So it's a few days later, or maybe a day and a half later, I lost track for a while. I stayed at the internet cafe for the three hours I paid for, and then spent the rest of the time waiting in either Namba or the airport until the magical moment Emma arrived.
I noticed immediately that my language changed and I was instantly more relaxed and I found myself making jokes again. Or more, found myself making jokes that received a reaction. So that made me feel instantly less Japanese and far more English, and I have spoken Japanese with far more confidence if she's nearby to help. So we met and we travelled straight to Kishiwada and she nuzzled into a room (despite her fierce resistance, we made her stay here), and spent the day catching up and explaining the fun and failure of our time lived seperately.
As she asserted, it didn't feel like we'd been apart. It is fun that now we can share the oddities of this country and compare them to the oddities of our own country. Because comparison with natives and people who have lived here a while is not quite as introspective and revealing as with Emma.
So it's going to be more fun to share this with her, but I'm sad that I'm not spending as much time in Osaka, and that the principle time in Japan with Emma will be spent in Tokyo. Though perhaps I am judging Tokyo without any real basis, but still, Osaka is fun.
For those of you unfamiliar with me or new to the blog, to clear it up, Emma is not my girlfriend, as is the common misconception. Nor is she my sister, as has sometimes been mistakenly asserted, she is just a very close friend.
We haven't yet had the chance to go skating, because right now, it's raining. If this is the promised typhoon, I am still as disappointed as last time. I was hoping at least a few cars would roll by and maybe a tornado would whisk me away to a strange world where I'd meet people dressed like robots and lions and walk across brightly coloured roads. However that actually happened during the festival, and I found myself chanting that there was no place like Kyobashi.
I must keep my details and full log of my time as I must go skating. I say 'must' as if its a chore, but I have wanted to do this for weeks, and I will enjoy. I hadn't thought of this as a travelogue, but it was described as such in a comment below, and perhaps in that idea, this post hasn't quite captured that feeling. But I'm sure when I have more time, I will possibly attain the travelogue idea that has been alluded to.
Anyway, if you followed the link here from Ryan's Blog, welcome, and I hope any reading isn't too far out of context and enjoyed. Speak to you very soon.
Sunday, 31 July 2005
Saturday, 30 July 2005
Small Addition
I have about 13 minutes left of my three hour stint. I won't overstay, as much as I want to. This place is incredible. I just shaved and cleaned my teeth. I get to keep the toothbrush as well. The razor, that is if I wanted it. I have spent the time looking at Japanese magazines, watching movie trailers and listening to Virgin Radio. I want to come back, I just need to find an excuse. The trains have started up again, so i can return, but I'll wait for Emma and then go home. I'll be tired by then, so I'll nap now.
The Weirdest Entry Location
Now, considering where I am, I have been expecting some pretty weird things. I was never expecting this. But allow me to give you some background.
Today, having had Emma stolen away from me unexpectedly by a tornado (ref. previous post), I had a day to kill. I made a post in my blog, as I'm sure you noticed, and then after a short time, which I spent feeling too hot and lying down, I went out with Stuart at about 5, and we made the standard trip via the Nankai line all the way to Namba and then the standard cycle to the Working Holiday centre, where we taught another Friday class. The girls in that class seem to like me, and spend the time asking me how my time was at the club and all. Using Stuart's description of "educational", I think I confused them all. After class we made our way towards a Hotel which I was trying to book for Emma, and spent a long time not finding it.
After I somehow managed to flatten my front tyre, and discovering that some hotels don't even accept girls, let alone have private showers, hotels seemed pretty grim. We cycled to Sportaka, where we met Yoko, and we finally went for okonomiyaki, or however you spell it. Generous tonkatsu sauce made it delicious, and after we had finished eating, and decided that we'd force Emma to stay with us, we went to one of those gaijin bars I'd heard so much about.
Yoko had friends there, and Stuart joined them, so I sat at the end of the bar and sternly looked at the girl who seemed to be full of life and excitement. Someone must have pointed out that I was looking at her, because she walked over to me and asked me to go dancing with her and her friends. Strange enough, I checked with Stuart if it was ok to leave ojiichan's bike at the station overnight, and it seemed so. So I went dancing.
The girls, four of them, took my to a place called Playpen, which Stuart had described as the place where any girl who stepped inside was only there to find a partner for the night. Apparently this was wrong, as these genuinely nice girls were there just to dance. And while I'd almost sworn to myself not to go to another club which played hip hop, I found myself dancing at Playpen, to the likes of Snoop Dogg, and the like. But the girls who had taken me there actually seemed to admire my dancing, and I ended up dancing with the girl who I had started looking at in the very beginning. Her name was Shigeko, and she was very sweet. When she had to go, at about 2:30 in the AM, with her friends, she kept apologising for making me miss the last train and having to spend the night out. I kept telling her it was fine, but she still seemed worried. Outside, the three Americans who'd also danced with some of the girls said goodbye. One seemed to really take against me. I think he thought I was speaking ill of his friend, but it was his misunderstanding. He ended up saying that I was a "tool", and warning the girls about my evils. But one of the girls later correctly asserted it was because I was surrounded by girls and he wasn't. Bless her.
So, feeling guilty, the girls took me to an internet cafe. I was expecting an internet cafe, like the one I posted in from Prague, but instead, I am currently typing in a small private room, which has a computer, a TV, a bed, unlimited free drinks, showers, a tanning salon, unlimited manga, and internet. For three hours.
So I'm listening to Virgin Radio on high quality headphones in a quiet, dark room, having four different flavours of Fanta, relaxing until Emma lands at 8:30. This is amazing. I want to live here. I can watch any DVD they have, any magazine, sleep, read, anything. They have online games here too, it's great. I arrived just after 3, and so I decided to post. I might sleep for a bit to. I'm really shocked by this. I thought I'd let you know. I'm happy, I had a wonderful dance, Emma arrives soon, and I made four new friends.
I also got an email from Masaya, and he sent a photo he took from his phone. Here it is. It's me and the guy I can't remember the name of. He sells Vodaphones, and apparently he's the best in Kansai.
Anyway, I'm going to find a magazine, and maybe have a nap, or watch a DVD. I have another two hours here. Hope things are as happy for you as they are for me, whoever you are.
Today, having had Emma stolen away from me unexpectedly by a tornado (ref. previous post), I had a day to kill. I made a post in my blog, as I'm sure you noticed, and then after a short time, which I spent feeling too hot and lying down, I went out with Stuart at about 5, and we made the standard trip via the Nankai line all the way to Namba and then the standard cycle to the Working Holiday centre, where we taught another Friday class. The girls in that class seem to like me, and spend the time asking me how my time was at the club and all. Using Stuart's description of "educational", I think I confused them all. After class we made our way towards a Hotel which I was trying to book for Emma, and spent a long time not finding it.
After I somehow managed to flatten my front tyre, and discovering that some hotels don't even accept girls, let alone have private showers, hotels seemed pretty grim. We cycled to Sportaka, where we met Yoko, and we finally went for okonomiyaki, or however you spell it. Generous tonkatsu sauce made it delicious, and after we had finished eating, and decided that we'd force Emma to stay with us, we went to one of those gaijin bars I'd heard so much about.
Yoko had friends there, and Stuart joined them, so I sat at the end of the bar and sternly looked at the girl who seemed to be full of life and excitement. Someone must have pointed out that I was looking at her, because she walked over to me and asked me to go dancing with her and her friends. Strange enough, I checked with Stuart if it was ok to leave ojiichan's bike at the station overnight, and it seemed so. So I went dancing.
The girls, four of them, took my to a place called Playpen, which Stuart had described as the place where any girl who stepped inside was only there to find a partner for the night. Apparently this was wrong, as these genuinely nice girls were there just to dance. And while I'd almost sworn to myself not to go to another club which played hip hop, I found myself dancing at Playpen, to the likes of Snoop Dogg, and the like. But the girls who had taken me there actually seemed to admire my dancing, and I ended up dancing with the girl who I had started looking at in the very beginning. Her name was Shigeko, and she was very sweet. When she had to go, at about 2:30 in the AM, with her friends, she kept apologising for making me miss the last train and having to spend the night out. I kept telling her it was fine, but she still seemed worried. Outside, the three Americans who'd also danced with some of the girls said goodbye. One seemed to really take against me. I think he thought I was speaking ill of his friend, but it was his misunderstanding. He ended up saying that I was a "tool", and warning the girls about my evils. But one of the girls later correctly asserted it was because I was surrounded by girls and he wasn't. Bless her.
So, feeling guilty, the girls took me to an internet cafe. I was expecting an internet cafe, like the one I posted in from Prague, but instead, I am currently typing in a small private room, which has a computer, a TV, a bed, unlimited free drinks, showers, a tanning salon, unlimited manga, and internet. For three hours.
So I'm listening to Virgin Radio on high quality headphones in a quiet, dark room, having four different flavours of Fanta, relaxing until Emma lands at 8:30. This is amazing. I want to live here. I can watch any DVD they have, any magazine, sleep, read, anything. They have online games here too, it's great. I arrived just after 3, and so I decided to post. I might sleep for a bit to. I'm really shocked by this. I thought I'd let you know. I'm happy, I had a wonderful dance, Emma arrives soon, and I made four new friends.
I also got an email from Masaya, and he sent a photo he took from his phone. Here it is. It's me and the guy I can't remember the name of. He sells Vodaphones, and apparently he's the best in Kansai.
Anyway, I'm going to find a magazine, and maybe have a nap, or watch a DVD. I have another two hours here. Hope things are as happy for you as they are for me, whoever you are.
Friday, 29 July 2005
Weather Turmoil
Not only was yesterday the hottest day, not just that, but... in England, it was stormy. Cold, rainy, stormy, everything. Those words can't really be used to convey how bad the weather was yesterday. How about the word tornado? Still not enough?
Hmmm...
How about weather so damn bad that they cancel a flight?
Emma's flight.
Of all the time to have weather bad enough to Code 93 a scheduled flight, they have to do it when Emma's leaving the country. Damnit! Occursed KLM Dutch Airlines! Damn them all to hell. This leaves my whole holiday one more day Emma deprived. Well, so be it. I was impressed that I was having a text conversation with Emma concerning the cancellations while on the Underground. Had that happened in England, I'd have to leave the station and run away from armed police before I received a text message.
I'm sorry that the guy's dead, but how stupid was he? "I can't be caught, I'll be deported to Brazil due to my expired visa. I know! I'll run on to the tube the DAY AFTER an attempted bombing, that'll make sure those hordes of armed police don't stop me!"
Now I know that stupidity isn't a crime by punishable by capital punishment, but still, he really should have known better. And his family is calling for an abandonment to the shoot to kill suspected-terrorists-in-public-places? That's practically offering open season on running from the police onto a bus or tube. When the police need more power than ever, considering the high probability of London being attacked for the third time, it's not a time to start taking away the only defense against SUICIDE bombers.
Whatever, a small extremist group is taking on The West, and so far not doing too badly. It irks of Vietnam, but the battlefield is now public domain.
Now my real points of posting! Yesterday, finally as scheduled, I went to karaoke with Yayoi and her friend. It was just the three of us, and we stayed for something like two hours and twenty minutes. If I can remember my list, it went along the lines of:
Pardon Me - Incubus
Don't Want to Miss a Thing - Aerosmith
Without Me - Eminem
Here, There and Everywhere - The Beatles
Intergalactic - Beastie Boys
Paranoid Android - Radiohead
Sora Mimi Keiki - Oranges and Lemons
Just - Radiohead
American Pie - Madonna
Club Foot - Kasabian
Sultans of Swing - Dire Straits
Digital Love - Daft Punk
Growing on Me - The Darkness
I Wish You Were Here - Incubus
I was pretty much taking requests towards the end, and you can't probably imagine my shock when the quaint little Miyoshi asked me to sing Kasabian. Not only is she a fan, but she's seeing them live. Considering they choices of songs were Japanese ballads (which they sang beautifully), Kasabian and Eminem weren't quite what I was expecting. It all went well, aside from the last line of the chorus of Growing on Me, at which my voice broke every time. Oh, and during one particularly filthy verse of Eminem, I was a little put off by the words I had never actually realised were there. I also tried my hand at singing the Azumanga theme, which I managed to an extent, but my reading isn't quite the level it needs to be, and only certain kanji had furigana, so I was stuck at them. But still, at least I attempted. My throat now really hurts.
After receiving the texts confirming that Emma was not indeed in the air and on the way, I sadly wandered Namba, texting her sporadically. I heard somebody say something about Nokia, and knowing that Nokias here are quite rare, I looked up, expecting it to be reference to mine. It was. And that's how I met Masaya. It was two Japanese guys, sitting outside Namba, also waiting for the last train, also having just sung karaoke. Except this guy is a professional, he's got an actual voice. And he actually is a professional. If I weren't hopeless at remembering most Japanese names (actually, names in general), I could tell you the other guy's name. But he spoke little English, and I spoke less Japanese, so our communication was limited. Masaya, though, was self taught and practically fluent in English. We chatted for about an hour, and he is outspoken and loud, which to me and to him, seemed very unJapanese. He loves Celine Dion. So last night was productive musically and socially, but not avionically. I have new friends to introduce Emma to, and I'll have a photo of what I look like after two point something hours of karaoke, as soon as Masaya sends it.
Ah, the confinement of public viewing. There are things I want to say, but knowledge of my readership stifles my license. But ultimately, I am writing this for the readership, and I'm writing this for memory's sake. But the details I cannot include, maybe they are best forgotten, as they are usually the painful ones.
I'm still feeling ill. Changing the settings on the air conditioning didn't help much, I just felt overheated. Maybe I'm just due for a spell of general illness, and it happened to fall during my holiday. But still, a cold?
Stuart's school's baseball team is playing in the Osaka final right now. From the description that I'm hearing, apparently they're losing because the other team are good batters. I still have no hope in understanding that sport. I think that stems from having no desire to understand it, as understanding it makes it less amusing. Speaking of amusing, I had eel for breakfast.
I have made a decision to put my deeper personal feelings into this post, but I will do it in code.
J sihoj pe Ztlhoz fufqz rjmhkf cbx.
And now if I ever feel like dwelling, I'll spend ages decoding. Of course, in Welsh, that reads as a perfectly logical sentence.
Hmmm...
How about weather so damn bad that they cancel a flight?
Emma's flight.
