On Arriving in Miyazaki, Teaching and Being Sexually Molested

First the good news.

I'm alive and fine in Miyazaki! It's a beautiful city (yes, city. Not backwoods town with a general store) populated with non-native palm trees and a generally humid climate. Right now it's raining outside (pathetic fallacy for what is to come), and something like 18 degrees Celsius.
My apartment is large, cheap and with no central-air. This comes as no surprise to me, but maybe it would be for people who don't know about Japan and its complete lack of housing insulation. But it gets down to a cool 5C at the worst here, so I'm not too worried.
My job is wonderful so far. That's all I'm going to say. The coworkers are great and the students are enthusiastic and friendly.

Now the bad news.
This article has no pictures to go along with it, so it'll be boring for some. Sorry about that.
Also, I was sexually molested by a 75 year old man today. I bet you thought that was a joke. It's not.
When I first arrived at my apartment I was greeted after my day of shopping for groceries by this elderly man in the elevator. He was very friendly (surprise), and outright invited me to the Onsen location nearby. This is actually very common of people, so I wasn't disturbed or bothered. He asked the general questions about me and when finding out that I lived alone, said "Oh, I do too. Let me cook for you tonight!" Again, this really isn't much out of the ordinary, but that makes me uncomfortable no matter where I am so politely declined saying "I would love to some other time, thank you so much". Mind you, this is all in Japanese, so for when I speak picture a newborn babe trying to do small talk.
I hadn't seen him for a good week or so and was feeling comfortable again, but lo and behold; there he was getting out of the elevator after I returned home from grocery shopping again. This time he asked me when I work, to which I lied saying "from 1 until 10pm", hoping he would give up and realize I'm too busy. "Oh, well it's only 10am, come on up to my apartment for toast and coffee! Do you like toast and coffee?"
Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.
I was trapped. I wasn't aware of the creepiness of the man, just only a sense of desperation in his being lonely and wanting a foreign friend. Again, this isn't out of the ordinary. So I walked up to his apartment, as we were going I mentioned that yes, I was free friday and wouoldn't mind going to an Onsen with him (I love Onsens and he just seemed eager to be friends).
Upon entering his small apartment I saw that he indeed live alone, indicated by the shrine to his wife tucked in the corner of the living room. I wanted to get out of there so told him "I have to go... these groceries must be put in the refridgerator!" To which he replied "Oh yes, of course! Go do it then come right back. I'll have the coffee and toast ready when you get here."
I shouldn't have returned.
When I entered I saw that he had already made one cup of tea. One piece of toast. For me. My stomach was turning already. I sat down and we made small talk. I sipped the tea as slow as possible just in case he drugged the tea. The toast was dry in my mouth and I could barely swallow it. Especially when he started touching my shoulder and telling me how hard it was. I would have gotten out of there quickly, but "Oh! I took massage lessons, you look tense. Give me your hand." I gave him my hand. He kneaded it with his wrinkled fingers and it did indeed feel very good. He wasn't lying.
"Do you like to drink?" There's no way I'm drinking with this man. "Oh no, I don't drink at all."
"Oh..." I could see his disappointment "so are you a Mormon?"
"No, my grandfather drank too much and died, so I don't." Nice. He can't touch that one.
I change the subject.
"Do you have a DVD player?" he asks. "Oh no, but I'm going to buy one soon." "Let me show you my classic American movies, you can borrow them." He stands up and brings them back in. There are a whole 5 of them. "Oh I haven't seen these. But it's okay, I won't borrow them." He doesn't react, but then drops the bomb that makes me realize my situation:
"Oh so do you watch pornography?"
"... what?"
"You have to keep your penis 'genki'" He points at his crotch.
I change the subject to the television.
He then starts to try and massage my leg, saying he's showing me how to do it. He grabs my calf and starts breathing heavily... I look at the time and finally say "I have to go, I have to get ready for work!"
"Oh, well please come back tonight. We can go to the Onsen after your work or I can give you a massage." He motions to the massage table... which is right beside his bed that has a tiger-print bedsheet.

This man lives one floor below me. I'm still figuring out what to do.
Other than that though, I'm having a great time in Miyazaki, no sarcasm whatsoever! I don't have the internet so I'll be back in a week or so. Hope everyone is well back home and abroad.

On Copulation and Castles

I haven't had much time recently(to my surprise) as the training I'm going through is quite busy. Lots of information is handed to us and I furiously take notes ... sort of. Either way it seems to be going smoothly so far, and I have two very friendly and lovely ladies who are also sharing the training session with me. So things are going well. Today I'm prepping myself for a demo teaching lesson on Monday that I hope will go over well. Who knows with me though.

