Planning ahead? who, me? WINTER BREAK

Yeah, that's right... planning vacations and maximizing life.... of course there will be some random trips in the upcoming months... but here is an idea for winter break. I post it now (though it will change, of course- dates, places, times, etc... IT'S JUST AN IDEA) in order to share with those of you who might find yourself interested.


(Gorgeous Tahoe Day)

DATES:
Dec 22-Jan 6th

PLAN:

Fly into Sapporo (like the beer!), Hokkaidou- far northern island of Japan. Perhaps I can get a discount for my domestic Japanese flight and up to three other friends on a possible JAL birthday discount... if its not in the blackout period.

(Dad on the X-country sticks at Lake Mary, Mammoth)



Hokkaidou snowboarding/skiing in:
-Niseko, "one of Japan's prime ski resorts" at Annupuri Ski Resort (western Hokkaidou)
-Rusutu, northern Hokkaidou
-Tomamu, eastern Hokkaidou



Train a bit further south to Yamagata prefecture (northern Honshu [main] Island):
Mt. Zaou- another awesome ski area

(all powder and no trees, makes for great Andes slopes, right, Doctor?!)

Nagano is another idea (home of the 1998 olympics)

-Happo-o-ne Ski resort

-Shiga-kogen

(what are you waiting for? Get in that pow pow!)



And, unfortunately, all of these slopes have local onsen to go with them... thermal hot baths...

Typical schedule looks like:
8:29am- wake up
8:30- hit slopes
16:30- stop riding
17:00- after-ski (drinks, duh!)
19:00- onsen to relax tight muscles
21:00- go to bars
before Dec 22, after Jan 6: Sleep


(Me looking like a girl with long hair as I hang on Eze's shoulder in Aspen-Snowmass!)



ideas for New Years: uhh, downtown Tokyo, in Shibuya. Or, at the Dewa Sanzan, on the peak of a mountain near Yamagata, spiritual retreat area. Seemingly opposites, no? What else do you expect from me?


Yeah, I am thinking about it and saving money, its gonna be a pricey one. There will be crowds- lots of people- but I think it will be bearable. I am thinking about it, alright. I am thinking. And i am acting soon.

(Me on Super Bowl Sunday 2006 in Mammoth! Yeah Kordell!)


You in? d.strich@gmail.com

[ps: missing pix of Whistler and Banff, Canada and Chamonix, France- I only real ones, no digi ones]

Ok, a foto too...

After I made the post, I went for a LONG bike ride to get out some energy and came across the following; I fortunately had my camera with me as part of the bike riding mission. Enjoy.

(That's right... vending machines are on the street for your leisure and convenience)

(I was unsure what these were until I counted that there were eight packages... [yeah right!])

Enjoy the following post:

Progress in baby words and random day-trips

No pictures in this post, but lots of words!

Today was a great day; yesterday rather, but today for you. I thumbed out a couple of phrases from my multitude of Japanese language resources and wrote them down and studied them: and lo and behold I communicated effectively with the ladies dry cleaners and folks at the Japanese Home Depot (yes, GooDay); I bought medical aloe for the sunburn I earned over the weekend and navigated the grocery store like I own it. After a frustrating three weeks of public silence and pantomiming my life, I am starting to speak and even make jokes! (Mostly the jokes are about my Japanese, but it gives me a good laugh too!)

I really like it here… let me say that differently: I am very comfortable in Japan. My day-to-day is nice though it involves a lot of office time. The teaching starts next week and it will be another step along the path of learning Japanese and living here. And the language is a great new learning experience every single day. I like reading signs and using my limited phrases because they just open the door to a world of more language madness. Even if I were fluent in Japanese, I will never look the part… so the pressure is off and the fun is on! As soon as the teaching bit gets thrown into the mix, my life will be more intricate, complicated and exciting… I look forward to the future frustration, crazy confusion, potential for personal enhancement and the random jaunts that will certainly appear!

I bought two plants. It’s not the same as having a dog (believe me Mr. Tyler, I want a pup!) run to the door to greet me when I come from work. But Charlie only lifted his head to acknowledge me, so the silence is not unfamiliar. My basil baby has really grown; and its leaves really added to the pesto last night. (Yes, I cook Italian food regardless of my location- in Chile, Japan, California). I will learn to cook more intricate Japanese foods soon, but I want to stay on point with my Italian kitchen skills too. I also have a succulent that “really ties the room together,” sort of like a good rug. It brings a still life feeling to my meditation room. Yes, I am dedicating an entire room to silence and learning. Why? Because those things are important… and should be in everyone’s lives… and because, frankly, I have an extra room. Government housing- cheap, dumpy, falling-apart, but spacious!

