Presents

The calm after the storm?

I woke up today to the sounds of a rather spectacular rain storm this morning. Thunder, lighting and enough rain to impress even a Vancouverite. The sun did not come out today and so I think for the first time in 2 weeks I do not need the fan running to help keep things sane.

One the weekend I finaly made my way down to the Skin Flute. What a horrible name for a bar. It sounds like the sort of place you would find on Davie street, in between Celebrities and the Pump Jack. Ah well. Supposedly this is the prefered hang out for the gaigin community in Fujieda. I did meet one white dude from Michigan named Dane and two natives who had both travelled to home home town in the past to learn english. Asuka and Yoshi are 2 very plesant individuals and I hope to run into them again.

A dark and cloudy monday indeed was made a bit brighter by the arrival of my copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows. If I had any discipline at all I would finish Across the Nightengale floor first. But some how I think my lazy self will shine through on this one and I will start devouring book 7 tomorrow, perhaps while at Rengejike park? Yes, that seems right.

Well good night everyone. Have a pleasant monday.

Surviving Fujieda, Lesson 1

Keep busy.

For me the homesick thing set in right away. I don't know many people here (Still Don't), the Karate training is way harder than what I was used to in Canada (What was I expecting?) and now the weather is turning cruelly hot.

The worst thing you can do though is be bored. Finding ways to keep yourself busy may not be easy at first especially when you don't know your way around. Ways to keep from self doubt are to practice your Katas, go for bike rides and see what you can see in Fujieda.

Seems like every karate class I turn into the human sprinkler. The sweat on my face doesn't even taste salty. It as if the water I drink while training is just pumped out pores as soon as it gets in my mouth.

Keep working hard. Sometimes I wonder if I am the right person for this mission. But when Sensei says your kata is looking a bit better it helps answer the question, why am I here?

Back to Basics

Not too much has happened since my last post. More English classes, more karate training.

Sensei wants me to correct some mistakes I make in my Heoan Sundan kata before proceeding further. I am to lengthen my Zen kutsidachis and count 8, the tete nukite with hidari osi uki is to be done a bit differently too.

Summer is coming here in Japan, as if it wasnt here already. August and september are going to be crazy hot. I've never done well in the heat, not even in out mild vancouver summers. I hope I can outlast the summer here.

I'll post up again soon. I hope that everyone in Vancouver is doing well.

Japanese Hospitality

Today Sensei cut karate training short to have a small welcoming party for me. The parents of the children I train with all brought food and drink and we all settled in for an informal meal and gathering. It was a very nice time. Everywhere I go in Japan I am amazed by the friendliness and generosity of the people here. They truely bend over backwards to make you feel at home.

Narita Sensei was kind enough to offer me a job doing tasks and washing cars at his dealership. A little extra money will be nice in the month of August, but more than that the chance to get out of the appartment and kill some time. Also he said I could use the Dojo about his dealership to work out on my own and practice kata. The Naritas are extremely generous people, after a year I here I think my debt to them will be mindboggling.

B&B....&G????

I don't know if its common knowledge, but sensei is making an exception in my case and allowing me to attend the B&B classes. They are friday nights and I think they are my favorite class so far. The training is excellent, heavy on the Kumite for sure. I was thinking of Paul, Peter and Ashraf a lot during the evening and how they would be in heaven if they could be there.

I trained with the older students and they helped me a lot. Each sempai stopped to correct me and help me do the each excercise. I like the people here very much. If they were irritated to have to baby sit a green belt, they didn't show it. I am very grateful to be able to attend this class. Just a few pics for now. More to come as the Dojo stories are told.

Friday Ride day

Having no classes to teach today I was able to hop on my bike and do some touring around. I went to Rengejiki park and took some pictures. I hope you enjoy.

This is the Seto River. I crossed over it on the way to the park.

This is one of the first views you get when arriving at the park.

A young girl feeds the fishies.

Feeding frenzy.

It was good to be out on the bike. Although I think that is will be the kind of riding I mostly get to do while I am here. There are still lots of things to do and see, but I get the sense I will be travelling to them mostly by car. But we'll see. There are hills here to be sure. Ridable? Don't know.

Better

Funny, your wednesday is beginning. Mine is at an end.

After a rather shaky performance on monday, I have stormed back to life with a hattrick of successes.

