the land of cougars
Five hours after leaving Seattle we ended up in Pullman, which is basically a college town for Washington State University. Our friend Jennie was in town having a drink with some friends so we met up with her there. Of course I was in sweat pants and getting lots of fun stares but I was just happy to be hanging out with my friends again. Later that night we went back to her apartment but stayed up pretty late just talking and catching up on life.
The next day we all slept in but eventually got up to head to Sunshine Park. We spent the next couple hours hitting the volleyball around and laying in the sun. Then we went into town to get some smoothies and sit around before Joy got into town with her parents. That evening we all made dinner together salad, rolls and lobster corn chowder with yogurt and strawberries for dessert. Of course we had beer and some good red wine to go along with it. Afterwards we got ready for a night out in Pullman. Zzu, pronounced zoo, was the bar we chose to drink at, mostly because of the drink specials, but it turned out to be a fun place. It wasn’t overly busy but there were people to fill the place for a little while. Plus there was air hockey, billiards, and darts. We ended the night on a drunken walk home and an episode of Boy Meets World on TV.
Joy and Jennie got up for church the next morning while Mark and I slept. Around noon they got back so everyone got lunch at the Old European that oddly reminded me of the Sunny Side-Up Café. It was still good food and we all walked out of there stuffed. Then we got to help Joy unload all of her boxes into Jennie’s apartment. It wasn’t too difficult though and afterwards we took a short trip to neighboring Moscow, which is actually in Idaho. Everything ended up being closed in Moscow because it was a Sunday but we still got some Baskin Robbins, actually the first Baskin Robbins I have ever had in the states, before going back to Pullman. Sadly Mark and I had to get going so we could get back to Seattle at a decent hour so we said our good-byes to the girls, at least until Christmas time, before beginning our long trek back to Seattle.
no worries
Usually when you get off the plane to meet a friend; they are there waiting to welcome you home. But sometimes days get mixed up and people end up at the airport for five hours. Such was the case when I ended up in Seattle. Thankfully all my baggage and I made it there safely. Plus there was wireless internet so I was able to email Jennie Schei so she could try getting a hold of Mark. Eventually he picked me up and we headed straight to Chipotle. It definitely hit the spot. Later it was time to shower and then we went to get a frisbee and volleyball. When we got to the park some random people asked us to play ultimate frisbee with them so we gladly joined. Since neither of us had tennis shoes, we had to play barefoot but it was still a blast. Afterwards we had a few beers and headed to the local watering hole, the Ram. We ate some cheesy bacon fries and nachos with our beers before going back to Mark’s apartment to crash for the night.
The next day we got to sleep in because Mark had taken the day off of work to pick me up from the airport. Instead it was off to Lake Washington so we could canoe around the lake and the nearby arboretum. Then we had an amazing mango curry and nan (Indian flat bread) lunch at an Indian restaurant, called Cedars. After it was off to the beach with our frisbee and beach volleyball to lay out in the sun. There was also a floating platform with a one and three meter diving board on it. Of course we both had to play around on them for a little bit although it has been a long time since I have been on a board. I actually have relatives in the Seattle area, on my Mom’s side, so we met up with my cousin Shu for dinner. It was great to see him again since the last time was six years ago. That night we headed back to the Ram for some more micro brewed beer and the awesome cheesy bacon fries before bed.
Mark had to work on Thursday so I basically slept in and played around on the internet. Once he got back we decided to see downtown Seattle. First we went to the Seattle Center, which is home to the Space Needle, Key Arena, and some various museums. It was a gorgeous day so we went up the Space Needle to have a look at all of Seattle. After we were done we visited Pike Place Market but everything had just closed for the day. Instead we ended up walking and shopping around downtown for a while. Later we went back to get ready for the night and took a taxi to the Fremont area of Seattle. Our friend from college, Steph Green, met us at the Triangle Bar for some drinks and food. Eventually we hit up some other bars as well but it was great to see her again, especially since she is staying another year in Seattle continuing Americorps.
For the past couple days I had been trying to get a hold of my relatives so I could meet them for their usual Friday lunch. Finally one of them called Friday morning but Mark and I slept through the call. When I called them back I didn’t know whom I was talking to but he picked me up near Mark’s house and brought me south to the Tacoma area. Most of my family that goes to Friday lunch doesn’t have work so basically they were all older than my parents or out of school for the summer. It was still fun to catch up and see people that haven’t seen me since I was in diapers. Afterwards I did some shopping before meeting up with Mark so we could make the five-hour road trip out to Pullman where our friends Jennie Schei and Joy Strunk are living.
grande finale
The past week has been a roller coaster. I went to all my schools for the last time and every school was a completely different experience. First was Ojima and I just about cried the whole day. The third years had a cooking class at a nearby community center in Sanjo so I joined them for the morning. They all cooked various desserts and, for better or worse, I got to try them all. It was just fun to be with them outside of English class, since I find my student act a little different when we aren't in class.