Last weekend, I went back to the Kora Shrine to buy a protection trinket to send to my dad for his 15th anniversary [no, Dad, I didn’t give away your age, my friends can’t do math]. I have come to celebrate the humidity so the fine film of sweat that coated my body wasn’t bothersome as I rode my bike 30 minutes to the “trailhead.” In fact, it served as a protective layer against the strong bites of the ka (mosquitoes.) I parked my bike at the foot of a huge stone gate… then the climb began… I walked up, up, upwards, through spider webs, over huge and sporadic rock “steps” and around random signs. I met the first sign of success when I asked a descending dude (respectable Japanese man) if I was on the right path. Success is defined as: My ability to properly greet a stranger in Japanese, ask the right, albeit simple, question and understand the part of the answer I needed to hear… and continue along the path towards a goal.

The goal is just a direction-setter and it shouldn’t be confused with the journey, which is perhaps more important. Those words are not original… but they must be reiterated! I was caught-up by Akira-san, a computer programmer who hikes the Kora mountain multiple times per week… we spoke basic English and I even understood some of his responses in Japanese (at least I think I did). We talked baseball and snowboarding. I got his number and we promised to go out for karaoke, but I am a bit nervous- as my Japanese is so limited. So, maybe next week.

As we huffed and puffed through the swarming gnats, more pestering mosquitoes and huge, strong spider webs (big spiders!) he told me that he was going to a natural mineral water source. We passed Kora-san and headed to the water… and it was worth it… beautiful hiking and another gorgeous shrine at the base of the spring. After an offering, a drink and a quick wash, we backtracked towards Kora-san and almost headed back down the hill before I bought the “body-protection” trinket (I simply forgot the name for this special piece of material) for my dad. The return to the start was filled with laughing as he cracked subtle jokes in English. I even let him get away with telling me that the Mariners would win the World Series… impossible… go Halos!

The next day I had nothing planned … to drop off my dry cleaning and perhaps survive the heat with an ice cream and lots of rest. My neighbor Gary, a former JET who decided that Japan is a great place to live and work, rang my bell at ten and gave me five minutes to get ready for the beach… and the adventure began. Two hours to get out there, with Emily and Jamie in the front of the car, Gary and I in back, and a cooler filled with lots (obscene amounts) of meat and a gaggle of beers. We met up with some other JETs and spent a rad afternoon at Keya Beach. Barbecuing, throwing around an American football, and lounging in the water behind jellyfish nets. Yeah, this is jellyfish season… and a few of them even got through the nets. I didn’t get stung like a couple of other people, but I got slightly sunburned… same thing, different form. As the sun set behind a rock outcropping at the far end of the beach, we were still tossing around the pigskin. The background shades of rose, brick, plum, marigold and canary lit up the silhouettes of small palm trees and miniature breaking waves, and the grill continued sizzling up more goodies…

Our ride home was eventful too; we got lost, got found and stopped at a huge mall… I almost fainted from the intensity of the florescent lights- that and I HATE malls. Once inside, the girls twisted our arms (literally) to take purikura, small sticker-photos that are taken in a booth-- super popular here. Fair enough… more experiences to have and more cultural to “do.” (What is the right word to put in right there?)

This has gone on long enough… give your eyes a break… I’ll write more soon…

Mata-nei,

from the fingertips right now

I am writing without thinking, i will not edit thsi account i will write until my head is clear and I wont stop until its done. run-ons are ok and this will be incoherent possibly. I am putting my randomness all together in this entry... goo

listening to bedouin soundclash and then sweatshop union and its nice to hear english, sushi, buena tuna for 350 yen, thats just over $3 and it was sweet. now i will make some chicken pesto, baby, i cant believe i found it and was able to read it in the grocery store... gotta laugh i spent 15 minutes studying sheets and comforters in kanji, and hiragana and was so happy to be able to read Japanese that I forgot to even buy what it was i went to look for in the fiorst palce. that should have been "first place". Enlarged pictures, ready to teach, have another 10 days before i get in the classroom. i was reminded that i am only an assistant, btuit will be fun to get in the classroom anyways.

damn its rough without AC and that bug bite on my upper foot is killing me, damn that guy was a strong biter... wow. They beat the small oens in the Sierra that's for shure... "And so it is..." according to Damien Rice in "The Blower's Daugher." So I will continue. I shure got frsutrated today... I suppose, no, i know, it was because i drakn those beers last night. I told myself that I want to stop, but i get sucked in every time. maybe, i actually do want to do it, but i am trying to live substance-free... boy, its a tough thing. i am pulled between how i feel and hwo i am a vulnerale social creature too- in an ebb and flow between my heart and between my everyday life. i want to fit into both and I am having a hard time doing it. Stop eating meat- the same thing... but its so easy and in the social environment I lose myself and my thoguhts, feelings and morals... what to do? the struggle in my head continues... and now it is more intense, because i cant get it out in Japanese to normal folks here... pantomiming my life in public when I am without a posse of English-speakers... noramlly one speaks Japanese so we get by and i just flow with the crowd... but as my self, my independent Dave-self, I jump around, use my hands to describe, get flustered, sweat and then sweat even more because it is so humid... and that reminds me, I dont have AC...

but the guy in the wheelchair in the gooday, home-depot, is the man, he speaks english and we got to laugh at how i am still on "Lesson 1". I laughed at me and I am sure he did too,... but he sure knows the store and if I through out key words he can help me and then repeat it in english... he speaks better english than any other folks in random stores with whom i've interacted... boy was it lucky to meet him. Sai, great dude, smiling (like the buddha) in his wheelchair to greet my everytime I walk into Goo-day during the week. It almost makes me want to fix up my apartment just so i can share a laugh and practice a word or two in Japanese... pretty pathertic, Dave... but gotta walk before you can crawl i guess, wait, switch that, reverse it.

