Blogs from Shimane, Japan, Asia - page 2

I've been thinking a lot about Bill Murray lately. Most of the time, its in regards to his role in Lost in Translation. But more recently, it has to do with Groundhog Day, and his colorful yet repetitious mornings. As I rise with the sun and ride to work, I pass the same cute silver haired woman right at the top of the bridge, riding with her garden tools in the front basket. I then cut past the same students riding nonchalantly in groups of twos or threes, and as I turn onto a farm road, to my left, the same truck pulls into the drive of a house having an addition built on, and an old man opens his door as I pass. I then cycle through the Yokohama factory complex which is playing the ... read more

March is beginning of spring and breathes new life into the world. It also marks the end of the school year in Japan, and people celebrate the new phases of life awaiting them. While the ume (plum) trees open their buds, upper classmen prepare for entrance exams and graduation, while younger students are rewarded their new leadership roles. It was very exciting to be a part of a Japanese public school this year. It allowed me to learn more about the culture than I could have imagined, and put me in position to befriend people I wouldn't otherwise have access to. The past two weeks have involved a lot of goodbyes, as the seniors graduate and I prepare to transfer schools next month. By next week, I will be living in Yonago, 80km east of my ... read more

One overcast Saturday and one out-of-prefecture friend on an 18-odd hour visit. Did I mention the friend doesn't like snowboarding/skiing? (no offense my friend who shall remain nameless for safety reasons - my safety) Yes, I do actually have some non-snowaholic friends, quite a few actually. Whether that's still the case after next winter and my first full season owning a snowboard.......... Anyway, I picked my friend up from one of the train stations in Matsue and we headed off to Izumo to show her around Izumo Taisha, one of the more famous shrines in Japan. It started snowing just before we left Taisha, which excited my friend enough to want her photo taken among the flurry of white flakes. Maybe there's hope for her yet I thought........ On and back to Matsue we went looking ... read more

I don't remember being around the stuff as a kid. Given the effect it seems to have, I doubt I would have forgotten had someone given me some of the white powder to try. Should I be concerned that having had a taste of it, I enjoyed it enough that I went and bought the tools to enable me to indulge in its use more easily. I mean, it's only recreational use. Surely it won't turn out to be that harmful? Will it? Snow people, I'm talking about snow! Winter used to translate in my dictionary as "cold, wet, to be tolerated unless able to get away somewhere warmer on holiday". Now it means getting away to a skifield whenever possible (usually at the weekends, preferably during the week if I can wrangle it) with my ... read more

In Chicago this week, Montrose Avenue has collapsed into the frozen pits of hell, a formidable sinkhole soon to suck 'Sin City' to the earth's core. This imminent doom possibly foreshadows the outcome of this Tuesday's Presidential Candidate Race. Icy Tribunes stick to grey-stoned stoops with scandalous headlines about Britney Spears latest trip to the nuthouse and another beer drenched Superbowl Sunday. In Japan, on February 3rd, neighbors open all the doors of their home and sweep away the year's accumulation of dust from within the weave of their tatami. They then scoop up a handful of dried soybeans, and standing under the wooden doorframe, toss them into the street, yelling, "Out with the devil!" After sufficiently pelting this sometimes imagined, sometimes theatrically portrayed creature, they turn to face the inside of their home and throw ... read more