chris vs. the arctic

Feels Like...

2006-11-27T05:01:00.000+09:00

I'm sitting in my pajamas right now, gripping a hot cup of tea. It looks like it's extremely cold outside. The sun is out and the snow is icy. Sounds nice, right? Well sunny days are always the coldest. Let's check the Weather Network... It's -31°C, but it feels like -43°C!!! Oh man, I'm so not going outside today!

Good thing I bought a new winter coat yesterday. It's an arctic expedition quality parka jacket from Canada Goose. It's filled with duck down, covered with Teflon, and trimmed with coyote fur. (I can hear my eco friends groan...) Trust me, all those animals died for a good reason! My favourite part about it is the price -- $263 (reduced from $424).

Last night was fun as usual. The typical deal for a night out in Yellowknife involves some pre-drinking at a house or smaller bar, then a night of dancing at the White Fox. If the night is really going well, it'll end at a sketchy diner or pizza place. Now that I think about it, that's the deal for a night out almost anywhere in the world. The only difference here is that we have little to no choice for places!

Carrie and I have been having some random times at the bar in the past couple of weeks. It's been a blast! Just last night, at the sketchiest restaurant you can find in Yellowknife, a drunk woman caused some raucousness with me.

Initially, she asked me to sit next to her. I figured, whatever, I'll do it. I sit down and she proceeds to spit some "romantic" words into my ear. Ugh. So I say, "see ya", and wander back to my table.

A couple of minutes into my conversation with Carrie and the table, a half-eaten piece of spring roll comes flying past my face and hits the guy next to me! We all turned to her and tell her to get out. The guys that are sitting with her start to panic and grab their coats. Meanwhile, she's spewing out obscenities and trash talking us.

Okay, normally I'm a pretty chill guy. I don't like getting into things with random strangers. But this chica got me riled up! I start to go off on her about how she lost her right to be in the restaurant and how she was being rude. She comes over and whispers more obscenities into my ear! The manager of the place finally comes over and pulls her away. I start going off again, even louder, as she is literally being kicked through the door!

I quickly realised the entire restaurant was watching us (but laughing), so I turned back to my friends. They congratulated me for having balls. I wouldn't say I had balls... Maybe "beer balls." Pretty ghetto night, eh? Ah, small towns...

Okay, I should get dressed now and start the day. It's 13:22...

Holy Cold Snap Batman!

2006-11-21T13:44:00.000+09:00

Okay, I know I'm forever obsessed with how cold it is here, but this has to be said -- IT'S F***ING FREEZING!!! I lost all sensation in my fingers and toes on Saturday! My pop turned to ice as I drank it walking home on Sunday! I'm even scared to take a photo with my digital camera outside. What if it breaks? It's possible!

The snow is making my life miserable. It has been snowing for literally two weeks straight! Everyone is pretty sure it's some kind of record. We have to shovel the driveway everyday. Just this morning, I had to trudge to work in 50 cm of snow! Throw in some hard ice and -25 wind... Try taking that on with loafers and a coffee in hand... Not so much fun.

In other more positive news, the holiday season is picking up! I truly missed Christmas season in Canada. Everyone is happy and thinking about parties and traveling. I especially love shopping! In fact, I did a little practicing this past weekend... I ordered some expensive underwear from a boutique shop in Vancouver, and I also picked up a Nintendo DS! Random, hey? I seriously missed video games, so it's the perfect toy for me right now. Plus, I've got the bucks to burn. Might as well, right? ;)

My next big purchase: a proper winter coat. To quote my dad after I put on my current winter jacket: "Why are you still wearing that fall jacket?" Uh... dang.

Cute and Sad!

2006-11-16T11:58:00.000+09:00

I found this video on YouTube. It's so cute and really, really sad! Enjoy:

MajorUpdate.com

2006-11-14T13:02:00.000+09:00

I've been lax with my blogging. Gomen/Sorry. It's funny how easy it is to develop a routine without noticing. Every day seems the same. Blogging hasn't been a part of my daily routine, but I'm going to change that now. There have been countless times where I said to myself, "I should blog about this!" Now those moments are gone! No more, my friend.

The biggest news I have from the past two months is that I finally got my driver's licence! It's a huge saga in my life. Basically, I didn't want it for the longest time. I didn't have a need in high school or university. Then I went away to Japan. After getting back to the Knife, I decided I needed my vehicular freedom.

During my absence, the Northwest Territories upgraded their process to a graduated system. In order to take the road test, I would have to wait one year after receiving my learner's licence. I fought that rule (since I already had my learner's for so long), and managed to take the road test in October. I was nervous, but I passed with flying colours! Now I can't get enough of driving! Good thing, though, because the ground is now covered with mounds of fluffy snow and hard ice. It's like I'm sledding/driving around the city. [To give you an idea of the ridiculous conditions out there right now: snowmobilers have their own lane on the streets! Oh Yellowknife...]

Side Note: The old driver's licences in the Northwest Territories were completely ghetto. They were laminated pieces of paper that looked like someone named Chuck made them in a back alley of Vancouver. With the new system, the NWT upgraded their cards to the "most secure licences in North America." They are printed in Ottawa and not at the Department of Transportation. The cards are hard plastic with two pictures of you -- a big one on the left, and a small one 'floating' in an oval window on the right. It has some crazy raised typing, holographics, barcodes, watermarks, etc. I hope they're good enough for an ID check in New York City!

I'm potentially buying a car in January. I haven't fully decided yet, but it's likely. Wow, I'm such a grown-up now! I have a full-time job with a pension, a driver's licence, a retirement savings plan, a platinum card, business cards, a car...

The very latest news is that my mother and I are both applying to be contestants on the Canadian version of Deal or No Deal. Believe me, it's all my mother's doing. If I get picked for an interview, I'll have to fly down to Calgary at the end of the month at my own cost. Then, if I'm chosen to be a contestant, they'd fly me to Toronto in January for the taping. Finally, if I'm picked to be on the show (not guaranteed), I'll have a chance to win one million dollars! How random would that be? ;)

I'll take some pictures of the crazy snow for all of you tomorrow. If nothing else, it's very beautiful!

My Halloween Costume

2006-11-01T13:38:00.000+09:00

My Halloween Costume
Originally uploaded by buck82.

I was a giraffe! I made this costume myself! I bought two kids costumes at Walmart, and sewed them together. Pretty good, eh? There wasn't a lot of room in the crouch area, however...

A Photo Is Worth...

2006-10-20T10:16:00.000+09:00

Hello to my fanbase! (Kidding...) I decided that I'm truly lazy and won't be blogging about my trip to Australia and New Zealand. (Surprise, surprise...) Basically, I have no time/motivation, but also, it's all in slideshow format on Flickr. To check out the play by play, go here.

It's time for a trip montage!

// Japan

// Australia

// New Zealand

// Hong Kong

What a sexy looking trip, eh? ;)

A Quick Update and a Discovery

2006-09-20T13:42:00.000+09:00

I started my new job this week. I'm working at the Audit Bureau for the Government of the Northwest Territories. Basically, I'll be assisting on audits. I think it's going to be pretty interesting doing investigations and all that. My office is great too!

My blog entry on the trip is coming along... The bottleneck is my photos. There are too many! Go here to check them out: JANZ (Japan, Australia, and New Zealand).

While I was in Japan, my parents entered me into a raffle at my brother's high school. I won the second prize -- a 20 minute helicopter tour of Yellowknife with 3 friends! Brenna, Christie, Chantelle, and I will be riding in style this Friday afternoon! Look for those pictures soon.

My LSAT is next weekend!! AAAAAHHHHHH!!!!

Now for the discovery: I just discovered that my grandpa's nickname in the military during WWII was 'Buck'! I have been unwittingly carrying on the tradition!

Here's a photo taken from my back deck the other day:

Contrasting Canada

2006-09-13T15:08:00.000+09:00

[This is a bit of an interlude in my blog on my trip. I just had to write this now or everything would slip from my mind.]

My return to Canada, after a two-year absence, has been much smoother than I anticipated. I'm experiencing absolutely no "reverse culture shock" -- as far as I know. Nothing has really changed, and I expected that. However, there are a few subtleties to Canada that only a clean palette could detect:

1) The hot water is HOT. I nearly scalded my hands by running only the hot water tap to wash up. This is true of almost all taps I have used here. I suppose Japan just doesn't heat their water as much. Saves energy.

2) Bread grows mould. Japanese bread doesn't. Don't ask.

3) Canadians really do have an accent. And it's really thick. I have to focus, but I can clearly identify it. My family has a particularly strong variant.

4) The northern lights are really amazing. I have seen them a couple of times since returning to Yellowknife. I forgot how incredible they are!

5) We waste water. (This is more of a contrast to Australia than East Asia.) Just today, I walked into the kitchen to find the tap running with no one around. A few seconds later, my mom returns. I asked who was using the water and left it on, and she said she was letting it heat up. Australians would be horrified.

6) Canadians are more cosmo than I give us credit for. I was shocked at the average level of style in Edmonton and Yellowknife. Granted, it may be the money in these two cities, but it's not the dirty white sneakers and Warner Bros. novelty t-shirts I was expecting.

7) Generally, we're not that polite. I got my fair share of snippiness in Alberta. Again, this may be just Alberta, but I think it's everywhere.

8) Tipping sucks!! Asia and Oceania have it right -- no tipping, please.

9) The Canadian grocery store is a dream come true. I nearly fainted when I realised I could go to my local Extra Foods and buy hummus, old cheddar, plums, sundried tomatoes, steaks, frozen lasagnas, and a variety of leafy greens for cheap! (Now I'm hungry...)

10) Canadian beer can't be beat. High alcohol percentage and high taste. It was recently pointed out to me that there is something gravely wrong about Japanese beer. One pint can get you tipsy. A pint of Canadian beer (with comparable alcohol content) has little to no effect on your sobriety. The only explanation is that the chemicals used to preserve and 'brew' Japanese beer enhance the intoxicating effect. Scary thought.

11) 24-hour bank machines are simply amazing.

12) Debit cards are extremely annoying. (Oh sure, I'd love to wait in line a little longer while you input your pin to pay for that pack of gum...)

13) Completely uninhibited communication is pure joy. Of course, I had communication troubles in Asia, but even Australia and New Zealand held a few surprises. There were several instances where I had absolutely no idea what was being said to me "in English." Inserting subtle humour and sarcasm in a quick conversation with a cashier is priceless.

14) The words uttered from the mouths of Canadians are more often than not dripping with thick sarcasm. I occasionally got myself into hot water with both the Japanese and non-Canadian expats in Japan. Kari has had similar experiences in New Zealand. Oh, as well as Lauren in Australia. I think we all have to collectively tone it down. Yeah, right. (See!)

15) Canada is obsessed with pizza. And I love it!

These were the most apparent differences for me. Perhaps you have some of your own you'd like to share? Just leave a comment below. Thanks!

It'll be nice to return to Asia in a few years and see everything with a fresh perspective. I can't wait!

Post-Japan, Pre-Arctic

2006-09-08T14:03:00.000+09:00

THE KNIFE

I'm finally back in the homeland. Maybe I shouldn't say 'finally.' That would imply that I've been waiting for this moment. I have to admit that I was a little hesitant about moving back to Yellowknife after two years. Would things be the same? Would it be completely unrecognizable? Who would be hanging around the 'Knife? Anyone I know?

My queries were answered this week after my grand arrival from Japan via Australia and New Zealand. (More on that later.) Things are pretty much the same. A few new buildings. Things are shinier and more high tech. The people are the same as well, but that's a huge relief. I'm genuinely excited about meeting up with old friends and hearing all the goss' and stories. It should be an interesting month!

I've been too preoccupied with unpacking, studying for the LSAT, and running tons of errands to notice that I'm jobless. I think that situation will resolve itself soon though... Hopefully.

THE FAMILY

So now I'm living at home. I always secretly judge people who move back to their parents' house when they're well into their adult years. Now I'm one of them! I have a completely legitimate reason for doing so, so I don't care. Plus, it's very temporary. So... yeah.

I'd like to share with you one of the first things my mom said to me after I arrived. I think it pretty much sums her up. "When we [my family minus me] go to Paris in March, we're going to tour the city on Segways. It's going to be a hoot!" Oh mom. I'm sure it will be a complete and total hoot. ;)

My brothers are in my space, but that's what brothers do, right? All three of them are here, so it's a little crowded. What the F? Get out of the house! You're adults! Oh wait... Yeah... Holding my tongue.

THE TRIP

So what did I do between Japan and Canada? Australia and New Zealand! The trip was long and amazing, so here's the low down:

// Tokyo

Kate flew over to Tokyo from Toronto. We visited every single ward of Tokyo over five days, including day trips to Nikko and Yokohama/Kamakura. I'm actually pretty impressed with us. It's not an easy task to tackle Tokyo. But we did it.

TOP SIGHT: The real 'Three Monkeys' (Hear No Evil...) at Nikko.

TOWERS VISITED: The Landmark Tower in Yokohama (including the world's fastest elevator); The Mori Tower; and The Sunshine 60 Building.