Rambling on..., well not quite. Still Led Zeppelin, but the song is now "In the Evening," as "Ramble On" is on a different album. I wonder if i have lost my readers, I have lsot myself, thats for shure, in the moment of this flow and I have to stop now before I freak people out even more... wow, that was the first time I journaled in far too long... I have a lot of work to do....
---

As the half-moon rises over Japan, out my window to the Southeast, I sit in the dark and know that I should go to sleep early tonight...it has been a long week.

Soon,

Short and sweet- Shrines and beers

An all-day meeting: I was in Fukuoka for the second time this week. After workshops and more orientations, I walked the city for an hour and came upon a lovely shrine... yup, stereotypical Japanese garden... but it offered me 30 minutes of peace... raked rocks, quiet plants, gorgeous place... words lose their effect, maybe this picture can help somewhat.

(peace, in garden form)

Then our program set up an after-party at a Beer (Beeru) Garden... on the roof of Fukuoka Building (Biru)... in the heart of the city... cool. I tried different Japanese beers, of which, clearly, Kirin is the best. I want to stop drinking, but I don't know if it will be possible... good thing I was in a fraternity in University... it taught me how to handle lifestyles like this!

(on top of the roof of the Fukuoka Building)

Machines and automatic stuff in Japan is amazing... perfect amount of head on this beer... wow

(Thanks bartender, where do i leave your tip?)

Have a good weekend, I am already a day ahead of you!

Soon,

Hawks baseball, Homerun records and Karaoke

Before I get started... major props go out to my friend Julie Hassen for writing me a snail mail letter- (Jules, i got it!)- and from France, no less. (I will write back when you are settled in Berkeley- get me your addess!) In a world that is far too-connected in an impersonal way... letter writing (like I've written before) is an absolute necessity and skill... and I intend to practice it~!... Going on with life....

Like I forewarned you in my last post, I was plotting to go to a baseball game… and last night, we saw our local team, the Fukuoka Softbank (Sea) Hawks. Fukuoka is the major city, Softbank is the corporate sponsor and the team is the Seahawks, but they normally don’t use the “Sea” part… Go Hawks! To say the least. Though our team (second place currently) lost 2-1 to the top team in the league (Nihonham, from Hokkaido), three of my fellow teachers: Wendy, Jamie and Allison, my supervisor- Shintani sensei, and I had a great night.

(The florescent-colored vendors carried mini-kegs on their backs and sold draft beer! Big beers!)

The Yahoo! Dome was incredible… and perhaps the next time, they will open the retractable roof (done after every home win!). There was endless cheering during the Hawks’ at-bats and cheer-leaders to keep us fired up until the game was over. And let me tell you about seventh-inning stretches that are worthy of describing… every person (40,000 fans, even the opposing team’s people) with a huge yellow balloon… and at the end of the team song… letting them go… yellow everywhere, balloons flying, jovial and excited fans… who needs cracker jacks? (Especially when they sell fried squid at the food stands!)

I almost forgot to put this in… Barry Bonds broke Hank Aaron’s record recently. I should congratulate him on such a wonderful milestone. BUT, I think it’s important to mention that the Hawk’s manager, Mr. Sadahara Oh (perhaps, Oh-sensei) also broke Aaron’s record; he hit over 860 home-runs when he played (years ago.) Now in his 60’s, Mr. Oh is one of the most respected men in Japanese baseball… and was the manager of the Japanese national team that won the world series of baseball last year…
(Hard-core fans overwhelm the right-side outfield)

So, according to my calculations and deductions, judgments and analysis… Barry is still second in homers- behind Mr. Oh, who, perhaps, earned his record in harder conditions. Steroids and asterisks discussions aside Barry has another 90 to go, because the homerun leader is Mr. Oh… But, semantics and statistics are quite maniputable, no? For instance: Major League Baseball also stakes a claim to the “World” Series… Here’s another insight for you: “America’s” pastime is played by a majority of immigrants* in its own country and played possible better in another country. We better hope that MLB players start playing hard all the time and not just during their contract years; they must practice and focus on the game… or our pastime will continue to just be a namesake. Wow, a long diatribe there.

