I am currently SO happy for one specific reason.
Jamison, aka, The Tremulance, has finished his album "The Breaks", and what's more,
you can download it for FREE!
Go here.
Jamison makes fantastic beats, among other things, and his mom once made me a delicious brunch way back in Abbotsford. After said delicious brunch, we watched Seinfeld and, if memory serves, Star Trek: TNG.
Memories, memories.
9.11.07
6.11.07
Notes on Drinking.
Where to start...
The week previous to this one was basically not much more than a drinking fest, and I suppose that is what I will tell of in part.
Us foreign teachers here in Kagoshima had a Teacher Seminar in Kumamoto (which, if you were from Kenya, translates exactly as, "hot pussy" [no joke], and therefore I feel compelled to do my Kenyan neighbour a favour and translate it as such from here on in).
So come last Wednesday I headed to a new part of Japan to give a lecture on 'Japanese Culture and Societal Ethics' to other foreign teachers.
I met some great new people; surprisingly really awesome, and thankfully my presentation was on the first day, so that I didn't have to try to do it while being dreadfully hagard the next day.
Unfortunately for other teachers giving presentations on Day 2 of this meeting, they could not help but try to fight their hang-overs.
While in (Hot Pussy), I met the guy who oversees things in that area for our company, named Dominic Walker, who continually made references to himself in the third person as D.W.
Example (after someone took a photo which he was also in): "Oy! Look at Dee Dubyah in this one! Fuckin' handsome bloke, that one!"
This is the man who will be filling in as P.S. for Kagoshima when our current P.S. (who is awesome) leaves.
As if it all wasn't enough to make one want to drink everything inaudible, he also had a thick British accent that became increasingly difficult to understand, and much more vulgar.
There's really something to be said for the vulgar capabilities the British have.
He also called me J-Dawg in-between his rants about how awesome Dee Dubyah is, so if any religious folk are about to judge me for the Sin of (alchohol-related) Gluttony, the plus side is that I didn't knock him out.
I can't remember which Sin is more deadly, Anger or Gluttony.
Probably Gluttony, which would explain my physical state of being the next day.
Anyway, aside from D.W., (Hot Pussy) was fantastic.
On the second day a couple of us walked up to the top of (Hot Pussy) Castle with a bottle of wine and sat on the grass in the cold fall/winter breeze and discussed everything from Japanese politics to "what the leaves say when they're rustling".
I voted that the leaves are saying "shhhhhhhhh", that is, if they're speaking English.
Terrible puns aside, it was a great two days in (Hot Pussy).
I returned to Kagoshima in perfect concordance with お原祭り ** , and ended up spending the next two days in Kagoshima City without returning to Kokubu (where I live, for those of you who haven't kept up).
On the second day there was an Art and Music Fest happening in a large park in the middle of the city (Tenmonkan), and on the way walking there my friend and I had to worm our way through thousands of people who were dancing up and down the streets, accompanied by the beats of the largest Taiko (drums) you've probably ever seen. On days like these, there is free drinks for those dancing, and so in a 15 minute interval you'll have this same large number of people rushing every which-way to get their hands on some tasty Sweet Potato Shochu (strong alchohol, made from exactly what is stated in it's title).
Although I didn't dance in the 祭り (festival), this is where my drinking on this day began, at 3pm on the dot, with a cup of Shochu hospitably being shoved into my hands.
I had absolutely no money on me this day, borrowed a total of 30 cents, and somehow maintained a steady 1/4 - 3/4 drunk until 6am, the following morning.
A personal record, especially considering that I only came out losing 30 cents.
You gotta love Festivals.
- じぇし～
^"Jesse" in Hiragana.
**Romanji = O-Hara Matsuri
English (direct translation) = Big-Stomach Festival
The week previous to this one was basically not much more than a drinking fest, and I suppose that is what I will tell of in part.