...to be continued.

Visited Countries

2006-09-07T22:00:00.000+09:00

Two more countries for the list! Now I've visited 8% of the countries in the world.

Get your own map here.

ON HIATUS

2006-08-03T09:40:00.000+09:00

I have just begun my one month trek through Tokyo, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Hong Kong, Edmonton, and Yellowknife. I probably won't be updating my blog before that time. Please check back in September for all the goss' from my trip!

-Chris

Surprise Vacation!

2006-07-13T08:26:00.000+09:00

Vacation days (nenkyu) in Japan are rarely used by the Japanese. It's seen as not good work ethic to take time off. Foreigners, however, usually take every opportunity to use their nenkyu.

I had the right to take 20 days off every year for the past two years, and I was close to doing so. As of Monday, I had 3 days left, so I was going to ask for the last couple of days of my contract off. My house needs cleaning and my bags need to be packed.

As I was handing in my forms, my old supervisor asked me why I was taking so little nenkyu. I told her I had only 3 days left, so I was taking as much as I was allowed. Then she says the most golden sentence: "No, you have 11 days of nenkyu left."

Huh? How is that possible? I had taken a lot of nenkyu in the past two years. I kept track. 2 days for Beijing, 1 day for Hiroshima, 10 days for Thailand... I definitely only had 3 days left.

To prove to me that I had a significantly larger number of days off, she showed me the "big black book" -- the attendance record for all the teachers. It was written there on top of the sheet: 22 days this year.

It suddenly came back to me that the board of education had decided to give me extra nenkyu. Back in December, my supervisor told me it was very rare and special. I should be thankful. I completely brushed it away at the time as being a communication error. I mean, really, why would they give me more time off? I'm already hardly here! But apparently they had. Here it was, in black and white.

Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yesssss!!!

Now I'm taking off almost all of my remaining time here! After the 20th of July, I'll never have to come back to work ever again! (My last official day is August 1st.)

My new problem is spending that time wisely. I could just lounge around my apartment, cleaning and packing. Or I could go to the beach everyday. Something better has come up, however. Andy and I are going to go to Tokyo Disneyland! It has been on my 'List of Things To Do in Japan' for a while, and now I can cross it off!

I think I may also go to Nara and Kyoto. I haven't been to Nara before, and I heard it's the best. I might as well be cultural if I'm going to be consumeristic.

Only 5 more days of work!!

Travel Plans Realized

2006-07-07T15:44:00.000+09:00

I just discovered this post in my archives. I ended up doing almost everything on that list and in that order! However, I didn't go to the Aichi Expo or Nagasaki. I managed to make it to Mt. Fuji, Okinawa, Kyoto, Chicago, Toronto, Halifax, Korea, Vietnam, and soon, Australia & New Zealand! I'm pretty impressed with myself.

I'm in the midst of planning my Christmas travel for this year. Holly and Dave are getting married in the Dominican Republic in December, so I'd love to join them! Also, Heather will be living in Martinique at that time. The two islands are close(ish), so it seems plausible to travel between them. It probably isn't likely to happen, though. There are no direct flights between DR and Martinique. Maybe I can charter a yacht? Or connect flights via St. Lucia? Does anyone have any experience traveling around the Caribbean? Could I pick your brain?

Ha ha, I have to stop planning my trips so far in advance! I've got to focus on Australia and New Zealand. Actually, I'm really excited about showing Kate around Tokyo when she flies over from Toronto in... 25 days! Woo whooo! I'm, like, sooooo out of here soon!

The Rise and Fall of a T-shirt

2006-07-03T21:40:00.000+09:00

Some of my best clothing has been acquired through impulse shopping. In fact, it's reasonable to assume that almost all my clothes have been impulse buys. I think the only person I know that goes out to buy specific items is Amanda.

"Today, I'm looking for a black merino wool or cashmere cardigan that's not too long and has no neck. Preferably, it will have cute buttons and cutting edge details or a subtle pattern. I'm also looking for a pair of brown sandals that are strappy with a flat raised heel and a backing. The brown should be dark, but not too dark. Suede is okay."

After three hours of searching the mall, or at times, the city, she'll walk away having bought only a couple of pairs of socks. Meanwhile, I'll walk away with three or four bags filled with t-shirts, pants, hats, or shoes. Sigh.

On one such consumer adventure last week, Amanda and I wandered into Takeo Kikuchi -- a famous Japanese designer (apparently). I was 'only looking' and Amanda was 'searching' again. An hour of fittings and decisions later, I walked out of that joint with a new pair of pink/purple jeans and a peach t-shirt. (Don't worry, fashionistas; they're not going together!) I was suddenly less financially liquid, but more fashionably hot.

My peach TK shirt made it's debut at The Bento Boys CD release party in Uozu Saturday night.

I got a surprising number of compliments! Perhaps 16 or 17. Seriously! (I'm not bragging or anything...)

The party was pretty fun, at least for me (sorry Britons). Between you and me, I would say I got h-a-m-m-e-r-e-d. Beer, chuhis, red wine, tequila, whoops...

"But Chris," you say, "why would you drink red wine whilst wearing a new shirt and being slightly coordination-challenged?" Good question. My shirt would also like to know why:

I woke up in the morning covered in purple streaks! It was so tragic that I just had to laugh at it all. My shirt had flown too close to the sun and got burned. It was pretty much trash.

Or was it?

I figured that since my shirt was bound for the garbage bin anyway, I might as well try getting out the stains any way possible. I searched for a method to remove wine stains and found an unusual recipe. Hydrogen peroxide mixed with dish soap can apparently remove even the most stubborn stains. (Is that line copyrighted?) I decided to give it a go.

In Canada, (here we go...) we can buy litres of hydrogen peroxide at any store. Not so in Japan. After much discussion with the Kahma Home Center guy, it was decided that I should go to a drug store, maybe with my passport. Maybe they won't let foreigners buy H202 (h.p.) without proof that they are indeed foreigners. (??) It turns out I didn't need an ID to buy my ¥150 bottle of Oxydol (the Japanese name for h.p.).

Armed with a secret home remedy, I embarked on a journey into cleaning that only house wives/husbands (gotta be PC) have the stomach for. One wash and dry cycle later, it was judgement time... It worked!! The concoction totally worked! My shirt is (almost) completely free of all purple streaks and spots. Whew. I couldn't have promised myself I wouldn't buy another shirt to replace the damaged one, but now I don't have to!

So, what's the moral of this story? Don't mix red wine and expensive shirts? No. What's the fun in that? No, I think the moral of the story is this: Always trust the internet to produce the answers to life's problems.

Tower Love

2006-06-27T10:57:00.000+09:00

I have an obsession with towers. The bigger and more grandiose, the better. There's something endearing and grand about societies creating giant glass and steel structures that rise out of the boring masses of 'houses' and 'office buildings.' Every city that's any city has one.

I have been to more than a handful of the world's tallest and most famous buildings. Let's take a tour of Chris' World Towers!

Number 1 // Toronto // CN Tower

Ah, yes. This one is close to my heart. The first time I visited Toronto's needle-like phallus I was 17 years old. This past Christmas saw my return to the CN Tower. It's still as tall and awesome as ever!

Number 2 // Chicago // John Hancock Centre

Chicago is one of the most architecturally interesting cities in the world. I had the chance to visit several of its towers last Christmas. I had a martini in the Signature Room at the top of the John Hancock Centre. Definitely worth the $$$!

Number 3 // Chicago // Sears Tower

I didn't go inside the Sears Tower, but I spied it from the top of the Hancock Centre, so I think that's good enough. It's the 4th tallest building in the world.

Number 4 // Singapore // United Overseas Bank Plaza One

It had pretty lights!

Numbers 5 & 6 // Kuala Lumpur // The Petronas Towers

They count as two and are the 2nd and 3rd tallest buildings in the world. I used the ultra-fancy pay bathroom in the lobby and lounged around the fountains in the backyard. When I go back to Malaysia, I'm definitely crossing that skybridge!

Number 7 // Kuala Lumpur // Menara Kuala Lumpur

I love it for pretending to be the CN Tower.

Number 8 // Hong Kong // Two International Finance Centre

The 6th tallest building in the world. It looks so cool! It's even got a little brother -- One International Finance Centre.

Number 9 // Hong Kong // Central Plaza

Currently the world's 10th tallest tower. The light shows at night are fantastic!

Number 10 // Hong Kong // Bank of China Tower

I don't really like the looks of this guy. It's bad Feng Shui (for real). But you gotta give Hong Kong credit for having the guts to erect it.

Number 11 // Hong Kong // Lippo Centre

These aren't particularly tall or famous, but I love them. They look like they're made of Lego!

Number 12 // Sapporo // Sapporo TV Tower

Yeah, it's cheesy. Yeah, I went to the top. Yeah, I loved it.

Number 13 // Kyoto // Kyoto Tower

I think it's a Japanese law that every large Japanese city is required to have a TV tower. This is one of the biggest tourist traps out there, but I somehow avoided its clutches.

Number 14 // Osaka // Osaka World Trade Center

I partied hardcore beneath this building at the Summer Sonic music festival last year. It was a great setting for drinking and dancing!

Number 15 // Tokyo // Tokyo Metropolitian Government Building

The best looking capitol building in the whole world. It screams Tokyo.

Here is a tag on my Flickr account for all these photos: worldtowers.

Check out world's the up-and-coming creations: Skyscrapers Under Construction Around the World. The future will look like the future!

Just For Kicks

2006-06-27T07:25:00.000+09:00

Stephen Colbert vs. Stone Phillips

I don't know how long this video will stay online, but it's absolutely hilarious!

Here is the previous video.

More, Please!

2006-06-22T13:00:00.000+09:00

I have something to admit... I've just got to get this out before it eats me away... I'm a dealer. Yes, I'm a pusher, a peddler, a supplier. I have 30, maybe 50, people seeking me out everyday for their daily dose of my drug. They crave it. I can see the desperation in their eyes. They'll struggle for it, and I like it.

What are these people addicted to? What could they possibly want so badly?

Stickers. They want my fantastic, amazing, collectible, tradable stickers.

You see, I give my students point cards at the beginning of every term. If they manage to collect 21 points from me, by either speaking to me after class or volunteering in class, they can get a prize. Usually the prize consists of a small certificate and a lame Canadiana gift. They don't care about the pure cheesiness of it. This is Japan. They live on cheese (although, ironically, you'd be hard-pressed to find decent real cheese in this country). My stickers are premium quality goodness and everyone wants them.

The frenzy has gotten out of control. Students wait for me outside of other classes to sputter out their English. They follow me to the bathroom, talk to me when I'm eating lunch, and even wait for me by my bike after school. I've had enough of it. I love my students and their unlimited energy and willingness to learn English, but it's got to stop!

Just the other day, I was walking down the hallway dreaming of the coffee on my desk. Not three seconds after I had left the classroom, I was surrounded by students yelling, "Chris! Chris! What colour do you like? What kind of animal do you like?" and "I like chahan! I like blue! I came to school by bike!" I had just ten minutes to drink my much-needed coffee and get to my next class, so this situation wouldn't do. Instead of being patient and willing to answer the same question for the hundredth time from the same student, I stuck my hand into my pocket, grabbed a big wad of little square stickers, and threw them into the air!! As the kids scrambled frantically to collect the precious pieces of paper, I literally dashed down the hall for the staff room! My coffee never tasted so good.

My replacement had better get into sticker dealing right away, or he'll be facing 650 addicts going cold turkey. Not a pretty sight.

I Just Realized...

2006-06-22T08:18:00.000+09:00

...after two years of living in the Sutorimuhaitsu apartment building that I didn't know the name actually means Stream Heights.

...Razor Ramon Hard Gay is actually really funny when translated into English.

...cherry tomatoes are really delicious.

...spring practically flew by because it's now officially summer.

...I have only 38 days left in Toyama.

...I will see my best friends in only 38 days and my family in 70.

...I have a lot of things to do before I leave Toyama.

...I will miss this place, but I'm very happy to leave.

★ Article: "Drinking lots of coffee saves liver from alcohol damage, research finds"

2006-06-13T14:18:00.000+09:00

Read the Article

My drinking life in Japan has been saved! I seriously drink about 4 or 5 cups of coffee a day. That's almost 80% protection against liver cirrhosis! Looks like I can afford another nama biiru or two... ;)

The Home Player

2006-06-13T14:04:00.000+09:00

Imizu-shi, my 'home' city in Japan, is fairly small, but at the moment, it's the largest city in Toyama prefecture. All 1 million people here have turned their eyes to the soccer (football) player who is currently playing for the national team in Germany -- Atsushi Yanagisawa.

Even though I don't care about soccer, it's pretty exciting to hear about a local making a name for himself internationally! GO YANAGISAWA AND JAPAN!!

Tokyo Times

2006-06-13T09:25:00.000+09:00

For my first year and a half here in Japan, I have gone around claiming that Osaka was my favourite city. This may have been true at the time, but it's definitely not the case now. Tokyo is the place to be, no question. 12 million people (36 mil, including the surrounding suburbs) can't be wrong, right?

