July
11, 2018
So, let’s
get a few things out of the way first. I
have a super amazing mega cute story at the end of all my updates, wait for it,
but I do have some house cleaning to do first.
Item
the first, I have seriously considered getting rid of all my social media
outlets. I won’t, because I know that
some people would miss me and some people will care that I’m gone. That’s basically all that ties me to it. I don’t like the news in my feeds, it’s all
depressing, and while I do like writing these, let’s be honest, less than 20
people read them each update. It’s not a
huge deal. Also, throughout my life on Facebook
or what have you, I’ve always had any statements or beliefs I’ve made be
countered immediately, almost as a knee jerk reaction. It frustrates me. The people doing it aren’t necessarily wrong,
but I just want to express myself and ironically, social media is not the place
for that because it is like a den of wolves.
Item
the second, I have started going into online dating again. That’s about all. It’s for the experience at the moment, to get
used to online dating and trying to reach out to people, but so far, I’ve had
no bites and have nothing of real value to share.
Item
the third, I’m not in the best of moods, lately. It’s not that life here isn’t great…to be
honest, life here is beyond my wildest hopes and dreams and we’ll get to that,
but I just feel listless and a little lost, especially when it comes to games, which
are my primary stress relievers, so if my mood reflects that, I’m sorry, but
this is me. This is me right now as I
write this.
With
all that out of the way, let me say summer has been kicking our butts up and
down the pacific here in Natori. The
heat is manageable on some days, but others, walking outside feels like
stepping into an oven. I had to step
into the oven and head into Sendai to get some new clothes and a few supplies
for the school and it worked out well, I now have a reliable clothes vendor that
fits me, shock of shocks. I’ve been
struggling with the heat and with dry throat because I NEED my A/C on whenever
I’m home to just function. It’s not all
that bad and it is getting more manageable as I get used to it, but it has left
the last month a bit difficult, which might add to my listless feeling.
Now,
for work. God, I love this job. I love
working as a teacher where I am right now.
We have a supportive staff, my skills continue to get better, and my
students and I have developed the kind of rapport I can be proud of. More on that later, but this job is probably
the best one I’ve ever had in my life.
Point of fact, my bosses are also pretty awesome. They sent a care package to our school and my
part of it had instant mac and cheese that only needed water. Now, you might think that the instant stuff
isn’t that great…but good lord, no. It’s
magic. Magic in a little plastic cup. I
haven’t had mac for a solid year and this is something I need my family and
friends to send me more of. Haha, so
good!
I’ve
recently had a chance to just relax, more like been forced to relax due to the
heat, but it’s nice to just explore the shrines, visit my bath house, go to
fine restaurants in my area, and try new things. I tried the 8-cheese pizza from a local pizza
shop, you know, a hole in the wall delivery place, and it’s wonderful. I am gonna get me some more of that
later. The Seims shop near my house has
also been a wonderful supply of useful items from cleaners to candy. I love my candy. Exercises are still going, though I do miss
days once in a while due to things like scheduling. I had to get my A/C cleaned one day and that
started at 8 and lasted till 10, so I just collapsed after that and skipped it,
for example. As a way to try and deal with my listlessness and because I have
money now, I bought an SNES classic, but since it was the English version, it’ll
be near the end of July that it arrives.
So sad. And my family is coming to visit me in August. Super excited for that, though we couldn’t
get tickets for the Ghibli museum. Of
course not. So sad. Or is it?
I’ll have a good time either way.
As I get older, I’ve learned to let go of fleeting sadness more and more
to try and embrace the joy in life. My writing of my personal tarot book is
going well, thank you friend who sent me the awesome leather tome, you know who
you are. I’ve got the major arcana and
two minor arcana done. Just two more minors,
the face cards, and my personal tarot quiz from Ogre Battle. My writing is
going well, but it’s become difficult at times to keep going. I want to tell a great story but sitting down
to write is hard. Anyway, we’re entering
end game. When I finish around December,
I’ll need to start looking for a serious copy editor and then shop it around to
publishers.
Before
we get to the awesome story, I need to take a moment of silence. It’s been very difficult for me personally for
a number of reasons. One of them was due
to the toxicity of the politics in the US, which I try to avoid, but which
still drags me down. In other news,
Daniel Floyd from Extra Credits stepped down as the iconic narrator, which was
sad…he’s got a good replacement, nothing against Matt, but it’s the end of an era
all around. He’s still making videos, and that’s cool, but…yeah…and what I’m
still trying to process on some levels is the passing of John “TotalBiscuit,”
Bain from cancer. He was a world changing force and a source of great joy,
humor, and happiness in my life as a video critic, commentator, and pundit and
he will be missed. I donated to the
charity set up to help his wife and played a few games I normally wouldn’t have
in his honor.
Okay,
okay, you want the juicy stuff. Let’s
get to it. So, the reason I decided to
write this today was because I had a special feeling. It doesn’t happen often, but as I was riding
down to the bento shop during my break to get food, a voice calls out to me
from a car. “Hi Stephen!” I look and it’s
one of my students. I get my bento and
another student shyly waves to me. Another
student I taught. I am riding home and I
get another call of, “Hey Stephen-sensei!” from yet another student. I’m no
celebrity, but…it got to me, a little.
These people know me and they think kindly of me enough to say
hello. They smile and wish me well. And put that together with this wonderful
town, that has everything I want.
Everything I need. And then ask
me the question, “Could you see yourself living here in 20 years?” You’re damn right I could. Seeing my students grow and improve has been
a joy of mine as a teacher from the very beginning, but this time, I just felt…home.
I love Natori so very much. If I ever do
leave, like for Hokkaido or China or to return to the states, I’ll make it a
point to visit again. My favorite places
in the world. Number 1, Fushimi
Inari. It’s because of an old love.
Number 2, Hakodate. It’s the food and the beauty. Number 3, Natori. Because it’s home. And yes, for you readers getting upset, my hometown
stateside is tied at number 4 with Osaka.
It too is wonderful, but…Natori has won me over. So, that’s my little cute story. About being home. I’m glad to be here. Always.
This places makes me so very happy.