Of all the time to have weather bad enough to Code 93 a scheduled flight, they have to do it when Emma's leaving the country. Damnit! Occursed KLM Dutch Airlines! Damn them all to hell. This leaves my whole holiday one more day Emma deprived. Well, so be it. I was impressed that I was having a text conversation with Emma concerning the cancellations while on the Underground. Had that happened in England, I'd have to leave the station and run away from armed police before I received a text message.
I'm sorry that the guy's dead, but how stupid was he? "I can't be caught, I'll be deported to Brazil due to my expired visa. I know! I'll run on to the tube the DAY AFTER an attempted bombing, that'll make sure those hordes of armed police don't stop me!"
Now I know that stupidity isn't a crime by punishable by capital punishment, but still, he really should have known better. And his family is calling for an abandonment to the shoot to kill suspected-terrorists-in-public-places? That's practically offering open season on running from the police onto a bus or tube. When the police need more power than ever, considering the high probability of London being attacked for the third time, it's not a time to start taking away the only defense against SUICIDE bombers.
Whatever, a small extremist group is taking on The West, and so far not doing too badly. It irks of Vietnam, but the battlefield is now public domain.
Now my real points of posting! Yesterday, finally as scheduled, I went to karaoke with Yayoi and her friend. It was just the three of us, and we stayed for something like two hours and twenty minutes. If I can remember my list, it went along the lines of:
Pardon Me - Incubus
Don't Want to Miss a Thing - Aerosmith
Without Me - Eminem
Here, There and Everywhere - The Beatles
Intergalactic - Beastie Boys
Paranoid Android - Radiohead
Sora Mimi Keiki - Oranges and Lemons
Just - Radiohead
American Pie - Madonna
Club Foot - Kasabian
Sultans of Swing - Dire Straits
Digital Love - Daft Punk
Growing on Me - The Darkness
I Wish You Were Here - Incubus
I was pretty much taking requests towards the end, and you can't probably imagine my shock when the quaint little Miyoshi asked me to sing Kasabian. Not only is she a fan, but she's seeing them live. Considering they choices of songs were Japanese ballads (which they sang beautifully), Kasabian and Eminem weren't quite what I was expecting. It all went well, aside from the last line of the chorus of Growing on Me, at which my voice broke every time. Oh, and during one particularly filthy verse of Eminem, I was a little put off by the words I had never actually realised were there. I also tried my hand at singing the Azumanga theme, which I managed to an extent, but my reading isn't quite the level it needs to be, and only certain kanji had furigana, so I was stuck at them. But still, at least I attempted. My throat now really hurts.
After receiving the texts confirming that Emma was not indeed in the air and on the way, I sadly wandered Namba, texting her sporadically. I heard somebody say something about Nokia, and knowing that Nokias here are quite rare, I looked up, expecting it to be reference to mine. It was. And that's how I met Masaya. It was two Japanese guys, sitting outside Namba, also waiting for the last train, also having just sung karaoke. Except this guy is a professional, he's got an actual voice. And he actually is a professional. If I weren't hopeless at remembering most Japanese names (actually, names in general), I could tell you the other guy's name. But he spoke little English, and I spoke less Japanese, so our communication was limited. Masaya, though, was self taught and practically fluent in English. We chatted for about an hour, and he is outspoken and loud, which to me and to him, seemed very unJapanese. He loves Celine Dion. So last night was productive musically and socially, but not avionically. I have new friends to introduce Emma to, and I'll have a photo of what I look like after two point something hours of karaoke, as soon as Masaya sends it.
Ah, the confinement of public viewing. There are things I want to say, but knowledge of my readership stifles my license. But ultimately, I am writing this for the readership, and I'm writing this for memory's sake. But the details I cannot include, maybe they are best forgotten, as they are usually the painful ones.
I'm still feeling ill. Changing the settings on the air conditioning didn't help much, I just felt overheated. Maybe I'm just due for a spell of general illness, and it happened to fall during my holiday. But still, a cold?
Stuart's school's baseball team is playing in the Osaka final right now. From the description that I'm hearing, apparently they're losing because the other team are good batters. I still have no hope in understanding that sport. I think that stems from having no desire to understand it, as understanding it makes it less amusing. Speaking of amusing, I had eel for breakfast.
I have made a decision to put my deeper personal feelings into this post, but I will do it in code.
J sihoj pe Ztlhoz fufqz rjmhkf cbx.
And now if I ever feel like dwelling, I'll spend ages decoding. Of course, in Welsh, that reads as a perfectly logical sentence.
Thursday, 28 July 2005
Karaoke Countdown
Call me stretched for a title, but it's very humid here right now and I have sweated away my title creativity.
Well, in respect to not being long last night I failed miserably. About four thirty I reached bed, and it is all the fault of Wikipedia. And I think I set the air conditioning too high, as I have woken up the past two days with a cold. A cold! In a Japanese summer! Who would have thought of it.
I mentioned in my last entry that there is no reference of 'tricolon' in the electronic dictionaries I use, so I searched for it in Wikipedia. No article! How strange, perhaps I should write one. I then took a look through their list of literary devices, for perhaps it or one of its derivatives would be mentioned. No such luck, but I did spy a little note on devices used to illustrate fiction, such as a reference to a fictional book, and then the ides of writng a fictional book itself as if it were fact. References were made to fake autobiographies of fictional characters, and then to the Necronomicon. Having been thinking about the Necronomicon recently (when choosing how to describe a book where digital photography had removed vibrant colour from the faces of the people pictured), I chose to read more. It turns out, it is a creation of an author who used it as reference in a number of books, and since it has been referenced by numerous media, most notable the Evil Dead Trilogy. However, it linked to Daikatana, which I knew relatively little about, and I researched it, and from there I read the 25 dumbest mistakes ever made in videogame history. That led me to 4:30AM.
My bad.
Anywho, I just returned from teaching the group I taught two weeks ago (where I teach alone rather than with Stuart), and I really enjoy that group, as they are so friendly. However, every time I slightly display any knowledge of Japanese they errupt in applause. I would hate to actually say anything meaningful, as I'm certain a ten minute ovation would follow. But they are very accommodating, and provided me with a delicious variety of rice crackers and chocolate covered crisps(?!?).
I'm rather disappointed with Jenny recently. It seems that over a relatively minor misunderstanding on this blog, she has, in essence, dropped me like I'm hot. Since that, it appears that she is now also negatively referencing me in comments on other peoples' blogs. I do not hold anything against her for the misunderstanding, as I have made the like myself, but I do find her actions of the 27th to be unbecomming of her, as she is a smart person, and I would usually put such childish practises above her.
Emma arrives in Kansai International in a little under twleve hours, so I am anticipating an eager dance in a short time. Curse this old monitor. Everything is bright orange, I cannot adjust. Well, Emma soon, Karaoke sooner, so I must shower and be ready. I'll make a detailed entry of the songs and the enjoyment after I return, unless I'm asleep.
Well, in respect to not being long last night I failed miserably. About four thirty I reached bed, and it is all the fault of Wikipedia. And I think I set the air conditioning too high, as I have woken up the past two days with a cold. A cold! In a Japanese summer! Who would have thought of it.
I mentioned in my last entry that there is no reference of 'tricolon' in the electronic dictionaries I use, so I searched for it in Wikipedia. No article! How strange, perhaps I should write one. I then took a look through their list of literary devices, for perhaps it or one of its derivatives would be mentioned. No such luck, but I did spy a little note on devices used to illustrate fiction, such as a reference to a fictional book, and then the ides of writng a fictional book itself as if it were fact. References were made to fake autobiographies of fictional characters, and then to the Necronomicon. Having been thinking about the Necronomicon recently (when choosing how to describe a book where digital photography had removed vibrant colour from the faces of the people pictured), I chose to read more. It turns out, it is a creation of an author who used it as reference in a number of books, and since it has been referenced by numerous media, most notable the Evil Dead Trilogy. However, it linked to Daikatana, which I knew relatively little about, and I researched it, and from there I read the 25 dumbest mistakes ever made in videogame history. That led me to 4:30AM.
My bad.
Anywho, I just returned from teaching the group I taught two weeks ago (where I teach alone rather than with Stuart), and I really enjoy that group, as they are so friendly. However, every time I slightly display any knowledge of Japanese they errupt in applause. I would hate to actually say anything meaningful, as I'm certain a ten minute ovation would follow. But they are very accommodating, and provided me with a delicious variety of rice crackers and chocolate covered crisps(?!?).
I'm rather disappointed with Jenny recently. It seems that over a relatively minor misunderstanding on this blog, she has, in essence, dropped me like I'm hot. Since that, it appears that she is now also negatively referencing me in comments on other peoples' blogs. I do not hold anything against her for the misunderstanding, as I have made the like myself, but I do find her actions of the 27th to be unbecomming of her, as she is a smart person, and I would usually put such childish practises above her.
Emma arrives in Kansai International in a little under twleve hours, so I am anticipating an eager dance in a short time. Curse this old monitor. Everything is bright orange, I cannot adjust. Well, Emma soon, Karaoke sooner, so I must shower and be ready. I'll make a detailed entry of the songs and the enjoyment after I return, unless I'm asleep.
Must Not Be Long
Some of you may have noticed that the relevance of the title of my post to the actual subject of the post is rarely a positive correlation. This one merely is a double-entendre, meaning both that it's almost 2AM and I'm teaching tomorrow, and that the last title reached all the way across the page, almost.
But I've just been granted all night access to the internet, and it's very hard to resist. Not having much internet access is great for a very short time. Then I suddenly needed it like no other medium.But I will limit myself. There is only so much fun to be had telling a variety of people you know about your day. But it's still fun, and I can look back at this and smile. Or look back at this and curse the server for deleting my blog. That is, if the server deletes my blog, which it may.
I posted earlier, and then I left and sat in on another lesson. My first ever handout was handed out, one that is used to describe the difference between On, At, In, For and until in relation to time placement. Yoko edited it so that it had Japanese explanations, and corrected an ambiguity I had left open in "In". But still, I had a sense of pride in seeing my work put to use. I can't wait to be paid for it though.
We made our way to another izakaya, which seems to be a nightly occurrence for me now. I tried more food, and I deeply regretted the two slices of pepperoni, laced with "Worlds Hottest Sauce". I did try this strange food that Yoko wouldn't eat, which seemed like green, undercooked thin rice noodles suspended in raw egg white (should that be egg clear?). I have no idea if that's right, but it was survivably edible. For the rest of the evening (apart from some really good ice cream), the girl sitting next to me helped me devise my Kanji name. I'm sick of writing リプトン as my name, it stands out way too much. So from now, I will be known as to my Japanese friends (and English friends who can read Kanji) as 利富敦. It means something like clever-wealthy-faithful, which while not describing my ego in any way, is pretty accurate.
The lowest denomination of coin here is the ￥1 coin, which is so abundant for me, and so worthless that I just can't get rid of them. Even with the low price of food it would take a truckload just to but a small mean, and considering they're thicker than the 1p piece yet worth less than half, I am getting an ever increasing pile. One thing to notice, though, is that they are light. They are strong and extremely light, leading me to believe I can collect a few more hundred, take them home and build a small personal aircraft out of them, or use them to buy a stick of gum.
Yesterday I chose to take my CD player with me to town, so if by chance I had forgotten my key again (which I already knew I hadn't), I would have something to listen to while waiting in the doorway. Having not taken it in my bag for a while, I forgot to put the remote on hold. Needless to say, it pumped all 10 albums on the MP3 CD to a headphonless socket for enough hours to completely deplete the battery. So I took a chance, and plugged the charger (which said 230v only) into the wall, risking the safety of my terribly expensive CD player, rather than face the prospect of having 36 CDs being completely unplayable, leaving me musicless. It worked, so... happy.
That's Mido-suji street, a gorgeous, four-kilometre-six-lane-one-way shopping street, with everything from the Osaka iMac store to the Mido-suji Starbucks (where I see the same gaijin every time I pass).
My rearranged Karaoke takes place tomorrow, and I am very excited. I have been thinking of a few songs I can sing, one of which is Pardon Me by Incubus, just because I know all the words and can sing it pretty fast, but the rest are secret, because I know Yayoi reads this. Karaoke! Karaoke! I will also take Emma to sing, because I know that Emma has an awesome voice and if it's a closed room, there's nothing to stop her letting loose. I hope the same can happen on the street, because I lugged a huge guitar case all the way here, and I don't want that to be in vain.
I don't know how it looks above, but in this editing mode, "because I know" lined up three times. Either it's a sign of amazing tricolon, or I should increase my vocabulary. Bah, any excuse to increase my vocabulary. I have decided that I want to learn how to read Korean. I don't particularly want to be able to speak Korean, but I have heard that it's a very good system of writing, as it can make any sound, and so therefore can be very expressive. Once I know Korean, I'll learn Arabic, just so that I can read most things written down in the world. Not necessarily understand, just read. Phonetically. Rock. From there... Music Notation!
I tried Green Tea chocolate. Really not bad at all, I enjoyed and enjoyed. I will try and sample more strange Japanese sweets, maybe even bring some home. Now, I have been typing a while, it must be time to sleep.
Pyro totally rules, because she commented when no one else would.
Anyone interested in the new rap sensation of "nerdcore" music should check out MC Plus+, I hear he's pretty down. Or something.
Anyway, from Kishiwada, Osaka, Japan... this is 利富敦 saying goodnight. Or English people, good afternoon. Americans? Good morning. It's still the 27th for you over there? Crazy. It's the 28th here. But don't worry, I won't tell you what happens. Laters.
Post Script: I just spent a very long time trying to find out the spelling of the word "tricolon", as it appears on none of the electronic dictionaries I use. But it does exist, and I got it right first time. Just wanted to add.
But I've just been granted all night access to the internet, and it's very hard to resist. Not having much internet access is great for a very short time. Then I suddenly needed it like no other medium.But I will limit myself. There is only so much fun to be had telling a variety of people you know about your day. But it's still fun, and I can look back at this and smile. Or look back at this and curse the server for deleting my blog. That is, if the server deletes my blog, which it may.
I posted earlier, and then I left and sat in on another lesson. My first ever handout was handed out, one that is used to describe the difference between On, At, In, For and until in relation to time placement. Yoko edited it so that it had Japanese explanations, and corrected an ambiguity I had left open in "In". But still, I had a sense of pride in seeing my work put to use. I can't wait to be paid for it though.
