Home

Long time, no see.

Winter break here in Japan is near. It's getting colder and colder, and my time to be home comes closer and closer.

Many things have happened since I've last wrote on this blog, but memories I'll let them be. I can tell you all, though, that I miss everyone of you. I'm having a terrific time here, surely something I will always have stories of to tell at parties, but I would like to be with you all. The season demands it.

I can't wait to come home.

Warm Waters

For your information, I smell great right now. You decide whether or not I'm being sarcastic.

My loyal readers and such, the events from today aren't all that interesting, but aren't worth being mentionless. This day began like most other days: early wakage, stretchage, runnage -- the typical stuffage. But today was no ordinary day. No, twas not! I ad to get medically examined! <-- This checkup is required by all foreign students studying at Kobe. It was...well...funnish?

Everyone else at the dorm was awake this morning, making it where Josh, Lennart, and Jasper were able to transverse with me across Sumiyoshi to Kobe University. Great, dandy, cold walk. A walk full of senseless gabberings and blah blahs of all sorts. Within the hour, we all arrived at the hospital, and followed a convoluted route showing us gaijin where to go. When you follow arrows, you end up places. Usually good places. And we...ended up in a good place! So no worries there!

The line began amassing. Boys in the morning, girls after the boys. Like lab rats, we are pushed in and had to sniff out the cheese to get us back out. After tossing my information left and right, I'm now sure Japan has a taste of what is Bo on many pieces of paper now. Height, weight, stripping, x-rays, electrogram, more stripping, eyes, and total misguidedness later, I found my exit with two new cards, one for my keeps that I believe says I am an official student at Kobe University, and another card that I gave to them that had all of my info printed on it. Huzzah! Bo has been ran like a rat, but he made it out with the cheese, that being he was able to miss some of his classes (and the parts he went to were so much fun!).

So after class, I had lunch like usual, and I drank tea with Chris, onlooking Kobe (I'll show you the view we were seeing soon enough). And then, I consulted my fears and went to the IC Cafe. I walked by to see who was in there and went straight to the bathroom again. While there, Sweet Courage whispered in my ear, and a certain headstrong person walked into the cafe. I first gave Clement the money I owed him, and then I sat and did my homework. I figured someone would interject with the want of a conversation, and though this didn't happen, many eyes interested in my doings where looking my way, beckoning conversation. And I simply said in broken Japanese, "Can anyone help with my homework?" And instantly, I mean in a matter of milliseconds, a cute Japanese girl shot her hand straight to the heavens as if to purposefully poke a whole in the sky. She came over and sat next to me, and another seeming genki girl sitting closer also helped. They helped with homework that was truly easy, but I used it as an ice breaker, and ice surely broke. Afterwords, I asked their names, and both replied Yuka -- same name but spelt differently, mind you! We talked a little bit in Japanese, and I learned new words (which I'm sure I've forgetten. Let me check...Yup! They aren't there!). They even showed me to a convenient store to help me find instant coffee.

Point being, I made friends, and I made friends by trying hard. I overcame fear. I overcame a stifling fear that grew and festered. I simply said "No, not like this," this being the usage of an experience of a lifetime. I said no to dwindling it all away and chose not to pine anymore. I jumped.

I jumped.

And the waters were everything I thought they'd be.

Humbling River

Today was a day meant for overcomming. I woke up early to stretch and run. I did my budgeting for the day and showered. Brushed my teeth and dressed. Then I just sat on my bed, lolling in and out of sleep, unwanting of the day to come. But, like we all must, I accepted the day’s burdens and headed to class. I was tired. On many planes. Tired of being awake. Tired of walking. Tired of having responsibilities unlike I’ve ever had before. And tired of my language barrier.

Learning a language has been by far the hardest challenge I’ve ever took on. I’m not sure if I’ve even accepted it yet, let alone offered a hand to shake. But I know what it takes to learn. I know exactly what to do, and I’m so afraid of doing it. We all can relate to this. We know how to ask the right questions and reply back with good answers, but fear makesus hesitant.

I know what I must do to learn This Language, but I’m leaning on a cliff, looking over at the pristine waters that shine brilliantly in the sun, looking over and too damn scared to jump. All that is between me and a chance of a life time is the jump. How do I jump?

So I walked to class, and I did alright in my morning classes. After lunch, I decided to skip my afternoon classes (don’t worry, they aren’t required. Just there if I need them.) and headed to the IC Café. Tons of student tutors are there to specifically help one with Japanese and Japan. This is a hot spot for learning Japanese. This is the answer to all of my questions. I walked up to the door of the IC and saw a ton of people. They were still eating lunch. So I walked away and went to the bathroom, hoping the numbers would decrease, which they did, but barely.

