'Tis the Season

For me, the 27th of December was more of a Christmas than any Christmas day could have been.

After work we celebrated a bit of a Bonenkai(end of year)-like party with work. We had drinks and food and gift exchange (and tears, as some of the girls are getting transferred) and good vibes. The food was delicious, the drinks were alocholic and the company was fabulous; it couldn't have been better.

We all caught our last trains home but my night was not yet through. When I got home, I celebrated a proper Christmas with some roommates and friends. And did we EVER celebrate! My French roommate cooked an AMAZING 4 course dinner, including bacon-wrapped scallops, mushroom chicken with potatoes, yams, and carrots, plus of course baguette, cheese, and fabulous wine. Dinner started at midnight and we ate, drank, and talked until first train at about 5 am.

Only the first course

An American and a Japanese washing dishes
Sam in heaven with his wine and cheese

With a group of people I barely knew I had one of the most memorable Christmases - how lucky am I

Me-ri Ku-ri-su-ma-su!

Even the Christmas trees are smaller in Japan

The Festivities for this year's Christmas are over. I had yesterday (Christmas eve) off and I spent the day skype-ing with family then cooking and watching Christmas movies all day.

The weather was BEAUTIFUL yesterday but it was bizarre trying to get into the Christmas mood when I was cooking with the windows open, and running to the corner store without so much as a sweater on. I never thought I would say this, but I really miss the snow and the cold! My good spirits were bolstered when I checked the mail in the afternoon and received a package from home (what perfect timing Ms. Rugg, thank you!!!) After eating quite a bit for supper I went out to Roppongi to a Catholic mass - so I could at least do a little caroling. After I got home, I watched Home Alone 2 with my roommate and ate and drank a little more.

This morning I have to admit I was a bit bitter and depressed - not only a Christmas alone but having to work on Christmas, what was I thinking when agreeing to this schedule?! On the train this morning I got my first creeper too. Some dude totally creeped and sat down RIGHT next to me and stared directly at me; I cranked my ipod and took no (visible) notice and, lucky me, he left in about one station. The day was off to a rocky start.

I've been feeling like this city is a bit soul-less lately and the lack of reverence of Christmas (even though there sure is a commercial presence of the holiday) started to irritate me this morning. Somehow though, my sky is never cloudy for long lately. As soon as I got to work I was laughing and relaxing with students and coworkers alike. It probably helped that it was payday today (Merry Christmas indeed!) but by the end of the day, after we had an international potluck, my mood had changed. Even the students I was not really looking forward to today were incredibly pleasant and the work today flew by.

All in all, I can't possibly be more thankful and sincerely grateful for the people I have. How lucky am I?! I live in this fabulous city, with absolutely no one obliged to support me, but somehow, someway or another, someone always cares.

A few more photos for all you worry-warts *cough*mom*cough* to prove I'm doing ok:

One course of my delicious Christmas Eve dinner, the other two courses being perogies and wild-mushroom soup - all from scratch!


My Christmas gift to myself - REAL COFFEE!!

Christmas dinner - Oishii!

Celebrating Christmas with one of my favourite students

It's That Time of Year

These are some images of Harajuku all lit up with Christmas cheer. I went shopping today in the area it was the first time I felt all warm and cozy and Christmasy. I can't wait for Christmas eve I plan on making a traditional Polish Christmas eve dinner while listening to some cheesy Christmas music, splurging on good food, and watching the must-see Christmas classics: Home Alone and A Christmas Story. I'll post more about that after the fact.

For now, I hope you all are feeling as warm and cozy as I am :)

Your Japan Survival Kit

For anyone wanting to visit/stay in Japan for any period of time I suggest the following:

1) a phrasebook - ughhhhh the language barrier is the worst

2) AN IPOD! - the other day I was riding the train home from work and this old crazy dude got on and he looked a little spazzy but, whatever, it's Tokyo right? His full crazy would only come out the second the doors would close between each stop. As soon as the warning tune ended and the doors shut he would procede to go into his own little freak-out world and grind his teeth like teeth have never been ground before. I'm not just talking you-can-see-the-jaw-tighten type of grinding, this was FULL ON screeching with sound effects to the max. Needless to say this sent me into my own spazzy world (wouldn't it you?) and the only thing to block out the noise was to play some Yeah Yeah Yeahs; Fleet Foxes was not going to cut it with this guy - too many quiet bits.

