I just wanted to share this post for those of you who may not otherwise see it.
Just spreading the good word.
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Winding Down
Merry Christmas Vancouver, and Happy New Year.
The year is winding down. Japan doesn't like to cut loose at this time of year like we do. Monday is a holiday here, and I'll be training Karate in the Dojo xmas evening. Last class for me for the year as I am teaching Wednesday and Thursday. Friday is going to be clean up day and then we are done until the 7th. So it's going to be quiet here for me at least. I can't say I won't miss Christmas with the Fam and New Years with the friends, but I knew this come when I signed on for the trip. I hope everyone at home has a safe and happy holiday.
This is me. You knew that.
This is me and the Dojo's 2 newest Shodans. Koshi and Riintaro.
I took this picture tonight of the night sky outside my apartment. Its just the moon and some power cables but I thought the lighting looked kinda cool, so there you go.
This picture was taken at Shirotoriyama (White bird Mountain) on the border of the Yamanashi and Shizuoka prefecture. Yes, thats me, my bike and Fuji in the background. IMHO, the picture of the trip so far, maybe my arctic fox.
Fun time for now. '08 is near then its back to work. Take care Vancouver.
The year is winding down. Japan doesn't like to cut loose at this time of year like we do. Monday is a holiday here, and I'll be training Karate in the Dojo xmas evening. Last class for me for the year as I am teaching Wednesday and Thursday. Friday is going to be clean up day and then we are done until the 7th. So it's going to be quiet here for me at least. I can't say I won't miss Christmas with the Fam and New Years with the friends, but I knew this come when I signed on for the trip. I hope everyone at home has a safe and happy holiday.
This is me. You knew that.
This is me and the Dojo's 2 newest Shodans. Koshi and Riintaro.
I took this picture tonight of the night sky outside my apartment. Its just the moon and some power cables but I thought the lighting looked kinda cool, so there you go.
This picture was taken at Shirotoriyama (White bird Mountain) on the border of the Yamanashi and Shizuoka prefecture. Yes, thats me, my bike and Fuji in the background. IMHO, the picture of the trip so far, maybe my arctic fox.
Fun time for now. '08 is near then its back to work. Take care Vancouver.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
The Power of Beer
I'm getting fat. There is no denying it. Winter has come and my appetite has returned with a powerful vendetta. It takes all my will power not to crack open the Xmas chocolates my mom sent me. "No, those are for the kids," i keep telling myself. Worse than that, it seems that after Sharp Sensei's visit, I have found myself addicted to Ramen noodles. Before I couldn't even finish a single bowl. Now I am often tempted to have 2. Yeesh. To make matters worse, I had to take my bike into the shop to me fixed. A minor glich with the chain. Kaz was kind enough to swap out chains for me, even kinder he no charged it. Seems I owe him another 6pack. The point is tho I didn't get in my normal diet of riding. I missed Karate on tuesday to teach Shunji, (once a month) as normal I missed wednesday for the Narita class (every week) and then on thursday evening I found myself playing hookey one more time. So like I said, I'm getting fat.
Maruyama-san is one of my students. He is a dentist, Sakurai Sensei's Dentist acutally. He's also a Yandan and teaches at his own dojo. During class last week, I happened to mention that one of my favorite foods in Japan was Yakatori, so we made plans this week to go out for some socializing and Yakatori. Maruyama-san, who I call Sensei even tho he is not my teacher, knew the best place in Shizuoka City for Yakatori. So off we went.
The evening had a really rough start tho. Lines of comunication were crossed. I waited for a phone call but never got one. Just in case I thought I walked to Fujieda station and waited for him for 15 minutes. 'A crap' I thought. I made my way home hoping to figure out what was going on. When I got home I had 7 messages waiting for me all from Maruyama-san. I called him back and after a brisk walk back to the train station were we on our way. I really need to talk to Sakurai Sensei about trading in the land line for a mobile.