Us foreign teachers here in Kagoshima had a Teacher Seminar in Kumamoto (which, if you were from Kenya, translates exactly as, "hot pussy" [no joke], and therefore I feel compelled to do my Kenyan neighbour a favour and translate it as such from here on in).
So come last Wednesday I headed to a new part of Japan to give a lecture on 'Japanese Culture and Societal Ethics' to other foreign teachers.
I met some great new people; surprisingly really awesome, and thankfully my presentation was on the first day, so that I didn't have to try to do it while being dreadfully hagard the next day.
Unfortunately for other teachers giving presentations on Day 2 of this meeting, they could not help but try to fight their hang-overs.
While in (Hot Pussy), I met the guy who oversees things in that area for our company, named Dominic Walker, who continually made references to himself in the third person as D.W.
Example (after someone took a photo which he was also in): "Oy! Look at Dee Dubyah in this one! Fuckin' handsome bloke, that one!"
This is the man who will be filling in as P.S. for Kagoshima when our current P.S. (who is awesome) leaves.
As if it all wasn't enough to make one want to drink everything inaudible, he also had a thick British accent that became increasingly difficult to understand, and much more vulgar.
There's really something to be said for the vulgar capabilities the British have.
He also called me J-Dawg in-between his rants about how awesome Dee Dubyah is, so if any religious folk are about to judge me for the Sin of (alchohol-related) Gluttony, the plus side is that I didn't knock him out.
I can't remember which Sin is more deadly, Anger or Gluttony.
Probably Gluttony, which would explain my physical state of being the next day.
Anyway, aside from D.W., (Hot Pussy) was fantastic.
On the second day a couple of us walked up to the top of (Hot Pussy) Castle with a bottle of wine and sat on the grass in the cold fall/winter breeze and discussed everything from Japanese politics to "what the leaves say when they're rustling".
I voted that the leaves are saying "shhhhhhhhh", that is, if they're speaking English.
Terrible puns aside, it was a great two days in (Hot Pussy).
I returned to Kagoshima in perfect concordance with お原祭り ** , and ended up spending the next two days in Kagoshima City without returning to Kokubu (where I live, for those of you who haven't kept up).
On the second day there was an Art and Music Fest happening in a large park in the middle of the city (Tenmonkan), and on the way walking there my friend and I had to worm our way through thousands of people who were dancing up and down the streets, accompanied by the beats of the largest Taiko (drums) you've probably ever seen. On days like these, there is free drinks for those dancing, and so in a 15 minute interval you'll have this same large number of people rushing every which-way to get their hands on some tasty Sweet Potato Shochu (strong alchohol, made from exactly what is stated in it's title).
Although I didn't dance in the 祭り (festival), this is where my drinking on this day began, at 3pm on the dot, with a cup of Shochu hospitably being shoved into my hands.
I had absolutely no money on me this day, borrowed a total of 30 cents, and somehow maintained a steady 1/4 - 3/4 drunk until 6am, the following morning.
A personal record, especially considering that I only came out losing 30 cents.
You gotta love Festivals.
- じぇし～
^"Jesse" in Hiragana.
**Romanji = O-Hara Matsuri
English (direct translation) = Big-Stomach Festival
7.10.07
October.
It's been a hell of a long time since I've blogged.
I'm currently in my hotel in Kanoya, and the internet is free.
I've been taking advantage of it all week.
I leave tomorrow, and if I don't write something on here, I'll regret it.
Too much happens these days.
Business makes time fly by...it's already October.
I arrived June 13th.
When I got here I wondered how long I could get away with under-age drinking, as my birthday seemed so far away.
I'll now be 20 in 9 days, and in another 2 months I'll have hit the half-way point in my stay here,
but you may as well tell me that it's only 2 weeks away.
I've given Time too much leeway, it disappears if you don't watch it close enough.
My grasp of the language is steadily improving, I can almost read all 208 characters in Hiragana and Katakana, and a few in Kanji.