I stood 10-15 minutes outside the doors wondering whether or not I should go it. I was afraid. I am afraid. Of what? Of not knowing enough Japanese!? You are in Japan to learn Japanese! I need to be in that room learning this beautiful language. So after a 30 minute walk home, I regret I didn’t jump. There I was, looking at the clear blue sea, sun lit and all, and couldn’t jump.

Again, this is very hard for me. I see my wall. I see the wood, nails, and hammer. I know how to build my latter, but I’m intimidated by how big the wall is. I can never cross it on my own. I’ll need help.

And then I thought of a song to which this blog is named after.  I’ll let you take a listen. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkxdXj7PxRU

If I never make the jump or climb, my cliff and wall will always be there. But if I jump and climb, I can swim in placid waters and explore new worlds.

I have to jump. I have to build. And tomorrow, I will.

A Good Walk

A good walk is a long walk.

  A beginning with no end.

A good walk is a time to think.

  Reflect, feel, breathe and see.

A good walk is a long walk.

I’m typing this pretty early, but with good reason. I’ve already had a pretty eventful day. In case time isn’t your forte or you simply lack the ability to guess when I toped this, Friday be the day we are concerned with. So snuggle in the feeling of a Friday, the day that you most welcome stressful events because Friday night and the weekend are poking their heads around the weekly bend. I believe some of you say TGIF. So put your TGIF reading glasses on, and enjoy what’s to come.

I had one big goal today, and that was to buy my Re-entry Pass. A Re-entry Pass lets you go to the zoo and see the pandas play with each other for as long as you want…or so I wish. No, a Re-entry Pass is a document that allows one to leave a country that one’s current visa has allowed one to enter AND return to said country after the short leave. Firstly, I had to let Kobe University know that I am leaving, so I took a grand 80 minute walk to campus and back to simply tell them, “Hey guys, hope you have a good Christmas!” After that, I packed my bag with my passport, alien registration card, and mullah. I also had to pay my rent for three months, so I packed a little extra cash. After readying myself, I headed to the front office to ask where I could pay my rent, and they told me my bank (I had to register to a Japanese Bank about a week or two ago for some reason or another, probably the Japanese efficient, red tape, crap machine). So off down Sumiyoshi mountain!

My third step was to get on the Hankyu Railway (there are three railways in Kobe. In order from North to South: Hankyu, Hanshin, and JR. I live in the mountains which are towards the north so Hankyu is the closest). This was my first planned trip to Sannomiya, the biggest station in Kobe where all three lines meet and the hot-spot for all your delights. I was a bit excited to check out the place.

I arrived around noon, and headed south from the station (I had a map on me, telling me where the Kobe Immigration Office, the place to get the Re-entry Pass, was. I passed my bank on the way, so I decided that after all was said and done, I’d add an adventure to my adventure. I also passed a guard near the bank and decided to ask him where this certain government building was. Like all Japanese I’ve asked directions for, he was most helpful. One right, pass one road, and take a left on the second. Within 3 minutes, couldn’t help but see the immigration building.

I walked in, and the gaijin alarm went off in every Japanese worker there. Tons of pointing and bits of broken English later, I’m shown to the office I needed to be in. A total of 10 minutes was all it took to get what I needed. At one point, it got a bit odd. I was told to purchase a stamp from a convenient store down stairs and then walk back up to give them the stamp. I guess convenience means something entirely different in Japan. Anywho, I got my pass. (To Rebecca and Jordan, last step now is to actually be standing up on the altar next to you both. J)

I left the building and walked through a pretty park full of people playing. Possibly perfect if I ponder longer on the park. But I won’t, so to SMBC (my bank) to give them money!!! I waltzed myself in there, used broken Japanese, and found myself at the teller giving her my much undeserved money. I went from not having my bank book on me, using a card I didn’t need to, writing and asking dumb questions, and actually giving her normal, hard cash. Let’s hope I have no charges for trying to use a cash card that has no money on it!

So double check. Re-entry Pass and Rent done. Now what? Well, my day was already over and it was nearing one in the afternoon, so I decided to take a cool walk from Sannomiya to Sumiyoshi. Wasn’t entirely the best decision I’ve made, for it was worth it on an exploration front, but it was completely tiring. So explains why it is almost 5 PM and I feel like it is 3 in the morning.

Plans for tonight are still uncertain, but friends and family, Bo is gonna take a nap. Let the night demons come when they will. In the mean time, I love you all and I’ll post more videos and blogs in the near future. Hope life in Knoxville is dandy. Just remember where you’re at and where you’ve come from. Smile every day, and cry with friends.

