Ah. Today, I finally I got up with one of my local comrades today. Me and my boy J hung this afternoon. We caught up and dipped out to the mall. We hit up a bookstore, and I was trying to find a book on Capoeira, but to no avail.
We caught Lord of the Rings: Return of The King, which, visually, was one of the most amazing films I've ever seen, also the longest, at over 3.5 hours, but without a dull section in the movie. J was kinda complaining about the ticket price, but I was so happy to pay $6.50 to see a movie, which is welcome relief from having to drop $10- $15 a pop every time I catch a flick in Japan.
Only 4 more days Stateside. What to do for New Year's Eve? Hmm..
Dec 30, 2003
Dec 26, 2003
THIS XMAS
Dinner was good yestersay at my cousin's. The turkey was the best I've had--the meat was just falling apart. I missed turkey too. Rolls and dressing were on point too. GREENS.
We had a nice family convo around the candlelit dinner table. We talked about Bush effects and next year's election. It's unanimous: dude gots to go.
More talk, more laughs, afterwards, assorted dessert-tasting and gift-giving. Pumpkin cheesecake is good!
Talked to some of my long-distance fam by phone. To my pleasant surprise, I found out that my cousin also does Capoeira in NYC! Though, she studies Angola, I do Regional, it's all good. JINGA!
Plans this weekend? Who knows. I'm still jetlagged, sleeping in the middle of the day! Gah. Must...break...sleeping pattern. Must...achieve ..maximum daylight exposure... Mo' later.,
We had a nice family convo around the candlelit dinner table. We talked about Bush effects and next year's election. It's unanimous: dude gots to go.
More talk, more laughs, afterwards, assorted dessert-tasting and gift-giving. Pumpkin cheesecake is good!
Talked to some of my long-distance fam by phone. To my pleasant surprise, I found out that my cousin also does Capoeira in NYC! Though, she studies Angola, I do Regional, it's all good. JINGA!
Plans this weekend? Who knows. I'm still jetlagged, sleeping in the middle of the day! Gah. Must...break...sleeping pattern. Must...achieve ..maximum daylight exposure... Mo' later.,
Dec 23, 2003
COLD CEREAL IS GOOD.
Man, I REALLY missed cold cereal. I copped a bunch of bananas and a half-gallon of 2% milk yesterday. Moms already had some new boxes of Kellogg’s finest in store. Not that there isn’t any cold cereal in Japan, it’s just that two types of cereal is rather boring. Let’s see, there’s Frosted Flakes and Choco Crispies, and that’s about it for Japan. In a country where a great number of people eat rice, pickles, and miso soup for breakfast everyday, Frosted Flakes and Choco Crispies are enough to satisfy the domestic cold cereal-eater, but I need a little more variety in my cereal selection, and when it comes to cold cereals, the USA IS #1!
Mmm. Icy cold milk and sliced banana over Fruit Loops is the ish. I can eat that standing up! Mmm…rainbow milk. Good.
Mmm. Icy cold milk and sliced banana over Fruit Loops is the ish. I can eat that standing up! Mmm…rainbow milk. Good.
WHAT DAY IT IS?
I’ve been phasing in and out of sleep unconsciousness for the past couple days, trying to realign my sleeping patterns with the rest of the local world. I think I went to bed at 3pm yesterday, got up at 9pm. Stayed up all night, had a dental appointment this morning. 10am sharp.
It’s about 9:25a and I’m just about ready to head out the door, when the phone rings. It’s my dentist, Dr. Ballard on the line.
“Hello?”
“Ohayo Gozaimasu!,” I hear on the other end.
“Ohayo Gozaimasu!” I reply.
See, my dentist happens to be the only-born daughter of an African-American father and Japanese mother. Although shed visited Japan, she was raised in the States, and has been taking care of her mother here in Chicago since her father passed away years ago. Dr. Ballard was recommended to me by a family friend last year. We’d met and shared our experiences about Japan and had a good conversation during my first visit to her office. I also spent a fair amount of loot during that visit too, but that’s another story. Dr. B and I clicked easily because she came across as a really warm, down-to-earth lady and a caring dentist. She’d wished me luck in Japan and told me to study hard so I could teach her some Japanese when I returned. I hadn’t seen her since last January, the last time I was home.
“I won’t be able to make it to the office this morning…My mother’s seriously ill in the hospital and I need to stay with her...”
“Really? Sorry to hear that. I hope she recovers fully.”
Bummer. I’d been looking forward to this appointment for months. A brotha’s in need of a filling.
“..I won’t be back to the office until January 6th.”
Doh! Even worse. However, Dr. B did pledge to call some of her associates on my behalf to see if I can be squeezed into someone’s schedule. Meanwhile, I have to do the same. Eh, I already know the chances of me scoring a new appointment on such short notice, AND during the holiday vacation period is gonna be pretty bleak.
“Well, sorry I didn’t get a chance to see you.. Hopefully, I’ll see you next year.”
“Yeah. Okay, thanks for calling. Happy Holidays.”
Gah, time to dig up my ex-dentist’s number.
It’s about 9:25a and I’m just about ready to head out the door, when the phone rings. It’s my dentist, Dr. Ballard on the line.
“Hello?”
“Ohayo Gozaimasu!,” I hear on the other end.
“Ohayo Gozaimasu!” I reply.
See, my dentist happens to be the only-born daughter of an African-American father and Japanese mother. Although shed visited Japan, she was raised in the States, and has been taking care of her mother here in Chicago since her father passed away years ago. Dr. Ballard was recommended to me by a family friend last year. We’d met and shared our experiences about Japan and had a good conversation during my first visit to her office. I also spent a fair amount of loot during that visit too, but that’s another story. Dr. B and I clicked easily because she came across as a really warm, down-to-earth lady and a caring dentist. She’d wished me luck in Japan and told me to study hard so I could teach her some Japanese when I returned. I hadn’t seen her since last January, the last time I was home.
“I won’t be able to make it to the office this morning…My mother’s seriously ill in the hospital and I need to stay with her...”
“Really? Sorry to hear that. I hope she recovers fully.”
Bummer. I’d been looking forward to this appointment for months. A brotha’s in need of a filling.
“..I won’t be back to the office until January 6th.”
Doh! Even worse. However, Dr. B did pledge to call some of her associates on my behalf to see if I can be squeezed into someone’s schedule. Meanwhile, I have to do the same. Eh, I already know the chances of me scoring a new appointment on such short notice, AND during the holiday vacation period is gonna be pretty bleak.
“Well, sorry I didn’t get a chance to see you.. Hopefully, I’ll see you next year.”
“Yeah. Okay, thanks for calling. Happy Holidays.”
Gah, time to dig up my ex-dentist’s number.