Kanji is difficult, but I absolutely love it.
As they're based on ideas, I sometimes just stare at a certain character and try to grasp the meaning. I've found it to occasionally work. The right side of my brain is having a great time.
If you're in Kelowna, and happen to know the wonderful people that are Kaare & Angie, wish them safe travels, and tell them that I will have Kaare's vest when we finally reunite in South Asia.
They leave on the 27th, and they are the best of people you'll ever meet.
Time for bed.
I'm currently in my hotel in Kanoya, and the internet is free.
I've been taking advantage of it all week.
I leave tomorrow, and if I don't write something on here, I'll regret it.
Too much happens these days.
Business makes time fly by...it's already October.
I arrived June 13th.
When I got here I wondered how long I could get away with under-age drinking, as my birthday seemed so far away.
I'll now be 20 in 9 days, and in another 2 months I'll have hit the half-way point in my stay here,
but you may as well tell me that it's only 2 weeks away.
I've given Time too much leeway, it disappears if you don't watch it close enough.
My grasp of the language is steadily improving, I can almost read all 208 characters in Hiragana and Katakana, and a few in Kanji.
Kanji is difficult, but I absolutely love it.
As they're based on ideas, I sometimes just stare at a certain character and try to grasp the meaning. I've found it to occasionally work. The right side of my brain is having a great time.
If you're in Kelowna, and happen to know the wonderful people that are Kaare & Angie, wish them safe travels, and tell them that I will have Kaare's vest when we finally reunite in South Asia.
They leave on the 27th, and they are the best of people you'll ever meet.
Time for bed.
7.9.07
Taken from a page that could've been put to better use.
I was told in Canada
by a random girl,
who had dressed herself
in the apparel of
"the independent thinker",
that in my previous notebook
(for she has not seen this one)
I wasted too much paper.
This comment was made
after she had asked to read my writing
and had done so.
If,
after reading my thoughts,
this was the most important thing
to come to her mind,
I feel she should've been happy
for the sheets
I left blank.
by a random girl,
who had dressed herself
in the apparel of
"the independent thinker",
that in my previous notebook
(for she has not seen this one)
I wasted too much paper.
This comment was made
after she had asked to read my writing
and had done so.
If,
after reading my thoughts,
this was the most important thing
to come to her mind,
I feel she should've been happy
for the sheets
I left blank.
29.8.07
Sum-up.
Fuck blogging tonight.
Mostly though, fuck Facebook.
I have finally joined, my protest has ended, and I am ashamed of myself.
I've fallen in with a bad e-crowd.
There's always so much to blog about these days,
I find myself lost as soon as I hit the keyboard.
I'll sum up some things in point form from the last month, because otherwise too many will become essays:
-I've worn a Yukata (this one probably wouldn't be an essay).
-I've been to an underground Japanese punk-rock, rock, and hard-core show.
-I've met "Ms. Kagoshima", and we've become friends.
-I've out-djembe'd a group of Japanese people.
-The best bar I've yet to find in Kokubu is a 30-second walk from my house.
-I'm averaging a book a week (please, please send me books).
-A man from Kenya moved in the apartment above me.
-I've performed a spoken word session at an "Art-Night" some foreigners put on.
-I have been gifted a rice cooker, juicer (which I have yet to use), and an old bicycle.
-I ate almost nothing but rice for a week (rice is cheap).
-I've somehow attained a modelling job in September.
-I've attained a part-time job teaching English to, most probably, members of Yakuza (which has yet to start).
-Days after her boyfriend died, a very interesting girl claimed to have fallen in love with me.
The last is something which deserves far more form than that of a point.
Try as I might, I just can't put the thoughts to ink without my fingers stuttering.
~
Mostly though, fuck Facebook.
I have finally joined, my protest has ended, and I am ashamed of myself.
I've fallen in with a bad e-crowd.