The first place we went to was small, dimly lit and had nice jazz music playing on the speakers. Maruyama-san, had indeed found some of the best yakatori I had ever had, and also the most expensive. Mind blowingly expensive actually. But Sensei treated. I did a good job, took it easy on the drinks. We talked a fair bit, it was there I discovered what his personal dreams are. Godan next year, run in the Tokyo marathon and of course travel North America. He also taught me a little Japanese slang. Gochi kara Otoko means 'from 5 man'. A funny little expression used to describe public employees in Japan and how they seem slow and sluggish at work, but at 5 when their job ends, they all spring to life and head down to the Yakatori joints for beers and a little 'Kampai!'
After the Yakatori bar I was quite satisfied. Maruyama-san, as I am finding many little Japanese people can be, still was a bit hungry. So he found us the nicest tasting and most mind blowingly expensive sushi I had ever tasted. We ate moderately and shared a large bottle of Asaki beer. Then we moved on.
I decided to show Maruyama-san the local Gaigin bar I had become acqainted with in Shizuoka. A nice, dimly lit, casual little place called "Our Boozer'. It's run by a nice enough Englishman (Birmingham) named Carl. Maruyama-san was very intriged by this place. I told him how this was a very common style for a pub in North America, and how often young Japanese people, in particular the girls, often came to bars like this practice their english with the Gaigin teachers who would unwind at these places. Maruyama-san said the experience was very exciting. It was there I invented the Japanese slang, Kuchi kara Otoko, the from 9 man because english teachers all seem to be done work (or Karate) around 9pm. haha! I wonder if it will catch on.
Sensei also got his first experience of beer from other countries. Stella(Belgium) Modelo Negro(Mexico) and Canada's most mediocre beer, Labbats blue(which is all Carl keeps around. I'll have to talk to him about that).
Sensei and I had a fantastic chat. We talked about the difference in cultures and languages. I mentioned to him that I found a lot of things in Japan confusing. That you can say something in Japanese, but what it really means in implied. He took the time to make an example for me. When being served food at a friends house, your friend will say something customary to you in Japanese. Translated into english it means "I present this delicous food to you." But actually what it means is "This food is not delicous, but please enjoy." Confused? Well wrap your head around this. The Implied meaning is "This food is delicous to me, but maybe not to you. Please enjoy." Or something like that.
I have been looking for my decoder ring in supermarked cereal boxes since I got here. It seems that they don't make them anymore and people like me are on their own. Only someone who has lived on this island all thier life can really understand the difference between what is said and what it really means.
Maruyama and I had a great time. We talked on a variety of topics, world peace, places to go in North America and the like. About the time we started breaking into Karate demonstrations the last train for Fujieda would be leaving, so we paid up and moved on back home.
I think last night I learned as much about Japanese culture as I have in the past 3 months. Not to mention that I now feel like a better english teacher now too. It's hard to explain, but having a slightly loosened tongue around one of my students taught me a lot about conversational english. I could never teach classses over a few pints but I had a lot of good ideas last night. It was a good thing and a timely thing.
I am however on the hook for all of Maruyama-sans drinking expenses when he comes to Vancouver, whenever that is. I had to pinky swear on that one. LOL
Another thing I learned last night was about the layers of meaning in the word 'Osu'. We use it in the dojo to acknowledge to our Sensei in a respectful and mindful manner that we understand what he is trying to teach us. But word 'Osu' also means, or at least implies, patience, endurance and tolerance. As with many of my experiences here so far, my visit with Maruyama-san was very very timely. Wouldn't you agree, Peter?
Maruyama-san is one of my students. He is a dentist, Sakurai Sensei's Dentist acutally. He's also a Yandan and teaches at his own dojo. During class last week, I happened to mention that one of my favorite foods in Japan was Yakatori, so we made plans this week to go out for some socializing and Yakatori. Maruyama-san, who I call Sensei even tho he is not my teacher, knew the best place in Shizuoka City for Yakatori. So off we went.
