The Sunshine Taunts Me

Music: With Tired Eyes, Tired Minds, Tired Souls, We Slept- Explosions in the Sky 

“That’s not fair!!!” Said 8 year old Lindzy.

“Life’s not fair.” Replied her mother.

Lesson 1: Moms are always right.

Lesson 2: Life’s not fair.

One of my worst fears has come true.  Not one of my worst fears actually.  The mother of all fears.  Many people may have heard me say that the one thing I did not want to happen while I went overseas is for someone I know and love to die.  In my mind was the idea of a grandparent passing on, which would have been absolutely devastating.  Even more devastating is something completly unexpected.

My cousin died in a car accident (oops… ) the other day.  WTF.  Being far away and pretty much unreachable by telephone I received the news in an email.  Let me tell you, I’m not sure if there is a good way to hear something this heartbreaking, but alone in a foreign country about to download the morning news and check out some emails is not ideal.  I’ve never had to deal with death (thank goodness I’ve been so lucky) and this was not handled well by me. 

Even worse then hearing of unfortunate news so far away from friends or family, is to be in a country like Japan.  Now I love the country and everything, and i’m not trying to make anyone feel bad… but could these people be a little more cold please?  When I walked into work red faced and puffy with tears streaming down my face, I got treated as though I had the plague.  I got a ‘gomen’ (which means sorry…which they didn’t even say in english for efs sake) and avoided for the next two days.  Seriously.  Completly avoided.  Not even a pat on the back.  Not even an ‘are you ok?’  or, ’should we cancel classes’?  Nope, nothin.  So I sat in my classroom alone and crying. 

My cousin is dead, and that’s the strangest thing I have ever said to myself.  Him and his twin are the reason my family calls me ’spaghetti legs’ and the reason everyone makes fun of my monkey arms and called me their famous cousin when “I” began appearing in Rogers commercials (yes, one with the monkey a few years back).  I remember looking at him when we’d go for visits to North Bay, and how he used to smoke behind the parents back, and I think that he was sooo cool and so bad ass.  Also how him and Marc are the oldest cousins of the family, yet to this day (at 28-29 years old) they are still refered to as ‘les ’tit gars’ (lil’ boys). 

Not only do I feel terrible for the loss I have suffered, I feel terrible for the loss Rita, Gilles, and Marc (aunt, uncle and cousin) are most likely being tortured with right now.  Even worse, Mathieu and Marc are twins, a loss even more unimaginable, one Marc probably feels throughout his whole body.  I feel an incredible sense of guilt for not leaving Japan and going home for the funeral.  I was advised not too, since it was just for one day… but it’s not just one day to me.  It would mean the comfort of close friends and family, something I won’t ever get here.  I would also be there supporting my aunts, cousins, grandmaman, brothers and mom.  I feel left out and awfully alone.  I’ve tried to write letters to my family, but i’m at lose for words when i go to write.  What can I say?  I’m sorry?  That’s almost worse then the slowly-backing-away-’gomen’ I got from the Japanese teachers. 

My heart and head and gut hurt.

I feel even more guilty, cause I know it’s coming out in my teaching a bit.  Poor Ayaka and Miyu, I was on the verge of tears with every clap, jump and hop; and Kako kept crying cause Mommy wasn’t standing in the doorway and her diamond shoes were too tight.  I also let Sumire, Mari and Isao play uno for ten minutes at the beginnig of class all in Japanese, cause I really didn’t give a fuck.  Actually, if it wasn’t for the classes, I’d be a lot less distracted.  My baby class today was pretty uplifting.  Rino picked the ‘monkey’ stuffed animal and said the word without any coaxing, which made me laugh and think of Matthieu.  And Yuki (the bilingual cutie who has a new answer to “How are you?” every week) kept saying “Are you o.k?”.  Also, someone was looking out for me, cause it has been a long week and I was sick and tired of faking it today, when I got news that Yuna’s (she is by far my worst student and I would definitely not have had the energy for her today) older brother hurt his foot, so they were absent today.  Manager didn’t even care when i jumped up and went ‘yaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!’, which was clearly unprofessional, but so obviously acceptable for the moment.  Actually the one consoling thing that was said to me by a Japanese teacher on the first day of hearing the news was “Well,…. at least today isn’t your Yuna day.”  Then she quickly shuffled away…

