Episode 10: First double-digit posting here I come!

Another week flies by, and what do I have to show for it? Easter chocolates, experiences, drawings, stories, and more Japanese phrases, that's what!!! This week has been good to me, and despite the overtime shift from last week, I don't feel too hard pressed to do everything that I wanted to do last week on my current time off.

One thing that has been getting me pretty excited over the past couple weeks has definitely been the Sakura (Sa-ku-ra.. with a bit of a higher intonation on the 'ra') AKA, the Cherry Blossoms! As I'm sure you can tell from the pictures to the left, they're quite beautiful. At least they better damn well be! I'm enthralled by the fact that almost all of my students have been excited about their bloom since the end of February. Indeed, Japan is well known for its cherry blossoms, and the fact that so many people here love their beautiful pink colour. Unlike back home, the colour pink is adorned by a huge percentage of people, men and women, and they don't call it "Salmon" to stay manly. "Pink-o," or pink in Japanese, is a popular spring colour, and I myself have even bought a pink tie to wear during this harmonious time. Now, though there are many different kinds of cherry blossoms (three different species are most prevalent here) they are all very similar, differing in phenotype as simply different hues of pink colour in their petals... at least, to my untrained eye anyway. Regardless, I find them beautiful, and only wish that I had my beloved Crane-Katana (or, Yoru-ken, my black blade) in hand, and outfitted in my Hakama so that I could have some really wicked pictures taken. I'd even use photoshop to jazz'em up for you guys. Ahhh... the saddest words truly are 'what could have been.'


Unfortunately for many of us here in Mie, the last few days haven't been very beautiful, and so there has been little opportunity to take a long walk late a night through the illuminated Tsu-park and eat some Taco-yaki. (Fried Octopus in ball form.) The good pictures you see here are a result of my long walk this afternoon around Tsu-shinmachi. The poorer quality ones are from my camera Ketai, from my first Japanese lesson with Tomo-san on April 1st. We spent half the class learning in the International Center in Tsu-city, and then the other half walking through the park. Tenoshi-desu.


Earlier this week we had a going away party for Steven, one of the cooler English blokes here in the Nova circle. He has been here for almost two years at this point, and was ready to go home. We went out to this ridiculous restaurant that I had been to only once before. It's a great restaurant, minus the fact they they have trouble getting orders correct. There was a great deal of alcohol consumption that evening, and though I wanted to hit up the Karaoke party that ensued post-dinner, I politely refuted the invitation due to a little nagging problem in the back of my mind. Work first thing in the morning. Being a vetran of the all night party and then 6am train home manouver, I recognize that it is simply a once every couple month technique. Sadly, it was the last I saw of Steve, and I wish him well back home.

Oh, and yeah, some of the Japanese women that were there (students from his branch, etc) were crazy! And crazy cool. Sachio for one was ridiculously fun, and she was teaching Ashanthi and me some pretty cool Mie-ben. 10 points to whoever can figured out what "Watashi wa me-cha gowakaru!" means.


Also this week, a few glorious moments occured in the form of delcious treats from back home. First, I purchased "Pandada-kun," my white and fun coffee maker. He and I have already brewed a couple delicious pots of imported Tim Horton's coffee, compliments of my mother and father. Rumour has it that my grandmother has sent a package that is due to arrive any time now, which could quite potentially contain more of this life-enhancing trademarked coffee bean. In addition to those great gifts, I received an Easter package from Laura's mother Barb this aft, and it contained many luscious chocolates with which to sate my great foreigner hunger. They make a great snack food for when I'm doing my writing or drawing here in my apartment. My apartment is kinda drab still, and as they'd say in England, it just doesn't quite cut the mustard, if you catch my drift. Thus, anything to enhance my writing experience here has been a great blessing. Thanks guys!!! I feel loved.


Also, I got my first haircut in Japan Wednesday evening. I stopped in, and made a quick reservation at a swanky hair salon around the corner of my place, aptly called "un peu." When I first went in, the staff didn't speak English, which would have been a bit of a problem, but luckily, Futoshi-san (F'to-shee) knew quite a bit of Eigo (English.) The whole process to just take off 'un peu' managed to occupy the majority of my evening! I couldn't believe how long it took them to wash my hair, cut my hair, give me some tea, etc... Probably abotu 1.5hrs in total. It was also quite expensive, totaling some 4200 yen when all was said and done. On the plus side, I got to use some the stock phrases that I know quite well, and I got a few kudos on my Japanese pronounciation and understanding. Either that or they were being nice and polite because I was paying them over $40 to cut some hair on my head when I could have gone down the road and paid $20. In either case, I liked them, and Futoshi was a cool guy. I also like my hair, and even though the whole Japanese style of having a bit of longer hair at the back (not quite a mullet mind you) looks a little funny, I'm trying to fit in here, so it's pretty much a must. Besides, I'm cool here.


Here's some funny things about food and food advertising. Dozo.

Ja matta ne,

-benjamin

Here's a strange looking bun thing that I picked up at a super-market. Look! It's a Holstein cow in dessert bun form. *note* it wasn't bad.






When Jack Bauer isn't out killing terrorists, he's chewing down on some Caloriemate Energy Bars. If you eat them you can shoot terrorists too.

What's tastier than meatballs? Pretty much nothing... unless... they're meatballs with Eggs in them. Mmmmmmmeat-egg balls.