We made our way to another izakaya, which seems to be a nightly occurrence for me now. I tried more food, and I deeply regretted the two slices of pepperoni, laced with "Worlds Hottest Sauce". I did try this strange food that Yoko wouldn't eat, which seemed like green, undercooked thin rice noodles suspended in raw egg white (should that be egg clear?). I have no idea if that's right, but it was survivably edible. For the rest of the evening (apart from some really good ice cream), the girl sitting next to me helped me devise my Kanji name. I'm sick of writing リプトン as my name, it stands out way too much. So from now, I will be known as to my Japanese friends (and English friends who can read Kanji) as 利富敦. It means something like clever-wealthy-faithful, which while not describing my ego in any way, is pretty accurate.
The lowest denomination of coin here is the ￥1 coin, which is so abundant for me, and so worthless that I just can't get rid of them. Even with the low price of food it would take a truckload just to but a small mean, and considering they're thicker than the 1p piece yet worth less than half, I am getting an ever increasing pile. One thing to notice, though, is that they are light. They are strong and extremely light, leading me to believe I can collect a few more hundred, take them home and build a small personal aircraft out of them, or use them to buy a stick of gum.
Yesterday I chose to take my CD player with me to town, so if by chance I had forgotten my key again (which I already knew I hadn't), I would have something to listen to while waiting in the doorway. Having not taken it in my bag for a while, I forgot to put the remote on hold. Needless to say, it pumped all 10 albums on the MP3 CD to a headphonless socket for enough hours to completely deplete the battery. So I took a chance, and plugged the charger (which said 230v only) into the wall, risking the safety of my terribly expensive CD player, rather than face the prospect of having 36 CDs being completely unplayable, leaving me musicless. It worked, so... happy.
That's Mido-suji street, a gorgeous, four-kilometre-six-lane-one-way shopping street, with everything from the Osaka iMac store to the Mido-suji Starbucks (where I see the same gaijin every time I pass).
My rearranged Karaoke takes place tomorrow, and I am very excited. I have been thinking of a few songs I can sing, one of which is Pardon Me by Incubus, just because I know all the words and can sing it pretty fast, but the rest are secret, because I know Yayoi reads this. Karaoke! Karaoke! I will also take Emma to sing, because I know that Emma has an awesome voice and if it's a closed room, there's nothing to stop her letting loose. I hope the same can happen on the street, because I lugged a huge guitar case all the way here, and I don't want that to be in vain.
I don't know how it looks above, but in this editing mode, "because I know" lined up three times. Either it's a sign of amazing tricolon, or I should increase my vocabulary. Bah, any excuse to increase my vocabulary. I have decided that I want to learn how to read Korean. I don't particularly want to be able to speak Korean, but I have heard that it's a very good system of writing, as it can make any sound, and so therefore can be very expressive. Once I know Korean, I'll learn Arabic, just so that I can read most things written down in the world. Not necessarily understand, just read. Phonetically. Rock. From there... Music Notation!
I tried Green Tea chocolate. Really not bad at all, I enjoyed and enjoyed. I will try and sample more strange Japanese sweets, maybe even bring some home. Now, I have been typing a while, it must be time to sleep.
Pyro totally rules, because she commented when no one else would.
Anyone interested in the new rap sensation of "nerdcore" music should check out MC Plus+, I hear he's pretty down. Or something.
Anyway, from Kishiwada, Osaka, Japan... this is 利富敦 saying goodnight. Or English people, good afternoon. Americans? Good morning. It's still the 27th for you over there? Crazy. It's the 28th here. But don't worry, I won't tell you what happens. Laters.
Post Script: I just spent a very long time trying to find out the spelling of the word "tricolon", as it appears on none of the electronic dictionaries I use. But it does exist, and I got it right first time. Just wanted to add.
Wednesday, 27 July 2005
And I'll forgive that without you even asking
Browsing Slashdot today led me to discover the Microsoft alternative to Google Maps: MSN Virtual Earth. Always keen to see the competition, I looked at it. Certainly an alternative to Google Maps, but it lacked any of the Google warmth. You're greeted with a cold, MSN interface, that while using transparencies and interesting effects on a basic web page, it still felt like I was using MSN Messenger. Which I hate.
It lacks detailed photos of anywhere but America, which is typical of an American product. And while perhaps it hits American soil with a higher resolution than Google Maps, the images are black and white, and at a slightly lower level of zoom, each satellite or aeroplane photo looks blocky and slightly the wrong colour when compared to the photos that surround it. It does have the map overlay feature for aerial photos, so you can plot a course and look at the landscape from above, but the same thing will be available at Google soon anyway.
If you like, try it out. It's chunky and cumbersome, and I feel no match for Google Maps.
http://virtualearth.msn.com
http://maps.google.com
But if you want something truly breathtaking...
http://earth.google.com
Back to Japan: Aren't you all shocked that I didn't update last night? I know. Shocking. Anyway, yesterday led me to another lesson, and being Tuesday, it completes two weeks of lessons since I've been here. I think this is my halfway point, and it has come very fast, and if I have another one of these whirlwind two weeks again, I will consider myself lucky. But as the schedule demands, I think I am in luck, especially given the company I will be taking the next two weeks with.
It being a Tuesday tradition, so it seems, the classes of yesterday all went to an izakaya again, with the newly introduced Kiwi teacher. This time I tried new delicacies, like deep fried chicken cartilage, and heart. As I promised to write... I <3 HEART. Though in reality, it tasted more like liver than I expected. In every lesson, the biggest part I play is in the free conversation time, where I just talk to the students about anything, and I try to adapt my English to their level of understanding.
I am disheartened with the number of comments I have received lately. Even Adam has stopped. The line of zeros all the way down isn't quite what I enjoy seeing each time I check back. I know you're angry, and I'll forgive that without you even asking, but I think it's time I had a little bit of feedback.
--Now I had typed a ton more, but stupid Blogger somehow logged me out during typing, and I lost most of my post, so that was a good wasted 20 minutes.--
You'll notice I also added a new link; Ryan's Blog. After following an obscure link on Bash, I found his blog, and I since I'm not on my computer and ca't add it to my favourites, I just edited my template instead. He seems smart. And I'm sure Hap's happy to not be on the bottom anymore.
I'll see you people online later. Peace.
It lacks detailed photos of anywhere but America, which is typical of an American product. And while perhaps it hits American soil with a higher resolution than Google Maps, the images are black and white, and at a slightly lower level of zoom, each satellite or aeroplane photo looks blocky and slightly the wrong colour when compared to the photos that surround it. It does have the map overlay feature for aerial photos, so you can plot a course and look at the landscape from above, but the same thing will be available at Google soon anyway.
If you like, try it out. It's chunky and cumbersome, and I feel no match for Google Maps.
http://virtualearth.msn.com
http://maps.google.com
But if you want something truly breathtaking...
http://earth.google.com
Back to Japan: Aren't you all shocked that I didn't update last night? I know. Shocking. Anyway, yesterday led me to another lesson, and being Tuesday, it completes two weeks of lessons since I've been here. I think this is my halfway point, and it has come very fast, and if I have another one of these whirlwind two weeks again, I will consider myself lucky. But as the schedule demands, I think I am in luck, especially given the company I will be taking the next two weeks with.
It being a Tuesday tradition, so it seems, the classes of yesterday all went to an izakaya again, with the newly introduced Kiwi teacher. This time I tried new delicacies, like deep fried chicken cartilage, and heart. As I promised to write... I <3 HEART. Though in reality, it tasted more like liver than I expected. In every lesson, the biggest part I play is in the free conversation time, where I just talk to the students about anything, and I try to adapt my English to their level of understanding.
I am disheartened with the number of comments I have received lately. Even Adam has stopped. The line of zeros all the way down isn't quite what I enjoy seeing each time I check back. I know you're angry, and I'll forgive that without you even asking, but I think it's time I had a little bit of feedback.
--Now I had typed a ton more, but stupid Blogger somehow logged me out during typing, and I lost most of my post, so that was a good wasted 20 minutes.--
You'll notice I also added a new link; Ryan's Blog. After following an obscure link on Bash, I found his blog, and I since I'm not on my computer and ca't add it to my favourites, I just edited my template instead. He seems smart. And I'm sure Hap's happy to not be on the bottom anymore.
I'll see you people online later. Peace.
Tuesday, 26 July 2005
祭り Festival
Well, after my brief and uncommented entry concerning my yukata, I made a long cycle from Namba to Kyobashi station (if anyone other than Shun is understanding these places I'll be astronomically impressed. To be honest, they're only for him) to meet Yayoi and her friends today. The intention was karaoke, but the presence of millions of matsuri festival goers convinced us to take a turn towards the river and observe the spectacle.
Being asked what kind of festivals we have in London, aside from Notting Hill, which I have never frequented, I was drawn ablank. The only comparative display of bright and colourful illuminations were the Oxford Street Christmas lights, which hardly held the same allure. The four of us walked through the open air food market, acquiring various festival delicacies, all of which were bought and then offered to me, with all suggestions of recompense being vehemently denied. I once again partook in takoyaki, to which the aforementioned Shun claims resemblance, and an odd oval shaped piece of biscuit bread, with a topping of apparent puffed rice and a heart shaped fried egg, laden with criss crossing mayonnaise. Yayoi bought this, and we shared it. As well as these cultural delights, a frankfurter on as stick was also shared among us.
The true star of the night was the amazing display of pyrotechnics. On the way, the fireworks were hidden from view, so we just heard their crackle, followed by tremendous thuds of sound, explosions loud enough to shake us. After this bout had subsided, a car alarm was wailing, which made the whole sequence seem like a cliche. It was amusement that transcended language barriers. It is impossible to describe the fireworks themselves, so I will only let you know of my reaction, that of amazement and at times, almost hypnosis at the visuals before me.
The evening could not last long, as most people right now are still working, but I'm seeing at least Yayoi again tomorrow for her English lesson, and hopefully our prearranged karaoke can be undertaken on Wednesday.
I also spent a few hours waiting in the front doorway as I had forgotten my key, and I had been warned that if I woke anyone while they slept, I would die. I chose life.
But I had such a feeling of safety, as I always do and have done everyday in this country, that I'm really pitying those in London on the tubes and buses. Terror worked. Shame. I hope it doesn't last.
This holiday is reaching the half way point. I am very seriously enjoying it here, and hope it does not go by quicker. Emma will probably speed things up just because she's fun. Karaoke will probably also fly by, because you pay by the hour. Anyway, I maintain elevated hopes, and hold the same desire for my friends at home to enjoy themselves and not be scared, wherever they are located.
Being asked what kind of festivals we have in London, aside from Notting Hill, which I have never frequented, I was drawn ablank. The only comparative display of bright and colourful illuminations were the Oxford Street Christmas lights, which hardly held the same allure. The four of us walked through the open air food market, acquiring various festival delicacies, all of which were bought and then offered to me, with all suggestions of recompense being vehemently denied. I once again partook in takoyaki, to which the aforementioned Shun claims resemblance, and an odd oval shaped piece of biscuit bread, with a topping of apparent puffed rice and a heart shaped fried egg, laden with criss crossing mayonnaise. Yayoi bought this, and we shared it. As well as these cultural delights, a frankfurter on as stick was also shared among us.
The true star of the night was the amazing display of pyrotechnics. On the way, the fireworks were hidden from view, so we just heard their crackle, followed by tremendous thuds of sound, explosions loud enough to shake us. After this bout had subsided, a car alarm was wailing, which made the whole sequence seem like a cliche. It was amusement that transcended language barriers. It is impossible to describe the fireworks themselves, so I will only let you know of my reaction, that of amazement and at times, almost hypnosis at the visuals before me.
The evening could not last long, as most people right now are still working, but I'm seeing at least Yayoi again tomorrow for her English lesson, and hopefully our prearranged karaoke can be undertaken on Wednesday.
I also spent a few hours waiting in the front doorway as I had forgotten my key, and I had been warned that if I woke anyone while they slept, I would die. I chose life.
But I had such a feeling of safety, as I always do and have done everyday in this country, that I'm really pitying those in London on the tubes and buses. Terror worked. Shame. I hope it doesn't last.
This holiday is reaching the half way point. I am very seriously enjoying it here, and hope it does not go by quicker. Emma will probably speed things up just because she's fun. Karaoke will probably also fly by, because you pay by the hour. Anyway, I maintain elevated hopes, and hold the same desire for my friends at home to enjoy themselves and not be scared, wherever they are located.
Monday, 25 July 2005
Update
Carlos has not updated.
Dan has not updated.
CM has not updated.
Bash has not updated.
Update.
Since my last entry, I have only slept. And unless you want a few hundered words on the album I listened to and my pillow density, I'll spare you. Though this morning I did wear a Yukata.
Dan has not updated.
CM has not updated.
Bash has not updated.
Update.
Since my last entry, I have only slept. And unless you want a few hundered words on the album I listened to and my pillow density, I'll spare you. Though this morning I did wear a Yukata.
Sunday, 24 July 2005
Lamb
Did you write the book of love? And do you have faith in God above?
If the Bible tells you so.
And do you believe in Rock and Roll? Can music save your mortal soul?
Can you teach me to dance real slow?
Now I know that you're in love with him, 'cause I saw you dancing in the gym.
You both kicked off your shoes, man I dig those rhythmy blues.
I was a lonely teenage broncin' buck, with a pink carnation and a pick up truck.
But I knew I was out of luck, the day the music died.
Those may not be exact, but it's how I've been singing it to myself. That's my favourite verse.
Well, after the last entry, Yoko came back with Stuart and her parents took us all out to have "Genghis Kahn", which is the Japanese way of saying "lamb meal", apparently. We drove up a very steep hill (the first time I'd been in a car for eleven days, I think a new record for me), and came to the strangest restaurant I'd ever seen in my life. We walk a path through trees to a little round hut, which reminded me of Zulu huts, except they had a triangular rather than conical roof. Inside there are five mats on the floor, and two tables made of a slice of tree, on the floor nearby. There is also a TV. And a phone.
This is the dining area. A private room with two tables and chopsticks and paper aprons for everyone. We look at the menu, which just shows plates full of uncooked meats, and use the phone to order five plates of raw meat and vegetables. Within minutes of ordering they bring the plates, and two buckets, both full of fire. Solid metal grilling plates are placed over the buckets, and the plan is basically, cook the meat, as if you have a personal barbecue, and as soon as it's done, place it in soy and eat immediately, as hot as possible. It was incredible, and apparently it's normal in Asia. The food was very tasty, and the meal had beansprouts, onion and spring onion distributed into the soy sauce, making hot food out of every piece of meat. It culminated with a single egg to absorb bits of meat and vegetables.