Earthquake!

I was woken up this morning by an earthquake!

It was probably a good 15 seconds at 5:40 in the morning and after google-ing it I found out it was a magnitude 5.3

I remember once being in an earthquake before this, when I still lived in BC. I remember all of a sudden just feeling a little dizzy or disoriented. Today's earthquake was MUCH stronger. I woke up as if someone had literally been shaking my bed with the force of their whole body. I happened to be incredibly disoriented due to some unfortunate fever dreams and aspirin the night before but even through that I had already hopped out of bed and was heading for my door-frame. After it stopped there were a few tiny aftershocks but those just felt like someone rocking me to sleep in a cradle.

weird

Birthday

Hello all!

I thought my birthday without my regular friends and my family would be somehow, incomplete. I just returned home from celebrating with new friends and it's amazing how inexpressibly grateful I am. I am speechless at the love that exists in this world.

I maybe thought someone might buy me a drink today, but I did not expect this much. Yesterday I was not only cooked a fabulous dinner by some fabulous Canadian friends but I was also treated to some cake (with singing and everything) and Canadian-style gifts (cozy clothing and beer - how perfect with few places having central heating here). Then today, after having a nice sleep in I did a little non-window shopping (finally!) and bought myself a few articles of clothing that I've been dying for. Afterward, I met up with some Japanese girlfriends from work to spend the day in a novelty-theme-park kind of shopping mall (with house-of-horror and all). After much food and treats and birthday surprises, we headed to my area for an AMAZING meal of real korean barbeque. I was treated to dinner and on top of that friends of friends brought not only gifts buy cake as well!

How amazing the human spirit is - we are all the same, we all want to be happy and the joy of others just magnifies our own. It's amazing how lucky I am to not only be here, but to secondly to have so many people show they care about me so much!

Life is beautiful.

Days off

I find myself often just wandering around town when I have days off and the weather is nice. Yesterday I discovered an area quite close to my house that had some of the coolest little shops and cafes. One shop had amazingly beautiful shoes that were handmade (unfortunately all for the low low price of just $500).

And then sometimes I find myself just wandering through cemeteries. They're a great place to get away from the crazy neon signs of Tokyo. It's always incredibly peaceful there.

Autumn Foliage

Hello all,

The reason I haven't been blogging lately is 'cause really, even though this may seem like a cool thing to do in premise (move to Japan), I'm just living my normal life (plus a couple more challenges) but half-way across the world from home. Lately, I've just been going to work, coming home, cooking dinner, doing my laundry, running errands, etc, etc.

But today I had a day off and it was BEAUTIFUL outside and I met up with a new friend to go check out Mount Takao. Mount Takao is only about an hour away (which is nothing here, that's like driving across the city - in fact it IS driving across the city, the city never ends). So we headed out and took a chair-lift like thing up the mountain and got an amazing view of the city. At the top there was a really cool temple which we checked out and then we got some lunch - soba (buckwheat noodles) and tempura veggies and shrimp. After a while we hiked back down the mountain and took in some more amazing colors in the autumn light (yes, I know it's December 7th and I said autumn).

Anyway, thought I should post some pics. Check them out!

As usual, the pictures DO NOT do it justice

Nihongo

I've started to discover that learning Japanese is like playing Mad Gab (remember that game? Where you had to put together "A Stump How Hers" to figure out you were saying "Austin Powers" *Shout out to the Ruggs there*)

Anyway, let's see if you are any good at that game. Can you figure out the English equivalents of these Japanese words? (tip: think in a Japanese accent - change your V's to B's, L's to R's and add an U sound at the end of words that end in consonants)

1. Oosutoraria
2. konpyuutaa
3. toire
4. combini
5. hoteru
6. chizu
7. bokushingu
8. garufurendo
9. gorfu boru
10. remon

Figured them out?
Give up?

