You know...

Usually, I think of the similarities between Latino/Chicano and Japanese culture, you know, like emphasis on the family, respect for elders, and all that good stuff. Today, I was reminded of a major point of difference: planning. Oh my gosh, why does everybody here have to make a plan for every little thing they do?

Another lesson in living in Japan: when your boss/mentor suddenly gives you a call a little ticked off that you haven't told him your family's plans for when they visit so he knows what days to take them sightseeing, is very taken aback to learn that you don't have any specific plans to work around, but still wants to meet to make up a plan, you cancel your own plans for the night so you can talk to him.

Although I've heard of people canceling dates and outings with friends which they've been planning on for a long time because their boss wants them to do something suddenly, this is the first time I've experienced it. I guess it's another part of learning to live in this country. Would've been a sweet show though...

Whoa

Whoa, I must have been pretty upset when I wrote that last post, but, hey, that's to be expected when you witness something like that. I realized after I might have come off as a little arrogant toward anyone who doesn't agree with me, and I may have been a little harsh with the words, so sorry if I hurt any friends. I suppose what I wrote down was a pretty unfiltered response.

Anyways, I just made another song. I discovered suddenly an awesome chord progression tonight and went forward into uncharted waters of music with it. The result was good :)

My Japanese is getting worse as a result of not having a job where I am constantly interacting with and communicating with people.

I'm gotten considerable hints to go to grad school in Japan.

We had a birthday party for a friend tonight! It was more of a dinner, but it was fun!

Día!

Oh yeah, I also really want to go to a Día de los muertos festival!!, but am pretty unsure about the chances of there being one even in the nearest big cities like Osaka, Kyoto, or Kobe. I really, really want to go. I never realized how much I was used to going to Self-Help Graphics every year in L.A. until last year, and this year I'm about to miss it again! Ah! Well, I've got the day of to see what I can find, if I just go straight to Osaka or something and look from there. But I have this work I have to get done for my new job, too...Oops, I forgot again!: living by yourself in another country is not easy!! Hahaha, well, good thing I reminded myself again.

Speaking of work, I saw a fireworks show from my new workplace over the weekend. It was really awesome because they launch the fireworks from really close to the school buildings, so everyone there was pretty much looking straight up and feeling the impact of the fireworks through the air at the same time as they heard and saw them explode. Cooool stuff. Good food. Good, fun, funny conversation. Met more interesting people. I should just write a book.

Work

I got a job! And there's a good story to go with it, too, but I've told it so many times, one of them in struggling Japanese (not an excellent day for Japanese today), that I'm a little too tired to write it out. It's good, though, so I want to put it up eventually. In any case, I've got a job now, with no major long-term commitment, but with major long-term opportunities. Exciting things. Biting things. Things are changing, around me and in me. I came back to Japan to learn a whole lot.

I also went for an hour-long practice run around a driving course in town today with an instructor. I take my driver's license driving test on Wednesday, so I'm getting ready. Hereee we goo!

I wonder where things will go from here. Where I will take them, and what will happen to me.

Mm

Haha, well, I meant that last post to be a self-deprecating joke more than anything else (you know how I love those), so I hope no one thought I was like depressed and cursing the day which bore me.

In other news, I have been making this a lot lately. With only one new kitchen item, my new stock of corn tortillas from home, I can make this, my POWER BREAKFAST!!
















And with a little more extra something I brought from home...SUPER SALSA POWER BREAKFAST!!
















Just bought a new fresh batch of eggs and potatoes last night, so these babies are going to be making their appearances very often now. Mmm. Nothing transforms some normal, everyday scrambled eggs like some good, fried tortilla strips. Ironically, since I started eating these, the situation described above and in the last post began to develop (or decompose?) into a more confusing state, so maybe these delicious meals have actually sucked my power rather than given it to me, like some sort of mouth-watering, digestible succubus. Worth it? Hmm...

Also, I just applied to a job as an officer worker at an international center in the nearby biggish town. It would be really cool if I could get it; the only thing is this is like an actual...Japanese job. I'm going to be competing with Japanese people for this job. Granted they'll be other college students and recent college grads, but that still kicks the difficulty level up quite a bit (Haha, when I first saw that, I thought, 'Oh well, that'll work to my advantage since I'm not straight out of college!' Next thought: 'Uh...you're still not much different.'). I sent in the application yesterday, but in one month I'm going to have to take two tests: an English exam (in Japanese), and a general education test...in Japanese! So, I better get studying for that last one. From what I've seen of books that help you prepare for those...it looks a wee bit challenging for a non-native Japanese speaker. We'll see, though. The pay isn't even that great, but the job looks really interesting and I need anything I can get.

Besides that, I've been doing private tutoring for the past 10 days or so at about 20 bucks an hour, one hour a day. That has been awesome! Basically like hanging out with a friend and helping her with English conversation and interview practice for an hour. If I could get enough people to be able to make a secure living off of that, well that would just be fine with me. I don't need a lot of money, just an interesting job and enough finances to keep me stable while allowing for some fun things. I suppose I'll get going on those fliers and cards now then!

A friend of mine who works at a nearby restaurant recently saw me writing in my journal while eating there and asked me about it - I realized: I write in my journal nearly every single day. I've been writing in a journal since I was a kid, and especially often since I got to college, and since I went to study abroad. Every once and a while I look back on an older journal and see what I was thinking. Haha. It's interesting. Before, I would often write with the idea of keeping a record of things. Since coming to Japan this time, I've written often to alleviate the loneliness of not having anyone to talk to (more around this time last year up until winter) and now to guide me through and help me think out the situations I find myself in. Writing in my journal has really become an anchor in my life. And I like it.