Tuesday morning I awoke and began the mission to drive around Fujieda, solo. I sat in my car few minutes to get acquainted with sitting on the right hand side. I started her up and made 2 or 3 trips to the dojo I would be training at that night. I also went to 3 other loacations I would be teaching english at during the week. I was surprised by how quickly I adapted to driving on the left hand side of the road. It doesnt take as much as I thought, really it's quite easy.

In the evening I had my first ever Karate training in Japan. I was the oldest, fatest, slowest and lowest belt in the class and I loved every minute of it. Sakurai Sensei was away that day so the class was tought by Osawa Sensei. (I met Osawa at his wifes restaurant on Saturday). He took his time and even tried to speak a little english to me. It was most kind of him. I think I will get along quite well with this Sensei. The children I was training with were all quite gifted Karate-ka, and I didn't mind so much the giggles as I tried to stretch (which I suck at) and messed up kumite foot movement over and over again. At least I know I wll get lots of practice while I am here.

Of special note is one young girl in our class named Shina (excuse, Im not sure of spelling). The sensei's are quite proud of here. She has placed first and second in recent Kunite and Kata tournaments. She cannot be older that 11. Osawa Sensei asked her to demonstrate her Empi Kata. It was about as close to perfect as I had ever seen any Kata done. She moved with speed, power and perfect form. It is mind boggling to me how anyone that young(a black belt already) could make such an achievement. I hope to have some short video footage of her to post on U tube after my next class with her. I think my Sensei's in Tsawassen will agree, she is quite the thing to see.

No Karate today. Instead I had my first go at being an english teacher. My first student today was Matsui-san. A Suzuki shop owner and golf lover, Matsui has travelled to Sanfransisco, Pheonix, Las Vegas and the Hawaian Islands in search of a good golf game. He is also fun to teach. I think what makes him good is that he knows how to learn. He asked me lots of good questions and stopped me whenever I introduced at word he didn't understand. He caught me on a few words I probably shouldn't have used and ended up trying to explain how you can 'catch' a train instead of just a baseball. I hope all my students are as enthusiastic and smart as this man, although I know its a lot to ask.

My next class was the Narita group, attended tonight by Sensei Narita, his wife Naoko and Kyoko. I started off with a get to know you board game where you would ask a certain kind of question depending on where you landed on the board. We had a very fun time. Naoko is especially enthusiastic and helpful. I enjoyed teaching the class very much but I must find a way to get Sensei Narita out of his shell. I know he can read and speak some english. But as I said to him, learning english is like learning Karate. Practice and repitition are the key. I hope he begins to open up. I know he can do it.

Robyn, thanks so much for all the life lines you left for me. The picture here is coming into focus nicely. But one question. Am I not supposed to hang my skivies up to dry outside?

It may be too early to start playing the theme song from Rocky, but, yeah. ...better.

The Honeymoon is Over

Sensei was kind enough to take me driving through the streets of Fujieda today. He said that all the other teachers had to figure it out on their own just with the written driving instructions, but it seems that I am special. (Hopefully not in the special olympics sense of the word). He came to get me around 9:30 this morning and I had made the mistake of not having the driving directions printed off. For some reason I thought he would know where everything was. To make matters worse, I had not installed the printer properly either. I had to find and download drivers and when finally we were able to print, it seemed the ink cartridge decided to take a vacation. A problem that was corrected simply by blowing on the connectors. Finally around 10:30 ( omg, I wasted an hour of sensei's time!) we were on our way.

We drove around to most of the locations I would be teaching at. Sometimes making one trip only to discover that the next trip on the list was very similiar. I don't think Sensei appreciated me making him drive to virtually the same place twice. I also got the opportunity to be introduced to a few of my students. However it seems that the young girls that I teach want to wait until September to start classes. (Perhaps a prelude or total cancellation?) . August is coming as well, which means many other classes with be cancelled due to all the festive activites that month. The upside for me is more Karate, however I need to buckle down and prepare for some dry times, times that don't only affect me, but Senei's ability to cover my rent and pay my bills.

Driving in Japan is also fairly interesting. I kept thinking that Sensei was turning into traffic, but then its only the driving on the left side of the street. I hope I can adapt quickly to that. Tomorrow my mission is to drive to as many places as I can and get accustomed to driving here. Independence must come quick. Sensei is not a baby sitter. I was lucky to have his time today.