So life sucks, and I do feel sad and alone, but i’d like to thank those who have taken time out of their busy lives to try to be there for me and console me, i know those virtual hugs mean tonnes.  I’d especially like to thank two amazing and compassionate boys who have spent countless hours on msn and skype with me, even though i’m sure they are sick of hearing me talk.  You’ve been great distractions, more than you will probably ever know.       

Not Weird, Just Different

Music: Little Boxes- Malvina Reynolds

In many of the classes that I took in University on the subject of culture, it became common knowledge that Asia was more of a collectivistic culture, while North America was highly individualistic.  Now living in Asia, I can see exactly what they were talking about.  Coming from a multicultural society where everyone tries their hardest to be an individual, the only culture shock this girl has had is the disbelief in the lack of subcultures. 

Walking throughout Japan, talking to my students and other Japanese people that I have met, it amazes me how little people like to deviate from the norm.  Here are some examples of my observations:

1. The Uniform: ok, when I was in High School, AS SOON as that bell rang, the blouse was untucked, and in most cases taken off, because i definitely had a coloured t-shirt underneath it.  Furthermore, as soon as I got home, the entire uniform was taken off and i changed into something much more comfortable, and much more myself.  These kids wear their uniform on the weekend.  No kidding.  Well, it’s not that bad… you find tonnes that arn’t wearing their uniform, but if they are studying, which they often are, they have that uniform on (skirt not rolled up).

2. The Schooling: Everyone here studies their ass off.   I’m talking harder then i have ever seen anyone study before.  Everyone here is expected to work hard and go to University or College.  Then they are expected to work hard at their job, the same job, till the day they die.  Everyone does it.  My student Nagi was shocked when I said to her “When I decided I wanted to go to Univeristy, I was in grade twelve… not grade five like yourself.”  “You decided??  You mean you had a choice?  Some people don’t go to University in Canada?”  enough said on that subject i think…

3. You do what Daddy says:  I have many students who tell me their faveorite subjects.  There is a wide range in that case.  A lot of them say English.  I think that a lot of them are lying, cause they sure as hell don’t look excited to be there.  Furthermore, their goals do not match what they like.  One of my students Kazuya (this case is typical of a lot of them though)  told me his faveorite subject was Politics and that he hates Science.  So i got all excited and asked him if he would go to Uni for Politics.  ”No, i’m going into medicin.”  His dads a doctor.  

4. Lack of Subcultures:  Remember the beginning of Clueless when Sher is walking through her campus and explaining to Ty about all the different groups and where to sit?  That’s totally how Canada is right? You’ve got the skaters, the goths, the hiphoppers, the nerds, the preps and so on and so on (whatch the movie if you don’t remember… or just go to your local cafeteria or campus, or just watch the movie cause its amazing).  You don’t even need to go to high school to see this, you see sub cultures every where!  Canada’s chalk full of em!!!  All kinds of different shapes, size and colours.  Definitely can’t find that here.  Other than school, shopping and work, Ihave seen only two subcultures.  The first are the “rebels”, these kids stand outside of the train station on weekends yelling at each other and looking all gangsta.  They just yell. It’s strange.  Second, I have seen a few breakdancers in the street malls later at night.  Otherwise, everyone dresses the same, everyone does the same things and they all take pride in being the same.  It is a rare event to see a skateboarder, a bboy, queers, hippies, druggies (that one is a never event), thugs…. lets not even talk about how rare it is to see a white, brown, or black person. 

