Correction...WAS lovely weather We're currently getting a lot of rain with the onset of rainy season...but that's a good thing because it combats the extreme heat. I'm used to VISITING this kind of westher, not LIVING in it...so it's taking some getting used to. A while back I knew which year I was born in - Japanese style. Will have to look into that once again. I hope the weather picks up in Oz. I keep hearing about rain rain rain....and puddle jumping.
Japan's currently in the reign of the Heisei emperor, it's year 20.
The Heian period was from 794-1185.
It's all so damn confusing isn't it.
Traditional depictions of tanuki (Raccoon dog) emphasis their enormous testicles. Read all about it at wiki/Tanuki.
Great pics, looks like lovely weather.
I will have to remember that... I will tuck that notelet away for future reference Bren... along with all the stuff i've read about reverse culture shock - it's still a long way off...then again it's been 3 months now eep! >_<
Directions The job of postman in Japan used to be hereditary, because the task of finding addresses in Japan has always been so difficult. That's why Japan was the first country to have GPS on mobile phones. In other countries, it's a gimmick. In Japan it's really, really useful.
Knock Knees A decidedly odd Japanese lecturer I had at uni insisted that Japanese used to be renowned for being giants until they adopted the tatami culture and gravitated (!) towards the floor. All that sitting on the knees resulted in Japanese becoming a rather short people, so he said.
Excessive Politeness Kills. I kid you not, National Hwy 2 runs through the city I used to live it. Now it's a 'proper' dual carriageway with room for a car in each lane, but it used to be so narrow that the front doors of people's houses would sometimes be clipped by passing traffic.
The traffic politeness you mention is a cool feature of Japan. It means more than road rules, but because of the state of the roads that's probably a good thing. Be very careful when you come back to Australia. I nearly got taken out when I expected oncoming cars to slow down for me as a matter of course when I was turning right in front of them. In Japan it would have been polite and conducive to traffic flow. In Australia it will get you killed.
Discombobulation Negation I felt out of my depth when i arrived in my city, being now separated from all of the other foreigners I had made bonds with, and had to survive alone on my own two feet. To be sure I felt discombobulated then....new language, new foods, new sights and smells...but that has since worn off, along with, i fear, some of that novelty factor. I find it has been all to easy to slide into that sense of the mundane, doing only necessary tasks and not really seeing too much of the city i live in. That was what prompted me to take my detour. I was sick of seeing the same buildings on the way to the same apartment... I'm looking for cost effective ways to enjoy myself... seeing as the novelty of being a bill payer is wearing off as well.
Love from some Barrett DNA ^_^
great writing AND great pics... your writing creates pictures and your pictures...hmmm
beautiful stuff!! I'm really intrigued by the incredible 360 degrees of difference in landscape, cityscape, edibles...do you perhaps feel a little discombobulated?
The way you record and interpret leaves no doubt that you will be a published writer my dear!!
love Aunt Caroline
Umm...well.... Hey hun! Yes, settling in ok, and I only stay at work as long as there is work that needs doing. Usually home by 5.30 or 6, but there have been 7, 8 and almost 9pm finishes - thankfully not too many though.
As for the other matter...It was a 3 in one hit. 1. Computer froze and I had to restart - always a pain. 2. While waiting for computer, realised my clothes were being rained on outside. 3. While collecting clothes, I picked up my laundry basket, turned around - as i was standing up- and hit my forehead on the bit that conveniently juts out of the drainpipe. Funny now...but oh so not funny last night. No sharp edges, no bleeding, no concussion....just some cussing :D xx
Glad to hear you're settling in well chica (^v^) I always hated having to look busy...and waiting for other people to leave work so you can leave etc.