There's always so much to blog about these days,
I find myself lost as soon as I hit the keyboard.
I'll sum up some things in point form from the last month, because otherwise too many will become essays:
-I've worn a Yukata (this one probably wouldn't be an essay).
-I've been to an underground Japanese punk-rock, rock, and hard-core show.
-I've met "Ms. Kagoshima", and we've become friends.
-I've out-djembe'd a group of Japanese people.
-The best bar I've yet to find in Kokubu is a 30-second walk from my house.
-I'm averaging a book a week (please, please send me books).
-A man from Kenya moved in the apartment above me.
-I've performed a spoken word session at an "Art-Night" some foreigners put on.
-I have been gifted a rice cooker, juicer (which I have yet to use), and an old bicycle.
-I ate almost nothing but rice for a week (rice is cheap).
-I've somehow attained a modelling job in September.
-I've attained a part-time job teaching English to, most probably, members of Yakuza (which has yet to start).
-Days after her boyfriend died, a very interesting girl claimed to have fallen in love with me.
The last is something which deserves far more form than that of a point.
Try as I might, I just can't put the thoughts to ink without my fingers stuttering.
~
11.8.07
Fukuoka.
I'm writing this in my hotel room in Fukuoka.
I was rather spontaneously sent to this area by plane this morning to help out as there aren't enough foreign teachers at the moment.
Getting to schools you've never been to before can be difficult, as it's always a matter of catching 1 or more trains and usually several busses.
There's also the matter of the time that it takes. It's normal to have to make a two-hour trip to get to your classroom.
Except for today. Today took almost 6 hours of trains, planes, and automobiles, followed by teaching 3 classes.
It's as difficult as it is tiring.
But I should be honoured that they decided to send me on this important journey.
I'm also happy to see an area of Japan that I wouldn't have seen any other way, even though it is only for two days.
To take advantage of the trip, I cancelled my return flight ticket and bought a Shinkansen ticket instead; this way I can spend about an hour and a half sitting by a window and taking it all in.
While in the air this morning, I realized I had made a good decision.
These lower areas of Japan have some of the most beautiful nature I have ever seen.
I'll be back in Kokubu come Sunday, and I can't wait.
Some foreign teachers and Japanese teachers are all heading out to an island for two days of camping on the ocean.
The only thing I can be sure of is that I will be wearing nothing but Thai pants and either sandals or my Tabi's for the entire time, depending on if the situation calls for relaxation or Parkour.
I fucking need this holiday, for not many other reasons than that the last few days have held more drama than I thought myself capable of handling, and I almost couldn't.
It's an event that took approximately only two days, but I still can't figure out a way to structure it onto paper (or HTML) just yet, and since I'm worried about Kaare's BAHD (Blog Attention Deficit Disorder), I will end this one here, and work my next adventurous story out in my head.
Love,
Jesse
I was rather spontaneously sent to this area by plane this morning to help out as there aren't enough foreign teachers at the moment.
Getting to schools you've never been to before can be difficult, as it's always a matter of catching 1 or more trains and usually several busses.
There's also the matter of the time that it takes. It's normal to have to make a two-hour trip to get to your classroom.
Except for today. Today took almost 6 hours of trains, planes, and automobiles, followed by teaching 3 classes.
It's as difficult as it is tiring.
But I should be honoured that they decided to send me on this important journey.
I'm also happy to see an area of Japan that I wouldn't have seen any other way, even though it is only for two days.
To take advantage of the trip, I cancelled my return flight ticket and bought a Shinkansen ticket instead; this way I can spend about an hour and a half sitting by a window and taking it all in.
While in the air this morning, I realized I had made a good decision.
These lower areas of Japan have some of the most beautiful nature I have ever seen.
I'll be back in Kokubu come Sunday, and I can't wait.
Some foreign teachers and Japanese teachers are all heading out to an island for two days of camping on the ocean.
