名古屋 X 名古屋

After my second day of classes, I'm pretty well settled in, but I still haven't been here long enough to stop noticing the stares, glares, and reactions to me.  I got the whole gamut this time:  from a little kid running away in terror, to odd (yet extremely creepy) smiles and waves from schoolgirls on another train, to looks of "WTF are you doing here" from salarymen and senior citizens, to people giving puzzled, inquisitive stares that could only be stopped by giving the offending gaper(s) a dose of the patented Gaijin Optic Blast (which consists of simply staring back at them to let them know you know you're being gawked at and that you don't approve).  It will never stop being humbling to be "the minority".  It has forever made me more conscious of the subtle nuances people use when interacting with others of different races or backgrounds even in America.  I've met some new people - again from all over the world - and I'm beginning to fill my schedule with various things to do.  Since I'm also doing gaming coverage while here, I have a new set of challenges to cope with as well, which I'm more than ready to tackle head-on, though I'd be lying if I said I wasn't at least a little bit nervous about making a good impression and being professional yet not dull when meeting with people related to work.

Two of my favorite restaurants in Tokyo - Curry Kitchen and the family-owned ramen restaurant located outside of Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku - are now closed.  If there is an upside, the franchise replacing Curry Kitchen serves miso soup with bacon in it.  BACON.  That almost makes up for the loss...almost.

In Okazaki, classwork is actually a lot less demanding this time around because SILAC Intermediate is far more conversation-centric and less drill-centric.  They'll still correct every mistake you make - which is great as far as I'm concerned - but they don't grade you on it, which encourages people to try expanding their grammar and vocabulary by trying out new structures and ways of communicating an idea.  This was never the case in the previous level, because they would crucify anyone who tried to do so during the speaking tests which were such a large portion of each student's evaluation.  It's kind of strange, actually.  Tomorrow I start my AIJP extra classes that are included as part of SILAC intermediate studies, and I anticipate those are going to be a lot more demanding, though I feel more than ready to handle anything they throw at me this time.  The fact I've been able to work on things on my own back at home for a bit, and self-study for a bit, has made me a much stronger student.  We're doing presentations on Wednesday dealing with "Festivals".  I can choose any festival from either Japan or my home country, and I'm pretty much at a loss to what I'm going to do.  I'm struggling to decide between Taste of Chicago and the Minnesota State Fair.  Both seem to provide some opportunities to include some laughs.  Anyone have suggestions?



This weekend I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to go see Hamlet at the Aichi Arts Center in Nagoya last weekend.  The show was put on by a community theatre of foreigners living in Japan, and had wonderful production values.  The show was done entirely in English but had (extremely simplified) Japanese subtitles projected on a screen above the stage.  In fact, I'd go as far as to say that the subtitles give a better indication of what's going on than Shakespeare's heavy language, but that would be blasphemy so I will abstain.  After the show I couldn't help but think that I would love to work with these guys if I was going to be here for a longer period of time, but it would be pointless to do so at the moment because I have enough on my plate as it is between class, site coverage, and preparation for my return to the States.

I went back to Nagoya after class today with a different goal in mind - scoping out the arcade where the players I'm covering are hosting a tournament later this week.  It's a little hole-in-the-wall place but it's packed with great players.  All the machines are also hooked up to the DRM system that allows users to choose a title from 20-plus different games on several different cabinets throughout the arcade.  This works sort of like a Neo Geo MVS, but doesn't require separate cartridges for each title in the system.  Seeing the telltale sign of a Windows program (including the title window for a brief second) after selecting Persona 4 Arena and watching the boot-up sequence made me bristle a bit.  I can't believe these arcade games are really nothing more than expensive PC titles.  They don't even hide it anymore.  What I wouldn't give to have one of those machines for one of my cabinets at home.  No such luck though, those are subscription boxes and even if I were to purchase one for way-too-much-yen, they require arcade operators to pay a monthly fee, and they "phone home".  Arcades are moving toward this model, which is unfortunate as it makes importing of machines for the few arcades left in America next to impossible.

Finally, I'm already feeling the side effects of living here from a health perspective.  The pounds are already melting away, and I feel stronger and more energetic than I have in over a year, easily.  It's strange, even eating the "bad stuff" here (such as katsu, korokke, tempura, kara-age, and other fried goodies) still seems to be better than eating anything back in the States.  The food here (again, even the stuff that's "bad for you") doesn't make me tired or ill, it's as simple as that.  If I were super-rich and never had to work again, I'd probably live here a couple months out of each year just for health reasons; I'd probably live 5-6 years longer if I did.  Some of it probably has to do with all the walking I need to do in order to get from place to place as well, but still.  It's amazing how quickly the transformation takes place. 

