UNDERCOVER in NIPPON

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

MY POLAROID!

Oh no, news reports say that Polaroid is closing their instant camera group, how am I gonna get my Polaroid film? I hope another company buys out their division.

Me and the gang ventured out to Kobe's chinatown to check out the Chinese celebration. Nankinmachi the name of the chinatown was packed full of visitors and had the traditional lion dances bringing good fortune to all. Since it was New Years we decided to hit up some Chinese food, not bad but not as good as the real Chinese food from back home and not as cheap either! Heck its Japan, even Dillon tried to use some of his Chinese skills, but the cute waitress kindly escaped by saying she could only speak Japanese. Making our way back to the station we ran into the Jumbo karaoke. Bad news as of course we gotta get a round in, and a round is never alcohol free, so we got our usual whiskey and coke. It was kinda a big bottle and I thought me and Dillon would only get down half way, but we finished the whole thing via train and lastly in the parking lot. Oh that was bad news, lets say lucky I had the next day off. Happy Chinese New Year!!

Friday, February 08, 2008

NEWS READS

Some interesting reads ...

If you get hit by a bus tomorrow... CNN ... what to do when you get in a accident

Heart disease myths busted ... ABC News ... how well do you know about heart disease

IN MEMORY OF MIYAMOTO SENSEI

This morning I came in a little late as usual to the staff room, but something was a little odd. There was somber mood in the air, then in the discussion I heard Miyamoto sensei's name, and I looked over at his desk and I didn't see him there. The talk continued and it sounded as if he died? But I thought that couldn't be true, he was always happy, people don't just die. But to my horror it was true after some teachers and staff came up to me and told me the bad news. He passed away just last night, due to a heart attack I was told. How sad it was, Miyamoto sensei was an English teacher and I always talked to him, he was always cheerful and we always talked about food and students. I knew he loved his job and his students, he was always looking out for them. I teach his homeroom and he always hints to me to help their grade a bit, ya know, just for university he said. He always used big words and funny phrases and always worked hard at everything. He had a full plate at work, I don't know how he balanced it with his home life. At school he was a homeroom teacher for the special English class, always keeping his students in check, he coached karate and was always proud of his student being the best in the Kansai area, I remember him trying to figure out how to use the video camera just to video his students. Then during the cultural festival he was always busy running around with his students, I remember helping him take down the photos of the kids trip to Australia. We always chatted about catching a drink or seeing the baseball game together, but he was always so busy we never got around to it. He didn't say much sometimes, but you could tell by his actions that he cared about what he did for his students. I remember talking to him just the other day in the sofa room, he came in a bit tired, I knew he just came back to school after a bout of the flu. He was massaging his back with a long rod, I asked him you've been gone for a bit are you alright? He responded that he just got over the flu, and it was the first time ever to get the flu, and it was the first time ever in 30 years to miss work, he was the ironman just like Cal Ripken Jr., he was always there, always first at school and last at school. He told me he was stressed about being the meeting chairman, he had to chair the upcoming meeting about the big entrance exam for the junior high students to be held this weekend. He was stressed that he didn't know what to do. I thought he could do it, so I just told him to just relax and everything would be ok, and just do it. I was thinking of giving him some advice on how to conduct the meeting but I was hesitant because sometimes I feel funny telling older people what to do. Later on we chatted a little more about work, but then I wished I had a time machine to go back and chat with him more, to know he was ok, to know if I could have helped him. But I don't, only Doraemon has a time machine, and life goes on. Miyamoto sensei was always so kind to leave me some goodies in a bag under my desk. Randomly when I arrived at school I would find a treat of beer and sake and other goodies courtesy of Miyamoto, he said it was just a little thanks for helping him out. I was looking to repay the favor, looking for some fine sake to give to him, but I was a little too late. I felt bad I couldn't have given him his sake. At school the teachers were in shock, a moment of silence was given to Miyamoto sensei during homeroom. Talked to some teachers a bit, but everyone deals with death in their own way, plus the cultural barrier, sometimes I was at a lost of what to do. I just remembered some of the photos I took of Miyamoto and his students, and collected a few last ones as I walked by his homeroom. His desk was decorated with flowers, the table top clean with books filled up high. I always remembered his glasses, suit, and Zippo slippers, and the notepad he carried in his pocket. He was a busy man and always checked his schedule with his notebook. Even going to the cafeteria today the cafeteria ladies asked about who died today, I gave them Miyamoto's description and the replied with a sad awww , they called him the udon man. Udon was a favorite of Miyamoto sensei, I will miss those times talking to him over lunch. He always looked out for me from day one, he gave me his number and said if I ever get into any trouble to contact him, he said he knew some tough people in the city, tough as in karate masters and yakuza which are always good friends to have anywhere. Anyways there is so much more to say, but I will leave it as is .... Miyamoto sensei I will miss you, your laugh, your smile, your kindness, you can't be replaced, you will always be in my heart, I'll do my best to help your students because I know thats what you cared about most ...take care, til we meet again someday in another time ... may you be happy wherever you are ..

