My Okinawa adventure

2007-08-31T16:02:00.000+09:00

Dear all, as I am no longer residing in Japan I have started a new blog to document my jolly jaunt around Europe! Here is the address; http://euroryoko.blogspot.com/

So please go and have a butchers at that. So far is it just a few photographs but perhaps when I have more time I will write more!

Craig

2007-08-22T19:36:00.000+09:00

The sun sets on Japan (for me anyway)

Sorry couldn't decide which picture I liked the best.

I apologise for the lack of posting. I am back in Scotland now (and it has been very good to be home) however I leave TODAY for Glasgow. I am taking the bus down today and meeting Kelly tomorrow at 8.30am at Glasgow airport. Assuming no delays etc of course. So, now to bring you up to date, my last two weeks in Okinawa were a manic, crazy blur to say the least. Every night there was some sort of welcome or farewell party, not one evening passed without at least a little alcohol passing my lips. My exit from the island was equally dramatic. My flight to Tokyo was on the Saturday. My final farewell party was on the Friday. I however had to go in to Nago (on the main Island) to cancel my cell phone and appoint my Tax representative. So I took the first ferry in and the last ferry back to Izena. I arrive back in Izena at 4.30pm to find my supervisor in a frantic mood. Obviously panicking he tells us the ferry will be cancelled tomorrow (due to bad weather) and that we had to take the 5pm (special ferry) back to the mainland! Great! 30min to cancel my bank account and get all my bags on the ferry. Luckily I was mostly packed and what was left I threw in a plastic bag. I made it. Saturday had yet more drama in store for me. A VERY heavy monsoon hit, water was shooting up several feet from drains and were the road dipped water was so deep when one drove threw it water flowed over the windshield. I had to pick up my bike from Yasmine's house, so I instructed my supervisor to get off the expressway in order to do that. He was pretty angry about that for some reason even though he had agreed to do that days before. Anyway we get it and he is raging because now we will arrive later at the airport. It turned out to be a good thing as about 30min after we left the expressway to get the bike the expressway was closed does to the water and cars were bumper-to-bumper trying to get off. We may very likely have not made it in time if we had stayed on the expressway. Well, we got there in time, my very much excessive baggage was accepted without a batted eye lid (much to my relief) and I was relieved to be on the plane. I am sad I missed my final party, but at that point getting home was number one priority! The last hurdle was getting my bags on the BA flight in Tokyo. I was one check in over the limit (not to mention the weight) and two carry ons over the limit (not to mention the sizes). First she told me I had to pay 120 pounds for the extra check in and there was no way I could have the extra two carry ons. I was a little worried as I only had 1000 yen in my wallet (about a fiver). In the end I bull sh*tted and told her I had checked the BA website and it had said one could have one carry on bag, one suit bag and one laptop bag. To be fair these were the rules when I flew BA to Japan two years ago! Anyway she apparently bought it with the caveat that she could not guarantee I could take all those bags on my connecting UK flight, as I got all my boarding passes in Tokyo and didn’t have to go through check in again I happily agreed! After that everything went well and the flight was quite enjoyable. I have been walking the dog twice a day, helping my dad put insulation in the kitchen wall and doing a little running and unpacking since I have been back. I shall try and at least post some pictures of my travels as I go, so please check my blog every so often!

Craig

2007-07-27T11:25:00.000+09:00

I have had two farewell parties so far, not including the ALT party which rocked socks btw (until 6.30 am in the morning and involving much nudity and bared bums – brilliant!). The first was with my Junior High School teachers in the evening of the day of my leaving ceremony there. I hadn’t actually prepared a speech as I was not sure what to say, I had written some things down but then decided to wing it. I never felt particularly affectionate of my JHS teachers to be perfectly honest (except two both of whom left this May – boohoo!). Yes that is right all the sh*t comes out now that I am leaving! I devoted myself and my time to the pupils but when it came to the teachers I would forgo their parties and meetings and the like or at least leave at the first possible opportunity. I preferred to involve myself in island life, in which my teachers were often not involved. That and my incurable habit of taking days off I perhaps (or definitely) should not have, so I didn’t want to get to close to them incase they started asking questions. Yes, yes, I was far from a model employee but like I said I was there for the pupils not the teachers. Anyway the party rolled around and I was awfully surprised by what the teachers said about me. The English teacher and the teacher I taught the special needs kids with both praised me on always having good lessons plans and innovative ideas for games etc. Other teachers also came to thank me for making English fun for the kids etc. It was all very nice but I was never going to cry because I had done that already and that was for the kids not the teachers. It was however nice to know the kids like the way I taught English, on their thank you cards to me the messages I like best were along the lines of ‘your lessons always interesting, I like English now, I can speak English, Thank you Kureigu Teacha,’ although my favourite was from Kodai, the brother of my favourite student last year who said simply ‘we are friends forever.’ Ok enough of the horrid self congratulatory stuff it is making me queasy. In my speech I ended up just talking about how I had changed in Japan and what Japan has given me. It is true I didn’t like children before coming to Japan, now I do. It is true I wasn’t into endurance sports before Japan (weights only please!), not I do. Also I appreciate healthy food now, I was fond of fry ups back home. Other things which I did not know how to say in Japanese are that I have an appreciation of the importance/benefits of (local) community. Something we are loosing in the West, maybe. Also I have discovered internal motivation (mostly by training for the triathlon and then studying by myself for the grad diploma I am doing), before I think most of my motivation came from external sources; deadlines, the need to pass exams etc. I had the habit of doing just enough to pass or get the grade I wanted in exams and no more. Was I afraid of trying my best and therefore revealing my limitations? Well to be fair in my final year of Uni I went all out. My 21st birthday was only 2 days before an exam (a dam important exam) so I locked myself in my room and studied, not even accepted visitors. Yeah….
Anyway back to the party, I gave my speech and then was presented with a traditional Okinawan piece of clothing the name of which has escaped my mind which bore the kanji for ‘Umin chu’ meaning ‘sea person’. It is a fairly ubiquitous brand of tourist apparel in Okinawa. I was very happy with it though! After the party was karaoke with the younger male teachers and boy did we rock out! It was all high energy stuff; much enthusiastic kampai-ing (cheers-ing), jumping on the chairs and screaming out hearts out. My voice was instantly croak as the previous night has seen a pretty heavy karaoke sesh too. We stopped when a couple of teachers passed out, one of whom we had to carry home. Good times.
At the moment I am working (in the loosest sense of the word) at the Board of Education. The guys here are a bit old and self important but nice chaps. I saved their bacon by finding out that the new ALT is not arriving on the 8th as they though but on the 1st of August. So me agreeing to stay later was rather in vain but that is ok, another week in Okinawa is no bad thing.
That is by the by though. Time to talk about my character flaw(s)! Last night was the primary (elementary) school end of term / goodbye party. Now I should mention that most, or probably all of the ALTs seem to be getting presents from their schools when they leave, maybe, actually maybe I am just assuming that, but a certain person I know is getting HEAPs of presents. So I was (greedily?) expecting something from this party. You see unlike the JHS teachers I have always got on well with the elementary school teachers, they have been nice to me and I have been nice to them. Also unlike the JHS where I don’t think I ever felt I got a lesson down perfectly (except for my English conversation club but the aim of the game there was fun rather than serious English learning) I felt most weeks that I hit the nail on the head. I have a sneaky suspicion you could do almost anything at the elementary school, make faces at the kid for 45 minutes, and they would love it! But I felt my lessons were good.
So.. where was I, ah yes! Well the party (actually a barbeque) was perfect. The perfect Okinawan party, at the beach; lovely weather, beautiful sunset, great food and cold beer (Orion of course). And children playing in the water to complete the scene. Later we had speeches and played some party games which were great fun. It couldn’t have been a better night, kocho sensei said nice things about me in his closing speech and then it was time to pack up and go home. And I react (internally only! I didn’t let it show!) like a horrible spoilt child. To my shame today I was quite upset about not getting a present which is horrible and materialistic and know. My only consolation is that I didn’t let it show. Like I said we (I and the teachers) have always got on great, they would always come to speak to me and give me candy (way to anyones heart). They invited me to their field trips, parties, barbeques and to dinner parties at their houses. The Vice-principle has his endearing habit of giving me fresh laid eggs from the school hens, on my last day they all applauded as I left and the head master gave me a hearty hug. So I had all that, which surely means more than a present, which is just a thing. So why was I such a materialistic wretch and acting like a spoilt child! Meh, well there we go. I suppose we all (I hope it is not just me) have feelings and impulses we know are wrong and we can choose not to act on them. It is something uniquely human to not act purely on the basis of our feelings? Actually I don’t think so but it is probably quite special in the animal kingdom. Here is to higher brain functions! Hip Hip!
Sorry for two such a long post in quick succession! I promise a post of just pictures next but I need to pop back to the JHS to do that. Until next time!
Until next time!

2007-07-24T16:10:00.000+09:00

Well. My friends started their long flight across Russia today, seriously how big does one country have to be? It has been an intense past couple of weeks, in a good way but with a dose of sadness. It was great having two friends from home to spend some of my last weeks on the island with. Going out kayaking or exploring uninhabited islands would not be the same alone. Also as one would expect with my return to the UK drawing close there has been much in the way of goodbyes and such like. First up was the elementary school, two weeks ago. On my final day I had the 4,5,6th grade classes and in a similar vein to the previous week when I had the final 1,2,3rd grade classes I went all out for an action packed lesson. There was much running, screaming, sweating and a little crying – that is to say Craig’s lessons at their best. The classes went well and each class presented me with a card (as they had done last week) but it was all a little too much for Richard and Gav and they had to retire at lunch time. I had promised the 1,2,3rd grades that I would play with them during their lunch break should they desire. About 30 or so of them turned up so it was pretty intense, there also being no teacher there to help me. We played the Nemo game and then when it all broke down into chaos towards the end I threw and swung kids with all my might, several times I was brought down to my knees by the sheer weight of kids climbing on me. Seriously, who needs weights when you throw around kids for a living? By the end I could not have lifted the lightest child if my life had depended on it. A couple of kids brought me gifts they had made themselves which was quite touching, most were in the form of paper cranes, one girl gave me a whole bag stuffed with them! Happily I had another lesson with my kindergarten kids the next week so I didn’t have to say goodbye to them just yet. Now if I remember correctly the following weekend a typhoon hit, it was the first real typhoon I had experienced as none of the typhoons last year hit Okinawa directly. It was actually quite fun, I and my guests stocked up on food (and beer) and bunkered down for the storm. Just FWI typhoon plus cape plus snorkel plus video camera equals FUN! My final yochien lesson the following week went well too, it turned into a marathon one hour lesson when then kids started requesting games we had done ages ago, I wasn’t going to deny them on our final lesson! Then they had a little goodbye ‘party’ for me and gave me some cute gifts they had made and finally we had a group picture. The kids were terrible during the photo taking; prodding and pinching me and even biting my fingernails!! Where they mad I was leaving? Anyway I made my escape (it felt like escape at that point) and then I, Richard and Gav had a fisherman give us a ride to Gushikawa jima (an uninhabited island). I have been there before and knew what to expect, and what to expect is pretty awesome. In one patch between Gushiwaya and the neighbouring island of Iheya the sea is the most amazing colours (due to strangly stable, winding banks of brilliant white sand just below the surface). After snorkeling and the like I left the boys to attempt an exploration of the interior, it was pretty intense due to there being giant orb spiders (some at least 15cm across with their legs bent naturally – NO exaggeration) everywhere, there webs can me as big as 1.5 to 2 metres across. I found the best technique to be to wave two sticks in front of me as I pushed and ducked through the trees. Even so I had some close calls! There was a surprising amount of open space inside and for a tiny island a fair variety of environments; from dry conifer forest to stifling jungle to areas covered in bamboo or elephant grass. I came across piles of stones I assume are the remains of the houses of the now absent inhabitants and I also found some archeological sites. Last year I met some archeologists who told me they were going to gushikawa to poke around in some 3000 odd year old remains. I assume anyway that it was they who left the blue tarps covering random areas, mostly at the bottom of cliffs. I must admit after almost an hour inside I was getting a little claustrophobic and jumpy! It was a relief to make it out! That night we drank with Yoshiaki san and friends and introduced them to the delights of (quarter cask) lauphraugh (a rather potent Islay malt), the previous night be had introduced Kamiyama san to it. To our pleasant surprise they liked it, we found out that after the war for ten years or so whisky was the drink of choice in Okinawa, so many men today grew up drinking it, it was only in the late 50’s that awamori became prominent. The following day was my final day at school. My final lessons went well and I still didn’t feel emotional, so far so good I thought. I wrote my speech and had my JTE check it. Every night of the previous week I had meant to write it but I never had a moments rest to do it. We had the whole closing ceremony and then it was the say goodbye to Kureigu ceremony, OK feeling a flutter of emotion now. I sit on a chair on the stage while first the headmaster and then a pupil give a speech about me, then I am presented with flowers and cards by the kids. Next up is yours truly and my speech. I start off strongly, in fact I do the whole thing in a pretty good voice but a definate tremor appears towards the end. I then exit to the sounds of pinkity plonkity music while the students clap. There is some amusement, for which I am grateful, when I completely don’t get which way I am supposed to walk out. By the time I make it back to the teacher’s room tears are flowing, as is my noise quite embarrassingly. I would like you to note it was manly crying, that is to say no noise just liquid excretions. A favourite studens comes to talk to me in the staff room but I am not up to much conversation, I soldier through my last school lunch (the very Japanese meal of a … burger!) before gathering my things and making an exit.
Once on the road I immediately feel better as I was on my way to go kayaking with two of my oldest friends, Richard and Gavin! At that moment life was good! I must admit that picking up my final paycheck along the way helped too ;). It did definitely help having my buddies there, going home to an empty house would perhaps have been quite depressing.
I feel this post is quite long enough, there followed after that my teachers party and the finally big JET party on the main island both of which were splendid fun and of course bittersweet as it was the last time I would see many of the fantastic folks I have had the much appreciated opportunity to meet here. I also haven’t writing about the music festivals we went to either! Expect another blog shortly, this time with pictures!
OK back to trying to get my affairs in order before I leave this country!

2007-07-20T12:33:00.000+09:00

Well that's school over. I have just had the closing ceremony and my farewell ceremony. I would be lying if I said I wasn't sad. I didn't expect to be so affected but there we go, they were a good bunch of kids I will miss them.

2007-07-17T08:18:00.000+09:00

I am alive and well and sometimes kicking. I am aware I have not posted for a wee while but I have to large and active Scots to look after, that and the typhoon have taken up my time. I will post about our misadventures and misdemeanour's and misnomers all in good time. For now rest in the comforting knowledge that we not only survived the typhoon that struck us this weekend just past but actually had a jolly good time doing so! I have never been so glad I own a cape until the typhoon struck. I will likely post next week. Oh it is my last weekend of classes this week, I had my last day at the primary school last week, it was an epic day of the like I will likely never see again. More later...skater.

2007-07-03T18:09:00.001+09:00

Evening all...Mr. Crab the crabby crab.

Hello Mr.Grasshopper pretending to be a leaf! It is cunning
Me with my story contest kid and another student and a couple of ex-students.
The happy recipients of Juhi yum dinner.
A mud slug! I found a bunch of these slugs living along side the hermit crabs and mud skippers in the mangrove mud. What a GREAT animal!

What an awesome sky ne! I like clouds in general.
A lizard.
A startled Frog.
A little grasshopper pretending to be a piece of moss, what a life!
Jumping in to water! Enormous fun!

Living as a foreigner in Japan, is for me at least, characterized by constantly swinging from I love living here to I can’t stand it! The past week has been an ‘I love it here’ week. All my classes went well, people where nice to me etc. etc. It is often little things. For example when I went into the lunchroom on Monday a teacher told me ‘go and sit beside kochosensei’ which I did. Then I noticed that I, Kocho and Kyoto sensei (that is the head and vice head) were the only ones with Zansai (which I really like) as desert. Awww I thought how nice! It turned out it was just a shortage of bowls and when more where found everyone got some but still, it was nice. My English conversation class was good. My shodou class was good, I have agreed to cook them cottage pie when my friends come here. I had an amusing glass fight with some elementary kids when I was out running. On the way home from said grass fight I saw some of my junior highschool kids with some kittens. I stopped to chat and while doing so was motioned over by a group men who were drinking in the yard. As far as I can tell, a typical day for an Izena fisher man is as such: wake up early and out to see by 6am to 7am; fish until around 5pm with a bento break for lunch; then gather together in groups of 5 to ten and immediately start drinking; drink until it is time for sleep, rinse and repeat (the rinsing is optional). They do not take weekends off. Before you make a judgment I want to point out that there are many who would think being able to drink every night with ones buddies as the greatest thing. Anyway I joined them but told them I had to go soon as I had a teacher party that night, which was true. I decided that just one beer would be fine and then I would be on my way but as I finished said beer a glass of awamori magically appeared in front of me and so I decided to extend the deadline to after the glass of awamori. Those of you familiar with Japanese drink pouring etiquette will know that an empty glass is a rare thing indeed. My fate was sealed when after noticed some large saizai shells in lying on the ground I asked about them (how deep they could be found etc.) a few minutes later the wife of the host presented me with a cleaned and polished one. I was delighted! I had noticed these giant sazais in restaurants as decoration and secretly coveted them. I was duly thankful and decided that out of politeness I should stay longer, I was already late for the teacher party anyway. So that was my first acquisition of the night. You remember the kittens? Well the host kept offering me one and I cheerfully refused. However by the time came that I decided to leave my judgment may have been impaired. I stood up to leave and make my excuses but make the mistake of looking down. There was a kitten at my feet looking up at me, reason left me and I asked if I could, after all, take it. As I walked home I started to regret that decision not least because I then remembered I am allergic to cats. I was not leaving at this point to go the teacher’s party (long finished) but to meet a friend of mine to get my keyboard back so that I could perhaps sell it at the ALT leaving party that weekend. So sneezing merrily away I got home, deposited the cat in my little front room with some water and shellfish and set out to meet my friend. I walked the long way round to the yagai stage where I thought I was meeting him so as not to walk past the same party but turns out to have been a bad move as that wasn’t the place I was supposed to have met him. The place I was supposed to meet him was at the community centre just a few doors down from the party I had just left, so I trudged back up there. When I got there everyone from the pervious party was now there! Sigh... Well I drank more but didn’t get my keyboard as it was at a local izekaiya which had long closed (it has been used there by some of my students who had made a band). I got even more drunk before making it home, thankfully somebody gave me a lift. I don’t remember anything else that night. As I woke up on Friday morning I became aware of a meowing it took me a few puzzled moments before I remembered the cat. ‘Oh dear’ I though. I gave it more water and food and managed to get ready for school while petting the cat. It was a very friendly little cat! I was still sneezing and my right eye had swollen up a little bit, yes! I was still regretting taking it! It hadn’t pooped yet so I left the outside door open a little so that it would hopefully go out to do its business. It wasn’t a tiny kitten, it was just about the size of its mother but not filled out yet, however still a little lanky and definitely kitten like. So I thought that it would be able to handle itself going outside, especially as it had seemed to be an outdoor cat at its previous home. After school I came back and to my relief the cat was still there, boy was it happy to see me. I had trouble getting ready to catch the ferry as it kept jumping in bag or in my clothes drawers when I was trying to find matching socks and even trying to climb up my t-shirt! I eventually got ready, left it more food and water and snuck out the back door so it wouldn’t follow me. Now I started writing this post ages ago(last week), I think that weekend was the ‘official’ farewell party for the leaving JETs and it was pretty fun. Mainly due to the determined efforts by the 2^nd and 3^rd (and older) year JETs to lower the tone. A job successfully done I feel. I also visited a steller little water fall and pool in the jungle with a big ol’rope swing. Much fun and I was also a happy little muggle snapping pics of the bugs, lizards and amphibians I and Kelly spotted on the trail down to the pool.

Well anyway when I got back to Izena my cat (named Poopee by my Kids) was gone! I felt pretty bad for the following days, I left my door open and would wonder around calling Poopee Poopee, probably to the consternation of my neighbours. It turned out fine as one of the kids of a neighbouring house had taken it in so that made me feel better. I went and petted it to make sure it was Poopee and then left, they will hopefully take better care of it than me! While I was feeling bad I realized that being an atheist robs me off an easy way to assuage my guilt. I had done a thoughtless, callous thing and there was no way to rectify it. If I believed in a God I could repent and pray/beg for forgiveness and hope I get it. At least the repenting to a higher power would ease my conscience. And if I believed in Karma then receiving the bad Karma that would result from my bad deed would sort of balance out the bad deed. At least that is how I see it, the resulting bad Karma is like punishment, so when you have received the punishment you have a moral clean slate again, otherwise what is the point in the punishment? Anyway I was happy that it was taken in. The cat had followed the little girl to school (where I saw it) and the mother came to collect in and took it off in a box. So I think they are a nice family.

So anyway since then I have had another good night on Izena with my rugby loving friend Chuu. We watched New Zealand vs. South Africa and Scotland vs. France. After I told them about my future plans they talked amongst themselves and I was interested to here they thought it a little odd that us westerners go and get education for ourselves. As in we see it as something advantageous for us to get (I think that is what they meant). I think in Japan they just get the minimum education needed to get their desired job. This would make sense in a country were promotions and career advancement is mainly down to seniority and not talent or qualifications. I think anyway. It can’t be the case for all of them?!

I am excited to go see some rugby in Murrayfield (Scottish national stadium), hopefully I can catch the Scotland vs. South Africa game there with Kelly this August! I am a little worried about the future of Scottish rugby, I think the current team has potential but there are only two professional teams in Scotland now and the public support is just not there. It is all those horrible football (soccer) fans corrupting our youth!

I entered a English language story contest with one of my students this Saturday and then afterwards Juhi cooked I and the other story contest ALTs a wunderbar Indian dinner and after that settled in our appreciative stomachs we went off to burn off our calories by singing out little hearts out. Ah Karaoke I shall miss you!

My friends Richard and Gavin arrive in Okinawa this Wednesday and I shall go to meet them on Thursday (I don’t want to miss my 2^nd last day at the Elementary school you see). I am looking forward to a couple of weeks of good natured Scottish fun! Scottish fun is always well intentioned, unfortunately something also inevitable always goes wrong, such if life! You have been warned!

2007-06-19T12:11:00.001+09:00

Food! We all eat it!I have meant to post pics of the school lunches (給食, the same work kyuushoku, can also mean 'leave of absence' and 'job hunting' but with different kanji, apparently...) because I eat them 5 out of 7 days a week and I really like them. This is a picture of yesterdays lunch and it consisted of: rice with red beans, miso soup with veggies and mushrooms etc, fried tofu, pork, seaweed (kombu) and a rolled up pancake for desert.

On the ball with the food theme I cooked cottage pie with my English club last night (the pic is of me with my 1st year class). It worked well and the kids had fun and more importantly like the food. I only ate a tiny bit but it was great to taste British food again. I can't wait for my mum's roasts! The first year class is mostly girls and it went smoothly all the kids paying attention as I told them the various new cooking vocab as they cooked. The next class (2nd and 3rd years) was a constant battle. They are mostly boys and while they wanted to eat they did not want to cook let alone do the dishes. But I wasn't having the few girls do all the work so I had to bodily drag them over the the sink and use various means to cajole them into cooking and cleaning. When they discovered a bottle of awamori (local firewater) in the cupboard that added a twist to the class. After that class I treated myself to a cold beer from the fridge, I deserved it.

The next type of Japanese meal I shall showcase is Bento. This is a boxed lunch as you can see.
This example of a bento is the one you can buy on my island. Many of the labourers and fisher men eat them as they are cheap and convenient and pretty tasty. The one on my island is pretty basic, one gets allot more variety on the mainland. I get the impression it is also a pretty important skill for Japanese mums to be able to make really cute bentos for their kids (for school picnics etc.) with vegetables cut into animals shapes and things like that. I think the contents of this one are fairly obvious. Note the pickled plum (umeboshi) in the middle of the rice to look like the Japanese flag, cute.....or not. The green stuff in the top right corner is goya, a bitter gourd, which is a very okinawan veg. but has gained popularity throughout Japan. It is very bitter but very good none the less! I plan to take some seeds back with me ;).
And now it is time for todays kyuushoku! Yeah!

Cherio!

2007-06-15T09:47:00.001+09:00

Evening all. I hope you are all well fed and feeling perky.