It was one of the strangest methods of eating I have encountered, but the food was very, very good and I greatly appreciate being taken to eat at such an experiential place. From here, I sleep, and then tomorrow, karaoke. It's not long until Emma comes, so I have been practicing all the music. I really can't wait. It's a shame she's only here for a short time.
Anyway, I'm going to have an early night, I'm going to listen to my best albums, and choose some songs to sing tomorrow.
If the Bible tells you so.
And do you believe in Rock and Roll? Can music save your mortal soul?
Can you teach me to dance real slow?
Now I know that you're in love with him, 'cause I saw you dancing in the gym.
You both kicked off your shoes, man I dig those rhythmy blues.
I was a lonely teenage broncin' buck, with a pink carnation and a pick up truck.
But I knew I was out of luck, the day the music died.
Those may not be exact, but it's how I've been singing it to myself. That's my favourite verse.
Well, after the last entry, Yoko came back with Stuart and her parents took us all out to have "Genghis Kahn", which is the Japanese way of saying "lamb meal", apparently. We drove up a very steep hill (the first time I'd been in a car for eleven days, I think a new record for me), and came to the strangest restaurant I'd ever seen in my life. We walk a path through trees to a little round hut, which reminded me of Zulu huts, except they had a triangular rather than conical roof. Inside there are five mats on the floor, and two tables made of a slice of tree, on the floor nearby. There is also a TV. And a phone.
This is the dining area. A private room with two tables and chopsticks and paper aprons for everyone. We look at the menu, which just shows plates full of uncooked meats, and use the phone to order five plates of raw meat and vegetables. Within minutes of ordering they bring the plates, and two buckets, both full of fire. Solid metal grilling plates are placed over the buckets, and the plan is basically, cook the meat, as if you have a personal barbecue, and as soon as it's done, place it in soy and eat immediately, as hot as possible. It was incredible, and apparently it's normal in Asia. The food was very tasty, and the meal had beansprouts, onion and spring onion distributed into the soy sauce, making hot food out of every piece of meat. It culminated with a single egg to absorb bits of meat and vegetables.
It was one of the strangest methods of eating I have encountered, but the food was very, very good and I greatly appreciate being taken to eat at such an experiential place. From here, I sleep, and then tomorrow, karaoke. It's not long until Emma comes, so I have been practicing all the music. I really can't wait. It's a shame she's only here for a short time.
Anyway, I'm going to have an early night, I'm going to listen to my best albums, and choose some songs to sing tomorrow.
Better
Hello everyone, a happy Sunday to you.
In retrospect, Saturday morning was rather depressing. I missed people, I missed talking and laughing, I missed making friends and I didn't enjoy the usual enjoyment of a night at the club, and it left me feeling empty and overheated. With added lack of sleep, it wasn't a cheerful combination. I almost wasn't motivated enough to go to the Working Holiday party, but I'm glad I did.
I arrived half way in, and spent the first few minutes recovering from not drinking anything all day with a big carton of レモン水. I tried to look up the word "phased" in my dictionary, but failed and settled on "unconscious". At this party was a guy from Stoke, Stoke-on-Trent, who was the most English person I'd met since arriving. We chatted for a while, but soon one of the students I had met the previous week arrived, with two more friends. It was fun, because her friends didn't speak much English, so I had to call upon my limited Japanese skills to converse, and it reaffirmed my confidences and I felt a lot better about speaking than I did yesterday. But the party didn't last long. After the official party finished, everyone went to an "izakaya" (居酒屋), a kind of restaurant, and had a huge selection of authentic Japanese food thrown at us. This time, I tried more 鯛 and more eel, with some Okinawan fried vegetables thrown in as well. Due to fate and seating arrangements, I was seperated from my friends and I sat at a table with three people, all called Miki. Two spoke very good English, the other communicated through extraordinary origami, and she gave me a beautiful rose, made from part of a receipt.
Towards the end of the meal, people started moving around, and my friends once again rejoined me. We spoke and chatted, and arranged to sing karaoke together. While everyone left the restaurant, I spied Yoko, for the first time all day, mind, and she informed me that the likelihood of getting back to Namba in time for the last train was low. But to be honest, I probably would have stayed even if I could have made it. My new found friends invited me to go along with them, and so I did. The girl I had known the longest of them was called Yayoi, and while we went looking for another place to eat, I met another one of their friends, Yutaka. He works at Universal Studios Japan, and in learning of its entry price, only ￥5000, as opposed to Tokyo Disneyland's ￥10000, he made me eager to visit.
One girl, Kaori, had to leave then and there, as she had a funeral today, but the rest of us found another izakaya, and ordered some octopus and salmon sashimi, as well as the best sake nigiri I have ever eaten. After that closed, which by now is around midnight, we found a small drinking establishment that stayed open late, and we sat and talked over some drinks and a few green beans. While one by one the others had to leave, Yayoi and I talked until 5AM, which was when the trains started again. We talked about the difference between R and L, we spoke about toung twisters in both languages, and she tested my vocabulary by pointing to things she could see, as well as demonstrating her amazing drawing skills. Last night was exactly what I had been needing, and I can safely regard last night as one of the best nights I've had in my life. Whereas yesterday had a dreary and lonely cycle ride home, today had a cycle ride home full of memories and thoughts of the wonderful time I had just had.
Granted, I miss all my friends and I miss hanging around with them, but I made a wonderful set of new friends, and I am very happy by it. It was the most shining example of the practically universal friendliness that this country offers. We'd known each other for a few hours but it was like we'd been friends for ages. We are meeting again on Monday to sing karaoke and look at Osaka, and hopefully again before I leave for Tokyo. I was unhappier than I let on in my last entry yesterday, but right now I am happier than I can explain.
While finding photographs is difficult, one image that has shaped my visit here is this one.
I also remember who I forgot:
Helgi: I'm glad you got to go home, it'd been too long. Have a fun remaining holiday and stay cool.
In retrospect, Saturday morning was rather depressing. I missed people, I missed talking and laughing, I missed making friends and I didn't enjoy the usual enjoyment of a night at the club, and it left me feeling empty and overheated. With added lack of sleep, it wasn't a cheerful combination. I almost wasn't motivated enough to go to the Working Holiday party, but I'm glad I did.
I arrived half way in, and spent the first few minutes recovering from not drinking anything all day with a big carton of レモン水. I tried to look up the word "phased" in my dictionary, but failed and settled on "unconscious". At this party was a guy from Stoke, Stoke-on-Trent, who was the most English person I'd met since arriving. We chatted for a while, but soon one of the students I had met the previous week arrived, with two more friends. It was fun, because her friends didn't speak much English, so I had to call upon my limited Japanese skills to converse, and it reaffirmed my confidences and I felt a lot better about speaking than I did yesterday. But the party didn't last long. After the official party finished, everyone went to an "izakaya" (居酒屋), a kind of restaurant, and had a huge selection of authentic Japanese food thrown at us. This time, I tried more 鯛 and more eel, with some Okinawan fried vegetables thrown in as well. Due to fate and seating arrangements, I was seperated from my friends and I sat at a table with three people, all called Miki. Two spoke very good English, the other communicated through extraordinary origami, and she gave me a beautiful rose, made from part of a receipt.
Towards the end of the meal, people started moving around, and my friends once again rejoined me. We spoke and chatted, and arranged to sing karaoke together. While everyone left the restaurant, I spied Yoko, for the first time all day, mind, and she informed me that the likelihood of getting back to Namba in time for the last train was low. But to be honest, I probably would have stayed even if I could have made it. My new found friends invited me to go along with them, and so I did. The girl I had known the longest of them was called Yayoi, and while we went looking for another place to eat, I met another one of their friends, Yutaka. He works at Universal Studios Japan, and in learning of its entry price, only ￥5000, as opposed to Tokyo Disneyland's ￥10000, he made me eager to visit.
One girl, Kaori, had to leave then and there, as she had a funeral today, but the rest of us found another izakaya, and ordered some octopus and salmon sashimi, as well as the best sake nigiri I have ever eaten. After that closed, which by now is around midnight, we found a small drinking establishment that stayed open late, and we sat and talked over some drinks and a few green beans. While one by one the others had to leave, Yayoi and I talked until 5AM, which was when the trains started again. We talked about the difference between R and L, we spoke about toung twisters in both languages, and she tested my vocabulary by pointing to things she could see, as well as demonstrating her amazing drawing skills. Last night was exactly what I had been needing, and I can safely regard last night as one of the best nights I've had in my life. Whereas yesterday had a dreary and lonely cycle ride home, today had a cycle ride home full of memories and thoughts of the wonderful time I had just had.
Granted, I miss all my friends and I miss hanging around with them, but I made a wonderful set of new friends, and I am very happy by it. It was the most shining example of the practically universal friendliness that this country offers. We'd known each other for a few hours but it was like we'd been friends for ages. We are meeting again on Monday to sing karaoke and look at Osaka, and hopefully again before I leave for Tokyo. I was unhappier than I let on in my last entry yesterday, but right now I am happier than I can explain.
While finding photographs is difficult, one image that has shaped my visit here is this one.
I also remember who I forgot:
Helgi: I'm glad you got to go home, it'd been too long. Have a fun remaining holiday and stay cool.
Saturday, 23 July 2005
To a Lesser Extent
Last night was revelatory; and while that could be an under or overstatement depending on how events recoil, I will think about it for a while.
I made a journey to Pure, a night club while charges ￥3000 for entry (₤15, $30), all drinks are free for the rest of the night. It seems like a good deal, but for someone who is teetotal, like myself, it was eight expensive glasses of lemonade. It also played seemingly endless hip hop, with the exception of Galvanise by the Chemical Brothers, which was sped up too fast and cut short.
I met many nice people, and had a fun night, but there was a serious aspect missing. Whenever I dance, it's generally with Emma, because she's the only person I know who doesn't seem to care how people think of her dancing, and in respect, my dancing inhibitions were shed that fateful night in Trap(p?) and we discovered how much fun it was to dance geekily. So while dancing geekily was great last night, I missed my pint-sized partner and the joy her dancing brings.
But I did dance, and three separate people commented on what a great dancer I was. One of them was even a girl. But throughout the night I kept a shallow distance from the people I met. The really pretty girl asked me to dance a few times, but I feel it was because I was the only guy who didn't try to feel her up whenever she was nearby. Part of what I enjoy about going dancing is talking and laughing about it with friends afterwards, and the group journey home. Last night (or this morning) was just a slow trudge back home by bike alone.
So it made me think, I'm absorbing Japanese pop culture head on, with bright lights and lots of noises, but the things that really make me happy are being with my friends and just talking and laughing. When the music's too loud, I can't talk to anyone, I can't make friends and I feel disjointed from people. That's how I felt last night after the volume went up. It wasn't the language barrier, everyone spoke English (sadly). Bah, most of the people there were English. Or American.
But to me, just dancing with someone and then making out with them, it offers nothing, and it is unfulfilling. It happened with most of the people I went with, but I felt little of the enjoyment they appeared to have. For most of the evening I either danced blankly, or just sat, missing my friends. Thus, I shan't be returning to Pure, unless it's with Emma.
Before I went to Pure, I waited around with two of Stuart's other students in Starbucks, and we just chatted for hours about all sorts of things. They could speak less English than the people I was at the club with, but I felt much greater communication, and enjoyed it a lot more.
For now, I will see more of Osaka and have a more mild party tonight with other students. I think I may have been asked to go clubbing again by someone else, I'm not sure. Anyway I must shower and cycle back into Namba.
I do miss my friends a lot, and as fun as this place is, I need a greater level of friend presence to truly enjoy it. Last night was lonely, and I dwelled on issues and problems, while I thought I'd forget about them. Tonight, hopefully, will be different.
I made a journey to Pure, a night club while charges ￥3000 for entry (₤15, $30), all drinks are free for the rest of the night. It seems like a good deal, but for someone who is teetotal, like myself, it was eight expensive glasses of lemonade. It also played seemingly endless hip hop, with the exception of Galvanise by the Chemical Brothers, which was sped up too fast and cut short.
I met many nice people, and had a fun night, but there was a serious aspect missing. Whenever I dance, it's generally with Emma, because she's the only person I know who doesn't seem to care how people think of her dancing, and in respect, my dancing inhibitions were shed that fateful night in Trap(p?) and we discovered how much fun it was to dance geekily. So while dancing geekily was great last night, I missed my pint-sized partner and the joy her dancing brings.
But I did dance, and three separate people commented on what a great dancer I was. One of them was even a girl. But throughout the night I kept a shallow distance from the people I met. The really pretty girl asked me to dance a few times, but I feel it was because I was the only guy who didn't try to feel her up whenever she was nearby. Part of what I enjoy about going dancing is talking and laughing about it with friends afterwards, and the group journey home. Last night (or this morning) was just a slow trudge back home by bike alone.
So it made me think, I'm absorbing Japanese pop culture head on, with bright lights and lots of noises, but the things that really make me happy are being with my friends and just talking and laughing. When the music's too loud, I can't talk to anyone, I can't make friends and I feel disjointed from people. That's how I felt last night after the volume went up. It wasn't the language barrier, everyone spoke English (sadly). Bah, most of the people there were English. Or American.
But to me, just dancing with someone and then making out with them, it offers nothing, and it is unfulfilling. It happened with most of the people I went with, but I felt little of the enjoyment they appeared to have. For most of the evening I either danced blankly, or just sat, missing my friends. Thus, I shan't be returning to Pure, unless it's with Emma.
Before I went to Pure, I waited around with two of Stuart's other students in Starbucks, and we just chatted for hours about all sorts of things. They could speak less English than the people I was at the club with, but I felt much greater communication, and enjoyed it a lot more.
For now, I will see more of Osaka and have a more mild party tonight with other students. I think I may have been asked to go clubbing again by someone else, I'm not sure. Anyway I must shower and cycle back into Namba.
I do miss my friends a lot, and as fun as this place is, I need a greater level of friend presence to truly enjoy it. Last night was lonely, and I dwelled on issues and problems, while I thought I'd forget about them. Tonight, hopefully, will be different.
Friday, 22 July 2005
Minor Addition
You are Dwight.
You are eager to prove your worth to others. You will go out of your way to protect those you care about and people depend on you to get them out of a mess. Though you are helpful to those you care about, those who rub you the wrong way are in trouble. You are outta your mind and you don't care who knows it.
Which Sin City character are you?
created with QuizFarm.com
I found this and thought that I might as well. I fear the person who gets 'Yellow Bastard'. Dan Highland maybe...
