It was so not my idea

Every Tuesday Jonathan, Eri, and I (Rachel used to come but has returned home) go to The Melting Pot for  really unhealthy serving of roast beef and a few drinks. Last Tuesday I felt just  touch more stressed than usual and so the need to drink was a little higher than usual.

We're minding our own business and all of a sudden this guy sits down beside us, wanting tips on how to be fab. We humor the guy, who I recognized as straight but just wanting attention. Attempting to shock us, when his friend comes in, he asks how fab would it be to make out with his friend and they do and it was hot.

Then he wanted to see who was a better kisser: me or the friend. Then the friend wanted to kiss me. And then I whipped out their dicks for everyone to see. And then man number #2 started groping me. And then both of them started wanting to make out with me some more and so we did. And then the three of us and this chick started making out with each other, all at once, and then in couples. Man number two had trouble walking away for he couldn't get enough. Man number one said it was over but I laid a good goodbye kiss on him and he was all for it.

OH YEAH, AND BOTH OF THEM WERE STRAIGHT.

It all started as a joke. But they had no idea how some jokes could feel so good.

Going-Away Party

Last Saturday was our head teacher's going-away party. In order to animate what could have been an excuciating two-hours worth of lobby talk, I decided to appoint myself as the MC and festivitize the event. The party was at 8:30, so of course I arrived to the venue already drunk, having already drunk at karaoke before hand.

At first the students were fairly sober and reserved.

But then the liquor started to flow...

And I confused students, making them think I was straight...

Here's Masamichi: he's such a munchkin!

Claire and I

And then the psychotica ensued...

Everyone's gathered to say goodbye.

The departing...

The folly continues even outside...

Saying goodbye...

The Hamamatsuchou Crew

I so did not expect to have so much fun with my students. I just walked around, made people talk, hit some, hit on some more, and just fooled around. They really are a swell bunch and I was really sad to leave them. One has a motorbike, is cute, and was a Jap teacher in Taiwan. I want to get in his pants.

I'm really going to be quite upset when I leave them for god.

My Right Hand

Used for writing, typing, masturbating, and counting the amount of men who I have been truly interested in head over heals but alas God is smacking me across the face with a tool of ancient torture, leaving me with a bag of issues yet to be completely resolved. So, after much discussion with Alex, consulting astral charts, numbering all the characters in the Torah and then, going backwards, taking out those characters whose numbers are part of the Fibonacci set and deciphering the Sepharadic spew that resulted, and having too much coffee to the point of having diarrhea on a large piece of pure white papyrus and reading the splatter as if it were a Rorschach inkblot test, I have come up with the following number that accurately represents how many men I have met in my life who are of the above, and whose criteria will be enumerated shortly:

                                                              5.37 + / - 0.37

And there you have it!

NUMBER ONE!

He was quite the intelligent one. Has been to many places, held many an unconventional belief, dressed simply and yet an attractive degree of fucked-up-ness, and had insecurities, the ones which I would love to fix and consequently gain his affections because I have done so myself. But then there was tthat nasty game of tag that overgrown children game in an adult's world, he didn't step up, and yet it's likely that there was no interest to begin with for I could have been delusional.

FUNNY!

NUMERO DOS!

Number two was the straightest man alive. He wasn't much of a looker but I'm sure he would have been a REAL GOOD FUCK and probably had a fat dick, too. To say that he was involved in illegal things would be an understatement, and I knew that if I crossed him, I would be added to  that tally of illegalities. He was also quite crass and base. But by getting to know him I learned that he was one of the most caring individuals I have ever met, if only under a disguise that even fooled him at times. Or perhaps I'm in denial in displacing all that evil to something I wish he could take off.

There's a joke in there about his wished-for cock doing me with vigor.

Either way, despite all the rage and hatred there was love that I would have put myself through risk to get, and not for me but for him to just be able to provide without metaphorical knives stabbing his skull all the while.

But then things got complicated and he sought oil in the Praries.

第三

A friend. I think when I moved here we had a conversation in which we may have actually admitted that there was something between us, but we never quite acted on it. Thinking about it now, I wish I was not such a chickenshit. Our intellects combined and made a fire that never needed fire from without, and yet we were still able to enjoy just being plain stupid. He gets a little negative sometimes, and sometimes he gets insecure about his hair: little does he know that for all that he is, that is but the smallest of concerns. If there was a chance of anything happening, I take all the blame for none of it happenning.

NUMERO QUATRE

He messged me online and said he wanted to fuck my forty-nine different ways to Sunday. I told him I was not into meeting people to have sex, and so he sent me a picture of his penis to my phone. BTW, try trimming just a bit. I called him an idiot for thinking that sending me nudy pics would change my mind, but yet he said that hey I was interesting and so perhaps it wouldn't be so futile as to actually take me out on a date. It's this fuckwit that actually inspired this long entry right here. He offered the fucking of a life time, crass sailor bantor, yet was able to talk about intelligent things in the most base ways possible and about the most base with such insight. We are supposed to be on that date now but alas, complete no reply to message and e-mail left. Like I said, it's always the most interesting ones...

IF YOUR COUNTING SKILLS ARE INTACT, I NEED NOT TELL YOU WHICH NUMBER WE ARE AT

Everyone thought he was gay. Some of us still do. Upon occasion I maintain fantasies that he is. Whatever everything may be, all that is is and what is not is not and one shall simply take that at face value if one is to lead life with a few less troubles. But you will forgive me if this guy did have dried flowers and paintins and discussed his interior decorating plans using the word "mustard". Ah, Rico, you're the only one in this list who I was actually honest about how I felt about you. You do paint yourself in rather dreary tones, and sometimes you are justified in doing so for sometimes you can be quite frightful, but when you do love it gives all those who are around you the energy to continue if not for another day.

THE FRACTIONS THAT REMAIN

Ah, but this entry is about what has passed. Give me another month or so. And I'm not even sure if I like you.

Sarah MacLachlan

Listening to Sarah MacLachlan - her name is hard to spell in the morning. Thought that despite whatever changes have came to pass, I need to be more passioned. It's so easy when you are drunk, or at least tipsy, when everything develops a warm glow because you yourself are burning up with desire and potential, where everything can be within your reach if you only but dared to reach.

And then I woke up this morning, as sober as ever.

I was supposed to have a hot date tonight with this guy, but I don't think that is going to pull through. Why is it that the hot ones are the ones that are structurally impossible to get, if not for long? I mean, I hve understood perhaps it was a manifestation of an insecuirty to never actually find myself in a situation for two, but I think that has changed now...

This entry is becoming quite morose, isn't it? That's what you get for listening to Sarah MacLachlan when you wake up. I'm sure had I started the day with Underworld's Pearl's Girl (but the remix), the morning would be a little more interesting. Or what about I Found You by Interestate, but remixed by Armin Van Buuren? I don't know why, but that song rings of passion to me.

Another condition for the monotony that I find myself presently is being a cheap-ass bastard. In a little over four months (OH MY GOD!), I'm leaving this country and embarking on a massive Asian backpacking trip, which will hopefully include Thailand, the Phillipines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, China, Hongkong, Nepal, and even India if I can get that far. I want to have quite a bit of cash when I do leave, and so that has been involving 50,000 yen a month stashed away in the bank account. While Japan has been and will continue to be fun, it seems like this trip is the endgame for me. What makes me a little sad is that while Eri still plans to come with me to Thailand, I don't think she's up for the entire extravaganza. It would be really nice to do what will be the biggest trip and most fantastic experience in my life with her, but I'm sure I'll manage.

There have been a lot of goodbyes said, there will be more, and then there will be those final goodbyes which are I am fullheartedly dreading. Rico left, Rachel left, Jonathan's leaving, then it will be those from our training group, and then it will be us, Eri, Nicky, and I.

