The February Blues

I turn on my laptop first thing every morning and set it to listen to my favourite radio station, 102.1 The Edge. Then I hear all of these wonderful concert announcements, some traffic and weather reports from this far off land that I call home. At first, this made me think of the incredible possiblities of technology, and how a simple radio station could so easily transport me to the most basic comforts of home. However, this simple form of escape has not cured me from my homesickness, but maybe made it worse. The bleak month of February is almost over and I hope that the upcoming weeks heading to Spring will make this feeling go away. I often look at maps in my school and travelling destinations on the Internet, and think of all the places I could be with this voice in my head saying "anywhere but here." I am only a few days away from accomplishing my first 6 months and although I feel very proud of this, I should maybe be telling myself "Shit, I only have 6 more months before facing the harsh reality of what I will be doing for the rest of my life." I know that once I go back home, maybe after making up for lost time with my friends and family, it will be time to seriously think about my future. So maybe I should start feeling blessed for being in Japan, not only because it is an experience that only a few people get to do, but also because it is giving me some time to think about these hard questions. But at the same time I am looking forward to start the rest of my life and that feeling is much stronger than wanting to stay in safe Japan for another year. There is a big world out there and it is time for something new.

Oh, look at Eve being so deep... bah...

And I hope that no one will get really offended by this, but the one thing, the one person, I miss the most is my mother. I keep on imagining going out and doing things with her and just talk. I have become so nostalgic living here and thinking back to when I was a little girl and the fun times I would have with my family, but especially with my mom. My only wish after work would be to go to this Greek restaurant on Danforth for some dinner, have a beer along with some greek appetizers and then finish off at this gelato parlour on Bathurst. Wouldn't that be great? as simple as this seems.

Anyway, I just didnt think I would feel homesick before leaving Canada. I am actually really surprised of feeling this way. I have lived away from home four years before. I never knew it would start here. I honestly didnt. But there are also some amazing things here in Japan that I should really consider and embrace. I shouldnt forget about all of the wonderful things this country has to offer me that I couldnt get in canada. Only good things are ahead. I know it.

For starters, Diane and I went to this beautiful place called Matsushima, just 2 hours north from Fukushima. It is considered one of three most beautiful views in Japan. It is along the ocean and is made up of over 200 pine-covered islands.

My girl, Diane and I on the train to Sendai. Just being with her alone is an awsome retreat, being with her in Matsushima was a delight.

Some oysters fishing boats facing the beautiful Matsushima sea.

The Godai-dou Hall, a wooden shrine that is only opened once every 33 years, next time being in 2006! Need to look into that.

Beautiful Matsushima.

House perched over a cliff facing Matsuhima. It must be quite the view all day everyday.

Mountains of empty oyster shells.

Savouring our oyster lunch with a bottle of Asahi beer.

The red bridge, view from the Godai-dou temple.

I like this picture I took from the steps of the shrine.

Man inducing Diane to try some cow tongue, "Mam, it is popular in Japan."

Plastic display of a cooked cow tongue.

The real deal... I tried it because I was basically given a piece as I was looking over what he was cooking. I wasnt even quite sure if it was cow tongue, but I have to say that it wasnt bad. A little chewy with a strange soft texture, but overall good tasting.

On our way back home we decided to stop in Sendai to have a few drinks, which turned into 2 bottles of wine and a meeting with this 50 year old American University teacher working in Japan for over 12 years. He was trying to convince us that Japanese people were racists. Maybe he should be a little bit more worried about the racism problems in his own country, before pointing the finger to Japanese people. It is just recently that Japan has opened its borders to other nationalities. After living in Japan for a few months, I know that people stare at you out of pure uncontrollable curiosity and not because they don't like you. If they do criticize foreigners that is because they have unfortunatly been meeting lousy foreigners, or simply because they havent been in contact with enough of us to really understand. They have nothing to be racist about, they dont know anything about us. I think there are 50 foreigners in Fukushima and I take no offence when people stare at me or say tiny little comments about me. I just thought all along that if Japan starts becoming racist, it would be because of people like him who is bringing these negative beliefs in such a peaceful nation. I think it would awake a needless debate and give the Japanese some ideas about a problem that doesnt even really exist. Its like putting fuel to a small fire. He is starting off a debate in a country that doesnt know how to deal with such an issue because, there you go: racism doesnt exist here.

