Yes We Can

So tonight saw the warm-up for Halloween proper. It it currently 5.58am and I'm sitting here with a can of Coke and playing 3am by Eminem. This combination has put me in the mood for the final post from Fukae. I feel lucky to be typing this entry after I was attacked by this beast!...

The day started later then planned after Tony was late (again!) but we managed to get down to the town hall and sort out our Alien Registration Cards and sort out housing insurance at the post office. After this we headed to Sannomiya to finalise the contract and finish off our Halloween preparations.

The party we had that night went well and my Obama outfit won me 3rd best dressed! We moved on to Sannomiya where I waved to literally thousands of people and high-fived most of Kobe. Having campaigned for some support, we headed to what is quickly becoming one of our haunts - Beberu.

Fun was had by all, but I crashed at about 3am, and was later awoken to go to the combini and buy 3 microwave-able cheeseburgers and wolf them down. Satisfied, we wondered to the train station, and for the very last time, I waited for the first train home.

All Quiet on the Eastern Front

Lots and lots of stuff happening this end with moving day tomorrow. Still, its all niggley little details that are to boring to write about. Today I finished off my Obama costume and will finish packing before heading to a Halloween warm-up tonight. Basim has a car in Japan so moving will not prove a logistical difficulty.

However I will be without the Internet when I first move in, and I have that Ops. Man. report in for Monday, so maybe no updates over the weekend as I get my life in order. I wondered around where I will be living today, and its just as lively in the day as it is at night. I'm so happy to be moving but needless to say its come as a financial blow.

As soon as I'm settled I must begin the search for a tutoring position a few hours a week, before everyone else runs out of money and does the same.

Followers of this blog will rightly find the idea of me teaching English grammar and spelling hilarious. And rightly so. Still, I think I would go for a more "advanced colloquial" thing, where rich businessmen buy me drinks and food (as well as pay my wage) in order to have a chance to practice English naturally, which is hard to do in the Japanese education system.

I'm a grammar whore!

Lots of updates planned for Monday...

Also, thanks for the 600 odd visits in the last ten days. It makes it worthwhile to think people are enjoying this too. Much love minna-san x

Best. Haircut. Ever.

Well, all my fears about my lack of Japanese ability and/or a suitable photo of my hair as I like it being a problem were absolved today. I went to the hairdressers just down the road from my soon to be ex-residence. The staff were extremely polite (which was a bit of an issue as I didn't understand a lot of the polite language), and better yet, extremely cute.

The woman who washed my hair was the most beautiful girl I have ever seen. Or at least been spoken to by. Enjoying myself, I relaxed and spoke in Japanese for the entire hour or so I was there, which has served to be a boost to the old confidence.

I've promised to return once I can speak better Japanese in order to woo her. This presents a problem as along with the Russian from KGB I now have two people whom I want to marry. Maybe I'll get both and move to Utah (Thanks Marina). They love it down there don't they?

Anyway I digress. My hair came out the other end more or less how I want it, and most importantly, my fringe is below or on my eyebrows, saving me from looking like a butch female. I did back out from having it done in a crazy Japanese manner, perhaps I'll grow it long and have it done next time. Having knocked something off my to-do list I return to studying to rubbish my way through a Supply Chain Management report due Monday in order to have the weekend free to get my stuff down to Sannomiya.

Japan is going strength from strength. What a difference an email makes ;)

Chow for now x

It's Official. I'm Moving to the Bright Lights!

I believe it was a certain Mr Churchill who said.... "oooooooooooooh yes!"

As of Sunday, I will be leaving this distant and prison-like halls of residence and moving to the heart of Kobe's restaurant, shop and clubbing districts. After a long process, it has resulted in me and Tony getting a place together right on the edge of basically everything we could possibly want... and everything a man would need.

I will post pictures once I've settled in, and that in itself is the only set-back as far as I am concerned. The settling in period will be a little awkward, without Internet or furniture... Yeah, no furniture. The Internet issue shouldn't be too bad now that I'm not skyping at 4am anymore.

