Life is only…
As good as the memories we make
And I’m taking back what belongs to me
These relics of remembrance
Are just like shipwrecks
Only they’re gone faster
Than the smell after it rains
Wow, hard to believe I’ve gotten to this point… Today, 10 months after my first blog entry, comes my final post. I have been in Japan for 304 days now, living on my own in a completely foreign country, and now at last it’s time for me to return home…
There are 3 days left in Japan, filled with farewell parties, all night JJ, and sakura viewing. And then I head back to my life in Calgary. I’m kind of sad to leave, I have a lot of awesome memories of Japan...
And I’ve learned a lot here, about engineering, about Japan itself, as well as made some really good friends. I’ve gained confidence in myself, and that’s very important.
Thanks to family and friends back home who kept in contact with me and made me not so homesick, to my friends here, for always keeping me entertained and putting up with my lame jokes, and to the internship program and my company for giving me the chance to live and work in Japan.
After 60 entries, this Adventure of Link comes to a close. Until my next adventure!
So long Japan
I’d found a map to buried treasure
And even though I go home empty handed
I’ll still have my stories, battle scars,
Pirate ships and wounded hearts,
Broken bones, and all the best of friendships…
And when this hourglass has filtered out
Its final grain of sand…
I’ll raise my glass to the memories we had…
This is my wish, and I’m taking it back
I’m takin’ 'em all back…
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Friday, March 23, 2007
Yakka foob mog. Grug pubbawup zink wattoom gazork. Chumble spuzz.
Things are winding down… the current countdown rests at 8 days, 3 hours… wow, getting nervous/excited about going home.
Well, just a recap of my more recent events. 2 weekends ago, on Friday I went out with Byron, Tyson, Keith, and some of Byron’s friends, including Kaihei. You may remember him from such adventures as me singing a duet of A Whole New World with him, with myself as Jasmine.
The place we went to was an Arabian themed isakaya, which was not bad, but, ironically, played nothing but Disney songs, in Japanese. Including, obviously, A Whole New World. I didn’t stay too long, I was very tired that night and wanted to make curfew…
Saturday, Keith and I went hiking to a mountain we had read about online. Unfortunately, mountain meant hill, and hike meant leisurely stroll. But it was alright I suppose. After a stop at Spa World, we went to spend the night playing DDR, Donkey Kong, pool, basketball, ping pong, and other stuff at JJ. Then we were disappointed by the fact that 90% of JJ was closed for renovations… the only things open were pool and karaoke. But JJ grand opening March 21, and it should be pretty impressive.
Original plan for Sunday was to get some sleep at Spa World then go shopping… only Spa World closes for an hour in the morning to clean…so that combined with the crappy weather, we decided to head home.
Last weekend was just as lucky I suppose. Dave and I went to an Irish pub on Friday night, because every Friday they have a Japanese band playing Irish music. But knowing our luck, that night was the only time in 2 years they were very late and not answering any of their phones. But the food was good. Saturday, gym, and a trip downtown to get clothes, souvenirs, and peanut butter!
Yesterday I was off to Shirahama with Keith, Jen, and Hamada-san from Keith’s work. It was a long trip... 2.5h to Keith’s, and a 2h drive from there (and back the same day), but it was very fun. Had sashimi and grilled squid for lunch, then went walking along some very interesting rocks/islands near/on/in the ocean (pictures online). Went to a supposedly famous onsen, which, well… was quite wide open. Anybody in the nearby hotel or along the lookout on the beach that had a pair of binoculars could see quite a bit in the guy’s section. Anyway, nice, but kinda small, though I hear it’s great at high tide (the ocean waves splash into the baths). Then we had dinner on the beach (with white sand imported from Australia), then sumo and hacky sack, then back home.
Last night I dreamt I was in a gang... what does that mean?
My final full weekend in Japan starts tonight, then next week, packing, farewell parties, sakura, and a long flight home back to Canada… Next week will be my final entry in the Adventures of Link… at least until my next adventure!
Well, just a recap of my more recent events. 2 weekends ago, on Friday I went out with Byron, Tyson, Keith, and some of Byron’s friends, including Kaihei. You may remember him from such adventures as me singing a duet of A Whole New World with him, with myself as Jasmine.
The place we went to was an Arabian themed isakaya, which was not bad, but, ironically, played nothing but Disney songs, in Japanese. Including, obviously, A Whole New World. I didn’t stay too long, I was very tired that night and wanted to make curfew…
Saturday, Keith and I went hiking to a mountain we had read about online. Unfortunately, mountain meant hill, and hike meant leisurely stroll. But it was alright I suppose. After a stop at Spa World, we went to spend the night playing DDR, Donkey Kong, pool, basketball, ping pong, and other stuff at JJ. Then we were disappointed by the fact that 90% of JJ was closed for renovations… the only things open were pool and karaoke. But JJ grand opening March 21, and it should be pretty impressive.