I don’t have an awful lot to write, this will just be a quick update. Biggest news, I am a licensed submariner now. Yes that’s right I, Kelly, Yas and Alice all successfully completed the padi openwater scuba diving course under the watchful eye of Diving Dave. It was pretty good fun, quite a relaxing activity even, well relaxing in as much as anything can be relaxing when you are constantly coming in close proximity with colourful and weirdly formed creature which may or may not be deadly and of course the fact that your life depends on some evidently much used scuba gear rented from some slightly unhinged looking Japanese chaps. Luckily the one of the pipes (on one of the girls scuba units) exploded when we were on land not under the ocean. At the time it didn’t unduly perturb us but in hindsight, THAT’S KINDA WORRYING! Anyway, the main thing is we survived. Kelly was the star of the day, persevering with a set of ears which were determined not to equalize. She had to abandon our second dive of the day after a long but unsuccessful battle to equalize her ears. If perhaps you don’t know, if you descend just a few meters your ears with get very, very painful due to the water pressure on them. To counter this one must blow through ones sinuses to apply equal air pressure from the inside of your ear, this is equalizing. Sometimes for a raft of reasons it may not work. Well, the story ended happily as Kelly bravely sallied forth again and this time got the better of her uncooperative lugs. The wealth of the underwater environment in Okinawa never ceases to amaze me, it is just jam packed with weird and wonderful life. In fact the ocean in general is. It is still true we know more about the surface of the moon and even Mars than the ocean floor. The discovery of black smokers is one example of how life under the ocean is more diverse and exotic than we thought life could possibly be! The black smokers support an ecosystem entirely independent of the sun btw (based on chemosynthesis instead) and at temperatures of around 400 degrees Celsius and pH as low as 2.8 to boot! We are all mostly aware of the biological diversity and importance or shallow water coral (ie. what we see scuba diving and the great barrier reef for instance) but the majority of corals are found in deep cold water. It seems these are at least just as biologically diverse and important however due to the expense and limited equipment available to study these ecosystems we know little about them. What is worse is they are being destroyed at a sickening pace by the prevalence of commercial bottom trawling. Huge weighted nets are dragged over the sea floor obliterating any coral or sponge growth in their path. To make things worse it appears that these corals and sponges grow and repair themselves very slowly, perhaps living for centuries. Progress does seem to be being made though, although international water are almost entirely without protection.

http://www.mcbi.org/what/dscstatement.htm

http://www.oceana.org/north-america/what-we-do/stop-destructive-trawling/deep-sea-corals/

In a related matter the recent capture of an intact and complete colossal (as opposed to giant) squid was not as a result of intrepid scientists who had finally obtained one of these elusive animals but rather a sign of how commercial fishing is plundering new ecosystems (having exhausted shallower ones) deeper and deeper in the ocean.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6385071.stm

How that I no longer have to study I have been reading for pleasure again. I have just finished ‘the loved ones’ by Evelyn Waugh and ‘the crow road’ by Iain Banks (Scottish author whom I highly recommend, he also write brilliantly imaginative science fiction under the name Iain M Banks). What an unlikely looking couple! Andy was in town hence the jump suit.
My better shoudou offerings from this wednesday.
The top one means water and the lower one means heaven/air/sky.
One is a frigid bird.........the other is a penguin - HAH!

This last picture is a poster I saw in a train station in Tokyo. Miss Diaze (however it's spelt) is pretty big in Japan as of now, with several TV adverts and at least one HUGE (side of a building covering) poster in Akihabara. Apologies for the lame tag line, and 'bird' is the British-slang meaning which is a woman (like Americans would say chick).

2007-06-05T14:23:00.000+09:00

The Indians have come! Or rather came and left again.
I have put the pictures up in the wrong order sorry but I cannae be bo'ered deining it again.
So here are the Indians in Nakijin resplendent in their full regalia.
The deadly sword fighters face off, these fellows were fan-taby-dosy!
One of the 4 (?) classic dances of India, this being the Mulipur one.
I with my lower lever english conversation club, just a random pic.
The drummers performing their high energy routine at Izena primary school.
The sword fighters in action!

What an unexpectedly eventful week on Izena! First the Kobe homestayers and then a troupe of Indians, both of which my Junoir High was completely unaware of and uninvolved in. I had planned to write about Cameron Diaze, the industrious nature of the Japanese and my anarchistic world view. However the Indians came.

I am going to give as objective an account of the events as I can manage so don’t be too harsh on the Okinawans. Remember this place, Okinawa, and especially Izena are amongst the most remote and rural in all of Japan. The are some such places in the USA and UK that I would be disinclined to send the Indians to for fear they may face something considerably worse than mere non-malicious cultural blunders.

Right, well, disclaimer aside on with the tale. The first I heard of the Indians was when the Kyotosensei of the primary school told me that some Indians were coming to the school that day at 2pm. I was a little surprised. He also gave me an egg that day, from one of the school hens. However the previous week he had given me two eggs, had I only put in a one egg performance that day? Maybe I am reading too much into it, I would hate to think that up to then I had not even been achieving even one eggs worth! Either way, a country where one gets eggs randomly given to you is a good one.

So! Back to the Indians, I am not sure what I was expecting but what ensued blew me away! There were about 15 or so Indians and their performances where stupendous! First a high energy drum performance, followed by an even more high energy and blindingly fast sword kata/dance. It was two chaps with bucklers and swords against a sole fighter wielding dual swords. The strokes and parries came so incredibly fast it was almost just a blur of action, I was amazed they didn’t hurt each other. The martial art is called Malipur Thaing Ta I think. Needless to say my children were also blown away. Then an Indian woman performed a beautiful solo dance and as the grand finale all the Indians started dancing. Then they invited (grabbed) the students to join the dance and then everyone. In a few minutes everyone was dancing in a number of big circles. I think the dance was supposed to form one large circle but there were too many people and it was kind of messy for a while before it formed into 3 or 4 concentric rings, one within the other (is that what concentric means?). I was in the centre ring and it was pretty cool. Afterwards my children were quite evidently hugely impressed and were trying to emulate some of the drumming and sword fighting moves. I hung around to speak to the Indians after all the students had been herded off, of course they spoke perfect English and we chatted for a while until their bus came and they had to go.

As I was walking to the shop I was passed by Yoshiaki and a car load of Indians, “My house, party!” he shouts. Alright I think. But first I shop and go for a run so I rock up late. In fact I was relaxing in the cooling breeze of my air-con when I get a ‘haiaku kite!’ email from Yoshi, mmm they really want me to come.

When I arrive I first wonder where the Indians are for around the table in the garden are a few Japanese and a noticeable lack of Indians. I sit down and receive my awamori. I am disappointed by the apparent lack of any food, usually parties have food! I hadn’t had dinner! There is some small talk and then I ask, so…..where are the Indians. Yoshiaki makes a face, “cards,” he says and motions to his house. Ahhhh, I remember how many Indians do not drink alcohol. I mention this to Yoshiaki and he makes a pained, exasperated expression. At this point two of the Indian women appear, Yoshiaki san motions for me to call them over. I hesitate because I remember from the reading up I did for my trip to India that it is commonly not considered appropriate for a woman to talk to strange men. But I yield and call them over, they come and sit down and my fears are confirmed when the first thing she asks me is, “are you a bachelor?”

I groan inwardly and tell her no but I have a girlfriend! She then tells me “I have a baby.”

'Great' I think, but after that they don’t seem to mind talking to a strange man and are perfectly polite and nice. They call over the other Indians and soon they are all sitting outside too. Yatta (woohoo!) I think. However it is apparent there no communication going on between the Japanese and Indians, none of the Japanese present spoke much English and the Indians did not speak any Japanese. I am happily talking to the drummers when an older lady comes out and sits next to me. She is introduced as the group leader so I give her a combined bow and namashite (or rather my approximation of the Indian greeting) and we chat. She has been going on cultural exchange trips like these for a number of years, her first trip was in 1984 to germany, one year after I was born! Ah I forgot to mention, this year is a friendship year between Japan and India, hense all these shinangegens this troupe is one of many and they have been travelling Japan for a month now and have a further month to go! At this point several members of the BOE (board of education) appear including none other than the boss and vice boss. The vice boss is carrying a large box of beer on his shoulder. He gestures at it and says “Beer?!” to an Indian woman, she wrinkles her noise, he is momentarily perturbed before realizing she quite obviously disdains beer in favour of stronger alcohol, “ahhh Sake!” he proclaims with a smile. After an exchange of worried glances three of the Indian men accept beers, over the course of the night two do not open their beers and one does but does not drink from it. I ask them if it is perhaps not common to drink alcohol in India, they assure me that some people do, so I tell them EVERYONE here does. They accept this with much aahhhhhh-ing and head nodding. So I continue to chat with them as the their hosts make a few more blunders. I was quite disappointed in some aspects of their behaviour as one of the things I particularly like about Japan is the high level of courtesy. I really appreciate that people are more often than not looking out for each other so as not to inconvenience or embarrass each other here. However perhaps it only really works if they are all reading from the same page. The only effort the BOE staff made to speak to the Indians was during their speeches. Blunder number one: none other than the head of the BOE simply takes out his phone and takes a picture of the Indians without asking permission in any shape or form. He, sitting only a meter or two away, without a word, and without any attempt at communication (even a gesture or eye contact) simple aims his phone straight at the Indians and take a picture. To make it worse he takes his good time and the poor Indians just sit there rigidly, not knowing how to react. If the Okinawans had any sense of how uncomfortable this was making the Indians feel they don’t let on. Then! The head of the BOE half stands out of his seat and leans forward to get a closer picture of the Indians further away, still the camera cant be much more than a meter from their faces. Whether this is not rude in Japan, or whether he was too scared to ask permission I don’t know. He then just sits down without acknowledging the Indians and chats to the Japanese around him, still apparently completely ignoring the Indians. Not much later three more Indian women arrive, an Indian man explains that they have been making food (being vegetarians I think they found it easier to make their own food). This is translated to the Japanese who then eagerly ask “can you cook us some Indian food!”

The Indians politely agree and apologize as there won’t be very much. The Japanese graciously accept this. Soon the food is brought out and boy is it spicy! I forget what it is called but it is essentially chilly mooshed up with potato. It came as a side to some rice and Dahl. Later the Indians tell me the super spicy food was hotter than currys and something they eat when they want something extra spicy, where they getting a little revenge on the Okinawans? Next the emboldened Okinawans ask the Indians to do some performances, so we are treated to another incredible sword dance and several songs. The singer has a beautiful voice and it was pretty special. The Indians ask the favour to be returned and after a period a sanshin is produced. I get the feeling the Okinawans are a little shy and perhaps overawed, as the singing was a little lackluster and not up to their usual standard. One song is sung and then the Indians ask for “iiya sasa please!” So Yoshi starts belting out the Orion beer song. Now this is a song to dance to. The vice head of the BOE motions me to dance but I tell him no I am shy, I expect them to start dancing soon as they often do to this song. But nothing happens. I see that the Indians are literally squirming in their seats with a barely suppressed desire to dance. So I pop up and begin doing the Okinawan dance (kajashi?), all the Indians immediately join in and try to copy the dance. Still the Japanese won’t join in, so I eventually grab Kamiyama and pull him up and he in turn drags up one of the PTE members. 'Yes!' I think, 'now we are cooking!' But no, after a short while the two Okinawans retire and it is left to me and the Indians to dance out the song, which we do with verve and pip. I can’t help thinking that it is a bit funny that only the Indians guests and a resident foreigner are the only ones willing to do dance an Okinawan dance to Okinawan music. Meh. Like I said they were probably shy they usually dance. I count that as a blunder by the way. So you remember the hosts requesting the guests food? That was around 10pm and I should point out that there was not very much and none of the Indians ate. At something past 11 the leader of the troupe asks me if it is alright if they go and eat dinner? I suddenly dawns on me that we (I was guilty too) just ate their dinner and then let them sit their politely for over an hour with their stomachs undoubtedly rumbling. Naturally I told them “yes, go!” without consulting the Japanese. To help understand this you need to know that here in Japan, or at least Okinawa, it is not required to excuse oneself. People just come and go from parties or dinners, often for extended period of time. The okinawans probably just assumed if the Indians were hungry they would have gone and eaten. However I can’t help feeling it was a gross breach of hospitality. The sword fighters returned and I chatted with them for a little while longer, their English was not so great but certainly good enough to communicate. I discovered from them that not surprisingly the Indian education system closely mirrors the British and that in Malipur (the region these Indians herald from) all schooling, from kindergarten onwards, was done wholly in English! I was getting tired so I told them I was off to get some shut-eye and advised them to do the same if they were tired. Which they were unsurprisingly as they have been performing every single day of their trip so far! They immediately agreed and left with me. Goodness knows, they might have stayed up out of politeness to their Japanese hosts if I had not been rude enough to bale out of the party early. Part of the behaviour of the hosts I think can be explained by A- the low uncertainty tolerance of this culture and B- the hosts were all older prominent men of the community. Who are all haughty and very attentive to their face saving. They were probably too scared to try out their English on the Indians or engage them in any way that might lead to an unpredictable situation that might result in embarrassment or loss of face. That is my take anyway.

Luckily I have the luxury of not giving two hoots about my face and quite enjoying unpredictable circumstances. Ah yes, the wife of the PTE head did come and try to talk to the Indians and between my Japanese and her English we managed quite well. The Indians, I think, appreciated her efforts.

So the scene was set for stage two. The Indians told me they were going to be performing in Nakijin the following day so as I would be going to Okinawa Honto too I was quite keen to see them again, especially as they would be doing their full show as opposed to the half show they did on Izena. Actually I must admit I was also keep to cycle down to Okinawa city which would have meant missing the show but Kelly was also keen to see them so I was persuaded to cycle around up north (near nakijin) and meet Kelly up there. Good call Kelly!

I shared the same ferry ride with the Indians to the big island. When they first saw me in my lycra cycling get up I think they were a big shocked, these was definitely some hard, verging on staring, looking but they soon relaxed. They were very cute and wanted lots of pics with me. I must admit here I am rather fold of the way Indians use English, one of my favourites from the ferry ride was;

“I vant to snap with you.” To which I readily replied “OK! Lets Snap!”

He of course mean; “I want to take a picture with you,” in bog standard boring old plain English.

My Bike ride was quite pleasant and I and Kelly picked up some pineapples and flowers as a gift for the Indians. Kelly (being attentive -unlike me- to that sort of thing) remembered how when we arrived in India there were lots and lots of flowers involved in our welcome ceremony. This whole episode brought back many memories of India, I am not still sure if I enjoyed myself there….but it was a wonderful experience if that makes sense. When asked by the Indians how I liked India I found I could not lie and just told them it was intense, that it had been wonderful but also the poor people made me sad - they seemed to accept this. I also realized that I didn’t really get to know let alone befriend any Indians on the trip so it was very nice, to say the least, to meet this group of Indians and to find them all charming and most agreeable. I have had Indian friends back home, but I always felt, perhaps unfairly, that they were different as they lived in a western country.

Well, as usual my blog entry is getting horrendously long, I appear to be unable to write with brevity and I apologize. If you have made it this far you are near the end! Promise! The performance at Nakijin was splendid with much fancier costumes and a few new acts including one of the 4(?) classic dances of India. It was quite neat to have Juhi (an Indian ALT) there to explain it all. After the Indians performed there were a number of Okinawan performances which apart from the eisa seemed somewhat….of course this is highly subjective - but they didn’t press any of my buttons. Perhaps my buttons were suffering from being overly pressed during the Indian music and dance? Two of the sword fighters came out and sat in the audience and I joined them, I think they felt the same about the music as when the eisa performers came out one commented “ah, this is more interesting.” The finale was the group dance and when the dancers came down from the stage to engage the audience they came straight to me, I felt honoured. Unfortunately my dancing skins were lacking and I had to be bumped down to number two in the line so the lead lady could lead the dance. Now here is the final event by which I was disappointed by the Okinawan conduct. Upto this point the audience had been very appreciative, apauding and cheering with wild abandon! (Kind-of). But when confronted with this group dance many of them baulked, in fact most of them did. Many sat with stony faces and tried to either ignore the dance (or perhaps they were just not impressed by it)? Well regardless, between the Indians and the ALTs and the Eisa dancers (who did eagerly join in – kids are always the best) there were enough dancers. After the dance one of the sword fighters embraced me and told me meeting me made him happy, I told him “me too,” and I meant it. Oh I forgot after the Indian dance we had one more blast of okinawan dancing. I and Kelly had time to present the flowers and pineapples to the group leader before they were ushered on stage for a group photo. Not being a fan of protracted goodbyes and assuming the najikin people would have organized some sort of party (with alcohol no doubt) I make my exit. I waved to the Indians on the stage and to my delight they all waved back, I gave a combined bow and namashite and off I went. It was good to say goodbye on high note I think and I have the leaders business card should I ever find myself in Malipur.

2007-05-29T11:23:00.001+09:00

Well….I am done my exams. Now I feel I have mountains of free time! It is great, although it won’t last and I will be looking for something to do with myself. I think though spending more time at school and with my kids would be a good call. The week in Tokyo was fun, it is a great city. It’s huge that is for certain, around about 24-7 million people (I cant be bothered looking it up but something like that). But surprisingly, I being something of a country boy and big city hater, I liked it! It has a certain…tranquility or maybe harmony is a better word. It is always busy, the pavements are packed with people going to and fro, the roads are busy and the subway and rail systems are ALWAYS busy. So many people going about their business what can they all be doing! But it works like a well oiled machine and once you get into the groove, standing on the left of escalators if you are content just to stand on it, using the up or down stairs as appropriate to you directional needs or taking up as little space as possible on the train it is quite pleasant. I could definitely live in Tokyo, not that I will, at least I don’t think so. I stayed in a hostel in the quite area of Asakusu, I recommend it for those on a budget trip btw. There were lots of interesting traveling types there but of course I was nerding it out and didn’t have time to socialize. I did have a couple of interesting chats, one in particular with an Israeli chap. Must be quite an experience living in a country were such a large proportion of the population are liable to be called up for military service and in fact have seen action. I spent my time hopping from café to café around Tokyo, studying but being distracted by the wonderful people watching. I would study for an hour in a café and then give myself 30minutes to find the next café, in this manner I covered most of the city. My favourite places to people watch were Harijuku (crazy gothic type people) and Ginza (respectable classy type people). Each area of Tokyo has a really different feel and often the people’s appearance is very different too.

Here I am studying at the British Council, a quiet study friendly haven in the midst of the Hussle and Bustle of Tokyo.
But this picture better sums up how I spent my time in Tokyo, namely studying in Cafes, this was my favourite cafe in Ginza.
ON my first night I went out on and innocent stroll to find dinner and got caught up in a crowd taking part in a festival! It was ages before I managed to escape, it was quite the adventure!
A view of Senso-ji temple in asakusa during the festival.
Curse my slow camera reflexes, my pictures do not do justice to the weird and wonderful people I saw, but you can get an idea by what you can see of this girl.
Some dodgy looking Japanese boys trying to chat up some school girls, tut tut!
Here is what a cool Japanese couple look like, note the man is as dressed up as the girl and the high waist of the dress, very now in Japan. Their tans mark them out as shibuya peeps or just wanna be shibuya peeps I think.

I sat the exams at the British council, there were two other people sitting my first exam and only one other sitting my second exam. The British Council is an interesting place. It seems to be a veritable little British propaganda outfit. The lobby area is filled with colourful, funky seats and countless pamflits and booklets promoting the UK in different ways, mostly aimed at attracting people to study in the UK and attracting recent graduates to come and work in the UK. There were also racks of British magazines on British culture, music, fashion, you name it they had it! They even had a listening station where one could listen to a decent selection of current British music and even some audio books for children. Oh yes and there were plasma screens everywhere constantly showing the BBC world news. Anyway this aside they were very helpful and didn’t mind me studying there at all, they even offered to get me a private room to study in but I was fine in the lobby area, on top of that they had laptops available to anyone who desired to use them. If you want to know the BC is 2/3 minutes walk from Iidabashi station (sobu line) and it is a nice leafy area with a small river. The one thing that struck me about the area was A- a lot of British folks (not surprising) but also B- ALOT of mixed race (Japanese and white).

Another thing about Tokyo I liked was how much more adept at English they were and what especially pleased me was they would speak baby Japanese to me. So if they said something in polite Japanese and I gave a blank look they would repeat it in more basic Japanese, I LIKED that, I wish people would do that more here in Okinawa.

Mr Vuitton is clearly a fan of the school of though which believes pears to be THE panacea. The pears were all real btw.Here is what Ginza people look like, rather respectable and inoffensive desu ne. Just so you don't think all Tokyoites dress all crazy.
I wasn't the only people watcher!
French maid anyone? The picture below is of the enterance to a cos-play cafe. Where Japanese girls dress up as cute maid or even anime characters for the pleasure of the customer (mostly suit wearing Japanese men it seemed). I didn't go in as they had lots of signs prohibiting photographs but I got this sneaky one from the elevator, its not very good but you can see her frilly maid outfit! It is in Akihabara if you are interested...

I mostly resisted shopping in Tokyo, trying to save as I am but I did break towards the end of my trip. While in Ginza (still the shopping area with the greatest snob value but not the most shops by any means) I made the mistake of wandering through a big department store on a study break. Now let me explain, I have been giving some small thought to what I want to take from Japan with me. My list had been refined and distilled down to the following; a nice teapot, shodou equipment and a yokutta. Please don’t laugh but I have the following vision in my head: when I am missing Japan I will don my yokutta and set about making some tea, once it is brewing I will sit seiza (politely) and wait for it to be ready. Then adroitly and with impressive speed I will pour a cup, first savour its smell and hot vapours before indulging (I also like to put my face near a hot bowl of Nabe and inhale). I may close my eyes while savouring it. Then once fully relaxed and at peace I will unroll the little bamboo mat thingy that keeps my shodou brushes and felt mat and then set out my ink and paper in front of me carefully and then shodou away to my hearts delight.

I told you! Don’t laugh!

Anyway I have seen the ceramic pots in Okinawa but I had taken a fancy to the Japanese iron teapots (tetsubin). The have an alluring mix of the delicate and the rustic. Long story short I found some in the store, after asking the lady about them and having her show me lots and with different stands I settled on one and waited while she went off and did her wrapping magic. They are so good at wrapping things, and being Ginza she wrapped my pot AMAZINGLY! After I unwrapped it I couldn't put it back, there were too many precise little folds at funny angles. Also on the same floor there were some beaten bronze teapots, guess how much they cost? The largest one was just over 32man! $3200! The chap who made them was there, making them, so I presume one would have asked him what particular detail of the pot justified the price? There were also some smaller pots which were a snip at 5man ($500). My teapot did not cost anything like that, a mere 5000 odd yen. My second splurge was on Shodou stuff. Here is my tale. I was sure that Tokyo would have amazing little specialist shodou shops hiding around, I was positive they existed, trouble was I had no idea how to find them and I had to study all the time. I did find a few shodou things in a department store near my hostel but it didn’t have a great choice and I think we have the same chain in Okinawa. I was loosing hope a little by the time Thursday rolled around, Friday would be spent doing my final exam and early on Saturday I would fly back to Okinawa. As I made my way back to the hostel after my days study on the town (I would continue on my hostel bunk) I consigned myself to buying the brushes, mats and felt I needed from the department store. At asakusabashi one has to walk outside briefly to change from the JR line to the underground line and as I was feeling a little peckish I decided I may as well eat here. So wondered forlornly down the street eyeing up possible eateries. Out of the corned of my eye I saw a display of fans, I continued walking a few metres when I suddenly thought, mmm they looked handmade, and it struck my that maybe just maybe such a place might also stock shodou thingie-migums!! I backtracked and sure enough down a set of stairs tucked away out of sight was row upon row upon row of shodou brushes! As if in a trance I blissfully wondered into the store, the propiator greeted me, “ Ah, Mr Craig we were worried you might not find us, welcome!”

I smiled my appreciation being at a loss for suitable words and began to browse. The choice was impossible. Perhaps I should explain. I like brushes. I really like brushes. I paint watercolours but I think I like the paint and brushes (and their interaction of course) more than I do the actual paintings that result. If I have one pet hate, on thing that gets to me, and I might remind you am a very easy going chap, it is people who don’t look after brushes! Please do not mishandle or otherwise abuse a brush in front of me! There is a chance I value that brush more highly than you! (You better hope that was a joke!) So I delayed the problem by asking for the simple things I needed, the bamboo rolling mat and the felt mat (for under the paper). I didn’t know the words but I described them suitably and just what I need was swiftly produced. I returned to the brushes and finally selected one. I reverently picked it up and carefully carried it in both hands to the shop-keep. He, also being a man who loves brushes took it equally reverently in both hands and carefully packed my purchases after which I paid and left happy and at peace with the world. So much so that when I was eating in Macdonalds (all I could justify after all my expenses that day…..that and I couldn’t resists the tamago (egg) double mac with bacon!) I left my drink and fries unfinished to give my seat to a couple who would have been otherwise seatless. Boy! Some of that shodou stuff was expensive though, a wee block of ink for 2man ($200)! My brush was not at the top of the range by any-means but still cost me 5000 yen ($50), there were ones that went up to 1man ($100) and there were also large ones hanging unpriced in a glass cabinet, I didn’t ask my much they cost!

Back in Okinawa:
What could be a better welcome back to Izena than some fresh hot sazai!
The Kobe students dancing to samisen music.