Bless the Japanese Blogger version. It just asked me if I wanted to view my 'Bog'.
Once Again
Last night my time blogging was spent justifying my irony, rather than analysing what I believe to be the first true terror repeat since the second plane hit the World Trade Centre.
Back in 2001, shortly after the attacks, another plane crashed in New York. It made worldwide headlines instantly, and my immediate reaction was fear, followed by great admiration for the intelligence of Osama bin Laden. A follow up attack of similar proportions was the scariest, and most terrifying idea since the idea of watching the symbol of financial prosperity in America crumble.
As it turned out, it was an accident.
Had it in fact been terror that brought down that... what was it? fifth? fifth plane, then I believe the psyche of the world would have been truly damaged. This was before, of course, the psyche was mass manipulated by the government and the media.
Yesterday, two weeks after London was attacked, a repeat occured. Whether it was co-ordinated, or whether it was just a copycat attack, I'm sure the BBC will tell us in time. However, it was unique in the fact that from New York, Bali and Madrid, none were attacked again. London had had two attacks now.
I must applaude the intelligence of those planning, as this is better terror implementation than any of the other cities (and I mean terror in the original sense of the word, not damage). This kind of attack will inspire fear.
Well, that would be more true had they been successful. As it appears, the charges detonated, but the actual explosives did not. I cannot help but chuckle at the idea of four would-be-murderers coughing as their backpacks pour our smoke and as they try desperately to detonate and die.
If that's how they planned to spend their Thursday afternoons, then fine, but what could have been the most splendidly executed act of mass fear inducing destruction, became a stumbling farce that led these attempted killers, not to heaven with twelve awaiting virgins, but to a prison cell with twelve awaiting inmates.
Now, this may sound terrible to anyone who has not yet realised where I stand, but if I were a terrorist, I could have brought about much better terror and still be alive to help plan the next attack. I'm not going to post my ideas here, because logically, any terrorist who reads my blog regularly will take the ideas and implement death. However, let me say that compared to Bali, Madrid and ultimately New York, the London attacks have seemed pitiful (that is if they are not a continuing campaign). The destruction of the Twin Towers was a work of evil genius. The planning, the recruitment, and the execution were all perfect, to a degree. Bin Laden aimed for a target of changing the world, and he hit it in the bull's eye. Imagine how he would have affected the world had he been good? Imagine what kind of man Bin Laden would be if he'd had the opportunity to change the world for good? To be honest, I think he isn't too different from most geniuses, aside from that he is evil enough to kill on a large scale AND he doesn't mind about his reputation.
In case any of those reading do not understand, I do not support terrorism or death in any way shape or form.
Anyhow, I went to the salon again last night. This week, I took the advanced class, and they shot through the work quickly enough for me to start working on their pronunciation. I asked them to say "eleven twelfths" and "five sixths" a few times, and, bless them, it was difficult. Even I had difficulty saying them when I thought about it too hard. If they ever order eleven twelfths of a cake in England, they might not be ok, but I find the scenario unlikely.
I'm due to go into central Osaka today, before Aiya takes me to Pure, a club. Apparently it's ￥3000 to get in, but after that's it's all you can drink. They'd better stock up on lemonade tonight. I'm going to shower now, it's hot and horrible and I need to cool down. Emma arrives in one week today. I have opened my advent calendar.
Back in 2001, shortly after the attacks, another plane crashed in New York. It made worldwide headlines instantly, and my immediate reaction was fear, followed by great admiration for the intelligence of Osama bin Laden. A follow up attack of similar proportions was the scariest, and most terrifying idea since the idea of watching the symbol of financial prosperity in America crumble.
As it turned out, it was an accident.
Had it in fact been terror that brought down that... what was it? fifth? fifth plane, then I believe the psyche of the world would have been truly damaged. This was before, of course, the psyche was mass manipulated by the government and the media.
Yesterday, two weeks after London was attacked, a repeat occured. Whether it was co-ordinated, or whether it was just a copycat attack, I'm sure the BBC will tell us in time. However, it was unique in the fact that from New York, Bali and Madrid, none were attacked again. London had had two attacks now.
I must applaude the intelligence of those planning, as this is better terror implementation than any of the other cities (and I mean terror in the original sense of the word, not damage). This kind of attack will inspire fear.
Well, that would be more true had they been successful. As it appears, the charges detonated, but the actual explosives did not. I cannot help but chuckle at the idea of four would-be-murderers coughing as their backpacks pour our smoke and as they try desperately to detonate and die.
If that's how they planned to spend their Thursday afternoons, then fine, but what could have been the most splendidly executed act of mass fear inducing destruction, became a stumbling farce that led these attempted killers, not to heaven with twelve awaiting virgins, but to a prison cell with twelve awaiting inmates.
Now, this may sound terrible to anyone who has not yet realised where I stand, but if I were a terrorist, I could have brought about much better terror and still be alive to help plan the next attack. I'm not going to post my ideas here, because logically, any terrorist who reads my blog regularly will take the ideas and implement death. However, let me say that compared to Bali, Madrid and ultimately New York, the London attacks have seemed pitiful (that is if they are not a continuing campaign). The destruction of the Twin Towers was a work of evil genius. The planning, the recruitment, and the execution were all perfect, to a degree. Bin Laden aimed for a target of changing the world, and he hit it in the bull's eye. Imagine how he would have affected the world had he been good? Imagine what kind of man Bin Laden would be if he'd had the opportunity to change the world for good? To be honest, I think he isn't too different from most geniuses, aside from that he is evil enough to kill on a large scale AND he doesn't mind about his reputation.
In case any of those reading do not understand, I do not support terrorism or death in any way shape or form.
Anyhow, I went to the salon again last night. This week, I took the advanced class, and they shot through the work quickly enough for me to start working on their pronunciation. I asked them to say "eleven twelfths" and "five sixths" a few times, and, bless them, it was difficult. Even I had difficulty saying them when I thought about it too hard. If they ever order eleven twelfths of a cake in England, they might not be ok, but I find the scenario unlikely.
I'm due to go into central Osaka today, before Aiya takes me to Pure, a club. Apparently it's ￥3000 to get in, but after that's it's all you can drink. They'd better stock up on lemonade tonight. I'm going to shower now, it's hot and horrible and I need to cool down. Emma arrives in one week today. I have opened my advent calendar.
Thursday, 21 July 2005
Alternate Learning
It's still early here. Early being day, rather than late night. I spent far too long online last night, because I had MSN working. I know not to make that mistake again. That is also because it's about 8AM in England.
Well, long term readers will know that I used to include pictures of various things that had happened or were going on in my blog posts. Since my camera doesn't work and even if it did I don't have any way to get pictures off it, I have gone to the wonder of the internet to illustrate my journey.
For those of you unfamiliar, here is a picture of Osaka:
Anyway, now you know what Osaka looks like, you'll have a better idea of where I am.
Today, I felt the other side of the learning curve. I met another one of Stuart's Japanese teachers, and I had an amazingly productive lesson. I learnt how to use the gerundive in Japanese, something I hated with such a passion in Latin. But it's much easier in Japanese ands actually practical. Plus, I learnt some Kishiwada slang which I'll surprise Emma with when she arrives. Hopefully she won't know it.
I also discovered that I can cycle from Kishiwanda Nankaio station, a fair distance, all the way home without navigational problems. Independence ensues. Several nights clubbing and partying await, and further teaching, at the salon, is on the cards. The people at the salon are very friendly, like most people I encounter here. They also prepare a feast of fruit and pizza whenever we go. Hopefully less octopus than last night, not that there's anything wrong with octopus. Uncooked. Practically alive.
Jenny, in my comment section, asserted that I have peculiar weather tastes. I think I have the perfect weather taste: suited to the country that I reside in. To me, there's no such things as bad weather, only bad preparation.
Which reminds me... No one, and I mean no one, may view Jenny's blog due to her recent entry concerning me.
Anyway, I have an album that I need to go and listen to, and a relaxing lie down with comfortable headphones will suit me fine. CM, Crimson is currently my most listened to album. Would you indeed consider it their best work?
Well, long term readers will know that I used to include pictures of various things that had happened or were going on in my blog posts. Since my camera doesn't work and even if it did I don't have any way to get pictures off it, I have gone to the wonder of the internet to illustrate my journey.
For those of you unfamiliar, here is a picture of Osaka:
Anyway, now you know what Osaka looks like, you'll have a better idea of where I am.
Today, I felt the other side of the learning curve. I met another one of Stuart's Japanese teachers, and I had an amazingly productive lesson. I learnt how to use the gerundive in Japanese, something I hated with such a passion in Latin. But it's much easier in Japanese ands actually practical. Plus, I learnt some Kishiwada slang which I'll surprise Emma with when she arrives. Hopefully she won't know it.
I also discovered that I can cycle from Kishiwanda Nankaio station, a fair distance, all the way home without navigational problems. Independence ensues. Several nights clubbing and partying await, and further teaching, at the salon, is on the cards. The people at the salon are very friendly, like most people I encounter here. They also prepare a feast of fruit and pizza whenever we go. Hopefully less octopus than last night, not that there's anything wrong with octopus. Uncooked. Practically alive.
Jenny, in my comment section, asserted that I have peculiar weather tastes. I think I have the perfect weather taste: suited to the country that I reside in. To me, there's no such things as bad weather, only bad preparation.
Which reminds me... No one, and I mean no one, may view Jenny's blog due to her recent entry concerning me.
Anyway, I have an album that I need to go and listen to, and a relaxing lie down with comfortable headphones will suit me fine. CM, Crimson is currently my most listened to album. Would you indeed consider it their best work?
Stop Buying Crazy Food
Ok, I didn't get on last night, I was tired.
It's been a full 8 days, and I have seen again the classes I saw on the second day I was here. I took my hand at the first actual grammatical education. While it was hard to understand for the students, it was just as hard for the teachers: the uses of 'on', 'at', 'until', and 'for' when referring to time spent and leaving. While Stuart has a good explanation, he had difficulty in seperating them completely, and when I had a theory for an explanation that I couldn't explain without diagrams, I took my board marker to the board and set about talking about duration and one off events, and I think they just about understood. I sat down and they asked about how the past tense was used with this formation. I almost screamed, but it's exactly what I want to do, at least for a few years. Stuart has a very easy life, and I am jealous of his entire way of life. But, time will pay off.
That is damn Roehampton could find my submitted coursework. They have lost 3 pieces of coursework in their beurocratic system. Admittedly, two were late submissions, but I have "No Resit Permitted" on the courses, and those only arise when you do not attempt every piece of coursework, and I have attempted every piece of coursework, and I have proof. Bitches. They will not ruin a perfect holiday.
On the brighter side, I got a first in most of the modules (just missed in Programming Fundamentals, by one percent, but hey), and Qian has passed Quantitative Methods, which is a huge relief. She actually did pretty well.
Anyway, yesterday, after the Advanced class, we all went to a restaurant and ate a variety of raw fish and wasabi oriented foods. I tried a few strange things, but kept my experimentation minimal. Today, the same thing happened with two other students, except they ordered the most outrageous food they could. It was normal for them, but I had never eaten... eel wrapped in egg, dried ray fin (actually really nice), bamboo, just plain raw fish on a plate, spicy things on bread, and cucumber with a strange dipping sauce. All rather odd, all strangely edible, but some more than others. I prefer sashimi on rice, but each to their own.
Earlier, I had spent the day cycling around Osaka, mainly Midosuji street, as I had briefly yesterday as well. Though today, I tried takoyaki, and was pleasantly surprised. It was pretty tasty, and the people selling it were fluent in English. I almost said I was German so that I could order in Japanese, but people here are more willing to practise their English than I am to fight to say what I want in japanese, so, comme ci comme ca.
Anyway, I have been online for about two and a half hours. I should sleep. Without even knowing it, I have been invited to party Friday and Saturday night, so I'll be catching the morning trains those days. Tomorrow I take my elderly lady class again, and then I cycle up a seemingly endless mountain to teach at the salon once more.
I wouldn't exchange this holiday for anything.
Emma: I know you're coming soon, so I eagerly await my dancing, skating and aimless wandering partner.
Mizuki and Koji: You're already here, so I can't wish you over, but I'll see you soon.
Kaori: Very much sorry to not have you here, it won't be the same. Hope England treats you well while I'm gone.
Shun: Your city rules. I'm going to keep it.
Carlos: Even if I were in England, I wouldn't see you, so I'm not missing much here, but still, your wry comments would be truly well placed here.
Erin: Hope Spain is fun, hope California is more suited to your peculiar weather tastes. See you next... year?
Yukina and Jenny: I am very much missing the late-night-early-morning-mid-morning-early afternoon conversations shared. Spending late nights alone isn't the same. And Yukina, I'm sorry about that letter, it shouldn't have been.
Dan and Julia: I hope that your new flat is like Japan; warm and welcoming, and full of Japanese people and prompt trains. Apart from the people part. And train part.
Slack: You sound far too young.
Natasha: Si vous est a regardez c'ette page, j'ai beacoup des "merci"s pour vous, parce que vous a ecoutez a moi. Apologies for the appalling grammar, spelling and general lack of language skill. And accents. Try doing accents on a Japanese keyboard.
Qian: You don't read this, but congratulations anyway on passing.
Xing: You probably passed, so congratulations. You don't read this so it doesn't matter.
If there's anyone I have missed, I am truly sorry, but my 2 AM brain doesn't function without vertebrae stimulation, and this chair is awful. I miss you all, but this place is a huge amount of fun. I'm trying to imagine how much fun it would be if you were all here as well. But that kind of fun was not meant to be imagined when it's so late and I'm so tired.
It's been a full 8 days, and I have seen again the classes I saw on the second day I was here. I took my hand at the first actual grammatical education. While it was hard to understand for the students, it was just as hard for the teachers: the uses of 'on', 'at', 'until', and 'for' when referring to time spent and leaving. While Stuart has a good explanation, he had difficulty in seperating them completely, and when I had a theory for an explanation that I couldn't explain without diagrams, I took my board marker to the board and set about talking about duration and one off events, and I think they just about understood. I sat down and they asked about how the past tense was used with this formation. I almost screamed, but it's exactly what I want to do, at least for a few years. Stuart has a very easy life, and I am jealous of his entire way of life. But, time will pay off.
That is damn Roehampton could find my submitted coursework. They have lost 3 pieces of coursework in their beurocratic system. Admittedly, two were late submissions, but I have "No Resit Permitted" on the courses, and those only arise when you do not attempt every piece of coursework, and I have attempted every piece of coursework, and I have proof. Bitches. They will not ruin a perfect holiday.