Patterns

I’m getting a little behind on keeping you interested, so I’ll skip some events here and there to keep you all and myself updated. If you are lucky, I might mention some untold stories…

I’ve been picking up a pattern and a schedule of late. It goes as follows:

6 – Wake up, stretch, run up an absurdly large hill

7 – Take a shower and do some grammar study

8 – Walk to school (good 40 minutes of my day)

9-12 – Classes full of learning Japanese!

12-1 – Lunch with all my international friends

1-5 – Classes (if I so choose to go. They aren’t required. The time is bested used to study Japanese with the locals.)

5 –Walk to Sumiyoshi (another good 40 minutes of my day)

6 – eat a delicious, wholesome meal for only 350 yen.

7 – Eat donuts

8-10 – Waste time with poker

10 – Sleep till the angels sing (or angles, as I keep typing!).

So that is a basic day in my magnificently, stressfully fun stay here in Sumiyoshi. It isn’t so bad. I’ll put up a video soon of what my abode looks like. To me, it looks like the perfect start to a scary Japanese movie. That thought definitely helps me sleep at night.

Dyad

In the last installment, I made it to Sumiyoshi Station. I thought my stress would be lifted for a bit longer than it was. In an email from my supervisor at Kobe University, she told us gaijin to meet at Sumiyoshi Station. My first thought was, well, stations can have more than one entrance, can’t they? So I replied to her seemingly vague email asking specifics on where to meet. With a prompt response, she told me that there was only one 

and that I couldn’t miss it!

Guess what I did!

Yup, as sure as the rising Sun, I blew right on by it. Not my fault, though. When I made it to the ticket gate, there were two exits. 50% at that point. I took the right exit. In hindsight, staying near the gate would have been wise. And now that I think about it, I think my supervisor told me to meet at the ticket gate. Hmph, so it was my fault after all! Anyway, I walked down the stairs and saw a white guy with travel bags, looking lost and confused. Definitely in my boat. I stroll over to the fellow and throw my native tongue, American, on to the blok…and with American I was responded to! though it was some odd variant I couldn’t make out. The guy I met was Gareth (whom I called Gunter for a week or two till I remembered his actual name). He is a Brit (explains the deformed American) from Sheffield University. Tall, little chubby, goofy…gaijin. Like me! So hey, instant buds. We began to talk, and as we become more familiar, a local interrupts us with really broken American. We eventually figured that another white guy was waiting for us up back in the station. We head up, and see another tall, skinny, extremely white gaijin with bags that cannot lie about who you are. This fellow’s name is Josh. He like Gareth is from Sheffield. We chat, and with a snap, the Gaijin Damn breaks, and the cattle start to round up. Third guy I met was Colton (Cole he prefers). He reminded me immediately of Malik, a friend of mine back in the States, but that doesn’t help you. Think Californian, like Ubercalifornian, with like wicked clothes, and like cool hair, and, you know, yeah, like a sweet accent. To this moment, I can’t tell if I like the guy. My hesitance started with a phone call. Immediately after meeting him, he received a phone call and wipped out fluent Japanese. Once he was done, I complimented him on his Japanese, telling him he sounded great. He shook his head and said he isn’t that good. Modest. Modesty! Come on, man. You are good. Don’t wave off my compliment. Being modest is no better than telling half truths – you’re still lying. Eh, whatever, looking upon this with patient eyes, I know this is only a silly pet peeve of mine, but it still irks. Anywho, more are still to arrive. Out of all who showed up that day, only one is really worth remembering for your sake. Lennart Jacob, a German from Hamburg. I don’t really have an idea of what German’s look like, but he fit my mental image of one perfectly. For lack of better terms, Aryan. Tall (relatively. Hell, I’m relatively tall in Japan), blonde hair, blue eyes, strong shoulders. Aryan. We waltzes towards our gathering gaijin gang with his 1940s travel bag and 1945 jacket. This guy, my friends, is a guy I’ll be sure to mention in more blogs. An atmosphere about him is goofy, yet thought-provoking. Entirely enjoyable.

The boat was now ready to set sail with the set of us. We back a bus, I offend a local, and the boat makes land at Sumiyoshi Kokusai Gakusei Shukusha, my home for the next year.

Monad

            ひさしぶり。Everything here is beginning to settle in. I’m over a cold, have nearly got my bank stuff sorted out, and am starting to pick up on some sort of schedule. Yay for responsibilities!

