So many people say that Japan is a group society and America is an individualistic society. I would agree with this on a societal level, but I would say that one and individual level America is communal and Japan is individualistic.
My reasoning is based on these observations:
If you drop something while in line or walking around in the states chances are someone will stop and help you pick up your stuff. In Japan that almost never happens.
In the states for the most part when you go to stop walking you try to get to the side of the walkway, or for a better example when going through a door or gate you move quickly if you know that people are behind you. In Japan people will saunter through doors even though they can see you are in a rush.
Basically yes Japan is about the group, but if you are not in the group then they couldn't care-less about you.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
And he is alive
I really am horrible about doing this.
Here are some things I have been up too:
I was invited to spend New Years (the major holiday in Japan) with the President of the Universities family. On New Years Eve we went to their house around 2230 and watched variety shows for about 20 min, then we walked down to Ueno Park. In the park there are many temples. When the clock struck midnight they rang the gong in one of them way too many times for me to count. We received our fortunes, I believe mine was "little good luck", but it had a sweet drawing of a guy with a sword(yes I havent grown up) so I kept it. We then went to another shrine called Nezu Shrine, two years ago I carried the portable shrine here. We had some amezaki (a sweet unfiltered sake) and paid our money to the shrine.
A few days after that I believe on the third we went to their house to have a traditional New Years meal. There were many different things and each one had a special meaning. The two that I remember were the fish row (many kids) and sweet black beans (good health). Most of the foods were pickled or preserved some how, as traditionally they didnt have fresh fish or meat in the winter.
On January fourth I believe I boarded a plane to Ryukyu (Okinawa). My first shock was how easy flying inside of Japan is. If you have a plastic bottle with water in it, they scan it and let you keep it. You can not have in your checked bags lighters or alcohol, but you can carry on one lighter and as much booze as you want. Considering Japan has the highest tobacco sales per capita in the world, the lighter part doesnt surprise me. I went greated at the airport by my friend from college Julia (half Japanese half American). As a special treat (yes it was a treat) she had some of her military friends sign us in at the base and I was able to eat some Taco Bell and to make things better there was some football on TV as well. We then went to go check out a very old castle with some of her friends. It was really cool and I learned that as a part time job in high school Julia used to dance there every day. After she went to go drop me off at my hotel. The issue was that the hotel which normally costs 1800yen a night was now charging 3600yen a night because of the holiday. Now this place was basically a hostel, it was not worth 3600 a night. So we started hunting. We were able to find a hotel for less that was of high quality, but still more than I wanted to pay.
While in Okinawa I was able to check out the beach, go to a museum and learn a ton about the island like how the original name was Ryukyu (dragon ball) but was changed by the Japanese to Okinawa (thin island), I also went to the Peace memorial park.
Here are the photos from Okinawa:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2091739&id=93401081&l=aaf05c886e
and here:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2091733&id=93401081&l=4e4e4b9c37
A few other things that I have been doing are:
I started taking some metalsmithing classes here in Japan studying some traditional Japanese techniques like: mokumegane (my teacher website http://manji.main.jp/works.html ) and Zougan which is where you use a chisel to carve out metal from one piece to cold(no heat or glue) inlay another piece of metal. My main teacher for Zougan was recently hired by the Japanese government to restore some of the national treasures, so I think I am in good hands.
I helped show the President of St.Johns Fr.Bob, former interim President of SJU Mr.Whalen, and the head of alumni affairs around Tokyo about two weeks ago.
I have started tutoring my Ikebana (flower arrangement) teachers grand daughter in English. This has been a very hard task as I am basically teaching her how to read and speak at the same time. I have to say I would hate to have to learn English as a second language and I have much respect for anyone that has.
Other Random Things:
My good friend from back home will be visiting me in March, so that should be a lot of fun.
I am slowly becoming addicted to the orange vinegar potato chips that are out right now.
I will be attending a lecture by Christo this weekend. As well as volunteering at a beer festival.
I have purchased a ticket to Tai Pei for the end of March to visit one of my old high school friends who is studying there.
I am planning my 3000 mile grad school tour for when I land back in the states.
