| i just don't give a f*ck. |
[01 Nov 2006|07:05pm] |
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mood |
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 awake |
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music |
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Grave by Hungry Lucy |
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I have been here two months now, and i can honestly say that the people are friendly. The people are at first surprised to find out i'm not japanese, but make great efforts to help me understand. I can't say i'm getting the rock star treatment like some of the other foreign english teachers (and when i say foreign i mean the white-anglo variety), but as much as i want this preferred treatment because i'm new, foreign, and want as easier transition into japanese living, i know it is a double edged sword. In a few more months when all us foreign teachers get more acclimated to japan, they will still be scrutinized by all the japanese all around because they stick out like sore thumbs. they will always be treated as gai-jin (person from a foreign land), while all i have to do is flip my septum up and shut up to fade right into the crowd. No one question where i'm going, or what i'm doing. I can do as i please and no one really wonders if i am gai jin.
the land here is used very economically. (hell, there is rice patty in front of my apartment.) its seems every available centimeter of space is used the maximize the potential all the space around it. Proof to this is the fact most people here travel by bicycle. I would have traveled by bike anyway, but that is the main mode of transport here. (And in case you were wondering i have a nice little orange bike that is of the compact variety, to take less space.) as for the urban sprawls, they look like they look like they have been here for a few centuries alongside with the many shrines. in this the home of zen buddhism, different shrines to different higher powers litter the landscape to help house the spirits of those that have departed us and give spirituality to a land that is considered godless. I have rung the bell in a couple shrines asking for a little luck on my journey, but we'll what happens.
As for the language, have been progressing slowly in japanese, but i guess that is very good for a person who have never studied japanese before. Not surprisingly most of my learning happens in the bar and not the classroom. I'm learning some slang and such at these gai-jin bars, but still not competent enough to pick up any fine far eastern ladies verbally. (Good thing i majored in communications and can work the non-verbal angles.) though I am making plenty of drinking buddies and acquaintances, but am still missing actually friends. though I did meet a really cool traveler that i felt a connection with, but she is a traveler. And being a kin with the wanderers of the world i have to respect, and be envious of, her doing what i want to be do right now, traveling the world.
In the “career” arena, i am still teaching english at two good size vocational school in himeji. I am starting to understand their teaching methods here and most of the teachers are being supportive of me. As for their warnings of the students being of them being naughty, (ie the student fall asleep in class)....HA... i've gone to public school my whole life in the capital city of the smallest state in union. And the kids at my high school did so many worst things on a daily, if not hourly basis. the students here couldn't possibly hold a candle in the wind to compete. The students themselves are a funny bunch. Trying to act american bad ass while rocking reggae and rhasta colors. (marijuana and drug policies are so strick here that drug use is on super d-l. yet every other person rocks the pot leaf like the christain cross. Yes, non-believers of both sects wearing strongly symbolic objects for the shear fashion of it. It is too amusing. ) it is a bad case of their bark being worst than their bite or in this case newborn gnaw.
But back to the teachers. As i was saying i got along with most teachers. The one that seems to have a problem with me is now has left me with this statement at out last meeting: “i have nothing to say to you.” this wouldn't be that bad if she wanting the teach i teach with for 14/17 of my classes. I mean i can understand it is rough changing from having a 3 year veteran teacher (my predecessor who by a strange twist of fate was also named jon) to me a newbie to everything, wet-behind the ears replacement. I have tried, too. Trying to assist in what ever way possible, but nothing seem to satisfy her. And i ask her what i am doing wrong or what i need to correct, but she leave me with awkward silences and short, vague answer.
I have tried and failed and tried some more, but you know what after bending over backwards more than any chinese circus contortionist i have realized that i will probably never satisfy the wants of this teacher i am working with. I can deal with that. I have been/am trying my damnedest to teach english to these kids, but no matter what i try she doesn't seem happy with me. I have jumped through her miscommunicated hoops and taken the advice of other english teachers on lesson planning and class evaluations, but not even a word of encouragement from her. She knew i had no teaching experience, why is she not taking the hint i need guidance. I guess she is busy with the other tasks the school had piled on her. Whatever the case, I going to try to keep improving as a teacher and she can continue not talking to me. And as the precedence is already been made she can just pull something in class, where she and the class demonstrates how my predecessor ran the classroom, in front of me, during classtime instead of her telling me specifics during our many quiet meetings.
So japan.... i love it, i hate it, it is where i am resting my stupid ass for a while....
