The Day the Train Station Caught on Fire

Zeus must be on his period, because today it looked like the sky was hosting a giant lightning bolt orgy, and even the fugly bolts got invites. The train station across the river was struck and caught fire. Don't worry, there are 2 train stations in Ashikaga, and that's the shitty one. No loss.

Japan seems to be getting more dangerous by the day. Good thing my job comes with life insurance. If I die I get $50,000! Score!

Things Begin To Slow Down

You can now plan most of your lessons in less than 5 minutes. In fact, you can teach a decent lesson without even opening the book before class. You are feeling much more comfortable and have gradually fallen into a routine.

You now look forward to the weekend with the same anticipation that strikes 7 year olds on Christmas Eve. Some how your social life has gone from woeful to respectable within a week. Your days of wandering around Ashikaga alone are numbered. You are glad that you are no longer a loner, but at the same time you already miss the freedom and flexibility to pursue whatever, whenever. Your next 3 weekends are already completely booked. Your life lacks spontaneity.

You are starting to feel older, and even worse, you are starting to act your age. You realize that you have joined the "real world". It feels good to be responsible and all those other mature sounding adjectives, but it's grossly overrated. Shaving everyday is a serious pain in the ass and the iron that came with your apartment is a total piece of crap. You haven't decided how you are going to spend your first paycheck, but you've narrowed it down to a self-cleaning electric razor and something that can get wrinkles out of dress shirts.
You disgust yourself.

You were right to savor college at a leisurely pace. You miss the days when you would roll out of bed at noon and bike to class in baggy sweats with a face full of scruff. You miss those 5 day weekends. No class on Monday or Friday, and then you would skip class on Thursday because it was too inconvenient. You had it good, too good. Your only regret, that you didn't savor it longer.

Earthquake!!!

Earthquake Reenactment!

There was an earthquake about half an hour ago. It was much stronger than the earthquakes I've experienced in Cali. I almost always sleep through those. This earthquake seemed potentially dangerous. It was awesome!

The apartment building started to shake and make noises. (Not the good kind of noises.) I didn't know if I should run outside to safety or stay inside and take my chances. My fear of looking like a coward outweighed my fear of dying, so I decided to stay inside and die. What is the point of living if you are a coward? There isn't any. You should just kill yourself. However, when you think about it both decisions were equally cowardly.

This whole experience reminded me of the Revolutionary War, when both armies would face each other from 50 yds out in the middle of a empty field and just stand there shooting each other in the face. Those bastards knew they were going to die, but they were more afraid of being branded a coward the rest of their life than dying. It's all starting to make sense to me now. Just a lil bit.

American Life Style Of Good Old Days

I'm starting to make friends!

I've also become friends with one of the guys that works at Mos Burger. On Friday I went out with him and a couple of friends to an izakaya. Izakayas are Japanese style bars that also serve food. Pretty snazzy. I got udon noodles topped with shrimp tempura and a side of french fries.

While we were there I tried natto. Natto is fermented/rotten soybean paste. It's not really that good. In fact, it's nasty. I think Japan should look into uninventing it. Yes, I know I just posted a picture of me standing next to Colonel Sanders, and yes, I know that by doing so I have lost all credibility when it comes to the culinary arts, but that doesn't change the fact that I'm right about this natto thing.


In Japan 99 out of 100 cars are Japanese. The first foreign vehicle I saw was this jeep...and it was for sale. If I had the green and an international driver's license I would buy this beast.

Sadly over here gas is even more expensive than back in the states and from what I've heard, the roads are even more dangerous.


When I took Modern Japanese History at UCD, one of the course's key concepts was Japan's rise to modernity. There was intense debate and discussion within the country about whether modernization and Westernization were the same, and if in fact they were different could modernization be achieved without Westernization. It remains a controversial and complicated topic today.

Bannaji Temple

Bannaji Temple was founded by Ashikaga Yoshikane in 1196. The Ashikaga clan would later rule Japan from 1336 to 1573. This is the main gate which faces South.