So far we have a bath, shower, cooker, wardrobe, and an air-con unit. There is a coin-operated washer upstairs and a fridge available from the estate agents for £10 each. This leaves me with just a futon (Japanese floor-based bedding) and a desk/chair needed. There are plenty of second hand shops and a massive Ikea nearby, so this won't break the bank.

I've crunched the numbers, and as I can make out, my British account will bare the brunt of the rent demands, leaving my scholarship to pay for my lifestyle and other essentials. Any luxuries or shortfalls will be paid for by tutoring work that I'm looking into finding once I've settled down.

Basim has found a place in Shinzaike, for those who know it, so our social web has been cast far and wide. We will now be the envy of all the exchange students, and there will be ample socialising and crashing at our place over the many weekends to come...

The place itself is located just down the road from KGB, the bar from the first night. Things are about to take-off big time. Since, all be it kicking and screaming, returning to the side of fate, it has rewarded me.

Japan just got interesting.

Ponderings of the Future...

Now that I'm back in control - I realised this morning that I can make of this year what I wish. This led me to thinking about what will happen after my degree... will I come back under some sort of teacher exchange program, will I finally get a job and a car? Will I get scouted and be signed by Charlton Athletic Football Club?

All (OK, I guess not the job thing) possibilities are open. I'd be the first to admit the first month here has been one of the most difficult of my life. Now that's behind me I hope to be able to go out and make Japan what I want it too be. Will be interesting to see how my plans evolve and change with each experience here in Japan.

I'll leave the blogging there for now, I forgot how fun this was. Need to balance my time between writing about stuff and actually doing it. Seems to be a bit of an imbalance at the moment. I really need to start playing football. Everything comes together when centered around weekly football.

Football and British tea would go down a real treat right about now.

Rule Britannia

A Religious Experience

Something very strange happened to me last night. I put my head to the pillow, laid back, and slept. I actually fell asleep without any difficulty despite my tiny stiff Japanese pillow doing all it can to prevent it. My mind was clear, my eyes (metaphorically) open and my ears alert. I even had time to ponder politics and history. Hello old friends....

Having had some sort of religious reincarnation, I awoke today with ease despite the early hour. I am genuinely excited about the rest of my time here as I'm now back on the side of fate. After I post this I shall go back to revision and lectures, something I could not face since Thursday with actual volition.

To put this in perspective, this is how I felt on Friday/Saturday:


And this is how I feel today!


No, not constipated or old as I admit he does look here... If you've seen the films you will understand the meaning...

And next weekend I'll look like Obama... Its for Halloween. I have a suit, they sell face masks. Win.

I was asked who would be scared by that? The worlds most powerful man being Black and (as close as American politics get) liberal? Scares the crap out of my Nan for starters... and anyone
who reads the Daily Heil (Mail)..

I'm Back Baby!

Ah, so today the inevitable was confirmed. And it feels surprisingly good. Maybe fate all this time wasn't trying to torture me but free me? Anyway, the blog is back on track. Having edited out all the whiny crap and "love" rubbish I have rewritten history! Oh the power.

Unfortunately I still don't have much to say as routine has truly kicked in. I think I'll save a nice long blog about the University and the teachers in a kind of first 2 weeks summary, so that I can compare it to my final thoughts all the way next year.

The moving to a new place story is picking up pace but I don't wish to jinx it just yet so I will inform you when it actually happens. Will be a shame leaving behind my flatmates to an extent, but Basim, Tony and I have our sights set on a nice place in the bright lights.

So, in summary I'm back up and running. I am surprised by my almost instant bounce back, but maybe that's because I was pretty much rock-bottom and basically poisoned by the whole mess. Still, free now.

And Kobe is going to pay for it :D

I'm back! WOOHOO!!!!!!

Big thanks to my family for catching me when I fell.

Big thanks also to:

Basim, Tony, Marina, Stevie, the-always-there-for-you Kim Hawkins, and Lauren Huggins of all people! blast from the past eh?

I can't wait for tomorrow.

When You Live 1 Hour Away From The Party - You Move!

Quite a few things to blog about today, so I'll try to keep them in chronological order. Firstly, at 3am-4am I was skyping away and was reminded once again why I put myself through such torture. One day it will actually sink in that you love me too.