Dec 21, 2003
ON THE OTHER SIDE
I'm home! The flight was pretty smooth and fast, relatively. Only about 11.5 hours! Watched Hulk about 4 times, never in its entirety though; I never could catch it from the very beginning. (Very good movie though. Interesting direction). No probs in customs this time, unlike last year when I got haggled by the customs folks in San Francisco. Although there was one little snag on my train segment: I'd bought by train tickets over a week in advance, including my bullet train tik to Tokyo and the connecting tik for the train to the airport. It was my first time going to Tokyo, and I was a bit concerned 'cause I'd heard Tokyo station was pretty daunting and confusing, even for Japanese people, so I was expecting a serious treasure hunt once I arrived to Tokyo Station. However, finding my connection to the airport train level was surprisingly easy--I just kept following the signs, which were in English , that read "Narita Airport," down several levels of escalators and stairs until I reached the right platform. No sweat.
Next, I waited about 15 minutes or so for the next airport train to arrive. The train arrived. I got on. I sat down. Soon after an English-speaking Korean woman approached me and asked me if I was sitting in her seat. Apparently, I was. I relinquished the space and stood up, to find that there were no empty seats. At htis point I was wondering why I couldn't sit down, especially considering I'd paid in advance; it didn't really hit me that these were reserved seats. and that I didn't have a reserved ticket. After a while I spotted an empty seat down the aisle and sat in it. After a while, the train guy came through to check everyone's tickets, as they usually do. I was sitting, awaiting the inevitable: that I was going to have to pay MO' MONEY.
So the train guy gets to me and, sure enough, it turned out I had the wrong ticket, train guy indicated that I owed more cash, about $16, actually. I tried to explain to him, in Japanese, that I'd already paid like $12 for my ticket, and was trying to ask if I could just pay the difference. I was nowhere near articulating myself well enough for him to understand me, and he told me to wait while he checked the tickets of the other passengers. (Sigh). Now I'm catching stares from folks. Whatever, man. It was an innocent mistake. It wasn't like I was trying to get over.
So after train guy finished doing his thing, he quickly came back past me ran and went to the car exit. I didn't wait for him to come back and get me. I walked back down the car right up to him where he was speaking to one of the refreshment cart girls, who spoke fluent English to me on train guy's behalf. Well, it turned out that I'd gotten on the "super-duper fast" train, as opposed to the "super fast" train. See, the super fast train costs about 12 bucks, which I'd paid. But the super-duper fast train costs an extra 16 bucks. Say what? You mean to tell me it costs more than double the base ticket fare just to arrive a half-hour earlier?! At this point, we were almost at the airport and there was nothing I could really do except cough up the extra 16 bucks and go about my business--which I did. So I ended up spending almost $30 for an hour-long trainride to the airport, on top of the $100 I'd spent on the bullet train. What a rip! Again, innocent misunderstanding on my part, but a costly one. And there are so many expensive lessons like that to learn in Japan.
Next, I waited about 15 minutes or so for the next airport train to arrive. The train arrived. I got on. I sat down. Soon after an English-speaking Korean woman approached me and asked me if I was sitting in her seat. Apparently, I was. I relinquished the space and stood up, to find that there were no empty seats. At htis point I was wondering why I couldn't sit down, especially considering I'd paid in advance; it didn't really hit me that these were reserved seats. and that I didn't have a reserved ticket. After a while I spotted an empty seat down the aisle and sat in it. After a while, the train guy came through to check everyone's tickets, as they usually do. I was sitting, awaiting the inevitable: that I was going to have to pay MO' MONEY.
So the train guy gets to me and, sure enough, it turned out I had the wrong ticket, train guy indicated that I owed more cash, about $16, actually. I tried to explain to him, in Japanese, that I'd already paid like $12 for my ticket, and was trying to ask if I could just pay the difference. I was nowhere near articulating myself well enough for him to understand me, and he told me to wait while he checked the tickets of the other passengers. (Sigh). Now I'm catching stares from folks. Whatever, man. It was an innocent mistake. It wasn't like I was trying to get over.
So after train guy finished doing his thing, he quickly came back past me ran and went to the car exit. I didn't wait for him to come back and get me. I walked back down the car right up to him where he was speaking to one of the refreshment cart girls, who spoke fluent English to me on train guy's behalf. Well, it turned out that I'd gotten on the "super-duper fast" train, as opposed to the "super fast" train. See, the super fast train costs about 12 bucks, which I'd paid. But the super-duper fast train costs an extra 16 bucks. Say what? You mean to tell me it costs more than double the base ticket fare just to arrive a half-hour earlier?! At this point, we were almost at the airport and there was nothing I could really do except cough up the extra 16 bucks and go about my business--which I did. So I ended up spending almost $30 for an hour-long trainride to the airport, on top of the $100 I'd spent on the bullet train. What a rip! Again, innocent misunderstanding on my part, but a costly one. And there are so many expensive lessons like that to learn in Japan.
Dec 19, 2003
MY POEM (pt. 2)
Another one from spring. Still as relevant today as it was then. A post-Saddam refresher for all you Bush "fans."
PETROL PLUTOCRATS
Born from the greasy wombs of gluttony
With itchy buttonfingers
These wrong-wing platinum spooners
Flash bloody porcelain fangs for the press
Cringing thru bunker-busting catchphrases like
“Compassion” and “liberation”
Veins spewing blue venom
Veering towards incineration
These purveyors of fiction
Iron-fisted fablists
Mother Earth date-rapists
Sip cocktails with sadists
Litigate pacts of treachery
Lobby for oppression and
Laser-guided tyranny
Manifested from
Moon-lit visions of heavy metal
Grinding emaciated bodies
Of desperate mothers and sons
Into fine powder
Snort-worthy
Pure and profitable
Eloquent fascists with
Shady motives
Attempting to eclipse truth
Persist to perplex the dumb masses
Working those anchorwhores
Down to their last ruth
Menaces to propriety
Pimp anxiety and comfort
Barter lives and freedom for
Petrocratic entertainment
Breast pockets lined with
Preemptive acceptance speeches
And stuffed with assortments of
Posable reaction figures
Yes, Toms included
Toys of Mass Seduction
Trillion dollar party favors
They tango in pentagrams
Rear sons of Sam
Who till their fields of greed
With malfeasant machismo
Then label themselves saviors
Impudence outwaxing ego
As their god grins down upon them
We pledge allegiance
To faux heroes
To a broken nation
With liberty
And justice
For none
c 2003
PETROL PLUTOCRATS
Born from the greasy wombs of gluttony
With itchy buttonfingers
These wrong-wing platinum spooners
Flash bloody porcelain fangs for the press
Cringing thru bunker-busting catchphrases like
“Compassion” and “liberation”
Veins spewing blue venom
Veering towards incineration
These purveyors of fiction
Iron-fisted fablists
Mother Earth date-rapists
Sip cocktails with sadists
Litigate pacts of treachery
Lobby for oppression and
Laser-guided tyranny
Manifested from
Moon-lit visions of heavy metal
Grinding emaciated bodies
Of desperate mothers and sons
Into fine powder
Snort-worthy
Pure and profitable
Eloquent fascists with
Shady motives
Attempting to eclipse truth
Persist to perplex the dumb masses
Working those anchorwhores
Down to their last ruth
Menaces to propriety
Pimp anxiety and comfort
Barter lives and freedom for
Petrocratic entertainment
Breast pockets lined with
Preemptive acceptance speeches
And stuffed with assortments of
Posable reaction figures
Yes, Toms included
Toys of Mass Seduction
Trillion dollar party favors
They tango in pentagrams
Rear sons of Sam
Who till their fields of greed
With malfeasant machismo
Then label themselves saviors
Impudence outwaxing ego
As their god grins down upon them
We pledge allegiance
To faux heroes
To a broken nation
With liberty
And justice
For none
c 2003
MY POEM (pt. 1)
Written back in the spring. Some perspective on being Black in Japan.