So that was Tokyo, on Saturday I came back to Okinawa and the humidity hit my like a hot wet dishcloth to the face but I was happy to be back! Saturday night was BIG Bens birthday party and much fun was had. On Sunday when I returned to Izena there were a whole school of Kobe Junoir highschool kids on the ferry with me. They were going to Izena for a homestay, for one night! They would leave the next day. That night I was invited to join the welcome party for a group of 5 of them who were staying with a friend of mine. They knew several Okinawan songs and would sing them perfectly! Okinawan music really is popular! Much fun was had although the Izena children were very, very shy when confronted by these bubbly Kobe kids. Ah well, they are country kids I suppose and don’t get to meet many children they haven’t grown up with! Also the Kobe kids English was pretty darn good, ah well, I will keep trying my best to teach them here! Speaking of which, my English conversation club has got a good turnout this year, 15 for the beginner level and 19 for the advanced. I am happy.

2007-05-19T11:32:00.000+09:00

There will be no post until after next week! I am in severe study mode right now, on sunday I fly to Tokyo to sit an exam on tuesday and one on friday. I have no idea how well prepaired I am, it is a new subject, a different kind of exam than I am used to and I had to study by myself. Argh! Whatever, all experience is good experience right?

2007-05-15T09:46:00.000+09:00

Somebody asked for more pictures, dangerous request from a fellow who just baught himself a new 2 gig SD card...

OK, here we go!

Me being taught to foxtrot by my lovely Cuz who happens to be an amazing dancer! I sucked btw.And they are married! (These pics ain't in any particular order).
The rumbustious Aussies, full of mirth and ..... other stuff.
Ah-hah! My shodou! Here is where I started the lesson. This Character is DO and has an earthy meaning it seems to me.

And here is where I got to! Two hours later! I was pretty pleased with my efforts. I wonder if to the western eye it will seem much different?
Ah, back to the wedding, the couples first dance.
My uncle and the piper. Who knew there was a bag piping society in Albuqerque!
I and my mother, shortly before the wedding ceremony I think.
The beautiful wedded couple and some random in the middle.
The mountains over Telluride glowing pink as the sun sets.

So it appears I have been back in Okinawa for about a week now. Of course it now seems like I never went on my little holiday, brain seamlessly stitching the pre America timeline to the post America timeline. Why is it always like that with holidays? And while in America it did not feel like I had not seen my Mum for almost two years, maybe we expect something to have changed and when there isn't a change our grey matter just assumes it cant really have been that long? It was a fantastic trip, a few days spent before the wedding in Albuqerque which has a cute little old town, all adobe pueblo style buildings and a fairly old church built by the Spanish. We also took the works longest tramway up to the top of the Sandia mountains which look over Albuquerque. Initially I must admit America kind of depressed me. I am not sure why because no-one can claim the buildings and such in Okinawa are anything less than hideous but everything seems very ugly to me. I generally find modern buildings ugly, they are creations determined by economy and function. Gone are the days when near every building was a work of art. We are very lucky in Britain to have beautiful Victorian buildings with carved stone relief work and such like. Although modern buildings are much easier to live in of course. There are many stunning modern buildings but they tend to be the exceptions. I am aware it is my personal taste and probably a fairly european one to find old beautiful but there ya go! So it offended me when I went to a run to find asphalt roads with rough edges (not neatly finished) going to ugly little houses each with two or three huge gleaming and no-doupt polluting motor vehicles parked outside. Anyway. The wedding was perfect, really perfect. It was beautiful and moving and most importantly everyone has a really good time, much helped by a group of rumbustious, gregorian Aussies who has come across for the wedding. If you don't know my dear cousin (Amerikan-jin) has married an Australian chap who is in my humble opinion a fine fellow indeed! But I cannot go into great detail otherwise I will never finish this post and it will be hugely long (I have to leave space for any possible rants).
Directly after the wedding I attended the Aussies last HURRAH on the mean street of Albuqeruque. It was some thing going on, apperently called 'spring crawl', one of the two nights a year Albuqerque is happening. I have never seen so many police at one time! Mounted police too! Entire side-street packed with police vans and cars! What did they think was going to happen? People can't go out and have a good time without a massive police presence? The bouncer of the bar we wound up in cheerfully told us someone has been shot in front of the bar last night.....maybe the police are needed?
After the wedding we drive upto my America family's home in the little (but growing) mountain town of Durango, Colorado. Almost immediately I was reminded of why I do really like America, the nature/wilderness! It is fantastic! As we drove out of the city along the Rio Grande there were beautiful adobe house set amongst elegant riverwood and cottonwood trees with their lively green spring leaves. From there on it got better and better. I love the crazy rock colours and formations that fill New Mexico. As we hit Colorado (I guess we were too busy looking at the scenery to see it coming!) thing immediately got greener and we could see towering snow topped mountains brooding in the distance wreathed in a mantle of raging storm clouds and lighting.
We stayed in Durango for a day or two, it is a lovely town, and although it has grown it maintians it charm. The centre is easily navigated on foot and much to my relief and pleasure they buildings were pleasant on the eye. The town has a very western feel which I like, the two old hotels on Main street (the General Palmer and the Strater) have fantastic Saloon bars. One can also buy John Wayne toilet paper in the gift shops printed with the slogan 'it's rough and it's tough and it doesnt take shit off anyone.' Please excuse me for the language. Durango is at about 6000 feet and early one morning I took it upon myself to go for a run. BAD IDEA. I ran straight up a hill that took about 20 minutes to crest. WORSE IDEA! I managed to run for another ten minutes after the hill before I had to sit down. My lungs were really burning, it was verging in painful. My lungs never approached feeling this bad during a whole marathon at sea level. Altitude training, man that must work!
Then we drove to an even higher town of Telluride which a drop of at John Waynes fav. cafe in the town of Ridgeway and cresting Molas pass (10910 feet). Molas pass is famous as the spot where I succumbed to the lovely, fresh, packable, shiny, white snow and hit my mum with a snowball at a good 15-20 metres distance! And caught it on video ;)). Telluride is also a great little town although quite a bit more up-market that Durango. It was hearted to find that the orgional local community is still going strong and fighting to save their valley floor from being developed by an evil defence company owning San Diegan. The mountains were stunning and the place had a very Alpine feel, really a great place to live. I can't wait to see Austria!
Since I have been back in Okinawa it has mostly been study study. It is cram time now. I did find time to do to a spa kind of place with Kelly. I think you call it a spa at least. It has lots of various types of pools of salt water with various water jets and bubbles going on, pretty fun. I couldn't work out the system in the changing room and didn't bring my towel into the shower room and had to walk back all wet to my locker leaving puddles everywhere but meh, these things happen. On Sunday I and Kelly went to a play put on by Izena people on the mainland. This is the play I mentioned a while back, the one I had to turn down a part in due to nerdy study reasons. I almost regretted it then! The play was marvellous! Very polished and professional looking and in a snazzy new theatre that was only completed this year. They poor souls did three back to back performances on the sunday and every one was packed to the rafters. Admittedly allot of Izenians went (Izena must have been empty) and I am guessing all their relatives who live on the main island went too but still it was a good show. They were selling t-shirts and cds and books on the play, it was quite the commercial operation! They also had a pamphlet showing Izena's various produce and stalls outside selling it. Pretty good marketing operation I thought! Ok I must go study now, boy I can't wait until these exams are over.

PS. I finally made a Shodo class and it was great! I learned most in those 2 hours than I have for weeks from the book I baught. It is not something one can really learn from a book I feel.

2007-05-09T09:14:00.000+09:00

Returned from the land where everything is bigger to the land of the small and cute.The kilted ones at the wedding.
The beautiful setting for the wedding and the even more beautiful couple, awwww utsukushi ne!
I and assorted family and family friend up in the picturesque alpine-esque town of Telluride (high in the Colorado Rockies).
I have numerous, numerous pictures of mountain scapes, here is one of my favourites of a frozen lake.
Choo choo ... a view of the train as we rode up beside it before jumping aboard, yelling and whooping wildly, dynamiting the bank safe and relieving the flustered fan fluttering ladies of their shiny trinkets (always with the utmost courtesy) and finally leaping dramatically back onto our steeds and galloping off wildly discharging our pistols into the air!

Sashiburi da ne!
I have made it safely back to Okinawa after a most enjoyable time in America. It was great to see family again especially my dear old mum. I am thrust straight back into work (had to interview kids for the America homestay program less than an hour after I got off the ferry) and study (exams in a couple of weeks) so I will write about my wunderbar trip later and also the tragedy that befell me in Tokyo airport. I have posted some pictures to wet your appetite. I promise I will write soon!

2007-04-24T13:40:00.000+09:00

My students on our nature field trip.
The boxing crab, instead of claws he has big fists like boxing gloves
Waving a fist at me! The cheeky blighter! Normally he would have a small white anemone on each 'fist', like little pompoms, unfortunately this fellow must have lost his.

Where to start this post. Well it seems fair I should start with what I was doing thursday, friday, saturday AND sunday. And that, more sensitive readers my want to took away or read while peeking through their fingers, has been frequently and sometimes violently relieving myself. Yes, yes I got a diarrhoea bug and now everyone knows. But I am fine today so HAH! I think I may have lost as much as 2kg, at least 1.5kg. A little scary. Anyway, it is all in the past now and I can get on with my life. It started on wednesday when I got a fever. It has be raining HEAVILY every so often here and I being without a car got very wet walking to school that day. As a result I was a little grumpy wednesday morning but I managed to wrestle my foul mood into submission and pull of the genki ALT trick for the kids. Then wed night the fever hit, I didn't take my temperature, not owning one of those new fangled thermo-meters, but the alternate burning and freezing was a clue. A curious thing happened and at around 4am is suddenly broke. Literally, I went from feeling terrible to, huh, I feel ok! So I went to the primary (elementary) school on Thursday and it was much fun. However it was then that the forceful faecal fun began. I did manage to go on a little nature trip with my junior high first year students that afternoon though. It helped that is was a lovely day. At this point I didn't think I was sick although I was wearing a jumpsuit and whooly hat while everyone else was in shorts and T. Everything is so clear in hindsight!
Thursday night was not a party and I was dubious about school the next day but again as dawn neared I felt better so off I trotted to pour English in the open orifices of my students(horrid image I know). I had three classes that day that were mostly my lessons so I was keen to go in. I didn't feel so bad actually and after classes managed to pack my bags, grace my porcelain throne for the last time, and catch the ferry.
And so it become to be I was on the big island. After brief but lurid deliberation I decided that unpredictable and very insistent pooping was not best for diving in a wetsuit and sadly we (I and Kelly) did not dive.
Kelly was sick too the poor mite, she has been sicker much longer than me and deserves all your sympathy. She started with infected sinuses but it has moved to the chest. Regardless we had a very pleasant weekend despite being two sickies. We got allot of errands done, my errands, sorry Kelly! I am going to AMMMMERRICA this thursday for my cousins wedding. Congrats Sheena! And congrats my soon to be cousin James! I am looking forward to it heaps, not only will I see my cousins and America family and Uncle Ron but my dear ol'Mum. I have been a most naughty boy and not been home yet, it has almost been two years! Yeah I am a bad kid I know, but........I don't really have anything to add after the 'but'. 'BUT' is a terrible word, it is a way of disclaiming all you just said (before the -but-) and even worse it helps maintain double think. I am trying to think of an example mmmmm. Well there is the obvious:
I am not racist but ...........!! ie. I don't like to think of myself as racist and I won't admit it BUT really I am (or at least have these racist views). I don't want to break my diet BUT I will have just a little of that cake, it looks soooo delish! I am not going to criticise you but you need to practice more. The French are wonderful people but............................
Well, OK, I am not sure where I am going with that and obviously in most instances the use of 'but' is perfectly innocent.
I watched two films over the weekend and those were, in no particular order, '300' and 'The last king of Scotland'.
Both were awfie awfie good in completely different ways. 300, if you don't know (yes I am going to gloat over all of those of you who didn't), is a rather newish type of film. The only thing real in the film are the actors, the rest, yes ALL of it, is computer generated. And let me tell you it looks gorgeous! I would really quite like to see it on the big screen. It doesn't always look real, and nor does it always try to look real, it is sometimes more beautiful than reality. It is about the battle of Thermopylae, when 300 Spartans stood up to the might of the Persian Army (250 000 plus) and gave them a good show (inflicting horrendous casualties) for three days before finally succumbing when they were betrayed and encircled. The reality is a little more complicated (there were maybe 7000 Greeks guarding the pass on the first 2 days and while most of these left on the last day 700 Thespians and 900 Helots remained with the Spartans) but the film is not trying to by a history lesson and is in fact based on a graphic novel based on a film based on the battle. I think this is a future or cinema. Perhaps not more artistic that traditional filming methods but it offers another way for directors to express themselves through their films. I liked it! I presented war as beautiful and morally simple, quite an illusion!
The other film, 'The last king of Scotland' dealt more with the complications of reality. Disturbing at times, funny at others, cracking film. I recommend you watch it.

Things that made me cheery this week:
Spending the weekend with Kelly.
The ex librarian running after me as I left the Board of Education building to give me a handful of cane sugar candies.
Catching a boxer crab while on the nature trip - I will post a pic later-.
Eating a Shakugai (shellfish, a bit like oyster) with a couple of my students at the beach (on nature trip).
A random old lady stopping to give me a lift to my house as I walked from the ferry on Monday.
Pooping solid again.

Things which made me frown:
Having to turn down a request from new primary school teachers to play badminton because I might have pooped myself.
The rain, especially when it got me wet.
Shodou class being cancelled because the books didn't arrive as the ferry didn't run.
Not getting to dive.
......but mostly the liquid pooping.

Take care you all!

Keep it real and POOP SOLID!

Craig

2007-04-17T08:42:00.000+09:00

I just wrote a post yesterday, so if you have just checked my blog today go ahead and read the post below as well, if you feel like it of course.
I just have two little things I want to write about today, one a mite inconsequential and the other with too much consequence to really appreciate for most of us.
Lets start with inconsequential. I went for a run after school yesterday and while running I noticed a white dove in the road in front of me. Curious I thought, I don't think I have ever seen a white dove before, it was directly in my path and didn't seem in the slightest concerned about the panting simian bearing down upon it. So much so was it wholly unconcerned with any possible consequences of our collision that it elected not to move even one of its pretty white feathers. I in fact had to make a emergency detour around said bird while it stood immobile and quizzically observed me. Striking me as rather odd I was so affected as to stop running and turn to look back at the bird, it had not moved. Out of curiosity I walked back towards it, it was only when I got so close that I could have easily picked it up did it hop away a few feet and up onto the pavement. There is cocked its head at me and gave me an indignant look, I, remembering my manners, apologised for inconveniencing it, bid it good day and was on my way. I soon forgot about it as I had a wonderful stitch developing in my midriff. As I crested a hill I noticed a snow white cat by the road, as I ran past (only a foot or two away) it did not run but fiercely stared at me with piercing blue eyes. About ten metres later I was stuck by the coincidence of a white dove then a white cat, both of which did not run away. I stopped and turned, the cat was still there, unmoving as the bird had been. I approached cautiously. As I encroached to perhaps a yard from the cat and was about to introduce myself, remembering my manners as always, it suddenly upped and bolted! I was a little relieved and a little disappointed. And I must admit for the rest of the run I kept half an eye open for a possible third white animal.

My second 'thing' is something I saw on the news this morning. You probably all know about it, the fatal shooting of 33 people at a Virginia university campus. It is shocking! Horribly shocking. What drives somebody to commit such an act? What is it about a culture that has driven people to commit such acts not once but again and again not to mention the numerous columbine copy-cat massacres which were foiled? I am sure certain people in America have been asking hard questions about why the vast majority of school massacres have occurred in America, but surely a change can only come about when enough people ask the hard questions and look frankly at their culture and what has gone wrong. Something must be wrong! I don't mean to seem like I am on a high horse but I am just trying to express my horror and incomprehension, I don't have an answer I just pray enough people do. I am fairly sure it won't take a team of experts to create a new law or a profile to predict potential shooters and thus solve the problem, it is, in my humble opinion, bigger than that.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/School_shooting
And a list of school massacres:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_School_Massacres
Grieve for the innocent victims but that isn't enough if it will happen again.
I am also distrubed by the reaction to the shooting by some, from CNN:
"Asked why the campus, which has more than 26,000 students, was not shut down after the first shooting, Flinchum responded that police determined "it was an isolated event to that building and the decision was made not to cancel classes at that time."
What does it take to shut down classes in America! A gunman on the loose is apparently not enough...
I also found the account of the massacre on the CNN website distasteful at best and at worst disturbingly complacent:
"The first crackle of gunfire shattered the Monday morning calm. It was 7:15 a.m. on the campus of Virginia Tech and an epic killing spree had just begun."
'Epic' can have the connotation of a glorious event which will be remembered through history, it certainly does not impress upon the tragedy of the event. And perhaps worse:
" fired about 30 shots in just 1½ minutes -- first blasting a professor in the head, then shooting the students."
'Blasting!' what is it this article about a movie, a computer game!? The media is a part of the problem without question.

2007-04-16T14:12:00.000+09:00

Seiko sensei rocking it on the drums while wearing a kimono! Pretty darn cool.
I with some of my leaving elementary school teachers, sigh...it was good to teach with you guys, I will miss you. Especially Amec sensei, he was once described to me as like an out of control lawnmower, this is meant affectionately and is very true!

Good day to you lovely readers.
I had my first scuba experience! I and Kelly under the expert tutelage of Diving Dave successfully completed all the pool work for out PADI open water diving milarky. Yes it was all in a pool but none the less it was exciting to be breathing underwater. I and Kelly would take it in turns to go through the required activities, clearing a flooded mask etc. while under the watchful eye of Master Diver Dave. While I waited I was happily engrossed in exploring the difference experience of the underwater world. The heavy scuba equipment became 'weightless', movements were slow and graceful, hair waftily swished this way and that. Sounds were oddly transformed and loud. Next week we will complete the open water part of the course, and that will be in the sea. Much looking forward to that! The seas around Okinawa are amongst the best in the world, perhaps the best in Asia for diving. I expect there will be much of the wierd and wonderful to see. Already just via snorkling I have seen odd creature in abundance. From tiny delicate hydrozoa with a body shaped like a tear drop on about 1cm long and numerous tenticles that I am guessing were around a metre long to hideously ugly stonefish to a fleeting glimpse of a shark. That aside I managed to loose a number of things but get them back fairly quickly. I left my phone in the taxi from the ferry port to the bus terminal. The taxi was just disapearing around the corner when I realised and all I could do was curse my stupidity. I hailed another taxi of the same colour and asked if he could radio all taxis or something. This didn't seem possible but he let me try and call my phone on his phone, no answer! He told me that I aught to go the the taxi jimusho which I assume is the taxi homebase kinda thing. I didn't know where that was! Anyway it was time for my bus so I ran and caught that, I didn't want to have to wait another 30minutes! I did eventually manage to call the taxi driver who had my phone and by skilfully half guessing what he was saying arranged to have him leave my phone at the ferry port and not the taxi base. That night (Friday) I and Kelly ate at a nice little Italian restuarant and then went batting! It took me a while to get the hang of it, I think I have only wielded a baseball bat once before but I was enjoying towards the end. In fact perhaps it was me who insisted on a few more goes before we left ;). Saturday was scuba and I managed to loose my water bottle but we recovered it and then Sunday I came back to my island. I am much looking forward to my trip to the states in just over two weeks for my cousins wedding. I have not left Asia since July 2005! I hope I can cope with western culture! I may be popping the odd bow or two but I reckon I can disguise them as nods, nods are OK! I and Kelly have been planning our juant around Europe (yes it will be a jaunt and skipping will be involved). Maybe because having lived in a completely different culture for a while I am viewing Europe differently or maybe I have gained a sense of perspective but Europe seems an amazing place! It could simply be a result of viewing Europe through tourist websites but even taking that into consideration, wow! That is where I come from! Neat! From the inside it always seemed a bit.........hopeless and unexciting. Of course that was my perspective on it, somewhat coloured by living in Britain. Well anyway, something has put a new and exciting sheen on it all and I am eager to explore it some more! Awe inspiring cathedrals, romantic fairytale castles, grim an imposing medieval fortresses, cute cobbles streets, elegant boulevards and charming squares, exquisite palaces! And that is just the buildings! There is much planning to do and most of it will wait until we have the appropriate lonely planets but we have a rough route in mind. I am mostly excited about seeing cologne cathedral, Neuschwanstein and Eltz castles, Salzburg (home of Mozart and the sound of music), Florence (home of too much great art to write about but think Michelangelo's David and the birth of Venus), Venice and Rome. Of course there is too much to see in a month even and we will have to balance quantity with quality. Well anyway back to Japan. Our new librarian informed my today that there is a Shodou (Japanese caligraphy) class this Wednesday and I should go! Woot! I am excited, I will most certainly get myself and my brushes up there! Why oh why didn't I start this earlier! Ah well, let by gones be by gones! I was feeling a little down and stressed about Japan recently. I am not entirely sure why but it happens, living on a small island in a foreign (and it still is) culture can create stress for no apparent or obvious reason. The fact that I have to study so much doesn't help, the thought of coming home from work and just relaxing for the rest of the evening seems a remote luxury. Also I need to take some nenkyu (paid leave) but my new supervisor is proving very elusive. I have hopefully set up a meeting with him this Wednesday. Fingers crossed anyway. However the news about the Shodou has cheered me up, that and a couple of good classes this morning. The JTE left the lessons up to me so I got to inject some fun. I am looking forward to my first elementary school classes since the hols this thursday too. Always a highlight for the week, children are so much easier to handle before their hormones go rampant! My camera is working again! It wasn't really broken, the battery just needed replacing! Silly me! So I have finally got to see the pictures I took at the farewell party and have decided to post one, better late than never!
ps. The hairdresser on my island rocks. 二千円 (2000yen/20bucks/ten quid) for a haircut, a back and side with a cut throat razer, a hair wash and a back and shoulder massage. And it is a good haircut! In the UK my hair cutting experiences have been either of a cheap haircut, 5 quid, no hair washing just a no frills haircut or a more expensive cut (20-30+quid) where the quality of the haircut doesn't improve much but you get a latte or cappuccino or something and they pester you and try and make you straighten your hair or something silly (for a boy). Or in America where you get a decent cut but they tell you how lovely your hair is, how you are so lucky, then stick some funny product into your hair and then ask if you want to buy it (and you have to tip them). I prefer a no fuss good cut for a very reasonable price and a bonus massage, it is almost worth it just for the massage, thank you Japan!

2007-04-13T08:43:00.000+09:00

It's friday morning and I will be hopping on the ferry to the BIG island in the afternoon, woot. Looking forward to my first scuba! Read this article if you have time please! I feel bad about the tuna in my fridge...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6549161.stm

2007-04-09T11:41:00.000+09:00

　　　元気いっぱい？
Genki ippai?
So I have been trying to teach myself Shodou (Japanese/Chinese calligraphy). I guess it is really Chinese but Shodou is the Japanese name. The classes havn't matterialised yet. I was told there were classes every thursday, however it is not as simple as that. They were asking me if I wanted to take a test, and I could do that by mail from tokyo and how was Friday for lessons. I just want to practice a little bit for fun! The book on Shodou I got is pretty good though.

What else, ah all this studying has made me short sighted. No really! My left eye was a little short sighted before, but my right compensated and I could never not read anything or notice it unless I spent some time alternately closing one eye. But only after a few weeks of study I noticed a huge difference and I am quite short sighted now, I am pretty sure I would need glasses to drive if I took an eye test right now. It is a little worrying!

My new teachers are very genki ippai (full of beans), we had a marathon karaoke session after the welcome party on friday, it lasted until around 3am!

The knowledge that I am leaving soon(ish) and all this planning on what to do in the future is having a curious affect on my motivation here. On one hand I have more energy, I realise that my time is finite here so I want to make the most of it. However on the other hand my brain is full of future plans and Izena has almost been relegated to the past now, it is not something to invest my energies in because I will be leaving. Hopefully I go out with a bang!

However again due to having internalised the knowledge I am leaving I am starting to notice all the things about Japan that would be appear strange to people at home. The have TV shows that showcase experts who go into great detail on how to use a watering can, or how to walk up stairs! My favourite was a martial arts expert who demonstrated, at great length, the best technique to carry a handbag, his technique was based on the use of the katana (刀 - medium sized Japanese sword). Do Japanese people who come to the UK mock our feeble handbag carrying skills? In the course of my studies I had a unit on how national culture affects the business environment. Japan was rated by one fellow as a very masculine culture. 'Really?!' I thought. Later that night at the teachers party I noticed that all the men were sitting outside drinking while the female teachers were inside cooking, they went straight into the kitchen as soon as they arrived. Yeah...pretty masculine.

Today was the opening ceremony at the Junior High and the welcome ceremony for the new first year students. They all looked so small and cute in their Junior High uniforms! Sush I am a guy AND I can use the word cute! I will work on keeping their shogakusei genk intact!

Alright,
Craig out!

