The Rising Sun
...written on 2001-07-16, @ 12:50 p.m.
Mon July 16, 2001
I find it supremely humorous that since an official end to Japan's rainy season was declared on July 13th, it has rained more in the ensuing days than it did during the rainy season itself. I must laugh even harder that I find myself apartment bound on my days off!
Talk about weather changes. I remember when I was in Japan in 1985, it rained EVERYDAY for three weeks. I loved it. It was beautiful. Now here, it rained maybe three or four times in the entire season. Of course, that may depend on where you are in Japan. I was reading a diary of a fellow in southern Japan and it sounds like his shoes never dried out.
Anyway, we had a goodbye party for Chad-o on Friday the 13th. It sounded ominous, but nothing out of the ordinary happened and it was great to see everyone outside of work and letting their hair down.
We made reservations for 45 people at a yakiniku place. Hide, Chad and I were the first ones there. About eight low tables had been set up with grills and plates of food, mainly meat (beef, chicken, chicken skin, pork, and squid). The room was freezing at first, but after people started arriving and cooking, the place warmed up and despite all the little fans in the ceiling, got so smoky you couldn't see the people across the room.
Chad was chugging beer and went around with a bottle serving everyone (a big Japanese custom). He gave a nice speech and was given some parting gifts. Before Shacho left he threw his arms up in the air and bowed three times as he belched out some peculiar chant about Chad's future. Ivan got much of this on video, so watch for it at a Blockbuster near you!
Yesterday afternoon I watched a funny movie called "Forever Fever" (maybe its name was changed to "That's the way I like it"). It was made in Sinagapore and was about an ordinary Joe who took up disco dancing so he could win prize money to buy a motorcycle. Lots of obstacles in his way of course, but "John Travolta" popped out of the movie screen to give him advice every once in a while. It had a happy ending, which is what I was in the mood for.
With Chad leaving in less than a month and Ivan leaving in three months, preparations have already begun for their replacements, John and Brian. John will move into Chad's apt, but Ivan will still be here when Brian arrives, so we'll have to think of something else on that score. Securing apartments in Japan can be quite a headache and VERY expensive. Sometimes you have to pay 6 months' rent in advance as a deposit and "key" money.
I am preparing for my trip to Kyoto this week. I will be gone for three and a half weeks. I am taking a course on how to teach English (TESOL). I will also be taking notes on how they train us so I can take back some good ideas on how to train John and Brian. My internet access may be limited to none, so I may disappear for a while. I must admit I am feeling kind of apprehensive about being in an academic environment. It has been sooooooo long and I wonder if I can put two coherent sentences together.
At least I will have the weekends off to explore Kyoto. The weekend I arrive there will be a big flea market at one of the major buddhist temples. That should be fun. The room at the hotel where I am staying has no airconditioner, but I can pay $30 extra for a fan. Kyoto is supposedly gruesomely hot in the summer. My company is paying for the training, but I have to pay for room and board AND rent for my apt in Ogaki, so it may be a tight month financially.
The other morning I got to see first hand where the Japanese got their idea for their flag. I had fallen asleep on the tatami with no futon and with the tv and lights on (not the most comfortable way to spend an evening), so I woke up at 4:30 am. I got up and decided to go get some breakfast foodstuffs at a convenience store, but on my way decided to take a ride to find the home decorating store I saw the other day.
At 5am there was no traffic to speak of and so I went sailing down the road or sidewalks cruising through red lights when it was safe and enjoying the morning ride. I knew I had to get an early start because it would be unbearably hot in a couple of hours.
Suddenly I saw a car pass me and stop. The driver was honking his horn. It was Toyo from work! He asked me what I was doing, and to forego the long explanation of my search for a home decorating store to look for a replacement kitchen flooring, I told him I was out exercising. He was out pretty late himself, wouldn't you agree? There aren't many places open until 5am, maybe Denny's and Shirokiya. We waved goodbye and I continued on my journey.
I finally found the shop, but couldn't decipher any opening days or times. I took a peek in through the windows and was excited at the prospect of going in during working hours. As I pulled away and was about to begin an ascent to the bridge over the river, I saw the most amazing thing.
On the horizon of the pastel colored eastern sky was a large glowing red orb, its top half devoured by the hazy clouds of dawn. I sped up the hill to the crest and stopped in awe and wondered if the sun came up like this everyday. I looked around at the pretty pink, yellow and orange streaked clouds and vowed to find out.