Another year older…

…and not much wiser…maybe just more worldly. Ok, bad pun I admit it, but hey I have to use my corny English jokes on people that understand them right?

Well as I said, I am another year older. September 22^nd came around pretty quickly this year. It really doesn’t feel as if a whole year has passed since this time last year. I guess between applying for JET, interviewing, getting accepted, prepping for leaving, and actually taking off and starting work, the time has just flown. Throw all the other great things that I had in Vancouver (a cool apartment, all the jobs, a great gal, etc) and it is easy to see where the time has gone.

So this is the first year with out many of the things that have made birthdays what they were for the last few years. Not having my friends and family around, and not just being able to go somewhere I know for a party, has definitely been strange. I don’t know if it was as difficult as I though it might be, but it still wasn’t easy. I have friends here and we did go out (to the few places we know) but it definitely wasn’t the same as birthdays have been before. So here is a recap of how my birthday unfolded.

Wednesday night, the eve of my day of birth, 5 of the teachers at my school took me out for dinner. It was a double header to welcome me and to celebrate my birthday. We went to Burera, a pasta and pizza joint here in town. It was killer food, weird pizza and weirder pasta. The most out there was squid pasta, in a squid ink sauce. That’s right, squid ink sauce. It was jet black, and tasted great. The down side of squid ink is that it stains things…like your insides, and everything in there too. The dinner was great, and the teachers were hilarious. Only 2 of the 5 were English teachers, but with help of those two, my limited Japanese, and the others limited English, we totally hammed it up and had some great conversations. I was the youngest there, but only by a year, and I found out that I am not even the youngest teacher at the school! After dinner, to my surprise a round of cake showed up. This was some killer cake, but perhaps the sweetest part about it was the fact that they got candles. We all put a candle on our cake and we all celebrated each others birthdays.

Thursday rolled around, and low and behold it was my birthday. The day started off a little rocky, but proceeded to get better and better by the hour. When I first go to school I was in a low mood, but many of the teachers wished me a happy birthday, then I taught 3 of the best classes of the year. Admittedly, one of them was all games, but it culminated in the students teaching me some slang and more modern Japanese. After that I had the rest of the day to kick around the school. I started a project that I have been planning for a while: Adam Bucks. This is a way to give rewards every game, but not give out all my prizes to quickly. “Adam Bucks” can be cashed in for prizes when the certain amount has been reached; different prizes will have different values.

After school, I headed home. I swung by the post office to pick up a package that I missed the delivery on the day prior. I was pleasantly surprised to find it was a package from Liz. I flew home and sat for all of 30 seconds before I started opening it. I would say before I ripped into it, but for those of you who know me well enough to see me open gifts, you’ll know how my meticulous anal Virgo comes out in full bloom when I unwrap gifts. I won’t go into details of the contents, but I was really pleased. The one thing I will mention is the coffee. It definitely rocks that I now have a JJ Bean stash at my house! After that I was sending some email, when I got an e-card from my mom. I replied to it and mentioned that her package hadn’t come yet…we both had assumed this would be the case, but we were holding out hope. The hilarity of the situation is that with in 2 min of sending that email, the post man arrived at my door. Low and behold what did he have, my birthday package from my mom. The irony of the situation left me laughing for hours.

At around 7 pm, people started gathering at my house. We were going to party since it was a long weekend. I love the fact that the Autumnal Equinox is a holiday! There were 5 of us all together. We were missing a few of our crew, one to a previous (many months prior engagement) and another to a thrown out back. We hit up a restaurant called Shunsaibo. It has all sorts of great food, the two best being the deep fried Camembert cheese and taco rice. The other rocking thing about this place is that if you make reservations on your birthday you get a free bottle of champagne. Needless to say, I had made a reservation. After a kick ass meal, and some ice cream with a sparkler, it was time to head to Karaoke. We showed up and only had to wait 5 min…frankly I think they always make you wait 5 min…it helps them look busier. We requested the system that has the most English songs (this Karaoke place actually has 3 different systems). We got the system we wanted, and had a great time. We were there for about 3 hours, and the better way through the 3^rd hour a surprise showed up. My friends had gone to the Baskin Robins in town and ordered an ice cream cake for me. They had left it at the Karaoke place earlier in the day. It was a delicious cake. Moreover, the also got me some gifts. Since the car I was really hoping to get was a Subaru Impreza WRX, they got me a remote control version of that car. They also wanted to get me a taste of home, so they got me a big bottle of Canadian Club Whiskey. We closed off the night with a few last songs and headed home. That was the end of my actual birthday. All in all a pretty kick ass day.