Anyways, what have I done leading up to my training?
First I decided to visit the authentic(rebuilt like all castles due to fire damage) Nagoya Jou:I toured inside and felt a little nostalgic, as I visited this place 2 years ago with Pat and Marc. This time however, I spent a long time walking around the grounds and relaxing in the park. Absolutely no one except for two other people decided to do this, so it was a really tranquil time. I had my watercolours with me, but I'm still a little apprehensive in trying a plein aire painting.
Here is an example of part of the rock garden area of the park:

A mid-autumn Sakura tree all by its lonesome:

Three cats who decided to make an awesome composition for a photo:

Here is the outside of Kanayama station, where I spent most of my time just sitting and listening to various amatuer acoustic musicians. Staying there forced me to buy a baby guitar for 6000 yen (60 dollars canadian). It doesn't sound very nice, but that's 60 bucks for you:


I also attempted to visit the Nagoya aquarium where Marc and I had an awesome time, but I forgot it costs an ungodly 2000 yen, and it was a national holiday so the line just to buy tickets was roughly a 20 minute wait. I skipped that and walked around the port:
I kept on walking around until I found myself in Italy! I was so surprised. Did I accidentally walk through a magical portal of magic!? No! I just walked into the "Italian Village" which looks exactly like real Italy. Not really, but the prices were insanely expensive for everything so I sort of felt like I was there.

I also found the "Chelan Project". I think that's what it's called. It's basically a program where conservationists breed sea turtles in little tubs and then release them into the wild when fully matured. I wonder if it's very effective.

I also saw a Thunderbird just sitting outside a pachinko parlour(Mom, click on the link to find out what it is).

Also, two nights ago I went out with one of my fellow trainees who I will call "V" to McDonalds when we both realized we hadn't been yet. After we finished our meals I looked down to get punched in the face with this advertising gem on the placemat:
All I can say is that MOTESTO is a lucky guy.

On Arriving in Nagoya

I have left my beautiful family behind. My parents saw me off at the airport what seems like yesterday, but I think it's technically 2 days ago thanks to the horrific 19 hour travel with Northwest Airlines. Do not fly with Northwest Airlines. I don't care how much money you save.

I was met at the airport by a very wonderful man by the name of Scott. He helped me to the hotel I'll be living at for the next 2 weeks or more. On the train over I had the sweetest "hello!" from an elderly salaryman who right before getting off at his stop, looked Scott and I in the eyes and said "うるさい、お前は！" (You're f*cking noisy!), or something to that very effect. It made me feel so welcome.
Occasions like that are something I'll have to get used to. The staring, crude comments, stupid comments etc. That's life for a foreigner anywhere really.

So without further ado, my beautiful and surprisingly roomy... room at the Kanayama hotel:

The bathroom with the traditional deep, deep tub (I love Japanese tubs. You can cover yourself up to your neck with scalding hot water):
The cloudy view outside:

So today I plan on just wandering about and picking up an iron and lint roller for my suits. Nothing special really.

Also, I'm going to try and include this little section whenever relevant: "What I have learned from Japanese television" in which I watch the travesty that is Japanese television and spread my learnings on to you.
What I have learned from Japanese television today:
When listening to your dead parents' voices on a tape and it stops playing, do not rip it out of the tape player, causing the tape to tear. If you do so, you will fall sick from depression, be bed-ridden and unconscious for at least a day and almost die.

Home, Sweet Home

I am now safely home, among friends and family. For the time being. I head back in early October for my training. I'll now tell about the last bit of my trip.

Where did we leave off? Oh yes:
Much has happened since my last post. Many places have been visited, food been eaten and videogames played.
This was a wonderful Onsen with 3 separate baths, all looking out onto a waterfall and rapidly moving river. Fumipapa took this, and didn't seem to care that there were two naked men right in the center of this photo.



After the Onsen we walked around looking at shops, then sat and relaxed after eating some Japanese-style sundaes.
Later Shogo got the family and I entry into a packed sushi restaurant. We walked straight past the huge line of customers, because he knew all the workers there. He was their high school math teacher. It was very odd and funny to see kids calling this guy "Shogo-sensei!", because I'm so used to his goofy antics at home.

Fumipapa eating said sushi. It was pretty good. I've found a new love in Ika as I really enjoy the texture of it. This made me happy, as I'm trying to broaden my horizons and fish is the "final frontier" for me. Cooked fish however, I still nearly vomit after eating it.

Fumi and I spent two seperate days just lounging on the beach. Coincidentally they were pretty much the only two days when it didn't rain. We got lucky.

Here I am, blowing up a flotation device for Fumi, since she can barely swim.

No, I'm not wearing an undershirt. :(

Pictured here is some of the worst parenting I have ever seen. Second from the left is a toddler playing Pachinko with his mother on his right. Way to raise your kid, I'm sure he'll be the most upstanding gambler in all of the smoky, seedy Pachinko Parlours!