THE KOKUGAIJIN
big, black, scary dangerous
strapping, lax, aimless
we must avoid him at all costs
feelings of nervousness
pressure in his presence
discomfort
dodge, retreat away from
eyes too bright to stare at
too deep to know well
his tongue, his hair
his beat, his glare
He must be difficult
to deal with
his width consumes much
space on this train
need more space
between us
I saw one before
on TV
please don’t be that monster
I thought you would be
meaner, scarier
with fanged teeth
and firearms that you brought
across the water
leave my daughter alone
she prefers blue eyes
I WORRY about the woman next to him
I WONDER if shes OK with him next to her
with his black skin
and woolly hair
thoughts that I don’t see
Nor understand
HIM
And I know her fear of this
black foreigner
tall and grand
unlike our men
dwarfed by his stature
I wonder what its like to…
he’s probably a good singer
or dancer
maybe a basketball player or dj
maybe he’s OK
but he could be African
his hair interesting
so unique and different
his eyes deep and round
I can’t keep mine off him
but he’s too bright to stare at
I must look away
He looks so COOL
I WISH I knew him.
c 2003
THE KOKUGAIJIN
big, black, scary dangerous
strapping, lax, aimless
we must avoid him at all costs
feelings of nervousness
pressure in his presence
discomfort
dodge, retreat away from
eyes too bright to stare at
too deep to know well
his tongue, his hair
his beat, his glare
He must be difficult
to deal with
his width consumes much
space on this train
need more space
between us
I saw one before
on TV
please don’t be that monster
I thought you would be
meaner, scarier
with fanged teeth
and firearms that you brought
across the water
leave my daughter alone
she prefers blue eyes
I WORRY about the woman next to him
I WONDER if shes OK with him next to her
with his black skin
and woolly hair
thoughts that I don’t see
Nor understand
HIM
And I know her fear of this
black foreigner
tall and grand
unlike our men
dwarfed by his stature
I wonder what its like to…
he’s probably a good singer
or dancer
maybe a basketball player or dj
maybe he’s OK
but he could be African
his hair interesting
so unique and different
his eyes deep and round
I can’t keep mine off him
but he’s too bright to stare at
I must look away
He looks so COOL
I WISH I knew him.
c 2003
IT'S SNOWING!
Not like that's a big deal, it's only that this is the first time I've seen snow since I've been in Japan. Kinda cool to finally see something that makes me believe it's winter.
Last night: was really nice. I met Mr. Yamada (aka Yama-chan) near the train station closest to my house. He was waiting with a taxi, which we took to the restaurant. When we got out, I tried to pay my share, but he wouldn't let me. Again, the ever-flowing hospitality of my elementary school teachers.
The dinner was at a pretty swanky (read: HELLA expensive) restaurant near Nagoya Station. I mean the place had a little indoor waterway with a footbridge over it. They had fountains that trickled water down the walls. Swank.
Our party was on the 3rd floor in a small room with a nice view of the avenue below. We had good food, good drink, good convo. The nabe was good too, although there was some pork I had to dig around. They brought out a couple platters of sashimi, or raw fish chunks, garnished by the hollowed bodies of some strange cock-eyed fish. They turned out to be flatfish. Flatfish have both eyes on the same side of its head, so it looks really freaky. It was the first time seeing a flatfish, so I thought something was wrong with it! I was like, "Is this how it naturally looks?" It tasted okay though.
I had a pretty good talk with the teachers who were seated near me. Everyone had a good time, it seemed. Folks were really nice, telling me that they really wanted me to come back next year and stay at the school. I'd like to stay at my school, but unfortunately, the Board of Education makes all the final decisions and placement, so we'll see come spring.
The party was over around 8:30 (older folks don't hang out so late, as many of them have families and such), and we said our goodbyes and farewells. Everyone wished me a safe trip and return. I caught the train home. It was pretty cold on the way back; actually, it was snowing last night, too.
Ah well, I guess now would be a good time to start packing. Catch you on the other side?
Last night: was really nice. I met Mr. Yamada (aka Yama-chan) near the train station closest to my house. He was waiting with a taxi, which we took to the restaurant. When we got out, I tried to pay my share, but he wouldn't let me. Again, the ever-flowing hospitality of my elementary school teachers.
The dinner was at a pretty swanky (read: HELLA expensive) restaurant near Nagoya Station. I mean the place had a little indoor waterway with a footbridge over it. They had fountains that trickled water down the walls. Swank.
Our party was on the 3rd floor in a small room with a nice view of the avenue below. We had good food, good drink, good convo. The nabe was good too, although there was some pork I had to dig around. They brought out a couple platters of sashimi, or raw fish chunks, garnished by the hollowed bodies of some strange cock-eyed fish. They turned out to be flatfish. Flatfish have both eyes on the same side of its head, so it looks really freaky. It was the first time seeing a flatfish, so I thought something was wrong with it! I was like, "Is this how it naturally looks?" It tasted okay though.
I had a pretty good talk with the teachers who were seated near me. Everyone had a good time, it seemed. Folks were really nice, telling me that they really wanted me to come back next year and stay at the school. I'd like to stay at my school, but unfortunately, the Board of Education makes all the final decisions and placement, so we'll see come spring.
The party was over around 8:30 (older folks don't hang out so late, as many of them have families and such), and we said our goodbyes and farewells. Everyone wished me a safe trip and return. I caught the train home. It was pretty cold on the way back; actually, it was snowing last night, too.
Ah well, I guess now would be a good time to start packing. Catch you on the other side?
Dec 18, 2003
"JACKO X?!"
What is this I just read--Michael Jackson has joined the Nation of Islam?? OMFG. This is beyond comedy.
I guess he's the first white woman ever to make it in. (Oh!)
Sorry. I know, I know. That was cheap.