The month of March is right around the corner and then before I know it it will be April. Yippee! My brother is coming, then my mom and Rachel will be living here with me until September. I think I am just tired of being alone and it will be nice to have some familiar faces here. I just cant wait to show them my Japanese world, my life here in Fukushima, my work and live some new japanese experiences with them.

Take care to all of you, I miss you and love you dearly! Just another 6 months before my return home.

e.

Tokyo Zoo

Flashy blinding neon lights, the sound of blaring music and sales people screaming out of their megaphones, people people people... and more people. Being in Tokyo for less then two days was enough for me to realize that I have been stuck in my small town of Fukushima for waaayyy too long. My ears were still ringing as I was getting off the 90 minute shinkansen ride. Why did I wait so long? And when is my next invitation?

At first, I was going to go to Tokyo by bus, because it was much cheaper. I have been trying very hard to save money for when my family comes to visit. However, I was too late to reserve my bus tickets and every bus was sold out. But after much persuasion from my friend Donna, I gave in and decided to leave on Saturday morning with her sister and her boyfriend who were visiting from Australia.

After spending $160 on a 2 day trip to Tokyo, this had to be worth it! The train ride was somewhat of a drag, since both Donna's sister, Becky, and her boyrfiend, Ben, were not the most exciting couple. I was also very surprised and dissapointed by the way they reacted when they initially stepped into the streets of Tokyo. They didn't seem impressed or interested one bit! Meanwhile, I didn't know where to look, I didn't know what to say, I was totally speechless and taken back by all the movement. I was utterly overwhelmed by everything that was happening around me.

Firstly, we had to find their hostel in Shinjuku from the Tokyo metro station. The over usage of arrows in Tokyo train stations would even give Magellan a hard time. I dont know how many times we had to walk in circles before finding the proper metro line. Finally on the subway, I was suprised by how empty the trains were. I always had this image of being shoved in and stuck in between people's smelly armpits. We all had an available seat and once we arrived to our metro destination I think we walked 1/4 accross the Tokyo undergroung system before getting to the proper exit. If people tell you Tokyo is big, please dont be stupid and tell them otherwise. It's like Toronto times eight!

So after dropping off their luggage we walked throughout Shinjuku and decided to go to Yoyogi park for a stroll. My travel book told me that it was an interesting young people hang-out place, but much to my dismay all we could see were old Japanese people taking their afternoon walks and tourists.

Although I was surprised by the serene and calm atmosphere of the park, I think it was a nice breather before diving back into the madness of Tokyo. At our exit, we had to cross this bridge towards Harajuku best known as the goth hang out place where you can find the famous Harajuku girls.

They are accustumed to pose for tourists. so here you are Heidi, your Harajuku girls. Usually there are appearantly more of them and more excentric looking ones, but I guess there was another gothic party elsewhere.

At this point we were headed towards Shibuya crossing, the most crossed intersection in the world! I was amazed to see so many foreigners and hear so much English. Even Japanese people were speaking English between each other. As we were getting closer and closer to Shibuya crossing, the intersections were getting bigger and bigger and more crowded. I was scared to lose Ben and Becky among the crowd. I felt like I was going to a Rolling Stones concert, but this was typical Tokyo. And then there it was, Shibuya crossing... the famous intersection that basically defines Japan in all its glory. It was there, right in front of me and I knew right then and there that I was in Japan. We decided to get a latte at the Starbucks facing the crossing and to go to the second floor to have a better view. It said we were not allowed to take pictures, but I took some anyway. Here are just a few I took incognito.

People waiting to cross...

People starting to cross...

Half-way there...

Largest human obstacle course...

I made it! Ouff!

After shopping in a few stores at Shibuya station it was time to make it back to the hostel and get ready for my big night out on Roppongi Hills.