Consider me cold but I do know that everything that happens on this planet will be finite. At times it's a slap across the face and at times it's an advance warning for what's to come ahead. It seems of late I've been taking a liking to men who are leaving Japan, which I guess is fine and well seeing that I am one of them. Would it not be great to live each and everyday with passion as if it were your last? And I don't mean that in some cliched sort of way, because chances are that today is not your last, but to just capitalize on feeling and doing everything to it's fullest extent because once that moment is gone, you can never get it back and just imagine how your soul can be hounded with counterfactuals and past hypotheticals, of all that you didn't do because of whatever. And then how cold you would be left.

But despite the above, I'm completely fine. Yeah, this entry is quite negative, but luckily I've accepted - or so I think I have - that in life there is always a great deal of negativity. But it's all about how you deal with it - and not avoiding it - that decides just how much tissue paper you consume on a monthly basis. It's like an orgasm fucked to you with a knife.

Hallowe'en Weekend

In the Land of the Rising Sun, the locals do not celebrate Hallowe'en all that much. Thus this year's festivities took on a slightly different spin.. or whirl. Every year in Tokyo for Hallowe'en, foreigners get together at Shinjuku Station and board one certain train of the Yamanote line where for 55 minutes, many dirty foreigners clad in bizarre costumes make a drunken mess of themselves screaming, falling over each other, chanting station names, and running out of the two jammed carts that we laid claim two at every station along the way.

Many dirty gaijin. One small Yamanote line train car. One Saturday eve.

Hallowe'en exotica.

Hallowe'en revelry.

Interfaith picture.

渋谷駅に到着しました。

渋谷駅に到着しました。

渋谷駅前

After the festivities we hopped on the shuttle bus to AgeHa. Those who were decked out entered for free, but unfortunatley Eri and I were in regular clothes so we had to pay. The music was a little broader in taste than on Gay Night but fun nonetheless and there was the killer costume party that rivaled many professional shows. It was a great night, except for the end where I became sober talking sense into upset boyfriends which caused me to fall out of the drunken revelry that everyone else was in. And my contacts were bitching me. And I was getting a cold. And I wanted McDonalds but alas it was closed. But on the whole, a marv night!

Whoops

So I decided to go on my nightly jog as is my wont. But no sooner than I left my house, the whole world shifted right and upwards. You know, like when someone gets hit by a car and all of a sudden they find themselves flying upwards. And then I was on the ground.

Turns out I was hit by a scooter. The scooter? It's rider and it, completely knocked over. Have to say this little experience was the scariest I have ever had. The driver said he was okay. I was okay. I walked home.

Oooh, that night my ankle hurt so bad I thought I was going to vomit. I send an e-mail to my manager that morning, who picks me up from my house in a taxi and takes me to a hospital. Thankfully it's only sprained, but yeah, for the next month, there won't be much in the way of speedwalking or jogging. So the diet is going to suffer a bit. At least I'm okay, though.

AgeHa

It was great. No men anxiety issues at all. And I even talked with two men randomly and one bought me a drink. I think I'm getting better at this!

This Saturday Armin Van Buuren is spinning at AgeHa. It looks like I will be going solo, but this is something I really want to do and I'm sure it will be fun on my own. And since I have been good with the budget, I think I can even pay for admission using this week's budget. Sugoi!

家のとなり

8 months later I discover that there are tons of shit in my neighborhood. Of course, i would hve never discovered these things had I not commenced my campaign to kill the cow within. During my after-work jogs around my apartment, I realized there's the biggest wine store I have ever seen. And it's like really 30 seconds down the street, but down the other way. There's also car dearlerships for every single car company, a movie theater, a Wendy's, an Outback... and houses! Real houses! With porches and driveways and fences! Today, I went jogging alongside the canal near my house and happened across a real nice residential area. With tons of nice cars parked in front, probably bought from the BMW, Porsche, and Mercedes dealerships that re 5 minutes away from my house, but in the other direction.

Maybe I should find a sugar daddy close to chez moi...

List of wants

Not organized by importance or how likely this will happen.

Go to China. Take a massive trip across Asia that will last for at least three months. Move into a condo when I get back to Montreal, whenever that is. Continue my education. Live in France to improve my shit French. Own a lot of designer clothing. Meet smart, funny, sexy men. Get in shape. Become a pro at Taiko. Master Japanese, or at least to be able to pass the JLPT Level 3. Become a better photographer so I may buy a professional SLR in all confidence. Have an iPod Touch, but preferable when it has more capacity. A tan.

Trial #2

...of Billy's Boot Camp was equally unsuccesful. Shit, I'm flubby, not flexible, and I have no muscle. But I will still continue in my endeavors. It just means that I'll have to press the pause button a little more often than I would like. Nicky has also told me of this site where there is a new yoga video everyday. That will definitely help. Also, Claire said that she'll lend me some weights that I can use while watching 24 and the like.

Must persevere

BIlly's Boot Camp Attempt #1

It's now been a wick since I have been beplagued with this cold. But today I decided to withdraw the sick card from play and start working out again, beginning with Billy's Boot Camp: Basic Training.

I did not last ten minutes.

But I will persevere. I will try again at 11. And I'll just keep trying and trying until I survive, And become toned. And lose the flub. And fit into my pants once more. And actually fit in with the rest of this skinny and fit nation so when I fly back to fatter places, well, I'll just feel dandy.

Pierre is still killing the cow within! And he lost 5 lbs! Success!

Escapades on actifed capsules

And I do declare I am taking this shit purely as per doctor's orders. But i think it has the same ingredient as Contac-C, and I halluicinated off that shit once.. But taking this wondergrug last night to clear up the noses resulted in fantasizing about sex with smoked salmon, maple syrup, and screaming "EH" at climax, lauging profusely at images of Linda dodging bullets in Lebanon in stilettoes to the tune of some hardcore techno music (which I shall play now), and having dreams of the most unlikely people and me in karaoke, watching a Vampire from Stargate SG-1 sing "Flavor of Life". Oddly enough, the lyrics were somewhat different than I remembered.

The techno continues to play.

Thai Food

Monday Alex and I decided to pull a great adventure and take the train all the way to Izu peninsula to soak up the sun on the beach. It was quite picturesque and the beach was quite nice. There weren't that many people at all but that was no mater. After that, we took the train to Hakone, where we partook in the hotsprings, which the area is really famous for. Japanese men have way too much pubic hair, their heads are fairly bulbous and red, and the shaft is most definitely in lacking.

Following that, we took the train straight to Shinjuku, where we had some delicious Thai food. It was prett cheap, and while I have had spicier, it was still quite true to the original. Eating it, I realized just how much I miss Thailand. When the server thanked us in Thai, I almost started crying. Thailand was one of my best trips ever if not the best and I so cannot wait to go back.

Sick Sick Sick

It's one of those colds tht you get when having the air con on but with no blnket because you think it's to warm. But now I have one of those and I am feeling quite sickly. My muslces ache, by ears hurt, and every now and then some rather thick snot comes up. And I want a new iPod. Gah.

Desperate Times

It's like when you download the Spice Girls or some other cheezy song that you hide from your friends but secretly adore, listening to your iPod when you think no one can hear you. Alas, I have downloaded BIlly's Boot Camp as part of my ongoing efforts to KILL THE COW WITHIN. I just looked at the video and I tell you, it looks like the incarnation of all that I hate in life. He's so fake and genki it's not even funny. But alas, his videos have taken this video by storm, and some of my students have lost weight or put on muscle weight.

And some of them look just damn hot in casual clothing...

Oh, I digress...

FAT BE GONE

At first there was denial. It's impossible for me to gain weight. But then my family camer over and lo and behold, I could not get into a pair of pants which I use to wear like crazy. And then there were the comments.

I shall not stand for this.

Sit-ups every half-hour or more while at home! No pigging out - or at least on the weekdays, anyhow. Much less carbs at night. More fucking sit-ups. And yes, I'm downloading (with much contempt) BIlly's Boot Camp. I tell you, I will be slim and Nubian in those pants if it is the last thing I do. I'm going to kill the cow within!