7 hours later I'm heading to university to sit a listening and speaking exam. These are simultaneously the most important skills in language learning, and also my weakest...d'oh! Having forgotten to learn Japanese before I came, I was justifiably nervous...

However, just before the lesson, I discovered the results of the reading and writing exam that I took last Thursday. Somehow, most likely an admin error, I am in top set! Not just intermediate, but upper intermediate! What a fluke, hope its not impossible...

Onto the listening which went so-so, most likely upper-beginner level. This was followed by an interview which actually went surprisingly well but still a strain to be intermediate. I wouldn't be disgraced with a position in the advanced beginner class, which I would endeavour to succeed in and get promoted over Christmas.

With the test over, I intended to head home and do some revision, but as usual something more interesting summoned itself in the form of a brochure for flats in Sannomiya. We then ended up going down the the area and discussing in length with the agents about the costs involved etc. It is a little more expensive then Fukae, but I will save 80,000 (£560) yen over the year on bus fares alone. The main reason I'd admit is the fact we could live by our own rules, have people back at ours and be able to go home around 2/3am rather then 12 or 6.

I would be swapping a rather quiet and distant part of Kobe for this...

Hit Counter! I Have Fans!

Yesterday I installed a hits counter to the website at the bottom of the page. Its nearly at 30 after just one night! Thank-you all for stalking me. Remember comments are now unlocked and anyone may leave a note. Will be nice to hear from you all, even those from my parents work :)

Shout out to the D&M massive! Sidcup for teh w1n!

Bend Over and Cough...

Today I began my first week at university proper, having settled my timetable woes. I am in uni a lot less then Cardiff, but I have more private study so it balances out. The day began with a very early start - up at 7am - unthinkable!

We had a medical to check that we weren't aids ridden foreigners intent on polluting Japanese purity, and it all went well. I think I have lost weight since I've been here, and this was confirmed with a BMI of 27.1, which all be it is still 4 or so away from perfect, its an improvement on my post-Marrakesh score of 28 or so. I hope to start running soon and capitalise on my new found lack of appetite.

At one point I had my shirt of for a good 15 minutes outside, waiting for an X-ray. It was in the shade and therefore cold, and everyone else wasn't wearing buttons so could remain dignified. Being 6ft3" I stood out a little from the line. After the embarrassment I was passed fit enough to remain in the country and proceeded to settle my timetabling issues.

I have Japanese everyday, focusing on slightly different disciplines, with supply chain management and general business techniques beefing out the rather anemic timetable. I'm happy enough with it but would prefer the intensive Japanese course that I will endeavour to register for next term.

Heres to that!

Killing In The Name Of....

In Cardiff, I would go out perhaps once or twice a week on a big one. In Japan, the fact that I rely on trains means there will either a minor night, or a HUGE night. This was the later. It is testament to this fact that I awoke at 3.50pm having gone to bed around 8.30am.

This time we headed to Osaka, Japan's second city, which is about 40 minutes away by express train. First though I headed to the familiar haunt of Sannomiya with Basim to meet up with a few peeps, most notable of whom was Duncan from my course in Cardiff, who had come all the way from Kyoto (other side of Osaka) to visit. Bless.


We went back to a British chain pub we have discovered called Hub and exploited the happy hour before being joined by Marina, Thomas, Mark etc. Merriment ensued, but there was one blip, namely spilling a whole pint onto me and Basim and standing in the toilet with my trousers off for a good 5/10 minutes drying them under the hand dryer......

Having regained composure, Marina, Mark and I left to meet up with others at the station to head across to Osaka. I was defiantly at this point feeling the impact of Hub's signature 60% double shot cocktail thing.

Before the club we decided to go for a sesh of "Nomihoudai" (All you can drink). By the way, I promise I'm not an alcoholic, these were my first drinks in like over a week! More fun was had by all and a further 4 drinks were spilt, quite amusingly by the same person, my half Japanese (cheater) half Australian friend, Yume (Yume is dream in Japanese)


After leaving the quite pleasant watering hole and after more then enough U-turns, we eventually stumbled upon a rock club not to dissimilar to metros in Cardiff. Head banging was the order of the night, until one song I requested opened with those oh-so-familiar first few notes. The Japanese looked confused but soon joined In as Mark, some Americans and I formed a quite aggressive mosh pit to Rage Against the Machines' "Killing In the Name Of" I was home.