Its strange to get used to that aspect of Japan.  I’m not sure why they talk about culture shock when coming here.  You ease in so comfortably because everyone behaves pretty much the same.  The real culture shock i think will be when I go home.  It’s going to be soooo weird to be back in Canada.  I can already tell.  (Sorry if i talk really weird when I do get back).  The good thing though is that the Japanese culture is so damn cool.  So even if they do all act similarly, it is all incredibly new and different.  I catch myself constantly saying how weird things are.. but I have to remind myself that it is just different. 

Some more observations on the differences between here and there:

1. Being Polite: I don’t know how Canada got the stereotype of being the polite country… Japan wins on this one.  My faveorite part is the thank you competition with everyone.  I love to win that, it’s so damn satisfying.  Whenever you get your change back at a cashier the war begins: “Arigato gozaimasu.” I say.  Then the cashier says it.  Then i say it as im walking away, then she yells it after me, and everyone else that works in the conveni says it, so i say it back, so then they all say it back, andthen im heading out the door yelling it back at them.  If I don’t hear them, I win.  Same goes for restaurants or any other store.  Plus they are always apologizing for getting in your way, even if they arn’t in your way.  Another one of my faveorites, is that everyone that works in an establishment yells their greetings when you walk in.  Restaurant, store, grocery store, convenis, they all welcome you and thank you for coming… they yell it no matter what.  There is a lot of yelling in this country.

2. They only exercise behind closed doors (the gym); they are like movie stars.  You should see the looks I get when i’m jogging.  The only people i see out in the morning are early morning smokers.

3. The shrines: no churches, but the river i jog down has tonnes of shrines.  I was told they were put there to stop flooding.  Also they have water fountains in them, and people are there every morning filling up tonnes of water bottles to drink delicious blessed water.  Also, these are helpful for when i get thirsty while jogging !

Alright, there are thousands more, but this post (once again) is getting too long and i’m sure you all must be off with things to do.  I’ll let you know that I survived my weekend of settling down and had a fabulous time.  Especially since my student Nami took me out with her family on sunday, and I spent the whole day with them.  They took me to the port bright and early to have a stroll by the ocean(very very early…. I was up the night before untill 430 am playing mariokart at Koji’s with Simon and Lacey for Simons farewell, in which of course, Koji didn’t let us pay for drinks after 2:00 am.  The 830 am phone call from Nami was a groggy one)  and then out to lunch for some fresh sushi (probably the best I’ve had since I got here, Nori, her husband, kept throwing random plates at me to try, “Challenge!”  he’d say.  The biggest challenge was when I ate liver… disgusting…absolutely disgusting, I could hardly swallow it.  Yuka and Manica (Nami’s daughters) found this hilarious).  Afterwards we went to a ceramics studio and Manica, Yuka and I got down and dirty with the pottery making cups and plates.  Last they took me to the mall, cause I hadn’t been to that one, and we spent the whole time in the toy section.  Most fun ever!  (Just like to say that I got a Relakuma kei tai charm –please see previous posts if you don’t know what i’m talking about). 

 I’m not gonna lie, I was eeeeeexhausted from the day.  It’s tough to speak slowly and simply all day.  Doesn’t sound hard, but it is.  I did not mind staying in that night and comforting Lacey (she’s uber bummed that Si is gone ) with some popcorn and movies.  Today I spent it with Eri, a Japanese lady i work with, and Lacey.  We went to lunch, an ‘international grocery store’ and a pet shop.  All very exciting, a) I GOT PEANUT BUTTER!!!!!!!  So pumped, even if it is the smallest jar of it i’ve ever owned.  I got some premium plus crackers to go with it.  b) I got salsa!!!  Also the smallest jar of the stuff i’ve ever owned.  I am going to relish these items (yes that means no spoon eating the peanut butter… seriously… i won’t!)  and c) bombay gin at the low price of 1400 yen!!!  (that is about $15.00 for a 26er!!!!).  All three, highly satisfying (expensive) buys. 