車屋

Saturday night after work last week my godmother and I had dinner at this place called Kurumaya. Clad in kimonos, we were waited on hand and foot right from when we were seated. My godmother was served sashimi on a block of ice. I ate a fish which was cooked whole. It was rather savoury. And as soon as we finished one plate, the next one was brought to us.

I don't think I ever ate so well in my life. And when we left, we were evn walked out beyond the door until the front porch.

It just further emphasizes how I need to marry up.

The Arrival of the Fam

On Tuesday, July 24th, Catherine, my mother and Lise decided to take a trip to the Orient to see long-lost me. We went everywhere and did everything. But the emphasis was on the quality time we spent together. Scaring the shits out of my mother, causing her eyes to almost fall out of her sockets, waving her hands in a fashion that would not deter any expected intruder. Going to karaoke and causing my whole family to cry because I was speaking Japanese. Watching Harry Potter 5. Going to the fireworks with the only person who can sustain 45 minutes of sustained speed-walking and running.

Unfortunately the imouto and the haha are gone now, and soon LIse will be, too. I'll have this house all to myself, and while I am, in a perverse sort of way, looking forward to being alone for a bit, it will be really lonely. It has been hard enough to be without my family for 6 months, and to say that I won't see them for a little less than a year again after this is heartbreaking.

But we did have a lot of good times.

韓国 Kankoku Korea

I'm tired. Korea was great.

Last Thursday, Eri, Lise, and I boarded Asiana flight 101 to Incheon to begin what would become a week stretch of absolute craziness. Maybe it was the cheap abundance of food that made the trip so good. Maybe it was the onsluaght of free sidedishes that come standard with a Korean meal. Maybe it was meeting up with Nam for three nights of absolute craziness. Maybe it was getting free drinks thanks to Eri and then walking away with the bartender's glasses so Eri can puke while Nam defends her honor so we can eventually get back to the cheap hole-in-the-wall, me carrying our drunken damsel in distress half of the way there. Maybe it was the tons of shopping in which each item bought was negotiated, one involving rock-paper-scissors.

Needless to say, it was quite the trip of a lifetime. Never in my life have I lived through such a pell-mell sequence of experiences. Korea is abosulutely chaotic, daunting, and at times dirty. But thanks to Nam, we got through it just fine. And we got a tan, too!

I'll spare you the details of the three-day constipation, however.

Kyoto

After much ado and anticipation, has finally arrived in Tokyo. After a few jaunts in Tsukiji, Asakusa, the Imperial Palace, and other places, we took the bullet train to Kyoto Saturday to indulge in old-fashioned sights and sounds, pricy yet tasty food, a stay at a ryokan, karaoke, and Taiko. Those who think that DDR is the greatets have yet to meet the latter: an arcade drum game which the Japanese have harbored within their lands since time immemorial, or at least since a few years ago.

I really do not want to go back to work but next week it's a few day trips around Japan and then off to Korea! Yee-tah!

Now if onl my godmother would stop snoring...

They're Coming!

Takeshita Dori

Takeshita Dori
Originally uploaded by Pierrespics

This picture seems to be generating some fuss on Flickr so I decided to post it here as well. Taken at Takeshita Dori in Harajuku.

Wedding Party

We happened to stumble across a wedding shoot. So much work was put into making the bride look perfect for the picture, including several minute make-up touch-ups and constant adjustments to hear headdress, or whatever you may call it.

The bride.

Fuck

Sometimes people can be snots when it comes to another speaking a language which they know not very well. Many of my students have told me the difficulties they have had dealing with native speakers who are not sensitive to the fact that English is their second language and thus don't do what is obvious and speak slower and use easier words. Unfortunately, the reverse is also true, which is a fucking piss-off at times when I am trying to speak Japanese.

So, to everyone: if you are dealing with someone who is trying to speak your language but can't do it as well, be patient. Be encouraging and smile. Wait for them to finish their sentences. Slow down and use easier words. It will be appreciated.

Mount Fuji

Sunday comes around. We decide that we will actually climb Mount Fuji. Thinking that would be a good time to get ready, I pack my stuff, get some shoes, and meet up with Eri and Damo at Shinjuku Station.

A few hours later, we get to the Fifth Station of Mount Fuji. We thought we were unprepared. However, Brad and James, two guys who we met on the mountain, were less so. So we decide to invite them to come along with us on the hike and we lent them some shit.

To say it was excrucitating and exhausting would be a slight understatement. It was pictch black. And rocks did not make our ascent easy. And there were some places where we actually had to go on all fours lest we fall down the hill and die. But somehow, after six-hours-and-a-half of strenuous torture -including one break, however - we finally make it to the top.

The sun rose, its rays breaking through the clouds. It was beautiful and surreal. I felt like I was in a plane, but outside. We started going down the mountain, I with renewed energy, happy as can be. And then I took a break. And then continued again. And felt like I was going to die. Because when one goes up the mountain and feels like they are running out of energy, one can stop and go back. But when one has already climbed the mountain, one has to go back down, even if they have absolutely no energy to do it.

We get back to the Fifth Station at 8:00 in the morning, wondering what the hell we were doing still up to begin with. Facing a two-hour wait for which we were absolutely in no mood to do, we, in protest, paid 12,000 yen to a cabbie to take us to the train station, which we were going to do but instead decided that we may as well spend the weekend with our new friends made on the mountain and checked into a hostel and went to an onsen. Still not having slept, we went for lunch and then started to watch Kill Bill. When the others finally went to sleep, I decided it was high time to go for a two-hour bike ride. When everyoe woke up again, we went to a famous restaurant and had horse sashimi. That's right, horse sashimi. It was quite tough but tasted like bacon. With big ass servings of udon. It was so good. And then we got drunk and had the cheapest karaoke ever known to mankind.

It was such a fabulous weekend. I was only hoping to climb Mount Fuji, but the weekend ended up being so much more than that. It ended up being a mini-vacation, which is why I felt like ass when I returned home. Climbing Mount Fuji was one of the hardest things I have done in life, but also one of the biggest accomplishments.

I may just do it again.

Professionalism

As a teacher in Japan, I'm expected to be professional. I am the teacher. They are th students. But there's no way I can pull that off.

Some students realize that, and when they do we share real moments together. Like when one tells me about how he ran into a geisha and got home one day later than planned. Or when another tells me that the rule of never filling one's glass in stupid and tiring. Or when one students actually uses "pissed off" in class because they feel comfortable enough to do so. Or when my students ask me what "teabag' means.

Real moments. Got to love them.

A Day Living

Today I did rush to Shinjuku as I usually do on my Tuesday half-days. Instead, it was spent cleaning the apartment and then making myself a very good brunch. It involved Chinese dumplings, bacon, melon, and an omelet with smoked salmon, capers, red cheddar, and green onions, served with some orange juice. It was quite nice, and I do look forward to having the same tomorrow.

Oh yeah, and by the way: new double futon frame with new bedding from Ikea in the house. Yee-tah.

AgeHa

This weekend, I will be going to a club with Eri and a few boys that she met at  barbecue. It will be a gay night, and the clientele will be of a predominantly muscular male sort. For those who know me, this will probably get me a little insecure since I both want to be a muscular man and have one as well. So I'm a little concerned. What should I do?

La Isla Bonita

Yesterday, Tiff, Dan, and I went to karaoke and belted out "La Isla Bonita". Strolling out of the establishment jubilant and triumphant, we parted ways at Shinjuku Station, but not before screaming "La Isla Bonita" one more time in the middle of it, causing tons of people to turn around wondering if their lives were in peril. It was kind of like the time Tiff let out this massive burp at Ueno.