The night wound down and I ended up sleeping outside the station along with a few others till the first train, missed my stop and had to work my way back along the line. I even managed to snatch a few words on the phone with the special one before crashing at 8am. By this point I was very much sober and in the cold light of morning you ask yourself "Was that worth it?"

You bet your arse it was.

Medic! Men Down!

Complying with my karma based friendly nature, I am now a carer for my two friends here with me in our little bit of Kobe. Basim is MIA with a hairline fracture of the rib - not for some cool reason like fighting an ox or something - but for coughing (gaaaaaaaaaaaay). My other friend Tony meanwhile has twisted his ankle and is now 4 times the size it should be, making me a full time carer - is that how you spell that?

Anyway, this meant I braved university alone, and had the most boring Kanji class in the world. A 15 minute worksheet, that would simply need English translations to aid in learning, was stretched to a painful 1 and a half hours... Maybe it was interesting, but the teacher spoke so fast I was barley able to understand a word. From what I made out...

"Sake.......factory.....earthquake.......................ice covered mountain!?"

Also, tonight's adventure to Osaka was cancelled due to lack of enthusiasm from all concerned, but I don't mind as I can occupy myself with formulating battle plans for the secret "Operation - T" that's picking up steam.

Besides, I'm off to Osaka tomorrow, and its the first chance Ive got to go out in full party gear. Its skinny tie, waistcoat and straightend fringe time boyos!

xxxxxxxxxx

Also, shout-out to my main Swede Mats, also has a sarcastic and Japan mocking blog on the go... check it out. Especially the bug stories. Horrific.

Stick THAT in Your Alliance and Smoke It

As you may or may not know, I am not a fan of American politics. Many people that I have met have calmed my otherwise aggressive stance towards the states, but I can't help loving it when they don't get their way. Japan recently elected a centre-left government which is prepared to stand up to America Inc. and I love it.

Namely, they want to get rid of the Americans down in Okinawa and are withdrawing from Afghanistan and will instead of troops, will provide grass-roots investment in education and the economy of Vietnam 2. There is a novel idea - Rather then killing everyone and making them more angry, investing money into education and stability? Those crazy Japanese... Long may it continue.

Glazing over the fact that there has already been 1 corruption scandal (which are as common as sushi in Japan), the Democratic Party of Japan also looks set to focus on Asia, rather then suckling the bosom of the unequal US-Japan alliance.

All in all, Up the DPJ!!

Course Selection Fail!.

Due to the total lack of communication from Cardiff and the overbearing style of Kobe's orientations, Me and Basim have found ourselves on the integrated Japanese course that will see us in uni for only 1.5 hours a day. I have to (I think) select some business modules? But even that I'm not sure about. I also still require national health insurance, contact lenses, money,a mobile phone and now Me, Basim and a new friend of ours, Tony, are looking into getting a house closer to uni.

It would be better for my head if all of these things where sorted out. I need a comfortable base of operations here in order to have a positive year before coming back and fixing everything. I've been putting myself under undue pressures and I wonder how I manage to cope, then I realise Ive been doing it since I can remember...

I'm home ill from uni today with a bad stomach, having only eaten a little bit of grilled cow last night and nothing so far today (1pm). Basim has also been to the doctors with bruised ribs from a cough so we're both in the wars.

Still, having spoke to friends from the home front (that's right I'm bringing back the war metaphors) and having made some friends on the Pacific front, I have a weird feeling driving me on. I think you call it determination? Either that or I'm delusional from lack of food.

Hopefully this will be one of the last "blog for blogs sake" posts and soon the stories and happy times will start flooding in.

Party! Finally.....

Well yesterday was my 3rd orientation of sorts, and yet again 2 hours worth of talking could be saved if they just left us with the handouts. We had talks from everyone from the local binmen to the police - did you know drugs are bad!? After 2 gruelling hours, me and Basim were still none the wiser to what the hell was going on with anything in an academic context. Near the end, we had to stand up when our country was called out, so people could make out who is who. Obviously the first guy up was an American, who then proceeded to punch the air in celebraion when a few people stood up. I believe I later overheard somebody talking to him to say "You were awesome man, represent!!" I gave him the classic "you should forfit your independence" look.