Ok, here are the answers:
1. Australia
2. computer
3. toilet
4. conveni(ence store) *ok that one was a little tougher*
5. hotel
6. cheese
7. boxing
8. girlfriend
9. golf ball
10. lemon

There we go, speaking Japanese isn't so bad after all. Now if I could only figure out that crazy writing....

Recently (In Photos)

I love terrible translations in Japanese advertising. This was just an egg salad sandwich in a hot-dog bun. Note the catch phrase at the top.

I made these!

The commercial is just as funny here as it is in Canada

A Day Off!

Hello hello!

I've been working a lot of hours lately and today was my first day off in a while so I spent it a traditionally Japanese way.... shopping! (But seriously, almost everytime I ask a student what their hobbies are I get "shopping" as an answer)

It just so happened that today was probably the coldest day yet since I've been here - consistent gray skies with intermittent rain and a temperature that chills you to to the core. Shopping really was the only option for today :)

The good new is, I finally figured out how to use the heater in my room (please refer to the ridiculous remote control in the photo below) , so I won't have to sleep with a sweater on. Woo hoo!

More Proof

Yes, this is me in a suit.

A Photo for Proof

Yes, this is my supper, and yes, I made it (eggplant, chicken, cashews and all) ! I'm not so helpless in the kitchen after all.

November Evenings

Oh Tokyo, I cannot count the ways I love thee.

Yes, that's right, it's a November evening and that building's flashing sign says 21 degrees Celsius!

More Japanese Stuff

Even the ironing boards are made so that you sit on the floor to use them!

Illiteracy and Obesity

I've completed some highly scientific research that has revolutionized my perspective on obesity in North America:

I'm functionally illiterate right now (there are three different alphabets in the Japanese language!!) so as you can image, grocery shopping is functionally challenging. Since I cannot read what I'm buying, I generally have to stick to stuff that's in similar packaging to products at home or I have to go through the process of trial and error. The error part is not fun - last week I thought I was buying peanut butter, it turned out to be some sort of weird sweet peanut jelly. So, if one is out and about, and hungry (as one often is) stopping into a restaurant poses a problem. Either you need someone who can read Japanese with you, or you need a restaurant with pictures on the menu. Yes, the latter is common, but the menus with pictures are often only at the cash register so your lunch decisions are made after 1) already waiting in line 2) being faced with the pressure of ordering now and 3) not being able to politely back down if you all of a sudden realize "this place is WAY too expensive!". Therefore, from time to time, when one is just god-damn hungry your safest/only bet is to eat at the places you know and of course McDonald's is always just around the corner.

Therefore I now see the connection between stupidity/ignorance and obesity. Thank you McDonald's for your worldwide consistency.

Beauty in Nuances

I bought a blow-dryer the other day and I got this gift with it (this just goes to show you the little details that make this culture so fascinating and beautiful):




P.S. No, I don't know what they are either.....toothpics? They're not chopsticks 'cause they're shorter than one of my fingers. Either way, they're pretty :)

Home Sweet Home

This is my place:

Busy Busy Busy

I haven't blogged in a while 'cause everything has happened all at once for me and almost every moment of every day lately I've spent running errands.

On the job front, I spent most of last week in training at our company's headquarters downtown where we were taught how to "teach English the GABA way." Of course, all that did was stress me out about lesson timing, and doing things according to the book. Saturday I actually got into my "Learning Studio" (Gaba's balogna name for a school) and everything is much more chill there than they made it sound at training. I was told I would have a 2-3 hour in-studio training, but really all it was was a tour and they threw me in head-first to teaching. That poor first student - I did terrible. I taught 4 lessons yesterday and another 6 today, I'm slowly getting the hang of it.

I got home in time to (attempt to) make myself a proper supper tonight! woo hoo!

