March 25, 2018 + Photos

            It’s…been a rough patch.  Not in terms of like…bad stress?  Just a lot of exhaustion just because I’ve had less time for myself.  Between trying to fix my sleeping schedule and welcoming our new teacher, I’ve had about 1 day to myself a week and far fewer hours after work, all of which is less than ideal.  School is fine, I like our new arrival, she’s cool, and both my bosses are here now, so…pins and needles, folks, pins and needles.

            Life at the school is better, we have a much happier and friendlier atmosphere overall.  Lots of students are leaving because of graduation or changes in their lifestyle, it happens at the end of every March, apparently.  It’s sad.  I will miss a number of them.  Life goes on, but…

            I do want to say, I’ve had a case of the sads lately.  Largely just nostalgia and missing home.  A comic was updated recently that reminded me of my best friend and how much I miss her.  New Overwatch update makes me miss half of my friends and talking with my DnD buddies makes me miss DnD and the other half of my buddies.  Life here is fine, but…I miss people, you know?

            In other news, I got to see Shirioshi castle as part of a team building exercise, and then we headed to Kitsune Mura, the fox village.  Took lots of pictures of cute foxes and other animals.  It’s not exactly restful because even if you move less during a road trip, it’s not your personal time.  That said, I did have a good experience with this adventure, got to know my new colleague, and saw some more rural areas in the Miyagi region. There were a few parties to send people off as well, since the students are graduating, and more team building with my bosses. I got to try an excellent Chinese place I must go back to next time I’m in Sendai.  And more Amiibos.  I don’t buy that many, actually.  I just found one or two I really wanted…nostalgia, mostly.  Cloud Strife and Mewtwo.  Fists in the air for Smash Bros Brawl Switch.  That also reminds me, I miss my brother.  I wish we could play together like we used to.  I also miss my niece, who’s just growing like a weed, hehe.

            Enough maudlin crap.  Today, I also saw a play.  I tried out the dry cleaning near my house, it was time to get my blankets cleaned, and it worked well, but I was so tired.  But, I was given a ticket to see this play and had just enough time to see it before our team building, so…I went for it.  I was called and one of my students was in it, so I answered.  It was done by a group of students ranging from elementary to junior high and maybe high school.  I’m not sure what I was expecting, but…they went all out.  The story is pretty fairy tale-esque, as it was about a fairy helping a group of people by letting toys come alive and be their inspiration.  In the end, everyone goes off to pursue their dreams and everyone is happy.  However, we had major production values.  Choreographed dancing with up to 40 students of all ages, all in sync.  Great singing, mics on basically everyone, audience interaction, and lots of small touches that others could miss, but which just make it that more…wow.  For example, our main heroine, a little girl, comes in on her scooter and hits a magic fairy.  Like 30 students gather around her to talk and sing, and off to the side, the fairy is acting her heart out like she just got hit by a truck and is crawling around on the floor to safety and no one on stage is paying attention to her, but it just adds to the whole scene.  It’s funny, charming, and excellent.  Or the amazing computer programmer who’s singing about giving a great gift to a girl he likes, is doing cartwheels and flips(yes, really) and behind him, a delinquent just takes his present, blows him a kiss, and casually strolls off scene like it’s no big thing and he doesn’t see her at all.  It’s the little things that make it shine, but the music and singing were top notch, stuff like this would, I think, even impress Broadway.  There are some weird moments, though, like when our heroine gets kidnapped, RIGHT NEXT TO the male leads and no one pays it any mind.  Then they get a note.  And then EVERYONE whines about their own problems before the old mentor tells them to get their act together and they are like, “Oh yeah, kidnapped…” it’s part of the charm, but very much a play.  I had a great time, though, I imagine I stuck out like a sore thumb. The foreigner in the black coat amongst all the families there to see their kids.