Whenever I make my way to the big city, it's not what you'd classify as a 'trip.' It's more of an 'event.' Something weird, wacky, or wonderful is always sure to come up. My excursion to Tokyo with Amber C. in May was no exception.

We left on the overnight bus Saturday night. Yeah, we're hardcore that way. Most people would opt for the cushy bullet train. Not us! The overnight bus is the most convenient when it comes to packing in as much of Tokyo as possible, which, of course, is always the goal.

Amber and I decided to find an onsen to freshen up before the day began. We went to Asakusa so seek out the famous Asakusa Kannon Onsen. Upon our arrival, we found something bizzare. Asakusa was littered with empty beer cans and overrun by hungover Tokyo citizens wearing nothing but thong underwear and headbands. As we moved closer to the Asakusa Kannon Temple, we noticed a huge crowd of people surrounding something. We couldn't tell what that something was because everyone was standing on step ladders, blocking our view of the movement in front of them! It turns out they were watching people carry a mini-shrine on their shoulders. We had stumbled upon the dying embers of Tokyo's largest festival -- the Sanja Matsuri!

We were lucky to see part of it. It's a very famous event in Tokyo. Needless to say, however, the onsen was not accessible. So Amber and I searched through our guidebook and found a much more interesting place. But before we went there, we decided to breakfast in Harajuku and check out Meiji Shrine.

We were luck enough to catch a Shinto wedding. It's always a beautiful sight.

After eating and awing, we finally made it to an onsen. But this wasn't any ol' onsen, my friend. No. It was Oedo Onsen Monogatari -- an Edo period onsen theme world! In this magical land, you wear a funky yukata and wander around a fake Edo period village, buying food or souvenirs with a barcode bracelet. You can also wander outside and soak your feet in a foot onsen, or relax in a sand bath. Of course, you can get naked and use the full onsen at any time. This place was definitely worth the ¥2,800 entry fee!

Now that we were fed and bathed, it was time for the reason we ventured to Tokyo -- Design Festa! Twice a year, Tokyo hosts a huge art and design convention for independent artists from across Japan. I attended last year and it was quite a show!

This year, the sheer size of the event astounded me! There must have been at least double the amount of booths and artists! Fantastic.

Five hours of music, art, fashion, and shopping later, we were spent. There was one last thing we needed to do to complete our full day of Tokyo -- eat with ninjas. Yes, that's right. For years, I've heard about a restaurant in Akasaka ward called Ninja, which boasts gourmet food served by sneaky servers dressed as ninjas! My dream come true.

All good things must come to an end. (Why??) After nearly 17 hours of festivals, shrines, temples, shopping, onsens, yukatas, restaurants, music, art, design, fashion, subways, and ninjas, it was time to return to boring Toyama-ken. I will be back, Tokyo! Don't you worry.

★ Article: "Slumming the Golden Arches"

2006-06-13T08:36:00.000+09:00

This is a great explanation of my gravitation towards McDonald's and Starbucks in foreign countries.

Read the Article

★ Article: "The shadow of slaughter hangs over whales"

2006-06-12T08:53:00.000+09:00

I think perhaps one of the most tragic things humans can do is to not question ourselves and our motivations. Look at what happened in Nazi Germany. Look at what's happening within the American government right now. Why do people have so much faith in others? Why are people so blindly led down these paths of death? Is it really that easy to tune out of the bigger picture?

I don't think the world realizes the gravity of this whaling situation. The Japanese public won't speak out against their government on this issue, even though most of them don't support it. It's not the Japanese Way. This is a culture of laying down and taking the punches. I don't know who's driving this weighty and rusty political ship (Yakuza? Mitsubishi?), but what I do know is that it's on course for a head-on collision with most Western countries, and more importantly, with the existence of whales.

I think if Japan and other countries really want to hunt whales freely, they should just say "eff you" to everyone and do it already! Why be devious and evil by blackmailing poor countries into voting your way in some organization? It's immoral.

Tread Carefully at the Grocery Store

2006-06-08T08:36:00.000+09:00

Japanese grocery stores are quite a phenomenon. I'll never forget my first experience shopping at my local Albis. On the surface, it looks just like any other North American food market. It has a fruits & vegetables section, a meat counter, aisles, check-outs, carts... All typical, right?

Not on closer inspection. The fruits & vegetables have price stickers attached to them with seemly random numbers. Apple - ¥128. Green pepper - ¥299. Watermelon - ¥4,400. Oh, I'm sorry. I only brought ¥20,000 to the store with me today. Perhaps there is a common denominator I was forgetting to divide all the prices by? No? Oh, okay.

The meat counter is another story. Instead of selling meat they opt to sell the actual animal. I guess that's easier...

Yum! But that's Asia, right? Actually, I highly respect it. It brings the connection between your food and you closer. Probably a lot closer than most North Americans would want.

Unfortunately, the Japanese break that food connection in other ways. Let's take a look at a typical grocery store aisle:

All that plastic can't be healthy for either you or the environment.

Here are some other aisles:

Just the essentials, please. You'd be hard-pressed to find more than one type of cream soup. Nevermind one that is less than ¥400. Baking section? I think there's one shelf somewhere in the soy sauce aisle. You'd like some cheese to put on a hummus sandwich? Bahahahahaha!

Here's another enigma of the Japanese grocery store -- cheap bananas:

One can easily imagine why they are cheap. (Developing nations' bananas in a developed country...)

For you pizza lovers, watch out! Here's the favourite pizza combination of Japan:

Yes, that's tuna, corn, and mayonnaise on top of that pizza! Actually, as strange as it sounds, I really do enjoy it. But I'll take my good ol' pep & mushroom any day.

I think the grocery store is truly my weak point when it comes to culture shock. When I went back to Canada for Christmas this past year, nothing really phased me, save the market. English signs? Meh. Being able to understand everything? Overrated. Grocery store filled with more than two kinds of bread, aisles upon aisles of Western food, cheap produce, and a dairy section? I... I... Let me just lean against this chair... Okay. I think I'm all right. Being able to pay for your groceries with a debit or credit card? Sorry, I can see the screen through my tears...

06/06/06

2006-06-06T11:10:00.000+09:00

Sushi Eating Contest!

2006-06-05T15:29:00.000+09:00

Yes! I finally did it! Jimmy and I have been planning to compete against each other in a sushi eating contest for quite some time. We had our chance yesterday at Kito Kito Sushi in Toyama City. Warren decided to enter the contest as well, along with a bunch of other witnesses.

In a stroke of luck, which may have actually been due to my sleeping in until 13:00, I hadn't eaten anything earlier that day. The first plate went down well. I devoured it, actually.

The next few plates quickly followed their predecessor. Very tasty. My compliments to KKS. I decided to stick to the ¥120 silver plates only, just to keep things cheap. Who knows what double-digit number of servings my gastric experience would involve?

For those of you heading to Kito Kito Sushi any time soon, I highly recommend the gyoza sushi. It's some sort of mutated sushi, consisting of a deep-fried gyoza piece loosely attached to a brick of cold rice. Hey, if the Japanese call it sushi, it's gotta be, right? I have to admit, these pieces were a little hard to get down. I think it was plate #6.

I think it was around plate #13 that I started to see things. My chopsticks and plates were getting a little hazy. It doesn't help that my ebi (shrimp) fry sushi still had its eyes attached.

We took a survey of our current plate count at one point. Just looking at the stack made my stomach turn.

In a bid to catch up with Jimmy and Warren, I ordered ice cream and melon. We decided that both counted as an item, as you get a plate with the dishes. My efforts were in vain, however. Jimmy, the "Toyama Eating Champion", kicked my butt.

The final count:

Me // 16 plates
Warren // 18 plates
Jimmy // 19 plates

Congratulations Jimmy!! You truly deserve your well-defended title.

I'm just going to go lie down now. I think I'm about to enter a sugar-induced coma...

▲ List: To Do In Japan

2006-06-04T22:00:00.000+09:00

This is my checklist for my stay in Japan. As I complete items, I'll check them off.

✓ Play pachinko (Completed: August 24th, 2005)
✓ Stay in a love hotel (Completed: July 20th, 2005)
✓ Climb Mt. Fuji (Completed x2: July 17th and August 28th, 2005)
✓ Visit Okinawa (Completed: September 23rd, 2005)
✓ Swim in the Sea of Japan (Completed: June 25th, 2005)
★ Visit Tokyo Disneyland OR Osaka Universal Studios
✓ Order the most expensive plate at a conveyor belt sushi restaurant (Completed x2: December 6th, 2005 and May 11th, 2006)
★ Visit Shikoku
★ Camp on the Noto Peninsula
✓ Get drunk off of sake (Completed: July 23rd, 2005)
★ Attend a Japanese baseball game
✓ Watch sumo live (Completed: May 15th, 2005)
✓ Go to an early morning fish market and eat sashimi (Completed: August 25th, 2005)
✓ Visit Kyoto (Completed: October 8th, 2005)
✓ Stay in a capsule hotel (Completed: May 7th, 2005)
★ Watch firewalking at the local shrine
✓ Bathe in an electrified onsen bath (Completed: June 23rd, 2005)
✓ Eat wasabi ice cream (Completed: August 27th, 2005)
✓ Participate in a sushi eating contest (didn't win) (Completed: June 4th, 2006)
★ Visit Ginza and Roppongi Hills in Tokyo
★ Visit Nara
★ Check out the Osaka Aquarium
★ Bike from my house to Toyama City or the ocean
★ Go on the Kurobe Gorge trek
★ Go to Taikoyama Land in Kosugi

If you have any suggestions, please post a comment. Arigato gozaimasu!

[This post is continually updated and bumped to the top.]

Korea // Gyeongju

2006-06-04T16:30:00.000+09:00

My Golden Week adventure this year took place in the lovely land of Korea. I have to admit, this trip felt more like an obligation than a vacation. For the past two years, I have been telling myself that I will make the 2 hour flight across the Sea of Japan to the little conflicted peninsula. It would be like living in Buffalo, NY for 2 years and not going to New York City.

Golden Week is notorious for being one of the most expensive times of the year to travel in Japan. My flight from Tokyo to Seoul would have cost around $700 -- over twice the regular price! I got lucky, however, and was able to use points to fly for FREE! Ooooh, yeeeeah.

Melissa decided to come avec moi, along with a cast of characters making guest appearances, cameos, debuts. Here we go:

Friday, April 28th
I woke up early to take the train from Toyama to Tokyo with Melissa, Amber C., and Kyle. Amber and Kyle flew to Seoul in the morning, but Melissa and I didn't fly until the evening. We decided to brunch and lounge in Harajuku before heading out. I sometimes forget that Tokyo is effectively one season ahead of Toyama. While Toyama was chilly and rainy, Melissa and I enjoyed cold apricot tea and croissants at a sidewalk cafe, basking in the glorious sun.

We eventually dragged ourselves away from Tokyo and made it to Seoul. Our arrival was a bit late for the bus system into the city, so we had to negotiate Seoul's subway immediately. I like how subways are the same everywhere in the world. It's like riding a bike. I don't even pay attention to the process anymore. After our subway ride and walk through dark, foreign streets, Melissa and I found Amber and Kyle at our hostel.

Saturday, April 29th
You'd think that after 12 hours of traveling, I'd be done with it and stay in Seoul. You'd be wrong, my friend. Dead wrong. Okay, actually, just wrong. No one's dead... We hopped on a bus for southern Korea early in that morning. Our destination was Gyeongju, a small city at the opposite corner of Korea (southeast). Gyeongju is sort of like the Kyoto of Korea. It was the base of the ancient Silla Kingdom several millenia ago. We heard about the burial mounds and had to see them for ourselves.

The surrounding area of Gyeongju is packed with historical places, many of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. We spent the next several days hiking around the area.

Sunday, April 30th
After climbing several mountains (okay, hills) and experiencing several impressive temples, we sat down and ate the largest Korean feast ever. Ssambab is a dish found in the Gyeongju area, and it consists of not one, but twenty-one dishes! For a moment, it seemed like the server wouldn't stop bringing them out! The tiny plates and bowls held everything from kimchi to fish to pickled beans. You wrap the exotic (and sometimes disgusting) items in various types of lettaces. Very tasty!

After dinner, I decided that it was time we scaled one of the mounds. Sure, it's disrespectful of the guys buried under the hill. Sure, we're probably damaging a World Heritage site. But you know what? It was worth it!

Here we are on top of one of the hills. Can you feel the rush?

The next stop on our Korean adventure was the port city of Pusan.

Trippy!

2006-06-01T15:36:00.000+09:00

Check this out: Information Interactive

Damn. Makes you want a little some'm some'm...