It has snowed twice in Tokyo but I am glad that it is back out of the 30-40's (Yes I am screwed when I go back to the states in April)
My friend Theo from America has moved in with us until he can find a job here. He is currently on a visitors visa.
I have no idea how to file my taxes when I go back to the states.
I also have become addicted to www.ted.com not nearly as bad as potato chips.
I have lost a bit of weight as I now have to tighten my belt one more notch.
I have become obsessed with finding all the kit kat flavors in japan. here are some: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2091783&id=93401081&l=7dbbb745ab
I secretly am hoping that the dollar gets weaker before I head home.
I had a dream that my friend had three kids. Turn out that two days ago they found out that she was preggers with their third child. If the kid is a boy, it would be awesome.
and I think that is about it. I wont promise or say I will post more cause we know from the past how well that works out. Its like saying you are not going to drink before going out, it never ends well.
Till next time.
Alex
Here are some things I have been up too:
I was invited to spend New Years (the major holiday in Japan) with the President of the Universities family. On New Years Eve we went to their house around 2230 and watched variety shows for about 20 min, then we walked down to Ueno Park. In the park there are many temples. When the clock struck midnight they rang the gong in one of them way too many times for me to count. We received our fortunes, I believe mine was "little good luck", but it had a sweet drawing of a guy with a sword(yes I havent grown up) so I kept it. We then went to another shrine called Nezu Shrine, two years ago I carried the portable shrine here. We had some amezaki (a sweet unfiltered sake) and paid our money to the shrine.
A few days after that I believe on the third we went to their house to have a traditional New Years meal. There were many different things and each one had a special meaning. The two that I remember were the fish row (many kids) and sweet black beans (good health). Most of the foods were pickled or preserved some how, as traditionally they didnt have fresh fish or meat in the winter.
On January fourth I believe I boarded a plane to Ryukyu (Okinawa). My first shock was how easy flying inside of Japan is. If you have a plastic bottle with water in it, they scan it and let you keep it. You can not have in your checked bags lighters or alcohol, but you can carry on one lighter and as much booze as you want. Considering Japan has the highest tobacco sales per capita in the world, the lighter part doesnt surprise me. I went greated at the airport by my friend from college Julia (half Japanese half American). As a special treat (yes it was a treat) she had some of her military friends sign us in at the base and I was able to eat some Taco Bell and to make things better there was some football on TV as well. We then went to go check out a very old castle with some of her friends. It was really cool and I learned that as a part time job in high school Julia used to dance there every day. After she went to go drop me off at my hotel. The issue was that the hotel which normally costs 1800yen a night was now charging 3600yen a night because of the holiday. Now this place was basically a hostel, it was not worth 3600 a night. So we started hunting. We were able to find a hotel for less that was of high quality, but still more than I wanted to pay.
While in Okinawa I was able to check out the beach, go to a museum and learn a ton about the island like how the original name was Ryukyu (dragon ball) but was changed by the Japanese to Okinawa (thin island), I also went to the Peace memorial park.
Here are the photos from Okinawa:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2091739&id=93401081&l=aaf05c886e
and here:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2091733&id=93401081&l=4e4e4b9c37
A few other things that I have been doing are:
I started taking some metalsmithing classes here in Japan studying some traditional Japanese techniques like: mokumegane (my teacher website http://manji.main.jp/works.html ) and Zougan which is where you use a chisel to carve out metal from one piece to cold(no heat or glue) inlay another piece of metal. My main teacher for Zougan was recently hired by the Japanese government to restore some of the national treasures, so I think I am in good hands.
I helped show the President of St.Johns Fr.Bob, former interim President of SJU Mr.Whalen, and the head of alumni affairs around Tokyo about two weeks ago.
I have started tutoring my Ikebana (flower arrangement) teachers grand daughter in English. This has been a very hard task as I am basically teaching her how to read and speak at the same time. I have to say I would hate to have to learn English as a second language and I have much respect for anyone that has.
Other Random Things:
My good friend from back home will be visiting me in March, so that should be a lot of fun.
I am slowly becoming addicted to the orange vinegar potato chips that are out right now.