When we returned to Ojima I got to eat lunch with the first years and then have class with them. I almost cried during their class because each one read a goodbye letter that they wrote to me. However, I held it together and had my last class with the second years. At which point we made tacos in a bag. It was a fun way to end my classes there. Finally I had my farewell ceremony that involved lots of speeches: the principle, two volleyball players, the class president, the new volleyball captain, and me. They gave me flowers, a jinbei (Japanese traditional clothes), and made a slideshow. During my speech I almost cried again. It was a really sad day for me and I am going to miss Ojima a lot. They made teaching in Japan amazing.
Next was Yonchu, which oddly enough,didn't even have a ceremony for me. In fact, I only went to two classes and went home 4 hours early. My farewell speech was delivered over the intercom at the end of the day and I think some of had even left at that point. To be honest, I was not too sad about leaving Yonchu that day.
On Thursday I went to Sanchu. I only had a few classes but I got to see the students that I had connected with over the past year. One of the third year classes was my favorite so I ate lunch with them. Also, I had to say goodbye to a set of girls that want to marry me someday, too bad they never found out they didn't stand a chance. Oh well, it was just a junior high school crush... I think. Later on in the day I got to say goodbye to the smartest kid in the school, Taiki. Maybe someday he will come to America someday and I will show him around but I wish that about all my students.
My base school, Nichu, was on Friday and Monday mornings. Friday I taught my last two classes which were pretty uneventful but Monday was full of goodbyes and ceremonies. First I had a meeting with my principle about everything from the price of gas back home to how tall Mount Fuji is. He is one of the nicest principals so I was happy to have the opportunity to talk to him one last time. Then they had the closing ceremony for the trimester and after was my ceremony. They made me walk through the center of the students while they clapped, which was slightly embarrassing but thoughtful. After words they gave a couple speeches before I gave mine and we got to end it. Finally, I got to take pictures with all the third year students. I was happy to see them all one last time because they were always crazy and fun with me. Especially Yoshinobu, my next door neighbor, who pulled my pants down in the middle of class but it was hilarious. He ran up and hugged me and said he'll miss me, in Japanese of course. It was a sad morning but a good way to end my time in Japan. I will never forget this place.
farewell for now
Basically every night was with a different set of teachers. On Friday, Ojima had their enkai (drinking party) for me. I was pleasantly surprised that thirteen teachers, out of around fifteen, showed up. Plus a couple other random teachers from other schools were there as well. We had yakiniku (grilled meat and vegetables) for our food while we all drank plenty of beer. This was probably the saddest of the parties because I definitely feel a huge attachment to Ojima. Sadly I finished early because of exhaustion from the week. Saying good-bye is draining.
It all started on Wednesday with one of the English teachers at Yonchu asking me out for a drink that night. That was actually the first, and only, time I drank with teachers from Yonchu so it was interesting to see how people handled their alcohol. Since it was my last week in Japan all my teachers insisted on drinking with me. Ironically enough I ended up at the same izakaiya (bar and restaurant) the next night with Nuria, Sarah, and Rosalind. Just some low key last minute hanging out. We even did some print club before the night was over
Saturday I got to sleep in and clean house a little bit. That evening Melissa and Phil had a wedding to attend in Sanjo so later I joined them out in Honjikoji, the bar district in Sanjo. We had an all you can drink night at a new bar in the area. After we had enough awkward Japanese socializing, we went to a nearby ramen shop and I ate some of the best gyoza (potstickers) I have ever had. Then we decided to walk back to my place and crash. The next day we got some hung over McDonalds before heading to the beach for the afternoon.
The enkai Sunday night was nice because two of my former teachers, who transferred to different schools at the start of the new school year in April, came back to Sanjo so we could see each other one last time. This party was a lot smaller than the other ones but we still had a great time. We even ended up at karaoke later in the night to sing some drunken tunes. Unfortunately I had to give my final farewell speech the next morning. I am going to miss most of my teachers a lot. They have taught me so much over the past year.
i did it
One of my unspoken goals while in Japan was to read twenty books. For those of you who don't know me well, I usually don’t read for recreation. There just isn't enough time in the day when I am at home. However, being slightly under used in Japan gave me the opportunity to read for enjoyment. It was a nice change of pace and I am glad I reached my goal of twenty. I doubt that there will be time to read as much this upcoming year but it was fun while it lasted.
1. Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone by J.K. Rowling
2. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
3. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
4. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
5. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling
6. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling
7. The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
8. Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
9. Vernon God Little by DBC Pierre
10. A Home at the End of the World by Michael Cunningham
11. NP by Banana Yoshimoto
12. The Book of Joe by Jonathan Tropper
13. Looking for It by Michael Thomas Ford
14. Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami
15. A Wild Sheep Chase by Haruki Murakami
16. The Risks of Sunbathing Topless edited by Kate Chynoweth
17. Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris
18. Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris
19. Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser
20. Catch 22 by Joseph Heller
sad but true
After being sick again all week long, I welcomed the chance to spend the last long weekend with my homestay. Sadly I missed work all week because of a fever and not being able to get out of bed. Luckily, after a couple trips to the doctor, I was better by Friday and was able to head down to Shiozawa. When I arrived the mom was extremely worried about how thin I looked, rightfully so since I didn't eat for a couple days when I was sick, so I got fed immediately. Somehow in the past year things have gotten comfortable enough at my homestay that they actually stop feeding me when I am full. Anyway, it was early to bed the first night to make sure that I was well for the rest of the weekend.
That whole weekend was actually the Shiozawa matsuri (festival) so on Saturday I got dressed up in a jinbei (traditional Japanese clothes for men) and we headed to the festival. Basically we just wandered the streets randomly eating food from the vendors as we went. Eventually there was a short parade before we went back home. Later that evening we just laid around eating and watching TV. It was nice to relax before the chaos of my final week in Japan ensued.
Sunday we took their little neighbor, named Hina, to a shopping mall in a nearby town. It had been raining most of the weekend, that day being no exception, so it was nice to get out of the house for a bit. In the evening Asuka, Natsumi, and I went to watch the local fireworks. After trying out a few different locations, we finally found a spot extremely close to the action. The rain also subsided enough for us to get out of the car and watch. Then it was back home for another semi-early night to bed before my last day in Shiozawa.
My final day in Shiozawa came and my homestay's cousins were coming for the afternoon. Tatsuya and Yuko are always great to see because they have been so kind to me even though I am not really their homestay. Plus their three children Kaito, Kenta, and Aika are uber cute. In between constantly playing games, the two boys run around calling me their older brother. Holding true to my typical homestay, we ate and drank the afternoon away. Sadly the day had to come to an end so we all said our goodbye's before I left on the train for Sanjo.
It is difficult for me to fathom not being able to see them for a potentially long time. One of the highlights of living in Niigata has been being so close to them. They are an amazing family and I want to keep in touch with them as much as possible. Hopefully someday I will be able to return the hospitality they have shown me during my time in Japan.
lovin it
Last weekend I went to Kashiwazaki for one last beach barbeque. That friday I went early to have a date with Jamie that consisted of dinner at rakudaya and watching Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire while playing Uno. It was just a fun and relaxing night with one of the first people I met at the first Kashiwazaki barbeque. The next day we got up and went for a thirty minute run before I made a big breakfast. That afternoon we went to the beach to lay around and meet up with Michelle, Megan, and Scott. Michelle, Scott and I went for a quick swim in the frigid water but it felt good when we were done. Then Jamie and I headed back early to have a quick snack while we got ready to party and finished rewatching Harry Potter. Once the others got back we started drinking and fooling around. By the time we got to the party, the barbeque had already started but we were well on our way to having a good time. It was great to see all the familiar faces but it was really sad knowing it might be the last. At some point the party migrated across the street and it just made for more debauchery. Eventually I was sober enough to drive us all back and we called it a night. The next morning I was awoken by Jamie prodding me because Megan and Scott were in the shower together. Granted they had to be up early to get Scott to the train station but it was still hilarious. After they left, Michelle, Jamie and I got some McDonalds to eat while watching Pirates of the Caribbean. Once we finished it was time to head back to Sanjo but the craziness in Kashiwazaki never dissapoints.
about time
For the last few days of my parents trip to Japan I am going to work backwards because it is easier for me to remember that way. Let me note that we basically slept in on Tuesday and my parents thankfully made it home safely despite our tardy arrival at the airport.