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| in the land of the rising sun |
[13 Sep 2006|01:51am] |
guess it's about damn time i updated....
so since a year ago i have applied and been accepted by the jet program. however late it might be, i am in japan now. i live in himeji a fair sized city known for its castle in hyogo prefecture. i've been here for 2 weeks and it has been a trip trying to get all my paperwork in order. though i must be doing well because i am getting done all the forms and documents needed for co-existence in japan in a relatively short time. these forms which usually take about a month for most other jets to do, i'm getting pushed through in less than two week. but then again most other jets had a month to adjust to japanese life. necessity called for me to get it done sooner. two weeks to give my abridged farewells to friends in ri, my packing of my most important items into two suit cases, and severing financial and personal ties. necessity also called for me a day after getting off my plane ride across the globe to prop my jet-lagged ass up on the stage to give an introduction speech to the entire school i would be assisting as a language teacher at.
this is all water under the bridge. now my main objectives are to learn japanese so i can communicate with locals (seeing i look like half of them), learn my way around himeji and neighboring areas and possibly meeting other folks that speak english who can help me hurdle the language barrier. i'll see what happens....
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| i win |
[09 Aug 2005|03:43pm] |
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mood |
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 excited |
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music |
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the sound of a quiet apartment |
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it's pennsic time again and i'm excited. i'll be rocking out with the gypsies and causing much mayham over the next week and a half stint. i have a strange feeling that i may drink my weight in mead while i'm away but i'm not too worried. i'm sure the kids in capoeira will kick my ass back into shape in no time..... with that my gear is packed ready for the road trip. guess i should get my ass into motion.
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| i am an advertising whore.... |
[22 Jun 2005|03:55pm] |
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mood |
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 accomplished |
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my capoeira group is performing this saturday night (june 25) from 8:30pm-12am for waterfire in the waterplace park basin. it is the climax to our batizado so we will have boatload of guests coming from around the country as well brazil and columbia. the batizado is an annual event to induct new students into the world of capoeira as well as to celebrate the promotion of current students to their next ranks. last year we had over 5,000 people share in the experience. let's make the attendance even bigger this year.
p.s.
this is a FREE event
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| it's like high school all over again, except i'm legal now.... |
[18 Apr 2005|05:53pm] |
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mood |
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 chipper |
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music |
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library computers typing |
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after leaving the mattress shop i figured i would have had a bit more free time on my hands to contemplate what i want to do next, as in where in the world to get lost in, but logistics of not having enough cash and a promise to friend to get his father's business ship shape again have postponed my departure a little longer. and silly work-a-holic me is not pulling a couple of extra jobs to try to make some more cash. i'm still dancing at manray's, every so often and i'm crunching numbers like a champ for rapid delivery, but i am now pulling a couple extra jobs. one at the BKC and nude modeling at RISD. i'm still playing capoeria and even picked up an extra class to train during the week. all in preparation for the batizado in june. i'm not going up another rank yet, but doing what i can to support the school.
i would have figured i would have no time left, to hang out with friends and family, but but by some blind luck i have a fairly flexable schedule. heck, tonight i'm planning on going to New Haven, CT to catch a concert.
all in all i think i'm getting out of my monotonous rut. i'm feeling so decent that even that florescent light bulb the fell on the modeling platform while i was posinging on it didn't really bother me....
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| ice queen's tit |
[18 Feb 2005|06:37pm] |
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mood |
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 energetic |
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music |
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food network |
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guess who is getting dressed up as a chip & dale's dancer on this 12°F night for FF. yeah, i'm wicked smarrrrrt.... at least i found a few strongbow tinnies at the packie last night. i havn't had myself a pint of strong bow in ages.... that cider, a Guinness (i'll sneak one in with the rest of the world), some shots, and the in-flow of people should keep me toastie for the evening/ morning. i just hope my nipples don't poke out anyone's eyes in between that time.
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| book of life |
[31 Jan 2005|02:38am] |
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mood |
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awake |
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music |
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the sol-illaquists of sound |
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externally
sundays never really are too exciting for me, but for some odd reason i went through a gambit of thoughts, emotions, and energies. i had to work at the mattress shop, but i got out out in fairly record time. i shot over to my angola capoeira class and struggled. and ended my night byu helping with the food not bombs" benefit concert. the day felt long, dragging, lethargic, and depressive at points, but luckily i ran across a few people that help to restore the equilibrium of humours; or at least whatever could be normal for me. they might not realize what they did, but i still thank them for it because it does take a lot bring me out of those stinks.
internally
an awakened feeling possibility is empowering me , but focus is needed to harness it's true potential. long planted seeds have just begun to start rooting into my mind again. repetition has sedated and shackled growth. let the tangles and thickets of thought seep its tendrils into the spine inducing overdue action. i have sat idle by the sideline long enough. steps need to be taken to set the heart soaring.