...But really, I just hope they give that brotha his complexion back.
I guess he's the first white woman ever to make it in. (Oh!)
Sorry. I know, I know. That was cheap.
...But really, I just hope they give that brotha his complexion back.
MO' LOVE
Today is my last day of work for 2003. Your boy was blessed once again this morning: I wasn't in the staffroom for 5 minutes, before Ohki-sensei, one of the 5th grade teachers, caught my attention:
"Over here ...Over here," she said, in English.
"Yes?"
After leading me over to a corner of the room, she said,
(translation): "This is a present for you from me and Fujiyama-sensei (6th grade teacher)," handing me a white envelope reading: "FAREWELL GIFT."
"What is it? What's inside?," I asked.
I KNEW what it was, immediately. Cash. The envelope was too small to be anything else. Plus, I went through this before, just last week. Trying to maintain an element of surprise, I asked several times before she admitted that there was indeed cash inside.
"Really? But..I'm coming back!" I said.
"No, no, no. ...If you go home and come back..It's OK...it's a Japanese custom."
Well. If there's one thing that I learned in Japan, it's that a custom can't be denied!
So "How much did you get?," you ask. (A: The same amount I got from junior high. ((If you still don't know, read 'BUDDHA CLAUS' post.) )
I had my last 2 classes with the 4th graders this morning; they learned how to tell time. In the 4th period, I was invited to one of the 3rd grade classes' Christmas party. When I arrived, they were singing a Japanese rendition of 'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.' I recognized the melody right away. I was sitting in the back of the classroom, and towards the end of the song, I started chiming in with the English lyrics. All the kids turned around and looked at me like I was crazy. After all the singing was finished, we played Bingo. There were a bunch of small gifts people had brought for the winners, and finally, I scored "Bingo" and won a little Christmas stocking with some kind of snacks inside. I haven't checked them out yet--hope there's no pork any of them!
On a dietary note, lunch was much better today; we had hanpen, a sort of stew with tofu chunks, carrots, green beans, white radish, hard-boiled quail eggs, and bits of boiled chicken. There was also kabocha, or pumpkin chunks, with some type of lima-like beans. And of course, rice, with furikake, or dried "sprinklable" vegetable flakes. For dessert there was some sort of "Italian Dessert" gelatin-like pudding. Wasn't bad at all.
Tonight is our elementary school's bohnenkai, which is a traditional end-of-the-year party almost all companies have. We're having nabe, which is a giant self-made soup which you cook and eat on the table in front of you. Nabe is pretty bangin' so I'm looking forward to it. There will be plenty o' beer too, I'm sure. Highlights later.
"Over here ...Over here," she said, in English.
"Yes?"
After leading me over to a corner of the room, she said,
(translation): "This is a present for you from me and Fujiyama-sensei (6th grade teacher)," handing me a white envelope reading: "FAREWELL GIFT."
"What is it? What's inside?," I asked.
I KNEW what it was, immediately. Cash. The envelope was too small to be anything else. Plus, I went through this before, just last week. Trying to maintain an element of surprise, I asked several times before she admitted that there was indeed cash inside.
"Really? But..I'm coming back!" I said.
"No, no, no. ...If you go home and come back..It's OK...it's a Japanese custom."
Well. If there's one thing that I learned in Japan, it's that a custom can't be denied!
So "How much did you get?," you ask. (A: The same amount I got from junior high. ((If you still don't know, read 'BUDDHA CLAUS' post.) )
I had my last 2 classes with the 4th graders this morning; they learned how to tell time. In the 4th period, I was invited to one of the 3rd grade classes' Christmas party. When I arrived, they were singing a Japanese rendition of 'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.' I recognized the melody right away. I was sitting in the back of the classroom, and towards the end of the song, I started chiming in with the English lyrics. All the kids turned around and looked at me like I was crazy. After all the singing was finished, we played Bingo. There were a bunch of small gifts people had brought for the winners, and finally, I scored "Bingo" and won a little Christmas stocking with some kind of snacks inside. I haven't checked them out yet--hope there's no pork any of them!
On a dietary note, lunch was much better today; we had hanpen, a sort of stew with tofu chunks, carrots, green beans, white radish, hard-boiled quail eggs, and bits of boiled chicken. There was also kabocha, or pumpkin chunks, with some type of lima-like beans. And of course, rice, with furikake, or dried "sprinklable" vegetable flakes. For dessert there was some sort of "Italian Dessert" gelatin-like pudding. Wasn't bad at all.
Tonight is our elementary school's bohnenkai, which is a traditional end-of-the-year party almost all companies have. We're having nabe, which is a giant self-made soup which you cook and eat on the table in front of you. Nabe is pretty bangin' so I'm looking forward to it. There will be plenty o' beer too, I'm sure. Highlights later.
NAN DE DAROO? (WHY IS IT SO?)
Today, we had curry rice for lunch. I really like curry rice, but it's like torture when we have it because it's almost always chock full o' pork and I can't eat it--DOH! I'm left fishing out the small potato and carrot chunks while I watch the little munchkins gorge their faces. WHY must they chop those piggies up into such small pieces and ruin my wonderful curry? Oh well, at least I got a decent serving of rice. =(
WHY can I see my breath when walking through the hallways INSIDE my elementary school?
And WHY does my elementary school have no heat in the classroooms, YET has a lovely automated toilet in the washroom, fully equipped with a heated seat? Oh, so my butt should be nice and warm while the rest of me freezes off? Ahh, it all makes sense now! (By the way, I'm not mad at the heated toilet--it also shoots out a soothing jet of warm water into your...nether regions)
Also, WHY are chicks still wearing MINI mini-skirts like it's not 10 degrees above freezing? ...Not to bag on our Far East friends, but Japanese folk have some atrocious fashion sense. Like I see one woman draped in a fur shawl and another in a mini-skirt. Let's make up our minds: is it COLD or not? And Let's not talk about color coordination... There should be a law!
Oh, speaking of fashion faux pas, WHY are my students' mothers still sending them to school in
SHORTS?! It's December! That's definitely abuse.
I said, there OUGHT TO BE A LAW.
Um, WHY haven't I started packing when I'm leaving in just a few days?
Just questions. That's all.
WHY can I see my breath when walking through the hallways INSIDE my elementary school?
And WHY does my elementary school have no heat in the classroooms, YET has a lovely automated toilet in the washroom, fully equipped with a heated seat? Oh, so my butt should be nice and warm while the rest of me freezes off? Ahh, it all makes sense now! (By the way, I'm not mad at the heated toilet--it also shoots out a soothing jet of warm water into your...nether regions)
Also, WHY are chicks still wearing MINI mini-skirts like it's not 10 degrees above freezing? ...Not to bag on our Far East friends, but Japanese folk have some atrocious fashion sense. Like I see one woman draped in a fur shawl and another in a mini-skirt. Let's make up our minds: is it COLD or not? And Let's not talk about color coordination... There should be a law!