Time and Place

My new life started January 12th. Having thrust myself into a foreign land with nothing but a few sets of clothes, a laptop, and a few pictures of loved ones, I started a new life. In training, I found a few other people in the same bizarre situation: in the absence of any good reason not to, we became friends immediately, right down to the crying on one’s shoulder, lending each tons of money, and seeing each other naked.

Ironically, our becoming friends in no time feels as if we have been friends throughout all time. Between us, there is nothing but love, caring, and presence.

That is the world we lived in.

That is the world that was proved to be illusory today. Unfortunately, Rico, your presence which seems to has been since forever has come to an end today, to our despair. Its like the unimaginable has happened and we don’t know what to do.

I’ll miss you and can’t wait to see you. And when I do, you had better watch yourself!

Dreams

I was at my old school for some bizarre reason. For another reason equally bizarre, one of the walls for the class became detached from the ground and was able to flap from side to side as if it were cardboard. The principal came along with te superintendant and found out that all kinds of students have put the most bizarre of trash in the wall. The school would be able to fix this wall, but only if we were to advanced our next year's school taxes by next week I didn't give a shit, for I didn't go there anymore. So we decided to order pizza.

I was on the train going to some station. For a reason, again, equaly as bizarre, my school has been relocated to this station. I get there and realize it was not a good idea to leave my computer on the train while I was at work for someone may take it. I go back on the train and get it, where this police officer starts harassing me and asks to see my university ID. After giving him lots of attitude, I am set free and run to school, for it's already five past and I am late for one of my private lessons. I get to my school, which happens to be doubling as an Ermenegildo Zegna store, explain to my manager why I am late, and find some place to chance into my suit so I can teach. This one lady is trying on a dress (at EZ?) and offers to name my price so I can put on something so she can see how good she looks with someone dressed equally as well. I finally find a closet I can change in, and come out just to see that my student has lost patience waiting for me. I explain the situation: for some reason, today he's cooler and has confidence, he says it's completely alright, and then tries to do that complicated handshake straight men do.

Inconsequential

By coming to Japan, everything has been put on hold. It has been one big party, weekend after weekend. And it will continue to be so. I didn't come to Japan to have a life here - rather, I came here to have an experience. Except for the friends I make, everything here is without consequence.

Commonplace miracles

It's when I tell one of my students that cutting our hair short will invariably call attention to his face and make him look fat, but he has a cute face so he shouldn't hide it. Or when I teach him how to pick up girls in English. There seems to be something structutally predicted about a gay man teaching  a straight man how to do so...

Or when one of my students came in for her first class just to realize it was cancelled and that her next class with Claire was in an hour and so I volunteer to teach her the class myself right away. Teaching Nahoko is always fun, fun to the point where I do not consider it work.

Or when I go to Starbucks to study English but instead help this girl with her application to an international company in Tokyo. We exchanged e-mails and hopefully we'll hang out and I would have made a new friend.

Or when I walk down the street and find 1,000 yen on the street. IT'S MINE NOW! YEE-TAH! A small token payment to those who deserve it, maybe?

Jump

Today. In chronological order. Met up with Eri, snobbed it on the Green Car while eating a bento on the way to Fujisawa, arrived in Fujisawa and continued onto Enoshima, walked around the island, sat on roky shores near choppy waters, stood on a causeway with Nicky as we were engulfed in waves that soared above our heads and soaked us completely, had dinner that overlooked the ocean, walked back,

    JUMPED OFF A 10 M BRIDGE HOLDING NICKY'S HAND AS WE PLUMMETED INTO THE WATERS BECAUSE OTHER PEOPLE WERE DOING IT AND THERE WAS NO DECENT REASON NOT TO,

had Makkers and realized that they are making a Mega Teriayki Burger, went to Higashi Rinkan and had way too much Mexican, proceeded home, and learned the term "common-place miracle".

Here's to finding more.

Continue mission

Yesterday. Tiff, Dan, and I. To Ikebukuro for a drink and some pasta, to Shinjuku for tons of beer, meat and tofu, kimchee mochi, and massive karage - friend chicken that would put Black people shame. To the karaoke place next door, where we belted it out for an hour with nomi hodai. On the train, puking but having to swallow it back down until I got home. Gah.

But that night was fun.

One big debacle

Saturday. In no particular order, we went to a bar that had tables in alcoves that had good beer but some bad drinks, cried profusely in Nicky's arms, sent bitchy e-mails, mooned fellow bar patrons, spanked a stranger's bare ass, had excessive amounts of McDonald's, became inebriated, trembled, walked around aimlessly in Shibuya, molested a few straight men, kissed a few more, felt ugly and missed my train stop. Twice.

Today. So far: called my mother and bitched, questioned as to whether I'm still drunk, tired, or a curious convergence of both, continued to feel ugly, worried about fall-out of a quasi-nuclear kind, and watched TV.

Yeah. Fun.

A little walking tour

After a few weeks of laziness, yesterday I decided to take a little walking tour of Tokyo, started from Tokyo and ending up at Shibuya through Kudanshita, Iidabashi, Yotsuya, Akasaka, Aoyama, and Omotesando. The whole stroll took around 5 hours and 100 pictures and was quite nice, actually.

My first night of passionate sex

... was with a girl. We were at Rico's house, slightly inebriated. And before you know it, Eri and I were having a massive dry-humping sessions that lasted for a good ten minutes. We even fell off the bed.

Random thoughts

I went out with my students for the first time after class. I always knew that a few of them are a really cool bucnh and I have always wanted to chill with them. Being a teacher, I can't cross that bridge myself - I need to be invited over. And that's what happened yesterday. So yay!

Yesterday I also told these students that I am gay. I'm a little apprehensive about this because I am not entirely sure how this may affect me professionally. At the same time, I feel Wakako, Michiaki, and Miho appreciate me as a person as well as a teacher, and so if all goes well, this could actually be a good start to making new friends.

My Japanese is improving. I can write "Japanese" in Kanji by hand! Here it is typed: 日本語.

Pictures

My bedtime is near. But the pictures are up. And there is new music. Be happy with that.

Departing

It's been hard trying to leave here. Was supposed to Saturday. Then yesterday. Have to today. How can one say goodbye to sunny weather, the ocean, speedboats, the beach, and tanned heavenly bodies without some feeling of sadness?

Koh Samui

It's Sunday. I was supposed to leave yesterday. But I just don't feel like it. I may stay until tomorrow. Screw Pattaya. Screw the rest of the world, as a matter of fact. I just want to be left alone, lay on the beach, and check out the cute guys.

Colors

The sun in shining, the beach a light brown, the waters a light green, myself a slight red but it will turn brown in short order. Needless to say, I will not be on this machine for very long.

Flight to Ko Samui, and unrelated parentheticals

The only problem with free Internet available for those who are waiting for a flight is that it increases the chances of one missing said flight. Chatting with Krystle, I notice that I have only 6 more minutes until they close the gate...

(.. and we hit some turbulence that actually cause Pierre to fly off his seat for a short while. Writing is becoming increasingly difficult. Dear pilots in control of plane, please maintain control of plane. Signed, Pierre)

... Figuring that this would be perhaps a good time to make it to the gate, I...

(Oh my God, I think I'm seeing daylight for the first time since being here. And the ocean, or sea, or gulf, or whatever kind of large body of water that happens to be below me, is quite pretty. Oh sun, great celestial body of the skies, please await me at Samui.. I want to be Nubian again!)

... mosey on over to the gate, submit to the securty checks, and get on the bus for the plane. The bus leaves for the plane shortly after, and I am one of the last to board. How's that for timing?

(Shit, it's grey again. Oh celestial body, I beseech thee! Rid me of the pallor that makes me appear ghastly!)

Attempt #3 at Thai Interface

Add that to the fact that this keyboard is just a tad to low for my tall self and you can assume that my computing experience is not optimal right now. But in any case it is free and plentiful and you know how I like that when it comes to anything...