2007-04-04T13:42:00.000+09:00

Sorry my camera is still broken so just phone pics. The above picture is very Okinawa to me, traditional Okinawan dance to honour the ancestors with the sea in the background, and a coral stone wall to boot. Sigh.....
Today the Shimi ceremony took place. I think that is what it is called. It was a ceremony to honour Shoen (king sho-en). I am sure you know he was an important Ryukyu (Okinawan) king who founded the longest running ryukyu dynasty and he came from Izena! Apparently, according to one of the other teachers, Izena has to do this Shimi to honour Shoen before they can do the same ceremony on Okinawa honto (the main island). I expect perhaps all the old Okinawan kings have to be honoured each year. It will appear in the Okinawa times, the local newspaper and last year it was televised as well. I didn't really appreciate it last year but I got to sit with all the old and important people in their black suit on the raised platform in from of the tomb.....wearing red trackies and a blue T-shirt - woops. I just copied everyone else, blowing, praying etc. In the picture of last years ceremony in the paper you can see my blonde hair poking up behind the black suited, black haired masses. This year I lurked in the background. Unlike last year there were also a few performances of traditional music and dance, I have posted a couple of pics for you viewing pleasure.

2007-04-03T09:03:00.000+09:00

It was love at first sight!
I finally ate at the pizza place in Motobu, lovely view to eat pizza by!

Well I haven’t blogged in a while but my camera is broken! How can I post without pictures! Pictures from my phone will have to suffice. I don’t think (hope) my camera is badly broken, I think it is just the door to the battery sd card compartment. First when it wouldn’t turn on I just need to open and close it a few times but now it won’t go on at all. Pretty sure the warrantee is over but I will take it to a shop here. See if they can work some magic.

I spent a long weekend on the mainland. Didn’t accomplish much but I enjoyed it which is the main thing right? I and Kelly did do our theory test for the PADI open water scuba license we are going to get. Pretty excited about that, no diving next weekend but we will do our diving over the following two weekends and then be licensed open water divers! Sweet! Don’t expect any wonderful underwater pictures as there is no way I can afford a underwater camera housing right now, assuming my camera gets fixed. I am trying to save for after Japan, plus paying for the course I am studying plus a trip to the states, not really rolling in the dough at the moment.

I pretty much have to spend all my free time studying these days, I am still enjoying it but only just, perhaps it is more that I am used to it. It will feel odd not to get home and immediately settle down with my books and plan out my evenings study.

I and Kelly played some good April Fools jokes on Sunday, I got Andy well and good. We are still awaiting the results of one joke.

My school is awash with new teachers. I am a little sad that the old teachers whom I had grown fond of are gone, I doubt I will get to know these teachers very well before I leave. Perhaps that kind of thinking leads to a self-forfilling prophesy?

When not studying I am thinking about the future, what am I going to do! And what is this thing we call ‘the future’? Why do we fear it so much, why do we spend all our time preparing for it? Will it actually ever come? And when not preparing for it we are trying to delay and postpone it, is that really possible? Depends on your definition of future of course; ah... the inaccuracy of human language. One can certainly delay future events and that is mostly what we try and do.

Rational thoughts aside from my perspective my future is hurtling towards me at an alarming pace. There is bound to be a collision with the little life I have build up here, I suppose it will happen on the 24^th of July. To be honest I am rather excited by it, plans are slowly developing.

The initial plan is travel and fun! Not so scary! I and Kelly will see Europe and then toddle over to Scotland. Hopefully Kelly will like the wee lochs and glens of my home.

Then after Christmas is done, I missed the last two at home so looking forward to this year (wow, its only april I am looking forward to Christmas already….scary), it is time to volunteer! Time to do my little bit and make the world a better place. And perhaps do some nice things to write on my CV (resume for Americans). I have been trawling the web looking for the perfect place to volunteer for quite some time now. I thought I had found it in Guatemala. They offered a variety of projects including environmental ones (for me) and were low cost, however after reading the foreign office travel guide to Guatemala I was shaking in the boots! It seems like if you go there you will be robbed, raped and murdered within minutes. Public transport was particularly dangerous, fair enough, but private cars were stopped at gunpoint too! Mmmm not so good. I know that the foreign office always writes fairly scary descriptions of any poorish country but it seemed rather scarier than most. What tipped it was the list of crimes committed against foreigners in Guatemala in the last 11 months (supplied by the US embassy there) and the various reports of armed muggings on all the tourist sites I went to. So sorry Guatemala! Ecuador was a little better but not by much. After some looking I ‘discovered’ Bolivia! It seems relatively safe and is the poorest country in south America, who more deserving of my altruism! So it seems likely that is where we shall go! Next steps plan what I will do there and fundraise! The fun never ends!

After that…….actually I do at least know what I want to do! It has taken me a long time with many wrong turns and ventures up dead ends but I now have a pretty good idea of what I want to do. Do you want to know? Possible, it is rather hard to tell from where I am sitting. Ah well, I wish to study environmental science (masters) and pursue a career in that field. Most likely with an environmental consultancy firm but perhaps with government or a firm large enough not to need outside consultants for it environmental planning etc. And before you ask NO! I did not get this idea after watching ‘an inconvenient truth’. It has been bubbling away for a while. The next question is where and by what means of funding. I had long thought (since I spend a year on exchange at UCSD) about studying in the states and it is still an option albeit an expensive one. There are many sources of financial aid for grad students in America but as an international student I will face a higher bar to get them. It is still on the cards, however I probably shouldn’t completely overlook British universities either, we do have some pretty good ones (including the number 2 and 3 in the world). Oxford have a number of interesting environmental masters programs however I shan’t hold my breath about getting in there! Sigh…it would be nice though. For the moment I can dream!

Here’s to dreaming!

2007-03-20T15:07:00.000+09:00

As it is in keeping with my previous post check out what the Honda F1 (Formula one) racing team have done. Instead of having corporate sponsors all over their car as other teams ubiquitously have they have done something a little bit special.
http://www.myearthdream.com
They have a map of the world painted on the car made up of tiny pixels. Each pixel is in fact someone's name. You can get your name on the car of you go the the above website and make a pledge and donate some money to the myearthdream trust. It is at least worth looking at the pledges to see what one can do to reduce ones carbon footprint. Also there is a neat map thing on the site where you can see which pledges people have chosen from which countries.

2007-03-20T11:10:00.000+09:00

Aye
waaatsu iiii kuraku?

I do not have an awful lot to share but I am a generous soul and I will share what I have. Well if you must know I imbibed biru last nite and watched rugby. No I didn't go back to Scotland but my friend finally got around to inviting me to watch rugby. He has sky perfect and could watch all the 6 nations games which he kindly recorded for me! Unfortunately he has been awffie busy with work recently (as is the norm in this country - even on my island people regularly work 60 hours plus a week and don't take many holidays). I was settling down to some study but I could not pass up the chance and I had managed 3 hour of study at that point which is better than a kick in the derrière. Well to cut a long story short it was a fun night and now I am paying for it. I really didn't want to get up this morning. But I have a sadistic gregorian imp who will pinch me if I don't get up early. If you also have a sadistic gregorian imp please let me know and we can form an informal support group. If you (a sadisitic gergorian imp owner) exist YOU ARE NOT ALONE! If you don't exist I AM ALONE! WAaaaah!
Sadistic gregorian imps aside.
I went to the mainland this weekend as is my wont. I often want to do my wont. I also had deep and incisefuly insightful thoughts on decision making. You may not think that is very interesting however I beg that you reconsider your rash judgement! Your ability to decision make will directly affect your life what you do and how happy you will be/are! We are constantly making decisions in limited time and with imperfect information, no wonder we get it wrong so often! Decision making is also done at a cultural level, and although we have made many brilliant decisions as a culture we are not getting them all right. I plan to post my thoughts later (actually I am not sure what they were, I was falling asleep when stuck by them so I jumped up, jotted them down in my rather handsome black leather bound journal and promptly resumed falling asleep and forgot all about my great thoughts - they may well be, in fact, a small pile of poo) but speaking of bad decisions we have taken as a society/culture - GLOBAL WARMING. Yes it is old news for many of us, but that doesn't mean it has gone away and that doesn't mean it is not getting worse and worse AND WORSE! For those of you for whom it is new news.......no comment. I admit with much guilt it had been pushed to the recesses of my mind too. Although my conscience is comforted by the knowledge I have a pretty small carbon footprint...relatively speaking of course. I don't drive a car, I don't leave electric appliances on standby, I take my own bag grocery shopping, I.......try not to use disposable chopsticks.....I.......yeah so I am not doing very much actually. I feel a bit bad. This was all brought on by watching 'An inconvenient truth' with Kelly. Thanks for suggesting we watch it Darling! I advise you all to watch it. It is very relevant and timely. I suppose it applys more to Americans than anyone. The Chinese too. Please guys stop using massively outdated and dirty coal burning power plants. Australia too, highest per capita CO2 emissions tut tut! So well yes go watch the movie. Then reduce your own carbon emissions and elect responsible politicians. The alternative is simply not acceptable and if there is anything you hold dear in the world we need to change before it all gets mucked up. It really is a moral decision (as Mr.Gore quite rightly says). I was impressed how fuel efficient Japanese cars were (very!) and amused that Chinese cars are more fuel efficient than American ones! America cannot sell many cars to China because they are not fuel efficient enough! I was also heartened to see that being a little environmentalism is in fact good for business at least not too bad and at least in one industry. Fuel efficient Japanese car makers (toyota, nissan etc.) are growing strongly while makers of fuel guzzling car makers (ie. ford, GM etc) are in fact in pretty serious economic trouble! Get rich and save the world! Actually from an environmental point of view I don't think this whole thing is amazingly bad. Life has survived super volcanoes and giant meteor strikes. Mass extinctions have been regular and arguably have played an important and essential role in the development of life (at least for life as we know it). Life has happily lived through periods much hotter than now and much colder than now. Life will survive. Global warming will mainly hurt us. People. It is already hurting us but we are to busy acquiring stuff to notice. Stuff is nice but there are many, many other wonderful aspects to life. Oh where am I going with this rant! Just go watch the movie, it is nothing new, nothing we havn't known for years and years, but it calls for what is needed and what is needed is something new; a responsible human race....is that possible? Individually people are great, I quite like many people, in fact many of my best friends are people. But as a whole (me very much included) we make some stinkers of decisions. So meh. Oh yah, also I have finally got around to trying Shodou (Japanese brush caligraphy). Yes yes, I am about to leave Japan and I finally get interested in learning about the culture. Whatever. Better late than never! I bought all the equipment and a book on how to do it and have been using it as my study break activity. I was also excited to find out there is a shodou class every thursday on my island! For kids but that is perfect for me! I wish I had found out about this sooner! Perhaps I shall post some of my shodou attempts later!

Take care
Barnabas Primbottom

Ps. If you thought my opening sentence is in Japanese think again.

pps. A story from last nite. Apparently Britain's unenviable reputation for awful food has got as far as Japan. My friend asked me about it and I tried to explain. I explained how traditional British food is yummy but that now people are so busy, lifestyles have changed and how big supermarkets have taken over and fresh local produce is hard to find. He accepted this but when I told him that it was also because British women also want jobs, so as neither men nor women cook the food is bad! This stuck a cord and he enthusiastically agreed telling me it was the same in Japan...while his wife was busy cooking away in the kitchen. His wife asked him how she was and he graciously told her she was a good cook. I was a little surprised as on Izena at least women stay in the kitchen and cook and serve beer to the men who sit and eat and drink. If I am invited around to someone's house to dinner the wife stays in the kitchen, if another husband and wife come to the dinner the wife goes to the kitchen to help, the man sits down and tucks in. It may be different in the rest of Japan. Anyway he told me how food was very important and how it was important to get a girl who can cook. I agreed with him whole heartedly on the food thing and told him that was why I myself try to learn to cook. They both both this was hilarious and I don't think they quite believed me. Japanese men probably feel rather sorry for us westerners. He also thought it was very funny I was trying shodou asking me if I didn't think it was boring. Silly western men who don't have women to cook and serve them, who do silly boring things like shodou when they should be busy being served things like beer and sake and making great big sucking noises with their mouths. Silly western men! Hah! Whatever I like shodou and Kelly, although you have cooked me some delish things it is not a factor in determining whether I like you or not.

2007-03-13T12:26:00.000+09:00

The girls
The boys
I and Kaho, goodluck getting into Nago highscool! Watch out for her Big Ben!

Good day.

I shall now BLOG about the Junior High school graduation just past before I forget what happened! The same disclaimer counts for this blog, it may only be interesting if you are not a teaching in Japan too.
The thing about the junior high graduation on Izena is that these kids will have to go to the main-island for senior high school. The poor mites have to leave home at 15! All the ones I have spoken to will stay with Older siblings or other relatives on the main-island. However due to the logistics it will not be practical for them to even come home on weekends and they will only come back to Izena during holidays. So perhaps the students are a little excited about it but it is very sad for the parents I am sure! Island life huh!
So the official graduation in the morning was fairly standard fair. The headmaster and deputy head made speeches as did various importants from around the village and some of the students. The 2nd year boy who gave the fairwell speach on behalf of he fellow kohai (junoirs) to the departing senpais (senoirs) surprised me by struggling to hold back his tears and having to leave the hall after his speech was done. The senpai, kohai relationship is quite important in Japan, actually probably hugely important, yes thinking about it, it permeates all of Japanese society, especially if viewed generally in terms on ones status relative to others. Anyway he cried, how touching. There were also a few songs, those I enjoy although the rest was fairly tedious. After wards the graduating students walked down a flower lined avenue out of the school while being showered by confetti. At the school gate there was a veritable frenzy of photo taking and I have included a couple of them to sate your voracious curiously. I attempted to try and have students do something other than the peace sign in photos, pretty much hit a brick wall there. If you ain't making the peace sign its not a photo! Apparently....
After that the students helped plant a couple of trees but the excitement was fading and people wondered off to do...things. The graduating students and parents went to the games hall to plan the afternoons activities. I had been told it was going to be a volleyball match but I was pleasantly surprised. When the teachers were summoned to the hall we found tables set out with food and drinks. Whoopiee I thought as my stomach had been slowly digesting me from the inside. There was even chira sushi which is my favourite (more rice). Then....bear with me while I gather my addled wits about me. Ah yes, the parents performed a dance, a dance with fans none the less. Okinawn dances (and this applys to most of what I have seen of Japanese dances too) are rather slow, yet graceful and precise. As beautiful as they may be with the best of will they would not be described as exciting. Although this is only from my limited experience. I am probably wrong but at least a substantial proportion are slow moving. I hope I am not insulting anyone, taiko involves dancing and taiko certainly isn't boring! I wish I could have done more of that....
Alright back to my tale. After that there were some speeches. Then each parent(s) presented each child with a card (just like the one I got from the yochien). As I mentioned before it can't be easy for parents to say goodbye to their children at 15! Although they probably have 3 or 4 younger ones at home. Unlike mainland Japan Izena people procreate. A combination of island life bereft of entertainment (cinemas etc) and neither shop on the island selling condoms. I wonder if declining birth rates in developed countries are more to do with the many distractions provided by modern life than anything else. Too many people watching movies, playing computer games, indulging in various pastimes etc. to get on with that important task of procreation. Sometimes we are so busy we pay other people to have our baby's and then pay someone to look after it! So if you are a developed country here is how to increase your birthrate; increase tax 1000% on all entertainment; reduce working hours and ban condoms. That last one is a bit risky I admit, perhaps the boredom induced copulation alone will be sufficient.
Back to the graduation. Next the pupils all came and sat in a long line and one by one read out a small thank you to their parents before presenting their parents with a rose each, it was very touching. Thennnn the students sang some songs including the school song for the last time. Now comes the best bit, 4 of the girl students had been secretly practising in a band! So secretly that for the past few months I hadn't known that they have been using MY keyboard. I though the keyboard they were using looked familiar and after they had performed I went and checked and sure enough it was mine! They weren't quite on par with Queen or some-other great band they couldn't possible be as good as but it was entertaining none the less.
So that was my Saturday, after graduation was over I escaped to study and that is what I did for the rest of the weekend and Monday (which was a school hol). Exciting I know, but know I can confidently calculate cashflows (as opposed to accountants and their profits which don't mean much), NPV and even calculate an equivalent annual annuity. You have permission to slap me when you see me next for being such a nerd. There were two notable breaks from study. The first one came on Saturday. I essentially got kidnapped by yoshiakisan and taken to an otskaresama (well done) party for the kids in the band. I got a free feed and was treated to another performance however my inner nerd was threatening to kick me in the goodies if I didn't go study some more so I left. Just as I was leaving they were starting to do some karaoke and I admit I was sorely tempted. On Monday I took a break for a run, just 10k but it felt good to get moving again. This is my first run since the marathon and I had definitely started to feel 'unhealthy', its kind of a gross feeling. Unfortunately it is evident my foot is not yet healed. No problem I just just ride my bicycle instead! I want to ride my Bicycle.
The only other note able thing I have been doing is worrying about the future. I am certain I don't want to do anything (especially a job) because it is convenient (in terms of location or money) or I am obligated to and I am certain I should do the things I want to do! You only get ONE shot at life so make it a good one! However I am hamstrung by not knowing what I want to do. Bit of a pickle really. So here I am studying something that doesn't hugely apply to what I want to do any more. Shutup. Yes you! Sniggering there in the back, quiet! I am pretty sure what I am learning will be generally useful as well (someday I will have money to invest) and besides it won't hurt my CV (resume for Americans). The current idea is do a masters in environmental science/management and then work for an environmental consultancy or maybe government. You know save the world just a little bit (or in the eventuality I need to order a Mafia hit on someone take huge bribes from Shell to OK their dodgy oil drilling plans). I have probably written enough. Goodbye.

2007-03-10T16:41:00.000+09:00

Going over a new game I tried with the 6th years, OK but needs tinkering.
A couple of my students were having dinner at the same place as us.
Me about to get my lovely card from the yochien (kindergarten).

It has been an good past few days although a little sad. For you other ALTs who read my BLOG this may be a little boring seeing as you probably just went through a similar experience but for my readers not in Japan it may be interesting.
On Thursday I was visited on my little island by Kelly and her friend Amy. As they were visiting on a Thursday, being my day at the elementry school, I invited them to join me for some lessons. The ferry only comes in at 11.30 so the only had time to have lunch with my yochien and then do my afternoon lesson (6th years). But what a lunch it was! My yochien are a riot and were not shy of Kelly and Amy in the slightest. They even made Kelly and amy say; 'rice please,' 'soup please,' 'orange please,' for each item of the school lunch as it was dished out. I had tought them please-thankyou-your welcome a while back. They were soon busy molesting kelly and amy as they are wont to do. The girl I sat next to was particularly genki that day. I got her (and some other kids) several times with 'oh whats that!' or 'Look over there!' and then saying 'haha you looked' when she did. She never got me once! Hah! They tried really hard telling me various people were behind me but I was far too cunning. I also got her with the tapping shoulder thing. I rock. She got me back though. She had a big milk mustashe so I said 'haha you have a milk beard,' she only shrugged and went 'unnnnn' -japanese for yes/uhuuh-. So I told her 'ewww dirty,' she just laughed and wiped her milk covered hands all over my sweater. Fair enough. Then after lunch is over a pupil comes to the front and the teacher motions for me to go to the front too, apparently the lesson that morning had been my last lesson with them as yochien! I hadn't known! They presented me with a lovely card thing (more a board) with pictures of me and the yochien stuck on it and messages and things, very cute! As it was the last lesson I gave the boys (and tough girls) last boosts up, I literaly throw them up and give them air time. At the teachers request we then played one last animal evolution game and then it was time for me to go as the after lunch class was starting shortly. I will have the yochien as 1st year elementry school but I only have them once a month, currently I have the yochien everyweek! I upped the classes from once a month to everyweek at the teachers request. I hope they get a good teacher as that really effects the classes personality. The class with the 6th years turned out to be the last one too, luckily I had my guests to make it a special lesson. It had been scheduled for next week but I guess the schedule changed so I didn't have a special lesson planned. I am looking forward to seeing the 6th years as junior high kids, hopefully alot of them sign up for my english conversation classes. I will have them for the period before the hormones kick in. Kelly and Amy really enjoyed my yochien although Kelly was a little grossed out by the boy who was doing something vigous with his hands in his pants for quite some time, hands not down his pants but all the way up the legs. They both of them got out the ethanol hand sanitising gel immediately after wards. I really enjoyed your visit Kelly and Amy sorry the weather was a bit poo! It was worth cleaning my house up for!

Today was graduation at the Junoir High school but that BLOG will have to wait until tommorrow or later.

Take care

Craig

2007-03-05T08:30:00.000+09:00

This will be a post mostly of pictures;

And just to make things interesting the pictures are not in chronological order...sorry it will be a tad disjointed.

In Brief, this saturday I went to my first Okinawan wedding, much fun. I also failed in my endeavour get much study done due to one thing or another! Oh yes, I also had my last english conversation club lesson...sniff :(.
Me in my wedding get-up.

The Bride and Groom in their final costumes. The Bride, Arisa Teachaa is from my school.

So here I am with my English conversation club kids. I decided to fast forward Easter and have an Easter lesson, mainly because I though it would be fun and I had some rather delish Easter eggs I had bought on base I wanted to use. We painted eggs, had an egg hunt outside and rolled eggs. Much fun was had by one and all.

Yeah, looking good! I had plans of getting a sly one hour of study in on the ferry back to Izena but this cool cat had other ideas.

He had accomplices too, I didn't stand a chance, look at the evil intent on their faces! They had been to run some race on the main island and decided I was going to be their antidote to the boredom of the ferry ride.

Moshi moshi! This kid really liked to pretend to talk on my phone.
I and my fellow teachers after the wedding and before heading to the nijikanme (2nd party). As you can see we are all clutching identical bags, an unlikely accessory matching disaster!? No, at Japanese weddings guests pay the Bride and Groom ichi man (50 quid) and then recieve a present of about equal value! Wicked! I got two for some reason, I didn't take two! I was GIVEN two! But then I went ahead and thought I would just leave them BOTH in the pub....luckily Big Ben (whose house I stayed at) was a wee darlin' and popped down and picked them up for me.
Rocking out to the music on my shuffle. Yeah baby!
The eggs my kids painted, pretty good ne!

So yah, the wedding eh. An Okinawan wedding is a little more fun and lavish then a mainland wedding I am told. At an okinawan wedding approx. 400 people come while the best the mainland Japanese can do is a meagre 100. There are also many performances by friends, family and work colleagues of the Bride and Groom. As a work colleague of the Bride (Arisa 先生) I and the other teachers performed a silly dance dressed up as construction workers. We wore white helmets, long-johns and painted out faces in the most ridiculous manner conceivable! The Bride and Groom wore three different costumes the finest of which was the first; splendiferous white wedding kimonos but I was too excited and forgot to take a picture. There was also a professional announcer/singer (yes one person did both)! It was Nancy in case any of you know her, does radio I believe. One assumes she must REALLY like the sound of her own voice. So the wedding was fun, highlights were doing my first BANZAI! Very excited I got to do that, I will cherish the memory along with when I got my first GOKOROSAMA. Another personal highlight was getting a string of paper flags. Allow me to elaborate, after we banzai-ed the happy couple (after they came and lit a candle on our table) we were wildly out of control and let of party crackers willy-nilly. One cracker emitted a coloured string of paper flags, all the flags of the world! For some reason it stuck me that I should very much like to have those flags but I dismissed the thought as silly. About ten minutes later I hear genki 'KUREIGU SENSEI' (Craig teacher in japanese) down to my side, I look down and there is the little daughter of the cleaning lady presenting those very flags to me! I was touched! 'Oh thankyou, Arigato!' I cried, (cried as in said it loudly, not cried tears! Suggest otherwise and I will punch you). I had just had a conversation with her and asked her to kindly look forward to studying english with me when he becomes a yochien (kindergarten-er) later this year. Must have made an impression or just got plain lucky, that or she is a very perceptive and cunning child, her or her mother. Anyway I was happy. After the wedding we went to J's bar and much fun was had. My teachers all left earlyish but a bunch of mainland Japanese came to keep me company. They were very nice and good company. It was after 2am before I left! My impressions of mainland Japanese are that they have been very nice and friendly. Although it is oft said how much warmer the okinawans are. This is the conventional knowledge but I am not convinced, not that okinawans are unfriendly, far from it! However all the Japanese I have met have been extraordinarily nice. I had not yet met as many friendly and helpful people as I did in Nara. I felt like saying well if Okinawans are so much friendlier how comes it's your guys who are here talking with me (and extolling the virtues of the Okinawans none the less). They did tell me that in mainland Japan the Groom cannot invite ANY females to his wedding, not even work colleagues as a relationship would be suspected! The same applies to the Bride. That is a bit crazy. I pursued the point a little and got the impression that perhaps if you are really in culture then the okinawan culture is kinder but for someone who is still a guest in this country it doesn't make a huge difference. It is a commonly noted aspect of general Japanese culture that they are very welcoming and accommodating toward guests. On Sunday I met some friends of BBs from mainland Japan who were visiting him. The family of a previous student of his. They were also nice and funny and didn't mind at all that a random (me) accompanied them to the pineapple park. Ah ok that's all, oh no, Takeru is back. One of the first friends I made on the island. He left to get a job on the mainland ages ago but he is back for a few months, nice. Those who came to my island all those moons ago he was the guy with the afro (sadly lacking now).

2007-02-27T08:19:00.000+09:00

Some traditional Okinawan/Japanese food

Cutting up a fish for sashimi
Kelly and I before the marathon
Kelly and I after the marathon!
Kelly, her Grandparents and I at the Tropical Dream Centre
The orchids drawing in their unsuspecting victims
A vine growing across a concrete roof

Goodmorning!

