Tokyo, my home?! (Feb 24 Diary Entry)
(Written back around 2001)
Hello,
Hope everything is going well. For those who have written or called, thank you. It’s nice to be updated with what’s happening back home — your trials, tribulations, troubles, and joys. It’s nice to know that no matter where someone may call home even if it’s on the other side of the planet, we’re really not too far away — in mind, spirit, internet, air waves.
The past couple months or so since my last spam have been quite interesting. I’ve done a bit of travelling near the surrounding areas of Tokyo. Thankfully, these weren’t work-trips, which means:don’t have to worry about rushing to and thro’; preparing for the next presentation; worrying about what’s happening back at home base. Well almost… got an “emergency” call from my coworker while i was on the rapid train to Hakone. What can you do? Luckily she was able to work it out.
Ahh… but I digress. Let me start from the beginning. First off, Matsumoto. It is about 2 hours by special train Northwest of Tokyo.It was first week of January. It was freezing cold. Even my friend from Toronto said so. Now that’s cold. Didn’t do much, butgot to get out of Tokyo
Next, first weekend of February. Went to Nikko for the first time. Joined the International Adventure Club on their outing. Tried Cross Country Skiing for the first time. It was peaceful. It was fun. It was tiring. The interesting thing that happened during the trek was that there were 2 wild dogs attacking a large deer. There was blood stained snow everywhere. It was a gruesome sight. The deer was in soooooooooooooooooooomuch pain. With eyes glossed over, it looked like it was crying. My friend beside me. Being a hunting enthusiast, pulled out his camera and tooksome pictures. Being the camera happy person I am, i took out mine too. It was unbelievable. Something that doesn’t happen often, and to get iton “film”….
!!SUDDENLY!!
The deer starting hopping towards us, trailed by these dogs. It was ‘yelping’. We were scrambling to put our belongings back in our bags. With a sudden adrenaline rush, we managed to run up this small hill (big when you are using cross country skiis). Safely out of harms way. A few moments later, another pair of cross country skiiers happened along the path, not sure what they did as the deer and dogs were right on the trail.
What a way to go.
Back at the ski lodge. We shared our story with the others. They didn’t believe it until we showed it on the camera. Just as we had anticipated.
We changed. Relaxed over some tea and snacks. Had a warm soak.
Went downstairs for an amazing Japanese-style dinner. Nikko is famous for it’s Yube. (As far as I can figure it’s like beancurd). It’s the skim that comes offwhen they make tofu. We had Yube served sashimi style ie. wasabi; Yube nabe; Yube this, Yube that. For you Yube fans out there, you would have loved it.
After dinner. We chatted. Played some sort of knot tying game. And crashed. It was 9:30 PM. Get ready for another exciting day of skiing then back home (of course, first stopping off at the famous shrine/temple in Nikko along the way).
Following week, it was off to Hakone. Nice journey. It was snowing heavily. Really couldn’t see too much scenery. But, tried the famous onsen eggs. Supposedlyextends your life by 8 years. I had two of them. Went to a famous tempura/soba place. It was great — soba tea; soba; deep fried soba cheese?; soup; and the highlight … for me anyways, was fresh DIY wasabi that you could grate yourself. Man, was it tough to do. I ended up eating the remainder of the root out of frustration. Has a bit ofa carrot/daikon texture. Fresh wasabi really ain’t all that hot. As we had the Hakone free pass, we wanted to make best use of our transportation options. We triedall of the different modes that were available: ropeway (like a ski gondola); bus; train; vernacular (which is something like a train that climbs a mountain — similar to what you would find in Penang; or Hong Kong) and ferry. Unfortunately, no plane. Headed home. Went to a Okonomiyaki and Manjaku place. It was really good. Taxi home.
Few days later, had a birthday party for my friend. It was nice, went treking around a small mountain near Yokohama. Wanted to go ice skating but it was closed; instead went bowling. First time for me in Japan! I also got one of my personal best scores (i think it was about 110 or so; top score was maybe 116). Went to a farm to have a barbeque. Just like back home (almost). Had a hut to ourselves with charcoal grills. Big pieces of chicken surprisingly; strips of beef (like yaki niku/shabu shabu); veggies; asahi beer. Afterwards, burned off some of the calories by playing ping-pong — not really my thing. Of all the racquet sports, i think badminton is more my speed. haha. (Bill, stop laughing).
–Valentines day. My day off! Promised some friends that I would make them dinner. So slaved over the stove and made chinese food: fried rice (with sausage from Vivian/ Candice); singapore noodles; ginger chicken and papaya soup. Next day, I somehow caught a bad cold. Which kept me home the entire weekend. Because, I needed to be well for ….
AC/DC Stiff Upper Lip Tour. Yokohama Arena. Got the afternoon off so that I could go to it. It was an unbelievable sight. Thousands of Japanese salarymen coming from work;dressed in their suits and ties; filing into the arena. Young’ones; old ones (me guess about 40-45) — AC/DC has been around for just over a quarter century. Everything was orderly; fairly tightsecurity; although i managed to get my camera in. No mosh pit or body surfing here. No big cloud of pot. Not even allowed to bring food into the arena! Then it was getting time. ANGUS
He finally made his entrance (somewhat disappointing entrance). The crowd went wild (in a Japanese sorta way). Played songs from old and new album: Thunderstruck, Back in Black, Dirty Deeds, Whole lotta rosie, etc… During She’s got the Jack; one girl took off her top. It was surprising to see that they would show this on thebig screen… Final song, For those about to rock. Overall a good concert, wouldn’t mind seeing some more, a bit pricey –> about 120$ CDN. However, didn’t bring the sametingling down the spine as when I saw U2 in Vancouver. Dunno… Maybe I’m just getting old.
Finally, to end the week, and pretty much the month. Went to MacWorld in Makuhari Messe yesterday. It was interesting. Saw the new G4 laptop. Amazing software tools. Got a few demo cd’s and mouse pads. Afterwards, walked around the area a bit and came across a Outlet Mall! Pretty good prices. Shops include: adidas, Nike, Hush Puppies, and many others. Also a Carrefour opened up nearby, and I think there is a Costco… which reminds me… I need to get a membership card. Anyways, if you come out here, I will be more than happy to show you this place - it’s about 90 minutes from my place. Near Disneyland!
So back to my original question –> what is home? I don’t know. To me, I’ve been in Japan for just a little over 2 1/2 years now. Starting to invest a fair bit of time and money to learn the language. Have met many wonderful people from all over the world. Still enjoying: the crowds, the peacefulness of a hike; theneon, the japanese lantern lit street; the vibrant city life, the laid-back country side; the latest technological innovations, the simplethings which are uniquely japanese — a futon dryer; a wasabi grater; the tall buildings, the shrines and temples; the fresh sashimi, the charcoalbroiled yakitori; the local transportation network; the bullet train; the mountains, the sea; drinking under a cherry tree, going to an iizakaya; watching a matsuri. Before coming to Japan, I didn’t really think about how long I would stay — probably 2 years. There have been the ups and downs;just like every other foreigner will say to you… many of whom only planned to stay a year.
For now, Japan is still home for me. But I know there’s always the option of going back to Canada; or even other parts of the world. So don’t be surprised if you see me next month back in Canada; or a couple years down the road. The decision will be difficult as it willmean that I have to start over again - move; leave my friends; resettle; find a new job; etc… It will probably depend on what happens over the nextcouple of months-work wise; whether I can find a school in Japan or distance based comparable to what I can get in Canada; how much I can save up — difficult in Tokyo etc.
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