Productiveness

2006-05-24T08:45:00.000+09:00

The two-month mark on my countdown to leaving Japan is approaching like a speeding shinkansen. My plans are quickly coming together for my travels afterwards. So far, it looks like Kate will fly into Osaka or Tokyo from Toronto. I'll meet up with her and we'll visit Kansai and Tokyo before leaving for Australia. In OZ, we'll visit Lauren in Brisbane and explore the east coast for several weeks. Then back to Canada for me! Some of you may notice that my plans have been scaled back a bit (no living in Tokyo or traveling to New Zealand)... I decided to focus my energies (and money) on one thing. Do one thing and do it well, right?

So, in spirit of my plan-making and countdown pressure, I have decided to hunker down this weekend and finish everything that's on my plate. First, I need to wrap up the past month on my blog. A lot has happened that I haven't written about. Looking back in my archives several weeks ago made me realise how valuable it really is. I wrote about stuff that I probably wouldn't have remembered out of the blue. Basically, it's my online journal, so it needs to be updated ASAP. Look for posts on Korea, the Fushiki Kenkayama Festival, the Daimon Kite Festival, Tokyo, and the Design Festa. Most of my pictures are already online.

Speaking of photos, that's an area that seriously needs to be looked at. My Flickr account has a little over 2000 photos. My computer has over 8000 photos! You do the math... Damn.

Lastly, I need to pack and mail tons of stuff home. I have already packed up my winter clothes, so all that's left are my books and DVDs. The trick is getting these boxes to the post office. I don't have a car and taxis are over $15 a ride. I'm seriously considering buying a toy wagon and pull my boxes down the side walk in comfort. You laugh, but it's going to be awesome! Thankfully Toyama is the flattest place in Japan.

Dance!

2006-05-18T12:46:00.000+09:00

I loved this video! Watch for yourself:

So many memories!

Update: Read about this video here.

Mega Listmania

2006-05-16T10:06:00.000+09:00

I've decided it's time to publish my Mega Lists. Things have been moving so quickly lately. I need a little time to reflect on my time here. Before I know it, I'll be stepping on my plane out of Japan! Two more months left...

⏏ Mega List: Things I'll Miss About Japan

2006-05-16T09:00:00.000+09:00

» Black seasame treats (ice cream and cakes)
» Seasonal flavours of chocolate, pop, and beer (rotating between peach, Japanese pear, orange, strawberry, sakura, apple, pineapple, and muscat)
» Purikura (ultra fancy photo booths)
» Getting absolutely anything at combinis (convenience stores)
» Drinking anywhere
» Trains
» Alcohol for sale anywhere (including vending machines)
» Vending machines around every possible corner
» Getting small treats on my desk randomly (omiyage)
» Buying airplane, concert, and movie tickets at combinis
» Japanese stationary and paper crafts
» Getting anything at ¥100 shops
» Bowing
» Mountains
» The ocean
» Going to Tokyo or Osaka for the weekend
» Unlimited umbrellas
» Nomihodais (unlimited drinks)
» Tabihodais (unlimited food)
» Singing karaoke in private booths
» Festivals
» My students
» The mild weather
» Not having to tip
» Being close to the rest of Asia
» Japanese variety TV programs
» Concerts
» Everyone being stylish
» Being paid a seven-figure salary (even though it's only yen)
» Keitais (cellphones)
» Being special
» Kotatsus (heated tables)
» Fresh sushi
» Hanami (drunken cherry blossom viewing)
» Japanese fireworks
» Buying and using fireworks anywhere
» The Hokuriku Canada Association (free gourmet buffets at stylish hotels with Canadian ambassadors and Japanese princesses)
» Chu-his
» Getting naked with a bunch of men in onsens (hot springs)
» People wanting to meet me because I'm different
» The four seasons
» Special products
» "One of the Top Three"
» Cheap bananas
» Japanese grocery carts
» Everything having a cartoon mascot
» Meeting people from all over the world
» Feeling superior to tourists
» Cute clothing stores
» The paper that goes over your face during a shampoo at a salon
» Men's chocolate
» Remembering that Japan's nature really does look like old school Nintendo games, with the rounded trees, small hills, mushrooms...
» Getting mail delivered on Saturday
» Tatami and paper blinds
» Reading about the 'latest technology' in North America, then realising the same thing has been available at my corner store for several months
» Discount travel agents
» Canned coffee, both hot and cold
» Japanese rice
» Cheap birthday flights (now defunct...)
» Rice planting season
» Sapporo, Asahi, and Kirin
» Bento lunches
» Rotating sushi restaurants
» Hidden shrines, temples, statues, and gardens
» Thousands of years of history
» Being able to celebrate both Canadian and Japanese holidays (twice the fun!)
» Interesting photo subjects everywhere
» Telling people I live in Japan

⏏ Mega List: Things I Won't Miss About Japan

2006-05-16T08:00:00.000+09:00

» Being stared at
» Not being able to communicate properly
» Teaching English
» Sexism
» Racism
» Gaijin traps (rain gutters along the streets)
» Snow-covered sidewalks
» Street sprinklers
» Worrying about nenkyu (time off)
» The time difference between Japan and North America
» English literature being hard to find
» Earwigs
» Cold apartments
» Small apartments
» "Irassaimase!"
» Expensive international flights
» Bringing omiyage (small gifts) back to my coworkers
» Bank machines closing
» Natto (fermented, sticky soybeans)
» Tiled walls
» Farmers burning stuff for 8 months straight
» Typhoons
» Pushy obachans (old Japanese women)
» Masks
» Picking spinal cords or skin out of my school lunch
» Hollywood movies not coming to Japan
» Kerosene heaters
» No insulation
» Carrying cash around
» Paying money to use the highway
» White cars
» Sexually ambiguous people
» Not knowing what I'm eating
» Meat in everything
» Mayonnaise
» Strange bakery products
» Plastic, plastic, plastic
» Concrete, concrete, concrete
» Limited selection
» 50-stamp point cards
» Simplifying my English
» Teeth-sucking
» Nervous smiles
» Extremely meek women
» Group think
» HG
» Zero flexibility, even when everyone wants it
» Small portions
» Daimon Post Office
» Nasty teeth
» Japanese coffee
» Ridiculous bank fees ($7 per transfer)
» $30 for music CDs
» Confusing anko (red bean paste) with chocolate
» Not being able to read most kanji (Chinese characters)
» Smoking everywhere, including train cars, schools, and restaurants
» People not complaining
» The rainy season
» Being far from my family and friends
» The intermittent feeling that I'm wasting my youth

My Golden Talent

2006-05-12T10:51:00.000+09:00

I have come to the realization that I have an amazing talent. No, it doesn't involve juggling flaming batons, wrestling a grizzly bear, or doing long division. (Although you should step aside when I tackle an algebra problem!) No, my friend, my special talent is much more subtle and obscure:

I have the uncanny ability to select the most expensive item from an array of seemingly equal choices, without fail.

You can present me with, for example, five neckties, and without looking at the labels or touching them, I will choose the one priced at $500 -- bypassing the $60, $35, $22, and $5 choices completely. (I hear some guys saying, "$500?? Impossible!" Possible. Have you ever walked into Louis Vuitton?)

Amazing, isn't it? It explains so much. My closet and bank account are tangible evidence of all of this.

Just last night, I unwittingly completed one of my "To Do In Japan" items, again. At the local rotating sushi joint, I managed to order the 'gold plate' tuna at ¥700 a piece! In case my incredulity doesn't shine through, that's the most expensive plate at the restaurant. Perhaps it's the only ¥700 item on the menu. What makes this even more incredible is that I managed to choose it from a plastic menu (sans prices) picturing over 36 different sushi types! There was no indication that this one dish was well above the ¥180 average price per plate!

When the gold plate arrived at my table, I knew instantly that my gift had worked its magic. This thought alone is what saved me from freaking out and yelling at the sushi guys for serving me two small slices of stupidly expensive and bland-tasting raw tuna. You just know they laughed at me when I left.

So I guess the question now is, "of what use is this talent?" Is there some sort of career out there requiring people to choose the most expensive item daily? If there is, I'm sure the title would include the word connoisseur or aesthete. Actually, it's more likely to include the word dispossessed or vagrant...

An Impromptu Collection Completed

2006-05-11T08:16:00.000+09:00

A lot of my university and high school friends are traveling the world at the moment. I've decided that spending a year abroad is practically a right of passage in this century. It's all part of the grand Globalization® scheme. Soon we will all be Global citizens, working and living in different countries and speaking the same universal language!

Yeah, right...

My friends and I often enjoy writing a postcard. (A little English-teaching humor for you.) I've sent and received many postcards during my travels here in Asia. When I returned from Korea this week, I discovered another colourful 4x6 card in my mailbox. This one was special, however. I quickly made a list in my head and realised that this postcard completed my impromptu collection of "Postcards From All The Continents." The little card I was holding in my hand made a cross-Pacific trip from the jungles of Belize to the inaka of Japan, courtesy of Katherine and Anita.

I am now the proud owner of the following worldly postcards:

North America // The skyline of Chicago from Jamie.
South America // A view from a cave in Belize from Katherine and Anita.
Europe // The Coliseum in Rome from Brenna.
Africa // A hand-drawn Malawian card from Ann.
Asia // A boy holding a plastic gun in Korea from Heather.
Oceania // The Syndey harbour from Lauren.

Done and done!

Korea Preview

2006-05-08T10:37:00.000+09:00

Not-So-Abstract Art
Originally uploaded by buck82.

I got back from Korea yesterday. It seems like I've been gone for months! I have another 500 photos to sort through, including the recovery of some deleted ones (tear). Check back later this week for the pics and dets!

▲ List: UNESCO World Heritage Sites I Have Visited

2006-05-08T09:30:00.000+09:00

Canada
Dinosaur Provincial Park
Wood Buffalo National Park
Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks

China
The Great Wall
Summer Palace: an Imperial Garden in Beijing
Temple of Heaven: an Imperial Sacrificial Altar in Beijing

Japan
Himeji-jo
Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities)
Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama
Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome)
Itsukushima Shinto Shrine
Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Westminster Palace, Westminster Abbey and Saint Margaret's Church
Tower of London
Old and New Towns of Edinburgh

United States of America
Grand Canyon National Park

Viet Nam
Ha Long Bay

Republic of Korea
Gyeongju Historic Areas
Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple

That's it. It's kind of short, actually. Here are the places I plan on visiting in the next 12 months:

Australia: Great Barrier Reef
Australia: Wet Tropics of Queensland
Australia: Fraser Island
Canada: Nahanni National Park
Japan: Buddhist Monuments in the Horyu-ji Area
Japan: Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara

Hanami

2006-04-25T08:30:00.000+09:00

Obachan vs. The Environment

2006-04-24T23:21:00.000+09:00

Obachan Burning Shit
Originally uploaded by buck82.

Toyama is very rural (apparently), so there are farmers around every corner here. When the snow is not covering the ground, they are burning shit 24/7. Not shit literally, but rather dead organic matter (leaves, dirt, garbage...). There are days when I can't see 200 metres ahead of me because of the smoke! I sometimes wake up thinking my house is on fire, but it's actually the neighboring farmer, up and burning shit at 6 am.

This particular fire was out of hand. First of all, it was much larger than any other I have seen so far. Secondly, look at where the great plume of smoke is flowing... Yeah, right into traffic. Nice.

I wonder how many tons of carbon dioxide is being released into the atmosphere every year by Japanese farmers? Someone MUST introduce composting here, before the planet is too hot to grow rice!

Vietnam

2006-04-22T12:00:00.000+09:00

Finally! The long awaited post about my trip to Vietnam! Sorry to keep you on the edge of your seat for so long. (I know you were.) As you've probably guessed, I don't really like writing about everything that happened on a trip. Mainly because I'm really lazy, but also because it's boring. So, I'm going to highlight the best parts of my trip by location. Enjoy!

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
March 25-28, 2006
The moment Amber and I arrived in Vietnam, we were absorbed in the madness. If I were an alien from another planet observing Saigon, I'd say motorcycles were the dominant species. They're everywhere! Somehow, though, the chaos works and everything flows smoothly.

Once we got into the groove of things, we enjoyed everything HCMC has to offer, including ridiculously cheap beer (50 cents a bottle), fresh spring rolls, warm weather, crazy foreigners, crazy locals, and everything in between. So what did we do "in between?" We walked around the city, shopped in the local markets, visited the Reunification Palace, experienced the War Remnants Museum, toured the Fines Arts Museum, grilled beef at our table at dinner, danced at a local club, and drank beer at every meal (save breakfast)!

Perhaps the most impressive thing about Saigon, for me at least, is how colourful everything is! Every building, from the tallest tower to the smallest shack, is vividly painted. I even saw advertisements for paint on billboards and in magazines! Maybe coming from bland Japan has cleared my palette for some colour, but it was definitely a nice change!

Our stay in HCMC was brief, but memorable.

The Mekong Delta
March 27. 2006
The mighty Mekong river is one of the world's largest. We had to see it. Amber and I booked a "classy" day tour of the delta region, including stops at a Cao Dai Temple, the floating market, a local village, an ancient house for lunch, and the river itself.

It's an amazing feeling eating food that was caught and grown a mere 100 metres away from your table. Globalization has done something unnatural to our food chain. It's not uncommon now to have food on one plate harvested from four or five different continents. We need to get back to the local food cycle. The Mekong Delta was a great experience!