The last night before my parents left Japan we went out to eat at the Park Hyatt in Shinjuku and they actually let me through the door. It is hard to describe how delicious the food and drink were. After ordering a bottle of red wine, we all ordered an appetizer along with our meal. When the plate of food is more expensive than the bullet train ticket to Tokyo, presentation is everything. I didn't want to touch my food for fear of ruining it. In the end it was well worth it. Then we decided on a dessert sampler to go with another glass of wine before heading over to the bar area. The two thousand yen seating charge was almost worth the view and the live music. All in all an amazing evening with my parents before I headed back to nichome (the gay district in Tokyo) for one last night on town by myself.
Before dinner we were at a place called Kamakura. It is home to one of the largest daibutsu (big buddha) in Japan. I had actually been to Kamakura a couple years ago just to see the buddha and the beach with some friends. However, this time I decided to do a small trek through the forest with my parents. Once we got off the train there was a zen temple, Engakuji, to visit right outside the exit. Despite the large metal bell at the top of a long flight of stairs, it was pretty dissapointing so we headed on our hike shortly after entering. The daibutsu hiking course was well marked but I was still unsure if we were heading in the right direction. Luckily we saw signs for the temples that we wanted to see there. First we visited Zeniarai-Benten, or the money washing shrine, which gives the money that is washed good fortune. Of course I had to rinse a few ten thousand yen notes since I won't be making much money when I get home. After my mom finished wandering the souvenier shops, we headed to the fox shrine. The Sasuke Inari, fox shrien, was tucked back into the woods and had a beautiful row of tori gates for an entrance. As the title eludes to, there were plenty of fox statues to be found throughout the temple. Then it was time for lunch and we found a cute little restaurant on the way back to grab a bite to each before continuing on our trek.
After plenty of hiking we emerged from the forest and found the daibutsu. The cool thing about the daibutsu in Kamakura, besides the fact that it is outside, is that people are allowed inside the buddha for ten yen (about ten cents). My parents were not very impressed because they had apparently seen a few too many temples and shrines already. Still, there was one last temple to visit down the road so we took a walk to Hasedera, and the eleven faced kannon. It was a great thing we did because there was a gorgeous garden inside and literally a wall of flowers. The large ten headed buddha inside was also extremely impressive and I was pretty upset we weren't allowed to take pictures of it. Finally we headed back to Tokyo for the big night at the Park Hyatt.
Sunday we went around the city of Yokohama. Again I had gone there two years ago but only briefly and the only thing I saw was Chinatown. All morning we wandered the streets of Chinatown which was fun but things really didn't get started there until around lunchtime. In order to show my parents some of the crazy things Japanese people do, we played the taiko drum game and took some print club pictures at the local arcade. It was pretty amusing watching my parents play but they admittedly did a good job with it. After grabbing an overly priced lunch we headed over to the stadium to watch the Yokohama Baystars take on the Tokyo Yakult Swallows in a baseball game. We had gotten our tickets earlier in the day so we headed in to find our seats right at the start of the game. Despite some rain early on in the game, it was fun to watch while having a few beers. Sadly the Yokohama Baystars lost by two runs with the tying run at bat but it kept the game interesting.
Then we went to the other side of the city to see the ramen museum there. The museum itself was almost nothing but I got to make my own cup of noodle. Plus the basement was made into an old Japanese city with all the ramen shops as the stores. It was really cool to see and they had a bakery there along with an old school candy store and game area. Once we ate dinner we headed back to see the bay area at night. There was a giant ferris wheel, it claims to be the biggest in the world, with a clock in the center so we caught a ride. After taking a scenic waterfront walk back, we decided to head back to the Keio Plaza Hotel and called it a night.
The day before we spent the day wandering Tokyo. We trying to see any last minute things my parents hadn't already seen on their own or with my study abroad advisor Dave Bennetts, who they fortunate enough to meet with earlier in the week. It basically boiled down to a lot of souvenier shopping. Throw some lunch in at the restaurant that the Kill Bill movie was modeled after, Gonpachi, and an all you can eat sukiyaki dinner and that was the day. All the shopping had drained us so we called it an early night for some relaxing before true chaos began.
On Friday evening I arrived in Tokyo with just enough time to check into the Keio Plaza Hotel and head out for one of my last nights in nichome. Since I needed one night to myself while I was in Tokyo, I went alone and luckily my parents were okay with it. Afterall it was my last weekend in Tokyo before I leave Japan.