The evening had a really rough start tho. Lines of comunication were crossed. I waited for a phone call but never got one. Just in case I thought I walked to Fujieda station and waited for him for 15 minutes. 'A crap' I thought. I made my way home hoping to figure out what was going on. When I got home I had 7 messages waiting for me all from Maruyama-san. I called him back and after a brisk walk back to the train station were we on our way. I really need to talk to Sakurai Sensei about trading in the land line for a mobile.
The first place we went to was small, dimly lit and had nice jazz music playing on the speakers. Maruyama-san, had indeed found some of the best yakatori I had ever had, and also the most expensive. Mind blowingly expensive actually. But Sensei treated. I did a good job, took it easy on the drinks. We talked a fair bit, it was there I discovered what his personal dreams are. Godan next year, run in the Tokyo marathon and of course travel North America. He also taught me a little Japanese slang. Gochi kara Otoko means 'from 5 man'. A funny little expression used to describe public employees in Japan and how they seem slow and sluggish at work, but at 5 when their job ends, they all spring to life and head down to the Yakatori joints for beers and a little 'Kampai!'
After the Yakatori bar I was quite satisfied. Maruyama-san, as I am finding many little Japanese people can be, still was a bit hungry. So he found us the nicest tasting and most mind blowingly expensive sushi I had ever tasted. We ate moderately and shared a large bottle of Asaki beer. Then we moved on.
I decided to show Maruyama-san the local Gaigin bar I had become acqainted with in Shizuoka. A nice, dimly lit, casual little place called "Our Boozer'. It's run by a nice enough Englishman (Birmingham) named Carl. Maruyama-san was very intriged by this place. I told him how this was a very common style for a pub in North America, and how often young Japanese people, in particular the girls, often came to bars like this practice their english with the Gaigin teachers who would unwind at these places. Maruyama-san said the experience was very exciting. It was there I invented the Japanese slang, Kuchi kara Otoko, the from 9 man because english teachers all seem to be done work (or Karate) around 9pm. haha! I wonder if it will catch on.
Sensei also got his first experience of beer from other countries. Stella(Belgium) Modelo Negro(Mexico) and Canada's most mediocre beer, Labbats blue(which is all Carl keeps around. I'll have to talk to him about that).
Sensei and I had a fantastic chat. We talked about the difference in cultures and languages. I mentioned to him that I found a lot of things in Japan confusing. That you can say something in Japanese, but what it really means in implied. He took the time to make an example for me. When being served food at a friends house, your friend will say something customary to you in Japanese. Translated into english it means "I present this delicous food to you." But actually what it means is "This food is not delicous, but please enjoy." Confused? Well wrap your head around this. The Implied meaning is "This food is delicous to me, but maybe not to you. Please enjoy." Or something like that.
I have been looking for my decoder ring in supermarked cereal boxes since I got here. It seems that they don't make them anymore and people like me are on their own. Only someone who has lived on this island all thier life can really understand the difference between what is said and what it really means.
Maruyama and I had a great time. We talked on a variety of topics, world peace, places to go in North America and the like. About the time we started breaking into Karate demonstrations the last train for Fujieda would be leaving, so we paid up and moved on back home.
I think last night I learned as much about Japanese culture as I have in the past 3 months. Not to mention that I now feel like a better english teacher now too. It's hard to explain, but having a slightly loosened tongue around one of my students taught me a lot about conversational english. I could never teach classses over a few pints but I had a lot of good ideas last night. It was a good thing and a timely thing.
I am however on the hook for all of Maruyama-sans drinking expenses when he comes to Vancouver, whenever that is. I had to pinky swear on that one. LOL
Another thing I learned last night was about the layers of meaning in the word 'Osu'. We use it in the dojo to acknowledge to our Sensei in a respectful and mindful manner that we understand what he is trying to teach us. But word 'Osu' also means, or at least implies, patience, endurance and tolerance. As with many of my experiences here so far, my visit with Maruyama-san was very very timely. Wouldn't you agree, Peter?
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