We left for dinner after watching an hour of olympic curling between Canada and Japan, and some extreme Dodgeball without Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn. I had to meet Donna in Roppongi so we had dinner in that area, which is probably the most westernized location in Japan. It was so bizarre. It wasn't Japan, it wasn't America, it was like an international neutral ground where all countries united and partied together. I didnt know what to think, but I felt like I was on another planet away from everything I had ever known!

We went to this chinese restaurant with a promising atmosphere but with shitty food and shitty service. After dinner, we were pressured by these jamaican bouncers to have a cheap drink at a dodgy underground bar. We had time to have a drink there before meeting Donna and her Tokyo friends.

I kinda felt like the fifth wheel during that dinner, but I prefered being single rather then being stuck with someone as lame as these 2 guys. Anyway, Donna and her friends decided to go to the Hard Rock Cafe for some good old American dining. I didn't eat since I had dinner already, but thank god for that, because the small italien salad was nearly $18. Soon after their dinner it was time to hit the sleazy Roppongi bars.

We stayed out the whole evening and the whole night until the sun came up. We had a Turkish Kabob before taking the first morning train to Chiba to crash at one of Donna's friends. At 3pm, we woke up and dreamt of a western breakfast that was impossible to find anywhere on our way back to downtown Tokyo. I had a massive hungover which resulted from mixing way too many alcoholic drinks. I felt like I was runover by a tank, but I was happy not to be the only feeling out of it. We finally hit an Irish Pub for dinner before getting on the Shinkansen back to rural Fukushima.

All that time bar-hopping through Roppongi, I felt like one of these girls on Girls Gone Wild. I am still waiting for this picture of this one bartender shooting out flames from his mouth accross the bar. Unbelievable... Did this all really happen?

I hope this is just one Tokyo experience of many more to come. I am nonetheless very grateful to live in a smaller town away from such madness. It is so quiet here. Before visiting Tokyo I was already criticizing Japan for its unbearable noise pollution and sensory overload, and Fukushima was just a sample of what I experienced this last week-end.

e.

Tokyo Posting Coming Very Soon!

To all of you who are anticipating my posting on my week-end in Tokyo, I promise that it will be up by tomorrow. All I can say right now is, "wow" and why did I have to wait so long to go... Its been two days since my return and I am still recovering. Talk about sensory overload!

Meanwhile, you can always listen to Gogol Bordello's Start Wearing Purple.

Take care for now,
e.

Here is some more information that I found about valentine's day in Japan...
I thought maybe some of you would be interested.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4712542.stm

toorloo,
e.

You Oughta Know...

My anti-valentine's day night out was succesfully wrapped by the unison of our raging voices on Alanis Morrisette's You Oughta Know.
Sure this must all sound like we were a bunch of angry chics bashing men all night... but honestly, it was more like a sort of night to celebrate our new friendships and celibacy. In 6 years I have never spent a valentine's day alone and I thought that was something to celebrate. Sure, we all sorta revisited our past relationships, but at the end of the day, guess what? There is nothing to be bummed out about! We are all in Japan, living the most amazing experience of our lives that no boy could ever give us! So, celibacy? yes please! I dont need anything to anchor me. Not just yet. I know the day will come, but what matters most right now is me and sorting myself out. So basically, I don't need anything getting in my way.

The girls (Leslee, Donna, Diane, Michelle, Akiko) and I all met after work at this nice Italien restaurant at the station called Ducca.

We had good food, good wine and good conversations, from tanctric sex, to crazy ex-boyfriend dreams. It was just great to think that this dreadful day gave us an excuse to spend a great night together without the boys.

After stuffing our faces with pizza and other Japanese renditions of Italien dishes, we decided to end the night at our favourite Karaoke place. This time around, it wasnt about who had the best singing voice, but who had the best dance moves.

We sang and danced for 2 hours to Get Busy, Pour some Sugar on Me, Sweet Child o'Mine, a Britney Spears medley and some Fitty toons. It was magical!

