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March 29, 2005

Closing Ceremony for One Year Researchers

"And now we will start the closing ceremony," said the department cheif and sat down. A severly proper and frowning old man walked to the front with conducting baton in hand. When the baton came down, the crowd of proper suited people began singing the Japanese national anthem, "Kimigayo", a slow-ponderous-muddled-dark tune where each mora is strung out. The auditorium had a tensed silence over it. Drowsy heat filled the room. At one point, a few employees were talking and were summarily stared down by the emcee and the rest of the crowd. Speeches were made. Certificates were handed out. The department cheif, known for his vitriolic and loud outbursts of anger, nodded off. More speeches were made. Polite clapping followed at the appropriate places in the ceremony. At the appointed time, the department cheif perked up and closed the ceremony with, "And now we will end the closing ceremony." The crowd was dismissed according to rank.

Posted by Emarrific at 05:13 PM | Comments (2)

March 13, 2005

Biking by Compas, Bowling, Indecision Aftermath

Today, I went on my first bike ride in about three or four months. I decided to try a bike exploration trip, where I got to my so-called destination by compass. Basically I looked at a map and decided what direction I needed to go, then I just guesstimated as I rode, using the compass attached to my bike. It was much less frustrating than having to stop every minute to look at a map. The roads in urban areas are so crooked and short, that it's really hard to go anywhere in a straight line unless you use a main road. I don't like main roads because they are full of car smog and aren't visually very exciting. Yeah, I know, how could I not love block after block of car dealerships and ugly architecture? I always get stuck behind these scooter folk who are too big to pass by some big stopped truck hoggin' the road and then have to inhale their pollution too. Then I pass the scooter using the sidewalk, only to be passed by them again once traffic starts up again.

So, I really want to get to know the side and back roads in the area, especially urban places that have nasty main roads that should be avoided at all costs! The best way to do this is just go out there and get lost in the countless side roads over and over again until good routes present themselves. This is what I imagine cabbies do when they need to get to know a town. Just drive and drive and drive. Or in my case, just bike and bike, and don't be afraid to "waste time" exploring some side road.

I actually went 30 km, but that was not continuous. I stopped a lot to turn around when I came to dead ends (there are so many in Japan!), drink or eat something, stretch, buy something, consult my map and take a look at something interesting. I even spent over an hour at Hasedera (Hase Temple) in Kamakura, walking about, looking at the statues and temples, and walking on "Prospect Road". I also spent a good deal of time bending over the carp ponds, where the carp fish kept on facing me and opening their mouths as if to say "feed me!" But the public not supposed to feed the fish. Anyway, I started around 9:30 a.m. and didn't get back home until 4:00 p.m. But the point wasn't to reach a certain distance in a certain amount of time.

I also managed to do a fall I like to call the "clipless pedal wonder" wherein you change gears going up a hill, the gears fall off, you feet start spinning wildly, your feet are stuck in the pedals, your mind blanks and then you do a very slow motion fall and impale yourself on the handlebars. Wow, I'm going to have a nice bruise or two in a couple of days.

In the evening I went bowling with a bunch of other JETs. I actually got over 100 on my second game. (102 points!) I got a 500 yen discount. That was good. Not so good was the sick amount of smoke in that bowling alley! Yes, smoking in a bowling alley! What is wrong with this country and all these smokers smoking all over the friggin' place?! I really can't wait until smoking is banned in public places in Japan. I know it's hard to imagine, but I pretty sure someday it is bound to happen. In fifty or a hundred years, the Japanese Healthy Ministry will finally have to admit that second hand smoke is bad for people's health, and ban it from public places like restaurants, shops, airports, karaoke studios, izakayas, bowling alleys etc. Oh what heaven it will be then to hang out in Japan! Well, I might be dead by then, but maybe I'll live a second life and get to enjoy it.

After bowling, there was this huge group who wanted to do something but couldn't make decisions, so it took a really time to get off our butts and go somewhere. Then the first restaurant was too smokey and the second izakaya was full. Finally, a group of us went to Matsuya (Japanese fast-food pork bowl chain restaurant) and some went to a bar for food and beer. I think the moral of the story is one person should just decide to be leader, make a decision where to go, then stick with it. Those who don't want to go, don't go. End of story.

Well, I did Matsuya, bar, and then went home. I got home late, again, around 12:30 a.m. I need to stop doing that!

Posted by Emarrific at 10:22 PM | Comments (0)

March 06, 2005

Back into the Swing of Partying

This weekend I spent Friday and Saturday night out partying and drinking. Now, voila, I am no longer terribly homesick. There must be something about drinking lots of sake, doing the chicken dance with a toilet seat cover with pale baby blue tropical floral print over my head, teaching the "crotch dance" to two random guys and then performing for the surrounding tables at the drinking establishment, eating tofu AND chicken salad (which someone commented was a terrible waste of tofu), and catching the last train which just makes me non-homesick. Or maybe it was copious red wine, nabe (communal hot pot), punching and being punched, wrestling, crude humor, Baby Secrets, and lots of loud Australians. In any case, I'm back to my usual non-thinking, happy self. Life is good.

Posted by Emarrific at 10:24 AM | Comments (2)

March 04, 2005

Kung Fu Hustle

Every week I have friends come over and watch a movie of dubious quality while eating junk food and drinking iced tea and juice. This week was "Kung Fu Hustle". A movie night regular just came back from China with a very kosher copy of the movie. According to the package, the movie features Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss and was directed by the Wachowski brothers... Huh? Nothing sketchy here...

Overall, the movie was fun. The movie was chock full of the kind of over-the-top, physically impossible, completely comical kungfu moves that make for good group enjoyment. The exaggerated characters were memorable and silly. I do have to say that I was disappointed by how little "dancing by evil gangsters" took place later in the movie. But that's probably my biggest (not so bad) complaint.

I definitely think this is a movie a fun watch and something most kung fu/purposefully badly made movie afficianados will enjoy.

Posted by Emarrific at 01:32 PM | Comments (0)