On the brighter side, I got a first in most of the modules (just missed in Programming Fundamentals, by one percent, but hey), and Qian has passed Quantitative Methods, which is a huge relief. She actually did pretty well.
Anyway, yesterday, after the Advanced class, we all went to a restaurant and ate a variety of raw fish and wasabi oriented foods. I tried a few strange things, but kept my experimentation minimal. Today, the same thing happened with two other students, except they ordered the most outrageous food they could. It was normal for them, but I had never eaten... eel wrapped in egg, dried ray fin (actually really nice), bamboo, just plain raw fish on a plate, spicy things on bread, and cucumber with a strange dipping sauce. All rather odd, all strangely edible, but some more than others. I prefer sashimi on rice, but each to their own.
Earlier, I had spent the day cycling around Osaka, mainly Midosuji street, as I had briefly yesterday as well. Though today, I tried takoyaki, and was pleasantly surprised. It was pretty tasty, and the people selling it were fluent in English. I almost said I was German so that I could order in Japanese, but people here are more willing to practise their English than I am to fight to say what I want in japanese, so, comme ci comme ca.
Anyway, I have been online for about two and a half hours. I should sleep. Without even knowing it, I have been invited to party Friday and Saturday night, so I'll be catching the morning trains those days. Tomorrow I take my elderly lady class again, and then I cycle up a seemingly endless mountain to teach at the salon once more.
I wouldn't exchange this holiday for anything.
Emma: I know you're coming soon, so I eagerly await my dancing, skating and aimless wandering partner.
Mizuki and Koji: You're already here, so I can't wish you over, but I'll see you soon.
Kaori: Very much sorry to not have you here, it won't be the same. Hope England treats you well while I'm gone.
Shun: Your city rules. I'm going to keep it.
Carlos: Even if I were in England, I wouldn't see you, so I'm not missing much here, but still, your wry comments would be truly well placed here.
Erin: Hope Spain is fun, hope California is more suited to your peculiar weather tastes. See you next... year?
Yukina and Jenny: I am very much missing the late-night-early-morning-mid-morning-early afternoon conversations shared. Spending late nights alone isn't the same. And Yukina, I'm sorry about that letter, it shouldn't have been.
Dan and Julia: I hope that your new flat is like Japan; warm and welcoming, and full of Japanese people and prompt trains. Apart from the people part. And train part.
Slack: You sound far too young.
Natasha: Si vous est a regardez c'ette page, j'ai beacoup des "merci"s pour vous, parce que vous a ecoutez a moi. Apologies for the appalling grammar, spelling and general lack of language skill. And accents. Try doing accents on a Japanese keyboard.
Qian: You don't read this, but congratulations anyway on passing.
Xing: You probably passed, so congratulations. You don't read this so it doesn't matter.
If there's anyone I have missed, I am truly sorry, but my 2 AM brain doesn't function without vertebrae stimulation, and this chair is awful. I miss you all, but this place is a huge amount of fun. I'm trying to imagine how much fun it would be if you were all here as well. But that kind of fun was not meant to be imagined when it's so late and I'm so tired.
Tuesday, 19 July 2005
Resumption
Sorry about that, we had to run out.
I'm currently at Working Holiday, a company that basically teaches English. Stuart works here, and I'm his classroom assistant for the time I'm here. Before I arrived, I cycled Midosuji Street alone, buying shockingly cheap but very tasty food, looking at the iMac store (I got a photo for you, Dan), and just observing the very vibrant and exciting afternoon lifestyle. I'll spend some of the evening here if I can figure how to cycle back to the house on my own.
Anyway, though it has taken a lot longer than I had hoped, I am finalising a complete and extended plot for QQH2. A lot of characters have much bigger parts, and some small parts have been totally changed. The animation will begin soon, but not before a total audio recording has taken place. And I need some transatlantic help for that.
Well, the class is about to start, so I'm sorry I am so rushed. Think of my little time to document my bog as an indication of how amazingly fun this country is. I'm sad it's just a month. My trip to Tokyo is booked, and I'm ready to enjoy the party on Saturday. It's coming together well. Considering when I booked it it was practically spur of the moment and totally unplanned.
See you tonight maybe? Depends.
I'm currently at Working Holiday, a company that basically teaches English. Stuart works here, and I'm his classroom assistant for the time I'm here. Before I arrived, I cycled Midosuji Street alone, buying shockingly cheap but very tasty food, looking at the iMac store (I got a photo for you, Dan), and just observing the very vibrant and exciting afternoon lifestyle. I'll spend some of the evening here if I can figure how to cycle back to the house on my own.
Anyway, though it has taken a lot longer than I had hoped, I am finalising a complete and extended plot for QQH2. A lot of characters have much bigger parts, and some small parts have been totally changed. The animation will begin soon, but not before a total audio recording has taken place. And I need some transatlantic help for that.
Well, the class is about to start, so I'm sorry I am so rushed. Think of my little time to document my bog as an indication of how amazingly fun this country is. I'm sad it's just a month. My trip to Tokyo is booked, and I'm ready to enjoy the party on Saturday. It's coming together well. Considering when I booked it it was practically spur of the moment and totally unplanned.
See you tonight maybe? Depends.
Back Online
I had to take a couple of days off, as I have been physically remote from internet connections. And when I have been near, I've had time to make one email and that's it. So, sorry, blogworld, I have let you down. But now I'm back, brief though it may be.
We had the barbecue a couple of nights ago. It was amazing. It took a while to get the fire raging, but the food was amazing. We were given a little foil bowl, with some "tale" sauce, and all the meat was put straight in the sauce from the barbecue, and eaten from this sauce. Delicious. I've never had a barbecue like that. Afterwards, we went inside Hisao's house, and fell asleep after watching Hisao and Megumi's wedding video. Japanese weddings certainly are unique. The amount of dresses Megumi had to change into was getting towards double figures. But the traditional Kimono was an amazing spectacle.
CUT SHORT: APOLOGIES
We had the barbecue a couple of nights ago. It was amazing. It took a while to get the fire raging, but the food was amazing. We were given a little foil bowl, with some "tale" sauce, and all the meat was put straight in the sauce from the barbecue, and eaten from this sauce. Delicious. I've never had a barbecue like that. Afterwards, we went inside Hisao's house, and fell asleep after watching Hisao and Megumi's wedding video. Japanese weddings certainly are unique. The amount of dresses Megumi had to change into was getting towards double figures. But the traditional Kimono was an amazing spectacle.
CUT SHORT: APOLOGIES
Sunday, 17 July 2005
Thoughts on Terrorism
I am seeing on the news everyday, "Vigil held in Trafalgar Square", or "Massive website to commemorate" and then a long article on all the different photos of people being "not afraid" and "not scared" with amusing baby photos and displays of solidarity and toilet humour in the face of adversity. My thoughts: Why?
My 12 year old cousin had her MSN name as, "show the terrorists that we are not affected by the bombs today and paste this message in your msn name". My sister asked her, how many terrorists do you have added to your MSN list? osama69@hotmail.com? xplodin4u@gmail.com?
The terrorists aren't going to see this and go, "Oh no, we have failed." They're going to see this reaction and go, "We made a difference."
Listen: Don't react.
The terrorists are blowing up to get a reaction. They are getting that reaction. They are taking an extreme action to get noticed and to get people afraid. And as much as you say you aren't, making a special effort to say so, it shows that you are.
Seriously, don't react.
Anyway, that's what I posted on DWeb earlier. It's terrible, it's horrible, but dwelling on it is not going to deter them. Anyway, since my last entry, I haven't left the house, so I don't have anything to add as for my Japan experience. I'm about to explore my home town, Kishiwada, and I have a barbeque tonight with the people I taught at the salon.
There were 200 cars avalable to celebrities on a list in a party in this dream I had last night. All these celebrities were in order of celebrity, and they all got to choose their free vehicle. Once nearing the end, just as Muse were stepping up, I waved a shiny Les Paul and shouted that I was in Aerosmith. I got in and grabbed a small but new white hatchback. On returning to school, I spied a pair of two year olds, arguing about when they are dropping out of school, while practising their Icelandic and fighting with rhubarb. I told them that it was best to stay, and showed them the deed to the car to show them the benefits of staying in school. They asked how I got it, and I said I won it by pretending to be famous. It kind of destroyed my point.
Anyway, I'm out of here. I hope to post tonight, but it's dependant on the timing. I might visit Wisconsin sometime.
My 12 year old cousin had her MSN name as, "show the terrorists that we are not affected by the bombs today and paste this message in your msn name". My sister asked her, how many terrorists do you have added to your MSN list? osama69@hotmail.com? xplodin4u@gmail.com?
The terrorists aren't going to see this and go, "Oh no, we have failed." They're going to see this reaction and go, "We made a difference."
Listen: Don't react.
The terrorists are blowing up to get a reaction. They are getting that reaction. They are taking an extreme action to get noticed and to get people afraid. And as much as you say you aren't, making a special effort to say so, it shows that you are.
Seriously, don't react.
Anyway, that's what I posted on DWeb earlier. It's terrible, it's horrible, but dwelling on it is not going to deter them. Anyway, since my last entry, I haven't left the house, so I don't have anything to add as for my Japan experience. I'm about to explore my home town, Kishiwada, and I have a barbeque tonight with the people I taught at the salon.
There were 200 cars avalable to celebrities on a list in a party in this dream I had last night. All these celebrities were in order of celebrity, and they all got to choose their free vehicle. Once nearing the end, just as Muse were stepping up, I waved a shiny Les Paul and shouted that I was in Aerosmith. I got in and grabbed a small but new white hatchback. On returning to school, I spied a pair of two year olds, arguing about when they are dropping out of school, while practising their Icelandic and fighting with rhubarb. I told them that it was best to stay, and showed them the deed to the car to show them the benefits of staying in school. They asked how I got it, and I said I won it by pretending to be famous. It kind of destroyed my point.
Anyway, I'm out of here. I hope to post tonight, but it's dependant on the timing. I might visit Wisconsin sometime.
Nearly a Week
Well, I have almost been here a week. I'm seeing new stuff everyday. The trains here are efficient as anything, but they really cost you. It's ￥900 for a return to the nearest station in the city. That's about 4.60 Pounds Sterling (no pound logo on this keyboard), and about $8.90 (damn Americanisation). But it's cool on the trains, and everyone stares. Actually, everyone stares everywhere in Osaka, but only if they think you can't see. While I was being stared at, I started to think about why I was enjoying being here.
So far, aside from teaching English, I haven't done anything particularly special in the general sense. I know very few people here, and I can communocate in a very rudimentary manner. Yet I feel oddly happy just knowing I am here. When I go back to what Emma said about Japan, and how she couldn't stay here permanently because she'd never feel fully accepted, it put me off the long term ideal. But being here, I realise that I don't actually feel differently accepted because I never felt fully accepted in England, I always felt a little like a foreigner in England, as if there was a huge national secret that everyone knew except me. The only time that I feel truly accepted and comfortable, is when I'm surrounded by good friends who I have no problem being myself with. Now there are only a few people I feel that way with, so my location doesn't matter too much, more the people I am with. Now, none are here right now, so there's not much I can do about that, but the fact is I'd rather feel alien in a foreign country than alien in my own. Hence, I feel comfortable and relaxed here, even though I am so disjointed from this nation.
Anyway, now I talk about things I do. Blogstlye.
I went around Osaka on my own today, I toured it by foot (because I couldn't find the bicycle at Namba). My feet are in a state of shock, but I saw the streets and roads in a more traditional style. I was shocked by the state of the Iced Coffee in Starbucks (touristy, I know). It was just straight black watered down coffee with ice. Some weirdly packaged milk and syrop changed it to a pretty tasy beverage, and I studied comparison sentences for a nice long sit.
I'm eager for Emma to arrive, it will be even more fun when she's here. Rollerblading and Osaka parties. As usual, I can't be long. My damn phone's memeroy card is playing up, so I can only take 2 pictures. And this spelling check doesn't work, so I'm stuck with mistyped words, and no time to proof read. I am osrry fro teh abd writign.
Teh, an awesome word.
Anyway, laters Englanders. Even laters Americanas, because of the time difference.
This is Quasi in Japan.
So far, aside from teaching English, I haven't done anything particularly special in the general sense. I know very few people here, and I can communocate in a very rudimentary manner. Yet I feel oddly happy just knowing I am here. When I go back to what Emma said about Japan, and how she couldn't stay here permanently because she'd never feel fully accepted, it put me off the long term ideal. But being here, I realise that I don't actually feel differently accepted because I never felt fully accepted in England, I always felt a little like a foreigner in England, as if there was a huge national secret that everyone knew except me. The only time that I feel truly accepted and comfortable, is when I'm surrounded by good friends who I have no problem being myself with. Now there are only a few people I feel that way with, so my location doesn't matter too much, more the people I am with. Now, none are here right now, so there's not much I can do about that, but the fact is I'd rather feel alien in a foreign country than alien in my own. Hence, I feel comfortable and relaxed here, even though I am so disjointed from this nation.
Anyway, now I talk about things I do. Blogstlye.
I went around Osaka on my own today, I toured it by foot (because I couldn't find the bicycle at Namba). My feet are in a state of shock, but I saw the streets and roads in a more traditional style. I was shocked by the state of the Iced Coffee in Starbucks (touristy, I know). It was just straight black watered down coffee with ice. Some weirdly packaged milk and syrop changed it to a pretty tasy beverage, and I studied comparison sentences for a nice long sit.
I'm eager for Emma to arrive, it will be even more fun when she's here. Rollerblading and Osaka parties. As usual, I can't be long. My damn phone's memeroy card is playing up, so I can only take 2 pictures. And this spelling check doesn't work, so I'm stuck with mistyped words, and no time to proof read. I am osrry fro teh abd writign.
Teh, an awesome word.
Anyway, laters Englanders. Even laters Americanas, because of the time difference.
This is Quasi in Japan.
Thursday, 14 July 2005
On My Bike
Well, my experience sure took off from yesterday. Day 1 I spent resting from the tiresome flight, and in the evening I met Stuart, the other guy staying in Yoko's house. He's an English teacher here, so he's pretty much my entire reference for my possible career here. And my career in teaching English started yesterday.