So here I am waiting for the flight to go to Koh Samui. The weather is still crappy but I do intend on making the most of my time here and no matter what the weather is, a beach is a beach is a beach. I'll be trying to stay at Hat Chaweng, where all the dirty backpackers go, in order to make some friends and have some good times. this is my 3rd day here but so far it seems like I have been here for an age, but in a good way.

Yesterday I set out to go to Silom and Patpong, the gay areas of Bangkok. I was taking pictures on the commuter boat ride when a girl told me that it would be easier if I sat near the front. I accepted her invitation, we started talking, she's going to the same place I am, and so we decided to hang out, randomly as that. We spent some time at a night-market that I would have not found otherwise and then went for tons of Thai food. Saying that she was so nice would be an insulting understatement. We shared food, and we had tons, and it was spicy, and it created havoc on my gastrointestinal tract. Unfortunately, while we were out, she received horrible news: her brother, who was involved in a car accident, passed away. We sat down and I asked her what she wanted to do, but she said she just wanted to continue with our night because she would go coocoo alone. My thoughts are with you, Oui, and your family. May your brother , you, and your family find peace.

Day 2

Oh my GoD the interface is still in Thai...

In any case Day 2 so far has been a lot better than Day 1. Not to say that I did not have fun on Day 1, but I had to worry about getting airplane tickets and then I was being constantly rained on and I was lugging shit to the guesthouse and so let's just say that there were a lot of things that I could have been spared yesterday. Travelling alone is stressful.

That aside, travelling alone is wonderful! Between yesterday and today I bought some Acqua Di Gio, a lighter, 4 shirts, two shorts, a lighter, a haircut, a Tintin bag (A TINTIN BAG!), a lighter, a memory card, a Diesel belt, and one of those slim travel paks that make your sensitive documents hard to steal - because we all know that I have issues in that department - and not to mention have eaten soem spicy papaya salad that almost blew my lid off, fried banana, a meat dish of some sort, phad thai, spring rolls, spring rolls, and some pancake doohickey. Oh yeah, and I manage to stuff my face on one meal that costed me all of 50 cents. Okay, I may have spent a little more than I should have, but hey, I am on vacation and I am having fun.

Today I visited Wat Pho, which has the world's largest reclining Buddha, and Wat Phra Kaew. The sights were absolutely mesmorizing and absolutely made my day: as soon as I get home and touch-up the pictures, there shall be one massive upload onto Flickr. Tomorrow I am headed to Ko Samui, the Thai party island, full with white sand beaches. I will stay there until Saturday, when I fly to Pattaya, which is supposed to be one raunchy brothel of a location. But tonight, I go to the gay area of Bangkok, so wish me luck!

Arrival

Ok what the hell, the blogger interface in in Thai. But hey, at least I can type.

Arrived into BKK last night towards 10. Got checked in at a guesthouse towards 12. I was a little nervous, and still am: the weather is predicted to be rainy the whole time that I am here. I hope that it passes because I would really like to tan. I am also a little nervous for even with all the research I have done, I still am not quite sure what to do here... In any case, the important thing is that I am safe and have my shit and that the day has not even started so things can only go up from here.

By the way, there are quite the sexy foreign backpackers here: muscled, tan, tall... yum. I need to get like that. I need to get one of those, too!

BANGKOK

Bangkok, Pattaya, Ko Samui, here I come!

With only a school bag, my ticket, and my passport, this will be the biggest stunt I will have pulled to date. Let's hope I can find lodging, ne.

January 12th

I finally finished going through my Japan picture library. All I need to do now is tag the pictures and then watch out for a mass replacement of the pictures on Flickr.

January 12th, with only two suitcases, a carry-on, a teary face, and hope, I left all that I knew and held dear and stepped into the unknown. On the plane I thought that I was doing the stupidest thing in my life. I feel otherwise now. Coming to japan was the best decision I have ever made. But when ever I look at the pictures I took on that day, I feel as if I was leaving home all over again.

Here's to the journey.

The Toilet

So the other day, fearing pungent recourse, i decided to flush an avocado peel down the toilet. I wasn't able to fluch much else after that.

After about a week of holding the more substantial goods from the throne, i decided that buying a plunger would not be such a bad idea.

At a store

Pierre: Sumimasen. Puranja wa arimasu ka?

Clerk: (confused Japanese expression)

Pierre: (makes appropriate gestures)

Clerk: (confirmatory Japanese speech)

Returning home, I confronted the throne. I pumped. And then there was a squelch. Brown fluid flew. And then the toilet flushed. I may now shit in peace.

WOOT WOOT

MY MOTHER, SISTER, GODMOTHER, AND GRANDPARENTS ARE COMING TO TOKYO IN JULY! WOOT WOOT!

Budget

"I have 6,000 JPY in my wallet. I am going to make sure that it lasts until next Monday".

2 hours later...

"Shit."

Who's at the ATM, huh?

So hard to save in this country.

But Bangkok in 12 days...

Random!

Working Saturday was not as bad as some people made it out to be. I'm a little nervous, though, for a lot of students are used to Claire's way of teaching, and I am not Claire. Also, there's one student who is frankly a bitch.

In any case, after work Eri and I accepted Sei's invitation to go to his area for a few drinks celebrating his friend's birthday. We had no idea where we were going, who we were going to see, and what we would be doing. It took us 90 minutes and 1000 JPY each way on a rickety train as well. But it was all well-worth it: we had a blast revelling in cheap drink with fights breaking out all over. We then played spin-the-bottle like a bunch of high-schoolers.

The next day, Sei took us to the beach. I saw the Pacific Ocean. It was very pretty and massive. The drive there we forgot that we were in Japan. There were cars a-plenty. There was space. And sky. And children. It was like being up north from Montreal, but the signs were written in kana instead. But before that, we went to a restaurant in which food was cheap and plentiful. We were very confused.

After missing the Limited Express, Eri and I get home and change quickly to celebrate her birthday with the rest of the crew in Roppongi. We had Brazillian, thanks to Thomas, and it was an incredible recommendation, with tons of food and a great atmosphere. We then proceeded to walk around randomly, liquor in hand, past Tokyo Tower and through a temple in the dead of night. We finally arrive at a bar at Shimbashi, after I realize that there is not much open by walking the area and succeeding in nothing but being heckled by whores for "masaji" (massage). We ended up later on at Karaoke, because, I mean, what else is there to do at 3 o'clock?

Another one...

There's another cute one in class. He says he has been to Montreal and had made friends over the Internet prior to his arrival. He dresses well and has good hair. He smiles and appeals to my Montreal roots. Lastly, he said he stayed in a hostel but there are only hostels in certain "happy" parts of town, a location traingulated througha series of carefully asked questions.

Further investigation is required. Eigo-sensei out.

Just watch us burn

This weekend was a three-day weekend, thanks to a schedule switch. And not one moment was wasted. Saturday I went to Shinjuku Gyoen, where one may actually risk forgetting that they are in the biggest city in the world even though the world's busiest train station is a hop, skip, and jump that way. After seeing the cherry blossoms there I decided to get lost in the cherry blossoms at Senzokuike. Don't ask me where that is: many people who live here do not know, either.

The havoc started when I met up with Nicky and Eri in Shibuya. After being schooled in how being in the biggest city in the world need not necessitate that you will not run into someone who you have hit on in the past at some random bar, pretend to ignore,but tell your friends, who will in turn stare and catch him staring, and he will in turn tell his friends who will in turn stare back, causing a ping pong of stares which is not comfortable at all, we decided to go to Naka-Meguro on Sei's promise that there will be many more cherry blossoms. We saw a few, but it was quite windy, so we took refuge by trespassing under a shelter in property that was fenced off to the public. After sufficiently inebriating ourselves there, we proceeded to Roppongi where I was made a drink with much alcohol and little juice but tasted like the other way around.

