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Published: August 18th 2005
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Gundam
This is my "Sword Impulse Gundam"...it took me over 2 hours to build him...he guards over our house! Greetings friends and family! While sitting here in the computer lab at school, I am trying to put this entire experience into words...and to be honest...it's pretty tough. Words like unreal, unforgetable, insane, overwhelming, fun, picturesque, challenge, spiritual, humid, warm, respectful are just some that I can think of off of the top of my head. I am pretty sure this is going to be my final entry. Nothing, I feel, can top my last entry about Fuji. But, with this entry I just want to bring everything together and kind of sum it all up one last time. I also just threw in a bunch of snapshots that I have gathered over the last week. Just some candids and fun pictures. So, let's see where this rambling of mine will take us...
I have already wrote, erased, wrote, and erased a couple lines because I feel like I am having trouble putting it all together. My final week has been filled with loooong nights out in Roppongi, documenting our usual/frequent trips to the grocery store, one last hoorah at karaoke, and a final dinner with my boys. Throw in a couple more tremors from some lingering earthquakes and you
Rockstar
The following series of pics are myself, Gordon, and Brent doing our best "Roockstar" face...I think mine needs work? have quite an interesting week.
Just to put the personality of Japan into some type of perspective, listen to this story from our night out in search of sushi. Brent, Gordon, and myself took off for Shibuya in search of a nice sushi dinner. We asked a few people at camp where to go and all the responses came the same "Oh...there are tons of places in Shibuya...good places". Well, Shibuya is big...Times Square big. We closed our eyes, pointed, and made our way down a street. I pointed out earlier in my journey that Brent knows a solid amount of Japanese to get himself around. He is always pushing Gordon and myself to approach someone to ask for directions/train stations/etc. to better our skills at commmunicating. So, it was my turn tonight. It was my idea for sushi, so it should be my duty to find the place. Nervous, I scanned the street looking for potential people to ask. I had narrowed down my search to a certain criteria: young & female. A young lady happened to be waiting at a stoplight "mailing" (we better know it as Texting on cell phones). I approached with the usual "Excuse
Brentstar
Here is Brent's attempt... me..." I will leave out my horrible spelling of what I was trying to say in Japanese. "Uhhhhhh Sushi...Best...Where is it?" She looked very startled and confused. Maybe I switch the words up. "mmmmm Best...Sushi...Where?" Blank stare. Maybe this way. "Where...Sushi...Best?" I think Brent could sense that I was drowning...fast! He made his way over just as the girl started in her best english to give us directions. After a few minutes we had an "OK" idea of where this place might be...maybe.
We headed out in search of the sushi. We made our lefts and rights. I was STARVING...I was crossing my fingers the place would magically appear. No luck. We stood around looking at each other as if the answer was printed on each other's shirts. Just then...there she was! The girl we asked for directions. She was walking towards us, waving her arms, pointing down the street. We followed and BOOM! Sushi bar! She seemed out of breathe and a little flustered. Had she followed us? Did she see us going in the completly wrong direction? Either way, she was there and showed us the door. I couldn't believe it! Brent asked her if she would
Gordonstar
Finally, we have Gordon and his mug... like to join us. No dice. With many loud "THANK YOU VERY MUCH", we watched her leave. Wow, how often does that happen. In Japan, I feel that it happens more often than not. I have read in some books that people go out of their way to show a person directions...some even walk you there. I just never thought it would happen to us. Amazing. It is a moment like that, I will take to heart.
There were different moments throughout this trip that evoked different feelings. Like the time Brent and I were on the Bullet Train from Hiroshima to Kyoto. We were physically exhausted from long train rides and mentally exhausted from the impact of Hiroshima. As we sat there Brent sparked a conversation with a couple sitting across the isle. The man looked just as tired as us...but way more sunburnt...Brent questioned him about it. It turned out to be from cycling...the man rode 100km that DAY! I think he was around 67 or 68 years old...still riding his bike...a lot! I was pretty silent during the conversation, but I was drawn to their smiles and laughs. Brent and the couple were laughing/talking/joking in some
Parking Lot
This is a Japanese "Parking Lot"...outside of Peacock...our local supermarket... hybrid language of English/Japanese. The whole time they were talking the smiles never, ever left their faces. I ended up taking pictures of Brent with the couple. I know for a fact, that single moment will be with Brent for the rest of his journey. It was awesome...plain and simple.
There are tons of little things that I would notice about the people and culture that would make me tilt my head to side...smile...and nod:
-Like when you are riding the Bullet Train. Each time a conductor or other type of worker walks through a car...once they get to the end of the car...they turn around...face the passangers...and bow.
-Any store, bar, eatery you walk into, just about every employee with in sight of you chimes in with a "welcome" greeting...and they do it loud enough so you can hear it! I would try to spell it, but I fear of butchering it.
-Or even better when I introduce myself to the kids at the camp as "John"...the faces and noises they make trying to pronounce my name: Joan...Goon...Jhon...Joon. Then once they get it, it is non-stop "John-o-sensai" for the entire time.
-"Peace Signs"...everywhere...take pictures
Shopping Cart
It almost seems like everything in Japan is a little smaller scale than in the US...Those are bananas to give you perspective in the cart...I literally pushed my cart around with my finger... with people, flash a "peace sign", kids score runs during "kick-a-base", flash your "peace sign", anywhere and everywhere flash it. Check out the picture of the kids and you will see what I mean.
-The amount of time and effort put forth for their trash. In Japan you have to seperate all of your trash...all of it. Burnables (paper, food, etc.) Non-Burnables (plastics, etc) Bottles, Cans, Plastic Bottles...you name it...you gotta sort it. Think about that next time you look at your trash. Don't ask about our house and trash...that is a story best told in person.
-Low doorways...way too low doorways. I told Gordon the other night that I hope when I get home that I will be able to stand up straight again. I averaged hitting my head in a doorway in the house around 3 to 4 times a day...some days more than...some days less than.
Well...I guess that about covers it. I am 1/2 through my last day here at camp. Then it is off to Harajuku to pick up some last minute gifts. Tonight will be filled with packing and cleaning our house. I would just like to take this time to
Supermarket
It was fun to shop for food...I could look from one end of the store to the other...no problem...If we all went together we could just yell across the store if we forgot anything! thank everyone for sharing this experience with me. Thank you to everyone who dropped me a comment or email...they were all read multiple times and extremely appreciated.
I will make my way back to Northern Virginia and back to regular life. Brent and Gordon however will continue their journey onto New Zealand for a few months. I want to wish both of them the very best of luck on their travels. Travel safe & smart boys. Thanks to the both of you for an unreal Japanese experience.
Don't forget to check the rest of the pictures at the bottom.
"Do what's right."
-Johnny
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Mommy
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Surprise...I was at the airport!
I am so glad you are safe and sound in the USA! Looking forward to hearing about all of your adventures in Japan with the family here at the beach. Love you and get some sleep!