This weekend left me very pleased, I can stay in Toyama and still have a crazy good time.  Furthermore, I learnt tonnes chilling with the Sahara’s on sunday.  We had some nice chats about differences in cultures and she answered some questions regarding the things I find different here.  I wonder if those of you who are reading this have any questions on things they would expect to be different that I can answer for you.  I know in some of your emails you often ask about certain topics, and i’m trying to cover them all, so if i’ve forgotten one, let me know . 

miss you all!!  xoxoxlindz 

  

    

Don’t Settle, Just Settle Down

Music: Running Away- The Polyphonic Spree

“It’s time to settle down”, I said to myself the other day. 

Settle down you ask?  Why!  That’s not the Lindzy “I’ll sleep when I die” Humphreys talk!  It isn’t, you’re right.  I like to keep busy and go crazy.  A friend pointed out to me though, “Lindz, you’ve only been there a month, and all your weekends sound so intense.”  He’s right.  They have been all-consuming. 

Last weekend, after a crazy party out in Takaoka, where I met a few coolies (and a lot of wienies–obviously, whities), I woke up hungover at 6:30 am, for I had to run (bike really fast) to the train station to catch a 7:10 train to Takayama.  Tannis and Natalie both met with me in almost the same state.  We took a two hour train ride, with an hour stop over in the quietest mountain town I have ever seen.  We then spent the day in a scenic, yet touristy, town of Takayama.  Incredibly old, and incredibly beautiful.  The best part was the Hido-no-Sato village.  This is a old Folk Village from the 1700s, which, once you enter and pay the damn entrance fee, is a sight of rolling hills and grass hatched roofs, smoking chimneys, log cabins, freshly cut wood, and old crooked paths.  A scene straight from a Mother Goose nursery rhyme. 

The next day I had some breakfast tea with my dear Lacey.  We have not hung out in a while because of our own obligations, and it’s sad .  So we spent the morning together, and it made me happy.  She’s a really unique soul, I like her energy and determination and will be upset when she goes.  I want December to come, in that it will bring Ashleigh, but I want it to hold off, due to it taking Lace away.  I’m not going to lie, I think about these type of things when I meet people; how these relationships are for a limited time only, and therefore shy away from becoming close to anyone.  Lacey will be staying in Japan, but not Toyama, so I can have this friendship for a little longer, but the rest of the people I have been meeting… one day someone leaves, the next, a “newbie” arrives.

That day was a beautiful day.  Perfect some may say; cool temperatures, but  the sun warms you up so that you don’t need a sweater when you are biking, and a sweet autumn breeze that stops you from becoming too warm.  I decided to try to find a park called Jike (jee-Kai) Park that I had read about on the internet and in Toyama Prefecture pamphlets.  I recruited Natalie and we grabbed a train to Sasazu in search of hiking trails and forest.  We could not find this park, or anyone in the deserted town to help us find it.  Instead we litterally stumbled upon a Buddha statue… two Budd–three–no ten Buddha statues, no, wait, three hundred Buddha statues!!!  (I didn’t count, but there was a lot).  All was not lost.  No park to be found, but a lovely afternoon among the Buddhas in a deserted town.

What about Toyama though?  I still get confused when trying to get to certain places, I have yet to find a cosy coffee shop (one that isn’t the only, and incredibly popular, Starbucks, or “French” bakery in the train station); I’m uncertain what lies beyond the river that I jog along every morning, which leads from my apartment, to my place of employment, and surrounds the downtown.  I have not seen the University, and I have not been to the market that happens twice a month at the Temple, I have not seen the temple.  I had my first TV night with new friends, and it freaked me out.  I had to get out of that normalcy, the “I live here” feeling I got on the rainy monday (which are my sundays) creeped up on me.