When I woke up the next day I believe I was still under the influence of that drink. After spending an age going to and from because I left my passport behind, we proceeded to the military base where we consumed a magnificent feast, courtesy of Rico who has a wonderful pad and cooks magnificently. I think he actually through a better house party than I can, and seing that I cannot beat him, I said when he needs to throw the next one, I will be more than glad to assist. After the sumptuous repast, we met up with Aaron and got smahed at Nicky's place, where single men and women, gay man and straight man alike all commiserated on how having loved ones afar caused frustration near. Well, perhaps except the gay man, who did not leave anyone behind, is atracted to those near, but alas nothing works out as much as he would like it to.

He presses enter and starts a new paragraph, and promises to use first person singular from here on in.

Sakura

For the next few days the cheryy blossoms will be in bloom. This means many days of walking in parks, sitting under trees, and drinking one's self to shit with shochu. Let the joys commence.

Thursday night, Eri, Rachel, Luke, and i did the same thing, although it was underneath fake trees in her house. What was going to be a civil night at the izakaya rapidly transformed into a night of drnken sin in which I slept in my underwear with four other people on two futons. The morning after was no where near as pleasant.

Pierre

While chatting on gay.com, I was privy to being told about by a complete stranger. Apparently, I have a small penis with tight foreskin, puritanical, defensive, yet exotic, well-spoken, and good looking. I am finding out more about me as we speak from this person who claims to know all about me and then some so that I may proceed forth on my route of self-discovery.

Happy Spring Equinox?

Or so it is in Japan, for it is actually a national holiday! Hurrah!

So yesterday, Eri, Juri, and I transit to Machida after work to Machida to meet up with the rest of the gang. That was after sneaking out from work in plainclothes so no student would see me for it is against policy and transiting a good 90 minutes through three trains. But upon arrival we decided that we'd rather eat on our own instead and call it a night.

Today was a little more interesting, though. We went to Harajuku and went window shopping in the most pretentious of places on Omote-Sando St., reminding me once more why I either want to save, become a professional, or whote myself to the rich and generous. We met up with Tiff and her man at Shinjuku later on, where we had some drinks. Calpis sour, baby. All the way.

Tomorrow, same old routine at work. New surprises? I'll try to see if I can create one!

Ah, just tired

So the weekend was quite long and without sleep. It left a bad taste in my mouth as I went to work on Monday, where on the whole I was just tired and aggravated with everything. I hope I am over it today: today is my half day and then tomorrow is a public holiday so I will be seeing my friends.

But please, no clubbing.

The Weekend

So it was quite the hectic weekend last weekend.

Saturday I met up with Alex in Shinjuku for a jaunt around town. I wanted to go to Shinjuku but instead we decided to go to Yoyogi Park, where we saw things that Tokyo is in desperate limited supply of: trees. After observing various flora - well, it there were mostly only trees - we landed in Harajuku near Meiji shrine where we ended up doling free hugs to those who requested it in English on paper signs. Who's a hug ho... Alex and I intend to actually dispense the free hugs on demand next weekend, and kisses for a hundred yen for select clientele. Wouldn't it be nice to give free hugs, get some kisses, and make some money as well?

After our love fest, we shopped around more in Harajuku, including a few shops on Omote-Sando St, which is tres chic, ma chere, tres chic. We saw many clothes priced outrageously and fashioned poorly, but it was fun to peruse through them nonetheless, and now I know where I can go if ever I need to buy a jogging suit that is a thousand dollars so I can sweat in it. We also made a stop at conveyor belt sushi.

Later on that evening we had all-you-can eat Indian. It is a little jarring to see an Indian woman yammer at you full-speed in Japanese. We all proceeded to gorge our faces with naan and other Inidan delights: it was quite tasty but no where near as good as the Indian place down the street - God, Krystle how I miss going there with you!

After suffering from a bad back from crashing at Chez Eri, we all went to Tsukiji for round 2 of the most glorious sushi you and I have ever had. There was fatty tuna. It's 500 JPY for one piece. It was quite smooth. It all just melted in your mouth!

After doing that, but not before shopping in Ginza just to realize that all shoes there look the same and are priced beyond what anyone should pay for them, we started what would become an evening full of class, charm, and witty banter. Stop #1: cheap standing bar in Shibuya. Who can question 200 JPY for half a pint in Japan, anyway? I would have engaged in many drinks had I not realized that I needed to get my passport for ID. But time was not lost as on the return to Shibuya I nursed a wonderful drink of Baileys, Amaretto, and Vodka and proceeded to get drunk, bitching people via e-mail on the train. Upon my return, I rescue Paul from this questionable Japanese man who kept on trying to put the moves on him. He was not cute at all and thus there is no story to tell.

After providing support for Eri as she spewed outside the establishment, we hopped into a cab to the American military hotel in Roppongi, hence my need for ID. Courtesy of our most gracious friends Rico and Paul, we drank some more in the hotel, went to our rooms, and then continued to talk shit about everything on this side of the planet, inclduing how certain authority firgures are in need of anal. We have no idea how Rico did not wake up at all during this female chatter fest. The next morning, we had breakfast. Real breakfast. With real bacon. And a Grande Machiatto which was fully 16 ounces.

And then I hopped into a taxi for work and got there 5 minutes before twelve. The shit continues.

technorati tags:Ginza, Shinjuku, Yoyogi, hugs, Omote-Sando, Sushi, Tsukiji, Shibuya, Indian

千葉方面 For Chiba

Almost all of the trains in the Greater Tokyo area run extremely frequently, even at ten, eleven, twelve o'clock at night. So just imagine what a short delay causes across the entire network. On the Yamanote, my coworker asked me if I wanted to take a picture. I could not even get to my bag, the train was so packed. The second train I got onto was even worse. There were hundreds of people in one cart. No one was able to move. The slightest bump sent everyone careening.

It could have been worse. We could have been packed into the train by gentlemen with white gloves. I experienced what it's like to be in an extremely packed train. Now I wish it never to happen again.

technorati tags:JR, Train

Meh

So I have just realized that I have spent a little over a month but less than two. Living in Tokyo has become less of a novelty and more of a lifestyle, a lifestyle that I truly do enjoy. Simple things such as going to Costco for groceries, cooking, delivering a good lesson, or chilling with my friends make me happy. Hurrah.

Booze is freaking cheap here, too! I bought 750 ml Smirnoff Vodka, 375 mL Bailey's, and 750 mL Amaretto for only 4,500 JPY. There was like only 200 JPY tax on it, which is actually less than the standard 5%.

God bless this land

technorati tags:Booze

We're online again!

For some reason, I was no longer able to update from my phone, which is really the only time that it is convenient for me to actually do so. However, all is fixed now, so expect updates frequently!

Parties and toilets

Saturday I went to Shiodome,where one can find tall buildings with fine restaurants at the top. It was at this locale where I had my first encounter with an electronic toilet. The seat was heated. I proceeded to do my business. Upon command my derriere was rinsed and dried. There were options for the temperature of the water, whether the stream should be narrow or wide, and whether the areas in the front deserve a rinse as well. The device also had excellent aim. I was shocked and amazed.

After my encounter with the curious loo, I went to my welcoming party. It was a potluck, and some students, already aware of my sweet tooth, brought my favorite Japanese dessert.

After the welcoming party was AgeHa. So much dancing, so many boys, so many gyrating torsos... There were also shows at regular intervals where go-go boys would prance around and find wonderful ways to show everything but their frank and beans. Gah.

The following night I had my second dinner party. There was prosciuto and other meats, a large salad, spaghetti in pesto sauce and prawns, wine galore, and some red bean paste dessert. Yum!

AgeHa

It means butterfly in Japanese. It is also the name of a club off Tokyo. There's a Black Ball tonight, and I will be attending with Damien and Alex. The place has a pool. There will be go-go boys. It takes about 5,000 people on average per night. And I'm only paying 3,500 JPY to attend.