We came back to Kurume and found “Magic World” in order to drown our miseries after the loss… drown misery in joy through SINGING! Yeah, you knew it was coming… a description of my first Japanese Karaoke experience. Small room, five of us, lots of singing… the ladies were all about JT, Britney, and Beyonce while Shintani sensei sang perfect renditions of “Let It Be” and “You’ve Lost that Loving Feeling.” I came in adding vocals on a couple of songs and starred solo in Donavon Frankenreiter’s “Free.” “Between Me and You” was tough, as Allison and I rapped on, singing on behalf of Ja Rule and Ashanti… next time I will find a Japanese song… it was a great way to relax, share a couple of laughs and get a small bite to eat. Really. Healthy and fun and comfortable- not a performance in front of a bar of strangers, but a warm time between friends.

A great night, lots of fun, rather pricey… but it’s something that would probably be right down your alley (hahah, you’d have liked it, yeah, you’d have enjoyed that kind of thing…)

This morning (as I write this) we’re in the office after little sleep and then tomorrow back to the big city for a meeting and maybe more…

Soon,

Some quotes that I re-discovered again

the title it redundant you say? You are right...

"Words do not express thoughts very well. They always become a little different immediately [after] they are expressed, a little distorted, a little foolish. And yet it also pleases me and seems right that what is of value and wisdom to one man seems nonsense to another."

(Daichan, Lindsay and I pose with one of the guardian lions outside of the Kora Shrine)

Another piece of the pie:

"And here is a doctrine at which you will laugh. It seems to me, Govinda (ah, this gives it away!), that love is the most important thing in the world. It may be important to great thinkers to examine the world, to explain and despise it. But I think it is only important to love the world, not to despise it, not for us to hate each other, but to be able to regard the world and ourselves and all beings with love, admiration and respect."


Did you guess where these are from?
.
.
. (You have to ask?... What does it look like he's doing?- one of many sculptures in Ishibashi Cultural Center)
.
.
.
.
Did you guess right?
.
.
.
.
.
.
Courtesy of Herman Hesse's Siddhartha

Soon,

Kurume Day and 25-year old’s Rebirth, again

Kurume Day

We were taken to explore the city of Kurume (Kurume-shi) last Friday with a group of Kurume University students who are involved in the English-intensive program. They spoke ALL day in English and it was impressive… We visited the Kora Shrine and Ishibashi Cultural Center and were treated to two wonderful meals. And, with the mantra of, “Try Everything (it’s Japan)” I enjoyed a fabulous dinner. It was slow-going through the first round of fish-gelatin-covered sashimi of raw octopus (tako) and something else… maybe squid. Sure. The three types of ice-cream/ custards of caramel, coconut and watermelon finished off famous Kanagawa-style kinda-tempura pork rolls… delish.

(Kora shrine)

So much for being vegetarian… in the house I am doing ok, but outside… there is too much to try… and being that I am “trying everything”… well, you get it. Oh, I forgot to mention the Kabocha soup during dinner… so good! I don’t even know what that means or what the Kanji (characters) look like, but if I hear it again, I’m downing it without hesitating- well, I will hesitate to say, “Itadakimas” which is like a pre-meal blessing. After this entry, can you tell that food is important to people with the last name, “Strich?”

(Kurume city from the Kora shrine- You’ll also notice mountains everywhere… I heard 60% of land in Japan is considered mountainous… Pretty crazy stat… it is perhaps 60% true. Furthermore 60% statistics are made up on the spot, though it might be more like 70% of those which are only true 55% of the time… THERE ARE MANY MOUNTAINS AND HILLS in JAPAN!)
--------

25-year old’s Rebirth, again (wow, confusing)

It’s so amazing when a baby is born. We celebrate its birth, its first everything- words, steps, day of school, graduations, etc. I don’t have kids, so I can’t necessarily celebrate these with the same vigor as a parent, but I have celebrated nonetheless. And, again, huge props to cousin Sara and Jeff because now they have new Jem to go along with Big Ben! Congratulations on such a wonderful beautiful baby boy!

Like I said, I help celebrate these special occasions when they arise… and I have recently celebrated myself. Having recently emerged, yet again, from the womb- I have discovered that this time it’s in Japanese… and boy am I as lost as a newborn! The difference is that I am supposed to somehow understand because I am bigger. The baby takes it for granted that it’s small, and humans somehow understand that it is just beginning… well, hey, I am too! Japanese is hard and I am getting used to the cultural nuances that I learn everyday… wow that was a long poorly thought-out introduction for discussing my “accomplishment” over the weekend.
(A nice beach shot, sans waves, but thats OK because the water was warm)

Armed with a couple of key phrases, a hand-drawn map and some time on my hands, I left my apartment and set out for the big city to go to the beach. I had my firsts: language phrases, public transportation uses, etc. Long story short is that I made it to the beach, went up Fukuoka Tower (123 meters), survived a day out of the apartment and got home safely and soundly… sounds somewhat boring… but it sure felt great! [Drew and Jen, you certainly should have been recognizing these pictures!]
(Fukuoka Tower from the beach)