Now where to start? I last left you all when I was in 弥富市(Yatomi). I’ve left you all in a murder mystery type of drama. So much has changed since leaving on the Kintetsu Line to Nagoya. I’ll begin with the journey to 神戸(Kobe):

I woke up at 4:30 AM on Sunday, October 2^nd (wow, was it really that long ago?) to a cool morning. I showered, dressed, and tidied up my packs. I said my goodbyes to Stephanie and left her my Kit Kat pumpkin cheesecake snacks as an appreciation gift, though I owe her so much more than that. I left her place at 5, and made my way to the 5:20 AM local train. The ride to Nagoya was simple enough since I’ve taken it a good amount of times to understand where I was going. I also had in my arsenal of knowledge enough Japanese to ask for a 新幹線            (Shinkansen, aka bullet train) ticket. The train wouldn’t leave till 6:20 or so, but I made my way up to the platform anyway. While waiting for the train, I had time to enjoy that which was a very quaint morning. I’ve always classified the day into four colors. The mental image I get of the morning is a sky blue one, much like the sky itself. It seemed everything in the station and the city of Nagoya were radiating this sky blue color. Again, quaint. Something you wouldn’t mind waiting on a train for.

The Shinkansen arrived, and I grabbed a window seat next to the exit. My huge blue suitcase demanded I be close to the exit! This ride on the Shinkansen was much more relaxing than my last. I looked less of a gaijin (foreigner in Japanese, somewhat of a racial slur, but also a joke amongst us gaijin). Because the Shinkansen is usually garnered to long journeys, the view becomes beautiful, for one sees much of Japanese landscape, varying as it is. From rice field to congested cities, bay to mountains, it was all pleasing to the eye.

I arrived in Shinosaka, and had 7 minutes to make my next train. This station was frustrating and I was unfamiliar with its layout, logistically mostly. Anywho, I got on the wrong train. I predicted I would, anyway. Just enjoying the adventure I suppose! Good news was that I knew the name of the main station in 神戸 and the one of the station I needed to be at. So in the end, I made it to 住吉駅(Sumiyoshi Station) in one, great big blue, gaijin piece!

Memory Money

Here are a few videos for your enjoyment:

http://bit.ly/oqKwsg
http://bit.ly/riM51z
http://bit.ly/nZ4TaP

Since my camera isn't working, I've decided for the time being that I'll take 10 second or so clips of my day, and just mesh it all together in the end. So far, I like the idea. It doesn't capture everything, but it at least relives a few moments.

Yesterday was Aiden's birthday, a coworker of Stephanie. Sally, Aiden, Steph, and I met and ate in the mall in Nagoya Station. I had an eggplant pasta. Be jealous.

Eventually we all met at a bowling alley which took too much of my money, but it was worth the punch out I got in the end (I would have proof of this, but the damned game didn't register my turkey in the end!). Later, we ate at a place (I am awful with remembering all of these Japanese names...) and went to another...place...which had infinite beer for two hours! I was literally told the name of this place 20 times, and I've still the ability to remember it. Ha! And I'm here to learn Japanese. How terrific.

We played this game called Lunch Money. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunch_Money_(game) It gets...interesting? Yeah, I'll cop out on that word.

May day was great. You should have been there. Yeah, here, in Japan. I'm in Japan, did you know that? Because I am!

Side note: It is hard being the new guy in a group. I found myself wanting to push myself away more often than not, but being comfortable within a group of people who are all connected in their own way isn't always meant to be. Only temporary shall I be, and only temporary shall they be. I tried the best I could, and the best I can is good enough. :)

Muscle Memory

Pretty sure I'm gaining weight. Did not expect that. Food = scrumptious here

It wasn't till 11 AM yesterday that I began to move around. Over the past few days, I've been tinkering with budgeting my money and making up methods that allow me to spend, yet save. One of these methods required me to go to the Post Office and withdraw more money. If I keep withdrawing small amounts from an ATM, I keep getting charged an international fee (I think it is $10 from ORNL), so if I take out a lot over time, it is essentially cheaper. Plus, having lots of tangible cash is satisfying in case of fire.

I got my cash and walked back. On the way, I stopped in a Circle K and got another obento. This one was katsu, rice, and yummy noodles. I also got more coffee latte (this could be the reason to my feeling of weight gain!). Delicious!

I came back and enjoyed my meal at Stephanie's. Once done, I got ready to head to Nagoya. Stephanie had told me that morning that I should go there and meet her at the OXO British Pub. She gave me directions of subway lines so I could go to Nagoya Castle and Osu Kannon Temple. When I was about to board the train, I realized I forgot everything she had told me.