Original plan for Sunday was to get some sleep at Spa World then go shopping… only Spa World closes for an hour in the morning to clean…so that combined with the crappy weather, we decided to head home.
Last weekend was just as lucky I suppose. Dave and I went to an Irish pub on Friday night, because every Friday they have a Japanese band playing Irish music. But knowing our luck, that night was the only time in 2 years they were very late and not answering any of their phones. But the food was good. Saturday, gym, and a trip downtown to get clothes, souvenirs, and peanut butter!
Yesterday I was off to Shirahama with Keith, Jen, and Hamada-san from Keith’s work. It was a long trip... 2.5h to Keith’s, and a 2h drive from there (and back the same day), but it was very fun. Had sashimi and grilled squid for lunch, then went walking along some very interesting rocks/islands near/on/in the ocean (pictures online). Went to a supposedly famous onsen, which, well… was quite wide open. Anybody in the nearby hotel or along the lookout on the beach that had a pair of binoculars could see quite a bit in the guy’s section. Anyway, nice, but kinda small, though I hear it’s great at high tide (the ocean waves splash into the baths). Then we had dinner on the beach (with white sand imported from Australia), then sumo and hacky sack, then back home.
Last night I dreamt I was in a gang... what does that mean?
My final full weekend in Japan starts tonight, then next week, packing, farewell parties, sakura, and a long flight home back to Canada… Next week will be my final entry in the Adventures of Link… at least until my next adventure!
Thursday, March 08, 2007
Ok Jack! Time For Your Lobotomy!
To be lost in the forest
To be cut adrift
You’ve been trying to reach me
You bought me a book…
What a weekend! Friday night involved staying at Jen’s, we were have a file sharing/picture swapping/Scrubs watching party, me, Jen, and Keith. It was fortunate that we decided to do this, as Jen’s cell broke and Keith didn’t know where her place was.
Next morning Keith and I went to Spa World for a workout at the gym and then a quick dip in the baths. Then we met up with Vincent and Victor in Osaka, and headed on our way to Himeji Castle. Himeji’s quite impressive to see, a huge castle, you can go inside the walls and even to the top floor of the main tower. A couple pictures on my webalbum, and more when I steal the ones from the others.
Dinner was in Namba… we didn’t go to the place with the fried cheese balls, it was too busy, so we went to the place above it… which had bacon and cheese wrapped mochi… mmmm sooo good. Then some karaoke, and another night at Jens.
Don’t get offended if I seem absent-minded
Just keep telling me facts and keep making me smile
Don’t get offended if I seem absent-minded
I get tongue-tied…
Sunday I started on my solo quest to Tokyo… got there an hour or 2 before the first Bloc Party concert, so just went straight there. Spent the night in a capsule hotel, which was interesting… I took a few pictures, they’ll be posted soon. Looked around Tokyo a bit on Monday morning, unfortunately there wasn’t a lot to see, I’d already toured Tokyo quite a bit, so off to Nagoya.
Nagoya was a bit brutal to find the concert, I got lost many times. After the show I met up with Victor and we went to an isakaya for dinner. Good food, chicken wings, shrimp crackers, and fried cheese, then I spent the night at Victor’s, which was very nice of him. Next morning Victor had to get up early, so I was going to tour around Nagoya for a bit. But everything was closed and I was tired, so I went home for a nap, where I dreamt I was a fish like Nemo getting attacked by a giant version of Sebastian the crab from The Little Mermaid. And then I went to the final concert.
Ok, so the concerts were excellent. The opening band in Tokyo I don’t know the name to, but they were British, and the lead singer was a black woman playing electric bass… I shoulda bought their CD, I have to figure out who they are. The opening band for the other two shows was a Japanese band called Monobright, their music was alright, the lead singer was very… excited… and whenever he wasn’t singing he had a Buckley’s face going on.
Tokyo’s show was extremely moshy, and I learned a valuable lesson (thankfully not the hard way) about double knotting your shoes before a concert. Nagoya and Osaka were a little better, I was very center stage, two rows from the front for both those shows. At the Osaka show I was even talking to a girl from Winnipeg and her friend from Wales, they were trying to bribe their way to the front with drinks haha.
What are you holding out for?
What’s always in the way?
Why so damn absent-minded?
Why so scared of romance?
The music was awesome, of course they played all the big songs from both albums, and my own favorite, This Modern Love, but I was hoping for more variety between shows, and more of their less popular songs… the only song different between the shows was Two More Years added at Nagoya.
