Car accident!!

Almost daily, drivers and passengers of cars stare at me as I walk from the train station to my school in Seki. They aren't malicious stares, but stares of interest and curiosity, as I am fairly confident that I am the only caucasian foreigner that has been to Seki in years.

Anyway, as I was walking to work today, I noticed a female driver of a minivan driving slower than normal and staring at me. I turned and gave her a quick smile and then kept walking. A few seconds later, I heard the sound of metal colliding with metal and glass breaking! It turns out that this woman drove right into the car in front of her because she was staring at me!

Luckily nobody was hurt and the damage to both cars was relatively minimal. I know that it isn't my fault, but I still feel really bad. Apparently it is dangerous to be on the road when I am in the area here haha.

Not to make light of a serious story, but my friend Duc pointed out that at least now I can say that I really have "stopped traffic" haha

I heart student affairs

For years, I have gone back and forth, constantly changing my mind about what career I want.

Finally, I am sure...I'm a student affairs junky. (yeah, I was somewhat sure before, sure enough to get a masters degree in it anyway, but now I am 100% positive)

Here's some proof: Since moving to Japan...

* I find myself reading every student affairs related article that I can get my hands on, for fun, not because I have to.
* I find myself using phrases like "take it to the source" at work.
* I find myself trying to infuse non-academic learning outcomes into each English lesson I teach. (This week's focus is going to be discussing controversy with civility)
* I miss RA training!!!
* I am constantly creating "passive programs" in the lobby of my school.
* I use student development theory and identity development theory to try to encourage my students to study abroad. (generally, they have no idea what I am talking about)
* I am working on developing a way to implement a standards model based classroom behavior management system.

Basically, this all means that I am a giant nerd. But, it also is super exciting to for the first time feel absolutely confident about my career path.

On a related subject, I am also 100% sure that I never again want to work for a for-profit company/school. Selfishness/greed, be it corporate or personal, is totally disgusting to me. I'm a giver, not a taker. =)
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Another great weekend!

This was another nearly perfect weekend in Japan! Initially, I was planning on going away for the weekend to the beach with some of my friends. However, earlier this week, for no apparent reason, I decided that I didn't want to go, so I didn't.

I think that part of it is that my introverted nature is a lot stronger here: I spend all day being super genki and extroverted, so in my precious free time, I tend to want to go off and do things by myself more. Maybe the other part is that most of my friends here so far are my friends through my neighbor, and although they are all very nice and great fun, I kind of want to make my own friends. Or maybe I'm just slowly becoming more hermit like as I get older...who knows.

So, back to my great weekend... Yesterday, I had intentions of going to do some sight-seeing, but this weekend is a holiday here, so places are all super crowded. So, instead, I went down to the river and found this amazingly beautiful beach nestled in a cove of bamboo trees. I spent the morning there just relaxing and studying Japanese. Then, I headed off to Nagoya and went to the Osu Kannon Temple, did some shopping, and then somehow ended up at a free music festival in the middle of Sakae. I met tons of really cool people and heard a really great Japanese hip/hop band called Nobody Knows+.

Then, I headed to a gay bar called Nan*Nan. It was so hard to find because there generally are no street names in Japan, but was well worth the trip, as it was full of hot twenty-something J-guys. They were all very nice and I made a bunch of new friends.

Today, I made a long list of things to do, and not only did I do them all, but I also did tons of extra things, like re-tile the entry way to my apartment and make a chair (I'm like the gay Martha Stewart of Japan). It's such a good feeling to get things done. (I miss being busy all the time) I spent the afternoon at the beach, and even got over my fear of rivers and swam across to the other side. (well, more like waded, but still)

I have done many ridiculous things since moving here, but today was perhaps the most ridiculous. I found a used microwave for only 2000 yen (about $18) at a second-hand shop. I bought it, and then took it home. The funny part is that I took it home on my bicycle haha. My kid's bicycle hahahah! It was quite a challenge and I must have looked ridiculous, but who cares. It's not like a blend in at all anyway haha.

I think that I'm really starting to be happy here.

Internet!!!!!!!

After over 2 months of waiting, my internet modem finally arrived this morning!!!

I was so excited that I could barely sleep, knowing that the delivery man would come between 8 and 12 this morning. When he finally rang my doorbell, I was the happiest person alive. I was so excited that I even gave him a hug. haha In and of itself, this was weird, I admit. However, it was probably more weird considering that I was still in only boxers and a tshirt, and couldn't explain in Japanese just why I was so excited. Needless to say, he left very quickly.

My smile quickly dissapeared when I realized that all of the many instructions are in Japanese. I thought the hard part was over!!!

Anyway, after 30 minutes, I was finally able to get connected.

It's sad that internet is so important to me, but I can honestly say that this day ranks among my top 3 since I have been in Japan.

Great weekend!

This weekend has been really great so far. In fact, all week has been great. Yesterday, I started the day by cycling to the riverbank so that I could relax, get tan, and study Japanese.

The river is so clear and is lined with bamboo trees of all different shades of green and yellow: it is so beautiful.

Then, I had a day-date (yes, a DATE!!!!) with a really great Japanese guy from Nagoya. It was one of those great first dates in which you have so much in common and so much to talk about. I feel like we really hit it off, but given that we live about an hour apart, have many cultural differences, and speak two different languages, it is way too early to tell if this will go anywhere.

Anyway, after that, I took the train to Gifu and met up with some other teacher friends of mine and had a big party at an isekaya there, followed by more drinking, dancing, and good times at a karaoke bar.

This morning, tired and slightly hungover, I took the train to Seki, where some of the mothers of my young students are going to take me to lunch for an okonomiyaki party.

All in all, this weekend has been the perfect combination of rest, sun, drinking, food, romance, and adventure: one of those times when I am so glad that I am here.

Oh, and I have been studying Japanese very hard, and I am proud to say that I am now able to read and write both katakana and hiragana! (This is marred somewhat by the fact that I still have no idea what it is that I am reading or writing, but it is a huge accomplishment none the less.)

Peace out!
C

The internet is FINALL COMING!!!!

I got nofication that the telephone people will be coming next Thursday to install the infrastructure for my ADSL line. This means that all I have to do is wait for the modem and cables to arrive in the mail next week, and I will be online in no time!!!!! I can't wait!!! The countdown has begun!

BTW, living without internet for 2 months has been the hardest part of living in Japan. Sad, isn't. Who knew I was such an addict?!

I miss Gypsy and Freezone!

Well, first, I just need to say that I LOVE Nagoya! Going there on Sunday was exactly what I needed!

I achieved my goal of finding the English bookstore.

I achieved my goal of finding the Outback Steakhouse, and having quite possibly the best bacon cheeseburger and baby back ribs of my whole life.

I failed at finding a hot Japanese boyfriend, but I did go to my first gay bar in Japan. All I can say is that I MISS GIPSY and FREEZONE!!!!! This bar literally was the size of a closet and had about 10 old guys in it. At first I was freaked out, but then ended up having a great time and making new friends. I got the low down on how to spot the gays in Japan from them: basically I am on the lookout for guys with messanger backs, shorts, and stylish hats. Hopefully I will test this theory out soon.

I realized also that the reason I have been having such a hard time here is that I have not had any control over my circumstances. Being a control freak, this is a bad thing. Everything from where I live, to what I wear, to when my A/C got fixed was controlled by someone else. But, being able to go to Nagoya on my own and have a great time all by myself, I realized that I do have a lot of control afterall, and this thought has made me very happy.

That's all.

Oh, and last night, I accidentally ate an 11 course meal at a restaurant in Kani. Seriously...11 courses!