Basically, the way to get around Osaka (大阪) is by bike. I had forgotten entirely about riding a bike since I passed my driving test, but it is incredible. Riding around the city is enjoyable and scary in equal measures, greatly so in both cases. It is fast and hectis, weaving through people and traffic at high speed, barely escaping painful death at most corners. My bum indeed hurts today, but still, it was worth it. I went from North to South in long, sweeping journeys, and enjoyed every second. Stuart and Yoko led the way, but I'll be going independantly soon.
I changed some Travellers Cheques, I bought some Kanji learning books, and this extremely cheap second hand manga shop offered literally hundereds of thousands of mangas for 50p. I'll go back when I have more time and cash. I also got a plug converter, so I can use my telephone charger, and I am no longer incommunicado (a text from Emma killed off my phone). But after we'd eaten (teriyaki chicken fillet burgers at McDonald's), I witnessed a few of Stuart's classes, and I realised how fun it would be to teach. Being a native English speaker, I'm instantly qualified to teach, and I helped out in speaking and listening exercises, and met some lovely people doing it. The first girl I spoke to had been learning English one month, and still she was capable of talking to me (with expectedly limited vocabulary, but still amazing), and was very appeciative of all my help. It felt very rewarding.
And today, Stuart told me basically that he had to take a new class, and miss his old class, so I could take his old class if I wanted. Obviously I jumped at the chance, so today I taught my first English class, and I thoroughly loved it. All the women were older, about 60 or so, but they were friendly and enjoyed learning enough that I was invited back to teach again next week. I want this job.
Stuart is coming back soon, and will take me to another class tonight, and we'll probably eat some street food there as well. Due to the wonders of Skype, my family have been calling me at discount rate frequently, and I've had nothing but news for them. Yes, it's very hot, but all rooms have air conditioning, and the passing breeze while cycling is enough.
All the MP3 CDs I made before I left are invaluable. My CD player can handle about 50 hours of music without a recharge when it's in MP3 format, so even if I can't get to a converter, I'll have a ton of music in the meantime. The Sin City OST is very good.
The food here is also amazing. The McDonalds teriyaki burger (which admittedly was not as good as Kaori and Mizuki's) was tasty, but Yoko's family gave me temakizushi (roll your own sushi) on the first night, we may get sushi again tonight, and meals here are so cheap. For the lesson today, I was given ￥2000, which was far too kind. That'll buy 8 meals here.
I'm talking to Yoko's grandparents frequently, abut it's very testing on my Japanese. I need to study. The Kanjo learning books aren't in English, so I'm having enough trouble getting past the first few pages of straight line drawing. But this country still rules. The tiny space bar does not.
Anyway, Stuart's back soon, and I'm going to another lesson with him, so I will depart. I'll be back with more info soon. Hopefully you DWeb people reading this for the first time will enjoy my older entries, or as I should say, my older windows-into-my-personal-life/entries. Enjoy, speak to you all soon.
Basically, the way to get around Osaka (大阪) is by bike. I had forgotten entirely about riding a bike since I passed my driving test, but it is incredible. Riding around the city is enjoyable and scary in equal measures, greatly so in both cases. It is fast and hectis, weaving through people and traffic at high speed, barely escaping painful death at most corners. My bum indeed hurts today, but still, it was worth it. I went from North to South in long, sweeping journeys, and enjoyed every second. Stuart and Yoko led the way, but I'll be going independantly soon.
I changed some Travellers Cheques, I bought some Kanji learning books, and this extremely cheap second hand manga shop offered literally hundereds of thousands of mangas for 50p. I'll go back when I have more time and cash. I also got a plug converter, so I can use my telephone charger, and I am no longer incommunicado (a text from Emma killed off my phone). But after we'd eaten (teriyaki chicken fillet burgers at McDonald's), I witnessed a few of Stuart's classes, and I realised how fun it would be to teach. Being a native English speaker, I'm instantly qualified to teach, and I helped out in speaking and listening exercises, and met some lovely people doing it. The first girl I spoke to had been learning English one month, and still she was capable of talking to me (with expectedly limited vocabulary, but still amazing), and was very appeciative of all my help. It felt very rewarding.
And today, Stuart told me basically that he had to take a new class, and miss his old class, so I could take his old class if I wanted. Obviously I jumped at the chance, so today I taught my first English class, and I thoroughly loved it. All the women were older, about 60 or so, but they were friendly and enjoyed learning enough that I was invited back to teach again next week. I want this job.
Stuart is coming back soon, and will take me to another class tonight, and we'll probably eat some street food there as well. Due to the wonders of Skype, my family have been calling me at discount rate frequently, and I've had nothing but news for them. Yes, it's very hot, but all rooms have air conditioning, and the passing breeze while cycling is enough.
All the MP3 CDs I made before I left are invaluable. My CD player can handle about 50 hours of music without a recharge when it's in MP3 format, so even if I can't get to a converter, I'll have a ton of music in the meantime. The Sin City OST is very good.
The food here is also amazing. The McDonalds teriyaki burger (which admittedly was not as good as Kaori and Mizuki's) was tasty, but Yoko's family gave me temakizushi (roll your own sushi) on the first night, we may get sushi again tonight, and meals here are so cheap. For the lesson today, I was given ￥2000, which was far too kind. That'll buy 8 meals here.
I'm talking to Yoko's grandparents frequently, abut it's very testing on my Japanese. I need to study. The Kanjo learning books aren't in English, so I'm having enough trouble getting past the first few pages of straight line drawing. But this country still rules. The tiny space bar does not.
Anyway, Stuart's back soon, and I'm going to another lesson with him, so I will depart. I'll be back with more info soon. Hopefully you DWeb people reading this for the first time will enjoy my older entries, or as I should say, my older windows-into-my-personal-life/entries. Enjoy, speak to you all soon.
Tuesday, 12 July 2005
Arrived
I`m in Osaka, Japan.
It is humid, and rainy, but I seriously couldn`t be happier.
I can`t be long, because this isn`t my computer, and the one inch wide spacebar is irritating. And I keep accidentally changing input languages. But I`m here and I`m going to enjoy it. When I get to an internet cafe I`ll add more, but for now, I had a great flight and I`m having a great time. This country rocks.
It is humid, and rainy, but I seriously couldn`t be happier.
I can`t be long, because this isn`t my computer, and the one inch wide spacebar is irritating. And I keep accidentally changing input languages. But I`m here and I`m going to enjoy it. When I get to an internet cafe I`ll add more, but for now, I had a great flight and I`m having a great time. This country rocks.
Monday, 11 July 2005
Gone
I have been packing for hours. It's almost 5AM and I've had no sleep, and I won't sleep until the plane. It's awful I'm meeting Erin at 6:15, so I don't have long. I made all my CDs and I made CDs for Becky, and now this computer is about to shut down. The next time you hear from me, it will be from Osaka.
Sunday, 10 July 2005
Emails Don't Have Tearstains
I was thinking about making a post about dehumanisation, but it isn't the time or the place. I'm about to be out of this hemisphere, I'm about to fly to Japan.
Today I am tying up loose ends. I hope to be going ice skating with people later today, but I have work, and people are busy and the like. I'm not sure what will happen, but last night I had a great night playing volleyball and chatting for hours. I'm realising that tomorrow, when I say goodbye to Erin, it's going to be the last time I see her for a very long time. She'll have flown back to California by the time I'm home, so unless we all meet up next summer, as I'm hoping, it will be a while. But we'll meet again. It's not like Erin doesn't check this.
Equally, Yukina might not be around by the time I return, depending on when she books her flight. Now I'm hoping I do see her after I get back, because I don't want too many goodbyes today. I don't want today and tomorrow to be the last time I see certain friends for years.
With this post, as my blog is republished, it should have a new design. Not quite a new layout, but the images and the logos should be different and should reflect my location as of the day after tomorrow. That reminds me, I need to say goodbye to DWeb. I haven't been on DWeb so much because I have been focusing my posts here, and I have been so busy with the organisation and moving house, as well as seeing my friends as much as I can in the limited time I have had since the end of the year.
I wrote a letter by hand today, something I haven't done since I wrote a short thank you letter to my Whitelands flat last Christmas. I think the gratitude for that letter was the last act of goodwill I received from the entire flat. I spent the rest of the time at Uni with better friends, so I kind of have their group-bitchiness to thank for my happiness at Uni.
I think I received phone calls from Slack the last few nights, except it sounded like a 16 year old boy trying to sound old. I really thought it was some child acting stupid, considering the level of what they were saying. The racial slurs and the poor Yoda impressions made me think it was someone below the age of 18, truly it did. However, he humourously asserted that I smell, and I was truly taken aback by his witty observation. I'll stop answering withheld number calls sometime, though I do find him mildly amusing.
I should go and either work or pack. My roller blades arrived yesterday, which I may have written something about, I forget, but I can take them and I will party with them. I had better leave some positive feedback or that guy will think that they were lost in the mail. Anyway, I just left feedback, so I had better pack. Enjoy the new layout.
PS. Thank you, Jenny, for all the help and support you've given me, you've been a real friend and so understanding.
Today I am tying up loose ends. I hope to be going ice skating with people later today, but I have work, and people are busy and the like. I'm not sure what will happen, but last night I had a great night playing volleyball and chatting for hours. I'm realising that tomorrow, when I say goodbye to Erin, it's going to be the last time I see her for a very long time. She'll have flown back to California by the time I'm home, so unless we all meet up next summer, as I'm hoping, it will be a while. But we'll meet again. It's not like Erin doesn't check this.
Equally, Yukina might not be around by the time I return, depending on when she books her flight. Now I'm hoping I do see her after I get back, because I don't want too many goodbyes today. I don't want today and tomorrow to be the last time I see certain friends for years.
With this post, as my blog is republished, it should have a new design. Not quite a new layout, but the images and the logos should be different and should reflect my location as of the day after tomorrow. That reminds me, I need to say goodbye to DWeb. I haven't been on DWeb so much because I have been focusing my posts here, and I have been so busy with the organisation and moving house, as well as seeing my friends as much as I can in the limited time I have had since the end of the year.
I wrote a letter by hand today, something I haven't done since I wrote a short thank you letter to my Whitelands flat last Christmas. I think the gratitude for that letter was the last act of goodwill I received from the entire flat. I spent the rest of the time at Uni with better friends, so I kind of have their group-bitchiness to thank for my happiness at Uni.
I think I received phone calls from Slack the last few nights, except it sounded like a 16 year old boy trying to sound old. I really thought it was some child acting stupid, considering the level of what they were saying. The racial slurs and the poor Yoda impressions made me think it was someone below the age of 18, truly it did. However, he humourously asserted that I smell, and I was truly taken aback by his witty observation. I'll stop answering withheld number calls sometime, though I do find him mildly amusing.
I should go and either work or pack. My roller blades arrived yesterday, which I may have written something about, I forget, but I can take them and I will party with them. I had better leave some positive feedback or that guy will think that they were lost in the mail. Anyway, I just left feedback, so I had better pack. Enjoy the new layout.
PS. Thank you, Jenny, for all the help and support you've given me, you've been a real friend and so understanding.
Saturday, 9 July 2005
Quiz and Sum
You Are 26 Years Old |
26 Under 12: You are a kid at heart. You still have an optimistic life view - and you look at the world with awe. 13-19: You are a teenager at heart. You question authority and are still trying to find your place in this world. 20-29: You are a twentysomething at heart. You feel excited about what's to come... love, work, and new experiences. 30-39: You are a thirtysomething at heart. You've had a taste of success and true love, but you want more! 40+: You are a mature adult. You've been through most of the ups and downs of life already. Now you get to sit back and relax. |
Well, I don't do many quizzes, so there's one to keep everyone company. I'm not sure of it's accurate. Anyway, days are running out. I'm downloading albums all around so I have music to take along with me. Hopefully I'll remember to put them on CD and pack. I need to spend a lot of time packing, and all will be well hopefully.
The troubles with communication have caused an unnecessary riff with Carlos, but I doubt it is anything that can't be sorted fully with a touch of talk. I'm not going to go into it here, I'm sure anyone interested already knows about it.
We had our first all night party at the new place last night. Mizuki also left for Japan yesterday morning, which, since the numerous explosions on the Tube, meant I offered a lift to Heathrow, so by the time I went to sleep, it had been a full 24 hours of waking, seeing as the flight was at 9:55AM, like mine. But Katou and his friend Hosei (or José, I'm not sure) came round, and he's pretty cool. We watched Finding Nemo and some Fatboy Slim videos. I think the Weapon of Choice video is what caused my dream of a flying Christopher Walken. It was very fun, and I hope that happens throughout the year. Though I'll only be at the house for 11 months as it seems. But I'm planning to be there the full two years, even if some people change (which is regrettable).
I had a haircut yesterday, and I feel bad without so much hair anymore, but I need it short for a bit. I'll get used to it. I'll grow it from now.
Anyway, I need to pack, and I need to do some image design. Speak to you soon, blog.
Thursday, 7 July 2005
Sad Day
I'm sure all of you have heard the news, and it has angered and saddened me. I wore black again for the first time in weeks today. It is awful, awful, awful.
London won the Olympics.
And London got bombed this morning. But I'm seriously angrier about the Olympics. For simple reasons: I knew it would happen, and I thought it would be much worse. The death toll, I expect, will peak around 60, I hope, and while it is 60 unnecessary deaths, it's a little shy of the World Trade Centre death toll. It could have been much worse, and the impact of this will be felt in inconvenience and difficulty in traveling, which is a shame because I was meant to take the bus across London today.
Ultimately, it's upsetting, but I have been so desensitised by the news and by threats and by warnings that it doesn't horrify me. There have been so many scare tactics used by governments and media for votes and ratings that I am no longer scared when an actual terrorist bombing occurs.
Thanks Governments, you've made mass murder acceptable as an everyday occurrence through constant threats and overreactions and deliberate political spin to whirr us up into a terrorist fuelled frenzy. Using terrorism and war as reelection campaigns, as popularity gainers, it's disgusting, and I hate you all.
Bombs, explosions, death, terror, it doesn't scare me anymore. I'm pissed off about the Olympics. Now, Olympics, that's a real threat to London. This terrorist strike was intended to cripple our transport system. You know what else will cripple our transport system? The Olympics. London was a target. You know what'll make it more of a target? The Olympics. But hey, we'll host the worlds biggest running in circles competition. You'll get loads of tourists to come here... for a few weeks. You'll drive residents away for the same time, and some for good (me).
Though I so feel guilty. When I realised how awful the idea of hosting the Olympics was, I started to hate it. The second I didn't want to win the bid... no other competition had a chance. If I don't want something, it pretty much guarantees it to happen.