All is good.

Time to get some bhat...

For Golden Week, I am going to Bangkok. I am flying business class. And I am flying there for free! I love Aeroplan!

Tempura, part deux

Yesterday I fried tempura without pyrotechnic incident! Yay!

Work?

Today, being counseling week, I did nothing besides get paid to be a student who wanted to practice teaching Japanese. This girl paid good money to teach me Japanese. And that was all I did. I can get used to this...

The Arcades

It's short for print club - purinto kulubu. And it's wear a bunch of people get into a small photo booth and take zany pictures. Then, you add designs to it with J-pop playing in the background. And then you print them and stick them onto your phone. Now my phone is decorated.
After the puricura, Alex and I played this drum game. I think I have found something better than DDR.

For Nicky's birthday we decided to go to Roppongi. All was good until when we leave the sestaurant that we were eating at, when I realize that I do not have my wallet anymore. I rushed back - only a few seconds had transpired at that point - but it was already gone!
And then I panicked.
I had no money. I had no cards. I could be frauded.
We went to the police box across the street and made a report. I had my Japanese bank card cancelled but reaching the international Visa center was impossible and calling collect to the banks back home was less than obvious.
It was decided that I should go home and call using Skype. I got home and there was a message waiting for me on the phone! My wallet been found! So after getting some sleep to help offset my increasing emotional unstability, I returned to the police box that i made the report, just to be greeted by total, utter and abject indolence. Despite then, with Eri on the phone as translator, I realized it was the restaurant that had my wallet. Phew!
Now I'm on the train to meet Micky and Eri. And I have money. Yay.

Japan of all trades

Today I went to the Don Quixote near my work. Only in Japan can yot find a store that sells booze, Dolce and Gabbana underwear, and razos within one rtore. After that, I wemt to the ATM fop the fist time. Not only do Japanesd ATMs count your money when yot make a deposit, but they will take coins as well.

Food

Last night, pursuant to my realization that I am not eating enough fruits and vegetables, I made myself a killer salad. It was enjoyed with some smoked pepper cheese on a baguette, leftoves from the dinner party I through the night before. It was fun to have people over without having to worry about what a mess my place is and having no place to entertain. Even with a budget it is quite possible to be well-fed.

Today I went to the Ginza. I am now proud to say that I know whese to find 800 dollar umbrellas should I ever feel the loss.

Them young lookin' ones

I just found out that the two students I have slight things for are in fact older than me. In fact, one student, who I thought may be bordering on 20 is 31! My dirty mind can only imagine what they rub on their faces to keep them looking so young! And there'll be plenty more thoughts now!

He's here, too

I was scramblimg out the door when someone calls at the door. This time it was not the mailman trying to yammer at me in Japanese: she actually spoke English. It was a nice, older woman. And she was on a mission from God. She already knew that a foreigner lived within. And she wanted to give me a pamphlet. Christ!

Enoshima

Saturday I took to Tokyo station and the Ginza. I went to the basement of Daimaru, and I swear it was Saks Fifth Avenue meets a grovery store. Some of the finest foods available! There were more French pastries in there than they were in France. I think i shall return there and pick up some trinkets for tonight's dinner party! After that I went to the Ginza. Whoever said New York was the best city on Earth had obviously never been to Tokyo. Hermes here, Gucci there, all so large with styles never seen. And yes, Adrien, I went to the Zara and the selection was unbelievable. Cute employees, too.

So after splurging on some brownies, bagels, and motchi (sp?), I headed over to Machida City for a few drinks with Kerri, Nicky, Eri, Steve, and Mel. I barely had anything to eat that day and so became shitfaced on three beers. The Ginza would have been ashamed.

The next day, after a vile envounter with rancid rice in Nicky's rice cooker, we proceeded to Enoshima. An hour from where I live via countless trains, it's a pretty island that heralds back to older, prettier times where you can actually see the sky and water, thanks to the absence of concrete. It was so pretty!

Dedicated to Tracy

The other day, Claire, the other foreign teacher at my school, told me that a good amount of ous students are quite wealthy. For example, yesterday, I taught gerunds to a real estate mogul. The other day Claire asked everyone to pretend that they were millionaires: one did not have to because he actually was.

That following night, pursuant to Krystle's advice, I decided to take a stab at tempura. The first shrimp burned. The second one I tried to take it out of the oil using a wooden spatula. Luckily, the resulting flame, which reached one meter, was quite ephermeral in nature. The order was quickly changed to shrimp fried rice, and all tempura activities have been suspended until further notice. On a more positive note, I succeeded in getting the rice cooker to work.

First weekend in Tokyo

Saturday Alex and I deciced to go to Ikea to furnish our homes. i lie not when I say that the ikea was the size of a small airport. i bought this really cool lamp that is the size of a small sake bottle that sits on the floor and gives nice ambient lighting, some candles, and other doo-hickeys.

Sunday was a nice, random day. Alex, Nicky, and I met up in Akihabara, the electronic center of Tokyo if not the world. Then we went to Shibuya where we went to a CANADIAN BAR! Just imagine my glee. Yeah, a pint of Guiness was a thousand yen so I wont be going to that place everyday... but it was defintely worth it. Bartender was kinda cute to. So was Kerri's coworker, too.

The train ride home was exciting, mostly because I did not know as to whether I would have the privilege of having one. Unfortunately, JR lines stop running around 1, and then there is no feasible way for anyone to get home. After scrambling and running through Shinjuku, asking two Japanses girls for directions, I manade to get one of the last trains home. Phew!

Settling in

Monday I said goodbye to all my friends that I met in training. It was a sad day, for you would be surprised how close people become after living with each other for ten days straight. But we all have each other's e-mail, and soon we will have each other's number, and as the trainers said: it's only the beginning.

My school is located in downtown Tokyo, at Hamamatsucho Station on the Keihin Tohoku and Yamanote for those who are JR inclined. Located right at the heart of the financial district, I will be teaching many business students, some who are good with people and some who think they own the world. Cute boys will most likely be in remiss.

My first work day was spent settling me into my new apartment. Located just a few minutes from Shimousa-Nakayama on the Sobu, my manager, head teacher, and counselor spent three days furbishing my apartment, making it the wonder that it is now. I have plates, bowls, cutting boards, pots and pans, a TV that I will never use - or at least until my Japanese becomes existent -, a futon with covers, a table, rugs, tissue paper, toilet paper, kitchen cooking tools, cleaning tools and liquids, a washer, detergent, hangers, an iron, plastic drawers, a TV stand, a cactus, and a mirror. And on top of that, she insisted on taking care of initial breakfast for the next day, a calling card, and gave me 3,000 JPY to get started.

Needless to day, I am quite happy to be her employee.

The next day, I got my phone, which can do as much things as my apartment is stocked. Amongst other things it can tell me where I am within Japan. Big Brother is watching.

Only in Tokyo

I gave my first lesson Friday. Everyone was panicking and I was not but apparently I did well because the trainer said that I was ahead of the game. So of course I rewarded myself with beer en masse and yakitori. I swear, it's worth the plane ticket to come here just to have a few skewers after some beer:

IT'S SO GOOD!

The next day we got to a late start on the day, in part because we had a long night ahead of us. We made our second excursion into Shinjuku, which included a venture into Takashimaya, a department that had fashions worth dying or killing for. After that, we went to a Deerhoof concert: Nicky wanted to go before she even set foot on the land of the Nihhon-go and so a few of us were more than happy to oblige. It was not quite my cup of tea but we were more than happy to oblige.

What was my cup of tea was Arty Farty, a gay club in Shinjuku 2-chome - the gay district - that we went to after. Almost as small as my apartment - and allow me to remind you, gentle reader, that I live in Japan, where mostly everything is small -, the place was tighter than a virgin. Oddly enough: I found myself readily dancing with strangers and getting someone's number.

Highly unusual behavior, for those of you who know me. But refreshingly so.