Oh, speaking of fashion faux pas, WHY are my students' mothers still sending them to school in
SHORTS?! It's December! That's definitely abuse.
I said, there OUGHT TO BE A LAW.
Um, WHY haven't I started packing when I'm leaving in just a few days?
Just questions. That's all.
Dec 15, 2003
TITILLATING TREATS
Today we had our monthly teacher's meeting at the town city hall. After the meeting, the town International Center ladies came to escort us to their social gathering they'd invited us to a month earlier. Anyhow, everyone had forgotten about the meeting, including myself, and people were making excuses left and right as to why they couldn't stick around. I wanted to go home too, but I'd told them before I would come, so I stuck around for the meeting, along with 2 other teachers: Paija (sp) from Yogoslavia, and Michel, a tall, bald, dark-skinned bro from Senegal who looks like Seal with a goatee (really).
So us 3 foreigners followed the middle-aged ladies to the Int'l Cntr., which was about a block away. We went to the meeting room where there were some other members and a spread of food waiting for us. After introducing ourselves and chatting for a bit, we we all dug in to the spread. We stood around and talked , while we ate tempura, some veggies, some kind of shrimp and rice casserole and some traditional soup called O-den with hard-boiled eggs, fish, gelled potatoes, tofu, and white radish, and sliced kiwi and apple.
They also had a tray of individually-wrapped candies. I figured I'd go for one; upon closer inspection though, I noticed the candies had an odd shape..Wait, hold up, is that what I think it is?
That's a... "It's nipple!" one of the ladies said. Indeed it was: little breast-shaped white chocolates with pink nipples on them. I was like, "What in the he.."
"Wha.. why do you have nipple candies?" I asked one of them.
Honestly, I don't remember the answer. I don't think there was a real answer, actually. I was just kinda surprised they had these little breast chocolates--especially these people who're supposed to be representing the town's international association. They were just giggling about my reaction and questions, I suppose. Apparently, they didn't see anything peculiar about the candies. Me and the other two guys had a good laugh though, especially when Paija said "It's good. I'll take TWO."
"Yeah, I bet you will," was my line.
Those joints were kinda good though. ;)
Only in Japan.
So us 3 foreigners followed the middle-aged ladies to the Int'l Cntr., which was about a block away. We went to the meeting room where there were some other members and a spread of food waiting for us. After introducing ourselves and chatting for a bit, we we all dug in to the spread. We stood around and talked , while we ate tempura, some veggies, some kind of shrimp and rice casserole and some traditional soup called O-den with hard-boiled eggs, fish, gelled potatoes, tofu, and white radish, and sliced kiwi and apple.
They also had a tray of individually-wrapped candies. I figured I'd go for one; upon closer inspection though, I noticed the candies had an odd shape..Wait, hold up, is that what I think it is?
That's a... "It's nipple!" one of the ladies said. Indeed it was: little breast-shaped white chocolates with pink nipples on them. I was like, "What in the he.."
"Wha.. why do you have nipple candies?" I asked one of them.
Honestly, I don't remember the answer. I don't think there was a real answer, actually. I was just kinda surprised they had these little breast chocolates--especially these people who're supposed to be representing the town's international association. They were just giggling about my reaction and questions, I suppose. Apparently, they didn't see anything peculiar about the candies. Me and the other two guys had a good laugh though, especially when Paija said "It's good. I'll take TWO."
"Yeah, I bet you will," was my line.
Those joints were kinda good though. ;)
Only in Japan.
Dec 14, 2003
'WE GOT HIM'
I just saw an article saying U.S. troops caught Saddam Hussein. Well, isn't that precious. I saw the picture, but it took a minute for it to register that it was indeed him. Dude was almost looking like Osama with that face 'fro. Brotha ain't seen a razor in a minute.
As for U.S. officials, just from the smug quote of "Ladies and gentlemen, we got him," I already detect where this is gonna go--right into the gas tank, if you will, of Bush's re-election machine. They're gonna be talking smack about this capture until Election Day. "Oh, Bush caught Saddam...See, Bush liberated Iraq," blahzay, etc. We won't hear the end of this. Meanwhile, the wicked right will be trying to divert the popular majority's collective attention away from the most important issues: Bush & co. LIED the nation into war, and have run the American economy into the ground, along with the livelihoods of all working Americans...not to mention all the innocent people they killed in Iraq.
Oh, I pray the U.S. public won't be suckered yet again into this psychological weapon of mass confusion.
As for U.S. officials, just from the smug quote of "Ladies and gentlemen, we got him," I already detect where this is gonna go--right into the gas tank, if you will, of Bush's re-election machine. They're gonna be talking smack about this capture until Election Day. "Oh, Bush caught Saddam...See, Bush liberated Iraq," blahzay, etc. We won't hear the end of this. Meanwhile, the wicked right will be trying to divert the popular majority's collective attention away from the most important issues: Bush & co. LIED the nation into war, and have run the American economy into the ground, along with the livelihoods of all working Americans...not to mention all the innocent people they killed in Iraq.
Oh, I pray the U.S. public won't be suckered yet again into this psychological weapon of mass confusion.
Dec 13, 2003
JINGA!
I had a good capoeira class tonight. We had a roda (fighting circle) at the end, and I got some good games in. I jumped into an aggressive game with Z (my instructor), and we ended up going at it for about 3 rounds, for about 3 minutes, it seemed. His skills are obviously superior to mine, but I was holding myself down, traded some good kicks and defended myself pretty well. I got tired towards the end though and Z swept my leg clean during a kick and I landed right on my butt-- Good shot. I wasn't hurt, but I was out of breath, dying for somebody to jump in, but everybody just kept watching, clapping and singing. Finally, somebody jumped in right before I was about to pass out. But Z kept going and played against 3 more people! That dude is a BEAST. Glad he's my teacher.
Yeah, I like Capoeira a lot; I've definitely gotten a lot stronger than I was when I started in the summer, but I still have a LONG way to go before I get really nice.
Tonight was probably the last practice for me until next year, as I'm leaving next weekend...I don't know, maybe I'll work out once more this week. We'll see.
Yeah, I like Capoeira a lot; I've definitely gotten a lot stronger than I was when I started in the summer, but I still have a LONG way to go before I get really nice.
Tonight was probably the last practice for me until next year, as I'm leaving next weekend...I don't know, maybe I'll work out once more this week. We'll see.