Friday morning rolled around, and Brandon and I decided to hit the beach. We drove out to Niigata, and got there in time for some good surf. The only weird thing was that the waves were breaking in such a way that made them a big pain in the ass to catch. We tried hard until the surf died down, then we hit the international food store in Niigata. On top of Jamaican Red Stripe Beer, I got some A&W Root Beer (something impossible to find here), and some brie cheese. I was looking for peanut butter, but I couldn’t find it…oh well. After that we bombed back into Nakano, as we had a party to get ready for that night.

We hosted a party out at Riches super huge house. It’s a little in the sticks, but large enough to allow for many people. We got there, set up the place, and then waited. People started showing and the party started rocking. It went late in to the night, and we all had a blast.

Then it was Sunday, time for some R&R. Well kinda. I took a trip into Nagano City with a fellow Canuck, Derek. We hit the big electronics store, and I got a mic for my computer. The kick ass thing is that I can now have voice conversations with anyone over the internet. If you use a pc and have messenger we can chat that way. Or have a mac or don’t want messenger, then get a program called Skype. Its free and the killer part is that with either PC Messenger or Skype, and a mic you can talk for free, in real time over the internet. Look into it. I have found it to be well worth it!

The other part of my trip to Nagano was to look for a bike. I inherited 2 bikes with my house, but to be honest, they both suck. The breaks have seized on both, and they are not worth trying to repair. After a few hours of lost and hopeless searching we finally found the mountain bike store. Well the wait was worth it; the owner knows his bikes, and he offers screaming deals. In the end he made me an offer I couldn’t reuse (and no, this isn’t the Godfather Bike Shop). He offered me over $700 off a top of the line mountain bike. It’s a Kona and it is killer sweet. The deal is that it is the end of the season, and this is this year’s model and people in Japan want things brand new so no one will by it next year. Score for me. In the end I just got myself a birthday present.

Well that is a recap of the days surrounding my first birthday overseas. It was memorable, and eventful. I was sad to not have all my regular peeps around, but it was still a great time. Thanks to all who sent me birthday wishes, it definitely made it a little less hard.

back to the heat...whats up with that?

Well it has been a while since I last updated. I hope you all enjoy looking at my car as much as I enjoy driving it. I will try to catch up to date on everything that has been going down...we'll see how long I can type for.

As far as the title: the weather has been slowly turning to fall. The nights when clear are actually cold. I know I said you cant complain about gas prices, so I should complain about 14 degree nights, but man compared to the summerday heat it seriously feels cold! It is undeniably becoming Fall here...but today the remnance of Typhoon 15 which hit China and Korea (I have no idea what the stupid name is, because they dont name the typhoons...if you hear one refered to with a name, that is the American media or meteorologists doing that) started to pass through. It is now nothing more than a strong low. The way it worked a front passed over and left us with blazing hot and humid air. It felt like early August did! Even the Japanese people were surprised. That being said, I can already feel Fall at night, its just a matter of time till Winter...and snowboarding!

So first things first: purchases. It seems that Japan is one large sponge for money. This doesn't really stem from things being more expensive (which most things are, let me tell ya), but more from just trying to get set up. I have been endlessly missing my longboard. My toe-nails are loving the rest from being brused and falling off every few months, but my brain just wants to carve some asphalt. There are some smoking hills to bomb, and some nice small slopes to cruse on around my house. Moreover, whatever god/deity/higherpower/or nothingness you believe in, bless Japanese perfectionism and care for public space. Major roads are immaculate...no potholes no cracks. Simply beautiful. My small neighbourhood is another story, but since I am downslope from everything in town that will just make for a bumpy ride at the end. I can handle that. All that being said, my longboard is sitting in my Mom's house, and there is no way it will make it here (unless I fork out a wad'o'cash for airmail) before the rain and snow covers the beautiful beautiful asphault. So I purchased another type of longboard. The downside, its almost impossible to 'ollie' this one...the upside, if I wipe out (which we all know seems to happen frequently to me) on this one it will definately hurt a lot less. If you haven't guessed it, I bought a surfboard. I told myself I wouldn't, but with 2 of the other JET's in town now owning surfboards, and making weekend trips to the beach, it was kinda one of those When in Rome moments. The board is not an pro-model or anything like that. Pretty stock surfboard, blue stripe on a white board. The sweetest part (other than surfing on it) is how hot it looks on top of my car. Let it be known, I am the hottest shit in town! (and modest about it too, HA!).