But can I ask, how did you manage to smack your head into your drain pipe?
xx
As a matter of fact, I'm yawning now... Yep, I've got the yawning with my mouth closed thing down pat...and the looking busy thing - although most of the time it's because I actually am busy. I have to test the 3rd years all through this month. 18 students per lesson, 2 and a half minutes each for a speaking test....coming up with questions and ideas is a bit of a challenge, but some actual ideas may be nearing formation soon.....perhaps after a cruisy weekend and a good night's sleep. I'm off to karaoke tonight! and going to eat yakiniku!
Just to prove your existence chica....hehehehehe.
I always thought it was amazing how the seasons changed like..boom!...one day spring, next day summer! At the end of summer there'll also be a day with amazingly strong winds and then it will be autumn just like that.
I ended up being very good at looking busy by the time I left Japan. In fact, I could also yawn without opening my mouth. I'm sure it won't be long before you start doing it too!
It's good that you're taking pleasure in little things now. Just beware of the three month super deep depression period and try to remember those things that you used to think, 'Wow!' about.
xx miss you
Sounds like you're settling in fine chica! Along with drums, the garbage truck and kerosene-selling-truck melodies are some of my least favourable sounds to wake up to. Did I mention I used to live right by a temple that had amazingly loud bells that rang at 6am, 12pm and 6pm? And then on New Year's Eve you'd get a special treat of 108 bell chimes for the 108 sins of man. All in all I think one of my strongest feelings about Japan is that it is NOISY!!
P.S Once the American spelling takes hold, then comes the American pronunciation...have fun!!
xx k
If I remember correctly, you can't call international from every pay phone and definitely not the green ones. You might find it better to get an international calling card (can buy them from kombini) as it's a lot cheaper. Ask the guy at the counter for a kokusaidenwa kaado (sometimes they just give you a print out with an access number and not an actual card. You might need to put in 10 yen or so into the phone to get a dial tone before you can call.
xxx k Hang in there chica!
Ahhh...Japan...the country of paradoxes. Yes...it is a very backward country in the sense of 'quality of life'. Your apartment sounds exactly like my first apartment- scary hot water heater (make sure you remember to turn off the gas at the knob after you use it- you never know when an earthquake will hit) etc...Aren't you glad you didn't get sent into snow country???
k
P.S Yes, I am going to comment on every one of these blogs...lol.
Mmmm...Seiyu. Another good trick to try when penny-pinching is to go to Seiyu about 1 hr- 1/2 hr before they close. They will mark down most of the remaining bentou and osouzai (pre-cooked dishes) to at least half price. I always used to buy stuff on the way home from work and often followed the guy around with those magical discount stickers!
Thankyou! Wow! I didn;t even know I had a comment - still new to this site. I've arrived in Japan now, and i'm loving every second... I have to make my Japanese better though aaah! Keep me updated on your goings on too Laura... You inspire me!
xxx
Nikky
what an adventure! I'm so excited for you, Nikky! Thanks for linking to this in your last e-mail. I'll be reading regularly to catch your tidbits and insights, thanks to the incredibly connective tissues of the Internet. Not to sound horribly cheesy or anything, but... you go, girl! To Japan!
Wow! Enjoy every second!
much love from your cousin Laura
xooxox
I'm a gypsy at heart, but haven't had the opportunity to follow the wind until now.
I come from a diverse background:
My mum is Brazilian,
My dad is English,
My brother was born in Iran,
and I was born in Kenya.
We lived in Canada for a while before moving to Australia and now i've made the big move out to Japan - solo. I travelled a lot with them when I was younger, but this is my first solo overseas adventure.
This is something I always wanted to do, and now that I am actually doing it, I can hardly believe it.
I teach English as a second langua... full info
teecha_nikky
Literary Gypsy
Correction...WAS lovely weather
We're currently getting a lot of rain with the onset of rainy season...but that's a good thing because it combats the extreme heat. I'm used to VISITING this kind of westher, not LIVING in it...so it's taking some getting used to. A while back I knew which year I was born in - Japanese style. Will have to look into that once again. I hope the weather picks up in Oz. I keep hearing about rain rain rain....and puddle jumping.