ただいま！

It's been a while, Japan.  A lot has happened since the last time I've been able to come back.  And truth be told, it's very much a coincidence that I've been able to come back to study (and to work, a bit).  The timing lined up perfectly, which is not something that happens often.  If there is a downside, it would have to be the fact that I won't be playing Diablo III until well after its launch, but I suppose that's the price I pay for coming here, and it's a price well worth paying.  My first few days have been a whirlwind, so rather than going on and on about the various things that have happened so far, I'll share some highlights:

1.)  I managed to get an exit row seat on the flight to Tokyo!  Though extra leg room solves one problem (namely, the fact my legs always feel like they're about to fall off by the time we land), it doesn't kill the strong urge to punch the person next to me.  He wasn't doing anything wrong, either.  A sardine can is a sardine can, and people don't belong in sardine cans.

2.)  The Japanese are trying to emulate Chipotle.  Poorly.  The first morning I was in Tokyo, I saw a variety show that was advertising a place called EAT American Dining.  All four Japanese talent (and I use the term loosely) were each presented with a burrito that looked just about as large as the ones from Chipotle and had many of the same ingredients (rice, black beans, pork, lettuce, and what appeared to be pico-de-gallo).  They all tasted it, after wondering for a bit out loud how one was supposed to eat such a thing, and responded with the classic  「おいしい！」　("Delicious!"), which is what anyone on TV always says anytime they are presented with food and eat it.
http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1306/A130603/13094589/dtlphotolst/P6320536/?ityp=1

3.)  The iPlague has hit here big time.  I'm hard pressed to find a single game worth picking up because nobody cares.  Everyone (and I do mean EVERYONE) has an Apple device now, which is rather surprising for a nation which generally thumbs its nose up at American products.  There are very few competitors here in Japan, and those that exist aren't well displayed or advertised. I've gotten a sad few amount of StreetPass 3DS tags in Nagoya and Tokyo, though going to the mall on a Saturday in Okazaki yielded more.  I fear for the future of gaming, as  Japanese studios have gone completely silent on the console front.  The few tags I did received on StreetPass shared a common theme: Monster Hunter tri-G, a game that will most likely never be localized.  *sigh*.

4.)  This trip also marks the first time I was ever randomly approached by a Japanese stranger in the Tokyo area.  She was walking by and noticed my book (as I was studying for the Yamasa entrance exam) and asked me if I was studying Japanese.  I found out she was a volunteer in a town in the Tokyo suburbs, teaching foreign students using the same book.  We had a good conversation for a few minutes.

5.)  I learned a thing or two since last time.  It's been much easier for me to adapt my language, though I still find myself unable to find certain words on the spot only to realize a few seconds later I could have expressed what I wanted to in a much clearer way.  Every day it gets easier.

6.)  Overheard at the pub while hanging out with friends: "She has teeth like a shady Vietnamese gambler."  I also found out the recipe for a killer cocktail dubbed "The Granvania":  Cassis, Cointreau, Tequila, and lemon juice. Shaken.  I will be making lots of these upon my return.

7.)  Game centers have evolved.  They now are running DRM-enabled cabinets that all connect through the Internet.  Users can choose between several different games (sort of like a MVS system) and load up any one they wish. The games for PS3 that I want to bring back with me, .hack//VS and AQUAPAZZA, don't release until after my return to the States.  I may see if I can get a friend to pick them up from amazon.co.jp because it's going to be so much cheaper than ordering them from an import shop.

8.)  Living in an apartment has its benefits and drawbacks.  Lots of personal space...but washing machines with ten million buttons.  No common area.  Trash needs to be taken out.  Perks?  I can cook now, which is good and bad, and have a clean fridge that doesn't reek of spoiled kimchee like the ones in the common dorm did two years ago.

9.)  Going to Hamlet this weekend - in English, with Japanese subtitles.  I have no idea how that's going to even work.  I can't wait to see this...it's going to be hilarious.

10.)  I miss home already.  I've met a lot of good people here in a short amount of time, and - despite being in a much higher class than last time - the work is much less demanding.  Yeah,  I don't get it either.  I need to stay on top of things and keep reviewing the basics so I can be more effective.  It does seem like everyone in the class is around the same level - as opposed to previous classes where people were all over the board.  All of us can understand way, WAY more than we can speak, with one possible exception.  I know I'm in the right place.

11.)  Apparently, Okazaki has the most traffic fatalities out of any city in Japan this year, and had the only documented cases of road rage in the entire country.  I'm not surprised.  Walking to class in the mornings and seeing the crossing guards fear for their lives every time they have to walk a group of children out into the street, with their little yellow flags.  Did I mention it's also quite close to Toyota World Headquarters?

And that's all, folks.  Talk to you again soon.