Dec 12, 2003
BUDDHA CLAUS
So, today was my last day working at JH for 2003. It was a fairly normal day: a few classes, lunch, a few free periods...as usual. A couple surprises at the end of the day:
Surprise #1 (right before walking out the door): I "accidentally" found out that I have to give a "speech" on the first day of school after winter break. "say whuh now?" Yes, a speech. Rather, I have to speak at a big teachers meeting about my opinions on the methods and techniques of English education and the progress of the students for the present school year,etc. On top of that, they told me my roommate (who teaches at another school in the same city) would be attending the meeting to translate for me. "oh, really?" First time I heard about it. The vice-principal even claimed to have told my company about it. Yet, my company didn't tell me. Seems like I should be the first person to know about a speech that I'm supposed to give, but hey, that's just me.
Surprise #2 (walking out of the door): It's time to go. I'm on my way out the door, after saying my "Sayonara"s and "See you next year"s. I head out the staffroom, down tthe hallway to get my bike, when the vice-principal comes trotting up alongside me. In his hand is a white envelope with Japanese characters on the front, written in black marker. "Amen-san, this is for you." "What is it?," I ask. "This is a present from the principal and I." So then, I thought "What's inside? It couldn't be money." He flips the envelope over and on the bottom is written "10,000 Yen." 10,000 yen is about the equivalent of a US $100 bill, so I was hella surprised. I was kinda confused as to why I was getting this money, seeing how Japanese people don't celebrate Christmas. He attempted to explain, but I didnt understand some of the words he used. I accepted the envelope, thanked him and offered several bows.
After I got on the train, I researched my dictionary to decipher the vice-principal's explanation. It turned out that is was a farewell gift. I guess he was saying it's a customary habit to give a gift when someone leaves--in this case I'm leaving the country, although I'll be back next year I don't know if this kind of gift-giving is a normal custom for someone whom you're going to see again--actually, I think he may have said that to downplay his generosity. Custom or no custom, though, cash = love.
This evening, we also had our company Christmas dinner. Catching the train there, I saw not one, but TWO Black girls. One was getting on the train, with several other foreign girls, the other was getting off the train. I gave a friendly nod to the one getting off, but the one getting on didn't really make eye contact. I was surprised because I almost NEVER see Black women here, anywhere I go, and I saw 2 at once so that was a rather unusual occurrence.
Anyway, we had our co. dinner at some fancy-shmancy French restaurant on the second floor of a hotel near Nagoya Station. After a lot of unnecessary short speech-giving, we finally got to dig in on some skimpy, fancy finger-food type courses, with beer, followed by small, fancy desserts. As fancy as everything was, heads were still hungry after the dinner was over.
Also, I found it ironic, that we were having a Christmas dinner at a French restaurant when, 1) the Japanese don't celebrate Christmas, and 2) we're in Japan eating French food? With all of us foreign national employees, I guess they were trying to appeal to our Western palettes. Honestly, if they'd gone with basic tavern-style Japanese food with tap brew, I would've been happy.
Surprise #1 (right before walking out the door): I "accidentally" found out that I have to give a "speech" on the first day of school after winter break. "say whuh now?" Yes, a speech. Rather, I have to speak at a big teachers meeting about my opinions on the methods and techniques of English education and the progress of the students for the present school year,etc. On top of that, they told me my roommate (who teaches at another school in the same city) would be attending the meeting to translate for me. "oh, really?" First time I heard about it. The vice-principal even claimed to have told my company about it. Yet, my company didn't tell me. Seems like I should be the first person to know about a speech that I'm supposed to give, but hey, that's just me.
Surprise #2 (walking out of the door): It's time to go. I'm on my way out the door, after saying my "Sayonara"s and "See you next year"s. I head out the staffroom, down tthe hallway to get my bike, when the vice-principal comes trotting up alongside me. In his hand is a white envelope with Japanese characters on the front, written in black marker. "Amen-san, this is for you." "What is it?," I ask. "This is a present from the principal and I." So then, I thought "What's inside? It couldn't be money." He flips the envelope over and on the bottom is written "10,000 Yen." 10,000 yen is about the equivalent of a US $100 bill, so I was hella surprised. I was kinda confused as to why I was getting this money, seeing how Japanese people don't celebrate Christmas. He attempted to explain, but I didnt understand some of the words he used. I accepted the envelope, thanked him and offered several bows.
After I got on the train, I researched my dictionary to decipher the vice-principal's explanation. It turned out that is was a farewell gift. I guess he was saying it's a customary habit to give a gift when someone leaves--in this case I'm leaving the country, although I'll be back next year I don't know if this kind of gift-giving is a normal custom for someone whom you're going to see again--actually, I think he may have said that to downplay his generosity. Custom or no custom, though, cash = love.
This evening, we also had our company Christmas dinner. Catching the train there, I saw not one, but TWO Black girls. One was getting on the train, with several other foreign girls, the other was getting off the train. I gave a friendly nod to the one getting off, but the one getting on didn't really make eye contact. I was surprised because I almost NEVER see Black women here, anywhere I go, and I saw 2 at once so that was a rather unusual occurrence.
Anyway, we had our co. dinner at some fancy-shmancy French restaurant on the second floor of a hotel near Nagoya Station. After a lot of unnecessary short speech-giving, we finally got to dig in on some skimpy, fancy finger-food type courses, with beer, followed by small, fancy desserts. As fancy as everything was, heads were still hungry after the dinner was over.
Also, I found it ironic, that we were having a Christmas dinner at a French restaurant when, 1) the Japanese don't celebrate Christmas, and 2) we're in Japan eating French food? With all of us foreign national employees, I guess they were trying to appeal to our Western palettes. Honestly, if they'd gone with basic tavern-style Japanese food with tap brew, I would've been happy.
Dec 10, 2003
WE BE CHILLIN'
...literally.
OK, today is just plain ridiculous. It's even colder than yesterday and I had to do calisthenics in class just to warm up. Honestly.
The classroom thermometer read 13°C, which is about 55°F. This was IN THE CLASSROOM, mind you. And to top that off, in one class they had the WINDOW OPEN (What the hey?)! We might as well have have held class outside on the exercise field. This no heat business is not even cool (no pun intended), and this is borderline abuse to the kids. I'm thinking this could NOT go down in the States--all types of people would be getting sued. I asked one of the teachers why there was no heat, and he said it was because the town gov't didn't want to pay for it. That's pretty wack.
I did find out, however, that schools in the city (Nagoya) do have heat. So, having unheated schools isn't necessarily a national norm afterall. Basically, this little country town we're in in the region south of the city is getting a raw deal. And it's only going to get colder come January.
Today, the staffroom is definitely the place to be.
OK, today is just plain ridiculous. It's even colder than yesterday and I had to do calisthenics in class just to warm up. Honestly.
The classroom thermometer read 13°C, which is about 55°F. This was IN THE CLASSROOM, mind you. And to top that off, in one class they had the WINDOW OPEN (What the hey?)! We might as well have have held class outside on the exercise field. This no heat business is not even cool (no pun intended), and this is borderline abuse to the kids. I'm thinking this could NOT go down in the States--all types of people would be getting sued. I asked one of the teachers why there was no heat, and he said it was because the town gov't didn't want to pay for it. That's pretty wack.