Then I went home and downloaded the new Arcade Fire album…
And now I’m back home, sleep deprived, dreaming every night, 117 hours left of work, and 3 weeks, 2 days left of Japan… Future events include hiking, souvenir shopping, and spending the night with the monks in a mountain temple. Though I should be careful, my horoscope this week was foreboding…: "In a tragic twist of fate, you'll be overwhelmed this week by both a sense of fear and a pack of wolves”…
Do you want to come over and kill some time?
Do you want to come over and kill some time?
Tell me facts, tell me facts, tell me facts, tell me facts…
Throw your arms around me…
To be lost in the forest
To be cut adrift
You’ve been trying to reach me
You bought me a book…
What a weekend! Friday night involved staying at Jen’s, we were have a file sharing/picture swapping/Scrubs watching party, me, Jen, and Keith. It was fortunate that we decided to do this, as Jen’s cell broke and Keith didn’t know where her place was.
Next morning Keith and I went to Spa World for a workout at the gym and then a quick dip in the baths. Then we met up with Vincent and Victor in Osaka, and headed on our way to Himeji Castle. Himeji’s quite impressive to see, a huge castle, you can go inside the walls and even to the top floor of the main tower. A couple pictures on my webalbum, and more when I steal the ones from the others.
Dinner was in Namba… we didn’t go to the place with the fried cheese balls, it was too busy, so we went to the place above it… which had bacon and cheese wrapped mochi… mmmm sooo good. Then some karaoke, and another night at Jens.
Don’t get offended if I seem absent-minded
Just keep telling me facts and keep making me smile
Don’t get offended if I seem absent-minded
I get tongue-tied…
Sunday I started on my solo quest to Tokyo… got there an hour or 2 before the first Bloc Party concert, so just went straight there. Spent the night in a capsule hotel, which was interesting… I took a few pictures, they’ll be posted soon. Looked around Tokyo a bit on Monday morning, unfortunately there wasn’t a lot to see, I’d already toured Tokyo quite a bit, so off to Nagoya.
Nagoya was a bit brutal to find the concert, I got lost many times. After the show I met up with Victor and we went to an isakaya for dinner. Good food, chicken wings, shrimp crackers, and fried cheese, then I spent the night at Victor’s, which was very nice of him. Next morning Victor had to get up early, so I was going to tour around Nagoya for a bit. But everything was closed and I was tired, so I went home for a nap, where I dreamt I was a fish like Nemo getting attacked by a giant version of Sebastian the crab from The Little Mermaid. And then I went to the final concert.
Ok, so the concerts were excellent. The opening band in Tokyo I don’t know the name to, but they were British, and the lead singer was a black woman playing electric bass… I shoulda bought their CD, I have to figure out who they are. The opening band for the other two shows was a Japanese band called Monobright, their music was alright, the lead singer was very… excited… and whenever he wasn’t singing he had a Buckley’s face going on.
Tokyo’s show was extremely moshy, and I learned a valuable lesson (thankfully not the hard way) about double knotting your shoes before a concert. Nagoya and Osaka were a little better, I was very center stage, two rows from the front for both those shows. At the Osaka show I was even talking to a girl from Winnipeg and her friend from Wales, they were trying to bribe their way to the front with drinks haha.
What are you holding out for?
What’s always in the way?
Why so damn absent-minded?
Why so scared of romance?
The music was awesome, of course they played all the big songs from both albums, and my own favorite, This Modern Love, but I was hoping for more variety between shows, and more of their less popular songs… the only song different between the shows was Two More Years added at Nagoya.
Then I went home and downloaded the new Arcade Fire album…
And now I’m back home, sleep deprived, dreaming every night, 117 hours left of work, and 3 weeks, 2 days left of Japan… Future events include hiking, souvenir shopping, and spending the night with the monks in a mountain temple. Though I should be careful, my horoscope this week was foreboding…: "In a tragic twist of fate, you'll be overwhelmed this week by both a sense of fear and a pack of wolves”…
Do you want to come over and kill some time?
Do you want to come over and kill some time?
Tell me facts, tell me facts, tell me facts, tell me facts…
Throw your arms around me…
Thursday, March 01, 2007
Time is an Illusion, Lunchtime Doubly So.
"It was only meant to be a safefy drill but dozens of children were left in tears after an animal escape drill at a zoo went hilariously wrong..."
'Don't cry children, I was only aping about'
Aww man this story made me laugh... poor Japanese schoolchildren... check it out, and make sure you click on the link at the top of the page for extra pictures. I like the lady in the medical van with the shotgun.
