Juxtaposed in Japan

Sunday, May 31st

I'm finally a licensed driver in Japan!

Well, let's just say that the Japanese driving test managed to personally crush any sense of self-esteem and self-worth that I may have at one point possessed. Took the test on Wednesday (failed), Thursday (failed), Tuesday (failed), Thursday (failed) and Friday (passed). The failure? That was hard. But mixing that with having to wake up at 6:30am, work until 9pm, pay $24 to test each time and drive an hour each way, that made it a rather miserable week.

Why did I fail? Sometimes for some decent reasons. I ran over the yellow line marking a turn lane from a through lane. A wheel went off the curb on the S-curve (though, in my defense, I don't know anyone in Japan who drives a huge car like the one I tested in, nor do I know of any S-shaped streets). Etc. The best one, though, was: "You need to be closer to the curb when you turn." I was failed because I wasn't close enough to the curb? Now that's just insane.

Through all my failures, though, the guy who does all the paperwork and testing stuff would come up and take time to try to give me advice on how to improve. I imagine I must've looked pretty devastated at one point, because he patted me on the arm (not really common in Japan) and told me to not give up, that he knows I can do it, and he has faith in me. It was a creepy father-son moment with the Japanese DMV guy. But.. hey, it was nice of him.

On my fifth try, I actually think I did pretty well, though as per usual they had some charming criticism to let me know what I could do better. But what was strange (and never happened before) is that the front desk guy ran up and had a personal chat with the guy who gave me the driving test. And that's the day I passed. I think I did well that time, though I also wonder if he had something to do with it and spoke on my behalf. Honestly.. I don't really care. I'm now a licensed driver in Japan.

I'll scan a copy of my license soon. I already have a picture, but I need to remove important info before uploading it to the internet (full name and stuff).

What else have I been up to? Didn't have much time this week, as I had to work late and wake up early, but I've been trying to fit studying in during the day, here and there. Also, today I went out to meet the girl from last weekend again. We went out to a local 'firefly festival' in a small town near here, got terribly lost on the way (the town is in the middle of nowhere) and then stayed for the small town festival for 3 or so hours (they had a magic show and stuff until it got late, then everyone walked to the river to watch fireflies). It sounds pretty simple (and it was), but it was a lot of fun. I think we're meeting up again tomorrow to go to an island near here and then head to the top of a mountain to look at the city. Should be interesting, though I need to get some time in to study.

As of Tuesday, I'll have officially been away from America for a year straight (I'd say 1 year in Japan, but I went to Korea for a week, so we'll settle for 1 year living in Japan). It's kinda weird to be away like that, from the culture and everything you've grown up with, but I'm relatively happy here, which I suppose is what counts. The only weird thing is the age when I moved here, and all the firsts that I've come to do in Japan and not in America (having to really get fitted for a suit, attend a high school graduation, make restaurant reservations, buying my own glasses next month, negotiating contracts, etc). Strange also that I no longer need to carry my US license anymore (I've carried a US ID since I was.. 14? 15 or so).

Though I admit I feel lonely from time to time, I think it'd be the same no matter where I lived. And I do have people I'm close to here, even in Japan, which was especially helpful during the murderous driving test week.

Anyway, that's about as exciting as my life gets. I'll write more sometime soon as the adventure continues!
Jason on 05.31.09 @ 12:09 AM JST [link] [comment]

Monday, May 25th

Holla back, yo.

Hmm.. where to begin. I took the driving test last week, which means I have to leave my house at 7:30am, drive a hour and a half, and then take a written test (in English). The written test is quite possibly the easiest thing I've done in awhile, seeing as it had some questions like "If the speed limit is posted as 40km/h, I can drive up to 40km/h. True or False?" They even had pictures, in case that was too hard for me to wrap my mind around. So, I aced the writing test.

The driving test? I failed. Hardcore. I thought I did pretty well, but it turns out that you need to hug the curb when you drive in Japan. And you need to jerk your neck in each direction obnoxiously when checking if something's safe to proceed. So I went back the next day and only had to take the driving test. Failed again. I got too close to the curb in an obstacle course S-curve and went over it. The man, with no trace of irony, told me I should practice. Now.. exactly how many S-curve roads have you driven on that are wide enough for only 1 car? Never seen one in my life..

So, I'm going to take it again on Tuesday. Let's pray I'm done, because I really hate this hour and a half drive and $25 fee just to drive all the way back home with nothing to show for it.

But hey.. enough of being negative (you're lucky I opted to not write on Thursday after failure #2. I was not a happy camper). I didn't get a chance to study with my coworker this weekend because she went to Tokyo, but by some odd twist of fate I met two people this weekend that I could hang out with over the weekend. What're the odds?

The first person contacted me on a Japanese networking site and told me she's been living in America for 5 years, would be back in her hometown (where I live) for summer break, and wanted to meet. Sure, why not! Did I ask why? Of course not. How do people seem to find me? Who knows! I had nothing else to do this weekend, and it's not like I know a whole bunch of people. So, we met at a coffee shop and ended up talking for 4-5 hours before making plans to meet again on Sunday to go to a movie.