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| Bam!!!! |
[18 Jan 2005|07:06pm] |
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mood |
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 hungry |
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music |
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"good eats" with Mr. Brown |
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quite and eventful weekend this was. I had to work and go to practice, but I went back to my old tricks with going long distances to see familiar faces and new friends. I ending up in long island for the first time and getting to go back eating falafel in Brooklyn. I went to a party to see a once pious holyman, but ended up meeting some other interesting folk as well. I guess I left a good impression because I had “mad dex.” and I didn’t even have to bust out the massage lotion....
I eventually got to brooklyn and hung around williamsberg, just shooting the shit with some of ROP guys. it has been too long since I seen these kids. ill or not, I am glad I could find the time to see friends.
*mental note*
two cups of coffee, after midnight. in normal people this is a good idea, but in my system it will make me spaz out and have muscle convulsions in my legs, ass and arms.
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| birthday revisted |
[08 Dec 2004|01:31pm] |
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mood |
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rejuvenated |
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music |
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tricky - Give it to them |
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this last birthday was a quite event. no strippers, excessive substances or mountains of people. just me running errands all day, driving the length of rhode island a few times over, and then being so tired by the end of the day that nothing to do was a welcome relief.
come to think about it, I’ve been running errands his whole weekend, but was some how still been able to find time to see a few friends I haven’t seen in a while. i am very glad I was able to be with friends and family this past weekend. I was able to kick it like there were no worries. I could stare at fish for hours, sleep-in till I wanted to wake up, make a cabernet demi-glaze for a chicken dinner for a friend, see friends at an old club haunt, dance like no one was watching, sip tea with good company, sit & talk with flashing tiaras, and be called “pretty, pretty princess...” i think the fact that I was blessed with the time to be able to see friends and family was the best gift of all this weekend. this birthday wasn’t extravagant, but it was just what I wanted. a celebration of another year of life.
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[04 Dec 2004|10:30am] |
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mood |
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awake |
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music |
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the hum of my parent's computer |
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It’s my birthday, and I have no plans for later. Any suggestions?
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| tomorrow should be called Jeudi Gras |
[24 Nov 2004|07:44pm] |
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mood |
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caffinated |
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music |
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micheal jackson's thriller |
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I obviously didn’t win the lottery last saturday, but I still feel thankful for all that I have going on in my life. (ick, I must sound so cheesey....) I always seem to get this way at this time of the year with winter starting to tighten his grip over our lil’ new england city. call it seasonal reflection or whatever, but I cannot help but look over the things I wanted to and have accomplished over the past year. it helps to remind me that anything is possible, with enough desire and a pinch of luck. it also helps me to bring into focus my priorities and helps me prepare for possible plans of future ventures for next year. here’s hoping for the best to everyone....
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| old man winter |
[12 Nov 2004|03:12pm] |
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mood |
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 blah |
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music |
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flogging molly - devil's dancefloor |
] |
so it seems winter is beginning early this year.... it didn’t seem so cold out this morning. (hell I was able to go out side bare foot and tank topped to grab my work out gear, but then again it was a quick in and out.) whatever the case it seems that l’hiver will be tightening its grip around southern new england. snow is already reported in central mass and frozen rain tapped me on head this morn. I can feel the chill in my bones. the skies will darken and gray at first, but the coming winter wonderland could possibly herald a very new year.
before I forecast more, I should try to keep the future-cast to a four day overview.
this evening: work, errands and capoeira. the capoeira start south in warwick, but will extend to the Providence College region and as far as the reaches of Bryant with an 80% possibility of demonstrations in school areas. so kid make sure you clap you hand to stay warm and keep the axé up....
tomorrow: it looks hazy, with an instructor class to start and practice all day to late hours of the evening...
Sunday: just work but there is a possibility of capoeira afterwards.
Monday: this day could be a doozy.... early hospital appointments and a sedated father. things might clear up with a slayer show in the evening, but it’s hard to say right now....
thanks jon. and now back to past breaking news with on-the-spot-asian reporter $2 ho....
“those that wondered about the past Halloween scare should not be worried. it seem the parties did occurred were quote, “a fun and balls out, good time....” here is some footage:
http://share.shutterfly.com/osi.jsp?i=EeBNmbRo5ZN3Ag¬ag=1
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| faith |
[07 Nov 2004|11:29am] |
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mood |
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chipper |
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music |
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killing me softly by the fugees |
] |
the problem with being awake on Sundays is the fact no one else is awake, except Sunday drivers, besides that I’m feeling great. the day is glorious, breakfast was scrumpous, and the people that slept in my bed are up. I wish I could say I fornicating good time last night, but I was sex-iled. let me tell you, it sucked big, hairy, gooey donkey balls.
recap of night.
lets start with work.