I will be attending a lecture by Christo this weekend. As well as volunteering at a beer festival.
I have purchased a ticket to Tai Pei for the end of March to visit one of my old high school friends who is studying there.
I am planning my 3000 mile grad school tour for when I land back in the states.
It has snowed twice in Tokyo but I am glad that it is back out of the 30-40's (Yes I am screwed when I go back to the states in April)
My friend Theo from America has moved in with us until he can find a job here. He is currently on a visitors visa.
I have no idea how to file my taxes when I go back to the states.
I also have become addicted to www.ted.com not nearly as bad as potato chips.
I have lost a bit of weight as I now have to tighten my belt one more notch.
I have become obsessed with finding all the kit kat flavors in japan. here are some: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2091783&id=93401081&l=7dbbb745ab
I secretly am hoping that the dollar gets weaker before I head home.
I had a dream that my friend had three kids. Turn out that two days ago they found out that she was preggers with their third child. If the kid is a boy, it would be awesome.
and I think that is about it. I wont promise or say I will post more cause we know from the past how well that works out. Its like saying you are not going to drink before going out, it never ends well.
Till next time.
Alex
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Been meaning to post
So I have been meaning to post, but keep forgetting.
This past week a bunch of things have happened. First I was informed that one of the English teachers has to return to Canada for something and Bryan and I will be covering his last three class of the semester. While we really are not doing much, it will be nice to be in the classroom again. Secondly we had the graduation ceremony for the international students and currently the americans and one canadian are in Kyoto and will return later this week. Today (Sunday) I woke up and took the two Malaysian students to the airport. What was supposed to be an easy day, but I spent a few hours trying to get things figured out, as their flight was canceled. They are currently at a Holiday Inn by the airport.
This week or next Bryan and I will be moving in to the old house down the road from the dorm. It is pretty big so it should be nice, even though it doesn't have much for heating.
Currently my biggest debate is what to over my break this winter. My last day of work before the break is the 25th and I return to work on the 7th. I have looked at flying to Okinawa for about 3 days. My biggest part of this debate is that I am wondering if I would rather use the money to take some metals classes while I am here. I am thinking though that after the first I will go to visit the Benedictine Monastery up in Nagano, that I visited two years ago. I have also been invited to spend the new years celebration with president Shimadas family, going to the shrine at midnight and then for soba afterwords.
I also have decided that I will not be applying to grad school this year, instead I am going to apply to go back and get a second bachelors. Most of the grad schools require a bachelors of fine arts and if you dont have one you have to apply as undecided and have a years probation before being able to apply to a major. I figure it will be cheaper to just spend the year getting my bfa.
So that is all for now.
I am going to try and get better at this.
This past week a bunch of things have happened. First I was informed that one of the English teachers has to return to Canada for something and Bryan and I will be covering his last three class of the semester. While we really are not doing much, it will be nice to be in the classroom again. Secondly we had the graduation ceremony for the international students and currently the americans and one canadian are in Kyoto and will return later this week. Today (Sunday) I woke up and took the two Malaysian students to the airport. What was supposed to be an easy day, but I spent a few hours trying to get things figured out, as their flight was canceled. They are currently at a Holiday Inn by the airport.
This week or next Bryan and I will be moving in to the old house down the road from the dorm. It is pretty big so it should be nice, even though it doesn't have much for heating.
Currently my biggest debate is what to over my break this winter. My last day of work before the break is the 25th and I return to work on the 7th. I have looked at flying to Okinawa for about 3 days. My biggest part of this debate is that I am wondering if I would rather use the money to take some metals classes while I am here. I am thinking though that after the first I will go to visit the Benedictine Monastery up in Nagano, that I visited two years ago. I have also been invited to spend the new years celebration with president Shimadas family, going to the shrine at midnight and then for soba afterwords.
I also have decided that I will not be applying to grad school this year, instead I am going to apply to go back and get a second bachelors. Most of the grad schools require a bachelors of fine arts and if you dont have one you have to apply as undecided and have a years probation before being able to apply to a major. I figure it will be cheaper to just spend the year getting my bfa.