Hanoi
March 28 - April 2, 2006
Next, Amber and I flew to Hanoi -- the capital of Vietnam. The one thing I immediately noticed was how much more relaxed Hanoi is compared to Ho Chi Minh City. Perhaps it is due to the French influence. Indeed, Hanoi is referred to as the "Paris of Southeast Asia." There were cute coffee shops, patisseries, and gourmet restaurants galore in the Old Quarter.

After several days of exploration, I discovered the second most remarkable aspect of Hanoi: It is the most international city I have been to in a long while. On a tour of the Temple of Literature, I heard the following languages in the span of ten minutes (no joking): English, French, Korean, Japanese, Spanish, German, Vietnamese, and Mandarin.

The Vietnamese have adapted well to the foreign tourists. Walking through one of the markets, I listened to the sellers hawking their wares. One second they will be yelling, "Please come look!" The next moment, they will seamlessly switch to Japanese, "Irasshaimase!" Incredible!

Hanoi had a lot to offer. We did the typical touristy stuff, including: watching a water puppet show, paying Ho Chi Minnh a visit at his mausoleum, visiting the Palace and Ho Chi Minh's stilt house, walking through the Temple of Literature, shopping and dining in the Old Quarter, touring the Museum of Ethnology, and visiting an old prison. Pictures speak better than words, so please look through my photos for all the details!

Halong Bay
March 30-31, 2006
This was the one place I was really, really excited to see! Whenever someone says 'Vietnam', I think not of the war, but of junk boats sailing between the famous rocks of Halong Bay.

We booked an overnight cruise on the bay. Our boat wasn't a junk, but the experience was fantastic nonetheless. When we arrived at Halong City, we were a little surprised to find the entire bay had been engulfed in fog. Luckily, the captain was feeling adventurous, so we were able to sail. Whew!

I think we both at the best time at Halong Bay!

Vietnam is absolutely fascinating! The Vietnamese are proud, resilient, and alive in every sense of the word. The terrain is varied, unique, and beautiful. I can't wait to go back!!

How Iran Affects Me

2006-04-19T08:31:00.000+09:00

Iran talks about developing nuclear weapons.
∴
Commodity traders worry about oil supplies from Iran dropping.
∴
Price of oil rises.
∴
Canada (a net exporter of oil) sees its dollar rise.
Japan (a net importer of oil) sees its yen fall.
∴
It is more expensive for me to buy Canadian dollars with my Japanese yen.
∴
I lose real money.

Nomikais Kill

2006-04-13T09:46:00.000+09:00

I'm supremely hungover right now. Last night, Amanda and I had a nomikai (drinking party) with our hair stylist and his girlfriend. Unlimited food and drinks, then the bar for darts. Good times that I'm paying for now.

It's one of those hangovers where the entire day is a prelude to puking. You can feel it coming. It's in there, deep down inside, wanting to come out. But it doesn't. It taunts you. You know you'd feel better if it came out, yet your entire purpose at this moment is to prevent that from happening. When the wave of nausea hits a new apex, you desperately try to negotiate with your body. Maybe if you breathe a different way? Maybe if you sit this way? Or that? Maybe.

This will end one of two ways. One, I puke. Possibly at my desk in a wastebasket, or after a quick and obvious dash to the sink or changeroom. Two, the nausea subsides and leaves me with a wicked headache and in need of a quiet and dark place. Either way, this sucks.

P.S. I just discovered an embarrassing and hilarious tag on my Flickr site: drunk

Hanami Park Party

2006-04-10T13:38:00.000+09:00

Thanks to everyone who showed up for my hanami birthday party on Sunday! The sakura hadn't bloomed yet, but this week should be fantastic!

List?

2006-04-10T11:54:00.000+09:00

Okay, that last post was truly 'random'! :)

So, you may have noticed that I haven't written about Vietnam yet. I'll do that as soon as I have sorted through my 500 or so pictures, which will hopefully be by the end of this week!

In the meantime, I need some list inspiration! Every month, I post a list of random things, experiences, whatever. However, I am completely lost for an idea about what to list this month. Please help! Give me your suggestion for a list by adding a comment to this post! Thanks!!

Random Thought [第15]

2006-04-09T23:17:00.000+09:00

Singing along to a dance song always leads to disaster...

Suggested Lyrics to Avoid: Keep on dancing. Keep on. Keep on. Keep on. Keep on dancing. Keep on dancing. Dancing. Keep on. Keep onononononononon. Keep on. Keep on. Dancing. Keeponkeeponkeeponkeeponkeeponkeeponkeeponkeeponkeepon. Kkkkkeep on. Keep on dancing.

Japanese Television

2006-04-06T08:44:00.000+09:00

I almost never watch TV in Japan, mainly because I don't speak Japanese well. Also because it's generally crap. Not that Canadian television is any better, but you know.

Out of sheer boredom one day, I decided to turn on my TV and check out what was going on in the world of Nihongo. I quickly found one of the more popular variety shows, featuring a joke-cracking host, cliché slapstick comedians, personality-lacking actresses, random video segments, and some sort of undecipherable quiz game. All-in-all, pretty typical.

However, one of the video segments ended up being one of the most hilarious things I've ever seen on Japanese TV! They gathered three 80+ year old men, put them behind podiums on a stage, got a famous crooner to ask questions, and had the men answer them for points. Because the old men were sincerely senile, they were blabbing out answers that had nothing to do with the questions! One man kept interrupting the host, while another pushed his buzzer repeatedly to answer a question that wasn't even asked yet! It was essentially "Celebrity Jeopardy" from Saturday Night Live!!

I was one the floor laughing at this one, even though I couldn't understand one word of it! It just proves that laughter is universal. Or, laughing at old men is...

Frosting-Coated Shrimp Cookie

2006-04-06T08:33:00.000+09:00

Frosting-Coated Shrimp Cookie
Originally uploaded by buck82.

Omiyage from a new colleague at work... It was surprisingly delicious!

Uni Cows

2006-04-03T14:21:00.000+09:00

You may remember my post about Yellowknife? The one where I introduced Rick Mercer and his television show on CBC? It turns out he has filmed another video related to me! This time, it's about my university -- the University of Guelph.

My university has one of the oldest agricultural colleges in North America -- the Ontario Agriculture College. This was my college in university. (No, my degree doesn't relate to teaching English. I had veterinary ambitions...) Rick visited UofG during College Royal; a huge open house for the community. For the last two years of my program, I helped College Royal by volunteering at 'Old MacDonald's Farm', which happens to be the event Rick visits! As well, Dr. Jim Atkinson, one of my favourite professors (and references), was interviewed.

I have done the two things shown in the video involving cows and holes...

University of Guelph Video

Ahhh, memories.

Goodbye Vietnam

2006-04-02T09:42:00.000+09:00

Amber and I are about to get on the plane for Tokyo. It's going to be an interesting experience moving from dirty & chaotic Hanoi to clean & quiet Toyama. I have about 400 photos to share, as well as several stories, so I want to post those sometime this week. Goodbye Vietnam!

▲ List: Strange Things I Have Eaten In Japan

2006-04-01T10:00:00.000+09:00

Cow Heart
Frog Leg
Firefly Squid
Pig Intestines
Sea Urchin
Blowfish
Baby Sparrow
Gold
Fish Tail
Chicken Joints
Cow Liver
Wasabi Ice Cream

chris vs. vietnam

2006-03-26T12:25:00.000+09:00

Amber and I arrived in Vietnam yesterday. Everything is perfect. The weather, the colours, the smells, the people, the chaos... Love it! We wondered around Saigon last night and had some really cheap beer (like thirty cents each). Now, we're off to visit all the sights, including the Reunification Palace and the War Remnants Museum! Perfect.

SMASHHH!!!

2006-03-24T14:04:00.000+09:00

That's the sound of my solid teaching team breaking into thousands of tiny pieces.

I just found out that all the female teachers (a.k.a. the good teachers) are leaving Daimon Junior High School next week! I'm so sad.

At the end of every school year (March), hundreds of teachers are redistributed among the schools in the prefecture. It's a little crazy to think about. They finally become settled, and then they have to uproot and plant themselves somewhere new. I guess it keeps things fresh. Also, teachers who aren't comfortable in their current situation can perhaps get a better deal. Oh well. Change is life, right?

One of the teachers leaving is my supervisor. She'll be teaching brand-spanking new teachers the ways of the Engrish world instead of teaching classes. Too bad. Daimon will get one of those green teachers. Damn. That means they'll have to learn how to work with me. It also means I may have to do... gulp... lesson plans!! Ugh, real work sucks...

A Bit of Bragging

2006-03-23T15:34:00.000+09:00

My school, Daimon Junior High School, has won several national awards in the past couple of weeks.

#1 // The Silver Medal for Best Ensemble Band in Japan
My brass band kids seriously rock it. I played the clarinet in high school and that was a true embarrassment compared to these guys. Last culture festival, they pumped out a glitzed-up rendition of an eastern European pop hit that completely blew my socks off!

#2 // The Top English Program in Hokuriku Region (of 8 Regions in Japan) with Special Recognition (of 2)
That's awesome!! I was totally shocked by this award. Basically, the Ministry of Education in Tokyo decided that my little school in the back woods of Toyama-ken has the best English teachers and lesson plans in a four-prefecture area! On top of that, we received special recognition. The only other school to receive this distinction was in Hiroshima-ken. My kocho-sensei (principal) went down to Yokohama last week to receive the award for the school. This is a pretty sweet way to finish my time at Daimon Junior High School!

Nagano

2006-03-23T12:08:00.000+09:00

Gillian, Melissa and I went to Nagano City this past holiday Tuesday to see The Pillows in concert. The Pillows are a Japanese rock band that have been around for a while. Before the show, we decided to check out Zenkoji -- Nagano's most famous Buddhist temple.

Hakuba

2006-03-23T08:09:00.000+09:00

Hakuba, Nagano-ken is one of the best places in Japan for snowboarding. Kei invited a bunch of us to join him for a boarding weekend from March 18th to the 19th. Here are the highlights from the trip.

Most Memorable Moments
一 Waking up at 06:00 to get on the road.
二 Ai-chan showing up hammered from his enkai the night before.
三 Realising I'm a little better at snowboarding than I thought.
四 Snowboarding in the rain.
五 6 naked guys in an outdoor onsen pool.
六 Invading Jusco.
七 Nabe.
八 Crapping out on top of the mountain.
九 Walking down the mountain.
十 Pumping the tunes on the ride back.

Four Favourite Fotos

Listmania

2006-03-22T15:52:00.000+09:00

I have begun a series of Mega Lists for my final sayonara to Japan. One is a list of all the things I'll miss about Japan, and the other is a list of all the things I won't miss. They're going to be long, but I think it's a good way to wrap up my time here. I'm not sure when they'll be posted. Probably sometime in July.

I'm also compiling a playlist, and I'd like to share with you two of the songs so you can check them out for yourself.

Beck - Bad Cartridge
The Books - Tokyo

If you have been in Japan for any amount of time, they should instill a sense of nostalgia.

Hanami Birthday Party!

2006-03-17T11:31:00.000+09:00

For those of you in Toyama on April 8th, check this out!

Invitation

Let's partying!

Graduation

2006-03-17T11:00:00.000+09:00

Daimon Junior High School had its graduation ceremony on Wednesday for the 3-nenseis (Grade 9). The day was comprised of the following events, in chronological order:

1) Waiting forever for the ceremony to start
2) Almost falling asleep/almost tearing up at the lengthy ceremony
3) Standing outside in the freezing cold to watch the 3-nenseis leave the school grounds
4) Eating a family's worth of food at a 'fancy' lunch
5) Waiting forever to go home
6) Napping
7) Attending an enkai (staff party) at an Italian restaurant
8) Defying biology by eating more than a family's worth of dinner
9) Getting hammered with colleagues
10) Continuing the party at a 'snack bar' (hostess bar) with all my teachers, not just the males
11) Singing karaoke by myself
12) Eating and drinking more, to my body's protests
13) Somehow getting home
14) Waking up still drunk to teach 5 classes...

Ah, yes.

Through the course of those past 24 hours, I had the following realizations:

» Some of the teachers at my school are true drunks. (I knew this before, but it really hit home yesterday.)
» Singing in English in front of a bunch of Japanese-speakers actually makes the karaoke experience more awkward, not less.
» Explaining why you want to be a lawyer is unexpectedly difficult when drunk and speaking Japanese.
» I have become more brazen with carrying around a lot of cash. (I have at least ¥100,000 in my wallet right now... For my trip!)
» I have gained too much weight this past winter. (I need to kick up my workout several hundred notches.)
» Scheduling someone to have 5 classes after an enkai night is cruel.
» I should stop complaining... >_<

Here is a funnier and more accurate portrayal of graduation in Japan: American Expat's Post

My Slave Is Preggers

2006-03-14T07:58:00.000+09:00

As my slave (a.k.a. the lady who serves me coffee in the morning) drove me to work this morning, she revealed to me that she is pregnant. She also told me that the teacher that sits across from me is preggers too. I had no idea either of them were married! Most teachers keep their private lives truly secret.