So here I am in a familiar situation, being totally unfamiliaralized with where I am. I hope on a train that says it is bound for Nagoya. Usually, the train I've been taking is only two stops till Nagoya, but this one had already stopped four times and we weren't very far. At this stop, everyone on the train seemed to jump off. I stayed on, trying to stick to my guns, but a train pulled up and said "Express Nagoya". Whatever it was clicked in my head, telling me that I was on a local train, and I needed to be in the express. Instantly and without thinking, I hopped on the next train. I crossed my fingers, and yay! I made it to Nagoya Station. Now the tricky part was here.

I had absolutely no recollection of Nagoya Station, though I had been there 2 or three times. This is the same place that I first went to the post office that was near a Krispy Kreme. I decided to walk over there and pray that my eyes remember something. Sure enough, the memories began to kick in. I saw a ticket booth, felt it and I got intimate at one point over the week, and I bought a ticket from it. I walked over to a familiar ticket gate, go through, and look up at the platforms. I walked and walked till I say Tajima. Something about this felt right, so went up and hopped on the train. As the train leaves, I saw familiar skylines, but the whole ride was never reassuring. I could have ended up anywhere, for there are so many trains!

Nonetheless, I make it to Asunal Live plaza, which is where the pub is. I gave myself a mental high five, and trotted on like I owned the place. It was about 1:30, and Stephanie wasn't going to meet me till 5, so I had plenty of time to waste, so I did what I love doing the most: exploring. I first went into Daiei, which is the super store where I bought my coin case (yes, I actually am in Celadon!). I explored every floor, even the bottom two levels which were hardly floors themselves. I later walk out and head toward a main street. Because I am extremely intimidated my traveling on subways or trains (for reasons you all can figure out), I thought walking would do me well. You can't go wrong with straights, lefts, rights, and backsies when you are in control.

I walk a good ways down this main road, and as I was about to turn around, I spotted a temple (http://bit.ly/qtesXl). It was very, very beautiful. It also is the kind where I can get my temple book stamped (in 2008, I received a temple book  where at every famous temple in Japan, you can get it stamped with brilliant looking Japanese characters). I didn't have my book, though, but the stampers weren't their, so no biggie. I'll do it some other time. I started to explore the temple, but then to my right, I saw a mesmerizing shopping center, full of many colorful things. I walk down this mall of sorts and it takes me about 10-20 minutes to walk the whole thing. In the end, I found out I was at the Temple Osu Kannon, a pretty famous temple.

Enjoyed it, and then headed back on 40 minute walk toward Asunal (http://bit.ly/o90Zuf). I got back around 4 or 4:30. So I went up to the pub and sat around till 5. 5 is happy hour, by the way. Cocktails are half off, and this is a good thing. :)

Stephanie showed up almost right at 5, and she got her two drinks and nutts. I had Guinness and co-kohai (Coke Whiskey). We walked around the plaza a bit and saw a singer. She was pretty good, but the best part was seeing all the old men watching her. They made up majority of the crowd. Japan, you be creepy.

After a bit, Leah showed up and we all headed to Denny's. Spent a good hour or two there, and oh my, was it good. I got a spicy, ramen bowl that was huge! Later that evening, we go to a book store to simply look around. Fun fun, but it was getting late. It was time to head back and sleep, and head back and sleep I did!

Walmart of Japan

Future reference, I won't be posting blogs everyday like I have been come school time. I just have tons of free time, and many interesting things are occurring. My goal isn't to make you care about what I am doing in Japan, but hopefully make you smile about a foreign acting silly in Japan.

So...yesterday, I woke up early and had planned to go to the post office again. That didn't happen. No, it didn't because my computer decided to be a jerk and won't take photos from my phone, so I had to use WiFi which luckily Stephanie has. Usually, WiFi is nonexistent in Japan. Hopefully a US Embassy like Starbucks or McDonalds has it. Because of this and the fact my camera charger doesn't work, I might not be able to take pictures...maybe the campus will have WiFi?

After hours of being angry, I was starting to get hungry. Probably shouldn't exert so much energy on useless actions. Anywho, I walked to a Circle K near the Kintetsu Train Station (which apparently isn't the closest one I could have gone to). The walk was reliant on muscle memory. Didn't really have a clue where I was going but I got where I needed to go. That is a mission accomplished.

Inside, I got an obento, or a Japanese pre-made meal...kind of. It had noodles, chicken, rice, and an egg. The lady at the counter asked me if I wanted it heated up, and I was gun-ho about that. I leave Circle K with my warm meal (and a drink called Procari Sweat!) and make my back to Steph's. I eat a much needed meal, and pass out on the floor till Steph returned from work.

