The thoughts of a Coughing maniac....

As I lay on a futon that my home-stay mother loveingly layered 5 futons deep <3,  I slowly cough away years off my life. I feel fine other wise but i have a pretty abusive cough and there is not much you can do in the prescience of anybody especially Japanese people while you are coughing up a lung. So i lay here and watch Japanese tv which to be honest leaves much to be desired.  I have the same opinion of American TV but thats more my problem than Tv's.

So i let my mind wander a bit, some of my thoughts are rather intelligent even for me, but those of course are few and far between. Far majority are better not shown to the public but hey I am sick with only a white ceiling and a box that emits foreign tv shows so i don't see much other options.

So i present the Musings of a foreigner in Japan, kindly take this with as much seriousness as you would a 5 year who has claimed to have seen a Unicorn.

- I wonder how its the Japanese smoke and drink to excess yet they will outlive me by 35 years...

-  Why because I am american must i own a gun? Is there an unwritten rule some where that i don't know about but the Japanese/asian community do?

- 4 years in catholic high school and school uniform does nothing for me and 4 months in Japan some how does the trick..... i don't condone... i just understand....

- the most flamboyant outfit i will see in a day will always be a guy... And im sure that guy has the potential to get more Japanese women than i do....

- if western food improves the bust size of Asian women... does the same in a different area happen to asian men?

- i am amazed by the strength of old japanese women, old Korean women too... I as a young(relatively), Healthy(relatively), strong(realitively), Foreign man am constanly being muscled out of position for train doors and escalators.


-Why for a country with a majestic and intricate train system must it all shut down at 12?    Japanese people, i tell you now your economy will improve if you fix this one thing....

- why is there such imagination in Japanese commercials but rarely any in Japanese daily and nightly tv.... there is some quality but few and fare between i think and i have only seen evidence of it on Youtube...

- Japanese can put sweet paste and squid inside of an enclosed pastry but i see no signs of turnovers or beef pies... very sad....


all for now enjoy your Christmas...

It's About time.....

My days in Japan are slowly winding down,  sooner rather than later i will be boarding my last flight back to New York.  It is not a thought that I dread either.  For all my experiences here good or bad I am lucky to have such an opportunity, but now I think its a bout time to go home and restart my life.   A bit refreshed, full of brand new experiences, a life time of memories and quite a few new friends.  Was it what i thought it would be?  By no means,  but that doesn't mean it was worse,  I think I surpassed in many ways what I thought was possible for even me in both language ability adapting to new culture and rules. 

My last day of class is Monday... I will say good by to the Chinese Nation that I was able to meet here in Yokohama.  I debate whether I should make a little speech or not.  I am not about making my leave in a grand manner but it would be rude to not at least say good bye, give thanks,  and wish them luck.

After that My plan is to go to Sapporo... Spend some time and meet my last friend in Japan that I met originally in New York.  All in all I don't feel time has gone either too fast or too slow,  everything occurred when it was suppose to, and while plans mostly got changed it was for the better,  I enjoyed traveling japan then go to Korea in such a short time period. It gave me an real experience of traveling abroad,  till then i was just a student abroad with responsibilities to manage both learning and have fun, i got to break out of that mold and focus on fun. However I don't think it would have been as rewarding if i did not put the effort and work into improving my Japanese.

If In the future i could do it again,  i would love to spend some more time in Korea,  and maybe finish my stay in Thailand or Vietnam,  but for now that is the speculation of a man still wandering around in the orient... I am grateful for where I am now and will spend my dwindling days experiencing all i can.

Seoul Vs. New York City vs. Tokyo

As I was born an raised in New York i admit to being a bit Jaded, New York was never a place I enjoyed living as the people of the city in their best are Angels more frequently at their worst are devils. Korea has that same sort of vibe as well.  Is that I am a foreigner, is it that i know no Korean at all?  I really don't know but after living in Tokyo it's evident that the world outside of Japan really is quite an unfriendly place.  I don't dare say that Japan is heaven on earth,  i have seen my fair share of passed out salary men and Chinese hookers to last a good while after partying in the more livelier districts. Each offers something the other does not.

Seoul

What strikes me the most about Seoul is the city itself.  Now during Christmas time,  buildings, streets, subway's even buses themselves are lite up with lights and decorations.  Behind glass panes are Christmas tree's strung out in blue lights and signs boding a merry Christmas.  A blending of history with palaces and sections of neighborhoods that was built ages ago.  Tall striking buildings give an impressive skyline, The Han river splitting the north from the south of Seoul, the Nam mountain with an observatory that at night gives memorable views. It's all to lovely to imagine in one place but that is Seoul. As all the Japanese and Chinese women come to Korea to shop I imagine it's an (A) class shopping destination as well.   On a Friday night  11:30 packed  clubs, where there is no space on the dance floor.   Delicious food if you can handle the spice,  and if you can't American junk food is readily available with all major chains having operations somewhere within the confines of Seoul. Really an awesome place.