After I returned home, it hit me. That pit in your stomach that creeps up and makes you question yourself. I tried to put it out of my head and concentrate on preparing classes, but I am 2 days into a 1 year assignment. I don't think anyone can blame me for feeling overwhelmed. Just then the door bell rang. A young girl was there and she introduced herself as Yui. She had become friends with Robyn's daughters while they were here. Robyn told me that she would come around and speak english. I tried to speak with her a bit in english but also tried to learn some Japanese. Tomorrow is Yui's birthday. She must have told me how to say happy birthday a dozen times but I already forgot again. I hope she comes back. Yui's visit came at the right time and I felt a bit better after she left.

I don't want to lament on this blog or give anyone the impression that I don't think I can handle what I have signed on for. But a blog in its truest form must be the truth, your heart and mind spilled out on the internet. Today was indeed hard and left me feeling a bit down. But when the good comes back, this entry I hope will offer some perspective.

Afterwards, Sensei sent me an email to thank me for todays effort and to day that the first month would probably be very hard for me. Today definatly could have gone better if I had been better prepared. But for Sensei to email me and thank me anyways and focus on the possitive shows his true character and graciousness. I feel now that Robyns boots are very big indeed. She did such a good job while she was here and the notes she left me were very helpful. Of course, not having been so damn good at it may have been helpful too..... haha!

I miss all my friends and family. I look forward to being able to take you all for granted again. I leave you now with a picture from Fujieda that I think well sums up the day.

Ps. Robyn, please check your email and reply to the one from me entitled Help!!! Thanks

Konnichi wa!

I have arrived in Japan at last. I got into Tokyo yesterday afternoon and made my way on trains to Fujieda, where Sakurai sensei picked me up and took me to my appartment. I think the most miraculous thing about the trip is that my bike actually arrived intact.

Once I dropped off my stuff, Senei took me out for dinner. I didn't get the name of the place, but I met Ozawa Sensei there. Very nice gent and quite a character. You can tell he really loves Karate. Sakurai Sensei and I agree earlier to stay only 2 hours at the restaurant, but it quickly became 3. Ozawa Sensei really seemed to hit it off and he practiced his english and drank beer with me the whole time.

It is Ozawa's wife who owns the restaurant and I must admit , I had some of the best tasting Japanese food including the richest tasting tuna sashimi I have ever had.

I spent most of sunday sleeping (it off) and managed to get out and explore the nieghborhood a bit. I walked around smiling but I think for the most part, people here are a bit nervous about me. I'm going to need to find a way to break the ice and start making friends, and prosective clients.

Anyways, I'll post up more a bit later.

ps. We were supposed to have a had a Typhoon yesterday but I dont think that ever materialized.

the night before.....

You're never to old to take on a new challenge or have a new experience.

Well, I'm sitting here in my Mom's appartment with my bags all packed. I have been sending out emails and phoning my closest friends to say good bye and making sure they have all my contact info. Tonight is my last night in Canada for quite some time to come.


Thinking about the adventure I am about to embark on, I am reminded of a day about 6 years ago. I was living with my roommate and good friend, Sean. A few months earlier he had decided that his life was going no where, so he signed up with the Canadian Armed Forces. Imagine leaving for basic training in August of 2001.

One day that month he came up to me to inform me that all the arrangements had been made and he would be off to Quebec in a few weeks time. He said it was the beginning of the end, in reference to our roommate arrangement. I replied that in fact it was the end of beginning.

After Sean left, I finished my College program and found a job that has since become a career. But even for all the ways that my life has changed since then, including the passing of my father, I must say that this feels like the end of my beginning.

While I sit here in my Mom's appartment on my last night here, I think of all things that may change while I am away on this trip. And not just while I am away either, because for some reason I sense that everything will be different for me long after I return. Of course I can't qualify a remark like that. I just feel the Force.





" Difficult to forsee, always in motion is the future"

So, so long Canada. You are not an easy place to leave.

Sami O'

I finally got to meet my new nephew on Sunday. Sami is his name. That's me on the left. Sami wasn't too interested in getting acquainted with his Uncle Ted, though. The lad seemed more interested in sleeping, burping and the occasional gurgle. (Yep. we're related allright) That's ok . I'm just happy to finally have a nephew that is properly age gapped from me. (I've been an uncle since I was 6 and 3 more times until I was 17).

Congrats to my sister and Ashraf, the proud pop. I think he has already started teaching him shuto's . haha!

Happy Canada Day!

Happy Canada Day from Whistler B.C. A few pics for my readers.

Nothing like bagpipers belting out a few toons on Canada day.













See? Told you the blog was named after a trail at Whistler.

This is my favorite picture of the day. Thanks to Ian for taking for me. Here you see our hero on a wall ride.

Well that's all everyone. Have a great weekend. I'll post again soon.