The best example I can think of is when one of the male English teachers told me his wife was in the hospital. I asked why. He told me she was about to deliver a baby. I congratulated him and wished him luck. Later, I asked my supervisor if she knew about it, and she didn't! How could two people work together every day and not know anything about each other's lives?

Oh, here comes my slave with my coffee! Haha, she almost saw this. Like she could read it...

Hmmm... Is it moral to let a pregnant woman serve me? If it's coffee, yes. Coffee is always a 'yes.'

Appropriate Word of the Day

2006-03-12T13:33:00.000+09:00

My Gmail account displays a 'Word of the Day', and today's word is wholly appropriate for this weekend:

crapulous \KRAP-yuh-lus\, adjective:
1. Suffering the effects of, or derived from, or suggestive of gross intemperance, especially in drinking; as, a crapulous stomach.
2. Marked by gross intemperance, especially in drinking; as, a crapulous old reprobate.

Oh man, that's a keeper.

Collisions with Japanese People

2006-03-11T21:30:00.000+09:00

Last night, a bunch of us gathered at Up Tight in Takaoka for the second pub quiz night. My team, "Back of the Bus", rocked it. Rocked the last place... It's okay, Emily, Richard, and Lucy! We had a good showing. Damn that Art round! Oh, and damn those Sports, Literature, Japan, and Geography rounds!

It was one of my "not-going-to-drink" nights... So as I was buying my third beer at the bar, I had a little 'run-in.' I moseyed up to the bar, found a space between the people, ordered my beer, and sat back for the wait. I turned my head to scope the scene and quickly realised why there was a space at the bar... Three heavily drunken Japanese dudes were perched on their seats, barely conscious, and giving me wide, stupid grins. One of them opened his mouth and said something to the effect of "Per chance, kind sir, are you from the land of America?" Okay, it was more like, "Hey foreigner, you American?" I smiled my best fake smile and said, "No. I'm Canadian. Are you from Japan?" I love saying that, because it throws them off a little.

Instead of the usual laughter and general enjoyment of the language barrier, the guy decided to take a different course. He widened his grin, reached down to my crotch palm-up, and flicked my package twice! "Okii! (Big!)", he says to my face.

I'm so taken aback by these developments that I just stand there with my beer and stare at him.

Confusing my shock with amusement, the guy does it again!

This time, I say, "Nice, buddy. All right. Look at what you made me do." I then smashed my glass on the bar and jammed the shards in his thighs. As he bent over in pain, I kneed him in the face and buried my fist in his gut. The other dudes were so frightened that they threw their wallets at me and stumbled out of the bar as quick as they could. Everyone in the bar broke out in applause and I basked in my glory.

Aaaand, scene.

After he did it the second time, I turned and walked away. What was I suppose to do? The guy was so drunk that he was about to pass out, and he speaks a different language. Plus, I know that Japanese male culture is much different from Western male culture. Much, much different. I think it stems from the fact that nobody is scared of being called "gay" in Japan, because the concept doesn't officially exist. Could you imagine what would happen if that guy tried to pull a stunt like that in the States or the UK?? Oh well.

The title of the post is Collisions with Japanese People. Ah, lucky you! Another story...

This morning, I woke up much more hungover than I should have been. After three international phone calls (Canada x2 and New Zealand -- ooo, fancy), I finally got my lazy ass to the gym. My bicycling route there goes over the bridge between Imizu and Takaoka. Since I was feeling particularly reflective (or something) today, I gazed down at the river to the side as I crossed the bridge. I noticed the green flowing water, the snow-capped mountains in the distance, the birds gathering on the shore, the old Japanese woman in my path one second too late... Yes.

BAAAAM!! Both our bicycles tumbled to the ground, and her groceries flew into the air and scattered all over the bridge. Damn damn damn. I couldn't even react. After 5 minutes (or 5 seconds), I got off my bike, perfusely apologised in Japanese, and picked up her stuff. After I made sure everything was all right, I got back on my bike. The old lady turns to me, opens her toothless mouth, and starts going on a rant in Japanese. I could not understand one word of it, but I could guess what she was saying. I'd be pissed too. Really pissed.

For some odd reason, I decided that saying this before I took off again was a good idea: "Hey, when you get some teeth, give me a call."

Why would I say that??? Man, living in a non-English-speaking country makes you say the weirdest things, just because you know nobody knows what you're saying! I have the mouth of sailor at the moment; I swear way too much. Before I move back to Canada, I'm going to have to start practicing using sentences without expletives. F*ck, it's going to be hard.

Japanese Truth [第8]

2006-03-11T21:15:00.000+09:00

After learning enough Japanese, you start to recognise it outside of Japanese situations and get excited by it!

Example 1: I listened to and understood a Japanese conversation on the Star Ferry in Hong Kong.

Example 2: During the movie "Hannibal", I understood what the Japanese tourists were screaming during a murder scene.

Example 3: I'm watching "The Matrix" right now and just discovered that the code (see below) is actual Japanese katakana (カタカナ) written backwards!!

Now if I could only get motivated to learn more...

High As A Kite

2006-03-09T15:57:00.000+09:00

Okay okay okay. I drank a pot of Italian coffee this morning when I woke up. I included, for flavor, 2 or 3 shots of Bailey's liquer. When I got to work, my co-worker/slave served me more coffee. I just downed some herbal tea. Needless to say, I'm super high on caffeine and am extra jittery right now. The worst part: I've been listening to a super-pumping electronic remix album all afternoon. Literally, my heart is beating exactly in sync with the bass. I'm not even kidding here! Wow.

Alright, maybe I should lay off the 'Bucks for a bit... But all I want to do right now is go there and drink a bold Kenyan blend double and read my book! Yikes!

Interestingly, I had to memorize this structure in university while drinking it down by the bucketload.

By the way, would you like to hear what 4 years of education at a top university can produce? Off the top of my head:

Caffeine blocks the breakdown of the secondary messenger cyclic adenosine monophosphate, thus propagating glycolysis (the breakdown of glucose into energy the body can use). (i.e. It makes you genki!)

Snow: The Return

2006-03-03T11:23:00.000+09:00

After a week of sunshine and ice-free roads, it is snowing again in Toyama. I think my anger can best be summed up in an analogy. (I think analogies are as fun as similes or metaphors.)

The new snowfall in Toyama is like being released from the hospital after six months of traction because of a broken pelvis from a car accident, only to be runover by a car in the parking lot.

More or less.

Chizneck out this off tha hook website!

2006-03-01T11:31:00.000+09:00

You can translate any text or website into ebonics yaba daba dizzle. Politically correct? No. Funny? Yes. Go here.

Check out my site: Buck82

Or BBC news: Tha News

▲ List: Kit Kat Flavors I Have Eaten In Japan

2006-03-01T10:00:00.000+09:00

Green Tea
Passionfruit
Apple
Cafe Latte
Maple Syrup
Wine
Melon
Strawberry
Sakura (Cherry Blossom)
Lemon Cheesecake
Grape
Yogurt
French Bretagne Milk
Banana
Fruits Parfait

Green and Reconnecting

2006-03-01T08:42:00.000+09:00

I've been obsessed with green lately. Maybe it's because I want the trees to bloom finally. Maybe it's because St. Patty's Day is on the way. (I do want some green Guinness. Any Toyama people up for Pot Still on March 17th?) Either way, this blog is staying green through March.

So this weekend I finally did what I had been planning on doing for a long time. I wrote e-mails to almost everyone I know. Damn, it took a long time. Maybe you got one? The responses have been trickling in, and it's exciting! I've so far discovered the following:

» Carolyn is will likely stay in Mexico for another 9 months.
» Jessica is in law school! (This gives me a lot of hope because we have the same degree.)
» Nicole is engaged!
» Yoko is having fun teaching Japanese in Tonga.
» Kali is in medical school in the Caribbean! (This one was truly a surprise. Congrats Kali!)
» Gina is moving back to Yellowknife at the same time as me. (Gina: We're going to rock the town!)
» Jen is in Ottawa learning the joys of dealing with dairy farmers. (Memories!)
» Anita is being flip-floppy about coming back to Yellowknife. (Doooo it!)
» Jamie is hitting on best men at weddings in Chicago. ;)

As for the rest of you not mentioned, send me a message! Let me know what you're doing!

Here's a pic from the weekend:

Tateyama

2006-02-27T09:16:00.000+09:00

Tateyama
Originally uploaded by buck82.

As I was coming home from Toyama City Sunday afternoon, I noticed that Tateyama, or Mt. Tate, was supremely visable from my house. So I had to get a shot of it. Most of the time, I forget that I live near the Japanese Alps, until it becomes rainy or stormy. For some reason, it is on those days that the mountains stand out.

Are You Kidding Me??

2006-02-22T12:58:00.000+09:00

Check this out!

Oh man, like my razor needs any more blades! What happened to 4 blades? Gillette went from 3 to 6 blades in just two steps!

This is what happens with 3 blades:

What would 6 blades do? Cut of your arm?!

A Classic Convenience Moment

2006-02-21T14:30:00.000+09:00

So I was walking down the street when I thought to myself, "Chris, you've got a stratchy throat. Perhaps a cold is coming. Let's stop at the next convenience store and buy something to solve this problem." So I did. I walked into my FamilyMart (it is mine, by the way) and decided to purchase some lemon vitamin water. "Pefect," I said to myself. "But you know what would be even more perfect? Hot lemon vitamin water. If only..." Just for fun, I glanced at the hot drink cabinet. Lo and behold, FamilyMart stocks hot lemon vitamin water!

That, ladies and gentleman, is the definition of convenience.

Actually, if they had brought it to me on the street... That would have been more convenient...

Other tales of convenience:
When Convenient Stores Are Too Convenient
Japanese Truth [第5]

I Discovered A New Smell This Morning

2006-02-21T08:30:00.000+09:00

It's an intoxicating bouquet I like to call, "Eau de Melting Rice Paddy." The aromatic blend of pond sludge and moist rotten plants makes for an amazing pick-me-up on a sleepy morning walk. Where can you find such a rare and exotic scent? Why, right outside my door! Please come on over for a cup of tea and a whiff of something that'll make you pass out with joy!

Sprinklers From Hell

2006-02-19T13:26:00.000+09:00

Sprinklers From Hell
Originally uploaded by buck82.

In Japan, the streets are kept clear of snow by a series of sprinklers lined along the center of the road. Generally, the streams of water are unnoticeable and amusing. The sprinklers shown above, however, were ridiculous. They shot at least 1 metre into the air!

★ Article: "Turn off the heat - how Japan made energy saving an art form"

2006-02-17T15:36:00.000+09:00

I feel much better after reading this article. Read my previous rant.

What's My Personality?

2006-02-17T15:24:00.000+09:00

I discovered this on a Toyama blog, and I'd like you to help (if you know me). It's a personality map (called a Johari Window) that describes what my personality is like according to myself and my friends.

To contribute, please follow this link: Contribute to Chris' Johari Window

To check out what my window looks like so far, go here: Chris' Johari Window

Thanks!

Lovely Dinner

2006-02-15T08:20:00.000+09:00

In lieu of any romantic partners for the evening, Amanda and I decided to celebrate VD together. We classed it up and took the train to Fushiki to dine at DOCG. I almost completely forgot about this bastion of style and cuisine tucked away in a little fishing village. The fare is mainly Italian, with a few fondue dishes thrown in for fun. Amanda and I opted for the fondue set and some red wine. Twenty-five courses later... okay, seven... we rolled our filled bellies and emptied wallets home.

Thanks for a lovely dinner Amanda! I <3 you!

Here's an ode to love, as can only be sung by my ichi-nenseis:

Party in Uozu

2006-02-13T23:57:00.000+09:00

Emily and I
Originally uploaded by buck82.

Jake turned one quarter of a century old (scary, eh?) last weekend. To celebrate, a bunch of us headed over to Uozu for TexMex and Nomihodais.

I'd like to give a shout out to Emily:

Emily (Emily Emily Emily...), I know your name is Emily. Laura is a horrible name and I have no idea how I could have mistaken it for yours. (Laura, sorry, it's not a horrible name. I love it.)

Also, I don't actually think our adventure on the gondola was a bad date (had it been one). In fact, it was the best non-date I have ever been on!

In conclusion, Emily, you rock. And stop bringing it up! :P

12 for ¥183

2006-02-08T09:42:00.000+09:00

12 for ¥183
Originally uploaded by buck82.

How is this possible?? How can I buy a billion bananas for less than 2 bucks? And how is this even remotely possible in JAPAN? It's a mystery.

The Lines Have Been Drawn

2006-02-07T15:39:00.000+09:00

A single drop in a still pond will cause a ripple to move across the surface, propagating ever outward until either the energy has dispersed or the wave hits something. At a greater perspective, the ripples highlight and expose any disturbances on the surface of the pond by reflecting and propagating new ripples.