I did find out, however, that schools in the city (Nagoya) do have heat. So, having unheated schools isn't necessarily a national norm afterall. Basically, this little country town we're in in the region south of the city is getting a raw deal. And it's only going to get colder come January.
Today, the staffroom is definitely the place to be.
BULLET ME HOME
Today I finally got my train tickets for my trip back to the States--window seat, non smoking on the Nozomi bullet train, which is the fastest one. It's kinda crazy when I think about it; I have to go cross-country just to catch a plane. Only in Japan, eh?
See, my international flight leaves from Narita Airport, which is WAY over on the East coast in Chiba prefecture, some distance beyond Tokyo, so I'll need to take the bullet train to get there. I could fly out there from Nagoya, but the train is a bit cheaper. Plus, I'll finally get to see Tokyo, as I have to transfer there to catch the express train to the airport.
The whole trip should take roughly 3 hours, which is pretty fast. It cost a pretty yen too, over $100 US--one way. I was surprised at how easy buying the ticket was; I used an automated touch-screen vendor, and it actually had an English option, which made things pretty easy. I could've bought my ticket the day of travel, but usually, the trains are packed and people have to stand up for about 2 hours or so as they travel.
It looks like sometime in the near future, they're gonna start using the maglev (magnetically levitated) trains. Just last week, I read the maglev train set a new world record for the top speed for a train: that bad boy clocked 361 mph in a test run. Dang.
I figure, they can save some money building those things and not even bother putting in windows, because at that speed you won't be seeing anything but streaks of color whizzing by! That's like flying on the ground, forreal.
Anyhow, I'm looking forward to my train ride eastward, at a modest 180mph!
See, my international flight leaves from Narita Airport, which is WAY over on the East coast in Chiba prefecture, some distance beyond Tokyo, so I'll need to take the bullet train to get there. I could fly out there from Nagoya, but the train is a bit cheaper. Plus, I'll finally get to see Tokyo, as I have to transfer there to catch the express train to the airport.
The whole trip should take roughly 3 hours, which is pretty fast. It cost a pretty yen too, over $100 US--one way. I was surprised at how easy buying the ticket was; I used an automated touch-screen vendor, and it actually had an English option, which made things pretty easy. I could've bought my ticket the day of travel, but usually, the trains are packed and people have to stand up for about 2 hours or so as they travel.
It looks like sometime in the near future, they're gonna start using the maglev (magnetically levitated) trains. Just last week, I read the maglev train set a new world record for the top speed for a train: that bad boy clocked 361 mph in a test run. Dang.
I figure, they can save some money building those things and not even bother putting in windows, because at that speed you won't be seeing anything but streaks of color whizzing by! That's like flying on the ground, forreal.
Anyhow, I'm looking forward to my train ride eastward, at a modest 180mph!
Dec 8, 2003
COLD THAN A MUG
Though fall got off to a slow start this year, it's been getting rather nippy here recently.
I'm at junior high this week, and it's cold as a penguin's buttcheek in this piece. This is because we have no heat. Yes, Japanese schools have NO HEAT! Why? I don't know. Maybe it has something to do with conserving energy or something. But this school is cold.
It's COLD. I mean, it's like I can see my breath in the hallways-type cold. No joke. Today, I was literally blowing warm air in my hands and rubbing them together during class. The kids were all buttoned up in their school sweaters, pulling their sleeves over their hands. Ridiculous. And it's not even really winter yet. I guess I'll be teaching class in a skullie come February. I think these kids are getting a raw deal. They have to sit in the freezing classrooms all day. They even have to have P.E. class outside in their skimpy little gym shorts and t-shirts, because they're currently re-building our school gym. I feel sorry for the girls, especially, cuz they have to wear skirts with no leggings everyday as part of their school uniforms. Brrrrrr. Poor thangs.
Yes sir, no heat...
..Hold up..actually, come to think of it, there is ONE room with heat--the staffroom (but of course!).
That's right, let those poor kids freeze their tushes off while us teachers lamp in a heated room.
Hmm,..I guess this no heat thing goes back to the whole hierarchy of Japanese culture-type thing, like everyone has to suffer through unnecessary madness like this when they're kids. I guess its supposed to toughen the kids up (snicker* yeah right). All I know is, I'm glad to be on the teacher's side of this no heat deal!
So, today I had a class with the 1st year students (7th graders). We usually play a game of Hangman at the end of class and today was no different. The theme was "Fruits" and I decided to pick "tomato," just to see if the kids would be thrown off. And they were.
As simple a word as "tomato" is, they just couldn't get it, and the Hangman died. When I revealed the word afterward, everyone was surprised, so I had to explain that a tomato is a fruit, as it has seeds in it. I asked the homeroom teacher to confirm this, and he said he didn't know because he wasn't a science teacher. Fair enough. So then the kids asked me if a pumpkin was a fruit. I said "yes." They asked me if a bell pepper was a fruit, and I said the same.
So, then why did the homeroom teacher come out the side of his mouth in Japanese and say to the kids, "In America, a tomato is a fruit, but in Japan it's a vegetable." He must've thought I couldn't understand, but I caught exactly what he said, and responded back in Japanese so the whole class could hear, "Not only in America. Anywhere." He just laughed it off.
See, stuff like that irks me. Don't try to play me like I'm talking out of my butt, when you JUST SAID you weren't a science teacher. Pick up a botany book and educate yourself, homie. The thing that killed me though was how he tried to make a nationality/cultural issue out of a simple scientific fact that he didn't know--that's lame, and Japanese people tend to do that when there's any kind of misunderstanding between them and foreigners.
On another note, I just finished reading my roommate's copy of Michael Moore's new book Dude, Where's My Country? All I have to say about this book is that every American needs to read it before next year's elections. I don't see how any person with morals and a conscience can read the facts presented and NOT vote against Bush. It's a simple decision. Bush and Co. are the filthiest of the filthy, and I knew that before I read the book. The book just reveals more in-depth facts about how he's actually in allegiance with the so-called terrorists. You should pick this book up sometime soon, and get "Stupid White Men" too if you haven't already read it. PEACE.
I'm at junior high this week, and it's cold as a penguin's buttcheek in this piece. This is because we have no heat. Yes, Japanese schools have NO HEAT! Why? I don't know. Maybe it has something to do with conserving energy or something. But this school is cold.
It's COLD. I mean, it's like I can see my breath in the hallways-type cold. No joke. Today, I was literally blowing warm air in my hands and rubbing them together during class. The kids were all buttoned up in their school sweaters, pulling their sleeves over their hands. Ridiculous. And it's not even really winter yet. I guess I'll be teaching class in a skullie come February. I think these kids are getting a raw deal. They have to sit in the freezing classrooms all day. They even have to have P.E. class outside in their skimpy little gym shorts and t-shirts, because they're currently re-building our school gym. I feel sorry for the girls, especially, cuz they have to wear skirts with no leggings everyday as part of their school uniforms. Brrrrrr. Poor thangs.
