The path of least resistance.....

Well a month after my return to Japan I finally have a few moments to actually write a proper blog entry. Well more like a long and boring blog entry (I can already see Justin tuning out…) but hey, this crap is therapeutic, ok? And besides, I have to keep Diana’s mother happy (Hello Mrs. Aldea!).

Anywho, as I keep saying, things here have been busy. Settling into a new place always takes time, and since my new apartment is a lot bigger as well, I have had a lot more to do than last year. The new job is going well so far, and there is more stress but also more responsibility. I guess when it comes down to it I just like a bit of stress in my life though. It’s a big change from last year as well because I am no longer working in a school with kids (except for one day of the week when I go to an elementary school and get groped in the most surprising ways by a bunch of 5 year olds, and then have to eat lunch that they themselves have made and served to me – um yah, projected weight loss anyone?) but rather I spend most of my time planning seminars and conferences or doing independent research at the Education Center. It’s kinda like being in Uni again in some ways, but it’s a nice change.

So what have I been doing outside work these past few weeks? Well a few weekends ago I went to Miyazaki prefecture, which is gorgeous! It looks like Hawaii, and the beaches are really clean and good for surfing (pics to follow soon). I went with a bunch of really fun girls and we tried our hand at various water sports during the day (meaning that I experienced several surf board blows to the head as my lack of balance and hefty body weight repeatedly got the best of me while trying to surf), and drank ourselves silly and slept in tents on the beach at night. Surfing is now my new favourite sport – yes my masochism is alive and well. I also ate raw chicken by accident whilst in Miyazaki, which is a bit of a long story but I guess I’m still alive so it wasn’t all that bad.

Apart from that, I have already gone back to Shimabara a couple of times and organized some events for the newbies as well. I find that I am really missing Shimabara, even though Omura is also a nice place and overall is waaay more convenient (hello new Starbucks!). There is just something about Shimabara though that makes me nostalgic and sentimental. I guess we just don’t appreciate some things till they’re gone (one of these being my normally serious, but highly adorable, former JTE, Sachiko reluctantly imitating a crazed hamster after my continued drunken prompting – man, I miss her!!). Luckily it’s only an hour’s drive away though and last weekend I went there for my old school’s Sports Festival, which was a lot of fun. It was great to see all of my old students and teachers, and there is just something about hundreds of Japanese school girls screaming your name and running at you with excitement that boosts your self esteem. It was good times.

I also recently went to a gospel singing workshop. This experience is absolutely too weird and funny to fully talk about (but of course I’ll try). You kinda have to be there, but just try to imagine this – a bunch of Japanese people in tie-dye hippie outfits, singing songs about their love for Jesus (even though they are Buddhists/Shintoists) with Japanese accents and some inappropriate/blasphemous words thrown in (like “hell yeah” shouted out after a line of “Jesus is the answer”). It was frickin’ hilarious and completely enjoyable on so many levels. I should point out here that I actually really like gospel music and so this was such a great experience too because I would likely never get a chance to sing it at home, being an atheist and all. I did get a few dirty looks from Kara though as I prompted her to sing some of the more religious lines (not sure if this was because she thought it was inappropriate or just coz she ain’t “down with G.O.D.”). In any case, who knew that singing about Jesus with Japanese people could be so much fun?

Well, apart from gospel, going to the beach and partying it up around the prefecture, I have also been working out lots. This is mainly because my Nidan Iaido test is coming up on Oct. 1st and my Jodo test is coming up in November. I have been training with a new guy here in Omura who is quite hardcore – I seriously had trouble lifting my beer can the day after my first practice with him (which to me, as you can imagine, is quite distressing). It’s good though because I am starting to get into the best shape that I have been in since my Varsity Fencing days, which feels amazing and frankly I would like to look as fit as possible for my trip to Thailand in December.

Overall I can already see that this year is going to be a lot different than the last though. For one, as opposed to hanging out mainly with the girls like last year, this year I am hangin' more with the boys (which means more drinking, more smoking, and more watching mixed martial arts tournaments on TV – I am used to being a bad influence on others, but this year I am happy to report I can simply wallow in sin without the need to corrupt those around me – yay for boys!). I am also just a lot more comfortable being in Japan. I don’t feel alienated or like I don’t belong so much anymore. I know where everything is and how to get things done. In many ways, it feels like home finally. At the same time don’t get me wrong, I am 100% sure that I will be completely ready to go home after this year. I miss everyone like mad! And while living here is ok, “it’s definitely not the real world like”, as my new neighbour, Aaron, would say. I have the rest of my life to live in the real world though – so for now, I guess I’ll just enjoy the surrealistic dreamscape that is Japan.

(Oh, and sorry for the copious use of parentheses, my writing is a bit out of practice. Diana, maybe you can coach me over email? Help a grammatically challenged girl out and put that education to use!).