The violent demonstrations springing up across the world in response to the cartoons in Denmark are clearly highlighting the lines that are being drawn for the new world war. (Article.) Will this ripple continue or die off?

A bit dramatic? Maybe. Unwarranted? Definitely not.

Do you remember what started WWI? The Archduke of Austria was assassinated by Serbian nationalists in Sarajevo. A small (in perspective) act of violence sparked years of death and sorrow. Of course, there were many other complicated issues that laid the foundations for war.

An excerpt from the World War 1 article on Wikipedia,

The reasons for the outbreak of World War I are a complicated issue; there are many factors which intertwine. Some examples are:

* Fervent and uncompromising nationalism
* Unresolved previous disputes
* The intricate system of alliances
* Convoluted and fragmented governance
* Delays and misunderstandings in diplomatic communications
* The arms races of the previous decades
* Rigidity in military planning

Does any of that sound familiar? Ahem... Iran, Syria, Indonesia, Iraq, Palestine... Don't get me wrong -- I do not discriminate against religions. However, the political rhetoric and hatred coming from these places must be familiar to pre-war Europeans.

The last world war occurred only 60 years ago. It can certainly happen again.

Osaka Weekend

2006-02-07T11:05:00.000+09:00

I think I have managed to spend every single one of my weekends this past couple of months outside of my house. Let's recap my weekends since December, shall we?

December 17-18 // Chicago, Illinois, USA
December 24-25 // Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
December 31-January 1 // Toronto, Ontario, Canada
January 7-8 // Oakville, Ontario, Canada
January 14-15 // Tokyo, Japan
January 21-22 // Home in Imizu, Toyama, Japan!
January 28-29 // Hakuba, Nagano, Japan
February 4-5 // Osaka, Japan

Notice the one time I was home. Wow. I think I need to cool my jets until I leave for Vietnam next month...

So, Osaka. I love the city. Tokyo and Osaka are very different, and I like both for different reasons. Tokyo is crazy and full of adventure; you're never without something to do. Osaka is more cosmopolitan than Tokyo. The streets are wide and green. The subway system is cleaner and less confusing. Everything feels closer to home (a.k.a. Western).

Jose and I took the train down to 'Saka on Saturday to check out a Royksopp concert. Man, those guys know how to make the crowd move! I've only been to a few concerts in Japan where every single Japanese person danced in the audience. (People here usually don't.) The event started early (18:00) and thus ended early (21:00), so we had plenty of time to meet up with Amanda and Tomoji at a fabulous Mexican restaurant. (Notice the lack of quotation marks or 'Tex-Mex' terminology in labeling the restaurant... Jose is vehemently opposed to calling "Mexican" restaurants in Japan as such, but he declared that El Charro in Osaka is a real Mexican place! Shock!) We spent the night in a capsule hotel and woke up to a day of sightseeing and shopping. Oh, and IMAX! I love IMAX. Here are some pics:

Coffee Tip

2006-02-07T08:00:00.000+09:00

For those of you with access to a Japanese-style gas-powered wall-mounted hot water heater with hose, you can easily make oishii cappucino in mere seconds!

Step 1: Take a mug and add some instant coffee with creamer.
Step 2: Turn the hot water dial to max.
Step 3: Switch the spray setting to stream.
Step 4: Let the water run until steam rises from the sink.
Step 5: Fill the mug with the water.
Step 6: Enjoy the frothy instant goodness!

What Just Happened?

2006-02-03T08:41:00.000+09:00

Why is it that when you wake up late, it's always at the exact time you'd usually leave the house? Is it some cruel joke by the universe? Is there someone up there saying, "hey, let's f*ck with this guy today"? Seems like it.

After five minutes of scrambling around my house, I was on my way to work. Just a few seconds of walking later, I was picked up by a teacher. Six minutes later, I was sitting at my desk.

I had gone from laying in my bed unconscious to sitting at my desk pretending to be perky in less than 15 minutes!

Oi Oil!

2006-02-02T10:31:00.000+09:00

Bush gave his big speech yesterday and remarked that the U.S. is addicted to oil. Well, if the U.S. is a self-confessed addict seeking rehabilitation, Japan is the twitchy junkie curled into a fetal position in the corner of the bathroom. This country uses oil like it's going out of style. (Which it is.)

Proof 1: Home insulation does not exist, so everyone is forced to buy litres and litres of heating fuel to keep their houses warm in the winter. I have personally used 80 litres of kerosene since November.

Proof 2: Everything is wrapped in plastic, including the individual cookies inside a bag of cookies. Apples are separately placed in styrofoam mesh and then wrapped in plastic wrap. I mean everything.

Proof 3: Many people in Japan have no qualms with leaving their cars idling as they shop in grocery stores, read comic books in convenience stores, or eat dinner in a restaurant. Just yesterday, as I walked past a gas station, I noticed a woman filling up her car while it was running! Needless to say, I started running. TURN OFF YOUR CARS JAPAN! IT'S NOT THAT COLD!!

Japan is going to be the first country to fail if it doesn't adopt new technologies in the next decade. Full-stop.

Original Intentions

2006-02-01T13:07:00.000+09:00

I have been busy making preparations for the next stage in my life this past month. As I wrote resumes and researched universities, I was reminded of the arduous application process for the JET Programme. How quickly one forgets the pains! After nearly half a year of applications, reference letters, essays, and interviews, I am here in Japan having the time of my life.

Inspired by a recent blogger posting, I want to open up my dusty computer folders and share with you my essay from my JET application:

My reasons for wishing to join the JET Programme are threefold: I want to experience Japan, I love to learn, and I love to teach. First, I am fascinated by the cultural richness and beauty of Japan. Growing up in the isolated city of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, I have come to delight in experiencing different customs and locations. I have traveled to Fiji, the Netherlands Antilles, the Bahamas, the United Kingdom, the United States, and throughout Canada. Each new experience has broadened my view of our diverse world and the similarities that bind us together. Japan has always been a place of mystique and elegance in my mind, and I hope to immerse myself in its customs and language so as to gain a better understanding of it.

Secondly, I love to learn. My university experiences both in and out of the classroom have been profound. In the classroom, my studies have refined my ability to analyse and adapt to new concepts and methodologies. My education is scientific in focus; however, it is balanced by courses in Philosophy, English, and Literature. I have excelled academically and gained the skills necessary for effective oral and written communication.

Outside of the classroom, I have had many cherished experiences that have opened my eyes to the world around me. I spent my first and second years at the University of Guelph living in the International House on campus. This residence aims to facilitate cultural exchange by placing both international and domestic students as neighbours, so as to create discussion of each other’s backgrounds and experiences. The environment in International House heightened my sensitivities and awareness of cultural differences, and exposed me to global issues and debates. I served as President of the Hall Council for International House in my second year, forcing me to develop strong interpersonal skills in dealing with structured social situations and conflicts. These experiences, combined with my experience as President of my high school, guided me towards other leadership positions on campus, including Vice-President of the Future Vets Club. The leadership aptitude I gained with these roles will carry with me for the rest of my life.

I value the power of language, and hope to wholeheartedly devote myself to learning the Japanese language. So far, I have mastered the hiragana and katakana syllabaries, and plan to move onto developing basic conversational Japanese. Along with my extensive grasp of English, I have gained moderate experience in French through my secondary education. I look forward to the challenges posed by language barriers and the rewards of overcoming them.

Finally, I love to teach. The satisfaction of knowing that I have made a small difference in someone’s life is amazing. One of my most memorable experiences with teaching occurred in secondary school. I participated in a smoking cessation group, in which I travelled to several elementary schools teaching students the dangers of smoking. Interacting with those budding minds was enlightening and gratifying, and gave me a taste of what teachers must experience daily.

Recently, I have been mentoring an international graduate student in colloquial English. The idiosyncrasies of English (and languages in general) became apparent to me immediately as I explained to him common expressions and phrases used daily in Canadian life. I have an increased respect for individuals attempting to learn English, as it is not an easy task. As well as language mentoring, I have been assisting my friend in adapting to Canadian culture. In return, he has been able to teach me a great deal about his country and culture. The challenges I faced in mentoring have helped me develop the skills and confidence to continue teaching English to other students.

I believe the language and cultural skills developed with the JET Programme would assist me in my future career in science and research. My passion for learning and teaching, as well as my leadership and English language experience can be an asset to the JET Programme.

BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

This is my favourite line:

I value the power of language, and hope to wholeheartedly devote myself to learning the Japanese language.

Wow. Sometimes the heart wants to do other things...

Thanks for not laughing too hard. (>_o)

Nagano

2006-02-01T11:19:00.000+09:00

This past weekend, I piled 24 of us Toyamians (?) into a bus for a weekend of skiing/snowboarding and drinking. I had my ass kicked by the mountain on Saturday, so Sunday was a true day of rest. I'll probably be back on the slopes in a few weeks. Here are some pics:

▲ List: I Have Visited The World's...

2006-02-01T10:00:00.000+09:00

Longest Canopy Walkway
Tallest Twin Towers
Best Airport
Second Best Airport
Second Busiest Airport
Second Most Expensive City
Third Most Expensive City
Longest Outdoor Covered Escalator System
Largest Terminal Building
Oldest Rainforest
Second Most Densely Populated Country
Most Populated Country
Tallest Flagpole
Longest Building
Second Largest Country
Longest Bridge Over Waters That Freeze
Busiest Intersection
Second Largest Ferris Wheel

Retentive

2006-01-27T09:41:00.000+09:00

... Yes, that kind. I have quickly become very much so this past week. It started on Monday with another little panic attack about my life. They happen from time to time. I'll just freak out and do something productive. Or drink. This time, I was productive. (Okay... I drank a little.)

Kate gave me a brown leather folio for Christmas -- the perfect stylish element to my new productive life. I grabbed it and immediately wrote "The Ultimate To Do List." It was comprised of 12(ish) small things to do in the near future.

1) Mail away resumes.
2) Plan my Golden Week vacation.
3) Take the LSAT.
4) Take out the garbage.
...

Okay, so it wasn't exactly in any particular order. I've so far completed 7 items. But I added another 9 in the process... That's still productive, right? Yeah.

In other retentive news, my apartment is spotless. I don't even remember cleaning it... So it must have been slowly getting cleaner throughout the week without my noticing. Just this morning, I woke up early, made a balanced breakfast, and then washed the dishes. Who does that?? And last night, instead of joining a yakitori party and getting hammered, I opted to pick up my (large amount of) dry cleaning, do my banking, grocery shop, practice Japanese, and go to the gym. Does this mean I'm an adult now?

Maybe. I will feel like one this weekend when I take 23 English teachers on a bus trip to Nagano prefecture for a skiing/snowboarding minibreak. I organised it all (with the help of Renee and Josh), so if it blows up, it's going to blow up in my face. In the meantime, my snowboarding gear and clothing were retentively packed this morning and are ready to go. Can't wait!

Oooo, now I get to cross off “Write in blog” on my list! ... Oh, it’s not there... Let’s add it... Okay. Now I’ll cross it off...

Politics

2006-01-24T19:04:00.000+09:00

WARNING: You may not care.

Canada just had another election. (Or, as it is said in Japan, erection. Oooh! Lame, I know.) There is a new Prime Minister -- Stephen Harper. He's the leader of the Conservative Party of Canada and is very right-wing. His party managed to wrangle enough seats away from the ruling Liberal party to form a minority government. (That means they don't have enough seats to pass anything without some other party's help. Duh.)

Even though I lean left, I am happy with the results of the election. Here are my reasons:

1) The Prime Minister is not from Ontario or Quebec.
2) The Liberals don't deserve to rule Canada at the moment with all their scandals.
3) Change is good.
4) The U.S. may see Stephen Harper as a friend and stop hating Canada.
5) Minority governments don't last and have no real power, so Stephen Harper can't be hardcore conservative just yet.
6) The candidate I voted for in my riding won! The previous MP had been in office for 18 years...
7) The uncertainity of another minority government weakens the strong Canadian dollar, thus making it cheaper for me to buy Canadian dollars with my Japanese yen. (i.e. I don't pay out the a$$ to send my money home.)

We'll see how long this government lasts...

Plastered

2006-01-23T14:29:00.000+09:00

...With snow. I bet you thought I was going to be writing about my drunken weekend. Ney, my friend. I am going to tell you about my walk to work this morning.

Actually, I shouldn't really label what I did as 'walking.' It was more of a 'feat of survival.' A bit dramatic? Maybe. Deserved? Definitely. Let me explain...

Toyama is generally a snowy place in the winter. The season started out with a bang as mother nature dumped two metres of snow onto our heads. I was fine with that since I left straight away for another continent. I came home three weeks later to find a land thickly frosted with snow from mountains to sea. The trek to school was manageable, especially since I was driven there almost everyday day by a sympathetic coworker. It reached the point where I was considering riding my bike to work.

Then, without (an English and obvious) warning, Toyama was assaulted by a flurry of white death last night. I blame all the foaming-at-the-mouth frenzied snowboarding fanatics for praying for this weather. They love it. I hate it.