This weekend was a good one. Two main causal agents were running the Okinawa marathon and meeting Kelly’s grandparents. I met the Grandparents first so let’s start there. They arrived in Okinawa about a week ago to visit Kelly and have been experiencing one of Kelly’s world renowned tours of Okinawa. Kelly and her grandparents came to meet me at the port on Friday and I came off the ferry to meet them with armed with a haircut, trimmed beard and a bag of several large and heavy books. Large and heavy books can be useful in a number of diverse situations.

They were very friendly and I liked them immediately, one naturally hopes their impression was similar, then off we all went to gather to the pineapple park. As a side note I share the opinion that Americans are generally very friendly, open and polite, that is to say easy to become congenially acquainted with. They don’t tend to stand on ceremony or be stand-offish. I really like this however I am a cynical and grouchy Brit and sometimes the over the top (subjective I know) exuberance of Americans makes me feel uncomfortable. Not uncomfortable in that I don’t like it, it is great to be optimistic and enthusiastic about everything (within reason of course) but I am uncomfortable acting that way myself. I tend to communicate my positive emotions in devious and subtle ways, so pay attention! I wonder if you can take it as a rule of thumb that when Americans say something one aught to take into account probable overstatement and factor down greatness/awesomeness accordingly. And also when a Brit says something one must factor in understatement and scale up the greatness/wonderfulness.

American English : British English

Awesome = not bad

Well anyway I am going off on a wild tangent and I am not sure I really believe what I just wrote, it was just a thought.

So on with my tale. On Saturday we spent most of the day in America! Technically at least, we were on Kadena airbase. It did feel like we had left Japan, the roads suddenly became about 5 times wider, the buildings more spaced with swathes of immaculately cut lawn in between, men carrying guns. Kelly’s grandparents were extremely generous and paid for everything, Thankyou! They had also brought me a nifty LED headlamp gizmo from the states, much appreciated! Kelly was in heaven shopping at the commissary, mountains of all the food from home she had been missing! She did however show considerable restraint and didn’t buy too much at all. I was half tempted and half sort of disgusted. After Japanese food this just seemed to be endless HUGE portions of fatty, sugary death to your body. You get a lot of that in Japan now, but not on my island and certainly not in the school lunches that I get. This said when I spent a year in America I actually lost weight, although I was in southern California and surfing everyday that I could, but I was eating burgers and Doritos almost everyday too. Scottish food is at least as bad if not worse, although like everywhere there is good food if you look hard enough (ie. generally NOT in supermarkets). Argh I have digressed again. So it was a tip-top day and ended with a pleasant meal at the NCO club again courtesy of the ever generous Grandparents of Kelly.

SUNDAY: RACE DAY

Oh boy. The Okinawa marathon is a hilly little blighter to say the least. We knew that and were somewhat prepared. However several things which we weren’t prepared for tested us even more. At around 10km into the race Kelly got a neck crick. You know when you can’t move your neck cos it bloody hurts to do so! It hasn’t happened while running before and goodness knows why it happened then but it did. I could tell the poor girl was in a lot of pain. She was a real trooper and battled on though! I tried to be motivational and cheer her on as much I could, I again drew on the inspiration of John and told her to run with a smile and wave at the supporters. This she did very bravely but the smile came out more as a little scary grimace. But she did it! I am immensely proud of my gal, she showed she had guts and kicked that marathon right in the goodies. Despite evil towering hills (down-hills are probably worse than up towards the end of the race as they hurt your knees much more) and neck pains she finished this marathon a little faster than the last one! We finished in 4 hours and 24 minutes and some seconds. This time Kelly was one second faster than me and she deserved every nanosecond of it ;)! Way to go Kelly!

As for me the arch of my left foot is bothering me but it is not so bad now, my toes also took a bit of a beating. But that was the last endurance event for a little while. I have been in constant training for over a year now and it is time to let me knees and other connective tissue a chance to heal. Not that I am stopping, are you crazy! But I will switch to bike and swim training for a while. Hopefully I can do some 10Km or 20Km races in the near future and build up some speed.

Well done to Josh, Fidi, Charolette and Helen for also running the marathon and to Perry for rocking the ten Km race that day and for getting a PB at the Tokyo Marathon the week before. Good luck for Miako you crazy buggers! Also thank you to Kelly’s grandparents and Yasmine for cheering us on during the race.

After the marathon we had a slap up meal at macaroni grill (camp foster) where we were joined by the ever genki Ryoko. After facing the ordeal of the steps up to Kelly’s apartment again we iced aching limbs again before collapsing to bed.

Monday we went to the Tropical Dream Centre where we were treated to an amazing display of orchids. An old plant science professor of mine once described them as the Brazen Hussies of the plant world. However that think that is a little unfair and I am quite fond of them. A little gaudy and over the top at times but beautiful none the less.

This week I will have my last English conversation class. I am sad as I have grown quite fond of my class. The ‘thank you for being our teacher’ card they gave me on valentines day I will treasure. They are a good bunch of girls and I don’t think I will have time to get to know the new lot quite so well. I am working on giving them a lesson to remember and so far it involves chocolate so I think I am on the right track.

After doing my night time English conversation class on Monday (I have three such classes) I was invited by a teacher to some shindig so off I went. There were quite a lot of people there and lots of good okinawan/Japanese food. Incase you are curious as to food here I posted some pics. On the table you can see pigs tongue and in the bowl; diakon (like a white turnip), pigs ankle, tofu, seaweed, hotdog sausage and a boiled egg. The pigs ankle is pretty yum, its really soft and you just suck the skin, fat, tendons right off the bone. Yes yes, I know, I eat everything. The other picture if off a chap preparing the sashimi (sliced, raw fish). I have another party to go to tonight, there must be something going on, but as usual I am clueless! Probably to do with the up coming gradations and completion of a school year?

2007-02-19T08:29:00.000+09:00

KABUTOMUSHI!

I spent the weekend studying and precious little else. Well quite allot of study anyway. What was going to be a start break to the school on Saturday to check my emails turned into a 3 hour study holiday; I first chatted to my mum then it started raining (heavily) and then Kelly came on line and I talked to her. I ended up getting very wet on the way home, I had to strip off in the doorway. Sunday I had a 30k run scheduled and I managed that and about 6 and half hours of study, not bad. The big news was I acquired a pet on my run. I got my self my very own Kabutomushi (helmetbug) which is the vulgar Japanese name for stag beatles. Most of the native Japanese species are of the genus Dorcus. Unfortunate name really. Having looked at a few pictures I would guess that is it Dorcus Rectus (doubly unfortunate name) or Dorcus Platymelus, given that Dorcus Rectus is much common I would hazzard a guess that is it. However to be honest they all look very similar. My chap (it is a male) is about 40mm long although I haven't measured him yet. As a side note these beetles are very popular in Japan. Some species selling for huge amounts (circa. 100 dollars) and are popular amungst adults and children alike. It seems to me that children here are crazy about any and all bugs, during the summer one often sees primary school kids wondering around with bug net and regulation bug box (I have one ;)). The Katbutomushi is undisputed king of all bugs in Japan and therefore highly sought after. I think this is mostly due to its pretty fearsome appearance and the fact that they fight! Put two stags on a branch and they will lock horns and spar until one falls off! Monsters fighting is a pretty popular theme in Japan (my reference for this is almost ALL anime and manga -you at least know about pokemon- and a good proportion of TV and movies) also the beetles are generally unhurt which of course makes it all the more suitable for kids. There are popular kabutomushi card games and an arcade game that I often see kids playing called MushiKing where children fight beetles against each other. Anyway I have one now so HAH! I came across him about 24km into a 30k run just sitting right there in the road! I couldn't pass up the chance so I decided to carry him back the remainder of the run. A couple of Km later his squirming was bothering me so I broke off a branch and put him on it, he clung there happily until I was home. I was passed by one or two cars, I wonder what they though about me running while holding a stick with a large beetle on it? Whatever, I can be as eccentric as I please, humph!
I had an unexpected blast of Britishness just before bed last night. I finished the last financial management chapter on my to-do list and turned on the TV while I munched some supper (oatcakes and smelly Danish blue). What was on? The bleeding last night of the proms that's what! If you do not know what that is, well, it is like a musical festival but with classical music, kind of, held in Britain. The BBC philharmonic was playing a rather racy piece (complete with the slightly passée attractive lead violinist) moreover who was commentating but none other than Ground forces finest Alan Titchmarsh! I would have preferred Charlie Dimmock but that's by the by. He is quite a ridiculous fellow, well he is definitely English at least. It really could not have been more British if it tried (and it appeared they tried very hard), within moments there was a sea of Union Jacks waving to Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance, not once but twice (following tradition) and accompanied by a video clips of the 80 year reign of the Queen! Land of Hope and Glory........... followed by a series of naval bugal calls which were answered by the other wings of the proms in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland (each waving appropriate flags). That was something to do with the Battle of Trafalgar. It was almost a bit too much for me, I saw some other famous Brits in the audience but I couldn't place their names. Been away for a while I suppose! I missed what came between Danny Boy and Rule Britannia because I was trimming my beard and as it was getting late with a final Pum Pum Puddle-iddly-um I had to go to bed. Just for the record in theory I despise nationalism and even the idea of nations. As to nationalism my opinion is that if you need nationalism to give you some identity then you are solely lacking in that department. I consider myself to have quite enough identity without having to resort of nationalism or nationalistic labels.....generally. Although in practice nationalism (of ones own country and tending to view foreigners in terms of the nation they are from) is.....easy, I hesitate to say natural as it is probably a result of social/cultural influences.

2007-02-13T17:09:00.000+09:00

Pictures of Whales , Flowers and a Fair Maiden and a post about something else entirely.....

That's a Whale of a tail!......yeah yeah, I'll get my coat.

Sakura! That is cherry blossoms for those of you out of the loop (shame on you). These ones are to be found at Nakijin-castle.
Who is that hiding umungst the Sakura? It was a lovely day btw.
Eating bento (boxed lunch) under the sakura, how Japanese!

Well, what up?
My hat is set at a jaunty angle because my dear friends and family my jib is a well cut one and in addition to that, and I include my Mysticete friends in this, I have been disposing myself adroitly, it has also come to my attention that none are quite as apt in the art of brevity as I.

Sorry folks but you may need some insider information to understand the above sentence. If you weren't with me on Saturday morning (the 10th Feb) you can happily ignore the reference to the Cetaceans.

I spent a wonderful long weekend with Kelly. Don't run away! I shan't bore you with tales of our canoodles I promise! Instead I will inform you of things last week what made me laugh.

THINGS LAST WEEK WHAT MADE ME LAUGH

I got assaulted by my kindergarten kids; they rubbed my beard and hair, stuck their fingers in my ears and held my nose so I sounded funny. I did the only thing I could and responded in kind with an emphasis on the ear poking.

I (unintentionally) assisted a kid give another kid a kancho.

The 4th grade (primary school) kids told me I should dye my hair black. WHY?! You little conformists!

My favourite 4th grader has a new catch phrase to do with me (she made it up), instead of saying 'see you next time,' she says 'see you neck tie!!!!!'. Oh the Hilarity, it is actually quite funny when we do it in unison with the neck-tie (tie) motion.

A first year held onto a karuta card so hard I had to hold him upside down by his ankle and pull the card down with my other hand. He held on for quite a while and perhaps stretched an inch or two.

I was running when three little elementary kids (1st year and yochien) decided to come running with me. They weren't even wearing shoes! They however assured me their feet didn't hurt and even told me they would do the triathlon next year;). After coming about 400m with me and going up a nasty hill they showed no signs of slowing down so I had to stop and tell them to go back (telling them how awfully well they had done of course). It was getting dark and I didn't want to be responsible for them!

After the school relay race (ekiden), while eating zanzai (sweet red bean soup and mochi) a student told a teacher she looked like she was taking a shit (in Japanese). I was much amused. It happened thus: I am talking to said student (female), a teacher near by (female) squats down to eat her zanzai. At this point I should mention squatting is the perfered way to sit down in japan, especially in rural areas and places with a lack of chairs (ALOT of places). It's a similar action to squatting down to answer a call of nature while you are actually in nature. Anyway said student decided said teacher looked to much like she was doing something...else...and cries out
'UNKO!'
which means 'SHIT!' (as in faeces).
Said teacher hurriedly brings her knees together and in the ensuing (friendly) conversation decides it would be best to actually sit with her bottom on the ground as to avoid any more misunderstandings. The teacher wasn't annoyed by this in the slightest.

This is a manner of talking which would never be acceptable in a British school, at least I can't imagine it!

Take care Y'all

Craig

2007-02-06T12:49:00.000+09:00

I will miss Japan. A kind of mild panic constricted my chest when I thought about leaving. I have just been reading through a short illustrated book (provided to me by the British Council as part of an free educational pack) detailing the relationship between Britain and Japan from it's earliest beginnings to the present. Of particular note is William Adams the first recorded Briton to come to Japan and the first foreigner to achieve samurai status. He gave great service to the Tokugawa shogunate and married a Japanese woman. He never returned to Britain. I think Japan is a very Charismatic country. By this what do I mean? Allow me to explain. Charisma of a person is viewed quite rightly as an intangeble and difficult to define characteristic. A person's Charisma however clearly stems from one or more extraordinary and unusually powerful personality traits. A countries personality can be said to be its culture. Japan has a unique and very strong culture, pervading all facets of life in Japan. I think a culture of this sort can hold influence over individuals much like a charismatic person can.
Or maybe I am afraid that my ego won't be able to take it when children no longer shout 'KUREIGU' or 'HAROO' when they see me. I am like royality smiling and waving as I ride my bike to school or if I pop back during lunch. Some kindergarten children go home around lunch time and I often pass them. They have now aquired the habit of demanding 'touchie touchie' before I can continue on my way. 'Touchie' is japanese for a high-5.
Or maaaaaaaaaybe I miss the wonderful food! They really are fearless about trying crazy combinations of food here. Only a few days ago they hit me with a double wammy in one meal (school lunch). The first wammy (?) was a salad. A typical Japanese salad heavy on the sea weed and heavy on the vinegar. In fact the dressing might have been only strong vinegar, strong tasting stuff! Anyway for some reason they added diced orange to it. Curious. The second wammy was cold mashed potato with raisins as a desert!
Today we had chicken, pork and squid in the same dish. Not that I minded the more meat the better I think.
Then there is always the classic (had it 3 or 4 times now) dessert comprising of nuts, dried fish mixed together and glazed with sugar. Yummsters!
I have so far eating everything put in front of me at school lunch and only refused one things outside of school (horse meat) and in the main it has all be yum except for some of the salads.
Oh yes and they always try and sneak fish into everything, tiny little transparent fish hiding in the salads or sometimes the rice! One can spot them by their eyes.
I will really really miss the food here though, I say that in utter and complete sincerity.

2007-02-02T08:48:00.000+09:00

THIS POST IS NOT ABOUT THAILAND BUT THE PICTURES ADMITTEDLY ARE!
Playing mit baby elephanten.
Big tree in Tomb Raider temple
Kelly inside Angkor Wat

Lalala so what is up?! I have meant to write a post for a while but never seem to have time. The big news is that I am leaving Japan this year! It came as a little shock, having been told (informally) I had got the transfer to the main-island (my condition on staying). So as a result Kelly had already signed her recontracting papers for another year when I was told the transfer process had fallen at the last hurdle (the part which has supposedly been a mere formality). After a moments pause to collect my thoughts I began to come to the realisation this was probably for the best. Anyway Kelly changed her recontracting answer to no, and so we are leaving together, and that is all that really matters. Also it is probably time to leave, I have achieved all I can on Izena, I came up with some more things I would have like to have done on the main island but they were never long held and cherished goals of mine. Also for the best part of this second year I have not been planning on recontracting, it was just the easy option. Also having had no special interest in Japan or Japanese (and still not being amoured with it all except the food) it might look bad on the CV. BUT NO! No easy option for me, I must venture forth and face the unknown with my meagre funds. And hopefully have a wizzo time too! So far the plans are travel then volunteer then..............grad school. Goodness there were a few things I wanted to say, oh yes I had a good moment at the elementary school. I have these special needs kids who join my 6th grade class. I have struggled to integrate them. Outside the class room they are umungst the friendliest kids and one in particular always tries to speak to me. However in the class they are a bit unresponsive, I think because of being in a different group (class) and being Japanese they are all about the group right, they probably also feel dumb compared to the other kids. Anyway I was playing a review game, making giant faces on the board and I get one of the special needs kids, so I choose an easy flashcard and pop it up so he sees it first, he gets it and there is a surprised murmur around the class. When he came up again I repeated the same trick and he got it again and the whole class erupted into cheers for him. Quite a moment. Anyway. Also I almost got sucked into acting in a Japanese play. Well my neighbour recruited me and I attended one rehearsal where I played 'man 4' and had one line. However with marathon training (2ish hours a night including shower etc.) and having to study for the distance course I am enrolled in I have no time. I need to devote more time to study I have already fallen behind my own schedule! Drat! Mmmm what else...oh I have been randomly dropped what I am doing and thinking recently. Not even sure what I am thinking about. While working out (outside) I randomly stopped and stared at the moon for almost an hour. I had thoughts on nature and love in case you were wondering. I thought that there is so much inherent beauty in the world why do we try so hard to create our own, why not appreciate nature? And even more tragically by our actions we are destroying natures beauty. I wished humans would just bugger off and leave the world alone! Humans I think are incomplete on their own and try to fill this void with anything and everything. When all you need is love (SHUTUP!) and once you have love you can calmly appreciate nature. I admit this is a similar sentiment expressed by Serganov through his character Pavol in 'on the eve'. However it is different when one reads something and realises it for oneself. Also later after reading a book on the Crimean war (composed of accounts and recollection of the soldiers who served) I pondered the love of ones country. First the book made me wonder if I hated or loved Britain. Then I realised how foolish it was to love a country, one should love a woman (or man - despite our increased hairyness and smellyness) or even a puppy, something that can love you back. But not a country which can never love you back and all to often proves a harsh mistress, generously spending the blood of her subjects in her own interest. Anyway sorry, enough of that nonsense. Back to work!
Craig

2007-01-29T17:29:00.000+09:00

I had a break from the 'routine' yesterday. My neighbour came around and told me about a music event happening in the hotel near my house. I wasn't sure if I was going to go (I may have been watching a movie at the time) but my neighbours wife emailed me telling me to come quickly so I came. It was quite good, a chap from mainland Japan (a tokyoite) played the pan pipes and a sort of bamboo recorder. I gather he had spent some time in Bolivia. He was corpulent and amusing and got suitable engrossed/animated by the music he was playing. There were also coffee and cakes supplied, how civilised ;). Mostly teachers came, and with other civilised members of Izenean society (dentists wife etc.) sat near the musician. Other Izeneans of a more countrified nature sat at the far end of the long room and proceeded to talk in above acceptable levels and most horridly laugh mid-performance at private jokes! When they decided to clap to the music (without the musicians accent) the upper table resisted their oafish attempt to make amends (they tend to clap to sanshin music -and talk loudly during it- at their own social gatherings) and they were cowed into silence by our disapproving countenance. Jolly good evening and I even managed a good conversation with the chap afterwards, he is very well travelled. E's even gone and went to Zimbabwe (country of me birth don'tchaknow)! Mainland Japanese are so much easier to talk to, being that they speak the language I am trying to learn, Japanese. Izenians speak something else. Even okinawa honto (main island okinawa) people can't understand them when they are drinking etc. Okinawa honto people are also easy to talk to. It is nice sometimes to make use of the Japanese I have learned.

2007-01-24T08:22:00.000+09:00

So I have left it far too long, and you have already lost interest in the hols but here are a few pics and a terribly short account of what we did. Actually I shall split up the post, I realise the pictures would make it far too long a post. Don't want to scare you off.
So here are TEMPLES (we saw many more but these are the most noteworthy ones, acutally I think we lost count of the number of temples -Wats- we saw, and that's not counting Angkor....).

This is apparently the finest example of a northern style Wat (temple). It was called Wat Chaing man and was in the city of Chaing mai.
This is another northern style Wat (also in Chaing mai). They seem to be mostly constucted of wood (Teak) and while coloured in gold paint much less shiny than the Wats in Bangkok. There were many Wats in Chaing mai but I don't really want to post 100 odd pictures of Wats, really there are that many! Perhaps we have around 2000 pictures between us. I am not even sure if these are the best ones because I haven't taken the time to look through them all in any great detail yet! These first two pictures are out of sequence however I am not about to start this whole post again so you will just have to bear in mind went to Chaing mai (a small city in the north of Thailand) in the last 5 days of our trip.
The grand palace, former residence of the King of Thailand (In Bangkok). And let me tell you they LOVE the king, pictures and paintings of him adorn buildings everywhere, EVERYWHERE! Any street will have 2,3,4 pictures of him or shrines devoted to him. Big pictures too, covering the sides of sky scrapers in Bangkok. We noticed that many people seemed to be wearing yellow polo shirts. We later learned this was to show devotion to the King, yellow is his colour.

Wat Pho, the oldest Wat in Thailand (or just Bangkok, either way, old).
Chedi at Wat Pho, these are essentially tombs.
The Emerald Buddha Wat and surrounding shiny buildings, they really were very shiny, quite spectacular.

Short and skirts and other immodest clothing are not allowed in this temple area (around the royal palace), bit of a pain in the heat!
Kelly posing with some colourful chaps. We saw these two temples on our first day in Thailand, and then in the evening of the same day we caught a Konn performance. Konn is the traditional Thai dance and we were lucky enough to see an extra special piece which had been recently commissioned for the Kings birthday, yes the King again.

2007-01-16T09:25:00.000+09:00

Here are a couple of my favourite pics from the floating Market we visited. We had a lovely 'driver' for our boat who after asking if we were interested in visiting the many tourist nicknak stalls and recieved a resounding no took us on a tour of the residential waterways of his town. He told us that most of the people there did not own a car but everyone owned a boat, nice. For an account of our trip upto Cambodia and Angkor Wat I would refer you too Kelly's BLOG. The link is on the side bar (right hand side) of my BLOG. Her latest two blogs cover the first half of our trip. I will get round to writing but to be honest I haven't even finished my journal writing on the trip!
Just as a side note: the floating (and terrestrial) markets still serve a functional role in traditional Thai society however they are also becoming increasingly affected by tourism. If we had more time we could have sought out a wholly traditional market (catering only to Thais) however time was off the essence (these markets happen according to a lunar calender) and we had to go to a well known market in close proximity to Bangkok. We avoided the touristic side of things as much as possible by not taking a tour. We took a local bus to the town nearby where we stayed in that town sole hotel (a bit of a cold dreary hotel but clean and functional) before getting up early the following day to see the market. The town is about 2 hours from Bangkok and the tours leaving that morning arrive en mass at 9am, and from then on tourists outnumber Thais. We managed to have a couple of hours of peace before the hoards descended, upon which time we made our leave. I believe later that day we chose a tailor, got fitted for suits and then saw Thai Boxing in the evening. I will write up a full and comprehensive account later...sometime....

2007-01-09T15:19:00.000+09:00

Happy new year (MY year -year of the boar-). Well I am back from the most amazing holiday I have ever had, to say it went far and beyond my expectations is an understatement. I am still marvelling at the good fortune (in placement and timing and serendipitous plan changing) we were on the receiving end off. I can think of nothing that would have made the trip any better. However it is going to take sometime for me to put together a blog of the trip, I think I will have to do it in several instalments. I am also hindered by a respectably sized mountain of photographs, I and Kelly filled our memory cards about 5 times each so I have a small stack of cds with pics from the trip. Kelly estimates she took around 1000 pictures, goodness knows how many I took. So I shall start by posting some pictures of the sunrise at Angkor Wat. It was the most beautiful thing we saw on the trip and the 4.30am wake up and freezing tuktuk drive were well worth it (we were lucky to get a perfect spot right next to the reflecting pool). I filled a whole memory card just that day (of Angkor Wat and 4 other Wats we saw) but I will just post pics of the sunrise just now.

Here is the actual sunrise (using my sunglasses as a filter)

Here is one of Kelly's pics I really like.

And it was pretty before the sun came up as well! All blues and purples.

Here comes the sun (this time using Kelly's brown sunglasses as a filter).

I will return to inflict more of my holiday snaps upon the world; until then rest your retinas.

2006-12-20T09:45:00.000+09:00

Ah Christmas, the festive season, full of goodwill and cheer! I am starting to feel it! First I had my fun Christmas party with my students then yesterday I got a surprise visit at the Junior High from the Kindergarten Teacher. She gave me my first Christmas present! A DVD of the kindergarten lesson I had done the previous week (the one the Board of Education and PTA observed). I was quite touched, I will have to get her something nice from Thailand. It even had a picture of me with the kids printed on it and with typical Japanese care and attention to detail she had first put the DVD in a Universal studios Japan bag and then a Comme ca Du Mode bag. Sigh... who is this brute who want to leave this island and its kind folks!
Well anyway and if you have a moment spare why don't you find out about the real Saint Nicholas. The site has a wealth of information of Saint Nicholas and how he evolved into Santa Claus (Santa San in Japan). I am not saying Santa Claus is bad, he is a wonderful character but like the site says Saint Nicholas is just better. One preaches commercialism the other compassion, you choose.
Here is the link:
http://www.stnicholascenter.org/Brix?pageID=38
Or if you are in a hurry just go to this page (it compares Saint Nic. to S.Claus):
http://www.stnicholascenter.org/Brix?pageID=36

Have a wonderful Holiday season!