Other enjoyable items afloat in the intertubes... I check this blog every day... indexed.blogspot.com. The writer makes a few flash cards a day with interesting graphs about... well... everything. For example...
Yep, taking a shot at myself there!
Speaking of which, this weekend is my big Bloc Party Japanese Groupie event, which should be awesome! Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka, ahoy!
I just finished reading an excellent book, Last Chance to See, by Douglas Adams and Mark Cawardine. Non-fiction about Adams (a comedy sci-fi writer) and Cawardine (a zoologist) go out in search of some of the world's rarest creatures. Amazing book, both hilarous and rather sad. The first adventure can be read online here. Highly recommended.
On the way to see the Komodo Dragon:
"You're proposing twenty hours on a boat-"
"A small boat," added Mark.
"On violently heaving seas-"
"Probably."
"With a three-day-old dead goat."
"Yes."
"I hardly know what to say"
I found out yesterday that everything I've done for my project at work may be null and void once I leave... so that's kinda unfortunate, it's hard to be motivated to work once you find that out. Of course, that would have required me to be motivated in the first place.
The past week I've had trouble sleeping, thanks to some really weird dreams. I decided to start a dream journal to improve my memory of my dreams, which means when I wake up I'm supposed to write down everything I remember of my dreams...
Highlights from this weekend (in no order and not connected to each other):
My friend Brady had bear feet.
I was on a bus and the driver was shot.
I returned a lost dog to my neighbour only to find out she had died 6 weeks earlier. After kicking down her door I found out she was now an undead witch skilled in elemental magic, and we had a duel in the skies above her house with me using my Awesome-o ninja skills.
Frying sausages on a George Foreman grill.
Statues of octopuses and a chocolate river.
Saturday morning I woke up but kept my eyes closed, remembering my dream and making a list of what had happened. Then when I opened my eyes, I realized that me making a mental list of my dreams was also a dream, and I had to do it all over again!
Eventually I want to learn how to lucid dream... this is where you realize in your dream that you're actually dreaming. The benefits to this are great, most importantly, if I'm aware I'm dreaming maybe I can stop dreaming and go back to sleep. And second, maybe if I get good at it, I can free my mind like Neo, and show that undead witch who's boss!
"It was only meant to be a safefy drill but dozens of children were left in tears after an animal escape drill at a zoo went hilariously wrong..."
'Don't cry children, I was only aping about'
Aww man this story made me laugh... poor Japanese schoolchildren... check it out, and make sure you click on the link at the top of the page for extra pictures. I like the lady in the medical van with the shotgun.
Other enjoyable items afloat in the intertubes... I check this blog every day... indexed.blogspot.com. The writer makes a few flash cards a day with interesting graphs about... well... everything. For example...
Yep, taking a shot at myself there!
Speaking of which, this weekend is my big Bloc Party Japanese Groupie event, which should be awesome! Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka, ahoy!
I just finished reading an excellent book, Last Chance to See, by Douglas Adams and Mark Cawardine. Non-fiction about Adams (a comedy sci-fi writer) and Cawardine (a zoologist) go out in search of some of the world's rarest creatures. Amazing book, both hilarous and rather sad. The first adventure can be read online here. Highly recommended.
On the way to see the Komodo Dragon:
"You're proposing twenty hours on a boat-"
"A small boat," added Mark.
"On violently heaving seas-"
"Probably."
"With a three-day-old dead goat."
"Yes."
"I hardly know what to say"
I found out yesterday that everything I've done for my project at work may be null and void once I leave... so that's kinda unfortunate, it's hard to be motivated to work once you find that out. Of course, that would have required me to be motivated in the first place.
The past week I've had trouble sleeping, thanks to some really weird dreams. I decided to start a dream journal to improve my memory of my dreams, which means when I wake up I'm supposed to write down everything I remember of my dreams...
Highlights from this weekend (in no order and not connected to each other):
My friend Brady had bear feet.
I was on a bus and the driver was shot.
I returned a lost dog to my neighbour only to find out she had died 6 weeks earlier. After kicking down her door I found out she was now an undead witch skilled in elemental magic, and we had a duel in the skies above her house with me using my Awesome-o ninja skills.
Frying sausages on a George Foreman grill.
Statues of octopuses and a chocolate river.
Saturday morning I woke up but kept my eyes closed, remembering my dream and making a list of what had happened. Then when I opened my eyes, I realized that me making a mental list of my dreams was also a dream, and I had to do it all over again!
Eventually I want to learn how to lucid dream... this is where you realize in your dream that you're actually dreaming. The benefits to this are great, most importantly, if I'm aware I'm dreaming maybe I can stop dreaming and go back to sleep. And second, maybe if I get good at it, I can free my mind like Neo, and show that undead witch who's boss!
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