For a foreigner like myself, Valentine's Day in Japan is very different. First of all, women are supposed to give men chocolates. They also have to bake them a cake, and if they buy it, it brings bad luck into the relationship. Japanese people are very suspicious. Well I really cant see how much worse their relationships can get, they all seem pretty hopeless already. Anyway, Valentine's day is a day like any other. It's not like you see more people kissing or holding hands. Japan still remains the most impassionate country on earth. Men get chocolates and eat cake, period.

Then in March, women get their day called White Day. On that day, men give women something in return. So that means I have to suffer through 2 valentine's day: my own and the japanese kind. Hopefully, this will give me and my girls another excuse to spend a night out.

On another note, there is this couple in Shanghai who for the sake of Valentine's day, is getting plastic surgery to have matching noses. When did love take such a wrong turn?

This week-end I decided to go to Tokyo... finally. I am taking the bus early saturday morning and will tour the city before meeting my friend Donna and her sister for some partying on Roppongi Hills. Ill be back on Sunday night and will make sure to tell you all about my crazy Tokyo experience.

much love on v-day,

e.

The very first restaurant I tried when I arrived in Japan was a gioza shop. One night after a day of training, my co-worker, Dave, took me to this tiny little restaurant hidden in a dark Fukushima alley. The low sliding door opened up to a bar sort of place that smelt like frying oil and garlic. The air was smokey and the decor was grim and busy, but the gioza were like little pockets of heaven. Almost, every week since then I have been to the gioza lady, who is, although almost deaf, the sweetest lady. I think her geijin clientel has trippled since my arrival in Fukushima. I guess gioza is the Japanese equivalent to the tapas that Heidi always raves about. And why would I not keep on going back? It's cheap, its yummy and the sweet gioza lady always likes to offer us free food.

Last Monday night, my friend Michelle and I decided to have a quiet dinner at the gioza place before going back home for an early night. But much to our surprise we ended up spending the whole evening out until 1am.

I was the first one to arrive and I had to wait for Michelle a few minutes. I didnt quite know how to tell the gioza lady that I had another friend coming... so I was a little embarassed by my little Japanese in front of these Japanese businessmen that had just taken a seat next to me. They opened a bottle of beer and offered me some. At first I declined, but since they insisted I just couldnt refuse. They asked me a few simple questions and with the little Japanese I knew, I tried to awnser the best I could. Then Michelle finally arrived and cut the awkwardness. Michelle's Japanese is 10 times better then mine, so the conversation became a little easier. They also started to serve us more and more beer. It didnt take too long for them to get drunk and start being a little bit more friendly. I can't use the word flirt, because that is not what they do. I can't really explain. I guess Japanese people are just more social then usual when they drink. Then I noticed that 2 of the 4 men that gave me and Michelle the most attention were married. After 10 huge bottles of beer (Japanese bottles of beer are as big as wine bottles) and a giant bottle of sake, their dopey behaviour caused me to throw a few funny one-liners in their face knowing that they would not understand. At this point, we found our situation so ludicrous that we decided to stay with the men a little longer and see what would happen next. We knew that something like this was rare and that we should just sit back and enjoy the ride. Besides, the alcohol was free and I was practicing my Japanese.

After dinner, they invited us to go to another bar with them for more free drinks. On our stumbly walk across the city, I had to remind the married man a few times that he was married, but then he invited me to his house to try some of his wife's cooking. How bizarre is that? Anyway, after giving Michelle a chance to pick up the good-looking single one and seeing another one fall off his bar stool, we decided to leave to our next destination: Karaoke. I sang my usual show tunes, Heart of Glass and Eternal Flame. They sang their usual Japanese songs mixed with some Queen and White Snake.... A few times I would have a microphone fly straight into my face as they were dancing on top of the couches. They paid for us yet again and wanted us to join them for the next bar, but it was already 1am and we had work the next day. So, Michelle and I thought that it would be much wiser to head back home.