A moat and a dike were built around the temple to fend off enemies of the Shogun! Countless samurai and ninjas died in fierce melee along this embankment. Maybe...


The fish in the moat were pretty big.


The main temple. It was built 812 years ago.


Before approaching the temple visitors used the rope to strike the gong, then bowed and proceeded up the steps. I didn't really know what the protocol was here so I just tried to wing. My first attempt to strike the gong I failed to build up enough momentum in my swing and missed it entirely. I immediately over-compensated and on my second attempt made the beast roar! Everyone at the temple immediately starred at me, more so than usual. I'm sooo good at blending in.


This stone tablet reads, "Death to the enemies of Shogun!". Or at least thats what my guess would be.


I saw a bunny!


And some ants! Everything is smaller in Japan except bugs!


A statue between the main gate and the temple. I'm guessing it is a statue of Ashikaga Yoshiyasu, the founder of the Ashikaga clan. There was no information in English at the temple and very little on the web.

Here is a panorama taken in front of Bannaji Temple. Next time I go I will video all of the buildings and hopefully take someone who can read Japanese and explain what each one is.

I'm a Teacher?!

The training I received in Vancouver did little to prepare me for my first week of teaching. On the first day I shadowed Jorge, the substitute teacher who I was replacing. I was amazed at how quickly and effectively he prepared for his classes, it only took him a matter of minutes. For my job interview in L.A. I spent at least 6 hours preparing a teaching demonstration for just 1 class, and in Vancouver I spent 3 hours doing the same. How was I going to prepare for the 6 classes I was going to teach every Tuesday and Wednesday? I felt completely lost.

In addition to feeling overwhelmed by my demanding work schedule I had the added pressure of memorizing 50 faces and names while simultaneously being unbelievably jet lagged.


On my second day Jorge saw I was falling asleep. His solution: an "energy drink". I sensed that there was something shady about this "energy drink". It came in a tiny glass bottle, but it was the sparkle in Jorge's eyes more than anything else that made me apprehensive. Against my better judgment I agreed to try it. He gave me a thumbs up, how could I refuse?

The "energy drink" tasted EXACTLY like Flintstones vitamins. Immediately my tongue started to tingle and then went numb. I asked him what was in it. It was only then that he told me that there was and excessive amount of caffeine as well as nicotine. Sweet! Japan doesn't dick around when it comes to energy drinks.

Although the drug water worked well, I have since decided to go with a "safer" beverage option. This orange Fanta drink is delicious. Please note the two oranges shaking vigorously. The reason being the fact that this drink has little orange jellies inside which add an extra element of excitement. I'm pretty sure this is only meant for little kids, but I drink it regardless.

On my third day Jorge observed and watched me teach all of my classes. I was incredibly stressed, but I survived. The following day when he left for Tokyo I was terrified. During one of my classes I was asked, "What is the difference between a modal verb and an auxiliary verb?". I froze and tried to come up with some sort of creative bullshit, but the best thing I could think of was, "They are both helping verbs...they work together...with the verb...to help it...yeah...?".

My second week went much smoother, but I was heading into work about an hour early and usually staying an hour late. The average prep time was between 30-40 minutes per class. By the third week I was arriving at work only half and hour early and staying only half an hour late. I had reduced prep time per class to about 20-30 minutes. This week I have spent about 10-20 minutes prepping each class. The job is getting much easier day by day.

I am starting to feel confident about my ability to teach the only language I am somewhat fluent in. Although the job is very demanding, I enjoy it (most of the time) and find it very rewarding.

Ashikaga-shi

By Japanese standards, Ashikaga is considered "countryside". But with a population of over 160,000 it hardly resembles anything remotely close to the American concept of "countryside". Although the city is surround by mountains and forests, it is impossible to tell where Ashikaga ends and the next city begins. The development and urban sprawl of one city bleed over into the next and vice versa.


While exploring I headed North and found the dodgy side of town. Some little old lady mad dogged me, I mad dogged her back, she flinched and immediately looked away.