Monday, February 04, 2008

SNOWBOARDING AGAIN

Finally hit the slopes this year after a year absence. Sure did feel good, after I figured out how to use my new damn Flow bindings, not bad feels a lot better than the old skool style, just took some time getting used to it. Headed out to Banshu Tokura with Kayo via bus for a whopping 5000yen, about 50 bucks. Not bad of a deal since it included a 2 hour bus ride, lift ticket, and free lunch. I am too lazy to drive and damn gas is expensive now a days! Snow was nice, it was holding up and the weather was not too cold. Just cold enough to have the "yukidaruma matsuri" snowman making contest. On the kiddie slop, there was a big blow up dog, with kids in full force, looks like a elementary school set base there. The resort was super small as it had a whopping 3 lifts, kinda like Snoqualmie but 1/2 the size, but it got the job done as I was playing snowboard instructor for the day as poor Kayo was learning the ropes of snowboarding or maybe it was falling and falling and falling. I remember those times! But she did good, just like all those other people I brutally trained. Its a boot camp and if you want to learn how to snowboard you have to feel the pain, ha ha ha .. no pain no snowboard! Hopefully back to the slopes next week for more snowboard boot camp!

Thursday, December 06, 2007

WHATS BEEN GOING ON

AUTUMN - Lets see, near the end of the month the autumn leaves changed, a pretty nice sight versus the PacificNW evergreen trees, but then again I probably didn't notice it so much. Maybe its the Japanese season changing mania that has drawn me to the changing of the leaves.

SICK N COLD - Then there was that dreaded Japanese cold that I picked up, which lasted for two weeks, and bingo just got a new one just in time, back home I never got sick, arrrgggh. Mmmm... its been getting much colder, actually had to start using the heater lately and bundling up, can't just hop in my car, gotta hop on my bike with a scarf and some gloves.

GRAD SCHOOL - Recently been MIA at many things, such as club activities, traveling and my fav going to the gym. Applying to grad school for a MATESOL at the UW. Have to get my apps together and take my GRE this sunday. How lovely, gotta study for this dumb test, I would rather study Japanese, the kanji make more sense than words like "alacrity". Oh well wish me luck.

POKER - When the GRE and apps finally finish its time to play some poker! Even ordered some poker chips off Yahoo Auctions, yipee!

SCHOOL - Everything still going good at school, kids are good, well sometimes. Today was test day, aka students hell week, 5 days of straight tests! can you believe that? each day they got about 3 subjects to take. Totally sucks, sucks for me too because I have to make 4 different tests and grade 14 classes. Mmmm ... 14 x 40 = about 560 tests!!! Not fun at all, where are all those lazy days at my other schools where I didn't have to make or grade any tests. With my class being the Oral Communication class I had to hop on the broadcast system for the kids in the 10 classes to do their listening test. Kinda funny as we have to do a test broadcast and the teachers in the building across have to signal with a big circle over their head. Then I had to do my test over the broadcast system for about 10 minutes, run to 1-9 class, then 1-10, whew, busy day. Lucky at the end super Teranishi sensei was nice enough to help me out, I think we hammered out a good portion as we graded from 1 - 5pm. Great guy!

Monday, November 26, 2007

A LITTLE BOO VIDEO

Just testing out the video abilities of Blogger with friendly Halloween video from Dillon.

HAPPY BDAY BRUCE!

Nov 27th is Bruce Lee's bday, don't forget it or you will get a nunchuck up your ass! and its not a nintendo Wii nunchuck....

DANG NO TURKEY

Another year in Japan, another year without turkey, dang! They need turkey in Japan!! I miss getting food coma from eating too much turkey.

Thursday, November 15, 2007

A LITTLE VIRUS BUG

Or whatever it was, it sure hurt. Had a stomachache and headache for a whole day, thought it was either food poisoning or caught something from someone. School is great but its a breeding ground for germs. Anyways called in sick and chilled at home, its great to have someone back you up at school.

Monday, November 12, 2007

BILLY?? BOOTCAMP??? TAEBO???

A couple months ago I heard there was a new rage in Japan sweeping the aerobic world. It was a new workout called "Billy's Bootcamp". In curiosity I had to check it out, and when I finally saw it ..... wow!! that's TaeBo!! Yes, old skool Billy took up his washed up gig and moved it over to Japan as Billy's Bootcamp, it was a laugh at first as no one in Japan knew about TaeBo, but then again I have to give props for Billy in seeing a marketing opportunity.

NEW HAIRDO

Well not really new, just been lazy to get it cut, maybe after 3 months or so it was getting a bit shaggy, so got up the power to visit lovely Ayame at her shop. Working in a school of 1400 students someone is bound to notice. Got the friendly comments from the teachers, then got the ohs and ahs from the students. Mostly good compliments luckily, from boys and girls. Funny in junior high the kids would just say oh you got a haircut, but in high school i guess where the fashion standards are a bit higher the kids would say oh nice haircut, looks cool. Bit flattered, but it was nice to have short hair again makes playing basketball easier.