2006-12-19T09:50:00.000+09:00

My Christmas party and history of the traditional okinawan dish - 'Win-on a bowl or rice'

I and my English conversation class kids posing with Christmas choc lollys my mum had sent.

The last two presents in the pass the parcel were magnifying lens glasses and bunny ears, a victim was chosen.

Yesterday I had my English conversation class Christmas party. Normally I have the first years 6-7 and then the 3rd years 7-8. However sometimes I combine the classes and I thought that would be more fun for the Christmas lesson/party. It was heaps of fun and ended up going on until almost 9pm! Three hours! I had only planned on 2 but we played Monopoly.......
They are good kids and I enjoy taking the class (plus I get a half day on Monday because of it). Oh and Kaho braught some cakes her mother had cooked, maiu datta.
Sooo did you know katsudon is called katsudon (katsu meaning 'to win' ) because it is eaten before sports events, and its like a 'hey lets win food'. Or maybe it was already called katsudon and thats why they eat if before a game. Anyway whichever is the cause and whichever is the effect, it is a breaded pork on rice dish called 'win - on a bowl of rice' and it is eaten before sporting events.

2006-12-15T10:39:00.000+09:00

However, Lib Dem chief of staff Norman Lamb said: "To have the government conspire to close down an investigation into serious corruption allegations in the international arms trade on the same day as the prime minister is interviewed by the police over domestic corruption allegations shows how far from 'whiter than white' this government has moved.

A passage from the below article:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6181621.stm

Mr Blair and his NEW Labour party, bah! Bunch of nimcumpoops, let it be on the record that I never liked him!The conservatives may be a bunch of well, conservative old farts, but they are generally decent. Not just drooling lap dogs to Bush who are also apparently fairly corrupt on their own too. Margret Thatcher (conservative) should be treated with reverance for bringing our economy into the modern world. She could have done better in some areas but we are all better off for her, I think, although she is still a very vilified figure (especially in scotland).
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/3685881.stm
Back to the corrupt Labour party - remember Peter Mandelson and David Kelly (Not to mention starting an illegal war and failing to call for a ceasefire in the Isreali Lebanon conflict)? I am not sure about Brown (our probable next Prime Minister), I would give him a chance, I hope that new Labour isn't rotten to the core.
Anyway enough of politcs it generally makes me depressed when I think about it too much.

2006-12-15T08:30:00.000+09:00

Why am I in a country that doesn't show cricket on TV! Booooo! Well I suppose it saved me tears on the first two tests but 3 more to go! Monty, the Sikh of Tweak, went on the take 5 wickets, becoming the first English spinner to ever do so in Perth. With the Ossies dismissed for 244 this is Englands finest chance, let's hope they don't mess it up. It is about time we had a big knock from Flinty I think!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/england/6178327.stm

And I fully support Monty to win the beard of the year! A coveted accolade!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/tms/2006/12/beard_of_the_year.shtml

2006-12-14T14:25:00.000+09:00

Still 2-0 down in the ashes but Monty is finally here!

He's only gone and done it! Monty Panesar the bearded genius strikes! On his second over! Claiming his first ashes wicket! Long live King Monty Panesar!!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/england/6178327.stm
http://www.ecb.co.uk/england/sdf,10969,EN.html

Panesar and Mahmood have just been picked for their first Ashes (the most important and bitterly fault cricket game played between England and Australia, there's history man!). Just shows what you can achieve if you play as part of the team (Monty recieved a standing ovation as he came on to bowl his first over in an ashes series). Don't be a hater be a cricket player! If you come to our nation try and be postive part of it! Be a fair sport, anything else is just not Cricket.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monty_Panesar
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sajid_Mahmood

I am also a fan of Amir Khan, we all watched him avidly during the 2004 olympics (he got silver at the age of 17). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amir_Khan_%28boxer%29

In finding these links I discovered that both Amir and Sajid are from the same Pakistani Punjab royal warrior clan, Janjua.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janjua

2006-12-13T10:33:00.000+09:00

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/6196464.stm
Pretty interesting I feel. Especially if you go down to the full report (PDF file). I recomend that you do, I was quite disappointed with allot of that the young people thought, especially the London kids. Little buggers. Oh in for a penny in for a pound, while I am on the topic of slating British kids; here - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/6173441.stm
They can't speak either. ...sigh

2006-12-12T12:14:00.000+09:00

The catalogue from AU.
Me sporting the rather Bon Ton Izena kindergarten team strip!

Ah. Today I did a demonstration class? Maybe, I was asked by the primary school if I wanted to teach yochien (kindergarten) on Tuesday the 12th of December. They told me there may be some PTA watching. So I planned a packed lesson with the Yochien teacher, first time we have planned a lesson together which I was quite proud of as we planned it speaking only Japanese. Anyway then closer to the day Amec sensei (head of english at primary school) tells me it is an important lesson. On the actual day he tells me there may be 30 people watching. And sure enough all the BOE (board of education) and all the PTA were there plus most of my fellow Junior High School teachers. Not to worry though the Yochien are my favourite class and they rock your socks off. When Amec sensei told me they were maybe the best in Kunigami (northern Okinawa) I just gave him an incredulous stare as one might looks at a person proudly uttering 'the world is round you know!' or 'Complementary micro RNA can pre transcriptionaly inhibit gene expression'. What I am trying to express is DUUUUHHHHHHHHH! I don't know who idolises who more me or my Yochien. And yes they are mine! As is this island etc etc. Aside from all that, so yes the class went well despite one of my star performers crying (he rallied round), oh yes! and we had special yochien teacher sweaters for the class, specially made, wicked! So again, aside from all that I got a birthday present from AU! AU is the mobile phone company I use in case you are unaware. The sent me a mid sized book shaped parcel. Inside was a voucher for 5000 yen and a catalogue. Just a regular home shopping catalogue with everything from furnishings, to kitchen stuff, to jewellery and bags to camping stuff to everything (except clothes). I assumed I could spend 5000 yen in the catalogue but there were no prices so I asked. Apparently the voucher is 5000 yen off my next phone and the catalogue, well I can order any one thing from it! I was slightly taken agog, but have since spend a few happy idle moments flipping through the pages wondering what I want. I have decided on a thing, A wind up torch solar powered LED lamp radio keitei(mobile phone) charging thing. I think it will be fun for camping and such like. Shush you! I LIKE gadgets! Also very excited about going to Thailand, toodles! 5000 yen is about 25 quid btw, better than a swift kick up the arse!

PS. Almost 1 in 10 Brits live abroad, interesting (at least for me, being one of their kind)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6210358.stm

2006-12-07T15:42:00.000+09:00

So as you may know my birthday was on Monday. I mentioned on Monday to the kids in my after school english conversation class that it was my birthday. 'Happy Birthday' they cried. What I wasn't expecting was the following. On the Wednesday I popped home to get some flash cards I wanted to laminate for the elementry school the following day. When I came back all the teachers where having a meeting. Argh I though but I needed to laminate so I bust into the room and got the laminator as quietly as I could (dropped a bit of it). While I was laminting three girls from my english conver appeared. They seemed happy to see me, when I asked them what they were upto they said 'suprise' and went off. They reapeared a little while later with a bag, 'Birthday present!' they declared! Wow! I was Happy! They gave me a bag (Christmas) filled with candy and things, I made a show of it and rummaged around. That is when I found the rather feminine bracelet. They started giggling but I decided to throw caution to the wind and had them put it on me, then I trooped them next door so I could show off the bracelet (fake pearls with a silver heart) to the secretary (a guy) to much giggles from the girls. Then the tea lady popped in so I asked her if it was cute too. More giggles. I told them I was 'cho ureshii,' more giggles and then they left. The cute (and cheeky) little blighters. I intend to wear it to class. BTW that pic of from my phone (on the highest setting - not bad).

The wonderful lamp that kelly made for me as one of my brithday presents from her. Thankyou darling!

I am coming to the sad conclusion I aught to stop doing skids with my bike....until I get a new tire that is! I was getting quick good, I could skid into a pretty tight space, useful for parking inbetween all the student's bikes at the school.

2006-12-05T16:36:00.000+09:00

Well what a weekend! This weekend just passed I am Kelly ran our first marathon together. That is to say our first marathon ever (the 22nd Naha Marathon) which we happened to have run together. We ran together and finished in 4 hours and 28 minutes. It was a pretty amazing experience and finishing felt good! I am so happy we got to run it together, we kicked ass! We placed 3550th and 3549th, unfortunately their system can't handle people who finish together (that is out of about 20,000 people btw). After the buzz of finishing faded the pain hit us like a ton of bricks, oh boy did we hurt and do we still hurt. I still live in fear of having to go down stairs. I have read it can take several months to fully heal from running a marathon. After we had showered changed and iced we dragged our weary bodies back down to Naha for the after party for us Marathoners (I, Kelly, Andy, Yasmine, Perry and Ryoko) and the people who had sat Japanese tests that day. It was also kind of for my birthday, I didn't plan that but it kind of happened. Enjoy the pics!

Celebratory cigars for those who had taxed body or mind that day (mine was Cuban of course).
Before the marathon, waiting in the monorail station. From left to right; Yasmine, Ryoko, Perry, me.
The happy JUST FINISHED A MARATHON people!
Perry demonstrating just how much he likes lubing up before a marathon (it is actually quite fun).
Dressed for dinner.
The two islanders oozing style and class.

2006-11-28T12:08:00.000+09:00

Sooooo we meet again....and this time I have brought photographs! Yes meine kleine schnitzel they are for you to look at. Jahhh, only you. Of course, of course you are most...... precious to me. But enough! No time for zee idle chit chattering, look at the hour! Ah such hour! Ich must schnell away! Tchuss!

Ahhh Ganz wunderschone! Siehst du diesen blumen! Aber wo haben sie gefallen aus?

Aus die prettiest baum (tree right) I saw that day (Ich Liebe　木).
Oh, arn't zeez zee preeetest pink petalz ! Ich glaube dass diesen petals smecht sehr gutt!
You see zee blue mit die pink mit die grun. Zehr Schon!
Jahhh, Ich mabe mit die colour gespielt!
Ohhhh Jahhhh juicy stigma, oder bist du a stamen person?
Just like fire or ...... red tissue paper?
Ah yes and the sun on a freshly harvested rice paddy (yes the accent had been done away with, I got bored).

So I spent a pleasant weekend on Izena. I ran 30k in preparation for the Naha marathon next weekend, I then spent a pleasant evening in the company of the Yamiyama family and the Yoshiaki family. For those of you who don't speak Japanese that is the Mountain God family and the Autumn Reed family (actually not sure on what kanji the last family has but I chose ones I like the meaning of). We cooked fish and lobsters on a barbecue and much fine tasting was done on my tongue. Apparently, so much so that my surprise was most aroused, lobster tastes better only partially cooked and dipped in it's own entrails. Now that may sound sarcastic but I assure you I am not joking. The lobster was only briefly cooked so that it was still very tender and juicy and the black innards were placed in a separate plate so that one would dip the white meat in there for some extra umph to the flavour. Very good. Then we drank whiskey until the wee hours. I won't say chatted but my Japanese lasted longer than in the past although there is always a point were I get lost and give in. I am aware Whiskey isn't part of most peoples diet the week before a marathon but hey diddly oh and the cow jumped over the moon! Hazzah! I ain't no KANGCHEONG SPIDER you know!

PS. I almost forgot but this does make me angry and Kangcheong for sure!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6181396.stm
Bloody people, we are the bane of this world! Grrrrr! We have a system set up which allows (sometimes forces) us and the people who govern us to follow a strategy of short to medium term economic prosperity at all costs while distancing ourselves from the ill effects of this sufficiently that we can ignore them. Well it will only be so long before we cannot turn a blind eye to the costs any longer. I hope it hurts.

2006-11-24T19:17:00.000+09:00

Well I feel in my bones it is time to post again. Last year saw the MYC (mid year conference) which unlike last year I found useful. It is a three day seminar, an opening ceremony on the first day followed by two day of workshops run by ALTs for ALTs. As this is the only time of the year when all the ALTs (Okinawa only) are together it is also a bit of a party. It was fun but I don't see much point in relaying elaborate details of exactly what I did. Suffice to say the climax saw the three islanders reunited in their jumpsuits. What else is going on in my life? Well one thing I have done is apply to be transferred to Okinawa Honto (the main island). "What!" you may scream why would you leave your paradise island! Well...sometimes I wonder this and sometimes I am very grateful that one way or another this will be my last year. My mood goes up and down, shortly after I handed the form to my supervisor I had a very good few days and wondered the sanity of my desision. Nothing special happened, I just had some funny moments with the kids, Had some good conversations, the lady in the cake shop randomly lent me a dvd of a movie she had liked when she was my age. Then there are time like the last few days when I have felt isolated and a little lonely. So my mood goes up and down but don't get me wrong, if I came here again I would come to Izena all over again AND stay two years again for sure. I mean I would choose to be on Izena for two years than be on Okinawa Honto. I believe I have one of the best placements in all of Okinawa (perhaps Japan but I can't really judge that one). So why leave? Well the largest factor is a change. I know my third year here would more or less be the same as the last and that does no inspire me in the least! I want a change and leaving Japan would also give me change, big change, but that would be the more difficult choice. Having a new area, a new school and being able to join some new clubs (I have my eye on Karate and Kendo) would be change and enough and perhaps most importantly I would be closer to Kelly and wouldn't be reliant on the ferry to come and see her. It would also be easier for me to do this distance learning course (diploma for grads in management) I have embarked on over two years. This all said the transfer is far from certain and I will be faced with a tough choice if it falls through. In other matters I am reading Ishmael right now. It worries me greatly. Not because of the message that we (the human race) are busy destroying the world, I knew that and it is a matter close to my heart. But rather his bizarre explanation as to why we are doing this. I have been writing in my note book as I read, poking holes in this theories (and their are lots). I haven't yet finished the book and perhaps the 'genius' of the book is in the overall message and not the detail. I am however experiencing a growing dread that the view of Daniel Quinn as expressed through Ishmael are held by many people, even the majority of people?! I shudder to think. I would be delighted to hear from anyone who also had issues with the book, and once I have finished I can compile my notes lambasting the book for anyone who loved/liked/didn't mind the book and wondered what I could take such great offence at!

2006-11-21T12:39:00.000+09:00

This is a public warning. The Gaijin Rangers have been spotted in Okinawa again. It has been almost a year since the three Rangers (Blue, Yellow and Red) have been seen together and mainland Okinawa has only just begun the long rebiulding process. You are adviced not to approach (would you want to?!) as they are prone to erratic, unpredictable benhaviour (to be fair it is also often hilarious) and can be dangerous. Please treat with the utmost caution!
You have been warned!

ps. Gaijin rangers come complete with colour co-ordinated marker pens and writable on white T-shirts.

2006-11-13T13:50:00.000+09:00

My week just past

On wednesday I was invited to a barbeque with my elementry school teachers. It was a little more than a barby. A group of Hokkaido (northermost Japanese island) elementry school kids were visiting so it was a welcome party for them. This is the 2nd visit to my island by Hokkaido students and there was been one school trip to Hokkaido by Izena kids since I have been here. The Izena BOE (board of education) biulding also boasts a stuffed bear which was given as a gift from Hokkaido. There seems to be some sort of Hokkaido, Okinawa exchange going on; hot/cold, far north/ far south, that kind of thing.

So after the barby and some good chats with islanders I havn't seen in a while due to excessive training the show began!

First a Okinawan fan dance (I aught to find the name)

Next the boys performed Bo Kata, these are the special needs boys, they did well.

Sugi wa, a sanshin performance (an okinawan istrument similar to a banjo).

During the piece (which was just sanshin) a few members of the audience started singing the song which goes with the piece. Then more and more people joined in until almost all the audience were singing. It was pretty amazing. Maybe it was the warm fuzzies brought on by the beer but I found myself thinking how wonderful it was that a whole community from great grandparents to little elementry school kids could all participate in an impromptue sing along. It speaks volumes of the strength and depth of their culture and also of how homogenous their culture is. I began compairing this to our more multicutural culture back home. Trying to compair the pros and cons. I actually ended up writing not a few pages in my journal on the topic the following day. I of course didn't really reach a conclusion, not surprisingly as there is no easy answer to one of the most complex issues facing us as a society today. The one thing I did decid is that, even with accepting the many benefits of a homogenious culture the actions and policies needed to create and maintain such a culture are wholely unacceptable. Actions and policies used my many repugnant right wing, zenophobic and racist groups in the past and present. Japan is in many ways a special case I hasten to add but before I get bogged down on with the blog!

Next was a piece performed with hand bells (a first on Izena!). That's the elementry school head master closest to the camera btw.

The Hokkaido Shagakkusei (elementry school kids) performed a dance next.

This dance is known and danced by elementry children all over Japan. I don't mean that it is wide-spread but that virtually EVERY kid knows it in Japan. I forget what it is called, but they say something like 'Asora asora,' alot in it.

Then the ex tea lady from my junoir high performed karate! I am glad I always said her food was delish! (and it was!)

She also performed kata with nun-chucks and those three pronged knives. She is the lady who made me dinner and left it on my door a while back if you remember. Nice lady.

As I said all children in Japan know this song and dance so at the end of the night the Hokkaido and Izena kids got together and danced away. Some adults who remembered the song joined in too, pretty hilarious.

The night was finished off with some okinawan dancing which I happily joined in with.

Thursday: how do you know your school likes you (maybe a little too much)?
When the schools public computer has a picture of you as the desktop!
Yes I was a little surprised.

Friday: I found a new beach on friday, and this metal encased cable. I wonder what would happen if I cut it? I wonder what it is. I expect phone goes via satelight so electricity perhaps?

Saturday: It was the 'tour de Izena' (bike ride). I passed on the bike riding (last year I did it and it was too slow to be fun) but I turned up for the wada. This is a old fishing method whereby people herd fish through shallow water into nets. It is a chance for the Okinawans living on the main island to do a traditional okinawan activity. I am surprised how little of the traditional festivals are still celebrated on the main island. My JTE had never helped make a rice rope for tug of war, seen okinawa sumo or taken part in the Una festival before Izena. This is another example of where the strong traditionals on Izena draw the community together. During the Una festivals each village has a tug of war (north vs. south or east vs. west) so during the week before the festival the whole village (young and old) has to make ropes which are combined to make the big rope for the actual day. Perhaps there are many traditional festivals on the main island but not everyone attends (as on Izena) and the mainland festivals I have been too seem to be just performances on a stage and stands with fair food and fair games. Although this is partially just my limited observation but it is also consistent with what I have been told by my Japanese friends.

My final picture is of....well I don't know. There is a small hut I often pass on my way to Izena beach. Everytime I have passed it at night or at dusk it has bright white (you know the sort that simulate daylight) lights on inside but yet has bamboo screens over the windows and glass door at all times (including during the day). One night as I passed I had a closer look and this is what I saw. What can it be!

2006-11-06T08:47:00.000+09:00

Evening all. A long weekend just passed. I spent it generally rewarding my body. Friday night was spent with a few of my more distinquished fellow ALTs. We went to a turkish restaurant (passable) and then danced in a club/lounge with live music. We topped off the night with karaoke untill the wee hours. Much fun not least because it has been a looooooooong time since I have done that. Managed two all you can eat american breakfasts and caught a movie. 'Flags of our fathers' I do recomend it. Here is a picture of the Okinawa JET comunities newest cutest couple!!!!!......yeah ok I am kidding but cute picture deshoo? OK now scroll down for my caption comp!

Caption Compo!

Well I have these two amusing pics taken with my phone on friday night and I sometimes wonder if anyone but myself and my mum read my blog so I am having a caption compo. You know the drill? Come up with funn captions for one or both of the two mirthful pictures below.

Picture A:

Picture B:

2006-11-01T08:40:00.000+09:00

A couple more pics from the triathlon

The best support team/cheer leader a guy could have, thanks Kelly, your the best!

My knee the night before.

2006-10-31T12:22:00.000+09:00

TRIATHLON!!

Izena 88 Triathlon!

The finish, my goal! Not only of the race but basically of this past year. I feel as happy as I look.
Lap ??? of the bike, the wind was killer on the bike, luckily I'd been training in wind a fair bit.

Just coming around for the 2nd lap of the run, time to give my all.

Me (in the red) during the swim, you have to leave to water and run back to the start for the 2nd lap.

Me icing, compressing and eating pineapple the night before.

The triumphant ALT triathletes!

Me and the Izena Zeal triathlon team!

The poster my junoir highschool kids made for me, cute little blighters.

My wreath (this one real) for being Izena #1 and a medal given to me by an elementry schl. student. (picture taken after the party and not a few beers)

Here is my account of one of the best days of my life, sorry it is very long but I couldn't have said it in fewer words.

