The New Year!!!

New Years 2007

For new years I met up with my area manager at a bar (Golden) in Gifu city. For new years the bar featured live Japanese Punk! It was a blast!! Before midnight Akiko (my manager) decided it was too loud for her but as I was enjoying the music and had begun to mingle I decided to stay the course. The guitarist from one of the bands had the most beautiful guitar I’ve ever seen. The band performed in traditional Japanese underwear while the drummer the only girl in the band wore a fishnet jumpsuit with purple bra and panties underneath. I tell you though my eyes were totally glued to the guitar! The guy even let me play it latter in the night! I shudder with orgasms just to think about it sooo delicious. At the end of the night three Irish folks came in which was the first people I’ve talked to in a while who spoke fluent English. After the bar closed I hung out with them while I waited for the trains to start running again. They gave me the number of one of there friends who lives in Minokamo. Yeah maybe I won’t be alone forever! Happy New Year!!!!!!

Jan. 5

Today was my first day back to work. I was so glad to be getting back to it. I love teaching and while New Years was great I spent the rest of the two weeks of vacation at home alone. What a day it was though. The school I went to is brand spanking new. The maps were sketchy and the “new” walking directions were not in fact new. When I got to the school I found that the combination to get the spare key was also not correct. I wasn’t able to get a hold of anyone at the office so it took me an extra hour to get into the school. Once inside I discovered that the level of one of the classes appeared to be different from what was listed on my schedule. Half an hour before my first class the Japanese teacher (JT) arrived which is unusual but…she informed me that the class in question was actually not what I had just finished preparing but in fact one level higher than what was listed on my schedule. I hurriedly prepared yet a third lesson. In the end with the class seated in front of me I was informed that my schedule had been correct and that it was a class made up of students from two old classes. By that point it was too late, I went ahead and taught the more advanced lesson and the students still did a fine job. When my first student arrived I all of a sudden realized why the JT was there when the students mother came into the classroom and sat down. PARENT OBSERVATIONS!!! Since I was substituting for someone I didn’t know that I was going to be observed today. Talk about stress!! Anyways the lessons went fairly well and I certainly feel that today’s experience help me to “grow as a teacher.”

Jan. 6

Today I only had one lesson with a small class (2 students). Was an older class but it went smooth like clockwork.

Later at night frustrated at being alone I decided to try to find a local bar to go to. The last time I tried to do this I was denied entry to two places because foreigners were not welcome before I gave up and went home. This time however I found a small bar called Caps. There were three other patrons there One from Israel one from California and his Japanese girlfriend (?). The owner spoke fluent English and I felt very welcomed to the place. At last I’ve met some people in my area and found a place to go. I am so relieved!

Jan. 7

Today we had the first significant snowfall of the year about 2 inches worth. It has actually snowed once before but it was minimal and melted by noon. As the sun was shining and I was in good spirits, I decided it would be a nice day for a walk in the snow. I am happy to report that it was indeed a perfect day for a walk in the snow (a little wet but…beautiful). Inspired by an information package I was given at Caps last night I set out with the goal of finding the more scenic side of Minokamo. I went to the grocery store to buy lunch to eat by the river. As I sat by the river I decided I would walk down river today. On previous walks I’d gone up river which is how I came across the café where I make these posts until I get my internet connection at the end of the month. While I found these walks nice afternoon out of the house, they weren’t strikingly beautiful or scenic. Down river proved to be far more interesting I found temples and shines. I wandered through a bamboo forest which is something I’ve wanted to do since the first time I saw one from the train when I first arrived. It was magical and the sound the bamboo makes as the hollow trees sway in the wind truly the music of the gods. I got a closer look at the mountains that till now I’ve only seen from a distance and the colour of the river was a magnificent green. As they say a picture speaks a thousand words so maybe it’s about time I posted some having finally photographed something I feel is worthwhile. My 2 mega pixel phone doesn’t do much justice but…if you want something better come see for yourself. Maybe Minokamo isn’t so bad after all.

I just posted four brand new songs on Myspace

http://www.myspace.com/thepoisonpoet
They're the same good wholesome ghetto recordings you've come to know and love in four exciting new flavors. There's a lonely healing song, a random (or not maybe who knows) love song, a song about getting my cell phone and one about the nightmare I had on my firstnight in Minokamo. Enjoy!

December 18, 2006

Well I’ve been here in Minokamo for three weeks now working full time as a teacher. Minokamo is not what I expected. First of all it is small and not in way you might think. It is out of the way but not exactly rural. It is a sort of semi industrial town with a strange mix of businesses ranging from small shops to big box style super centers. It was a big shock to arrive after training in the city only to find that while in the city there was English posted on signs and many people could speak at least a few words of English in Minokamo that is not the case. There is however a large population of Brazilians here and you are more likely to find signs in Portuguese than English. This is sometimes helpful because between the French and Spanish I know I can understands some of the signs but for the most part I am rendered completely illiterate. The other big shock was that since I arrived in Japan I’ve had friends and other trainees around for company. Out here I’m on my own and I can’t think of a time in my life where I have been so entirely alone. There is another teacher who lives in Minokamo but she is never here and doesn’t seem to have any interest in hanging out even when she is so…yeah I guess it’s just me then. I am eternally grateful to Squish who gave me one of his two guitars before I left Osaka because without it I don’t know how I could possibly bear such isolation.