I’m not sure why that feeling scares me so much.  I never liked leaving Guelph and leaving University; perhaps I don’t like the idea of a place other than Alice St, with the crew, being my home, and leaving the past behind and knowing that my friends are somewhere without me.  It also bothers me a bit that I don’t have my closest friends here.  I have  no one to express my thoughts and feelings too (other than this blog of course) without the fear of opening up to a new friend that will a) one day leave, and b) could turn out to be not a good friend at all.  Furthermore, the idea of a full time job freaks me out.  For the Japanese teachers I work with, this is their job, as in career, and I tell myself that this is what I am doing for a year.  In reality, it is still a job, a real job, where, to the fear of some of those that know me well, I have childrens education in my hands.  Maybe, I am just afraid of the old “growing up”.  A new city, a JOB, an APARTMENT, NEW friends (that can’t possibly be as awesome as those I left), co-workers, a CLASSROOM, STUDENTS, gradeing homework, dealing with the girl that wears me out in just forty minutes, dealing with the boy whose mom hits him on the back side when he doesn’t say something properly.  Ugh, it’s all so real and complete and full-blown adulthood (sorry guys, can’t meet you at Koji’s, I really need to sweep my apartment and clean the drains.. ew).  University life is the best.. siiiigh.

On the bright side though, I am meeting some interesting people.  At the party last saturday I met a dude from Canada (i’ll try not to hold it against him that he went to Queens) and a girl from Boston (i’ll try not to hold it against her that she’s from the States).  Tannis, Lacey, Natalie and  Simon are all wicked people that I have gotten to know and really like as well.  (Sorry, actually I knew Tan before coming here).  My co-workers are awesome too.  As part of my “settling down” weekend, I made plans with one of them, Eri, to go out on monday for lunch and to find me a housecoat for those cold mornings. 

My students are hilarious and amazing as well.  I really like going to work every day, dispite the few oddity’s.  If I had the time to talk about every single one of them and how wicked they are, I would.  I feel really lucky that I work for a private company, and that I am not an ALT.  ALT’s work in junior highs and their classes are about forty kids in schools of 1000s.  I have the same kids every week and teach classes with one to five kids.  I really get to know all of them, and am slowly falling in love with them.  What am I talking about?  I’m head over heels in love with like 3/4 of them.  I feel an insane amount of guilt when I loose my patience with them and their two second attention span, so I recover by singing the weather song while throwing them in the air, or asking them if they can….”FLY!!!!!”  and scare the shit out of them by ’airplaneing’ them in the classroom (lets face it…. this is the highest they are ever gonna ever be lifted).  My upper body strength is getting better every day… they may look like light little Japanese dolls, but they arn’t. 

Highest on the “bright side” I’m in Japan!!!  Even if I settle down for the next two weekends (which I have promised myself I will do untill I go to Tokyo on the second of November!!!!)  the Japanese are a riot!  This place is so cooky.  They are so weird!!  Well, not weird… just… different…. Plus, there isn’t anything wrong with feeling settled and comfortable in my apartment, in my new city, with new friends, where I work.

Home Sweet Home

Music: Don’t Stop me Now- Queen.

Woo! Turning the world around, floating around in ecstasy… sooo.. don’t stop be now. They call me Ms. Farenheit here in Japan. Well not really, but it would be sweet if they did…

This weekend was the first weekend that it hit me… I Live Here. I always knew that I liiiiived here, cause, well, I come home to my apartment every night, and I get ready in the morning and drink my coffee and go to work, but most weekends have been full and exciting and crazy and not what I would do back home. This weekend was different.

Saturday night Lacey took off to Tokyo so I sent her off by forcing sake and wine down her throat. I’m such a doll. On her way off I met this French dude, Ugo. He was pretty cool and fun to talk to…. “nyah nyah nyah nyah nyah, no one can understand US for once!!! muhahahaha. Ef you and your Japanese skills, try understanding OUR conversation!!!” My French skills got worse as the night went on. Especially when I ordered a gin and soda… and got two shots of tequila…. seriously! what don’t they understand about gin and soda?!?! Ugo and Natalie thought it was funny. I did.. .until I ran my bike straight into a wall….