The most dangerous part was on my bike ride home from the train station… it was the grey-haired lady in a yellow dress with the umbrella that was walking right in the middle of the sidewalk/path. I hit the curb, lost a shoe and nearly flew off the bike into on-coming traffic. I know what you’re thinking- I should have been riding on the right side of the street. I was on the RIGHT side… but in Japan folks drive on the LEFT… and the steering wheels are on the right side… get used to THAT! So, karmaically (if that is a word) I deserved it because I was on the wrong side of the road-- Although, it seems that pedestrians and bicycles often just fit in where they want-- So, I laughed it off and got some fresh plums to sweeten up my arrival at home.
(Momochihana beach from above- from the Fuk Tower)

And today, after I wrote most of this blog, I went out to lunch with the ladies with whom I work (yes, that’s how you say it… proper grammar!) I was able to read the menu that was in Katakana. I am almost proficient in this first (easiest!) of the three written Japanese languages… a couple more repetitions through the characters and I should be able to navigate the streets a bit more.

(Looking towards Fukuoka Harbor: behind JAL building is the Yahoo! Dome, where the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks baseball team plays. I am possibly going to a game on Wednesday!)

So, lots of firsts, lots of newness and it is like being reborn in another culture. It happened to me in Italian, Spanish and now in Japanese… but this one will take a bit more time to get used to… however, it’s clean here so waiting and being patient is a lovely experience. So long as I take my time, things here seem to fall into place… there is always a person to help, always more Japanese to learn, always a new place to travel.

(This was a random entry… hope you were able to follow it!)

Matan-e,

Jutaku living

ENGLISH VERSION further down…. but don't miss the fotos on the way!

(Jutaku- grupo de departamentos en que viven los profesores)

Buenas tardes… tal vez es la mañana en este momento. Está loco que puedo despertarme, vivir todo el dia en trabajar y jugar y despues te escribo (tipar- “to type”?!) en la noche… y si estuviera ordenado, podería tener articulos cada mañana… sobre el día que irías a vivir… que raro a vivir 16 horas en el futuro.

(Bienvenidos a mi dept! Welcome to my apt! Pon tus zapatos al frente al lado mios! Leave your shoes at the door next to mine!)


Intentaba un proyecto a las diez anoche… y limpiar el baño no debe estar dificil… pero a veces está… y el cuarto de la ducha… y por fin, tuve una negociacíon/ guerra pequeña con la cucaracha mas grande en todo el mundo! Puedo admitar, grité cuando nos encontramos… era un boludo rapido… Pero, en final no habíia sangre de nadie, estamos viviendo más tranquilo y entendemos nuestras fronteras, y mis baños son limpios!

Así que me sentí más comodo en sacar fotos esta mañana (como terminaste con trabajo ayer!) y las puse acá.

Que aburrido: (ver la descripcíon en inglés sobre las dimensiones del apartamento). En realidad, la majoridad de mis amigos que hablan castellano o español, no le importa los numeros o descripciones como así… las fotos hablan mas fuerte que palabras fomes sobre esto… tambien no tenía la paciencia a explicar en Castellano!

(Lo mismo, pero con una "puerta" abierta! The same, but with an open "door!")

Ves?! El refrigerador mas tarde? Que aburrido! Mándame fotos para poner en la puerta!

Mi departamento es simple, porque el hombre antes de yo me regalo pocas cosas solo. Él continuará a viver en Kurume (Q’-Ru-Me) -mi ciudad, de 300,000 personas- así que sacó más o menos todo. Esto es fantastico, porque el dept es casi vacio- todavía hay un “aura” de paz. Tal vez hay otras personas quien le gusta espacios simples y “vacio” (a mi, pienso que le significa lleno!). Me parece que yo había estado obteniendo hasta el vuelo a Japon. Despues de boté mis cosas en California, salvo fotos y papeles, llegué en Japon con todo que necesito ahora. La verdad, tengo mas cosas que necesito. Así que, tengo ganas de botar más y tener control de la consumpcíon. Decidé que las velas y los flores estaba mandatarios en cada cuarto.

(El cuarto de la ducha LIMPIA! Clean shower room!)

Todavia no tengo clases o estudiantes porque estan en vacaciones. Voy a la Oficina de La Educacion del Kitachikugo (area local) y estudio japones todo el dia. Comienzo a enseñar inglés en tres semanas y poco.

No tengo más por ahora… espero que entendiste mis ideas!

(la proxima en Japones tambien! Estoy chistoso yo… la idioma es imposible!)
Ahora en ingles, pero no olvides a ver las fotos siguientes hasta al final...

(El trono del palacio! The throne of the palace!)

Ma-ta-né (Pronto, en japones),
Dave

(La cocina...lugar bueno para cocinar! The kitchen... great place to cook!)

