GorillaDust In Japan

New Years!

Happy New Year to all! We're only a few hours away here, and I'm hopin' that 2004 is just as entertaining as 2003. We're heading to a bar in Oyama tonight called Switch, which rules as it's the only real punk bar in town. Good place for darts too, though Japan is infested with plastic, electronic dart boards. I've gotten used to them, but it's still strange. They've got a 2,500 Yen All-you-can-eat/drink special, so we're on that. Stephanie asked if we could bring our own champagne, and the manager reluctantly said yeah.

Happy New Year to all, be safe, take it easy, and we'll see ya in 2004! Yeesh, time sure does fly...the last thing I remember, I was graduating college and getting ready to take on the world. Now, 7 1/2 years later, I'm still having a good time. Must get serious one day.....nah!

Funny Lingo

During my time in Japan I've heard many an amusing phrase from Aussies, Japanese, and even a Canadian now and then. Here are a couple that have stuck in my head, and I'll attempt to add to the list in the future:

• Front Bum (Noun, Australian) - A person, generally a woman, with a pouch-like stomach. Example: "Damn, that lady has a serious front bum!"
  
• Kindly (Adjective, Japanese) - A friendly person, but I think it can also mean good looking. Example: "My English teacher in high-school was very kindly."
  
• Slash (Noun/Verb, British) - A bowel movement of the second kind. Example: "Jeez, I've only got 2 minutes for class, but it might be enough time for a slash."
  
• Poof (Noun, Australian) - Weak or feminine. Not pronounced like the sound things make when they dissapear, but rather like "Pouf". Difficult to write. Example: "Don't be a poof, have another beer."
  
• Dandy (Noun, Japanese) - A nice looking older gentleman, or that's what I tell myself. I got called that by a couple of teenagers. Example: "Your husband is a dandy."
  
• Safety Driver (Noun, Japanese) - A good, accident free driver. Example: "She hasn't had an accident in 10 years. She's a safety driver."
  
• ...to [verb]-ing (Verb, Japanese) - Now this is an unusual one. The Japanese have a tendency to add "to" before a progressive verb. It has a strange and amusing affect. Example: "After work I go to shopping. Next week I go to skiing."
  

Christmas, Snow Monkeys, and Onsen!

Well we finally did it - snow monkeys. As some folks know, they were one of the main reasons for me (Adrian) to come to Japan. Well, one of the things I was most excited about anyway. We just returned from a town northeast of Nagano, called Yamanouchi. Nearby the town there is a nature preserve that contains the oft-pictured snow monkeys, and dammit if they weren't entertaining! Here's how it went down...

We had Christmas at home, and spent the day wandering about town preparing for our trip to snow country. Oyama was as lively as ever, and we managed to get a snowboarding jacket for Stephanie. We gave eachother some small things for Christmas - Stephanie got a bracelet, blanket, and a New Year monkey, while I got a barrel of sake, a mosquito game (email for details), and some unusual socks. It was all good, even after Christmas eve consisted of too much wine and Dennys.

The 26th found us riding the Shinkansen to Tokyo and then to Nagano, followed by a slow train ride to Yudanaka station, in Yamanouchi. There was quite a bit of snow which was a welcome change, and we were able to find the Uotoshi Ryokan (small family hotel) without the help of numerous locals who tried to arrange rides and taxis. We woke up early the next morning and caught a ride with the ryokan owner to the monkey park trailhead. It was snowing, and we were alone on the 2 km trail...a very nice walk. The monkey park was pretty empty, and we had the troop mostly to ourselves. There are no fences there, and you can just stroll amongst the monkeys as they wander, eat, and wash in their own little hot spring. It ruled...I'll put pictures up on the site once I recover from the trip home.

That night we went to Shibu Onsen, which is a little town up the hill from where we were staying. The big thing there is you can go to a series of 9 hot springs and if you get to them all, then you'll have good fortune, etc. We made it to 5. Now I never thought Onsen were really hot but damn, some of them were scalding. Pretty darn cool though, but you have to take off all you clothes, hop in, get dressed again, and walk outside in the snow to the next building which might be a little ways down the street. Regardless, it ruled as well, and we were relaxed enough to eat some ramen and crash.