Around 3 or 4, we head to Aeon Town, the Japanese Walmart. It was a decent walk, taking about 40 minutes. The area is your typical shopping center -- big parking lot and random shops. We first walk into a arcade and played this drumming game (like any other music arcade game, i.e. dance dance revolution). There was this awesome DBZ game where you played cards, and the arcade would act out the cards. Oh! so cool!

Next to the arcade was a pet store. They had many dogs and some bunnies. All the dogs were tiny and extraordinarily (supernormaly in Japan?) small. Cute, though, if you are into that. Then, we went into Aeon, a big superstore. I asked Steph what a typical day at the grocery store would be like, and she showed me around. The beef seemed really expense, but chicken not so much. I guess I found my new favorite bird. I started to get tired at this point, so I got a Cafe Latte and, wait for it, Pumpkin Cheescake Kit-Kat Bars! I think you'd like them, Becca.

A little time on the bench to get my energy back, we went into a 100 yen store (your Dollar General). So many fun arts and crafts! I can't wait to decorate my room with all of the silly crap they had in there. Hope there will be on next or near my dorm in Kobe.

We wasted some more time in a Soft Bank (cell phone store) and an electronic store, and around this time, it was 6, so we headed toward Sushiro (sushi roll!). It was a typical sushi place where all the food was on a conveyor belt. It was cheap and oh so yummy in my tummy.

Once the stomach was satisfied, a good 40 minute night walk was at hand (http://bit.ly/rjmccx). We come back and I fettle with money budgeting which actually turns out to be quite fun! Then comes the night, with many numbers transversing my mind.

First Adventure

I woke up after a much needed sleep, and was treated to a banana and left over airplane food. Stephanie was getting ready to go to work, and I was counting out my money. After she left, I had planned on going to the post office to get more money from my bank account, but I realized how tired I truly was and slept for another 3-4 hours.

When I woke up, Stephanie had come back, and we got ready to head to Nagoya to meet up with some of Steph's coworkers. The walk over to the Yatomo Kintetsu station was a pleasant one. The sky was clear and the weather was cool. We got to the station shortly and off we were to Nagoya Station.

Upon arriving, we headed straight toward the post office. There, I took out much needed mullah from an ATM. Across from the post office was a Krispy Kreme, helping me realize that I was hungry. Good thing I have money now to enjoy all my meals!

We left the station and walked into a store where I purchased a coin case. Because up to the equivalent of five American dollars is on a coin in Japan, change isn't something you can merely toss in your bag. So having a coin case was needed and, so far, has been a wonderful purchase. While at the store, I saw the most awesome DBZ drinks (http://bit.ly/pPsxaz). POWER SQUASH! lol DBZ will never get old.

Leaving the store, we walked back near the exit of Nagoya Station. There is a fairly big plaza in this area with many shops. In the area, there was a vending machine full of many drinks. When I can to Japan in 2008, there was this drink called Real Gold (http://bit.ly/ppEtCr) that supposedly had nicotine in it. Just by chance, this vending machine had it, and I "had to have" it. Turns out it is still amazing.


Afterwards, we went to this British pub named OXO (http://bit.ly/qk1KwS). It was interesting. The environment was dark and bar like, but it had really fancy chandeliers. Funny if you ask me. I ordered a Whiskey Coke and a Moscow Mule. They were a bit weak but enjoyable. Steph and I sat and waited to meet her friends. First came Mark, then Sally, and finally Lea (sp?). Mark and Sally are British and Lea is American. When we all settled, I began to laugh in the back in my mind. Of course we three white, English-speaking people would go to an English pub. Typical foreigners. Anywho, I met and greeted all of them, which all seemed like fun people.


When we finished out drinks, we went to this chicken place to have dinner. I forget the name of it, but it had tori in it which means bird in Japanese. The walk over was as equally as pleasant as the walk to Yatomi station was, cool and relaxing and short. We walked up a flight of stairs, and there it was. I was so hungry at this point that everything I was smelling smelt like a goddess. We sit and order and have our way with multiple, well, meats on a stick. Oh, and cabbage. Think of the chips you get at a Mexican restaurant, this is what the cabbage's role was. It was good, though. When we started getting into our food, Mark had to leave to Skype, as he calls her, the Misses.


Filling my stomach on some much needed food, we walk over to Mr. Donut. On the way, I spot a sign that Jordan said I wouldn't ever spot (http://bit.ly/qe1NIM). Seems I found Waldo. Besides feeling smarter and more aware of life than my stupid friend, I was excited to have a doughnut! Especially a Mr. Donut. I'm not sure if any have noticed, but on my backpack, I have a couple of paraphernalia on a zipper. One of them is a souvenir from Mr. Donut back in 2008.