ENGLISH VERSION

(Jutaku- aparment complex in which teachers live)

Good evening… or perhaps morning by the time you read this. It’s nuts that I can wake up, live a whole day of work and play and then type it to you at night… and if it were organized, then you could have new articles every morning when you wake up… and they would be about the “current” day that you are about to experience... such a weird thing… 16 hour time difference from California.

(La oficina... me encanta la silla! My office... I dig the chair!)

Any-who… I started a project at 10pm last night… and I have to say that cleaning a bathroom shouldn’t take too long… but then it does… and then the shower room… and it turned into an ordeal and a discussion/ minor battle with the world’s biggest cockroach. I can say it, I yelped when I saw him… fast-moving bastard… more of shock than anything else… but in the end no blood was drawn on either side, we are both living more peacefully and understand our respective boundaries, and my bathrooms are clean!

(El living! The living!)

So, then I felt comfortable taking pictures this morning (as you finished yesterday’s work day!) and I have posted them here.
Some boring stats for you: The average tatami mat is 2X1 meters… (Roughly 6X3 feet). I have two 4 ½ - tatami mat rooms (which I have designated as, “bedroom” and “office”) and a 6-tatami mat room (namely the “living room”). There is a kitchen that separates the office from the other living quarters and the bathrooms (one for the shower and sink, one for the toilet) are adjacent to the kitchen and the bedroom, as you enter the apartment. The rooms are all separate-able, based on how I slide the sliding wooden doors. Most of the time everything is open, I just love the feeling of space… this also helps keep it light all the time… it also helps me deal with the intense humidity. And, the rooms change during the day too based on the air flows I want….

(El living del "bedroom(?)"! Living room from the bedroom!)

Gosh, how boring! There are some of the descriptions in words. I am a huge fan of writing-based communication and story-telling, but I’ll let pictures tell most of this situation.

You’ll noticed a mostly bare fridge… you can make your way on it if you mail me pictures!

(Lo mismo, sin flash, la cocina a la derecha! Same shot, without flash, kitchen to the right!)

The apartment is simple; my predecessor left me few things. He will continue living in Kurume, so he took most of his things with him. This is fantastic, as my apartment is mostly “empty” but it is a feeling of peace. Maybe there are more people who value simple space and “emptiness” (which, to me, is rather full!). It seems as if I had been cluttering up my life until my recent move. After botar-ing (my version of Spanglish for “getting rid of”) my things in the California, less some fotos and files, I came to Japan with all that I need now. In fact, I even have more than I need. So I am now excited to minimize even more and control consumption and material-collection. I did decide however, that candles and flowers in each room were rather mandatory.

Still I have no classes or students because they are on vacation. I go to the Kitachikugo Board of Education and study Japanese all day. I start teaching English classes in three more weeks and a bit.

(Duermo alla- Hay mucho espacio y el piso es muy comodo! I sleep over there- There is a lot of space and it's super comfy!)

That’s it for now. See you soon. Next time in Japanese… just kidding! It is impossible... I have LOTS of work to do!

Matane,
Dave

PS- You’ll notice random flags… from my time in Italy (PACE means peace)

PPS- I have a balcony extending the length of the kitchen, office and living rooms and a small one outside the shower room… what a steal for: …a family of cockroaches, no air conditioning (mine is the only one of seven apartments without it… cheaper electric bill and lots of sweating!), and ¥12,600/month ($110 on a bad exchange rate day)…

Crazy weather and straw floors

I am writing this from the floor in my apartment... one of the three rooms where i can rest and be at peace. I am on the floor, of straw... very well-put-together straw, in the form of mats... they are called Tatami mats. I have tatami mats as the floors of my apartment and they are amazing, they allows me to sleep on the floor comfortably (but the cockroach that just crawled by might be in the back of my head all night... I just hope it's more figuratively than literally!)

My language reflects a guy who is very tired. He left the 100-yen store (dollar store) today with a bag of goodies for his new apartment and heard a thunder crack and a little sprinkle. Turning onto his street, the sky opened up and a monsoon hit him.... in his work clothes and all! (Looks like a new tie for tomorrow!) This is a guy who rode around Kurume City today... in the blazing heat and humidity, in the aforementioned shirt and tie and dockers, to the junior high schools at which he will be teaching... the same guy who then met the principals and fellow teachers of those schools... with sweat dripping down his everything!

(Wendy and I just wanted to run errands on the way home from work and the rain came!)

Gosh, where to start? Well, I already did... so where to continue (I am already so out of chronological order... ahh- this is difficult for a history major!)

I had a first impression at the Board of Education of Kitachiguko... this means north (kita) of the chiguko (river port, maybe) area. I am an civil servant, a public employee for the BoE of Fukuoka prefecture (county), and this particular municipality has "contracted" me out to two junior high schools at which I will be teaching during the year... I spend a week or two at one and then go to the other. Occasionally, they throw me out to a random prefectural (county) elementary school to teach. Anyways, my first impression, which are HUGE in Japan, went as follows: My two co-workers said hello as they were presented to the office. One speaks much Japanese and the other said the customary formalities... not me... I said my name, "nice to meet you" ... and then i froze and stated (in Japanese) "I don't understand Japanese..." I heard someone hit the "awkward button" when I didn't get the same applause that the two others did. I said "thank you," and didn't use the formal tense either. Needless to say, I felt like a schmenderick after messing up one of the most important parts of my job. Great way to start! But I think it's OK; When I introduce sake bombing to the office staff, maybe things will change.