I worked....
-then I went to martial arts and played instruments.
-went out to grab a bit with the other capoeiristas as opposed to going to stompfest.
-was planing to go out to movies with the kids from dinner, but bailed to take one of the girls home.
-dropped her off and proceeded to my home due to tiredness and stomach pains
-was to meet up with another friend at century lounge, but she didn’t show up.
-sat by self for an extra half and listen to a pretty good band none the less.
-was going to head home but stopped off at sciotti’s
-thought i would try to salvage rest of night.
-went with group to see band has been 80’s bands at living room
-went to a fake cape verdian’s (she was actually dominican) house for a party.
-didn’t know it was a belated halloween/costume party.
-left by 3 am
-got home by 3:30
-saw mutual friend mike with a lady friend on my bed.
-heard roomie with another lady friend in bathroom.
-chatted with mike
-changed in to pj’s
-got sex-iled upstairs to a cold couch by 4 am.
-tried to sleep, but melodic thumping rose from floor boards.
-forced self to go to sleep because I knew I have work in morning
-woke from alarm setting on phone with cold feet
-borrowed landlord’s shower
-called roomie to check if safe to go down stairs
-got clothes for work
-made all four of them breakfast (pesto/herb scrambled eggs, tator tots, sausage patties, & english muffins)
-ran out to work on time
-saw it was an incredible day out and felt re-newed in the fact tomorrow is another day.
-found out I could have had today off.
-my computer crashes
-waiting for custies to come in to buy mattresses.
p.s.
I found out I am azn: 
Hella asian 100%
How azn are u?
brought to you by Quizilla
and that being a december baby ain't that bad except for the random acts of patriotism....
Take the quiz: "What does your birth month reveal about you?"
December
Loyal and generous. Sexy. Patriotic. Active in games and interactions. Impatient and hasty. Ambitious. Influential in organizations. Fun to be with. Loves to socialize. Loves praises. Loves attention. Loves to be loved. Honest and trustworthy. Not pretending. Short tempered. Changing personality. Not egoistic. Take high pride in oneself. Hates restrictions. Loves to joke. Good sense of humor. Logical.
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| all hallows eve |
[29 Oct 2004|03:44pm] |
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mood |
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hyper |
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music |
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knockin' on heavan's door bu eric claptin |
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I can already tell this is going to be a devilish weekend, all hallows eve is upon us again.... I see no carved potatoes or druids of old circling sacrifices over alters right now, but there’s a tingling in my bones and a strange energy in the air. I know I won’t be sleeping at home any of these nights, but rather waking the dead instead. much merriment is in store between the tricks and/or treats laid out for the living while their revelry will be felt by those not within this plane. work is placed in my path, but so much electricity all around.... I can’t sit still. I know my fellow capoeirista of grupo ondas are in miami for a batizadu. I know they are going to do great. I send them much love and I can sense the axé back. I guess the moon set this in motion a few days ago, but when this weekend’s is over and the last demon dissipates, ghostly light will trumpet the dawn of all saints’ day.
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| in love and anacrhy.... |
[20 Oct 2004|03:32pm] |
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mood |
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 cold |
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music |
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louie, louie by black flag |
] |
this was a long weekend. I got picked up with 3 other people on Friday morning and drove through bad and worse weather to get to DC for the million worker march. we got to the friend’s house late that Friday evening, but were not the last. the march wasn’t till Sunday so heads just kept flowing in. I think we had a total of at least 50 people crashed out around the house when we left the morning of the march. and let me tell you, 50 anarchists walking down the street to the metro, to another meet up spot where there were only more anti-authoritarians, does look very intimidating. we ended up doing a black block mini march thought the downtown DC streets, through police lines and midday traffic with about 250-300 people to the Lincoln memorial, where we found to our dismay that the million worker march was actually a commie rally. there weren’t as many union folk as they said there would be, and the cops were spying on us, but it make no never mind. we were being active. I had my initial reservations about the fact that I was with all anarchists, but after hanging out and kicking back a few 40’s and checking out a few punk/folk shows with all the kids I had to re-examine my assumptions. they were a chill bunch and I think i will have to do the activist thing which these folks again.