As far as other purchases...I havent really made anyother major ones...but here is a list of some of the things I put off buying so I could get a surfboard:
-a standing lamp (so I dont have to use the bloody flourscent lights that all Japanese homes have)
-a mic and webcam so I can talk to ppl in Vancouver for free with Skype. (so check this, if you want to talk to me for free, get a mic and an instant messaging program)
-indoor shoes for school (they school has a million pairs of slippers that I can borrow, but they give me shin splints)
-an iron (my solution to wrinkly clothes: dont wash them and they arent as wrinkly. HA, just kidding, or am I?!?)
-a better couch or floor chair (the one I have is fine, but it is so low that my knees get killer sore when I stand up. There are floor chairs that are a few inches higher which I think will help.)

BUT, I can now officialy say I am a Snow/skim/longskate/sufboarder. Thats right, I give you all permission to bask in my stunning and official boarder-ness.
(I assume I should prepare for and accept some mocking on for that last sentance [especially if Mel is reading this], but I think this tea I have been downing tonight is having a funny effect on me...I swear its just tea, but I seriously feel...wacked...as if my post isn't showing that)

Second topic: Elementary school. So I visited the second of 3 elementary shcools that I will work at (Kousha JHS is still my base school, but every month I have 2 days at each elementary school). This school was called Nagaoka, and it was stunning. It is extremely new...like months old, kinda like my JHS, but cooler. Why is it so new you ask? (and if you didnt, you should have!) Well let me tell you: The government of Japan is undergoing some ambitious expantion. They are expanding the Shinkansen (bullet train) from Nagano to Niigata, with plans to go all the way up the west coast at some point. What does this mean for Nagaoka school? Well they were unfortunate or fortunate enough to be right in the path of the new line. Their school was leveled, and where it was there is now a large concrete support for the elevated line. This was for the good though because they got a brand new school. It is about 5oo meters from the Shinkasen, but since the line wont be built for another 9 years it isnt so bad (on another note, I have not seen a single worker on the line, and it is build in spuratic sections...very strange). The new school is all wood, and the sweetest part is the outside courtyard. There is a large Koi (carp) pond with a fountian. There are a few fish in there. The pond feeds a stream that runs through the courtyard. Either side of the stream has small bushes that serve as home to about 100+ tree frogs. The coolest thing is that it is all designed for the kids to muck about it. Needless to say, I was right in there, catching frogs, tossing them in the pond, making them race. It was so much fun, and the kids didn't even they were learning things as they played. I wish my elementary school had a pond. Instead we had ditches...still frogs, just not so clean...Richmond, go figure.