The only thing I can be sure of is that I will be wearing nothing but Thai pants and either sandals or my Tabi's for the entire time, depending on if the situation calls for relaxation or Parkour.
I fucking need this holiday, for not many other reasons than that the last few days have held more drama than I thought myself capable of handling, and I almost couldn't.
It's an event that took approximately only two days, but I still can't figure out a way to structure it onto paper (or HTML) just yet, and since I'm worried about Kaare's BAHD (Blog Attention Deficit Disorder), I will end this one here, and work my next adventurous story out in my head.
Love,
Jesse
4.8.07
Done.
Summer School (aka: teaching brand new curriculum coupled with 8 solid days of bus and train transit adventures [which take hours] to different towns every two days, having to arrive at the classroom before noon) is done!
Never, for the entirety of my employment with KTC, will I ever have to do it again.
Fuck...yes!
As a result of it however, my teaching skills have leveled up at least four times.
My job status of Teacher is also increased, and I can now get into certain castles I couldn't before; I'm also capable of carrying more powerful weapons.
We had a second typhoon here during the last two days of SS. Classes were almost cancelled, but by that point every teacher was willing to walk through wind-whipping violence if it meant getting to the finish line faster. So we did. We now have three days off, and I have no idea what to do with myself.
Today was the first day off in almost 2 weeks, and being in a pattern of work, I was a little shaken with the idea that I actually didn't have to worry about when I got up, and that I had to do no prep-work before sleeping.
Not knowing what to do with myself today, I cleaned my apartment from floor to ceiling, drank pot after pot of green tea (which is fantastic here, if you didn't know), and read the last half of "Brave New World", which turned out to be much different than I anticipated. I'm glad that I finally got to reading it.
It only took me about 3 days to read...Notably faster than if I had read it 4 months ago.
In the spirit of not working, I'm heading out to catch a train to Kagoshima-chuo.
There's this DJ thing happening around midnight, so I'm meeting up with Adam and we're going to check it out.
I'm looking forward to getting out of the apartment, or a classroom, and letting off a little steam.
We'll see how the night goes.
Also, if anyone's interested, I have a keitai (cell phone) now, and it can receive e-mails and such.
The address is mandrake.mechanism@softbank.ne.jp
I can't always make it to a computer, but if you want to send a message, or a picture, or an e-hug, that would make me smile.
Never, for the entirety of my employment with KTC, will I ever have to do it again.
Fuck...yes!
As a result of it however, my teaching skills have leveled up at least four times.
My job status of Teacher is also increased, and I can now get into certain castles I couldn't before; I'm also capable of carrying more powerful weapons.
We had a second typhoon here during the last two days of SS. Classes were almost cancelled, but by that point every teacher was willing to walk through wind-whipping violence if it meant getting to the finish line faster. So we did. We now have three days off, and I have no idea what to do with myself.
Today was the first day off in almost 2 weeks, and being in a pattern of work, I was a little shaken with the idea that I actually didn't have to worry about when I got up, and that I had to do no prep-work before sleeping.
Not knowing what to do with myself today, I cleaned my apartment from floor to ceiling, drank pot after pot of green tea (which is fantastic here, if you didn't know), and read the last half of "Brave New World", which turned out to be much different than I anticipated. I'm glad that I finally got to reading it.
It only took me about 3 days to read...Notably faster than if I had read it 4 months ago.
In the spirit of not working, I'm heading out to catch a train to Kagoshima-chuo.
There's this DJ thing happening around midnight, so I'm meeting up with Adam and we're going to check it out.
I'm looking forward to getting out of the apartment, or a classroom, and letting off a little steam.
We'll see how the night goes.
Also, if anyone's interested, I have a keitai (cell phone) now, and it can receive e-mails and such.
The address is mandrake.mechanism@softbank.ne.jp
I can't always make it to a computer, but if you want to send a message, or a picture, or an e-hug, that would make me smile.
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