So that is all for now.
I am going to try and get better at this.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Golden Birthday
So I was recently told that this is my golden birthday, ya I dont know what makes it so special either. But here is how I spent the weekend.
Friday:
Some of the students wanted to go to the Tokyo Park Hyatt New York Bar. It is the bar that was made famous by the movie Lost in Translation. They have some great jazz starting after 8pm. So we sat talked, listened to jazz and had a few drinks and some fries. The fries mind you are fried in duck fat and served with a very good homemade ketchup.
Saturday:
I worked the morning. Then around 5pm I went with two of my friends to a a bar named Popeyes. They have 40 Japanese microbrews on tap and more in bottles. We did a sampler first, since my companions have really only drunken standard japanese beer, which is like coors or pbr. As for the full sized beers I had an espresso stout and a gravity fed cast ale, which was almost no bubbles but very good. After wards we went and had some ramen and one of my friends had to head out to meet someone else. I took my other friend to a local bar that I go to ever so often. It is owned by a japanese woman and her okinawan husband. My friend is okinawan and when I told her about it, she wanted to go and have a glass of okinawan sake, awamori. It was the bars 25th anniversary so everything was 25% off. I also recieved a free drink, a large brandy, on the house for my birthday and another free drink, a 2005 german red wine, from a customer who brought the bottle for a gift to the bar owners. I spent the night talking with a sushi chef and a sword polisher, which was very educational and looking through old photo albums from when they first opened the bar, the fashion and hair was very humorous.
Sunday:
I helped a student go return some very over priced pants and then met with a friend for coffee and a cheap dinner.
Monday (my actual birthday):
I woke up extra early and went to go meet my friend mike who was in town for the weekend from Tsu city. We had a breakfast buffet and caught up. Then around 11 I went to help my ikebana sensei with her boy scout group (they were cub scout age). They were having like a little fair/flea market. I ran a little pin ball kind of game that cost 1oyen per play and you were guaranteed a prize. The thing I forgot is that in Japan Boy Scouts are co-ed. I still find it interesting. I was done around 2:30 pm. The only other thing I did is that night I went to a local bar, had a Manhattan (which they know how i like it and make it perfect every time, 3 olives on the rocks) and edited essays.
Friday:
Some of the students wanted to go to the Tokyo Park Hyatt New York Bar. It is the bar that was made famous by the movie Lost in Translation. They have some great jazz starting after 8pm. So we sat talked, listened to jazz and had a few drinks and some fries. The fries mind you are fried in duck fat and served with a very good homemade ketchup.
Saturday:
I worked the morning. Then around 5pm I went with two of my friends to a a bar named Popeyes. They have 40 Japanese microbrews on tap and more in bottles. We did a sampler first, since my companions have really only drunken standard japanese beer, which is like coors or pbr. As for the full sized beers I had an espresso stout and a gravity fed cast ale, which was almost no bubbles but very good. After wards we went and had some ramen and one of my friends had to head out to meet someone else. I took my other friend to a local bar that I go to ever so often. It is owned by a japanese woman and her okinawan husband. My friend is okinawan and when I told her about it, she wanted to go and have a glass of okinawan sake, awamori. It was the bars 25th anniversary so everything was 25% off. I also recieved a free drink, a large brandy, on the house for my birthday and another free drink, a 2005 german red wine, from a customer who brought the bottle for a gift to the bar owners. I spent the night talking with a sushi chef and a sword polisher, which was very educational and looking through old photo albums from when they first opened the bar, the fashion and hair was very humorous.
Sunday:
I helped a student go return some very over priced pants and then met with a friend for coffee and a cheap dinner.