Yesterday we woke up early again, caught the bus up the mountain, and worked up some snowboarding at Shiga Kogen heights, location of a few of the 1998 Winter Olympic events. The snow was perfect, the weather was sunny, and neither of us got injured. Stephanie was even seen avoiding snowbanks and turning, which is a big step in the right direction for her.

So yes, we had a blast and made it home safely. No we're gonna be relaxing even more, 'cause we've got another week of vacation - aww year! Happy New Year...2004 - Year of the Monkey!

Tama-Chan Update!

So I had to write this...NHK has a Tama-Chan update on TV right now. Tama-Chan is a seal that lives in the horribly polluted tributaries of Tokyo Bay. One key quote is "At the moment Tama-Chan is sleeping on a boat moored in the river. Tama-Chan has developed a rounder figure, and sports a new coat of brown fur. Last near Tama-Chan spent Christmas in a river near Yokohama. Many people are wondering where Tama-Chan will spend the holidays this year." Yeah, me too....

Nippon Christmas!

Yah, it's Christmas in Japan! Stephanie insists it's not a real Christmas, since the whole 'god thing' isn't really present here, but I think if there are trees, wreaths, and jingle bells, then it's a real Christmas. The Japanese have an unusual approach to Christmas - they shop and eat cake. The stores are very decorated, and strange versions of Christmas songs are everywhere you go, but they pretty much ignore it all for sales and cake. Kentucky Fried Chicken is the dinner of choice, and for some reason everybody thinks turkey is what's for dinner in the states. Now maybe I'm wrong, but isn't it ham? Bah, I dunno, but I've been forcing students to hum Christmas tunes in class, so it's all good times around here.

Stephanie and I are planning on going to Nagano prefecture after Christmas for a few days of snowboarding and monkey watching. "Monkey watching?" you ask. Yes indeed, the monkey hot springs! Maybe the single most important aspect for coming to Japan (aside from the culture and whatnot). Yup, snow and bathing monkeys is what I want to see....so this weekend should be the big one! Guaranteed to be highly amusing.

Ah, a student told me today that he heard from somebody who heard from somebody that there will be a terrorist attack in Tokyo tomorrow. Though I dismissed it as one of those urban legends (you know, don't drink Coke because somebody told somebody else it's poisoned), but hey, if it's true, you heard it here first.

Merry Christmas to all! 2004 - Year of The Monkey...aww yeah!

Bah, Cleaning Time

Well, we've embarked on our New Years apartment cleaning adventure. It's amazing how 2 people can be so messy. Vacation starts up in on Christmas, so we're ready for slackin'! Nothing too crazy in these parts. Japan is preparing to send troops over to Iraq in January, and the people are split on it pretty much 50-50. Looks like the Japanese constitution might need a re-write!

Q Speaks

(Q is our friend in Oyama, and we're in the midst of some wine and other beverages. She was semi-forced to write a blog enty tonight, so here it is!)

hello everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!nice to meet you!!!!my name is Q!!!how are u.I'm Japanese young girl!!!I 've beenI to Nikko today. do u know Nikko???

I go to Nikko 3times a months recently....... enough......!!!!!but nikko is so beautiful!!!!!!!!!If you 've never come to nikko u should come(^^)v
I can take
u,if u come Japan(><)v I'm dietician in a hospital and working italian restaurant as a waitress!!!If u come oyama please come .

Now I drinking with my friends. Stephanie Adrian and Aiko!!!!!Aiko came from Nagoya!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I wanna speak English more!!let's talk with me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!bye bye good luck love Q 10th of December

Good Times!

What it is. We're back, for the meantime anyway, in the world of the blog. Stephanie and I are living in Oyama, Japan, and working for an English school. Treating us pretty well! She's a little irritated at the moment because she has to work in a school outside of our town, so she needs to take the train and whatnot. Me...I just walk. It's not all peaches and cream though!