Sooo anyways, the next day Natalie and I headed to a town near by: Kanazawa. It’s the “big city”, which makes me laugh, cause Toyama has half a million… and that’s small… for Japan. I’m not sure how big this city is, but the mall is huge…

We of course checked out the sites… the famous garden which was beautiful, and had the ooooldest fountain in Japan. Yes, I got a picture of me doing the peace sign by it… no worries. Natalie and I also checked out the samurai houses. Quite nifty, but let me tell you, the history thing is cool, and i’m 100% certain i’ll be blown away when i go to certain places like Hiroshima, but i was uber bummed that we didn’t have time to go to the Sake brewery. THAT would have been cooooool. No worries though, the town is near and cheap to get too. I will go to a sake brewery soon. Otherwise Natalie and I had a wonderful day together, being hungover in a different town. The beautiful weather, being surrounded by fresh gardens and the delightful traditional section of Kanazawa, with its coblestone roads and its old rivers and houses, was a delightful setting for our chilled out fall day. (The weather is getting a bit colder! 25 degrees!!!)

I have to do this. I cannot emphasize enough how much I love there souvenir and train stations here. You can test eeeeverrryyything!!! By the end of the day in Kanazawa, I was a little tired of the red bean paste and pounded rice, but its still awesome to eat for free . It is what I do best. I wouldn’t mind some wine gums though, and sour patch kids… mmm. I’m not even going to get into the food I miss. Another funny thing about souvenirs, is every town has their “thing”. Toyama’s is shrimp and these weird little firefly squids (which kind of explode in your mouth :S), their own rice, their own sake (which is a rice wine) and their own mayonaise (sad but true.. I am beginning to embrace mayonaise though…); lastly, Hello Kitty. Every city (at least around here) has their own kei tai (cell phone) Hello Kitty charms (everyones cell phone has a cute little charm on it). So Toyama’s Hello Kitties are dressed up in an ebi costume (shrimp), dressed up in a squid costume, one that has flowers (for the flower festival they have in the spring), one that has dancers (for that festival i went to when i first got here…) and a few others that I can’t think of. Either way, aaaadorable. Everyone loooves hello kitty .

Speaking of cartoons from here, my faveorite is Relakkuma (or Rirakkuma…no L remember). Either way, he’s this super chill bear, who just wants to relax maaaan and sleep and chill. If anything gets crazy, Relakkuma (Relax Bear) is just like, reeelaaaaax… check his cute ass out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0UC-_Xe6Kg

and with him and his girly friend. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDF8gEyIWX0&NR=1

I love him. I got a free little bag of him at the conveni the other day. Yaay.

Alright, so I got hit with reality again on sunday night and monday. Sunday night Natalie, Bliss and I chilled at Kojis and had a few beers. Such a tame weekend night for me… A few of the regular gaijin stopped in. Said hello. (Here at Koji’s, everyone knows your name). Actually one of them is Canadian, and he wished me a happy thanksgiving and shared with me his disapointment in not being able to find a whole chicken (let alone a turkey). I informed him that I found these amazing pumpkin tarts at Vie de France (the local bakery.. in the station, of course). We hung out with some of the regular Japanese dudes, you know , just a chill night (except for the movie Basic Instinct that was playing in the background… awwwkward….). The next day was poooouring rain, a day with nothing to do.

Nat and I spent it running a few errands (I bought some dumbells.. try riding your bike with those in the basket….), had coffee at starbucks (caught some Japanese school girls … in their uniforms… on a holiday, studying English in Starbucks… told them they were doing a good job:)), spent the rainy afternoon in a bookstore browsing. Lastly we spend the evening hanging out in her apartment with her roomate Daniel and dudes from downstairs (who laughed hysterically every time I said ‘eh’), watching movies and eating snacks. One funny part was that we spent a good forty minutes watching Nats new ‘Billy Blank’ DVD munching on pretzels. Hey at least I had actually done the video once before… Billy is crazy famous here in Japan, and they spent the good hour talking about how they couldn’t wait to actually try the workout.