            Before I show photos, a few random thoughts from both Japan and the internet.  Why do people try and use English with me when I speak Japanese with them?  I can speak the language, guys.  Best quote from my friend in regards to America, “It’s like everyone is trying to pretend the government isn’t imploding.” And finally, I get sick of people online and off who try to assume they know what’s best for everyone or who denigrate a person because they’re tired or sick or not feeling well from something that wouldn’t put anyone else down.  Different people have different tolerances, so don’t tell people how to live.  And those are my random thoughts and frustrations.  Photo time!

Map of Shirioshi castle, beautifully illustrated

Love plum blossoms, it reminds me of Sumi

Fox Village time.  So cute!  So floofy!

Also goats!

Also mutant rabbits from...wait, what?!  These are mara, they're like rabbits with deer legs.

Proper rabbits

Guinea pigs!

So cuuuuuuuuuute!

March 12, 2018 + Photos

March 12, 2018 + Photos

            It’s been a week.  No, this does not mean weekly updates are coming back.  I’m toying around with timing, deal with it. Also photos.  I have photos to share from before 2018, so...there's that. Anyway, the atmosphere at work has been very pleasant, of late.  I’ve had time to relax…kind of.  See, even with time to relax, I tend to just do more work, but it’s the atmosphere I appreciate.  The atmosphere is much more easy-going for everyone present.  Of course, my boss is here as well, so…I’m nervous. Like ya do. He’s actually been lending me some stuff to broaden horizons a bit.  I’ve got a book about the hero of Nioh, William Adams, and I’m trying out a murder mystery.  Still not sure if I like it better than IJ parker's Akitada yet, but it’s interesting.  The style is vastly different than my own, which gives the writer in me some…things to think about.

            I’ve spent a decent amount of time gaming, but that’s not really news.  I’ve been tired enough to stop and just go to bed early in places is the news.  But it’s part of life.  We’re all adjusting to new things going on, and for me, Saturday was hard just because I had to finish up my extra classes I’d taken on.  It was nice, I think the kids in them will have a good time traveling abroad, but the relief is having two weekend days again.  In other news, I took out a friend of mine to Yakiniku because he’s changing companies.  A bit sad, but we’ll hang out more, I feel certain.  He introduced me to beef heart and…may have to try more of that later.

            I had a restful day on Monday and a busy day on Sunday.  Sunday, I refilled my soda stocks, got a good pizza, and bought some more games and…sigh…amiibos.  Welcome to another thing I can collect, boys and girls.  Still, they’re good quality and very cool as decorations.  I’ve got enough self-control to limit my purchases to just what I want too, so…it’s fine, I’m sure it’s fine(it’s not fine.) I’m trying to get my energy back, but I have a lot of obligations forth coming.  Heading to Sendai to deal with immigration stuff on Tuesday, before work.  Also meeting my new colleague this week.  And it’s a house cleaning week, so there’s that.  Now, for what I promised in the title.  Picture time.

This little diorama was a huge surprise to me, but a welcome one.  It was in a package of cookies from Hakodate and...wow, it's great.  A poke out the paper pieces and make my own little city.  Awesome.

Next few are from New Years, my Takekoma shrine visit.  It's a beautiful shrine, but it was really crowded.  I just got some random photos.

Add another one to the pile of adorable barricades.  Here we have the noble panda in his native environment.  The snow.

I haven't bought too terribly many decorations.  A few hanging wall stuffs, but none of the Gatchapon or statues of my youth.  However, Amiibos are a thing and these statues are beautiful.  Along with my new Nintendo Switch, I have 5 Zelda amiibos for one of my new favorite games.  From back to front and left to right we have Mipha, Revali, Zelda, Urbosa, and Daruk.  The gang's all here.

A Fresh Start

A Fresh Start: March 6, 2018

            It’s been a while, hasn’t it?  Why now?  Well, you could say I was made an offer I couldn’t refuse…although, I could.  We all have choices.  Let’s perhaps say instead I was given the praise I have so often been missing in my life.  Not sure when updates will resume or how often, I’m leaning towards less due to how routine life can become.  But for now, let me give you the story thus far.

