Juxtaposed in Japan

Another month comes to a close

Current Sounds: Prozzak - Strange Disease

Hey, who knew.. I'm still alive! I wish I had stories of epic proportions to tell or even something remotely of note, but frankly, my life hasn't really been all that interesting as of late. The only thing of note that I can really recall is that Mothra, the radioactive, HUGE moth seems to have moved into my apartment. It's not bad enough that late at night while I'm watching TV I'll occasionally see the moth dart past.. no. Nor is it bad enough that I've swatted the thing twice and yet it always gets back up and away.. those things I can understand. It's when a giant moth flies past you when you're in the shower. Seriously.. I have shampoo in my hair, I'm standing under a jet of water, and a moth flies past. Last I checked, wasn't water not good for these things? It stayed out of the water, but still.. came pretty close.

Alas, that's about as interesting as my life gets as of late. Otherwise, I've been a bit depressed lately, so I've been trying to take it easy. Decided to lay off of studying this week and just been watching movies and reading a novel. It's not so much that I'm 'depressed', more just 'bored' I think. After 4 years of college and getting a degree and then moving halfway across the globe, I guess I kinda expected life to be more interesting.

Certainly, I appreciate that once each day is over my time is my own; there are no tests or homework assignments to worry about. However, at least I had a goal to look towards. Every 4 months, the classes would end, I would put them behind me, and then work on something new. Here, I could realistically do this for several years (though I'd rather not).

Basically, I need to get a hobby. Something to go out and do. I just haven't bothered to get around to it yet.

Otherwise, work and everything else is going all right. Had lunch with one of the Japanese teachers on Tuesday, new American teacher came in on Monday. He'll be moving in to the apartment above mine. To be honest, I'm not a terribly social neighbor (please, oh please don't talk to me after work..), but I offered to take him around town this afternoon to pick up stuff he might need (sheets, pillows, TV, whatever), since he doesn't have a car, and it's a bit hard to get around if you don't know where anything is. Besides, when I moved in, the guy I was replacing was really kind and took me around, so I guess it's the least I can do. You know, karma and all.

I did actually go on a date with a Japanese girl about 2 weeks ago. It was really nothing of interest, just a vague setup from a coworker of mine. Long story short, it went absolutely, brutally, and quickly to hell. She told me on the date, over the course of 3 hours, that I'm 'cold', 'a dimwit', and 'really, really weird'. She also looked the words up in the dictionary to make sure she got the right meaning. Yeah.. I was a bit surprised. Why would you stay 3 hours if you so clearly didn't like the person? But! It got better. She then went to my coworker and told her all sorts of charming things about me (or, at least, her opinion of me) and asked my coworker to uninvite me to a concert she had previously asked me to go to.

Personally.. I'm just shocked. She doesn't just not care for me, but she actively seems to dislike me. Kinda curious what I did. While I don't really care about her or her opinion, it is a bit of a blow to your self-esteem and makes you less eager to go out and meet people.

On a more positive front, though, one of my students invited me to her house to meet her family and have lunch together last weekend. It was probably a good thing, and at least helps to put down the prevailing "everyone hates me" feeling.

I suppose you can't win everyone.. nor should you. For the very same reason that people like you, others will hate you.

And, it's distinctly possible that she's crazy. Why do I only meet the crazy ones?

I should get going and do something with the rest of my day. Finished my monthly reports, so the rest of the day is mine to spend as I please. I'll write sometime again soon (ideally with less of a space in between)!
Jason on 08.30.08 @ 07:40 PM JST [link]

HAR! Summer vacation!

Current Sounds: The sound of my fan going back and forth

It's been about a week since I've last written, so I should probably write something again, huh? Unfortunately, life hasn't been insanely interesting this past week, so I don't really have any tales to regale you with or much of note to say.. but that's never stopped me before, huh?

I do have to say, though, that there's something oddly amusing about watching someone get carded and fail when trying to buy alcohol. It doesn't matter what language it's happening in.. it's just awesome. This is probably related to my not buying alcohol and being of age, but.. whatever. I watched the kid in line ahead of me go through that experience at the grocery store around 11pm at night (he looked maybe 18. The legal age is 20 here). The cashier asked if he was old enough, and he said yes. She asked for his ID and he showed it (.. if you're lying, why would you show your ID?) and obviously didn't pass. She didn't lecture him. She didn't get upset over him clearly lying. She simply said "Well, why don't you wait and grow up a bit more, okay?" With all sincerity and politeness. That, I assure you, is far worse than anything else she could've said. I wanted to laugh, because it was pure awesome.

I'm officially on vacation now, though I really don't have any plans what-so-ever. On Wednesday, I'll go out with a coworker (one of the Japanese teachers) to a city she lived in for 3 years, and play tourist for the day with her. That'll be fun, at least. And on Friday I'm meeting the daughter of a woman who works at a university I teach at.. and said daughter takes classes with a current coworker and was close to a former teacher. Yay for strange ties! Otherwise.. I was considering going to Hiroshima, but it's so busy and hot right now.. it's a day trip, so I can go any time. I'll probably give it another month or so and go later. 2 hours by bus each way, it's hot and humid, and all the school kids are out.. umm.. I can wait.

I was going to run around and look at the used book store today, but on my way there I ran across a wallet on the ground. Unfortunately, my strong sense of responsibility gripped me and demanded that I immediately find a payphone, call the owner, and return the wallet if at all possible. Yes kids, I have now officially returned a wallet in Japan. Yay! I didn't exactly want to call from my cell phone (did I mention I'm paranoid?), so I did it from a pay phone, and they asked me to wait there for 10-15 minutes. When the guy showed up we did the standard "so.. uh.. I have your wallet" routine, he tried to pay me, I refused, and we all went on our merry way.

The upshot to this is that I think I've increased my karmic rating (though still not quite enough, I think.. gar), AND I finally found "Pepsi Blue Hawaii" (which I thought was phased out).

Now, I want you to stop and think about all the flavors you'd associate with a soda that's blue, and called "Blue Hawaii".

... don't worry, I'll give you a second.

..... ready?

All right. Well, apparently the flavors JAPAN associates with "Blue Hawaii" are Pineapple & Lemon (as written on the bottle). It tastes.. well.. really disgusting. But after drinking a bottle of it (and only AFTER consuming the whole bottle), I guess I can kinda see the appeal. I don't like it, but I'm willing to grant that other people could.

It's kinda weird being off and having nothing to do. To be honest.. I really don't care for vacation if I don't have plans, and I'm not really one to go run around on my own. Traveling by myself is akin to playing checkers against yourself; if you have no one to play off of, why do it? If I'm the only one who remembers.. who cares? I don't know.. it just doesn't interest me. It's sad, but I'd kinda rather work. It gives me something to do, and it makes the free time more valuable. Funny.. but true.

I'll probably watch a movie tonight before heading out to the supermarket at some god-forsaken hour. Maybe head to the electronics store tomorrow and stare at stuff I know i won't buy (but it's also near the movie theater.. BATMAN!!).

Enjoy.. and I'll write soon! I actually have pictures of random stuff to upload!
Jason on 08.11.08 @ 01:40 AM JST [link]


August 2008
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