The people of Seoul are hard to categorize,  as after getting out of the subway a bit puzzled on where to go next I was actually approached by a nice women and asked where I wanted to go.  So there is a kind and helpful part of the Seoul people that I don't want to understate.  Such a thing does not happen in Tokyo and New York, life moves to fast in those locations.

Then there is the cold nature,  especially of the men.  Perhaps they are worried I am here to take their women away (actually the thought had crossed my mind), or perhaps they are annoyed by the presence of American military and they lump all foreigners into that rowdy crowd.  That same feeling can be felt at times in Japan as well but the japanese are too polite to broadcast it.   Koreans don't have that problem it seems because they are all to willing to show a slight bit of contempt.   Most notably is when you catch them staring at you.  In Japan it was rather simple task of meeting your eyes with their's and they would be quick to look away.   In Korea it normally becomes a 3-5 second staring contest in which you will win 100% of the time but it often is a bit of a nuisance. 

In the subway I was standing next to two Korean men probably in their 40's and I can be almost sure their conversation is about me due to the reaction the 2nd guy had to the first guys comment.  He turned his body completely around and began to inspect me from bottom to top and once again when to illustrate to the man that it's rude to stare I am forced into a staring contest.  Of course the conversation went on, and few other times i caught glimpses of the same offense but I'd decided to just let it be as there are better things to do than stare into the eye of a Korean Salary man.

So Seoul is a bit of a Paradox,  as i know little to nothing of the culture and people and this is more of a side trip I dare not make any life long judgments.  I had no expectations when i came to Seoul.  I did not even know what i wanted to do or where to go.  It was not one of my more planned out adventures but it was an interesting place to go while i was in Asia I thought. All I know for now is that The city and the people have left a mostly positive first impression.

Seoul.... Crazy Beautiful.....

Pictures add...and i will try to add a post tonight.....

I'm American in Nippon

I don't drink Tea I like Juice my dear
I Take toast over rice as a side
And you can hear it in my accent when I talk
I'm an American in Nippon

See me walking down Yamashita Dori
A sideways cap on my head
I wear it everywhere I walk
I'm an American in Nippon

I'm an alien I'm a legal alien
I'm an American in Nippon
I'm an alien I'm a legal alien
I'm an American in Nippon

If, "English maketh man" as someone said
Then he's the hero of the day
It takes a Japanese word to ease them and smile
Be yourself no matter what they say

I'm an alien I'm a legal alien
I'm an American in Nippon
I'm an alien I'm a legal alien
I'm an American in Nippon

Fortitude, Energy can lead to popularity
You could become the top one
Shyness, drunkenness are everywhere within this Nationality

Being a candle will blind like the sun

Takes more than a business suit to make a life
Takes more than a bow to ease their strife
Confront the society ,they avoid when they can
A gentleman will chase skirts but never return

If, "English maketh man" as someone said
Then he's the hero of the day
It takes a Japanese word to ease them and smile
Be yourself no matter what they say

I'm an alien I'm a legal alien
I'm an American in Nippon
I'm an alien I'm a legal alien
I'm an American in Nippon

Original 

Back to our regualry Scheduled Programming....

I'm back 'home' In Yokohama now,  I have  to do the tallying of all the tickets  I have but I am sure i spent at least 20-24 hours on the bullet train last 7 days going place to place.  I will try to create at least 2 mostly worded posts  before i go to Korea on Tuesday.  My experiences on the Bullet trains and the Capsule Hotels i stayed at in Osaka and Sendai.  

Once in Korea (for 10 days 9 nights)  I make no promises of a posting schedule. I will be in a hostel  and i should have Internet but I am bad with sitting in front of the PC when I know there is stuff to do, people to meet, and pretty women around.

So enjoy the stories as they come...



P.s.
I have  a nationalized Japanese test on Sunday Dec 5, to gauge my ability.   I am not that confident but it will not kill me if I fail; so I am just going to go in a do my best  and work towards next year.   Wish me luck....

Shizuoka ....The Gundam

I came to see the Gundam and pretty much that was all that seemed interesting here... but it's enough i suppose

Sendai

You made me spend the night... next time to the Onsens!!!

Osaka

You have so much to show but alas i must leave...but  i'll be back