Sunday comes and we go to "Angels and Demons" (the sequel to "The Da Vinci Code", I hear), which wasn't altogether a bad movie. After living in the city for nearly a year, I'd never actually gone to the movie theater ($16 for a movie? Uh.. I'll rent something for $1.50, thanks, and watch it at my convenience). I've been in it many times, but I never bothered to watch anything. So anyway, we watched the movie, went to a restaurant in the mall, and talked for another 4 hours before taking her back home. Busy day.

And THEN, I had dinner plans about an hour and a half later with another person. I was introduced to the other person through a student of mine, and we exchanged e-mails and all that stuff. So, met her, her twin sister, and her twin sister's husband for dinner. Over all really great people, though I felt a bit out of my element as they are into the hip-hop scene, and I can't tell my hip from my hop. When someone asks you what "holla back" means, you know you're in an interesting position. But it was nice, fun, and we talked for 3 hours or so about various things.

That would bring up pretty much up to speed with my life, at least as far as I know (people tend to not tell me important stuff, so I could be married, independently wealthy, or homeless and no one's bothered to inform me yet). Been pretty sociable this weekend, though I need to get down to studying now.

Tomorrow, I pick up my new visa (had to get it renewed so I'm not here illegally). With luck, I managed to get a 3 year visa and won't have to worry about renewal, sponsorship, leaving the country, or anything for the next 3 years. Let's hope!

Good luck, and don't have too much fun without me!
Jason on 05.25.09 @ 12:25 AM JST [link] [comment]

Tuesday, May 12th

Taco Bell sells WHAT?!

Current Sounds: The sounds of traffic as people drive by

jason_hiroshima-52009 (112k image)
jason_hiroshima-52009

What's that? You're greeted not just with an awesome photo of me. Oh no.. but an awesome photo of me in front of the Atomic Dome in Hiroshima! Actually, I need to get around to replacing the opening photo (the one at the top) with this, but I figured until I get around with that, I'd upload it here because.. well.. I can.

Here in Japan, we have week-long holiday (at the beginning of May) called 'Golden Week'. So, seeing as I was off the job and had some free time, I took a day trip out to Hiroshima. After so much time in my (relatively small) city, it was nice to be in a larger place with actual department stores, huge bookstores, and shops with choices. Naturally, since I was in Hiroshima, I had to make a trip down to the 'Atomic Dome' (a building near ground zero of the atomic blast on August 6th, 1945), through the Peace Park, and then went to the Atomic Bomb museum. I wish I could say it was a life-altering experience (as most guidebooks, websites, and conversations with people who've been there have suggested), but it was kinda.. all right. I mean, of course it was a tragedy, but having studied Japanese history as a major in university, it's not the first time I've seen any of this stuff. I've read first-hand accounts of the suffering, I've seen the pictures (ones even more gruesome than in the museum), so.. yeah. The saddest thing I did see was a letter written by a 5th grade girl to her teacher after she was evacuated from the city (prior to the bombing). Reading the hope that a child can still maintain, even in a country ravaged of resources after 6 years of war, is just.. amazing, really.

After that, I decided to lay low for a few days before heading out for 'Friendship Day' at a USMC base near here. Once a year, they open their gates to the Japanese public for an air show, American food, and other stuff. Of course, it sounded interesting to go to an air show (despite having grown up on an Air Force base, I can't remember ever having been to one in my life), but above all else my heart was set on one thing: Taco Bell. Pretty much anything else I could want from America I can find relatively easy here in Japan. But Taco Bell, with their totally unauthentic Mexican food, has been absent from my life. The base, however, had one, and I went in search of their delicious tacos.

I finally track down the Taco Bell (which took some doing) and.. what's this? They're only selling Carne Asada Burritos?!?!? TACO Bell is not selling Tacos? There's some sort of sick irony in there. Right up there with the neighboring BURGER King that was only selling chicken sandwiches. I'm guessing that they wanted to provide something different to the Japanese guests, but still.. that seems so wrong. So ultimately, I had to leave without my delicious tacos. So very, very sad.

Other than that, I've just been getting back into the swing of things here at work. I'll be going in for a driving test next week for a Japanese driver's license, that'll be tons of fun. Also need to go in and extend my visa tomorrow or Thursday. Today I went to the department store to pick up some doughnuts for one of my company classes (no good reason, just felt like it) and ran across two of my students from high school. Since I was already going to buy doughnuts, I told them they could grab one if they wanted to, as one or two more doesn't make much of a difference to me.

The odd thing about it is that the reaction was akin to if I had cured someone of cancer. I mean.. being grateful is good, but it calls to attention an interesting part of Japanese society: Everyone here is amazingly courteous. Customer service is top notch. People will go well out of their way for you. But only if you ask. The idea of a 'random act of kindness' just seems kinda foreign, at least judging by my personal experiences and by the reactions I've gotten when I've done something random.

The second thing is now the children's book "If you give a mouse a cookie.." is coming to mind. I'm wondering how many students are going to hang around that place in the hopes of getting doughnuts. Scaaaary.

Anyway.. that's all I've got for today, and pretty much gets you up to date on my supposedly exciting life.

Before I forget, I made another video the other office I teach at. So, more fun of listening to me talk to myself! Second Office Tour!!!
Jason on 05.12.09 @ 11:26 PM JST [link] [1 comment]


May 2009
S	M	T	W	T	F	S
					1	2
3	4	5	6	7	8	9
10	11	12	13	14	15	16
17	18	19	20	21	22	23
24	25	26	27	28	29	30
31