enter a forgetful darkness brought on by the dimmed lights. Whether we chase or flee the sun outside, this spacey haze resets our minds and loads the next chapter of our lives. First we were on Disc 1 in our homeland, but after loading, I mean flying, we find ourselves in a new land that can only be found on Disc 2.
My experience of this is my current flight to Japan right now. I still don't feel like I've left, and I can't explain that feeling. I half expect to get up tomorrow and go to UNO or head in to work. I still don't know see why I wouldn't be able to see any of you like the next day if I wanted. I'm heading to a new life, but I my mind is still loading.
I am drinking my fair share of lethe's water on this flight though so maybe that is part of the problem. First, I watched A-Team which was an explosive fest of cheesiness and explosions, but I can say that the CIA agent was a work of genius. Then I watched the Prince of Persia which was actually quite better than was impressed upon me. Now, with nearly half the flight still before me and almost 5000 kilometers to go, I am staring at the screen. It reads “次回のショーが開始するまでお待ちください”or in English: Please wait until the next showing begins. I will hopefully get to watch Brooklin's Finest. Why? Because it's there.
Additionally, I have made the discovery that video games no longer entertain me like they did in the past. I whipped out my PSP while watch A-team and some of Prince of Persia in an attempt to play a bit of Jeanne du arc. I was intrigued for a while, but I know the drill. It's a tactics game with a couple little bonuses that might have enthralled me in the past, but only the are holds my attention. For some reason, the Japanese impression of Joan of Arc is a blonde girl slender in appearance with intricate armor. The interpretation, or distortion perhaps, of her image doesn't bother me, but instead I think it is quite cool. Perhaps it could be equated to the myriad of Marian variations in the world. I'll leave that door unopened for now.
However, I must return to the topic at hand. I tried to play Lock's quest on my DS but got bored of it after one in-game day. The basic game style is an obsessively involved tower defense game. Ever been to kongregate.com? Well, I've played way too many tower defense games on that website to really get intrigued by another right now.
After Lock's Quest, I put the pokemon mystery dungeon game into my DS and then turned on the DS. After staring at the main menu of the game for a minute or so, I decided not even to start playing. It looks like it will be just totally annoying. Weird isn't it?
I suppose the positive thing is that I can certainly use the Ds games as gifts because someone will no doubt enjoy them more than me.
Oh and by the way, Brooklin's Finest didn't look all that interesting so I switched to Nodame Cantible 2. Not having really followed the series that the movie is from, I am going to mostly treat it as mental Japanese preparation. Well, I'm off of this document now to write somethings that have been rattling around in my mind.
We sit in a metal tube far above the sky surrounded by silent bodies who are all content to exist in their own worlds.
We watch movies alone among many in silence.
We listen to music that no one else can hear.
We have dinner with many people, but not one dinner conversation is struck.
As our minds go numb and we pass in and out of sleep, eventually a kind of numbing ensues, and we enter a forgetful darkness brought on by the dimmed lights. Whether we chase or flee the sun outside, this spacey haze resets our minds and loads the next chapter of our lives. First we were on Disc 1 in our homeland, but after loading, I mean flying, we find ourselves in a new land that can only be found on Disc 2.
My experience of this is my current flight to Japan right now. I still don't feel like I've left, and I can't explain that feeling. I half expect to get up tomorrow and go to UNO or head in to work. I still don't know see why I wouldn't be able to see any of you like the next day if I wanted. I'm heading to a new life, but I my mind is still loading.
I am drinking my fair share of lethe's water on this flight though so maybe that is part of the problem. First, I watched A-Team which was an explosive fest of cheesiness and explosions, but I can say that the CIA agent was a work of genius. Then I watched the Prince of Persia which was actually quite better than was impressed upon me. Now, with nearly half the flight still before me and almost 5000 kilometers to go, I am staring at the screen. It reads “次回のショーが開始するまでお待ちください”or in English: Please wait until the next showing begins. I will hopefully get to watch Brooklin's Finest. Why? Because it's there.
Additionally, I have made the discovery that video games no longer entertain me like they did in the past. I whipped out my PSP while watch A-team and some of Prince of Persia in an attempt to play a bit of Jeanne du arc. I was intrigued for a while, but I know the drill. It's a tactics game with a couple little bonuses that might have enthralled me in the past, but only the are holds my attention. For some reason, the Japanese impression of Joan of Arc is a blonde girl slender in appearance with intricate armor. The interpretation, or distortion perhaps, of her image doesn't bother me, but instead I think it is quite cool. Perhaps it could be equated to the myriad of Marian variations in the world. I'll leave that door unopened for now.
However, I must return to the topic at hand. I tried to play Lock's quest on my DS but got bored of it after one in-game day. The basic game style is an obsessively involved tower defense game. Ever been to kongregate.com? Well, I've played way too many tower defense games on that website to really get intrigued by another right now.
After Lock's Quest, I put the pokemon mystery dungeon game into my DS and then turned on the DS. After staring at the main menu of the game for a minute or so, I decided not even to start playing. It looks like it will be just totally annoying. Weird isn't it?
I suppose the positive thing is that I can certainly use the Ds games as gifts because someone will no doubt enjoy them more than me.
Oh and by the way, Brooklin's Finest didn't look all that interesting so I switched to Nodame Cantible 2. Not having really followed the series that the movie is from, I am going to mostly treat it as mental Japanese preparation. Well, I'm off of this document now to write somethings that have been rattling around in my mind.
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