On the housing front, my roommates are all clean and kind (I'll put up a video tour soon). Apparently there have been a few cockroach sightings in the building but what bothers me more is the CRAZY INVISIBLE MOSQUITOES with the VENOM FROM HELL! check this out:


Yeah. That's a bite on the KNUCKLE of my FOOT. worst. I have to sleep with one sock on just so my sheets won't tickle me awake

Man my feet are ugly

It's Official

I feel like today started my first day of real Japanese life. After finding out I GOT A JOB (!) yesterday afternoon, I started frantically compiling all the paperwork etc. needed to be a valid Canadian in Japan.

I bought a proper suit and a proper pair of reusable chop-sticks 'cause everywhere you go, if you buy food they give you a new set of disposable chop-sticks. worst.

Tomorrow I will spend hunting for an apartment.

Now all I have to do is start wearing heels all the time and I'll fit right in.

Life has begun!

Sundays in Yoyogi Park is where my heart resides

Sundays in Harajuku are a bit insane. The wildest of the wild come out to play but the vibe in Yoyogi Park is particularly fabulous. After walking around for a bit, we discovered a group of people dancing and listening to a guitartist in the park. We stopped to take just one photo and listen for a while but we were soon accosted and told "Come join us!!" in broken English.

As soon as we agreed, we were offered wine, beer, and home-brews, and more food than we could possibly eat. After listening to one musician playing the Shamisen (the three-stringed guitar-type instrument you would often associate with traditional Japanese music) and chatting with him via a translator for a few minutes the jam session began. A couple guitarists started in on a repetoire of The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and everything in between. We sang, we ate, we danced, we were merry. I couldn't imagine a better Sunday afternoon.

And of course, we ended the evening with a little Karaoke:

Tokyo Clubbin

I'm watching hilarious Japanese TV right now as my Saturday evening entertainment. I definitely needed a night in tonight as yesterday evening blew my mind! We headed out to Shibuya for a Friday night out with a group of us (a Brit, a couple Americans, and a couple Canadians - myself being one) and it ended up being pretty epic in my books.

After having a couple drinks from the local 7-11 and checking out the insanity that is Shibuya on a Friday evening (with free hugs and all) we headed to a club called "Womb." The club was anything but womb-like. It had the craziest DJ, dance floor, and atmosphere I've ever seen. I cannot possibly explain the intensity of this place in terms that anyone who's only seen Saskatoon's bar-scene would understand. Like....the bar was selling single kiwis for $6!! What?!

I'm not much of a big partier and I thought I would be home pretty early. We ended up getting to bed at 4 am.

So after a very little sleep and a move to a hostel that is a bit less rat-y (I hope), I spent the afternoon at an onsen (a public hot-spring) and I'm heading to bed early.

No photos were allowed in the club, and I didn't take too many last night either but check these out:

"Club the celebrity"

"The Pratinum Spa"

Tsukiji Fish Market

A 4:30 am wake-up well worth it:

Tuna bigger than me

Yeah, that dude is cutting that fish with a sword!

Breakfast afterward

My Good Fortune

When visiting Senso-ji temple in Asakusa the fortune I received read:

GOOD FORTUNE:

Repent what you've done so far, and you should hope again. Then you will find happiness in future with a help of your seniors, everything will go well you'll be satisfied with better position and wealth

* Your wishes will be realized. * A sick person will recover. *The lost article will be found. *The person you are waiting for will come. *Building a new house and removal are good. *Making a trip is good. *Marriage and employment are both good.

A Japanese woman came up to me and translated some of the Japanese characters of the fortune for me and said "It says that you have good people around you"

JOY IS ABUNDANT!

Harajuku! Shibuya! Asakusa!

I'm posting a few photos for you to creep on, enjoy!

Sensoji Temple in Asakusa

Prayers and Incense

Washing my hands in holy water? I dunno, everyone else was doing it

Sensoji Temple

The bane of my existence

Shibuya crossing (the Times Square of Tokyo)

RUSH! @ Shibuya

Shibuya Crossing once again

Rockabilly dance troups of Harajuku....such a bizarre phenomenon (check out the video below)

Harajuku girls

Just a casual Sunday stroll through Harajuku

A terrible Japanese take on rock music

Who knew Tommy Lee Jones is big in Japan?