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| trying to make a difference |
[14 Oct 2004|03:38pm] |
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mood |
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chilly |
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music |
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far away boys by flogging molly |
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i haven't done anything socially minded since i had last got two bus loads of people from my university to new york city for the stop the war protest a couple of years ago. it is sad to say, but i haven't had much spare time to fight the good fight. i think it is time for me do something again, being active. i'll be going to the million worker march in washington, dc this weekend.
i used to want to change the world overnight, but i had to realize i can only do so much. not to say activism has no place in my life anymore, it has just been shifted on my list of priorities. i need to work now, pay bills and do the things other responsible adults have to do. it kinda makes me ill to think that against all my efforts to stay out of the system, i had bought in. i haven't bought in completely yet though i can see it looming over the horizon. "if i just settle on something, like an apartment, mattress, or a job..." i can just see the want and desire to be comfortable outweighing my lust for adventure and exploration. i wish i could be financially comfortable and continue to be a vagabond as i am now, but unless i win the powerball (lottery) it's not going to happen. i'll just have to deal with this constant feeling of discomfort until i feel i have thoroughly lived up my youth. i don't want to be one of those old geezers that goes, "i wish i done that when i was younger...." because regret is one of the worst things to live with. i'll just continue to be a content tumble weed and go where the wind blows me, with no real direction, and only knowing where i had been, but not where i'm headed.
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| running into sidewalks |
[08 Oct 2004|12:33pm] |
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mood |
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 good |
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music |
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stone temple pilots, days of the week |
] |
errgh.... must up date.....must get out of mind altered stated. must cross post....
ok, i'm back from amsterdam. it was a dam good time. cookies were tossed, but none were my own. it was my second time being in the big HO, but the first time going through Schiphol airport. the flight itself was fine because it was direct, though it rained a lot when we got there. we made the most of it by hiding in many coffee shops or in our Rembrandt apartment on Herengracht.
so many illict drugs imbibed and inhaled. the intangible fog that blurred my brain didn’t clear from my mind until fairly recently.... chronic, shrooms, and hash, oh my....
and just so you know we were not just getting high the whole time. we also went about normal touristy life as well. we ate toasties, drank strong coffee, and indulged in dark chocolates. we strolled the streets of the red light, rode the trams to our hearts content, and chilled out on the Cannabis College 4:20 boat ride with some guys from jane’s addiction and porno for pyros.
we also were able to hit up a few sites such as Anne Frank’s house, the Heineken factory, the Cannabis College, the Van Gogh museum (with a special exhibit by Manet), a piercing studio called Dare 2 Wear and enjoy a witty, improvisational comedy show called Boom Chicago.
we were planning a few possible hookings, hangings, and/or pullings, but due to time constraints we were not able to do anything freaky deeky. next time, next time.....
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| the weekend is landing |
[17 Sep 2004|03:52pm] |
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mood |
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bouncy |
] |
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music |
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kool & the gang, jungle boogie |
] |
oh me friggin’ goodness,
I cannot believe it is only like four days till I go off to amsterdam. I don’t remember being this excited since I was 8 on Christmas eve. today, is also the last shift I have to work at the mattress joint, but i have a couple of capoeira classes before the fun begins. but that isn’t busy enough of a schedule you say?
ok how about this for tonight: I go to practice, then to a demo in brockton, then to manray’s in boston ,and then to practice again in the morning? still not enough.... alright you asked for it...... I haven’t packed yet.....the way I figure it, I still have a lot to do, but I’ll be able to do and slack off at the same time. which would explain my day yesterday, where I woke up, went to work, did grocery shopping, went to Rosh Hashanah dinner, did sound work with a friend, and still found time to do laundry after I was done with the gig. I cut loose. all I can think of is a quote from a movie called “human traffic”
“The weekend has landed. All that exists now is clubs, drugs, pubs and parties. I've got 48 hours (or in my case a week) off from the world man. I'm gonna blow steam out of my head like a screaming kettle. I’m gonna talk codshit to strangers all night, I'm gonna lose the plot on the dance floor; the free radicals inside me are freaking man! Tonight I'm Jip Travolta, I'm Peter Popper - I'm going to Never Never Land with my chosen family man. We're gonna get more spaced out than Neil Armstrong ever did. Anything could happen tonight ya know! This could be the best night of my life! I've 73 quid in my back burner, I'm gonna wax the lot of it; the Milky Bars are on me. Yeah!.”
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| 403.8 miles later.... |
[12 Sep 2004|02:38pm] |
| [ |
mood |
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hungry |
] |
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music |
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sick of you by gwar |
] |
demoes done, birthdays had, swap-ass spoted, and CT speeding ticket evaded. this was a mild weekend, but my money still disappers way too quick. i'm still kicking myself because i find out way too late i could have made a couple grand this last week doing more stage set up.... grrrrr. atleast i had a good time with friends instead.
in 9......
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