Having left the main hall, where over 300 had gathered, we moved to a smaller computer room to talk specifically about the exchange programs. What was said only confused me and Basim further, and when we enquired, they said "Oh, your Cardiff aren't you?" and rushed us downstairs to sit a test!!

It was only 4 pages of multiple choice, and it was going to only serve as a rough ability indicator, but we could have been in the other room beggining an after-party. Anyway I finished and scored a "3" which is intermediate level, which is what I was aiming for. I find out on Tuesday if Ive been accepted on the intensive course, which although more time at uni, will be better for my Japanese.

So we joined the party, and meet the friends of a girl called Jesse from Australia. She had also been sitting the exam and we quickly bonded in order to have something to do that evening. The party wasn't really a party, more of a gathering. But the food and beer on offer got the night off to a good start. One very strange thing of note is that one of the exchange students here, from Sheffield university I believe, Is from Bromley!! Not only that, but he knows people that live on my road!

Having left the party we headed to Sannomiya, Kobe's main nightlife area. Upon arrival we realised that everyone else has the same idea, and in total there was about 20 of us heading for a club. The group was indeed diverse, with England, Wales, Scotland, France, Germany, Portugal, Poland, Australia, America, Japan, Korea and China all represented. In total there are over 30 different nationalities of foreign students in Kobe. We drank the night away, very aware that the last train had come and gone. Along with Basim >.<
Sentanced to stay out till at least 6am, the group slowley wittled down to a more managable 13 and headed sterotypically to a Karaoke bar, where the drinks and bad renditions flowed. Notable contributions by myself would include Chop Suey by SOAD, Starlight by Muse and of course, Parklife by Blur.

At about 4.45am, I retreated to the other end of the room to get some sleep, and awoke at 6.am to go and catch the first train home. I got home at 7.05am, and in the cold light of morning I realised I had just had my first night with the people that can make or break my year here in Japan. Things are looking up.

Typhoon Aftermath

Don't know how my fellow Japaniers got on last night with the storm, but it got pretty messy in some areas of the country...



http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8296121.stm

As for me, I was only inconvinienced as it kept waking me up with the sheer noise, but the worst of it occured at 12-5am so no real problem. In the morning everywhere was covered in leaves, plastic bags and broken umbrellas. Outside my window, I can now see the building next door as half a tree snapped onto a poor buggers scooter. In more bad luck for scooter drivers, a tumbling domino effect had occured in most of the parking bays. It was like any British storm, but the wind was definatley on another level, and it doesn't suprise me that 100s die in poorer asain nations. Last night was the first time I appreciated concrete.

Typhoons, Tasty Cough Medicine, and Orientation

Sounds like a line-up in one of the smaller tents at Reading festival...

Anyway, first up is the Typhoon that hit mainland Japan around 1pm British time today, and is working its way from South West to North East and is reported to be one of the fiercest to hit Japan on record, at least in the last 10 years. Unfortunatley its 9.40pm here now and as such I cant get any good photos. At the moment its just heavy rain and strongish winds, but you can tell its brewing. Trains and lessons are cancelled, and the P.A. system in my flat told us to stay put for the time being. If its still raging come morning I'll try to edit in some pictures. Anyway, its pretty exciting because its the only thing happening around here! I'll explain momentarily.

Onto the cough medicine, which cost a weighty 1100Y (£8) but has all but banished my cough instantly, which is an improvement on my 4 month summer cough I had. Why on Earth am I reading a blog about cough medicine you ask? Because my prowess with English caresses your mind like a velvet glove of words?

No.

It is literally because I have nothing else to blog. Orientation today was with 4 other people, all of whom seem to be total nerds! Even two reasonably attractive French women couldn't save the day. The total lack of communication from Cardiff, and the very confusing communication from Kobe has left me a little nervous. Me and Basim are still alone in this island of Japanese, without another foriegner to party (which is a very important thing to me) with.