Much of my time was spent wandering around Fumi's local village with her friends...


As well as cooking and eating things. Cooking and eating is my favourite pastime.


Here I am with Fumi at her cousin Chika's wedding! I got to witness the infamous "Western-style" marriage. I giggled to myself a lot.

When I saw this however, I got depressed. Reminded me too much of church and so many Sundays of my youth wasted.

Here is the scheduled list of happenings for the event. Notice number twelve. I expected a hot, steamy kiss with the groom sucking the life out of his new bride's face... but he just gave her a peck on the cheek.

Here is the "minister". Some random foreigner who is paid to impersonate a priest. Note the lack of collar. He kept on doing weird stuff like whispering to Jesus under his breath, then promptly translating his whisper in whispered Japanese. Very, very creepy. His acting was alright, but his pronounciation of Japanese was with a heavy American accent. I came to the conclusion that he was reading off of romaji because he was otherwise seemingly very fluent. Anyways, it was pretty amusing to observe, as I've heard so much about this.

Here is the lovely couple (I sound like I'm 60 when I write this stuff).

Here is Shogo and Fumipapa. I think this picture accurately gives a feel for their personalities.

Sashimi served at the wedding reception. So, so, so, so good. Hamachi, Maguro and Ika Sashimi.

And before I knew it, I was sitting sour-faced with my girlfriend at the airport, about to depart.
And I did.
And now I sit here, back in Canada, writing this, feeling a little sad in that I have to wait three more months to see her again. We're pretty used to it though, so it shouldn't be too hard.

The Killer Typhoon!

Today I have a story of pictures for you, my dear reader. Accompanying the following pictures are witty captions to help you along the way. Let us begin!

This is just a piece of scenery to give an idea of what I am surrounded by when staying at the Sakata's house: Mountains, clouds and greenhouses. Quite a beautiful place to live, I have to say.

Except for the snakes. Why'd it have to be snakes!?

So there was supposed to be a typhoon hitting the village today, but it skipped over us. Just a little wind and hardly any rain. I put this photo up as a substitute; a torrential downpour (that happened 3 days ago). I was hoping to see my first Typhoon, but I guess I'll have to wait for another chance to risk my life. On that same topic, there has been one casualty so far. An 11 year old child drowned while playing with his ball. While sad, I have to wonder if he should be up for a Darwin award or not. Though I suppose the parents would be deserving of it, not the poor kid.

Here is Fumi at one of many restaurants visited. This particular location serves Okinawan food. It's quite good.

The beer isn't so good. But it makes for a nice photograph.

This is one of the more interesting plates of food I had at said restaurant. Very tasty, but Fumi was right when she said it looks like deep fried... hair from the nether regions.

This photo is just for Marc: I got to go to the arcade he (supposedly) frequented every day when staying in Fukuoka.

Here is Fumi. She is cute. End of story?

This is the entrance to the Daibutsu located two stops away from Fumi's house. She and I decided to tour the place completely. Within it were interesting statues and a very long trek.

This photo is for Pat. It's a statue of what looks to be an emperor or warlord of some sort, standing upon what I'm guessing is a foreigner. Possibly Chinese?

The guy is a masochist though, look at the little hint of pleasure he's getting. Look at that smirk! It's disgusting.

This was my favourite statuette of the many Buddhas. Very serene. Reminds me of the book I'm reading: Kim by Rudyard Kipling.

Fumi and I decided to follow a sign's suggestion of "walking to a serene location only 15 minutes uphill". I should have remembered that in Japan, a 15 minute walk is really a half hour. This applies absolutely every time you hear something like "a 5 minute walk from the station". Always multiply by at least two. Regardless, the walk through a bamboo forest was beautiful.

Here we are just embarking on that walk. And hey look! Fumi is wearing high heels! Sheesh. So... what is up at the top? What could be there? Enlightenment? Riches? All-you-can-eat chocolate Buddhas?

Nothing much actually. Just a crappy shrine.

We weren't too happy about this, but we still looked around and-

What the-

What the- Is that a Nazi symbol!? Are those monks from the shrine riding in a tank? WHAT THE HELL KIND OF BUDDHIST TEMPLE IS THIS!?
Actually, that's just the right-facing swastika and the monks... well they're supposed to be rallying in the tank for peace. I think they just think tanks are cool and wanted to ride in one.

Anyways, the Daibutsu was quite large as you can see, and very impressive. I was lucky enough to come when I was the only tourist there, unlike last time when there were people to sully my beautiful pictures.

Here I am; a new Bodhisattva.

Here's an interesting piece that pissed me off quite a bit yesterday. An enka singer dressed up in black-face. I have no comments other than that it's a shame that this can pass as entertainment.

So what have I been up to most of the time when I'm here?

Videogames. Sweet, sweet videogames.

Until next time my dear reader,
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