(One shot of the parade and the on-lookers)

wow, that was a long recollection. here is another:

I have friends in Japan, South Korea, the United States, Fiji, New Zealand, China, France, Chile, Argentina, and I am sure to be missing others... the thought came across my mind. Wow, we travel a lot! Some people have never left, but others are speaking different language and driving on left sides of the street in opposite seasons... are you confused? I am too, I am going to end this thought-flow with, "This world is huge and I am happy to know that so many people are spreading peace around it!"

(It wasn't even completely dark when the festivities started)

Another sharing experience. There was a typhoon that hit Japan last week- the day after I arrived in Kurume. I am alright, there was no damage to my area and the typhoon passed over a bit to the east. Did you even know that there was a storm here? Do you even know what a typhoon is? It is the same as a hurricane, but in the Indian ocean/ western pacific region. I have a picture of five of us leaving a restaurant right before the worst of the storm hit us... it is blurry... but you can tell how windy it is, no?

(Me, Allison, Wendy, Kendra, Johnathan bracing against the wind)

On Saturday night I celebrated with the city of Kurume in its annual "Water Festival" I have some pictures of that... it reminded me of "El Gran Poder" in La Paz, Bolivia a couple months ago, but this was clean, organized and in Japanese instead of Spanish... and with Japanese folks in the place of Bolivians... it isn't fair to even contrast or compare these two festivals... but lots of dancing was going on and I ate as much as I could from local stands. Teriyaki (yes, chicken on a stick), fried chicken, missed the squid- maybe next time, shaved ice... you name it, it might have been there.

(another look at the Water Festival)

Japanese food is wonderful. Considering I would eat fried food every second of the day if it were available, (I am in heaven... it is pretty accessible most of the time!). Gyoza (dumplings), ramen (noodles), rice, miso soup, sushi, fried goodies, ohh man, my poor stomach has a lot of work to do... just gotta make sure my arteries can handle the pressure too.

My apartment is wonderful, more to come with that in the next post... with some pix too!

Congrats to my friends Marc and Hedi Wolpoff who were married last weekend. Congrats to Jared and Nicole Hersh who were married a couple weeks back. Congrats to my cousin Sarabeth who just had her second beautiful son. Congrats to Malinda who just got engaged. (Hmm, now, who did I forget?) Congrats to you for making it this far!

On Sunday night I went to the biggest fireworks (hanabi) show in western Japan. Period. The 4th of July in the States is great, but this was an hour and a half of madness... down by the river. Always a superlative, biggest this or best that, but this was impressive.

(ooooh, pretty)

What else? Wow, I have been firing away hundreds of pictures and emails recently and getting my apartment together... i think by this weekend, i will only have a couple of small pieces to place and my puzzle for Japan will be ready to present. And I can focus completely on the language I am trying to learn.

I had the following thought today, as I was getting sunburned, bothered by mosquitoes, riding my bike back to the office in humid, sticky heat: "I am earning money to be here and to teach. I will know very soon if I will be staying here for a while." Coming from the guy with the itch to travel, this is weird...

My office is great, coworkers are cool, schools at which I'll be teaching are friendly, my apartment is a sanctuary of peace... I just have to see about the kids. I met a couple today and they seem awesome. Granted I don't speak Japanese, but after a year, two years, three... five... I might be able to communicate more than my current pantomime.

(From Sunday again!)

Wow, I have to take a shower (yes, its true, i said it, quote me on it!)

If you haven't had a chance to read this to Grandma Lily yet, then I know she'd be happy to hear from you about this, or even the previous one!

More to come...

(Very) Soon,

First week in Japan and societal commentary (careful)

Reut reminded me that i have been here a week. It's just so weird because it involved "losing" a day on a plane; three days of speaking in English in one of the nicest hotels in Tokyo (in Shinjuku across from the government building); more plane time and the past three days in my new apartment in Kurume.

I will take this moment to ask anyone who is setting up a Fantasy Football league to please include me... I always win while I am abroad! send an invite to my d.strich(at)gmail.com address, onegaishimas (japanese for thanks... sort of)

Some people train for marathons by running. Some people practice yoga to help them meditate. There are all sorts of cross-training and preparation that people do to help them get ready for excursions, vacations and living. I should have been more prepared for my arrival in Japan. I know that the language barrier will be huge, but that's something for which I was prepared to be unprepared. The humidity as I stepped out of the airport upon my arrival in Fukuoka, after the Tokyo Orientation. was something else. I was in a suit, shirt and tie... a nice suit, a hot suit. What I should have done, in order to prepare for this experience, was to go to the local steam room, fully-clothed in jeans and sweatshirts. And I should have done this multiple times a day. And for a couple of weeks. Then maybe I would have been better prepared to be unprepared regarding a foreign language.