Well I’ve done it! Sunday (29th of October) was the 19th Izena 88 traithlon! It was one of the best days of my life, let me try and describe it to you. The story starts on Saturday I suppose. After touring the bike course with the other ALTs (Ben, Perry, Josh, Charlette and Isla) who were doing the triathlon and Kelly who was here to cheer I ran the international friendship meeting. This was a one hour ‘class’ I ran for the international athletes and my students. It was a bit chaotic but everyone seemed to have fun afterwards several of the Americans came and thanked me, telling me it was fun, so I guess it went well. Last year I had no input really, this year I did the whole thing, in fact my JTE disappeared shortly after it started and left me to it. After that was done I went for a little swim with Ben and Perry, that’s when IT happened. On coming out of the water I bashed my knee against barnacle encrusted concrete, ouch. When I looked at the cuts I could see white at the bottom, right on my knee cap. Oh dear I thought, not good for tomorrow! It was bleeding quite a lot and I had to apply pressure to stop it bleeding. There was a moment in the shower when I had blood running down my leg and diluting into the water around my feet making my bathroom look like a scene from a horror movie that I got a little worried. Anyway a towel tied tightly around it stopped the bleeding, I put a plaster on later but it started bleeding again and I had to apply pressure again. I ate a pineapple Kelly had brought (I read it has vitamins/enzymes that help one heal) and iced the knee. In the morning it was still sore and a bit stiff (it had swollen a little), I couldn’t really bent it and had to walk with a limp, I iced it some more to reduced the swelling, still a bit worried. However after I took some painkillers Kelly gave me and after the bike ride to the swim start it felt better. Once the swim started though I think adrenaline kicked in and that and the painkillers made sure the knee didn’t bother me during the race, it did hurt afterwards though! It also started getting windy Saturday night and by Sunday there was a pretty strong wind, not good for fast times. I tell myself not to worry and just do my best, even so it was slightly demoralizing.
Ok so the race! First lets go over my goals for the race: timewise my safe goal was under 6 hours and my goal to aim towards was 5 hours 30minutes (which I didn’t think I would do). I also wanted to be the number one on my island, Nakashima sensei who was done the triathlon ten times was my biggest rival. I also wanted to be the number one ALT (sorry guys but what’s a bit of competition between friends!). So the swim started, I took the advice of my training partner Takuma san and hung back until the fast swimming had started then I was off, my first triathlon! What I have been training for almost a year for! It wasn’t as crazy as I expected, sure people were grabbing my legs and I was hitting peoples legs with my hands but I was expecting worse. Once I got a kick to the head but not hard. I was lucky on the second lap and got a lot of clear water. Out of the swim and I felt great (46:03) and I run to the bike. Nakashima sensei was already there but he hadn’t been there for long by the looks of things. I get my bike gear on and I am off. The knee is a little sore but no problem. I pass Nakashima sensei on the 2nd lap, yes! I have trouble with my first banana, I get it all over my hand but no worries. Another izena triathete passes me but his strongest leg is the bike and I don’t even try to keep up with him, got to stick to my own race plan. Nakashima sensei passes me on lap 4 but I pass him back almost straight away. Later on lap four I have a scare. There is a dangerous corner, a 90 degree bend at the bottom of a steep hill. A woman is going really slowly round the corner, I am breaking but not slowing down fast enough. I have to pass her going round the corner! I come around the outside but she doesn’t see me and drifts outwards forcing me to move out wide as well, there is no more space! At the bottom of the hill/corner there is a big blue clash pad, I hit it! But I have turned enough that I kind of skid along it, then my foot and pedal are scraping along the edge of the pavement (sidewalk), I am still breaking and manage to get my foot out and come to a stop without falling. Deep breath and off I go again. I pass that woman carefully and quickly leave her behind (try and get her at a safe distance!). I take it a little easier on the last lap of the bike, rolling down the hills so that my legs are good for the run start. I am still on good time for my goal of 5hrs30 so I don’t want to go crazy. I finish the bike in 2:23:21, about 7 minutes faster than in practice, not bad. I pull on my shoes, they feel a little tight, I think it is because of the socks I am wearing which are a little thicker than the ones I usually use, no time to worry. Off I go! The last leg and by far the hardest leg. Everything in the triathlon is basically leading up to the run. Nothing to exciting, I stop at every aid station, drink and sponge my legs. I get a stitch early on (cramp in your stomach) but I run through it. I finish the first lap in just under one hour which is bang on target. In training I could do the run in about 2 hours after doing the bike, so I am looking at getting my 5hrs30min goal! I run on, I feel pretty good, I start picking up the pace. I see Josh ahead of me so I speed up and pass him. I’m an feeling ok so I keep up the pace. I am breathing heavily through my mouth, I guess I am going anerobic but what the heck less than 10k to go! I keep passing people! Whenever I start approaching an aid station I hear my students shouting ‘Craig is coming!’ I keep passing people, I don’t know what’s happening to everyone else but I am running as fast as I can! At around 3/4k to go my abs start to really hurt. It is not a stitch just muscular pain, pure and simple. It makes it hard to sprint but I push as fast as I can. Suddenly I am at the top of the final downhill, I can see the finish gate and there is Kelly! I can barely acknowledge her I am so tired/focused on running! I come down and approach the turn onto the running track. The finish is 600m around the running track! I pass some of my shogakkusei (elementary school students),Ganbatte! Fighto!! They shout, one of them starts running with me. I feel a wave of emotion hitting me at that point. My pains dissolve and I feel like I might cry but I keep the old stiff upper lip and run on. Onto the running track and a teacher put a wreath of flowers (plastic) on my head. My shogakkusei are lining the entire length of the running track. I Hi-touch each and every one of them as I go past, they are all cheering, my other hand clutching the wreath to my head. It is unbelievable how euphoric I feel, as you can see from the picture I go over the finish line with a silly big grin on my face. Kelly is waiting for me there.
She says to me “you beat John’s time!”
“No I didn’t,” I say, I think at this point I have maybe done it in 5hours 20 minutes.
“Look,” she says and points.
I turn around and it is true. I did the triathlon in 5:00:27. I can’t quite believe it at that point but I have to fight back tears again as I cool of in the icy water paddling pool thing.
Somehow I had done the final 10k in about 45 minutes. My official run time was 1:51:03 but I think that includes the transition, I was timing myself and I think the run alone was 1hr45min-ish. That is pretty crazy as the fastest I had run ten km before (when only doing ten km as fast as I could) was 47 minutes. So I went even faster after the 2kswim, 66kbike and first 10k of the run.
So there we go, I achieved all my goals (number one izenian and ALT) and then some, I did the triathlon in a time beyond what I though I was capable off. Oh yeah and the tight shoes,..that is because I packed Kelly’s running shoes by mistake (they are the same as mine just half a size smaller), that would explain the tightness. I will loose at least my left big toe and it wasn’t until today (Tuesday) that I could bend my injured knee fully. But of course it was all very much worth it. My junior high students made a poster for me, ‘Craig never give up’ which was really nice of them. Unfortunately I didn’t actually see it during the race (too focused?) but I went and took a picture afterwards. All the ALTs finished the race and all but one of the Izena traithletes finished too. One crashed on his bike. The after party was a blast although a little sad. I probably won’t see as much of all my training buddies although I a few of them want to do ishigaki with me. I greatly indebted to a number of them. Nakashima sensei and Chibasensei are single handedly responsible for my swim. In July of this year I could barely swim 200m, no joke. I was swimming with my head out of the water and had to rest after every 25m. If it wasn’t for them teaching me I would have got nowhere. Takuma san was also a great help on the bike and gave lots of good advice on eating, strategy etc. Thanks guys! I am also grateful to Mr. John Branderhorst. Sorry I beat your time, but way back last year you were a large factor in inspiring me to do this thing. John always smiles and looks happy while racing and he made the whole thing look so much fun. I paid head to his advice and smiled, waved and said hello to all the supporters around the track. Many of them (my elementary school kids especially) have been cheering me all year and now was the time to pay them back. Today at school one of the teachers told me I looked very happy/genki during the race, so I guess it worked, when I told her I enjoyed it she shook her head and said “ah, young energy!”
So my official finishing stats are as follows:
Swim – 46:03 (194th out of 401)
Bike – 2:23:21 (126th)
Run – 1:51:03 (83rd)
So my final result was:
Izena 88 Triathlon – 5:00:27 (106th -22nd in my agegroup-)

I am grateful to everyone for their support (the emails helped as well!) and congrats to all the other ALTs who finished too, good job one and all.

What’s next?

2006-10-27T15:35:00.000+09:00

My south east asian pictionary set conterfiting sweat shop! I made 6 pictionary sets today (for the international friendship meeting tommorrow). This is a modified pictionary suitable for okinawan junoir highschool students I hasten to add.

2006-10-27T09:20:00.000+09:00

We had a halloween party for the whole of my shogakko (elementry school). All the 130 kids in the gym together, what fun! We played some games, plainted hand ghosts and sang a halloween song I had been practicing with them. Halloween is the western festival they go for the most. They had halloween decoration all over the school and even had mountains of halloween candy. After the party in the gym the teachers went to our rooms (I have my own english room), dressed up and awaited the trick or treaters. Here are some of the kids.

More of the little devils.

We had a lodger hidding in one of the plants in the school corridor.

The sun rise on thursday morning.

Practicing getting up early. I got up and had a 1k swim this morning before school, whats wrong with me.

2006-10-24T14:01:00.000+09:00

The World Press Freedom Index 2006, published by the Paris-based Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF), showed that the US had dropped 12 places to 53rd place, below countries such as Ghana, Mali and Bolivia. Yikes, slightly perturbing I am sure you will agree.

http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=19388

I quote from the websight, 'Meanwhile the steady erosion of press freedom in the United States, France and Japan is extremely alarming.'

Once again the northern european, especially Scandinavian, countries come out top! They also come out top on things like gender equality (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4786160.stm), low povery, happiness http://www1.eur.nl/fsw/happiness/hap_nat/findingreports/RankReport2006-1.htm and the like. And it is not as if their economies are doing badly, Switzerland, Finland and Sweden are the three most competitive economies according to The Global Competitiveness Report 2006-2007. In fact Finland topped the freedom of press and competitive economy list. Does anyone know if finnish is a hard language to learn?
Mmmmm just following links now, Finland was the first country to give women the vote and allow them to stand for parliment:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5036602.stm

Anyway, back to work.

2006-10-24T11:59:00.000+09:00

Now first off why didn't anyone consult me? Or at least check the spelling with a dictionary? Anywho:

Here are some pics of my kids english preformance and display at the thingy we had. The thingy where students performed for parents.

This was actually something we had done in my english club but we re-used it. Hey recycling is good!

The performance, an english story with pictures. woot.

2006-10-21T08:22:00.000+09:00

The ritual or ceremony I took part in (clapped my hands and drank)

Me with two teachers from my school and the island dentist (a veteran triathlete)

You may be able to spot me about half way down the line of dancers

As I havn't posted in a while here is a random blog. I have no new pics but I got some more of the eisa festival from Noto san. These last weeks have of course been dominated by training. I have had several new PBs for 10k and 20k and have done the bike and run together in the time I want. Yesterday I also did the 2k swim (plus 20k run pb). I have done the 2k swim before but going up and down the beach this time I went straight out and back (there is a pole marking about 400m). I have mostly got over my fear of swimming out in the oceon, I swam alone yesterday, although I was swimming in a lagoon so not open oceon at all, but still! What else has happened...right now I am at school for a performance by the students for parents etc. I have been involved and there is an english display and performance. On a side note the other day I got a bunch of grapes from the fiance of a fellow teacher and soon to be triathlete, more Japanese kindness (she is not Okinawan). So well anyway! Look forward to pics of my triathlon soon, hopefully triumphant ones! I don't know wether I am chewing at the bit raring to go or living in mortal dread of this triathlon. I'll decide once it is done.

2006-10-10T15:31:00.000+09:00

The ship came, all was well. It was a goood weekend.

2006-10-06T13:31:00.000+09:00

Storm clouds gather. Kelly is planning to come to my island this weekend (a long weekend) so we can see each other and I can also train. But all is not as it should be. There is wind and waves. Two stupid little typhoons of north east of Okinawa have somehow been generating wind on my fair isle. The ferry was cancelled today, and maybe cancelled tommorrow. We didn' t get to see each other last weekend because Kelly had a school do and I stayed island bound to train. I hope whichever god or government agencies control the weather know this is completely unacceptable. If the ferries aren't running tommorrow I will make a point of being in a horrendous bad mood for the whole of the rest of the next week. I shall make all and everything suffer my wrath as I lash out vengefully and malichiously. While I am laughing and dancing and singing for the kiddies inside I will be screaming, howling and railing against the cruel injustice of the world. World (which for me is limited to Izena island right now) you have been warned. On the other hand if the ferry is running tommorrow :) I will bring bring joy to the world.

2006-10-06T11:48:00.000+09:00

A couple of little Japanese experiences in the last two days. The first: last night I was coming home from the elementry school and I bump into the old catering lady who used to work at the junior High. She once taught me how to make Goya Champuru, anyway, we had a little chat (she works up at the BOE now and I don't see her often). She asks about my cooking, I say I only cook Udon now (it's true, it only takes a minute or two to cook and therefore suits my lifestyle at the moment) so she starts telling me about some vegetable. She tells me it is easy to fry up and eat with rice or fish and adds lots of flavour. I ask if it is in the SUPA (supermarket) and she says yes, I tell her I will buy some. Later that evening when I return from my bike training I have a missed call on my phone, it is Taika san (the catering lady) but she is speaking in broken english and I cannot work out what she means, I hear `my house` and `your house`. Later as I am putting a load of washing in the machine (outside by the back door) I notice a plastic bag hanging from the door handle. It is a meal of rice, chips and previously mentioned vegetable she has cooked for me. I call her and thank her. It is actions like hers that endeer us outsiders to japanese culture and demonstrate it's peoples incredable hospitability towards guests in their country.
The second happened recently today. Today there were only a few students in each class (5 or 6) as most were at an athletics meet on the main island (Okinawa Honto) so with the ninensei (2nd yrs) I played pictionary. One girl who is usually very inatentive in class and mainly draws anime and manga characters (amazingly well I must add) impressed me. Her word was 'nine' and I was confused when she started drawing circles, maybe she will draw 9 circles I thought, but no she only drew 3. Then one girl guesses correctly! I was bamboozled! It turns out Kyuu means ball and nine in Japanese. Neat. Next for 'win' she draws a bowl of food being eaten. Turns out she drew Katsu don (fried breaded pork on a bowl of rice), Katsu also meaning 'win' in Japanese. I don't think we can quite do this with the english language.

2006-10-03T08:40:00.000+09:00

Last night saw my villages 88 something festival. To celebrate the wonderful number 88, they are very fond of 88 here, almost as fond of it as 97. Anyway I performed eisa twice, once at the start of the fest and once at the end so I had to stay throughout the whole thing. I was hoping to get home to do some tidying but no. After it was done and all the kids and almost all the women had left the remaining (mostly men) people did some sort of ritual. We all sat in a circle on the stage around two bowls of fruit and two big bottles of awamori and sang this VERY long song/chant and clapped our hands. Then there were speaches and more drinking, I didn't get back until 12 which is pretty good considering. The pic is of me and two teachers from my school, the lady is Risa Sensei my JTE. This was the first time she had done eisa! She is from mainland okinawa where not EVERYBODY does eisa.

It was raining quite alot yesterday and the blue tarps they put up weren't really upto the job. Luckily the rain eased off by the time we started eisa.

Just as a side note my face got so sunburnt training on the weekend that an elementry kid asked me if I had been drinking :(. I hadn't touched a drop, honest!

PS. I have just read today on www.bbc.co.uk that there has been another school shooting in America. Two in a week! What is the deal with that!!! I would be asking some serious questions about my culture/society if it seemed to regularly produce individuals who wanted to harm the most innocent members of their society. And why does it seem to me at least that nothing it being done about it? Are people that complacent? It is not a unique American problem but (I think) predominantly so. For a contrast: after the Dunblane shooting in the UK the Snowdrop petition (started by those affected by the shooting) caused the then government to effect a ban on all handguns except .22 calibre single shot handguns. The succeeding government (Tony and his motley crew) finished the job leaving only muzzle-loading and historical pieces legal. There are cultural reasons handguns won't be banned in America. Sometimes I think we put too much value in something just because it is cultural though, we are quite happy to tell certain countries to (for example) give women the vote when culturally said culture does not consider women eligable. We should be looking critically at our own cultures too. Anyway I am side tracking and don't want to start a long rant. Just expressing my shock and anger at this hideous facet of humanity.

2006-10-02T12:24:00.000+09:00

Well I had a fun weekend......kind of. I spent my weekend training training training. Saturday I did a 1.5k swim followed by 66k bike and lastly a 10k run. I was fine until the run, then my world turned rather painful. Not encouraging, the actually race will be a 20k run. So on sunday I ignored my tired limbs and did a 28k bike and then a 20k run. I did it, but 18 minutes off the pace I would ideally want. Hopefully it was just because my legs were knackered from saturdays training. I think I aught to work on the run more though, I am still slow slow slow! During the swim I had a bit of a scare. I was swimming up and down izena beach, the tide wasn't fully in so the water was only about waist deap. I saw a flash of black and white stripes down to my right, sea snake I think!? No no, I tell myself you are just being paranoid, that's when it swim right under me - I could easily have touched it. I managed to hold it together, not keep looking around and swim to the end of that lap. Then I stop and have a serious think about wether to swim back (sea snakes being a little on the venemous side). In the end I do finish my swim but I kept a sharp eye out for underwater critters, which is perhaps why I saw a cuttlefish, the first one I have seen here. Pretty cool looking creatures. On the sat I also had a meeting with a couple from Okinawa honto and the Izena triathlon organisers. The couple had volenteered to take care of the english language side of the triathlon and baby the international triathletes (27 this year). The man was American and his wife Japanese (from tokyo). It was interesting to note he didn't seem to speak a jot of japanese but that their highschool aged daughter was fluent in both Japanese and English. Lucky girl. This year I am fully in charge of the international friendship meeting, unlike last year when I had no input, was not told anything aside from the fact I had to play the keyboard and when I rocked up was told I had to MC as well....great! but I have no idea what's happening! This year will be different! I just weighted myself today, 67.5 kg, I swear I was 70kg last week. Screw faddy diets, just train for a triathlon (I was 78/9 kg when I first came to Okinawa - although alot of what I lost was muscle weight, I am skinny now :-( ). I must point out this is with eating calory mate bars inbetween meals to keep my energy up. Today I am going to see if I can get triple helpings of Kyushoku (school lunch).
Keep the peace.

Update: I managed my three helpings and re-weighed myself, 68kg, 1.5kg of lunch (ie. rice and fish), nice..... well it would be nice if I wasn't still hungry! Time to go home and find some more food.

2006-09-27T08:35:00.000+09:00

If you had been paying attention and I do so hope that you were, you would have been aware that my garden suffered the ill attentions of a typhoon. I replanted with cuttings my Kochosensei (head master) gave me and then promptly declined to water them. As a result they ceased to be. However one plucky little plant was rumbustious enough to take it upon itself to spread forth with wild vigour and near cover my entire garden. I think it pretty enough and it has become rather the bon ton with the local Bee cliental.
I noticed these two funny beggars which one can actually see in the previous photograph if one has the time and inclination to do so. I wonder if they are mates, or if this is a mother and child or perhaps their disguise is so good the second diminutive grasshopper has mistaken its larger brethren for the very plant it itself is trying to imitate! HAH!
Another admirable trait of this plant is its habit of neatly rolling up its leaves in the evening and keeping them in such a manner until day break the following day. One presumes this is to keep them snug and warm during the chill of the night?

2006-09-25T08:42:00.000+09:00

My toe shortly after the incident.

My toe after doing a swim, the sea of course made it bleed.

My toe after football, you can see some of my insides coming out I think!

My toe a few days later, you can clearly see my outside insides.

The toe as it is currently. It is no longer 'wet' or sore but I had a interesting nail growth.

It has been a while since I posted I admit but while nothing major or exciting has happened things have been busy. Busy for two two reasons: A) triathlon training has been stepped up, 2 to 4 hours a day during the week and now that I will not be taking any more weekend trips into the mainland until after the triathlon I will be spending much more time on the weekends training too B) eisa practice has started again, for the next week and a bit I should be practicing eisa with the other men from my village (sometimes training makes this impossible). It is the same little festival I took part in last year, perhaps this time I will make fewer mistakes? So my ‘exciting’ life goes as such, leave school at 5ish, shop or general errands, start training at 6, go to eisa at 8 or continue training, retire home at 9/10ish, eat, try to be in bed by 11ish when I give myself the pleasure of a half hours reading. I am reading a book of short stories by Summerset Maugham (hope I’ve spelt that right, if not, bully to you!). This weekend just past I spent a fantastic time camping with Miss Kelly and FINALLY visiting the elusive Hiji falls (it was only our fourth attempt) which were rather pleasant. The water was cool and refreshing and immediately washed away the residual grimy feeling from camping. The previous weekend aside from entertaining Andrew Clarke we visited the caves at Okinawa world. I have yet to get my grubby little hands on the pictures of these events so pictures will have to wait. You see in order as to not loose a day of training I have been cycling from Unten Ko (just north of Nago) to Kelly’s home in Kitanakagusuku (northmiddlecastle) on my shiny new (second hand) road bike hense I can't really afford to carry extra things like cameras. It is a trip of 75k (or there about) and quite pleasant aside from a few brushes with death (or injury). On my last ride an obviously senile (or ruthlessly malicious) old man in a little white car almost took me out TWICE! Anyway, I survived. I would like to point out that my I have two great fears right now; one that I will injure myself before the triathlon and two that I will get a puncture during the race. I will cry.
Ah before I sign off I would like to share pictures of something I do have pictures of with you. My toe! In a scooter related incident I managed to squish it so that some of what had previously been my insides became my outsides. Pretty disgusting I think you will agree, I found it quite fascinating and took pictures of its progress throughout the day, as I did a 2k swim and then played football. To be fair I was in goals and didn’t need to kick the ball much. After a week I did go to the doctor at Kelly's urging and after first thinking about pulling the nail out (much to my alarm) he just gave me large plasters, antibacterial cream and oral antibiotic. It is pretty much OK now although I am hesitant to cut of the second toe nail that has grown above the first (getting quite fond of it), I really must have mushed things around in there!

2006-09-07T15:23:00.000+09:00

Here is a picture of Teru rocking out, if you read the post bellow you will learn he is sadly leaving Izena (at least for a while) to pursue his dreams as a rock star!

I am adding this post mainly to tell you all about a song and a class. One of those little things which kick starts your day, ya know! My 4 year elementry kids always have music on when I come in the room and then file past my giving me high 5's. Today the song was in Japanese but had a familiar tune. It took me a moment to place it.....it was the YMCA song by the Village people. That definately put me in a good mood for the rest of the day!

2006-09-07T11:37:00.000+09:00

My Lovely bike.

Not an awffy lot to post about but I feel a post seems about due. I am nearing the end of my first week of classes and it has been fun! I am writing during a free period at the elementary school just now. The kids are just as genki as when I left them! The yochein especially, it took me about 5 minutes to get out of the classroom after I had already run almost ten minutes over time, I literally had children hanging off my legs are I tried to gather my things and leave (while giving kids hi-5's and saying 'goodbye!'). This week I have been training in any free time I have which is not enough now that classes have started. It takes almost a whole day to do a big workout, I am hoping to squeeze in a bike ride before I go swimming with the izena triathlon team at 6pm. Last night I did a night time run and a firefly landed on my running top, those things are really bright! Nature is awesome. Also this week a happy sad event. Teru leaving the island and moving to Naha so that he can practice with his band as they plan to release a full album next year. Next week they are doing a gig in Tokyo which will coincide with the mainland Japan release of their EP. I wish them the best of luck but I'll miss hanging out with him, of course we shall meet up on the mainland and I expect he will be back for Izena events. Have I mentioned I bought a bike? Well I bought a shiny newish (2nd hand) road bike. It is pretty snazzy with shimano dura-ace and ultegra components if you are into bikes. I also have a wonderful new hydro pack thing courtesy of Kelly so I have refreshing cold Pocari sweat throughout my rides too! I would like to sign off with a tribute to the late Steve Irwin, conservation warrior and general top bloke. He truly was an amazing and inspiration guy and will sorely be missed by countless people around the world. It was a bizarre way to go, if you don't know (shame on you) he was pierced through the heart by a sting ray while filming a nature documentary, only the second ever recorded death by a sting ray. I hope in heaven there will forever echo his eternal cry of 'CRIKEY!"

2006-08-29T13:32:00.000+09:00

Giant hornets Vs. Honey Bees
http://www.fugly.com/videos/5990/giant-hornets-vs-bees.html
This is amazing! Mother nature is tough. 30 giant hornets can kill every bee in a hive in 3 hours and then feast on the honey and use the pupae to feed their young for weeks, ruthless.

2006-08-28T10:06:00.000+09:00

Well all my guests have finally departed and I am left to my own devices again. Since July 7th I have been playing host to visitors from home, except for a 5 day break in-between. First my sister and her boyfriend came and then my mate from high school, Aaron. It has been enormous fun but I am a little relieved to be on my own again, if only for the sake of my wallet! Seriously though it is about time I got back to serious triathlon training, Japanese study and the many other things I aught to be doing with my free time (not least sitting down with a good book and relaxing). I think having guests and showing them around my island and Okinawa make me appreciate the place again. I hadn’t stopped appreciating it exactly but I was beginning to take it for granted. I will post a few more pics of me and Aaron but I won’t bore you with a lengthy description of what we did. Well perhaps I shall describe a few things (pause to clear my throat), it was on one of our first nights drinking on my island, at my islands newest izekaiya. Aaron was sitting next to a drunken wizened old fisher man who insisted on trying to speak to him almost all night long despite a lack of anything remotely resembling English except for the word ‘OK?’. He was so drunk in fact that none of my friends or the bar staff could understand his Japanese. Eventually the bar man stepped in and told him not to bother Aaron, he was harmless but a tad annoying. However this was not the end, Aaron then used his magical drunk old person attracting skills to gain the amorous attention of a 45 year old lady who even went to far as to follow him into the toilets much to the amusement of everyone in the izekaiya. We finally made our escape and as we did the bar man gave Aaron a rather large and impressive sea shell by way of apology. On another night we were treated to an impromptu performance of the Okinawan fan dance (no idea what it is really called but it is a dance involving fans) but instead of fans disposable foil plates were used(it was a barbeque). On a number of occasions we were called on to perform an Okinawan dance, the easy one which just involves waving arms about, during one memorable occasion we were the only ones dancing but we persevered and were rewarded when several old men joined us banging pots and pans and even a chair above their heads. Good times! We also made it to another uninhabited island, Gushikaya Jima, this one we needed to charter a local fisherman and his boat to get to. The snorkelling there was amazing; I am convinced the reason for the low levels of living coral around Izena itself (apart from construction) is agricultural run off. Fertilisers and pesticides on one hand but I also noticed that after heavy rain a lot of soil had been washed into he sea making it brown, this would certainly silt and kill any coral. Anyway back to Gushikaya, yes the water was lovely and clear, the fish plentiful and the coral brightly coloured but there was death lurking in those waters too! After our big snorkle the tide went out so we couldn’t really snorkel again, in need to cooling down (it was a boiling hot day) we went into a small pool. After swimming around for a big enjoying the water I noticed several large sea anemones (the type which clown fish live in) and while these are not lethal they can cause pain and discomfort. I next noticed a cone shell, not of the edible variety but of the rare but VERY poisonous variety, indeed cone shells claim the most toxic venom in all the animal kingdom, YIKES! There wouldn’t have been much chance for us if we got stabbed by that beast. Next, as if that wasn’t enough, I saw a stone fish! If you are not familiar with these horrid fish let me describe them as best I can. They are lumpen misshapen ugly fish which look very much like a stone encrusted with sea growth. They also carry on their malformed backs a large spur with can deliver a deadly dose of poison if stood upon, we left the pool shortly after. For these reasons (these and seaurchins) please, please wear good protection on your feet while in the sea here in Okinawa. I should also say that when the fisher man returned us to dry land and we had paid him he gave a a present of a bag full of freshly caught squid and invited us for a drink with him and his buddies. It amused me that aaron was wearing a 'shiman chu' (sea person ie. fisherman) towel while drinking with the real thing! Tourist okinawa meets real (or at least origional) okinawa!
Please enjoy the pics!

Kirei na! The view towards Iheya Jima from Gushiyawa.
Aaron enjoying a dip towards the end of the day as we wait for the boat to pick us up.
We discovered this cliff with broken pottery at the bottom, I am told by some archeologists I met that there is a 3000yr old site on this island. There is a chance I might be able to accompany them on their dig next month, fingers crossed!
Enjoying our lunch with makeshift table and chairs.
The view towards Iheya, just look at the colour of the water!
Aaron playing football with my elementry school kids.
The traditional Okinawan tin foil plate dance.
Dancing!
More Dancing!