Yes sir, no heat...
..Hold up..actually, come to think of it, there is ONE room with heat--the staffroom (but of course!).
That's right, let those poor kids freeze their tushes off while us teachers lamp in a heated room.
Hmm,..I guess this no heat thing goes back to the whole hierarchy of Japanese culture-type thing, like everyone has to suffer through unnecessary madness like this when they're kids. I guess its supposed to toughen the kids up (snicker* yeah right). All I know is, I'm glad to be on the teacher's side of this no heat deal!
So, today I had a class with the 1st year students (7th graders). We usually play a game of Hangman at the end of class and today was no different. The theme was "Fruits" and I decided to pick "tomato," just to see if the kids would be thrown off. And they were.
As simple a word as "tomato" is, they just couldn't get it, and the Hangman died. When I revealed the word afterward, everyone was surprised, so I had to explain that a tomato is a fruit, as it has seeds in it. I asked the homeroom teacher to confirm this, and he said he didn't know because he wasn't a science teacher. Fair enough. So then the kids asked me if a pumpkin was a fruit. I said "yes." They asked me if a bell pepper was a fruit, and I said the same.
So, then why did the homeroom teacher come out the side of his mouth in Japanese and say to the kids, "In America, a tomato is a fruit, but in Japan it's a vegetable." He must've thought I couldn't understand, but I caught exactly what he said, and responded back in Japanese so the whole class could hear, "Not only in America. Anywhere." He just laughed it off.
See, stuff like that irks me. Don't try to play me like I'm talking out of my butt, when you JUST SAID you weren't a science teacher. Pick up a botany book and educate yourself, homie. The thing that killed me though was how he tried to make a nationality/cultural issue out of a simple scientific fact that he didn't know--that's lame, and Japanese people tend to do that when there's any kind of misunderstanding between them and foreigners.
On another note, I just finished reading my roommate's copy of Michael Moore's new book Dude, Where's My Country? All I have to say about this book is that every American needs to read it before next year's elections. I don't see how any person with morals and a conscience can read the facts presented and NOT vote against Bush. It's a simple decision. Bush and Co. are the filthiest of the filthy, and I knew that before I read the book. The book just reveals more in-depth facts about how he's actually in allegiance with the so-called terrorists. You should pick this book up sometime soon, and get "Stupid White Men" too if you haven't already read it. PEACE.
Dec 7, 2003
KGJ: EVOLUTIONS
Let's get this blog CRIZNACKIN'! KOKUGEEZAY UP INNIS BLEEZAY! FAR EAST SIIIDE!
(clearing throat) Sorry, just had to get that off my chest.
No, but seriously..this is kinda phat, my own little private (public, rather) journal on the web. And here I've been typing up research paper-like updates for the last 20 months--Doh! Why ain't none of ya'll techno-elite hip me up to this blog biz earlier? I'm later than a fat woman in a footrace.
Welcome to my blog: Kokugaijin (pr. koe-koo-guy-gene). Kokugaijin is a word I coined in early '02 before I embarked to live and work in Japan; it's Japanese for "Black foreigner," a working title for a journal (and future book) I'd planned to keep during my 1-year duration in Japan. I thought it would be interesting to chronicle the life experiences of a young Black man living in modern Japan. And it was...and still is, 20 mo. later.
Since my arrival in MAR.02, I've handwritten a year's worth of journal entries, ammended by a periodic email essay/journal I've been writing of the same nomen, to keep family and friends abreast of my goings-on and to shed light on a unique experience of a Black man's life in Japan.
And now it's evolved into my first blog: A somewhat day-to-day, blow-for-blow account of the saga of the Kokuaijin. Just what you die-hard fans have been dying for! Oh, we gonna have a good time up in here!
But first, for the newcomers, a little info off my trading card:
NAME: A. W.
CODENAME: MC IMHOTEP aka ESPIRITO
AGE: 26
BIRTHPLACE: Chicago, IL USA
EDUCATION: BFA, Howard U.
CURRENT DAYJOB: Elementary, junior high school assistant English teacher
CURRENT RESIDENCE: Nagoya, Central Japan
HOBBIES: writing, music, martial arts, electronic gadgetry
POWERS/ABILITIES: multiple martial arts, including Capoeira, mind control, able to shoot photon beams from mouth and ball-point pens, extraordinary dexterity to catch flying Japanese roaches with chopsticks
WEAPONS: mics, keypads, manifold writing utensils
MOTTO: "Feeeeeel meeeeeeee!"
Okay, now let's get this on and poppin'. Enjoy.
(clearing throat) Sorry, just had to get that off my chest.
No, but seriously..this is kinda phat, my own little private (public, rather) journal on the web. And here I've been typing up research paper-like updates for the last 20 months--Doh! Why ain't none of ya'll techno-elite hip me up to this blog biz earlier? I'm later than a fat woman in a footrace.
Welcome to my blog: Kokugaijin (pr. koe-koo-guy-gene). Kokugaijin is a word I coined in early '02 before I embarked to live and work in Japan; it's Japanese for "Black foreigner," a working title for a journal (and future book) I'd planned to keep during my 1-year duration in Japan. I thought it would be interesting to chronicle the life experiences of a young Black man living in modern Japan. And it was...and still is, 20 mo. later.
Since my arrival in MAR.02, I've handwritten a year's worth of journal entries, ammended by a periodic email essay/journal I've been writing of the same nomen, to keep family and friends abreast of my goings-on and to shed light on a unique experience of a Black man's life in Japan.
And now it's evolved into my first blog: A somewhat day-to-day, blow-for-blow account of the saga of the Kokuaijin. Just what you die-hard fans have been dying for! Oh, we gonna have a good time up in here!
But first, for the newcomers, a little info off my trading card:
NAME: A. W.
CODENAME: MC IMHOTEP aka ESPIRITO
AGE: 26
BIRTHPLACE: Chicago, IL USA
EDUCATION: BFA, Howard U.
CURRENT DAYJOB: Elementary, junior high school assistant English teacher
CURRENT RESIDENCE: Nagoya, Central Japan
HOBBIES: writing, music, martial arts, electronic gadgetry
POWERS/ABILITIES: multiple martial arts, including Capoeira, mind control, able to shoot photon beams from mouth and ball-point pens, extraordinary dexterity to catch flying Japanese roaches with chopsticks
WEAPONS: mics, keypads, manifold writing utensils
MOTTO: "Feeeeeel meeeeeeee!"
Okay, now let's get this on and poppin'. Enjoy.
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