There, I got a strawberry donut, ate and enjoyed it with everyone else. We laugh over silly nonsense for awhile before we decide to part ways. It was around 9 PM and had been dark for about 3 or so hours. It felt late and I was getting tired. Steph and I headed back on the train and made way to her place. We cozzy ourselves and sleep off a great day.

The Road Goes Ever On And On

What a day yesterday was. 24 hour of straight traveling and maybe 8 hours of sleep in the past 48 hours. I would love to recount this stressful, yet fun, journey as it is.

Early Sunday morning, I awoke after having roughly 4 hours of sleep. But I woke to waffles, which Mark had made, lifting my morning woes temporarily. I ate with Ashlyn and Jake, and they were acting as wild as ever, not really understanding what it means for me to be leaving. My mom knew, though, and I could tell she was on the verge of tears. Sad but comforting to know someone loves you, even if you are on the other side of the world.

We got to the airport around 10:20 AM. The very first thing I do is swipe my passport at the Delta kiosk, and it doesn't work. Expected, I guess. As I walk to the friendly-fondlers (TSA), my family (Mom, Mark, the Kids, Papa and Anne, and Nannie) wave me off. Mom decided to stick around a little longer, taking pictures. I'm sure pictures of someone standing in line is worthy of Pulitzer Prize.

The plane for Detroit takes off, and as soon as it reached its max altitude, it begins to descend. Short flight. A lady sitting next to me begins to talk with me while the plane is taxiing. She tells me she is from Trevor, Michigan, and pulls out her hand to show me where it was. I laughed when she did this, because I remember Jordan showing me the same hand-trick that Wisconsoners use, only Wisconsin uses the left hand, while Michigan uses the right. I can only think of one body part that justifies Tennessee's geography.

The Detroit International Airport was fun. To get to Corridor A, I had to go under the runway. The tunnel over to A was magnificent. It was long and the architecture was aquatic like, with blue-lit walls. As I ascend and approach my terminal, the Houston Texans and New Orleans Saints are projected on a ginormous screen. I sit and watch the game for awhile before I decide to walk around the airport. My plane from Knoxville had landed at around 1 and the plane to Tokyo wouldn't leave till about 4.

I get on the intimidatingly huge 747, go to my seat, and prep however one can prep for a 13 hour flight. We watched 4 movies (some stupid Drew Berrymore movie, one with Russel Brand, Rio, and the King's Speech). That some what kept my attention on the flight, whenever I wasn't trying to doze off, that is. When the stewardess came out with food, in my head, I felt like a dog in a kennel. I was excited every time they came out, and they came out at just the right time, all the time (dinner, mid flight snack, pre-arrival meal). People seem to always complain about airplane food, but I love it, and I loved it this time. Chicken, cold bananas, and omelets -- oh! it was good.

During the entire flight, the sun never set. Not until we landed in Narita International Airport. And this is where the fun truly begins. Before we landed, I began to plan out what I needed to do. Customs, baggage, money exchange, and then find the rail system. I breeze through the first three steps, but a failed at the last one, which became a theme for the rest of the evening.

The first train needed to get me to Tokyo station. So after 20 minutes of staring at a booth, I summon up the courage to ask where in the hell do I need to go. The worker spoke English, and got me the ticket I needed. It was no trouble, really, getting on the first train, an express train that went straight from the airport to Tokyo. Not many people were on it, and I had time to collect my thoughts for the next adventure. How two years of Japanese could not have prepared me for it.

Tokyo Station was a flippin zoo. I felt like I walked into a marching band competition, only without any instruments and more rapid movements. I have the slightest clue what I am doing, and I simply try to make my way to the Shinkansen (Bullet Train). After buying the wrong ticket at a kiosk, I walk up to a (maybe) ticket office, and ask in Japanese one of the clerks if she can speak English. She hardly does, and I had to resort to 3 year old Japanese with her. After miming a few words, things work out and I have a ticket. So...now what?

The very first person I ask where my train is told me they were not Japanese, as I asked them in Japanese. She told me she wasn't Japanese in short form, so I'm pretty sure I offended her and made a clear ass of my self. I feel bad, but I gotta truck on. I ask a guy wearing a funny suit with a funny hat that looked like some Halloween police officer. He turned out to be a train coordinate and helped me find where I needed to go. I get on, and bam! off to Nagoya Station.