Robzilla:1 Little Old Ladies:0


It is difficult for me to draw accurate conclusions about Japan because all of my experiences have been confined to Ashikaga. If Ashikaga is considered the "countryside", I am amazed by the degree and extent of westernization. I can only speculate that it is even more drastic in larger cities. However, because I don't speak the language, work exclusively with people who speak English, and usually frequent restaurants and shops that look "westerner-friendly", I could be way off base. Only time will tell.


As far as day to day living, I have been getting by pretty well despite my very limited Japanese vocabulary. Amazingly I have had zero communication problems. When I go to restaurants I usually just point to a picture on the menu. Shopping is even easier, I just hand the cashier the correct amount of money and say arigato afterwards. However, I'm starting to feel like a retarded 5 year old because I can't read anything. Although there is English almost everywhere, it is usually only a word or two, so it often doesn't help me understand anything. The picture above is a prime example. It's time to start studying.

Ashikaga Gakko

While roaming round the Northern part of town I stumbled across Ashikaga Gakko. Founded in 832, it is the oldest university in Japan. This is the main gate.

The plaque reads, "school".


RRRAAAAAWWWWRRRRR!!!!!


Confucius, founder of Confucianism.


The Hojo (classroom) is the building on the left and the living quarters (now a library) is the building behind it on the right. In 1754 both were burned to the ground when they were struck by lightning.


On the left the Gakko and on the right the pond. Directly left from where I took this photo is the Confucian Shrine.


The pond opposite the Gakko. Very tranquil.


Japan has rolly pollies!


It also has pretty flowers.


This is the Confucian Shrine. The oldest remaining in Japan today. I took this photo from inside the Hojo.

I'm pretty sure these are weeds, but I thought they looked cool.

While I was there it started to rain and my camera was out of memory because I had taken a lot stupid pictures of things such as vending machines and weeds. When the weather is better I'll return and update with more pictures.

Exploring Ashikaga

The morning following my arrival I decided to explore the city. I had one objective: FOOD!

Home sweet home.


The Watarase river cuts Ashikaga in half dividing the town into the older historic North side and the newer sexier South side. Although you can't see it here there are actually enormous levees that run parallel to the river. In 1947 the city was badly flooded by a typhoon, so the levees were raised. Now the city is impervious to the rapid accumulation of precipitate. When is the U.S. going to learn how to build levees! This photo was taken from the sexier South side.


Japan has no public trash cans! However I have seen very little liter aside from that in the photo above.


Since I didn't have internet or a cell phone I set off looking for a public telephone to let my family know that I was still alive. Telephone booths and public telephones for that matter are almost nonexistent because everyone has cell phones that are 3 generations ahead of the iphone. So when I finally found a telephone booth I was ecstatic. It was beginning to rain heavily, so I open the booth door with gusto and jumped into...


...10 Spider Webs!

I immediately ran out of the booth into the pouring rain and tried to fight off the spiders before they killed me. Luckily I succeed. Apparently no one had used the both for a decade or two. Afterwards I tried to use the phone but I couldn't understand what the hell I was doing and there were still A LOT of spiders in the phone booth, so I said, "Fuck it."


After surviving the spider orgy attack, I continued to walk aimlessly around town looking for food. From the outside I could read the word burger. I had heard quite a few negative things about Japanese hamburgers, but because I like to live life on the edge I decided to take my chances.


And because I laid it all out on the line I was handsomely rewarded with a delicious burger. Although the meat wasn't the greatest, the burger was fantastic. I was rejuvenated. Now that I had had some meat it was time to look for some booze.


Two blocks away from my house I hit the mothaload! A giant liquor store. They sell whiskey in 4 liter jugs! Unfortunately they didn't have Popov. WTF, Russia is so close! If any liquor should be sold in 4 liter jugs, it's Popov.

My Apartment!

Happy 4th of July!
Here is a video of what my apartment looks like in Ashikaga.