On our sobering walk home, we were bewildered by the evening's turn of events. We didnt quite know what to think of it all. She was somewhat happy about exchanging numbers with the single good-looking one, but my evening wasnt about picking up. I basically sat back and observed. We also realized that we didnt even know their names.. we only had terrible nicknames for all four of them: Tom Cruise, ArmyPants, Nori and Nabe (a japanese dish). Anyway, what was important for me that evening was to give these men a good impression of foreigners. We weren't easy, but we were fun and respectable. The next morning I started thinking about the big picture and realized that this was all very typical of Japanese society. While the wives were at home with the children, their husbands were gallivanting around town bar hopping completly drunk trying to pick up younger women. I just hated thinking about this, but then I realized how I had just lived a huge cultural experience. I was actually observing and experiencing their lifestyle and that was more enlightning then visiting a Japanese touristic site or eating Japanese food. I think if you really experience the people's culture and their way of life then you can really understand... I could read books my entire life about Japanese culture and society, but that night made me understand a little better about how it is really like to be Japanese. I think its the people that matter the most.

Curry or not, here I come!

I think I have been watching too many episodes of Lost in the last few days. I woke up this morning with claw marks in my winter boots. And if John Locke (a character in Lost for the ones who don't know) was here he would probably agree that they came from a bear. What else could have teared my tenacious rugged suede boots? So, I started off my week this morning by seeing my favourite pair of boots totally ripped in the back by what I suspect was a bear attack. So if it is possible to bring polar bears to life out from my TV set, I wonder if it can do the same with Matthew Fox. Oh Jack, you can rip my boots open anytime!

Other than wishing for Jack to crawl out from my TV set, life in Fukushima has been making me feel somewhat restless. Well first of all, it has been cold and snowing here almost everyday for the last 2 weeks. But I am also really excited for April because my brother and my mother are coming and then in May, I am going to have a new roomate live with me and my new polar bear friends! Rachel has decided to come and live with me in Japan until the end of my contract. This could not have happened at a better time because many of my friends are going back home in April, including Diane. It's a reassuring feeling that I am not going to be alone when all of my friends leave Japan.

I have been pressured to write a new entry, but I really dont have much to talk about! Tomorrow I am going to the travel agency to inquire about plane tickets to Thailand for when my mother comes. I will also be looking into a week-end in Hiroshima for when my brother is here. On my free time I have been basically trying to create a perfect itinerary for when my family visits.

Saturday night, I was invited to my friend Yassu's house for a curry party. It was like some sort of curry pot lock. I made my curry from scratch and I was very pleased with the result. Anyway, it was a great evening and very different to any other parties I have been to in Japan so far. If you remember, Yassu is my overtly gay friend who is really wild and fairy-like. After a calm sit-down dinner, Yassu's living room turned into a gay dance club when he put on some dance music that reminded him of his wild university days in Tokyo. He pressured me to show him some belly-dancing moves and we started making up a choreography for Don't Call me Baby and Down, Down, Down. If the titles dont ring a bell, I can guaranty you have heard these songs a million times in the year of 2000. Needless to say, a flamboyant gay man and House music topped up with a little wine made was a recipe for an interesting evening. It was only at 5am that we left yassu's house filled with curry and all gayed out.

Yesterday, after watching a few more Lost episodes, Yassu and I went to Sendai for dinner at this very nice Italien restaurant, called Mia Angela (I know there is really no use for any of you to know the name of the restaurant, but it is for my own reference and Rachel's for when she comes live here.) I found it very amusing when the whole restaurant staff including the cook (muffled by the steam in the kitchen) greeted me and Yassu one by one. I never felt so exposed entering a restaurant before, and of course my graceful self had to trip over the carpet fringes as Yassu and I were being escorted to our table. If being white was not bad enough, I also had to be deadly clumsy! So after fighting off the curious stares with a loud embarassed giggle, we sat down to enjoy the service of an English speaking waitress (which is always great!)

I got back from Sendai by Shinkansen because I didnt want to be late for a meeting with a student (which I will never do again because I wasted $20 to save only 40 minutes of my time). Then I met some friends for some Karaoke for a good-bye party for my friend Jax going back to Australia. I was really on my game last night without even being drunk! I usually sing better, or sound better after a few drinks. I am no Witney Houston, but I dont think I am terrible either. I managed to be in bed by 1am and woke up 7 hours later to find my boots ravaged by a polar bear. No, but seriously I have no idea what the hell could have done this to my boots! Any ideas anyone?