            Since December, I have been…very busy.  I took on some extra lessons for my city to teach some kids heading out to Australia for two weeks.  It’s easy enough work and reminds me of my time in China, with a similar ensemble style of teaching being employed.  It’s exhausting due to the odd hours but rewarding as well.  I feel a bit awkward doing it, but I feel awkward doing many things.  It’s not that different.  Life continued here in this tiny town without waiting for me.  I’ve been trying to catch up, in not so many words.  These new lessons mean my schedule of relaxing has been…chaotic.  I have had to cut down pizza and bath times greatly.

            On the flipside, I am enjoying some new things.  I continue to try new food and have found a winning combo of shitake alongside my usual fair when eating yakiniku.  My anxiety with teaching was high for a while, but as of now, it has settled.  I am still nervous, but I have been given encouragement that has helped me to relax, if only a little.  And, I have been busy here in town.  I have many things I want to do, but finding the will is hard.  I want to sleep a lot, but I also want to edit, read books, play games, and travel.  The latter has been the hardest.  With my weekends being cut in half, basically, I really just want to rest at home.  That ends this weekend, though.  Perhaps soon I can travel again.  I might enjoy that, if only for a day.

            My writing and my book continues on as it always has. It is slow but rewarding in its own way.  I struggle to sit down and write, despite the desire I have but always manage at least 2 hours most weeks.  The story is one I am proud of, though I do not know how others might feel.

            I have dealt with a lot of anger, in recent months. It’s something that exhausts me, to be honest.  Some of it is directed outwards, and some inwards, which leads to depression.  I have managed to cut a lot of that toxicity out of my system.  Much as I love Gwent, for example, it is not good for me.  It does not make me happy the way it used to. Being able to let go of the anger has been nice, but I am still lonely.  I have friends in town, but we’re all busy and even if we were not, I like my down time at home.  It’s a Gordian’s knot of unsatisfied feelings, some days.

            Enough of the maudlin crap, though.  I bought a Nintendo Switch.  I was waiting and waiting for a bit, but…well, let’s say that as much as I love Nier Automata, it wasn’t making me happy, it was very frustrating.  And as well designed as Culdcept Revolt is as a card game, the story bored me to tears.  So, I put both of those, and Gwent, aside and decided to splurge.  I bought a Switch and Zelda.  For that first week, I was the happiest I had been in months…maybe even years.  The beauty. The splendor.  The sheer unbridled fun.  The discovery…it was intoxicating.  Perhaps it’s good I finished it, as it can indeed be life consuming.  My opinion has cooled, but only slightly.  It is now my favorite Zelda game, despite a few small warts.  I also bought Mario Odyssey, Never stop Sneakin, and a few amiibos as part of this new wave of consumerism.  Why not?  For the first time in what feels like ages, I have the cash to do so.  The realization, the freedom, and the play have made me very happy.

            I caught up with Wakfu season 3 and some fan fics related to it.  It’s been nice, revisiting these old worlds and getting lost in the music and the splendor, alongside my new obsession, the Ancient Magus’s Bride.  I still have my love of Japanese culture and the enka that rotates around in my playlist is nice, as is my smooth video game jazz, but…there is something nice about these otherworldly things.

            That about brings us up to the present.  I have stressors and I am anxious about both a package I sent and one I am due to receive from the government, pertaining to me staying here.  However, I have faith it will work out, one way or another.  I have felt lighter, recently.  Perhaps it’s because of my haircut.  Perhaps I’ve just found a reason to smile again.  Work is easier, at least for today it was and my boss brought me thanksgiving microwaveable stuffing, which I have been craving.  I don’t know exactly how to feel in a lot of circumstances.  But life is good.  I don’t have any desire to return to the US.  Not until it gets its shit together.  For right now, Japan suits me fine.

            March will be a fresh start for me, in a number of ways.  I am hoping it is a sign of renewal.  I want to start dating again.  I want to travel more.  I want to, of course, keep writing and playing my games.  I want to show my family the world I have been so smitten with.  And I want to stride forward with some degree of certainty.  How much of that will happen?  I don’t know…but I’m going to keep walking.  See you in a bit.