Still, we have a "party" of sorts on Friday, where I will meet all of the foreign exchange students. I just hope there are a few normal people involved, not like "Captain Europe" who I met today. I would describe him as an over enthusiastic continental cousin with a nack for thinking he is the only person in the room.

Anyway, rant over.

Death by Cough

So, having suffered a cough from pretty much the last day of exams to the day before I flew (like some sort of no-studying Karma punishment), I know find myself proud owner of my very first Japanese cold. Having nearly choked to death on my own bunged up nose and chest yesterday, I now find myself emptying via said nose and a very aggresive cough. Add to this the dizzyness and sore throat ive also been having, and my hypocondriact nature, I obviously have swine flu. Or H1N1 for those who are friends of the pig.

Shout out to Eleri! x

First Impressions Of Kobe University

Having visited the university for the first time the other day, and being incredibly bored tonight, I feel its time to blog about it. We went to the university after what can only be described as B-Day. Similar to D-Day, and not the unnerving french bum washer, this day deserves a letter of its own. Not Day of Days, but Bureaucracy Day. The Japanese love a good form as much as they love a good bit of plastic packaging. In one day we registered at university, opened a bank account and applied for the welcomingly named "ALIEN REGISTRATION CARD". Which itself sounds like something out of District 13. Before I move on in this very disjointed passage, whilst we are on the topic of films, there is a film coming out next month simply entitled 2012. Check out the trailer (Youtube the Japanese trailer, its in English, but its longer.)

Right, back on track. The university itself is set in tranquil grounds on the side of a mountain, and there are some views that I would feel unable to describe using my meger writting ability so Ill stick some pictures in.

There is a ropeway you can take to the top of Mount Rokko and with views like this I may have to induldge. My first impressions of staff and facilities were good, but I fear it will all come down to my fellow students of whom I know none yet. Still, there is a welcoming "party" on Wednesday so hopefully I can make a good impression. It will take some beating to be a more diverse, fun loving and genuine group of people I had the pleasure of knowing from my course and homes in Cardiff. Love you all fizzbitches! x

D-Day + 13

So, the beaches have been stormed and the beach head established. What lies before me now is a long and gruelling campaign all the way to the steps of the Reichstag - I mean, erm, end of year exams. So far my confidence with the language has taken a bit of a brusing but today is the first day I will sit and study for a period of time and hopefully I'll be up and running soon.

As for the Japanese, I have ample oppertunity as my 3 flatmates are all Japanese. The room is comfortable and relativley cheap, with internet, air con and my very own western bed and toilet. The only thing is, girls aren't allowed in the building! What a sausage fest!

Also, apart from Basim im yet to meet another foreigner. We dont have to be around till the 6th in university, so im hoping many just simply havnt arrived. The fact that there is a massive halls of residence for foreigners 45 minutes away niggles at that hope. It would be easier just to have a few people in the same boat we could socialise with. Thats all Im asking for!

Anyway, having seemingly had a sleepover in Russian bar called KGB (from the first night) I am very tired and should proberly get on with that revision I mentioned earlier. But hang on! Its 9am in Britian! Surely I could waste another 10 minutes on the phone. Ring Ring Mummy x

The Bad Day Checklist (30th Sept)

1. Wake up too late to have a shower and a shave in a hotel you paid alot of money for and have to clean your teeth in the lobby bathroom.
2. Log onto the computer and find out Charlton lost 3-0
3. Torture yourself about the past and done all day
4. Leave the hotel into the rain, forgetting your umbrella
5. Buying a new umbrella only to loose it later in the day
6. Get horribly wet
   
7. Loose 5,000 yen
8. Smash head on the ceiling of a castle
9. Leave Himeji, arriving in Kobe 3 hours too early to meet Basim
10. Get lost
    
11. Leave your bags in a coin locker, only to realise you left your wallet in the locker, and have to pay the fee again
12. Take your chunky headphones, only for the charge of your mp3 player to last 1 minute
13. Find it impossible to convert a £20 note
    
14. Have your phone run out of charge 30 mins before expecting a call from Basim to arrange to meet.
15. Run around Kobe with all my stuff to find a place to charge
16. Down two cans of 8% grapefruit chemicals and nearly die

All in all in was a rubbish, rubbish day