I know it doesn’t sound big, but it was weird to actually do ‘not much’ on the weekend. Its something i would do on any given sunday in Guelph. So i had a good conversation with Natalie about how weird it was. I guess it was nice to chill out for the day, have a nice sushi dinner and some movies with friends… the movie was terrible though. Note to self: just because Sean Penn and Anthony Hopkins are in the film, doesn’t mean it’s gonna be good. Either way… I Live Here.

BUT living here still is different in many ways when I sit here and think about it. While we did have a chill night at Koji’s, this dude that owns another bar came by cause he heard gaijin hang out here. He was recruiting us …”don’t worry, the menus arn’t in English, but I speak English… can I join you?” He was actually pretty rad… but it was still funny to be recruited to drink in a bar. Also, while you were all in Canada celebrating colonialism, here in Japan i had to miss out on turkey, stuffing, mashed patatoes… and well everything… (especially OKTOBERFEST!!!!! waaaah…. no chicken dance here, that’s for sure). BUT, I did it my own way… made a little miso soup and added pumpkin to it (pumpkin is quite popular here when in season, and a veg i can afford). It was actually very delicious. Lastly, the movie store was fun to go to, all of their covers are different… thats it… but something to look at…And last for real, I bought pretzels here and they are weird. Not bad, just different.

On the 7th Day, God said:

“This is where I’m gonna effin’ chill.”

Music: You Can’t Hurry Love-Phil Collins

First of all, this weeks song is because I was at a bar/party on saturday night and this song came on!!!  Holy pumped!  Might as well start this blog off with my crazy saturday night experience.  Well, it wasn’t that crazy, just…. Japan.  Lacey, Natalie, Simon and I (and many others… these guys are just the usuals) all head out to this bar for an anniversary party of a different bar.  Off to the dance floor!

Crazy things that happen at Dance parties in Japan:

1. Dancing (it’s true, dancing in Japan is very rare… Karaoke is in)
2. Music-first it went from awesome oldies (Phil Collins <3, Walking on Sunshine, The twist) to weird house/dance beats to ska, to… a full out ska band.  whaaaa?
3. Dancing with boys. This just increased my love for Japanese boys; they wanna dance with you, so they do, remaining in their own bubble, and i in mine, but still having a good time. White dude at the bar (who will remain nameless), dry humps me all night even though i am clearly giving him the cold (ice cold) shoulder.  (Just to find out the next day that he has a wife and child :O).  Boys can be scum.
4. Free drinks.  I’m at the bar waiting to get a drink, when a dj i met a few weeks earlier walks up and invites Lacey and I to another party.  We agree to attend.  He hands me a beverage.  Sweet.  I’m on the dance floor, when a Japanese boy strolls by, forces his beer down my throat and strolls away.
5. Entrance fee.  I’m white, I get five hundred yen off.

Twas a fun night.

Sunday was rainy, so Lacey, Natalie, and another girl from Ontario (Sara) head out to the new Daiwa (new mall).  Its hot shit, and all my students have checked it out, so so should I:).  The basement was the best… all food.  This is no normal food court people.  Samples everywhere, delicious, fresh, made on the spot food.  So much to look at, try, wish i could afford.  We spent so much time just down there!  Especialy when i found the cutest coffee bar and just had to sit and have a few… Otherwise the mall was super pricey, but cool to look (Burberry, Ralph Lauren, Dior… daaaaaamn.)  I found one cute store that was somewhat affordable, but i just kept telling myself… i’d rather travel, i’d rather travel….

