Thursday, October 06, 2005
EH?
So here I am... doing the first of what I originally thought would be a several time thing, but alas.. its only the first. what do i speak of you ask? Its the all nighter in an internet cafe. (i'm in Matsumoto japan, only a few kilometers away from where the olmpics were held) but here's the catch... i arrived at 10:00. at 11:00 they start the night pack which is basically half price. In true japan fashion, the teller doesnt understand that i want to stay for the night pack, and just pay the extra charge... so i must leave in about 40 minutes, check out, then check back in. so i can do things 'correctly'. Ugh. but again, why am i doing this? because hotels in the mountains run about 70 bones a person, while my cushion, free movies, free drinks and free internet access, cost me a cool 12. heh. i rule.
So this is a solo trip this weekend. pretty much the last multi day weekend i have until dan arives. so i decided to travel to the center of japan, near nagano, the japanese alps. today i was in matsumoto, checking out the largest 'original' castle in the country. it was very nice, but also very crowded. And by crowded i mean there were about six schools there. it did make it pretty interesting though, since one boy of about 10 decided to try to speak to me. he uttered something that sounded like 'harrmo', but i responded in my poor poor japanese at which point he told his friends i could speak fluently, so they all ran over. i asked him his name, then he had to leave. in a way i was glad because 'what is your name' and 'where is the bathroom' is all i know, and i think the latter would have been strange.
in the past few weeks i have also realized how ive neglected to finish the meet the fam story, as well as many others... AAARRRGGHHH!!!!!! there just isnt enough time in the day.
here it is quickly...
- Kiyoe's nieces and nephew love me. the little six year old kiho gave me a tour of the temple and tried very hard to explain things to me. when i would ask her a question is japanese, she would correct my japanese, then ask what things were called in english. great kid. when i left, they all gave me hugs.
- we went to a place, yes this is the name, called 'wanko' soba, where the waitress feeds your face until you basically beg her to stop, then you hate her. I ate 70 bowls. and i havent eaten soba since.
TIMES UP!!!! I'll return in about 10 mintues.
So this is a solo trip this weekend. pretty much the last multi day weekend i have until dan arives. so i decided to travel to the center of japan, near nagano, the japanese alps. today i was in matsumoto, checking out the largest 'original' castle in the country. it was very nice, but also very crowded. And by crowded i mean there were about six schools there. it did make it pretty interesting though, since one boy of about 10 decided to try to speak to me. he uttered something that sounded like 'harrmo', but i responded in my poor poor japanese at which point he told his friends i could speak fluently, so they all ran over. i asked him his name, then he had to leave. in a way i was glad because 'what is your name' and 'where is the bathroom' is all i know, and i think the latter would have been strange.
in the past few weeks i have also realized how ive neglected to finish the meet the fam story, as well as many others... AAARRRGGHHH!!!!!! there just isnt enough time in the day.
here it is quickly...
- Kiyoe's nieces and nephew love me. the little six year old kiho gave me a tour of the temple and tried very hard to explain things to me. when i would ask her a question is japanese, she would correct my japanese, then ask what things were called in english. great kid. when i left, they all gave me hugs.
- we went to a place, yes this is the name, called 'wanko' soba, where the waitress feeds your face until you basically beg her to stop, then you hate her. I ate 70 bowls. and i havent eaten soba since.
TIMES UP!!!! I'll return in about 10 mintues.
Sunday, October 02, 2005
What in the world am I doing here?
No, this is not a desperate cry for help, and its not going to be a long rant either. It just turns out that September 9th (yes, its been awhile since I've posted) was my one year anniversary in this country. Its hard to believe that its been that long. Time has flow by like the wind in a typhoon, and I still feeel like there is more to see and do. so on that note, let's get to... drum roll... Scott's way too fast year in review (Stats).
Places visited: Tokyo,yokohama, iwate prefecture, kanazawa, nikko(twice), kamakura (thrice) hakone (twice), osaka, kyoto, hiroshima, miyajima, hong kong, penang malaysia, tokyo disneyland (twice)
Food: sea cucumber, chicken cartledge, cow, pig, chicken, whale (shame on me), sea urchin, whole garlic cloves, eel, octopus, 70 bowls of soba (in a row), yakitori, okonomiyaki, takoyaki, yakisoba, dog (ok,just kidding), Natto (fermented soybeans), beef tongue, liver, squid, and a lot of sweetened bean paste.
Earthquakes felt: Many
Earthquakes felt where is was actually scared: 1 1/2
Number of times my new place shakes due to passing cars: many
Number of friends from afar visited: 2
number of friends made: numerous
number of times i have visited home: 1
nomi hodais visited: no comment
amount of spoken japanese i undersatnd: 3%
Most used Japanese phrase: Toire wa doko desu ka? and Biiru o kudasai
Shinkansen rides: 3
night bus rides: 5
concerts attended: 3 (Jack Johnson, The Shins, and REM)
Average price I will pay here for a beer in US$: 3.00 (including bars and at home)
private students: 1
number of times I have received the 'konCho' from my kindergarten kids: too many
what is a KonCho? ugh, dont ask.
Train time to work: 10 minutes
Actual door to door time to work: 25
most consecutive days of work: 12
Number of jobs now:3
money saved: not enough
Stil to do: Thailand, China, skiing, kyoto again.
Regrets: 0
See you next time when we shall see a more literary review
Places visited: Tokyo,yokohama, iwate prefecture, kanazawa, nikko(twice), kamakura (thrice) hakone (twice), osaka, kyoto, hiroshima, miyajima, hong kong, penang malaysia, tokyo disneyland (twice)
Food: sea cucumber, chicken cartledge, cow, pig, chicken, whale (shame on me), sea urchin, whole garlic cloves, eel, octopus, 70 bowls of soba (in a row), yakitori, okonomiyaki, takoyaki, yakisoba, dog (ok,just kidding), Natto (fermented soybeans), beef tongue, liver, squid, and a lot of sweetened bean paste.
Earthquakes felt: Many
Earthquakes felt where is was actually scared: 1 1/2
Number of times my new place shakes due to passing cars: many
Number of friends from afar visited: 2
number of friends made: numerous
number of times i have visited home: 1
nomi hodais visited: no comment
amount of spoken japanese i undersatnd: 3%
Most used Japanese phrase: Toire wa doko desu ka? and Biiru o kudasai
Shinkansen rides: 3
night bus rides: 5
concerts attended: 3 (Jack Johnson, The Shins, and REM)
Average price I will pay here for a beer in US$: 3.00 (including bars and at home)
private students: 1
number of times I have received the 'konCho' from my kindergarten kids: too many
what is a KonCho? ugh, dont ask.
Train time to work: 10 minutes
Actual door to door time to work: 25
most consecutive days of work: 12
Number of jobs now:3
money saved: not enough
Stil to do: Thailand, China, skiing, kyoto again.
Regrets: 0
See you next time when we shall see a more literary review
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