2006-08-11T09:56:00.000+09:00

Aaron and I returned to the uninhabited island in glorious sunshine but shortly after we arrived a huge thunder storm bore down on us. We managed to outrun it in our kayak and it made for some dramatic images.

The approaching storm front.

We found this trench where the water remained several meters deep even at low tide when the rest of the lagoon was only a few feet deep. It contained lots of coral and trapped fish seeking refuge from the shallow water. The concentration of fish made for some very good snorkelling.

A rare breed of Izenian rock Shisa.

Waves crash behind brilliant white surf as the storm clouds gather.

2006-08-09T11:36:00.000+09:00

We (I and my mate visiting from Scotland) ventured forth in our Kayaks and did discover new lands.

The brave adventurers ready for the unknown.
We discovered beautiful virgin beaches.
The unexplored interior.
A mysterious tree and shrine deep in the jungle.
The Adventurers return safely.

2006-07-31T10:01:00.000+09:00

How happy do these kids look, ah to be young and carefree again!

A spot of martial arts action before supper.

Why am a being attacked by a ball of grass?

Because my Yochien (kindergarten kid) threw it at me.

All the grass the Yochien gathered for us....why I don't know.

Anna and David during our Kayaking trip!

2006-07-26T08:30:00.000+09:00

Our day on the uninhabited island.

The brave hunters venture out into the uninhabited island.

David going towards the entrance of the goat cave.

The fearsome fish hunters prepare to venture into the abyss.

Triumph!

Me and my fish (yes I do realise it is tiny).

Anna and David enjoying a pristine beach.

2006-07-25T11:46:00.000+09:00

We went to an uninhabited island (Yanaha jima). But before that other things did happen, I shall relate them to you in chronological order.
On Saturday we went with Kelly to the pineapple park in Nago which was a lot of fun. For a measly 500 yen one gets a ride in a buggy around the park then pineapple wine tasting and lots of food tasting (all pineapple products). On the Sunday we returned to my fair isle in time for the festival at the old folks home. This festival was a much more sedate affair compared to the previous three but good fun none the less. There was the usual festival food plus games for the kids and then several traditional Okinawan performances on an outdoor stage included an awesome eisa (Okinawan drum and dance). The finale was a surprisingly good fireworks show.
That brings us too the island! On Monday we were taken by Yoshiaka and his friend to an uninhabited island that lies on the far end of the lagoon around izena beach. We were dropped off there at 10am and then picked up at 5pm. It was a fantastic day of exploring the island and snorkelling. Highlights included coming across a lair of wild goats! I was lagging behind (playing with the camera) while David and Anna climbed up a sandy slop to have a look in a cave. The next thing I now there is an alarmed cry and a huge Billy goat rushes out of the cave past me! Apparently this island is inhabited by wild goats! I am also proud to say I managed to spear not one but two fish! I and David bought spears in a whim and took them to the island with no real hope of actually getting any fish. Admittedly my fish were tiny but I felt pretty good about spearing them. We also found two enormous clams which made a tasty addition to our barbeque later.
Sunday was my sisters birthday, Happy 20th birthday Anna! But because of the festival we had the barbeque/party on the Monday. As we were getting off the small fishing boat that had taken us too the island the captain beckoned us over and opened a large cooler packed full of huge fish and a one lobster.
“For your sister’s birthday,” he tells me proudly! We were shocked and touched, I had been drinking with this chap once or maybe twice and didn’t know him that well. Not only did he supple more fish that we and all our guests could eat the cooked it all too! He refused money for it all later but we sneaked it into his car. The barbeque went really well, we did out own fireworks show, had a cake and Nakamura san even did some magic tricks. A proper birthday!
Good old Izena.

2006-07-20T08:17:00.000+09:00

Enjoying a night at the new Izekaiyia.
The magnificant fireworks at Motobu.
One of the performers being launched high into the air by a porpoise, probably the best job in the world? The Motobu aquarium is the largest in the world btw! And among its many residents are several whale sharks, I do recommend it if you are in town.

2006-07-19T10:53:00.000+09:00

Well here is my post, now lets see if I can remember what we have been up to! There has been another festival this time in my town so we got more involved. The day before we helped make the rice straw rope that would be used in the tug of war. We were in the north team (Kita or nishi in hogen – which is east in regular Japanese). On the day of the festival we and the other north team members began to gather at about 6pm at out end of the main street. There was drinking, interrupted by a game of tag with some of my elementary school kids, before we made our move. The next step was partying around the town gathering people and drinking. First we stood in one spot, played music, danced, banged metal tins and blew a horn. This seemed to serve to gather other people. Once we had a good crowd we headed of to various houses where in return for dancing and banging drums we were forced to drink awamori by little old ladies. Sufficiently roused and inebriated we returned to the main street and the tug or war commenced. I am proud to say our side won both tugs! The next battle was the ‘standing on a board and fighting’ type. Two prechosen young men dress up and stand on a board held up by the other men of the village. They then try and knock the other teams fighters from their board. I think we lost this one. It gets a bit crazy during the fight as each team tries to get their board over the other teams. There are also burning torches being waved and ash and cinders raining down. Poor David’s feet got quite stamped on. After this was the sumo. We watched this a little bit before sneaking off as we all felt rather tired. The next few days were more relaxing and included a rather fun night out to new izekaiya on my island; it’s quite fancy for my island. David also got to jam with Teru. On the weekend we went to Okinawa Honto, on Saturday we went to the Motobu aquarium where we saw an amazing dolphin show and then stayed for the fireworks festival there. During the dolphin show (and porpoise) the performers (human) actually rode and ‘surfed’ the porpoises, breathtaking. I am still in to the dark as to the reason for the fireworks festival but I do know they have been doing tit for 30 years. The show we saw was the 30th anniversary and instead of the usual 5000 fireworks there was a whopping 10,000. Truly spectacular. The drive home was a slight drag and took almost 4 hours due to the congestion. The following day we went to see Kelly’s castle, I mean Kitanakaguskuku castle, and the associated haunted hotel. We spent the afternoon in the park. The weather improved immensely over the weekend and I took my sister and David snorkeling yesterday. We saw a particularly large shoal of fish wish was rather good to say the least. Oh goodness I almost forgot I also took my skin and blister and Daibido to school with me, to my English conversation class and to teach EVERY class at the shogakko (elementary school). I though that if I only taught some classes with them the others might be upset so I requested more classes and those I did get. It was great fun and despite initial skepticism I think they both thoroughly enjoyed it, the children of course loved it. My favorite moments were the 2nd years giving them a Kampai! (cheers) with their school milk cartons and a 1st year boy who was so amused by David he became almost hysterical and made himself choke with laughter. The Kindergarten kids were also very cute and had some little songs prepared. I even caught my sister singing ‘old MacDonald had a farm’ the other day, it’s my current song at the elementary school and we sang it with every class.

2006-07-18T10:07:00.000+09:00

So much has happened but I don't have time to post right now, sorry! I promise I will post soon! Here is a sample.

2006-07-11T09:21:00.000+09:00

My sister and her boyfriend, David, arrived in Okinawa on Friday! However it was not until Monday that we could get to Izena because of a Typhoon. We had a great time on the mainland thanks to Kelly who did a fantastic job of entertaining us, we especially enjoyed the ice skating! Once we got to Izena things got a bit crazy, I rushed them to school for my after school English conversation classes and then rushed them to a festival with no time for dinner. The festival was good, a bit of a shock for my sis and David but fun none the less. It was a little rowdy and a little violent at times. Nothing compared to my first experience of a festival last year when I had no idea of what was going on though. I won a bag of rice at sumo and managed to escape drinking with the 'bad boys' of the island. Instead I went to a snack with Teru, Nagi and a few others and we ate, drank and sang karaoke until too late. We even got my, apparently, shy sister to sing karaoke, eventually! Good times.....and there are three more festivals to go this month! Don't worry Mum and Dad I am looking after wee Sis despite determined efforts of the islanders they only drank green tea and aserola (okinawan fruit) juice all night, sorry I can't say the same for myself but I'm an islander don't cha knooow!

2006-07-04T09:39:00.000+09:00

This weekend I trained (for the triathlon), cleaned my house (for my sister arriving this Friday) and performed Tiako (practiced tiako lots too). The training went pretty well, I even survived doing a mini triathlon during the midday heat on Monday (we had the day off) as I had the taiko later that afternoon. One is not supposed to do anything strenuous in the midday sun right now but I had no choice. Besides I had trusty aquarious (sports drink) to keep me going, although the heat was a tad bothersome during the run. My desire for more tiako practice has been satisfied, on Sunday I practiced for 5 hours straight (with the elementary school kids and then the junior high schoolers). The performance was yesterday and I dare say it went well. I and a mixture of elementary and junior high school kids performed for a group of visiting high school students from somewhere near Tokyo. It was my first tiako performace, I am hoping to do it again in the big summer King Shoen festival. The only cloud on my horizon is an incoming typhoon which may hit Naha at the time my sister is due to fly in (Friday), hoping it veers off and gives Okinawa a miss!
Please go to this link and read (including the comments at the bottom)!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/5140912.stm
Thank goodness for our sense of humour! Probably the last redeeming feature of our small island nation, nothing else springs to mind anyway.

2006-06-29T11:41:00.000+09:00

What are the chances of this happening! It was the last game of the lesson and somehow they all managed to score 24 points. Perfect ending and I didn't cheat or anything, it was as much a surprise to me as the class.

2006-06-27T08:53:00.000+09:00

Me at a rehearsal for the peace play.
Campfire!
This past week was a fairly busy one. On top of the usual classes I coached two girls for a English story contest and also got involved in the peace play at my shogakko (elementary school). Two of my 3rd year students wanted to take part in the English story contest so for the past month I have been practicing with them at least once a day. They did well I think but I wish they had had more time to practice. However with all their other commitments, sporting and academic it must have been hard for them. They had two tennis games to compete in, a Japanese test and all their end of term tests this week also to consider. Either way it was fun. The peace play was last Thursday, Friday was Irei no Hi (peace day) which is an Okinawan holiday commemorating the battle of Okinawa and wishing for world wide peace. The play was of surprisingly (for me) meaty stuff. It started in the present, some old ladies telling young kids about the war. It then whooshes back in time and we see a family struggling to get food during the war. The invasion then starts and the grandmother refuses to leave the house and flee to the caves, she dies as a result. Some more things happen culminating in the Okinawans sheltering in the cave only to be bullied by some mainland Japanese troops. The play ends with the death of a little girl in the cave. There was also pictures and video footage of the war shown. They certainly didn’t censor anything for the kids! I and my keyboard helped with sound effects; thunder, explosions, gunshots etc. It was a little hard keeping track and timing things (especially the explosions which ‘killed’ people) due to my lack of Japanese but I managed and it was a success. The highlight of the week was a night spent camping on a beach in Ogimi (Okinawa Honto) with Kelly. Great sunset, beautiful stars, lots of convenient wood for the campfire and of course fantastic company. Also what better way to wake up than to go straight into the sea for a swim!

2006-06-21T17:43:00.000+09:00

It appears birthdays are a bit like London buses,

Happy Birthday Dad!
I know you will have a good time.

2006-06-19T21:31:00.000+09:00

Happy Birthday Cindi!!
Hope you have a great 50th birthday!
All the best!

Craig

2006-06-19T12:40:00.000+09:00

Miscellaneous post; Japanese TV, soccer and mold. I feel like a whimsical post. A few weeks ago I had dinner with a neighbor of mine and (husband and wife) and during dinner we watched TV. Every so often out of boredom I flip on the TV and try and make sense of what is going on. The programs we watched that evening were fairly typical; a nature documentary, a period drama (samurai and the like) and a program about health. They are very obsessed with health here in Japan. It is no wonder they live so long, most Japanese employees have a yearly health check which if they fail for three time in a row (I think) they have to go to a hospital for more checks and probably dietary advice and such. This is quite incredible I think, I don’t know what the penalties (if any) are for serial offenders but it seems something of an intrusion. I will eat and live as a darn well please thank you very much! As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted by my own rant, we were watching TV. I have found the period dramas mildly entertaining but mostly boring but my hosts were riveted and reacted to everything very strongly, when the Shogun was ranting away at a poor subject they were quite cowed and I heard murmured ‘Kowai’ (scary!). Next up was the health program, I am not sure what it was exactly about, there were examples of unhealthy (looked fine to me) people and their terrible diets (a lot better than most western diets) which drew much tut tutting and distain from my hosts. There was some doctor type talking about an obscure health indicator, this it was all getting a bit too much for my house wife host, perhaps feeling guilty for having fried the chicken (all that fat!) she suddenly got up rummaged in the freezer and produced some soybeans. So we all munched on those and felt much better for it (even though we were stuffed from the dinner). I have never seen the influence of TV working for quickly. Next topic is soccer. It’s the world cup don’t you know! If you don’t I would be mighty impressed. So although I am rooting for England, watching the games while I can and reading about them on the BBC website when I can’t, I still have my misgivings about this sport. Why are soccer players so unsporting and when it comes down to it, so un-manly? And why then has such a sport roused the passions of the worlds people like no other?! My major gripe is with diving. This is when a football player will throw himself at the grown at the slightest touch (or something excessive proximity only) and writhe there in agony until something is done about it. At which point he will pop up, hop for a few yard and then energetically enter back into play seemingly no worse for wear despite his recent agonizing injury. Sometimes the team better at faking fouls (diving) will win a game. This varies from place to place and English football for instance tends to allow much harder tackles but that doesn’t help them when they face teams of a much more tender constitution (in fact it is almost a disadvantage). When this is coupled with the rather more sporting habit of kicking the ball out of play when a player is injured to allow recovery/treatment time it is even worse. For example during the Australia Japan game a Japanese player went down to a fair tackle by an Aussie (the ref. didn’t blow his whistle) as the Aussies started to break back the Japanese team stood still virtually boycotting play. The Australians then kicked the ball out of bounds. The ‘injured’ player then received treatment went off the pitch but came straight back on! Thus the Australian counter attack was reduced to nothing. Case number two (the evidence mounts up). While watching the Portugal Iran game I was even more disgusted, Iran were one nil down, Portugal were slightly running amuck. Cristiano Ronaldo was making a run down the left wing; he slips the ball past the Iranian captain Golmohammadi who without looking at the ball (even less turning and chasing it) he runs shoulder first straight into Ronaldo’s chest. Ronaldo of course is knocked down however Golmohammadi also falls, suddenly clutching his shoulder, apparently in real pain (Ronaldo merely suffers a bemused expression). Golmohammadi was in so much pain he had to hobble off the field, Portugal got a free kick. It was also Golmohammadi whose needless foul on Figo gave Portugal their second goal (penalty kick). I should say that in both these cases Iran did not benefit due to good refereeing. Perhaps because I am more of a Rugby fan where players have finished games with broken bones (cut and bruises are run of the mill) this seems rather undignified. I wish they would have a video referee (as in rugby and cricket) so that more dives would be caught and punished but this doesn’t seem like happening soon. I think part of the allure of soccer is dodgy refereeing. If you win, all good, if you loose it was the ref’s fault and your team are innocent victims. That and the fact football can be played on any patch of open space with anything even resembling a ball. Despite all this complaining I will be keeping my fingers and toes crossed for England and eagerly following their progress. The post is too long so I will only briefly mention mold, it is everywhere! Well not quite but as a result of the rainy season a number of ALTs have been discovering mold in their houses! I myself found some on my leather belts so I have been running the aircon 24/7 to dry out my house. Also my running shirt has mould spots that are still their after numerous washings, a little unpleasant, I will try beach next.
PS. Had a good Taiko (Japanese drumming) practice yesterday, I have numerous blisters on my hands, as Yoshiaki-san said, NICE!

2006-06-12T11:30:00.000+09:00

It was one of those small coincidences in life with utterly no significance but It must have impressed me a little as I feel like blogging it! I wore my Kilt to Okinawa Honto this weekend and among other things I wore it while watching the England Paraguay football game. As a result I was feeling a little Scottish! While browsing a magazine on Okinawa I came across an article on Okinawan Spiders. It interested me a little as I have notices the large black and yellow Forest spiders (and sometimes Banana spiders). These are quite large, I have seen them up to 10cm and being Orb spiders make huge webs (diameters of 6 feet plus). In the article I saw there was a spider called the St. Andrews spider! Being the Scottish patron Saint this caught my eye. It is so named because it rests with its legs in a cross, like the St. Andrews cross (the same cross which is on our flag). Anyway I forgot about it but when I returned to my island and was walking home from the ferry port I happened to glance down to my right and lo and behold! There was a St. Andrews spider! Of course I had to stop and take a picture. The small one is the male I believe.

2006-06-08T11:39:00.000+09:00

My garden has turned into a veritable jungle in my absence, the tomatoes in particular are obesely foliate (I just made that phrase up). The first flowers (as you can see) are opening their pretty little faces to the world so I look forward to seeing it in full bloom! I also have little baby green tomatoes.
I had an amusing little revelation during my last elementary school class. I kicked off with a song (old MacDonald) and the male kids were not being very genki about it. With some cajoling from me and the teacher they made half hearted attempts at the actions, being the 5yrs I didn’t expect much genkiness anyway (liveliness). However after the class all the boys returned and requested the song again, a tad bemused I consented and my goodness what a difference this time! There were big grins all around and they were super Genki (enthusiastic), apparently (as the teacher explained) they are only shy in the presence of girls. Funny little beggars.
Here's a quote:
Great people talk about ideas, average people talk about things, and small people talk about wine. Fran Lebowitz

2006-06-06T08:45:00.000+09:00

So I ordered a new Kilt! One of a lighter weight material than the one I already have at home. I have been quite excited about it and it arrived yesterday! I was practicing with two students for the story contest when there was an announcement over the PA for me. I little perturbed I made my way to the teachers room and there was my package! A new Kilt and a new sporran! Yippee! I had the afternoon off so I went for a run then donned my kilt and came back for my English conversation classes. As soon as I entered the teachers room I was surrounded by all the female teachers, one even took a picture. I had to endure allot of compliments I did not quite understand but these things are to be expected when a Scotsman dons his Kilt. Actually I think the kids were less impressed with the Kilt. They had no idea what it was and I am sure were just wondering what on earth Kureigu Sensei was doing wearing a skirt! So I spent a good wack of each of my conversation classes explaining the Kilt. The kids were really late for the class, I was about to pack up and go but I am glad they came, even though it meant we stayed until 8:30pm instead of 7:30. There are some matches coming up and they are all busy with their various sports clubs I believe.

2006-06-06T08:38:00.000+09:00

2006-06-05T10:48:00.000+09:00

Here is the concise version of my trip to Kobe and subsequent travels. The recontracting conference itself lasted 3 days and was in the main allot of fun (of the wizz bang variety). It was good too see some familiar faces I had not seen in quite a long time. As for the conference itself, there were actually a number of very useful workshops or at least somewhat inspiring ones. I am of course not making the most of all the free time I have on my island. A particular highlight was meeting Marshal and Alicia again, two mainland JETs who went to India with us. It was on Marshall’s suggestion that we went to see Hase Dera and although the peonies (it is famous for these flowers) were not in bloom it was one of the nicest temples we saw. After the conference was over I and Kelly went on a relaxed tour of Kansai. We did not have a great desire to see Kyoto again or a big city like Osaka (Tokyo was enough big city for a long time) so we headed to Nara. That turned out to be an inspired choice. I really enjoyed our time in Nara, it is a nice, quiet little city which can be easily seen on foot. It helped we stayed in a pleasant Ryokan (Japanese style Inn) which was right next to Nara Park where most of the sightseeing sites are located. I won’t bore you with details of the trip, it is broadly covered by the pictures in the previous post. However one thing that I’d like to mention is how helpful the people were in Kobe and Nara, if we ever looked confused or lost of one moment, paused and looked around at signs or the guidebook, then someone would immediately try and help us (in English). It was really nice and we didn’t experience anything of the sort in Tokyo or Kyoto. It is common hearsay in Okinawa that mainland Japanese are not as friendly but the experience we had does not corroborate that at all. I suppose it was taken to an extreme by the elderly gentleman (72 year old retired Junior High school head master) who not only personally showed us to our Ryokan from the train station but appointed himself our tour guide for the rest of the day. He wanted to practice his English (which was pretty good) as he planned a trip to the UK later that year. He even wanted to meet us the following morning and show us around again but we had to make our excuses. The rest of the trip went very nicely indeed thank you very much! A quick excursion from Nara to see Horyu ji (Japans oldest wooden temple); a day in the inaka (countryside) where we saw Hase Dera and Yoshino; a night and half a day in Osaka (surprised by a beautiful wild flower garden in the midst of the urban ugliness); Himeji jo (awesome castle) and finally a night back in Kobe (finally getting a good view of the semi-famous Kobe nightscape). Upon returning to Okinawa honto I went to a Hospital to get my finger checked out. My first experience of a Japanese hospital and I must say that the whole thing was very efficient and cheap! I registered as a new patient, saw two doctors, had an x-ray and got the splint for my finger and was checked out in about two and a half hours! It also only cost 3000 yen (15 quid) for everything! Although if I had not had the insurance it would have been more like 10000yen or 50 quid, still surprisingly cheap. So the upshot of all that is I have a metal splint on my finger and will continue to do so for 6 weeks. That has a 40% chance of fixing it and if it fails I will need surgery which has a 98% chance of success. Not bad odds I think, the specialist (who had great English) told me it was a common injury for surgeons, he himself had the very same injury on his ring finger (which encouragingly looked perfectly normal now).

2006-06-02T15:18:00.000+09:00

An old tree in Nara Park
koi carp (Nara Koen)
guaranteeing myself enlightenment in Daibutsu temple (home of Japan's biggest Buddha)
Kelly looking very pretty at Horyu-ji, Japan's oldest wooden temple (about 1300 yrs old)
Graves of priests at Hase Dera
The hills around Hase Dera (it was about 2 hours train ride outside of Nara)
A wildflower garden in front of the 'Sky Tower', Osaka's tallest biulding
Himeji-jo, the best preserved castle in all of Japan

A view of the hills surrounding Himiji-jo.

2006-05-17T11:23:00.000+09:00

Thanks for a perfect weekend. Anata wa watashi no jima ni itte ureshii deshita.

I hope that Japanese is correct.

2006-05-12T12:30:00.000+09:00

MALLET FINGER! Yes that is what I have apparently! According to my quick internet search anyway. So if you remember (and if you don't you only need to scroll down and look at my post on the topic) I cut my finger while bashing a shellfish out of a rock about a month ago. I thought it was just a cut and naturally didn't want to be a big baby about it and a band aid and a bit of iodine splashed on was all the treatment I gave it. In fact if Kelly had not been there I doubt it would have even got that treatment! It was a little crooked at the time but I didn't think much of it and assumed it was because of the swelling at the top my finger, around the cut. But one month later the swelling had much reduced but the crick was much more pronounced. It was also still slightly sore so when it was suggested to me that perhaps I should see a doctor I did so fearing perhaps there was infection. It turns out I severed the extensor tendon of that finger! The tendon is cut almost exactly at the end joint of my finger so only the tip is crooked, if the cut had been higher up the situation would have been much more serious. It may be fixable; I gather from my limited research, that if left for a long time the tendon my cause bleeding and scarring further up and along the tendon sheath making it unusable in which case it won't be very fixable. Also it was not cut with the knife but on the slightly rougher edge of the shell. It is not a bit deal, I can live with it! The finger is still functional as the flexor tendon is still intact so I can exert downward force with no pain but in case of further complications I do want to have it checked out. Luckily the Ryukyu university hospital here in Okinawa is renowned for hand surgery according to my island doctor so I will go there. Enjoy the pics! The other picture if of Teru and company working on a new Izekaiya on Izena which will be opening tonite! Exiting!

2006-05-09T09:07:00.000+09:00

Evening all. I would like to use this post to tell you how undeniably great otters are. That's right you heard me, OTTERS! So after getting home at about 9pm from my English conversation class I threw together some victuals (literally) and feeling too tired and brain dead to even read I turning on the goggle box. The program was about otters. First of all I was entranced at how cute and friendly they were. Running around in their group/extended family; playing in the water and rolling around together in sand bands. Then we see their hunting prowess, flashing around underwater in hot pursuit of elusive aquatic prey which when caught they would share with the other member of their romp (yes that is what a group of otters is very appropriately called). Now for the best bit! A large African crocodile slides into the water; the otters suddenly get agitated craning their long necks to spot where the now submerged crocodile has gone. I prayed that the romp (I like that word) would escape with all fingers and toes intact. I couldn't have been more wrong. The delightfully rascally and audacious otters (not to mention brave!) took the crocodile head on! First I though why aren't they swimming away, why are they getting so close to that rather large and toothy reptilian? Then they started attacking it! Even nipping in to bite the croc around its jaws. The best bit was when after the croc had retired to a sand bank a particularly cheeky otter snuck up and bit the tip of its tail! Bear in mind this is a 4 metre African crocodile and the otters can only have been a couple of feet long. Anyway, there you have it, otters rock and don't you dare say otherwise.