Monday (my actual birthday):
I woke up extra early and went to go meet my friend mike who was in town for the weekend from Tsu city. We had a breakfast buffet and caught up. Then around 11 I went to help my ikebana sensei with her boy scout group (they were cub scout age). They were having like a little fair/flea market. I ran a little pin ball kind of game that cost 1oyen per play and you were guaranteed a prize. The thing I forgot is that in Japan Boy Scouts are co-ed. I still find it interesting. I was done around 2:30 pm. The only other thing I did is that night I went to a local bar, had a Manhattan (which they know how i like it and make it perfect every time, 3 olives on the rocks) and edited essays.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Ahh Sunday
So today is sunday. So far it has been pretty productive. Granted this weekend I have spent too much money, today was great. I woke up and did laundry, ate some oatmeal, hung my laundry. Then around 11:15 head out for church. The church I have been attending is St.Anselms in Meguro, about 30min and 320yen away from the dorm. There is another Catholic Church closer with an English mass too, but I like the Meguro Church because it was built by the Monks of St.Johns and has teh same feel to it as the Abbey in Collegeville ( Oh how I miss thee). The one thing that doesnt have the feel of St.Johns is the speed at which they pray. I have never heard the Hail Mary prayed so fast. I think next week I will check out the closer Yotsuya Church to see if I can get the nice slow paced praying that I learned to love behind the pine curtain.
After mass I walked to a Ikebana (Japanese Flower arrangement) show close by that the leader of the trip had an extra ticket, so i got in free. Earlier in the week when I first found out about the show I mentioned it to my boss and she made a point to say that the guy who is doing it is a modern Ikebana artist and is gay. the whole gay thing to me was like ok whats the point. After the show I can say that I dont think I would ever have used glitter or bedazzeled a flower. I stood in line for about 30min waiting to get in. The facility where it was held is defiantly used mainly for weddings and big get togethers I believe as they had bridal salons and what not all over and a kimono rental shop in house. The area where the show was is like an old japanese temple/house/something. I think they brought in all of the walls and ceilings from an outside source as they looked very old. The ceilings and walls were covered with beautiful paintings, almost making it hard to pay attention to the flowers. The displays varied from very modern to more traditional including everything from Blue, Yellow, and Red painted 1x2's to more varieties of orchids then I have ever seen in my life.
I believe the major difference between western and japanese flower arrangements is not the simplicity that most people think, but the treatment of the whole plant as beautiful. In arrangments you will see everything from un-blossomed buds to dead flowers, pods and sticks. In the art they treat all parts of nature as it is beautiful and not just the flower. I mean to be honest some of the orchids are not really that pretty, some are kind of scary looking.
After the show I had a nice late lunch and then came home to put away my dried laundry and now I am about to start on some work.
I hope in the next week to have my website up. I have been paying more attention to my diet as of late as I am beginning to see the negative affect of having a 7-11 a block away.
Also in my next post I will show my adventures with Kit Kats.
After mass I walked to a Ikebana (Japanese Flower arrangement) show close by that the leader of the trip had an extra ticket, so i got in free. Earlier in the week when I first found out about the show I mentioned it to my boss and she made a point to say that the guy who is doing it is a modern Ikebana artist and is gay. the whole gay thing to me was like ok whats the point. After the show I can say that I dont think I would ever have used glitter or bedazzeled a flower. I stood in line for about 30min waiting to get in. The facility where it was held is defiantly used mainly for weddings and big get togethers I believe as they had bridal salons and what not all over and a kimono rental shop in house. The area where the show was is like an old japanese temple/house/something. I think they brought in all of the walls and ceilings from an outside source as they looked very old. The ceilings and walls were covered with beautiful paintings, almost making it hard to pay attention to the flowers. The displays varied from very modern to more traditional including everything from Blue, Yellow, and Red painted 1x2's to more varieties of orchids then I have ever seen in my life.
I believe the major difference between western and japanese flower arrangements is not the simplicity that most people think, but the treatment of the whole plant as beautiful. In arrangments you will see everything from un-blossomed buds to dead flowers, pods and sticks. In the art they treat all parts of nature as it is beautiful and not just the flower. I mean to be honest some of the orchids are not really that pretty, some are kind of scary looking.
After the show I had a nice late lunch and then came home to put away my dried laundry and now I am about to start on some work.
I hope in the next week to have my website up. I have been paying more attention to my diet as of late as I am beginning to see the negative affect of having a 7-11 a block away.
Also in my next post I will show my adventures with Kit Kats.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Sorry
Sorry for no info for a while. I have been busy.
