Kyoto Aki Kouyo (leaf changing) Nov 2008

Today I took the JR Tokai line to Kyoto to enjoy 3 days of hanging out in Kyoto with some new friends I met since I got back to Japan.

These pictures are in Kyomizudera and Arashiyama in Kyoto, 2 of my favorite spots in the universe. If there is any doubt in your mind why I truly love this land so much, these pictures should erase that on the spot. Enjoy.

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A few thoughts at random...

Taking public transportation here is like riding in a limo sometimes back home. The buses run on time ALL the time, and inside is nice, clean and quiet as a church mouse! subways and trains are the same-- most of the time I end up being the loud one, if I happen to get on the train with a few friends and we're talking a bit. The second biggest train station in Nagoya is Kanayama station, and its either a 10 minute walk or a 2~3 minute bike ride from my pad (yep, I bought a used bike when I got here-- EVERYONE rides bikes to get around their neighborhood, and it's as important as owning a car is in Atlanta.)

Tonight after work I'm going to the public bath... its more like a huge spa, but for about $6 you can relax in the hot water and unwind and drink a beer or two. As you know, I don't mind being nekkid in front of other folks so it's all good. Wildly enough, I end up meeting the coolest people at sentos (public baths) and onsens (hot springs) After that, I need to go and buy a small room heater-- it's chilly as hell now, and my apartment has NO insulation around the big huge balcony sliding door that makes up one side of my room.

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OBAMAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!

I'll say it-- For the first time in a long damn time, I actually do have hope in my country and fellow countrymen again. Over here in Japan, I was told by by students that Obama had won. See here in Japan, the polls closed at around 12 noon... So I was in the middle of a lesson. As soon as it was over, one of my students checked the internet and ran back yelling "Sensei, Sensei!!! Obama katsushitaaaaaa!!" Which means "Teacher, Teacher, Obama woooooooon!!!"

I actually got emotional, and had to try to explain to the kids around me what this meant. But this has been all over the news-- just today I woke up and watched NHK news and they dedicated 20 minutes to the American presidential race (most of it talking about Obama actually) I think the Japanese like Obama more than McCain for the same reasons that most of the world does-- He symbolizes home and change for the better. My students certainly know-- they asked me who did I vote for when I first got here. I said "Obama", and they say "yokatta na"-- "That's good isnt it?" Yes it is.

The picture BTW is of me and some fellow teachers from other schools I ran into-- some have "I <3 Obama" on their faces!!

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Miner inconviences...

I'm sorry I've been outta touch lately y'all but please try to understand-- I am living in a country now where no one really steps outside the rules... Unlike the US where we Yanks have a large gray-zone, Japanese pride themselves on following rules to the last letter.

Right now I am waiting on them to process my Gaikokujin Toroku shomeishou, which is Japanese for "alien registration ID" or as we americans know it, Green Card.

Without this, I cant even rent a damn DVD at the movie joint across the street! I cant open a bank account, I cant get cellphone service, I cant get DSL at home, and I cant even go get my drivers license here!

This IS how its supposed to work actually in our country to by the way, but we all know it doesnt, but mostly because the bureacracy has cracks wider than the Grand Canyon. But here in Japan, the government is a ginormous machine where each cog and wheel is counted, oiled, and checked at least 200 times per day, and there's no side-stepping done. If they say it(ll be a month before you get a little plastic card that says the same exact thing as the big sticker you have in your passport, then its gonna take that long, and tough titties if it makes your life hella inconvient in the meantime.

So for now, I have to hit internet cafes, or sneak some internet time at work to communicate back home... Please dont be mad if my replies are limited...

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