I no speaka de Japanese

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I just spent the last hour wandering around trying to find the library so that I could check my email and type this entry. What was supposed to be a five minute stroll turned into a lengthy tour of the south-east corner of the city. I still can't check my email, but I now have in my possession a spiffy new Masuda City Municipal Library card and have free internet access. And next time, I won't waste half the afternoon trying to find a computer. Needless to say, the accuracy of my map is questionable and will soon be tossed into the "useless" bin for recycling.

The details of my trip across the Pacific Ocean are marginally more interesting. I didn't get rubber-gloved at customs, but I did manage to get fabulously lost in the neon-lit streets of Osaka. My 10-hour flight from Vancouver to Kansai was made bearable by Eri, a Japanese girl from Kyoto who had spent some time in Olds as an exchange student. We talked the flight away, got drunk off beer and caesars, and she was kind enough to help me sort things out once we landed. We exchanged contact information and parted ways hoping to visit one another in the near future.

Japan is a model of efficiency. Everything runs on time, it's clean and organized, the people are friendly, and it's hardly the place for someone like me - as many of you know, I'm not exactly known for my punctuality. Japan makes Canada look chaotic and unorganized, and affirms that India is one big clusterfuck shitshow.

After finding the correct bus station in downtown Osaka, I had sushi for supper (what else?) and aimlessly wandered the streets amid well-dressed salarymen, gleaming skyscrapers, and shiny cars for a few hours before boarding my overnight bus for the 7.5-hour trek across the country.

Now, on my ticket it said the bus departed at 11:00pm, and arrived at 6:35am. Well, I stepped off the bus in Masuda at exactly 6:35am, with 40%!o(MISSING)f the foreign population greeting me at Iwami bus station with welcoming signs and smiles, despite the early arrival. It was great to see Denise again, if there ever was an understatement - and I still can't figure out how they timed a 7.5-hour drive to the minute.

Compared to everything in Calgary, our apartment is small, the city is compact, the streets are narrow, the people are shorter, and I get really funny looks in the grocery store (funny "uh oh", not funny "ha ha"). I am an unemployed illiterate giant and I am going to love it here!

Sayonara, I am off to explore the city. Mom - Happy Birthday!

Yatta,

Camille

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Photos

Home Sweet Home
Top floor on the left, and that's my ride, baby!

Kitchen
This is where I do my Emeril impression. *BAM*

Entrance
Standing at the front door...bathroom to the left, kitchen on the right, and rice cooker straight ahead.

Tatami Room
That's our kotatsu table in the middle. The furniture is designed for midgets, but huge Canadians can use 'em too.

Love Nest
*bow chica bow whaaa...*

Comments

[nexus]

Thanks for the update
I wish you both well. I got an email in my hotmail account to check out your blog. For a minute, it caught me off guard and I kept wondering, Camille and Denise who?? D'oh!

[Pepe]

Me yerrow but no speaka Japanese
I gots the pictures! Gotta go but we'll chat later. Later kidz.

[senor Ocho]

Ko ni chi wa
Greetings from the beautiful Maple Leaf to the land of the Rising Sun. I would imagine you are considered tall there but just think - now everything will make you feel like a giant! I have to go and write some more news and do some stories. If you get satellite (off chance) look for call letters CKAL - CHUM and watch for me on TV. Talk soon, Tinch

[wee_wee]

Pics
Yay, you've added pics to this entry! But did you REALLY have to add the porn music to the "Love Nest" pic? ;P