On our way out of the mall, the golden gates of heaven opened and there before me: STARBUCKS.  Yes i know (as Simon pointed out) i’m going to hell, but i don’t care.  Good coffee is good coffee, starbucks smelt like home.  It was awesome.  And oyshi (delicious).

Then came monday.  Yet another amazing time.  A few weeks ago i met a dude, Chris (Chris P…. cripy!) at a bar.  He’s from Acton of all places!!!  (yeah thats right, “It’s worth the drive to Acton.”)  He spent a few years in BC, so we got to talking.  He has been in Toyama for 12 years, so I started telling him about the stuff I wanted to do, and it turns out he’s into that stuff (I could have guessed that by the fact that he lived in BC…).  Anyways, he promises to take me out canyoning, hiking, rafting, whatever.  He holds true to his promise, and picked Lacey and I up this morning to take us out to the mountains to hike through rivers and go jumping and sliding.

It was aaaaaaamazing.  We went with four other japanese people.  One of them is a tour guide, and outdoor sportsman extraordinaire.  They took us out to the path DEFINITELY less travelled.  Not another person in site.  They take us up upupupup to the top of the mountain where we get out and get our wetsuits on and start hiking through the river and get to our first spot.  I don’t even know how to put some of this in words.  Our first stop was two different slides; really waterfalls into pools of ICE cold water… thank god for the wet suits.  They were fun and a good start.  Then we drive to the second spot.  This takes us back down the mountain a bit.  We do some scary jumping into a pool of water.  I was scared but i sucked it up.  Ichi, ni, SAN!  Just do it.  If I was tired at all, jumping off a slippery tree, while trying hard to push yourself away from the rock wall, falling 7-10 meters into icy icy water sure effing woke me up.  We jumped a few times each and then headed out for a beauiful half hour hike through a wild river, luscious green trees, mossy rocks, falling into random unexpected holes of water, slipping down mini waterfalls, and scaling walls to avoid dangerous looking rushing water into dark holes.  This path took us to one of the most beautiful sites i have ever seen.  A huge waterfall.  It was breathtaking.  I know it was just water, but theres something about nature that just makes you feel rejuvinated and wonderful.

It was serisouly majestic.  Maybe …. fifty feet?, of falling/rushing spring mountain water on a smoothed over years and years rock wall, making the surrounding area misty with its spray.  Big rocks to lounge on, and a pool of water to float in and drink from.  Big green trees and bamboo and droopy leaves and hanging moss, gave it that rainforest look.  Paaaraaaadise.  They totally had to tear me away… as everyone walked away though, i stood back to enjoy the view on my own .  Probably for too long, cause Chris and Lacey turned back to make sure I didn’t get swallowed by some black hole.  I apologized, but did not feel sorry, it was worth the extra look as i tried to etch the view in my mind forever.  I’m not even kidding, a tear or two came to my eyes, and i thought to myself, it’s a wonderful world.  I love my life.

We took our time heading back doing some extra jumping and sliding in the water and rocks and drops.

Then it was off to our last spot.  By this point we are all kind of tired and cold … my toes are pruning and fingers are super numb.  Our last spot was wicked though, just one big water slide into a big pool of water, next to yet another little waterfall.  So much fun.  Everyone laughed when i shouted “This is the best waterslide EVER!!!!” It was…

Even the ride home was awesome, I love driving home from somewhere far in warm cosy clothing leaning against the window watching the view (which was an amazing one, oooobviously) while watching the night grow darker and slightly listening to peoples conversations, as the street lights come on, the stars come out and everyone else grows quieter.  Man i’m so deep.  My weekends make it hard to return to work.  But alas, I must work to pay for more wonderful times… it’s days like this that keep me happy all week when surrounded by these savages we call children.

Stay tuned for next week:  A) I WILL get Tannis out B) Lacey is leaving me for the weekend for stupid Tokyo… pffft and C) i think im gonna cave and buy a sick pair of kicks i saw at Daiwa.