Well, you see, I got on the wrong cart. Cart 6 to be exact. After looking over my ticket, it I'm supposed to be in Cart 1. So here I am, the foreigner, looking really foreign, carrying my large, bright blue suitcase down the hall, huffing and puffing and sweating. I finally make it to my seat to which I passed out. Now, three years ago when I was in Japan, I got lost in Tokyo because I fell asleep on a train. So almost happened this time. I woke up to "Nagoya", opened my eyes and focused hard to discern what the train god-lady voice was saying, and Nagoya Station was the next stop. I prop my weak and tired self up and make to the exit.

One more stop, one more confrontation with a clerk who barely spoke English while I barely spoke Japanese, and one homeless man. Yes, being foreign and obviously so makes it easy for you to become prey. Anywho, I ward the fellow off, and get my ticket. I ask a local where I am going, and the kind fellow escorts me where I needed to go. He takes me as far as he can, and I find that my train leaves in 4 minutes. I rush up the platform only to find out it is the wrong platform. I go down and up again, wrong platform. Do it again, wrong platform. I did this four times, and thought I had missed my train. I finally realize another train will be coming soon, but since I am close to my destination, I turn on my data to my phone (I look forward to the expenses) and open Google Maps. I get on the train and once it starts to move, I simply hoped I was going the right way. The map has the track bending right, and I repeat over and over, "Go right! Go right!" And...it went right! I was on my way to Yatomi, my final destination!

I get off at my stop, and it maybe had a bench to sit on. I had told Stephanie, the girl I am staying with in Yatomi, to meet me at the train station. My knowledge was weak on stations in Japan, and it turned out I was at the wrong Yatomi station. Luckily, Stephanie gave me her address, so I begin to walk the dark, but peaceful streets of Yatomi. I, after going through so much stress and being very hot, enjoyed the cool, post-typhon breeze. While I'm lolling about, Stephanie drives up to me! We hug, and I finally feel a since of true comfort.

We drive by a Circle K and I get some food for my depleted body. She drives me to her apartment (streets in Japan will blow your mind), and shows me around. The room is the size of maybe a two stories' bonus room. Efficient , though. We talk for a bit while we eat our convenient store food, and then finally, I begin to doze off and sleep.

What a first day in Japan it was.

Relaxative

Less than one week till I go to the other side. Currently constipated and feeling a sense of disorder, I couldn't need more of a reason to relax.

I have many plans that I hope to carry out while in Japan. First and foremost, become better than a Japanese 3 year old at Japanese. Second, try to implement my lacking linguistic skills. And third and more fun, documenting my extravaganzas. Blogger, Youtube, Twitter, Facebook, Reddit - I plan to social network this crazy experience.

But funnily enough, I would give this trip away to sit on the toilet, read a paper like a 50's dad, and just push out all of my problems. Nothing like a mental enema, no?

Ignorance Is Bliss

I'm about to leave everything I've ever known behind. All of my friends, my family, my bed, my home. Hell, I'm leaving more than that. I'm leaving everything nostalgic. I'll have no more Autumn motorcycle rides, basking in memories of youthood. I'm leaving watching football with my dad behind. I won't gather around on Thanksgiving with my family, celebrating everyone who has touched me and helped this vessel set sail. I'll be back shortly in the beginning of winter to celebrate the love of two friends, but then come Spring and Summer, I'll be without all those I love.

But I won't.

Everything that I am, all that flows through my blood and passes through my mouth, the looks I give and the laughs I yell -- all of these things were given to me by all those that I love. These are treasures I'll carry with me for the rest of my life. Like a container, I collect all the saintly smiles and merciful memories that pervade my mind -- and pick them out on the days that dare to drag me down.

No matter the pains that await me, no matter the tedious troubles I'll have, I can't break as long as my heart remembers what love I have and all the love that has made me me.

With heart in hand, a shield tougher than steel, I'm given the chance to fully welcome my journey ahead. Now I know I can face all my demons, barreling them all in the eye. And I'll tell them that this Son is loved.

Ignorance is never bliss.

It's Basically Like Camping

Today, I applied for the Intensive Japanese Program. This means that my whole first semester would essentially be eat and sleep Japanese. I'm okay with that. I hear the Japanese eat and sleep well.

Questions:

1. Which came first: suicide or the samurai?
2. If Japan experiences all four seasons and also acknowledges a dry and wet season, how many seasons does Japan have?
3. What kind of dog do the Japanese eat?
4. Is it fried rice or flied lice?
5. How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if it were a Japanese woodchuck, Chuck?

Cat Sounds and Following with a Need to Catch Up!

Recently purchased my Flip and 3DS Starter Kit off Amazon! The Flip might be a rip on myself, but we'll see. Now to sit and wait in Lee's dreary rains.

Flip specs here.

Starter kit here.

Enjoy.