Anyway, I need to go and get some food for cooking. We have run out. After only a few days, I know. But it bodes well for future shopping. But the food I'm getting at the moment, well, it's really good. These girls seriously know how to cook. And I'm getting some practice in as I get to help out in the frying and the preparing. Man, I love my new house. I just need to set up the TV.
London won the Olympics.
And London got bombed this morning. But I'm seriously angrier about the Olympics. For simple reasons: I knew it would happen, and I thought it would be much worse. The death toll, I expect, will peak around 60, I hope, and while it is 60 unnecessary deaths, it's a little shy of the World Trade Centre death toll. It could have been much worse, and the impact of this will be felt in inconvenience and difficulty in traveling, which is a shame because I was meant to take the bus across London today.
Ultimately, it's upsetting, but I have been so desensitised by the news and by threats and by warnings that it doesn't horrify me. There have been so many scare tactics used by governments and media for votes and ratings that I am no longer scared when an actual terrorist bombing occurs.
Thanks Governments, you've made mass murder acceptable as an everyday occurrence through constant threats and overreactions and deliberate political spin to whirr us up into a terrorist fuelled frenzy. Using terrorism and war as reelection campaigns, as popularity gainers, it's disgusting, and I hate you all.
Bombs, explosions, death, terror, it doesn't scare me anymore. I'm pissed off about the Olympics. Now, Olympics, that's a real threat to London. This terrorist strike was intended to cripple our transport system. You know what else will cripple our transport system? The Olympics. London was a target. You know what'll make it more of a target? The Olympics. But hey, we'll host the worlds biggest running in circles competition. You'll get loads of tourists to come here... for a few weeks. You'll drive residents away for the same time, and some for good (me).
Though I so feel guilty. When I realised how awful the idea of hosting the Olympics was, I started to hate it. The second I didn't want to win the bid... no other competition had a chance. If I don't want something, it pretty much guarantees it to happen.
Anyway, I need to go and get some food for cooking. We have run out. After only a few days, I know. But it bodes well for future shopping. But the food I'm getting at the moment, well, it's really good. These girls seriously know how to cook. And I'm getting some practice in as I get to help out in the frying and the preparing. Man, I love my new house. I just need to set up the TV.
Tuesday, 5 July 2005
Stick Together, Team
Today, I moved out.
Now, that's a little ironic, because I'm still at my parents' house right now, as I haven't had the energy to move my computer, and I had to pop back here to get my duvet and sheets. And pillows. But other than that, I've spent all day either lugging televisions the size of small cars, or large armchairs, across doorways and through corridors of rainsoaked bushes, or I have been shopping, or cooking. And I feel quite tired. We have work to do tomorrow, but other than unpacking our own stuff, the hard parts are done. I have so much cupboard space, I'll be running computers from inside there.
Now I'm having difficulty typing and spelling, as I am that tired, so this is brief.
I have big thanks to Dan for helping me out today, that was very cool. The van we hired was a little more than we expected, but cheaper in total because the driver helped out with the loading. We got it done in one hour. I've only taken one computer for now, as I'm going to install and customise a Linux distribution on it before anything happens. Internet there will probably wait until after I get back.
CARLOS CHECK YOUR EMAIL IT'S FULL OF LIFE AND DEATH IMPORTANT STUFF
Carlos hasn't been online for a while, and he'll have hell to pay if he doesn't get money sent here immediately. I'm going to leave this entry at that, as I need to get going home (I love that), and sleep.
Supplement: I just wanted to add, tomorrow is the 2012 Olympic bid. New York is bidding, which I think is ridiculous, because America recently had the World Cup and the Olympics within a couple of years of each other, and if you say that 14 years or whatever isn't recent, think that England hasn't had it in something like 70 or 80, whatever it is. Despite that, I seriously don't want the Olympics here. It's tax money spent on letting people run in circles. Being the fastest runner in the world, well, it's a great achievement, but it doesn't actually mean anything, unless you hunt for your own food or are frequently mugged. There's nothing interesting in the Olympics. Paris will probably get it, but they just had the World Cup, so Madrid would probably best benefit from it. So I'm going to back Madrid for the bid. I really don't see the point of backing the country I was born in just because I was born here, it doesn't make it any more special. It's just a hassle. I'll probably be gone by 2012 anyway though.
Back the bid? F*ck the bid. But we'll probablt win it after that, knowing my luck. Exactly 12 hours until the announcement (12:44). Well, give or take 2 minutes.
Now, that's a little ironic, because I'm still at my parents' house right now, as I haven't had the energy to move my computer, and I had to pop back here to get my duvet and sheets. And pillows. But other than that, I've spent all day either lugging televisions the size of small cars, or large armchairs, across doorways and through corridors of rainsoaked bushes, or I have been shopping, or cooking. And I feel quite tired. We have work to do tomorrow, but other than unpacking our own stuff, the hard parts are done. I have so much cupboard space, I'll be running computers from inside there.
Now I'm having difficulty typing and spelling, as I am that tired, so this is brief.
I have big thanks to Dan for helping me out today, that was very cool. The van we hired was a little more than we expected, but cheaper in total because the driver helped out with the loading. We got it done in one hour. I've only taken one computer for now, as I'm going to install and customise a Linux distribution on it before anything happens. Internet there will probably wait until after I get back.
CARLOS CHECK YOUR EMAIL IT'S FULL OF LIFE AND DEATH IMPORTANT STUFF
Carlos hasn't been online for a while, and he'll have hell to pay if he doesn't get money sent here immediately. I'm going to leave this entry at that, as I need to get going home (I love that), and sleep.
Supplement: I just wanted to add, tomorrow is the 2012 Olympic bid. New York is bidding, which I think is ridiculous, because America recently had the World Cup and the Olympics within a couple of years of each other, and if you say that 14 years or whatever isn't recent, think that England hasn't had it in something like 70 or 80, whatever it is. Despite that, I seriously don't want the Olympics here. It's tax money spent on letting people run in circles. Being the fastest runner in the world, well, it's a great achievement, but it doesn't actually mean anything, unless you hunt for your own food or are frequently mugged. There's nothing interesting in the Olympics. Paris will probably get it, but they just had the World Cup, so Madrid would probably best benefit from it. So I'm going to back Madrid for the bid. I really don't see the point of backing the country I was born in just because I was born here, it doesn't make it any more special. It's just a hassle. I'll probably be gone by 2012 anyway though.
Back the bid? F*ck the bid. But we'll probablt win it after that, knowing my luck. Exactly 12 hours until the announcement (12:44). Well, give or take 2 minutes.
Monday, 4 July 2005
Bah
I know, it's been too long since a proper entry. It used to be everyday, sometimes twice a day, and now this. It's awful. But every night, I sit at my computer, and I get tired and put off my entry until I'm about to sleep, and then I sleep anyway.
I helped Shun move the stuff, and he was overly grateful with his cash, but as it turns out I did need it for petrol. I drove Yoko to the airport later that day, but I waived my usual fee because of her overwhelming kindness of hospitality that I am about to enjoy. As it turns out, she's not coming back to England.
Yesterday was spent resting because of the back ache of the move (Carlos owns heavy things). I also dropped one of his boxes down the stairs, but I think it was ok. I had a conversation in Japanese with Yukina over MSN, which was interesting to say the least, but also boosted my confidence a lot. Today made the most of the evening with a good meal and chat spent with Shun, Erin, Jenny and Yukina. We went to Whitelands bar, making it my third ever visit. I learnt that Shun has a blog, though he is yet to post. When he does, I'll be certain to link to it.
I found I very much enjoy the dark stylings of recent Aphex Twin, and I discovered a cool little JPop band called Do As Infinity. I'll show Emma, if she already doesn't know, because it seems much closer to her style than usual JPop. Dan's not too remote, as I do get to see him more often now. And living with Andrew and Julia does look like fun.
I have a conflict of plans tomorrow, I am hoping to dine with my family as a last goodbye to my living arrangements, but it's also the 4th of July celebrations, and Erin will lead the way with fireworks and a marching band, which is too fun to miss. I'll have to cleverly coordinate.
Anyway, music stopped, headphones silent, I think sleep beckons. Tomorrow is the last day I spend at home fully, as on Tuesday, the fifth of July, I move to my new house, and the new chapter commences.
I helped Shun move the stuff, and he was overly grateful with his cash, but as it turns out I did need it for petrol. I drove Yoko to the airport later that day, but I waived my usual fee because of her overwhelming kindness of hospitality that I am about to enjoy. As it turns out, she's not coming back to England.
Yesterday was spent resting because of the back ache of the move (Carlos owns heavy things). I also dropped one of his boxes down the stairs, but I think it was ok. I had a conversation in Japanese with Yukina over MSN, which was interesting to say the least, but also boosted my confidence a lot. Today made the most of the evening with a good meal and chat spent with Shun, Erin, Jenny and Yukina. We went to Whitelands bar, making it my third ever visit. I learnt that Shun has a blog, though he is yet to post. When he does, I'll be certain to link to it.
I found I very much enjoy the dark stylings of recent Aphex Twin, and I discovered a cool little JPop band called Do As Infinity. I'll show Emma, if she already doesn't know, because it seems much closer to her style than usual JPop. Dan's not too remote, as I do get to see him more often now. And living with Andrew and Julia does look like fun.
I have a conflict of plans tomorrow, I am hoping to dine with my family as a last goodbye to my living arrangements, but it's also the 4th of July celebrations, and Erin will lead the way with fireworks and a marching band, which is too fun to miss. I'll have to cleverly coordinate.
Anyway, music stopped, headphones silent, I think sleep beckons. Tomorrow is the last day I spend at home fully, as on Tuesday, the fifth of July, I move to my new house, and the new chapter commences.
Friday, 1 July 2005
Recreate Abandoned
For the first time in just-about-ever, I abandoned a post.
I don't usually do that. I may gratuitously edit it, I may cut out sections like they were candy, but I have never abandoned a whole post just because it wasn't working. I've saved it for reference, but I'm not going to publish it. It's mainly observations on how fast time travels now I'm older, but I'm not recreating it through lament, it's gone.
I'm about to sleep, but while Azumanga Daioh copies to my hard drive, I'm going to type.
I'm seeing Shun tomorrow, I'm helping him move in, and helping him get Carlos's stuff from one side of the street to the other. It's heavy though, so it needs work. And later tomorrow, Yoko needs a lift to the airport, so I'll take her in. It's the last time I'll see her until my trip. All this makes the past few days quite busy. I saw Dan today, and I paid of Julia for her ring. Which was a relief, she won't be hating me anymore. And Dan played an old radio show he was a star of, which was actually hilarious, and made me want to just Podcast with him. While I'm away I might Podcast via Skype, which would be cool. I'd like to have one going. It's a sort of more powerful internet presence than just a blog. And if it can be as funny as his then we'll certainly be a hit. Any suggestions for names would be appreciated. Comment Box below. For those of you who are not aware of Podcasts, they are basically downloadable radio broadcasts to be played on iPods at the listener's leisure. An a related note, I have finally found myself wanting to purchase an iPod. It has been a long time, but I might just want to get one if this BitTorrent stuff continues. I tell you, Apple has benefited from this illegal file trading more than anyone else.
After seeing Dan, and finding his computer still sucks, I went with Becky to see War of the Worlds. I didn't find it as compelling as reviewers had said, but the effects were stunning, and it was a very tense movie, and I enjoyed it. It wasn't Sin City (spot the Sin City reference earlier in the post). I might actually be seeing aforementioned brilliant film for a third time in the cinema, which would be the first time since I was 11 that I saw a film three times in the cinema (the last being Independence Day).
The music has been increasing in volume (as in amount, not decibels). I have without realising, amassed something like 1.4 GB in a few days. It took years to get a collection of hundreds of miscellaneous songs, but very few complete albums, and now in such a short time, I have complete albums with much better taste compared to the selections I made 5 years ago. The Azumanga Daioh DVD of all the episodes is almost complete. As it ejects, I shut down and sleep. I need to be up at 10AM to get things done. I think I can manage that.
DVD done. Aphex Twin download initialised. Time to sleep. Goodnight.
I don't usually do that. I may gratuitously edit it, I may cut out sections like they were candy, but I have never abandoned a whole post just because it wasn't working. I've saved it for reference, but I'm not going to publish it. It's mainly observations on how fast time travels now I'm older, but I'm not recreating it through lament, it's gone.
I'm about to sleep, but while Azumanga Daioh copies to my hard drive, I'm going to type.
I'm seeing Shun tomorrow, I'm helping him move in, and helping him get Carlos's stuff from one side of the street to the other. It's heavy though, so it needs work. And later tomorrow, Yoko needs a lift to the airport, so I'll take her in. It's the last time I'll see her until my trip. All this makes the past few days quite busy. I saw Dan today, and I paid of Julia for her ring. Which was a relief, she won't be hating me anymore. And Dan played an old radio show he was a star of, which was actually hilarious, and made me want to just Podcast with him. While I'm away I might Podcast via Skype, which would be cool. I'd like to have one going. It's a sort of more powerful internet presence than just a blog. And if it can be as funny as his then we'll certainly be a hit. Any suggestions for names would be appreciated. Comment Box below. For those of you who are not aware of Podcasts, they are basically downloadable radio broadcasts to be played on iPods at the listener's leisure. An a related note, I have finally found myself wanting to purchase an iPod. It has been a long time, but I might just want to get one if this BitTorrent stuff continues. I tell you, Apple has benefited from this illegal file trading more than anyone else.
After seeing Dan, and finding his computer still sucks, I went with Becky to see War of the Worlds. I didn't find it as compelling as reviewers had said, but the effects were stunning, and it was a very tense movie, and I enjoyed it. It wasn't Sin City (spot the Sin City reference earlier in the post). I might actually be seeing aforementioned brilliant film for a third time in the cinema, which would be the first time since I was 11 that I saw a film three times in the cinema (the last being Independence Day).
The music has been increasing in volume (as in amount, not decibels). I have without realising, amassed something like 1.4 GB in a few days. It took years to get a collection of hundreds of miscellaneous songs, but very few complete albums, and now in such a short time, I have complete albums with much better taste compared to the selections I made 5 years ago. The Azumanga Daioh DVD of all the episodes is almost complete. As it ejects, I shut down and sleep. I need to be up at 10AM to get things done. I think I can manage that.
DVD done. Aphex Twin download initialised. Time to sleep. Goodnight.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)