I left my house this morning assuming that my walk would be brief, as it is every morning. Surely one of my four regular chauffeurs would swoop me off the highway and into their car's warm safety. Surely.

Not three minutes into my walk did I regret not wearing my brand new snowboarding outfit. The wind was blistering cold and pushing against me. The snow was shooting straight into my eyes. My shoes were quickly filling with ice. It was hell. But opposite.

I consoled myself by remembering that a teacher was just seconds away from picking me up. My iPod distracted my mind from thinking about the loss of feeling in my fingers or the layer of snow building on my clothes.

I think it was around the Cosmo station that I realised I was going to die. Something about the combination of rice paddies and sparsely distributed buildings in the area made the wind and snow excited enough to form a real blizzard. I literally couldn't see more than one metre ahead of me, and I nearly started to walk down the wrong road. My trek through the Antarctic region of Highway 77 lasted another ten minutes. My body arrived at school covered in a thick layer of ice and snow.

My soul didn't survive.

Tokyo Weekend

2006-01-18T07:56:00.000+09:00

Directly after work on Friday, Amanda and I made our way to Tokyo for a weekend of music and partying. In a stroke of luck, the concert we attended started at 22:00, which never happens in Japan. Almost all events start at 18:00 and end around 23:00, leaving no time for eager ALTs to get from Toyama to Tokyo if the event fell on a Friday. I suppose those times do allow people to catch the last train back, which in Tokyo is at midnight. How can a major metropolis just stop all the trains at such an early hour??

The event was called, "Gan Ban 5th Anniversary." Neither Amanda nor I knew what 'Gan Ban' was or why it was having an anniversary, but we knew it was going to be a huge party. The venue was ageHa, a major Tokyo club hall rocking 3 dance rooms and a water bar. I think it was those two features that created a rave atmosphere, to our surprise but not chagrin.

Space Cowboy, The Glimmers, and the United States of Electronica were on the bill for the night. Amanda and I specifically wanted to see USE, but the rumours of Mylo showing up were also enticing. (He didn't. Apparently he became ill. Boo.) Space Cowboy was lame. Picture a DJ playing premixed tracks whilst pretending he is mixing it live. Lame lame. The Glimmers made us fall asleep, but I think the glowsticking-toting, shirtless gaijin got their jollies. Finally, at 05:00, USE took the stage. They rocked!!

United States of Electronica, or USE (as us acronymphiles would say), is a Seattle-based electronic-pop group that plays happy, uptempo songs. Every one of their tracks seem to have a positive message. I can't help but think that all of this is an act. There's something sinister in people being flaky/cool all the time. Maybe that's just me being cynical. Regardless, the show rocked. They got some Japanese guys to come on the stage at the end, and two of them jumped into the air to smash their bare bellies together! Oh Japan. You loves the pops.

At 09:00, we made our way to Yokohama to spend the day sleeping at Marisa's place. We hadn't actually met Marisa yet... She was a friend of a friend, but she quickly became our friend! Here are some pics from the rest of the weekend:

P.S. A word of warning to Toyamites: When traveling to Tokyo on train, pay attention to which station you must change at. They randomly switched our station from Etchigoyuzawa to Nagaoka TWICE, adding several hours to the journey! Needless to say, we were pissed. Good luck!

▲ List: Celebrities I Look Like

2006-01-17T16:34:00.000+09:00

...According to my students. These are some names my kids have yelled at me from down the hallway or in class.

In chronological order:

Spiderman (Tobey Maguire)
Brad Pitt
David Beckham
Mario (from the Super Mario Bros.)
Anakin (Hayden Christensen)

Not bad comparisons, except for Mario...

Japanese Truth [第7]

2006-01-17T11:58:00.000+09:00

There are two words you'll hear repeated over and over in an aquarium by Japanese people: "kirei! and "oishii!"

Translation: "beautiful!" and "delicious!"

Random Thought [第15]

2006-01-17T11:51:00.000+09:00

Someone should invent clear coffee.

Suggested Slogan:

"Crystal Coffee -- Stamina without the stain."

Congratulations To All The Happy Couples!

2006-01-13T13:04:00.000+09:00

And there are many. This past holiday season, three couples I know got engaged! There's nothing like another person's marriage to make you feel old and everlastingly single... Congratulations again!

Holy Holophonic!

2006-01-12T21:55:00.000+09:00

Put on some headphones and listen to this audio file! It's absolutely incredible and freaky!

Democracy By Mail

2006-01-11T08:19:00.000+09:00

My ballet for the Canadian elections arrived at my house yesterday. I've never voted abroad before. I hope it doesn't get lost in the mail...

Back in 2000, I cosigned my roommate's American ballot. He was from Florida... Dah dah daahhh!

Chicago

2006-01-10T11:31:00.000+09:00

December 17
The Rules of Drinking
I flew from Tokyo to Chicago, leaving at 17:00 and arriving at 08:30 the same day. The dateline is a magical and confusing thing. Upon entering the arrivals area of O'Hare, I was greeted by two drunk(ish) ex-Toyamites -- Jamie and Sarah. (Classy, ladies.) We met up with Shelly, Amanda, Holly, David, Steve and Todd (Sarah's partner) at Sarah's place for a delicious western brunch. So good! Afterwards, we explored the frozen downtown of Chicago, including the famous L-train. That night, we partied like it was our job. I was quickly reminded of the real rules for drinking, smashing my skewed Japanese practices. I.D.? What's that? We first had real Chicago pizza, which should actually be called lasagna. That was followed by an adventure in Boystown, which involved a old man's pub called "Bucks." After at least four other places, we ended the night at a reggae dance bar. I forgot how much fun Americans can be! Everyone is outgoing, which after living in Japan, made me feel like the most timid person in the world.

December 18
Happy Birthday Jesus
Woke up hungover. Everyone, save Shelly, Jamie, Todd, and Sarah, left for their respective homes. Shelly and I attempted to watch "Brokeback Mountain" in Boystown... Retrospectively, finding a seat in that theatre would have been like winning the lottery, except without the money. We ended up watching "Capote." Not a bad alternative. That night, Sarah held her annual "Happy Birthday Jesus" party, including the infamous white elephant gift exchange. I gave away fishy self-heating sake, and I got a smoker's kit. Jamie gave away surprise inflatable breasts, available at your local 100 yen shop!

December 19
Drinks at the 95th Floor
Shopping in the city, followed by cocktails at the top of the Hancock Building. The night was finished off with some super cheap and real Mexican food in the Pilsen district.

December 20
From the Windy City to Canada's Ocean Playground
Spent the day with Todd as everyone else had to work. We had an "impressive" time exploring the Art Institute of Chicago. (Sorry, that was a lame joke, especially if you didn't get it...) I then flew from Chicago to Halifax, with a brief layover in Montreal. I saw my family for the first time in 1.5 years!

Halifax and the Maritimes

2006-01-10T10:00:00.000+09:00

December 21
Family Time
What is the very first thing one would do after meeting up with one's family for the first time in a long while? Have brunch together? Visit the ocean together? Try going to the dentist... Two cavities! My first. Later that day, we checked out the fishermen's area of Halifax. My family had flown down from Yellowknife to stay with our cousin and his wife. They have an amazing house right on the Atlantic coast. Not a bad setting for the holidays!

December 22-23
Food and Drink
Had my entire face frozen and my cavities filled. Relaxed and gorged on western food. Visited downtown Halifax and Dartmouth with my family. We checked out the Maritime Museum and the Alexander Keith's Brewery. Keith's is my favourite mainstream Canadian beer. I got a little tipsy...

December 24
Slip and Slide
The heavy snowfall did not deter my family from driving several hours to Peggy's Cove. There's nothing like slippery rocks next to the ocean to get the blood pumping!

December 25
Christmas!
The usual, followed by a walk on the beach. The beach was invigorating that morning! My stocking was filled with some unusual items...

December 26-28
What time is it? Maritime!
In true Buchanan fashion, my family piled into a van and went on a road trip. We drove from Halifax, Nova Scotia to Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. Since is was Boxing Day, and the weather was horrible, nothing was open. The home of "Ann of Green Gables" was neither green nor gabley. However, it was fun driving over the "longest bridge over waters that freeze in the world", a.k.a. Confederation Bridge. After lunch in PEI, we drove to Moncton, New Brunswick. We visited with my great aunt and uncle, as well as my other cousin. I hadn't been to these provinces since I was a child, so it was a great time!

December 29-30
Chuckwagons and Trailor Parks
To add to my growing list of vehicles ridden during this trip, my family and I went on a horse chuckwagon ride on a ranch. My mom is ace at finding truly family-type things to do! The next day, my dad and brothers decided to break the law. There is a popular show on Canadian television called "Trailer Park Boys." The set (a trailer park...) happens to be 10 minutes by car from my cousin's home. So, of course, they had to see it. They drove to the place (without me), snapped some pics, and came back. As if to spite them, the camera hadn't worked. I was then forced to go with them with my camera and get the proof of their lawlessness. Ghetto fun!

Toronto

2006-01-10T09:00:00.000+09:00

December 31
New Year's Eve in Style
Said goodbye to my family and flew from Halifax to Toronto, Ontario in the early morn. Met up with Lauren, Kate, Kari, and Christy at the Toronto Hilton. I reacquainted myself with Yonge St. and bought a completely new outfit for the New Year's party. We went to a closed party at 606 King and got completely plastered. At least I did... During the stumble back to my hotel, I realised how truly convenient Japanese convenience stores are. I can walk down to any street corner in J-town and get my late night munchy solution. Not in Toronto. Room service was slow and the pizza place wasn't picking up. I went to bed hungry. Just as well, I suppose. I had already eaten enough in the past week...

January 1
Hungover
Joined the rest of the nation in waking up hungover. The streets of Toronto were completely empty, save several homeless people and a handful of 20-somethings with disheveled hair and smeared mascara. We dispersed and I followed Kate back to her house in Oakville.

January 2-5
Back-to-Back DVDs
Transferred to Orangeville with Lauren. We spent three days drinking Tim Horton's coffee, shopping at big box stores, and watching the entire first two seasons of "Arrested Development." I don't think I've ever laughed as much or for as long as that! Lauren is moving to Australia this week to start med school, so I made it a goal to distract her from packing. I succeeded. Hence her handing me back to Kate...

January 6-7
Shopping, Sights, and Sadness
I followed Kate again, this time back into the city. She had to work, so I wandered around T-dot (Toronto) and went on a random shopping spree at 10 AM. Afterwards, I met up with Kate at the Royal Ontario Museum (where her design firm is currently working). We had lunch amongst a crowd of screaming kids with her cousin and coworker. They managed to sneak me a visitors pass to the ROM, so I explored the newly renovated museum and found a favourite exhibit -- Ancient Egypt. That night, Kate and I went to the top of the CN Tower and had some beers before a pub dinner. The next day, Kate and I went to see "Brokeback Mountain." I have to admit, I have never been affected like this by a movie. I was completely devastated (and the feeling lasted for a week). After the movie, it was more sadness at Lauren's going away party.

January 8
24 Hours of Hell
On two hours of sleep, at 3 AM, my shuttle came by to take me to the airport. It was the beginning of a hellish trek back to Toyama. After waiting more than an hour to check in (because the counter was closed), I was directed to U.S. customs. (I had to get to Chicago from Toronto for my flight to Tokyo.) For some reason unbeknownst to me, I was subjected to every single screening check the U.S. has to offer. First, I was asked a lot of questions by the passport guy. Then, I was directed to a small room to have my baggage rummaged through. Next, my baggage was X-rayed and I was sent through the Gates of Eternal Annoyance (a.k.a. the metal detectors). I always set them off! So, of course, I was hand-scanned. Then my shoes were scanned. Then my carry-on was checked for gun powder residue. Then my carry-on was rummaged through. Then my person was searched physically. I wanted to yell this sooo bad: "Is there another hoop I can jump through for you?!" After my ass United Airlines flight to Chicago, I got on my sweet JAL flight to Tokyo. Except for several periods of waiting, I smoothly made my way back to Toyama and my freezing house. It's good to be back!

A Frigid Welcome

2006-01-10T08:14:00.000+09:00

I'm back from my odyssey around the great lakes of North America. The journey felt like three separate vacations. It was slightly disorienting, especially now that I am back "home." I'm going to write about my trip in a brief way, since there is too much to process. I have about 600 photos to publish as well... Yikes!

I arrived home last night at around 00:30. Even though several people had informed me of the onslaught of snow on Toyama, I didn't truly believe it until I witnessed the mayhem this morning. My hot water pipes had frozen over the break, so I was forced to sponge bathe myself this morning with pots of warm water heated using my coffee maker and element. My kerosene heater struggled through the night to warm my apartment from a painful 3°C to a tolerable 18°C. Needless to say, I need warmth ASAP!

In more cheerful news, I had no classes today, and my dreaded elementary school visit was actually scheduled for next week. My teachers gushed over the maple treats I threw at them this morning. There's nothing like bribery to smooth the gears at work!

Now I just need to figure out how I'm going to get my ass to the gym...