The only other thing that strikes me as worth of mention (in regards to Nagaoka) right now, is the poor kid that I indirectly made cry. So I have alreay explained the school lunch thing, but it is taken to a new level at the Elementary schools. I am suppsoed to wait in the teachers room until the kids from the class that I have been assigned to come and humbly and politely request my honoured presance in their class. That sounds arrogant, but unlike my boarder comment, it really isnt. That is the translation of the style of Japanese that they are supposed to ask me in. The other thing is that they have to carry my lunch tray. I would have no problem doing it, but that would show some fault on their part, so I just go along with (as if you cant see where this is going...) So this particular day in question, the 4th graders come and get me from the teachers room. Being the guest at the school, I get a huge bowl of soup and a massive ammount of salad (the 2 dishes that dont come preportioned). I think I had at least 2 regular size portions. The 4th graders on on the 2nd floor of the school...and on the way up the stairs...something goes wrong...the poor kid carrying my tray...trips...full out...face first...and slam! my lunch is now the most recent decoration for the stairs and wall. I just shrugged it off, ask the poor guy if he was ok...he said he was fine, but his shin looked mighty scraped up. I told another kid to get a mop and some towels, while I cleaned up the initial mess, and went back to the teachers room with the ruined lunch. I was given some other teachers lunch, and sent off in a hurry. When I got back to the stairs 3 teachers were on their hands and knees cleaning the floor (seriously, they dont have mops here...I dont get it) and the poor little dude was just bawling. There was a huge crowd, so I told them all to get to class, and sat the poor little dude down. Now my Japanese still sucks, and he didnt know any English. The futility of me trying to comfort him was not lost on me, but what else could I do. It took a good 5 min but he finally calmed down a little. Poor guy went from having the honour to bring me to class and carry my lunch for me, to the shame of spilling it infront of everyone. I wonder, if he had a Tanto (small samurai sword) if he woundnt have drew it and committed Sepuku (hari-kari in damn American Japanese) right there.

So I was going to write about the English Conversational class we teach on Tuesdays, but I am getting tired, and it is getting late. I will save that for another post. Besides, I think another 1600 word post is good...and the trippy tea is starting to wear off...

Hope all is well in BC! Give my best to all who dont read this...and then convince them to do so! Remember, all you trolls (ppl who read but dont post), my shaw email addy is still in action, so feel free to hit me with a private message!

Cheers!

My Car!

First things first, NO ADS PLEASE. Anyone can comment, but no BS ads! Playfair or I will put rules on posting rights!

What IS up with that, eh? I guess I should take it as flattery, but what a nusance. Anyways on to cooler things like my car!

So this is my car. It rocks. It isnt the best on gas, but it is still pretty good by North American standards. I know gas is expensive at home because of the hurricane, but it has always been high here. It is up to 130 Yen a litre...thats about a buck fifty...so all gas price complaints can be directed to my trash can! Ha!

But back to my car! It is a Nisan Rasheen. As far as I know, it doesn't exits in North America. It is about the size of a station wagon, but as you can see it's boxy. It has the cool deer guard with fog lights, and the spare tire on the swing arm. It also has a sunroof. The trunk has a hatch and a tail gate. It came with a roof rack but no cross bars, so I picked a pair up as well.

I think the car is 8 years old, but I'm not postitive, and the sales staff didn't speak English. With my broken Japanese, and a little help from my supervisor, I managed to do most of the buisness. The car was a 135000 KM when I got it, but it still runs great. Apparently it has a timing chain, not a belt. I dont know exactly what the exact purpose of that is, but I can deduce that it lasts longer...which saves a costly repair!

The car is 4wd, so it will be good for when we get feet of snow overnight. This is also the first manual transmition car that I own...I have driven stick before, but never had one to myself. Boy, they are way more fun! It will also be the car of choice to hit the ski hills. More than anything it looks super cool.

I guess the biggest thing of note is the steering wheel. Not the fact that it isnt built for my thighs, but that its on the right! Its kinda funny, because I didnt event think to mention that until I looked at the photos. It actually comes really naturally to drive on the right...I have no idea why though. The only difficulty, and its minor at that, is to make sure you dont drift too far left. The roads are narrow and people drive a little crazy at times. A strong set of wits, and experience driving a big truck are 2 things I recomend before attempting the roads in Japan.

Well that is all I have for now, enjoy these pictures and I have also updated the last post and given the pics some captions!

Cheers all for your continued readership!

Just some pics

The Above two shots are from the Suwa Fireworks festival in August


These are students of class 2-1, where I ate lunch for a few weeks. I nicknamed the one getting locked up "meat-ball"

These are some 3rd year students. The guy second from the left has a broken arm (see the blue cast?). He is the local high jump champ, but busted his arm doing pole vault.

Second year students pulling 'weeds' from the field. Really anything that resembles a weed, including grass gets pulled.

Joetsu beach, our not so local surfing spot.

My attempt at an artistic shot of a spiral staircase in Nagano City.

Takaoka Elementary school and its Garden. This is one of the elementary schools I visit.

Nakano sunset. 'nuf said?

The entirety of Kousha JHS. Notice the girls on the left in sailor uniforms.