So with design festa I learned that I need to keep pieces around or below 20 dollars on hand for events like that.
I am currently working on my website and hope to launch it in the next week or so.
I have been debating on applying to grad school and am trying to narrow down the colleges.
Finally I had a pretty crappy day at work today. For some reason, i am pretty sure, my boss doesnt like me. She will wait till my co-worker bryan gets back to the office and asks him to edit and email for her. She has not asked me since the second week. When giving us and assignment she will talk directly to bryan and not me. Its annoying. To add to this I am pretty sure bryan dislikes me. i know he did two years ago when we studied here, but I figure it would change. When I walk in to our room he will leave and go to the lounge and visa versa at the dorm. I have no idea how this will work when we move in to a tiny dorm room together.
So having a crappy day I went out to dinner and I was not thinking and went to a sushi restaurant that one of the guys I know from a local bar owns, or so I thought he owned it. Turns out he has just been working there for 30 years (it has been open for 60) his boss owns it and got it from his mother. basically I spent more than I wanted, but it was about what I would spend on sushi in America. It was amazing sushi. The fish was much better than the kaiten (sushi go round 105yen) sushi. I also had the pleasure of trying real wasabi, not powder and all I can say is WOW. The color and look is like of finelly grated ginger. The taste is completely different from the powder. It starts out almost sweet for a second, then it feels like it is melting in your mouth or spreading, and then you get the heat, but it is not as strong or in your nose as powdered. I also had the pleasure of eating two different kinds of abalone, both very good. He even has his own sake for he restaurant (over 17 kinds made by him), I did not try this sadly.
Oh ya and this past monday I went to go meet with a store about selling my jewelry there. I now have 11 pieces at a store here in tokyo. Instead of charging rent for the space like many stores the owner just takes 35% of the sale, which is very reasonable, since most galleries in America take 50-60% of the sale. Hopefully this works out well for myself. I am also learning that the japanese like to hear a story behind something. I learned this with the jewelry and saw it again today at the sushi resturant.
Ok time for bed. Till later. bye
So with design festa I learned that I need to keep pieces around or below 20 dollars on hand for events like that.
I am currently working on my website and hope to launch it in the next week or so.
I have been debating on applying to grad school and am trying to narrow down the colleges.
Finally I had a pretty crappy day at work today. For some reason, i am pretty sure, my boss doesnt like me. She will wait till my co-worker bryan gets back to the office and asks him to edit and email for her. She has not asked me since the second week. When giving us and assignment she will talk directly to bryan and not me. Its annoying. To add to this I am pretty sure bryan dislikes me. i know he did two years ago when we studied here, but I figure it would change. When I walk in to our room he will leave and go to the lounge and visa versa at the dorm. I have no idea how this will work when we move in to a tiny dorm room together.
So having a crappy day I went out to dinner and I was not thinking and went to a sushi restaurant that one of the guys I know from a local bar owns, or so I thought he owned it. Turns out he has just been working there for 30 years (it has been open for 60) his boss owns it and got it from his mother. basically I spent more than I wanted, but it was about what I would spend on sushi in America. It was amazing sushi. The fish was much better than the kaiten (sushi go round 105yen) sushi. I also had the pleasure of trying real wasabi, not powder and all I can say is WOW. The color and look is like of finelly grated ginger. The taste is completely different from the powder. It starts out almost sweet for a second, then it feels like it is melting in your mouth or spreading, and then you get the heat, but it is not as strong or in your nose as powdered. I also had the pleasure of eating two different kinds of abalone, both very good. He even has his own sake for he restaurant (over 17 kinds made by him), I did not try this sadly.
Oh ya and this past monday I went to go meet with a store about selling my jewelry there. I now have 11 pieces at a store here in tokyo. Instead of charging rent for the space like many stores the owner just takes 35% of the sale, which is very reasonable, since most galleries in America take 50-60% of the sale. Hopefully this works out well for myself. I am also learning that the japanese like to hear a story behind something. I learned this with the jewelry and saw it again today at the sushi resturant.
Ok time for bed. Till later. bye
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