(Lisa and I at a bar in Shinjuku, Tokyo)

Fukuoka is in western Japan... it is on the northern tip of the southern island of Kyushu. And I am 30 minutes south of this biggest city in southern Japan. In fact, I am closer to Seoul, the capital of South Korea, than I am to Tokyo! I am somewhat in the mountains and the beaches are a short train ride away... and the hot springs are all nearby. Tokyo was wonderful... seeing Dan and Lisa (friends from different times in my life) on different nights; exploring Shinjuku (nice area) and Shibuya (Lost in Translation); and meeting cool folks at Orientation. This Jet Programme is very well organized and a great thing to be a part of. [I am listening to the song, "Lost For Words" by Pink Floyd right now and it's awesome... and it's awesome to have ADD too!] Anyhow, this program is set up through the Japanese Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR) and they have really gotten this thing down to a science... the orientation ran like clockwork. Quite impressive and makes me look forward to having a steady job that they help set up for me. The JET community- participants (rookies and veterans), support staff, VOLUNTEERS!, and just about anyone who gets involved is awesome... it perpetuates a really good cultural exchange program. I will volunteer for something too, as I have already been helped by so many.

(City government building... uhh, huge)

I arrived with Wendy and Allison (also from my LA flight coincidentally) to Kurume and Johnathan and Kendra, who were here last year, made us dinner... they have been my informal guides/translator/ source of information.. and they have made me quite comfortable in this unfamiliar terrain. They are awesome. My supervisor, Shintani-sensei picked us up from the airport, took us out to lunch and has been taking us around town to get all the stuff done... It is amazing how efficient things have been here. When I feel down or overwhelmed, I just stop and realize that it is a fantastic place to be... because things are so clean and organized... and folks are helpful if I ask!

(Toyko at night, from the 42nd floor)

On a side note: "Shocking" is defined as "going from 1200 (maybe more) rookie teachers speaking English in one of the nicest hotels in one of the world's most expensive cities to three of us arriving in the burbs in western Japan where 'McDonald's' is the only word in English. A "trip" is a pretty good synonym for this word.

So much more to write... i'll get 'er done now... ahh

This is the first day since I arrived that there are blue skies. In about 30 minutes, I am going to ride my bike to the Kurume water festival... considering we have been getting so much rain, this seems like overkill, but it will be something entirely different probably... or it won't. I have no idea... and this is the main thing I got from Orientation... "Try everything." Such a good motto... no hesitation; try different foods; go out when invited; get out there and get active. This is my mantra now, and though difficult at times, especially post-afternoon-nap, I just have to go for it.

Another important motto is: "Ganbate" -- Do your best. Everyone makes fun of "your best" when they quote Sean Connery in The Rock. But this isn't complaining or worrying about trying your best. This is doing your best.... There is no try, there is just do! And this is the point of this paragraph. Perhaps semantic minutia, but to me it is the different between passing through a passive/victim/kvetching life (like many ignorant, rich Americans) versus one that is active /hard-working/exploring.

(Tokyo, imperial palace/gardens in green)

Drew wrote a great blog in which he made some direct observations and commentaries. It was a great reminder that I have to be the outspoken critic that I've been for 25 years. I will not stand on a soapbox, because I don't know what one is (and they are somewhat outdated even though the cliche isn't.) I have to tell things how they are... I want peace in the world and I am done trying to make. I just will do it. Or be it. Don't you try to do it either... simply, "Do It!" I would thank Nike for the use of 'their' motto... but I don't need your 'Just' while you are "Just(ly)" enslaving southeast Asians to make shoes for you at $1 a pair. And corpoorations have trademarked such common and everyday phrases and words that soon we won't even be able to speak because we'll be infringing on someone's licensing/copyright/patent... funny because they didn't even make up this language. Now I can also use this opportunity to thank American lawyers for their rush to make money by creating this gobbolly-gook... Good Ole lawyers and business execs... you have created a mess... why dont you use your millions to clean it up?

(Saved this "Lost in Translation" picture for you if you've made it to the end!- Shibuya plaza)

This blog got out of control, wow. I guess it's a waste of time to hide my passion and feelings and knowledge. And this is the only soapbox I've got, so I will stand on it and preach. Take it or leave it.

More stories and some declarations to come...

Jaane,

Address in Japan

send me whatever, looking forward to getting it!

David Strich
2069-2-23 Kamitsu-machi
Kurume-shi, Fukuoka-ken
JAPAN 830-0052

Jaane,
Dave

ps- I have been mixing up 'Jaane' and 'Maatane' with "Jamaate" in my past emails... apparently this is ok, but I wanted to make a grammatical note!