My apartment is big especially by Japanese standards I think it’s more space than I ever had all to my self although maybe I just need more stuff to fill it up. There is a small hall I guess you would call it just inside the door where there is a cabinet for shoes and a place to hang coats this is also where my washing machine is. Just beyond that is my kitchen. I have a two burner gas stove with a small “fish” oven. Next to that is my sink and on the floor beside that a “University” size fridge/freezer. Of to the left is my three room bathroom suite with a toilet in a closet sized room a large sink and vanity combo and the shower room. Traditional Japanese bathing involves a shower beside the bathtub and then after that a soak in the tub. Japanese bath tubs a short and deep. The shower room is about the size of the Storriers shower in Saskatoon for the few of you family members who can appreciate such a comparison. Then there is my main room. It is about 7 paces long and 5 and a half paces wide with a walk-in closet beside the door. It came furnished with a blue vinyl sofa, a big red vinyl swivel chair, two small book shelves and a TV. The sofa folds down and makes for a nice bed (The Japanese idea of a futon is not the same as ours three inches thick and laid out on the floor). Other than that there’s not much more to say you’ll just have to come visit and see for yourself!

Catching up

So here I am sitting in a hotel room on the other side of the world. I’ve been in Japan for almost a month now and tomorrow I will finally be moving into my apartment where I can finally unpack my bag and have a place to call home. I haven’t done a very good job of keeping a journal or updating this blog but there is so much that I want to tell you all about that I’ll try to fill you in on what been going on. So much has been going on since I got here that it hard to know where to start. I suppose I’ll begin by saying that Japan is an amazing country. The culture here is so hard to describe full of diversity and contradiction both reserved and over the top at the same time. I can only speak enough Japanese to navigate though the vast spider web of the train system and buy food. I can’t read anything so half the time I have no idea what I’m eating only whether it tastes good and agrees with my body or not. In time I know that I’ll figure it out (not really much choice) but it’s been hard at times.

When I first arrive I was welcomed by a friend Squish who has been living here for four years that I met through Kerry (Riaz). I spent the first 5 days here sleeping on his couch in downtown Osaka. It was a great introduction to this place as he was able to help me understand how things work here. Things to do and not to do as well as where to get things, all the basics. The Japanese are very polite and they are often embarrassed by foreigners and I can see why. In so many ways we are so loud and rude. For the most part Japanese people would rather you be happy and comfortable that they will just ignore the indiscretions of a Giagin so it can be hard to tell if you have offended anyone. They will avoid the conflict of confronting someone and leave you to go along on your merry way. The best thing to do is to pay attention to what the people around are doing and base your actions on that. For example drinking in public is not against the law. You can go to a vending machine and buy a beer then proceed to walk down the street drinking it. It’s legal but you would hardly ever see a Japanese person doing it.

On my birthday I went to see the opening show of the Love Suicide of Amijima. At the theatre they rent ear pieces that provide English translation along with cultural commentaries to help in understanding the story better. I learned more about Japanese culture from going to see Bunraku than I have from anything else I’ve experienced here. There is much more that I can write and will write about Bunraku but if you have no idea what I talking about find out more about one of the worlds oldest forms of puppetry at the National theatre webpage http://www.ntj.jac.go.jp/english/index.html.

On November 6^th I traveled to Nagoya where I had fist contact with Peppy Kids club. I was met a the train station by a member of the “native support” staff and after a brief stop at the office I was given a huge info package about Nagoya and checked into training accommodations. I had a week in Nagoya before training during which time I saw Ashley a few times. We went to a drum Jam on Wed. it was neat just like back home but smaller and with Japanese hippies. They also had a small burner and warm Sake. Later in the week I went over to Ashley’s to prepare a belated birthday dinner for her. We had macaroni and cheese and we managed to make two small pumpkin pies with the filling I brought from home. After dinner we joined some of her friends for potluck where we ate the second pumpkin pie and jammed until 1:00am. After the jam we headed off to a small club owned by two Canadian guys called the Creek lounge. Really cool place small, shoes off at the door great techno and people bring their drums and jam out with the music. Part way through the night Ashley let me know just how ungrateful she was for everything I tried to do for her. Oh well really some people just aren’t worth the effort. I was crushed to say the least and needless to say we haven’t talked since. Thankfully training started on Monday so I didn’t have much time to dwell on being disrespected so badly.

Training began with everyone dressed up in there business attire and slippers (I wore my new suit for the first time!). The day was full of long speeches and piles and piles and piles of information packages. After it was all done the group spilt in too and it was back to Osaka area for the remainder of training. We’ve been staying in a hotel with internet witch has been nice (probably the last time I have access before Christmas. Training has been great the company does a great job of easing us into the classroom and after two weeks I now feel like I’m ready to step into the classroom. I’ll have to post more about it when I get settled but my training group has been fantastic I will definitely miss them when I’m out in Minokamo but I know that now I have friends placed all over Japan.

Until next time this is your “uncle travelin’ James” busting on out to find the place I will call home for the next year!

P.S. I don't have a camera yet but I have some pictures I'll post next time

The Mission

Alright so here's the plan over the next year I intend to teach English to kids (Peppy Kids Club) and develop my music (ie. become a rockstar). I'm hoping to colaborate and work with other artists and I am especially interested in finding some bun raku puppeteers interested in doing so experimental work. We'll see...

So I arrived in Osaka last night. The only thing worth saying about my trip is that it went smoothly. I had all kinds of worries and fears about the length of the flight and the weight of my luggage stuff like that. No problem at all.
So now I'm just sitting here enjoying coffee in a can from one of the many vending machines here. You can get it hot or cold and it costs about $1.50...not bad the hot one even came with a toy like a kinder suprise.