Quickie

So here's a quick update.

The day before yesterday we had conveyor belt sushi in which each plate cost 100 yen. It was very tasty and I had something that had the consistency of congealed snot. It tasted heavily of cilantro. We had inordinate amounts of alcohol and went to sleep at three. The awakening the next day was most rude.

Said day after training we went to Shinjuku. New York does not hold a candle to that place and I really look forward to goin back very son. We're supposed to leave for tokyo early Saturday and then go to to a concert and then dance and then have sushi in Tsukiji.

I know I have been horrible with the pictures. I won't figure out the HTML so you can see them here but if you go to www.flickr.com/photos/retirementparty you may see many of them.

Day 1

Day 1

On the training package, they told us in order to help us with jet lag, training would be starting at ten that day. Exactly how flippant does that sound, to tell some poor soul who has been put through the ringer, that they would be foisted onto training a few short hours upon arrival? I understood this when I woke up at five in the morning.

Training was not so bad but not so wonderful so not worthy of me expatiating over.

Lunch was experience number one. There will be photos to demonstrate. I bought a bento of soba with some sauce… and a quail egg. It was the reason why I bought it, and for 230 JPY, who can complain. Under the supervision of Alex, Sylvia, Nikky, and Elton, I prepared gently cracked open the egg, mixed the contents thereof in the sauce and started pouring it over the soba…

NO!

Screamed Sylvia, Nikky, and Elton.

AAAAH!

Screamed I, like a girl.

Apparently, you are not supposed to pour the sauce over the soba. Rather, you are supposed to dip the soba in the sauce, as I was told quite violently, all three of the aforementioned, in stereotypical slow motion, rose and held up their hands.

You live, you learn.

Training continued. I am already jaded to it.

After that, we wasted no time in getting ready to check out what Omiya has to offer. After much deliberation and indecisiveness we decided to go to karaoke and then to an izakaya (pub).

All-you-cab-drink, 1200 JPY.

Do the math to figure out how much I drank.

すみません! Sumimasen! That’s how we heckled the poor waitress as we kept on ordering booze without cease. There was beer chugging contests. We had sake. We had much. Slightly inebriated, yakitori had an almost sexual quality to it as a hewed many a stick into my mouth. I don’t think it’s possible to get drunk so cheap even if one pre-drank at home first. It was a glorious evening.

YUL-NRT

It seems that I know longer know who I am or where I am going. Well, I’m heading to Japan to teach English… but beyond that I do not know what else is going on or what to expect… People have been saying that I should be so excited, but over what? Hell if I know what’s going to happen…

Maybe it’s the sleep deprivation talking. Tuesday night I did not sleep very much, Wednesday night I did not sleep at all, and it’s currently Thursday night now, where I have managed to grab only a few winks of sleep on the flight to Detroit. On the other hand, the flight to Tokyo is not as torturous as I thought, and with a little less than ninety minutes left, the end is near.

So my departure for Tokyo may have not went as I have planned: I could have been a little more prepared and hence a little more rested. But it all worked out for the best, even though for a few moments my psychological state may have deserved the attention of a professional.

Wednesday was my last day at work, saying goodbye to all of my coworkers, some who have become friends, mentors, and confidants was a little harder than I imagined it would have been. It’s very hard to embrace the beginning of a new chapter in my life when I have barely concluded the old on: one day I’m a credit counselor for the CIBC, the next I’m flying nine-thousand miles that way, and the next I’ll be training to be an English language instructor.

(wishes he can hit the pause button right now)

So after work Catherine and I proceed to Starbucks Fauboug to meet up with Linda and Liane, until I realize that I did pick up my alterations and I have no idea when the shop closes, causing me to run like hell in shoes bought the day before that were causing me blisters because they have yet to be broken into. Thankfully, the shop was still open, or I would have not had one complete suit to take to Japan.

So I get back to Starbucks, where Liane and Linda have been waiting for me for almost an hour, finding themselves looking after Catherine all of a sudden as I suddenly reverse course without saying why… and that’s when I realized that when my mother picked up my laptop for repair that the repair place forgot to include my charger. Being six o’clock, it was too late to buy one from a place who would actually carry one, yet I would need one within the next fourteen hours before I depart.

That panic was a little more long-lived. But without going into technical specifics Adrien saved my life, Powerbook, and capacity to expatiate incoherently on a plane and so Adrien, kisses, many kisses.

After saying goodbye to Linda and Liane, I meet up with Ryan, who took me out to Gibby’s in the Old Port for a farewell dinner. And I was happy because while my whole world was spinning out of control, at least I was able to have a marvelous dinner with one of my best friends. He gave me a going-away card, outdoing himself yet again in his ingenuity: I’ll try to take pictures and have them uploaded in due time. I’m still kinda stuffed from that dinner, but it all works out because I barely ate today.

After that, we went to the Java U Lounge, where Adrien, Liz, Sonia, and Linda joined us for a final drink goodbye. We stayed a little longer than I may have planned, and before I even debated as to whether I had the time to actually go for drinks, but I realized that work would have been no place to say goodbye to the girls, and thankfully Adrien was able to make it despite receiving no notice whatsoever. To all of you who were there: I could have not imagined a better way of leaving the country. I better be greeted in the same fashion when I return!

After that Ryan and I went chez moi because alas I had to pack and one-thirty in the morning seemed to be the ideal time to do so. I invited Efie to come by, and we all had a few last laughs over porn and YouTube as I packed. Ryan, you need to leave a link in the form of a comment to the two videos we howled over. It became a little stressful towards the end, as I realized that the time for me to stop packing and actually get ready to go was drawing nigh: I realized that I can continue to prepare forever but eventually I must actually close the bags, ready or not.

And then the goodbyes started. Said goodbye to Ryan at home: he would have came but he’s terribly afraid or airplanes and everything related to them. Krystle and Tracy came to the airport to say goodbye as well. Krystle got me my first sushi plate set for my new home and a guide to how to make it: we laughed over how doubtful it would be that I actually make some. I guess I have a year to practice. She also gave me a tie to go with my suits. Tracy gave me a set of DVDs to keep me entertained: so appreciated as they will help keep me entertained during the days in which I do not have Internet. My godparents, Marcelo, my mother, and Catherine were also hard at the airport. I will miss all of them, but I will especially miss Catherine, the one who kept me going if nothing else did.

Checking-in and going through security was not a problem. I managed to sleep a few winks on the flight from Montreal to Detroit. Called a few people at the airport on Skype: got a little emotional on a few of the calls. Got on the plane for Tokyo: for a thirteen-hour flight it was not so bad at all, despite the little horror that kept on kicking the back of my seat. Catherine was never so uncouth as a child.

And then I arrived in Japan. Went through customs, and met up finally with the AEON training group. I would say that they looked like and interesting group of people if I did not see them for all of two seconds: immediately they were whisked off on a train while I was told to wait alone in the airport and someone will be with me shortly. HUH?

Slowly but surely I was met up with someone from AEON, and after waiting for one more teacher, I take my first train ride to the training center in Omiya, going from Narita Airport to Nippori to Omiya. Japan has the train system down to an exact science: the train ride was incredibly smooth, fast, and efficient. We got to the training center, and that was that for almost a seventy-hour day. Snore.

Over my head...

Don't worry, I am still going to Tokyo Thursday...

I was freaking out in the car this morning. What the hell? I'm leaving the country this week! This ain't supposed to happen, this was only supposed to happen in the future, not now! The whole me-going-to-Japan thing was only an idea, an idea designed to get some attention, people to love me, and perhaps a few parties in my name! I mean, I'm not actually supposed to go, am I?

It was also hard when we were all at the table and someone thought Tracy was crying. And then she actually started crying. And then I started crying. And then Tita Le started crying.

I feel like crying now.

It's because of such that I can't talk about my leaving for too long: it upsets me and those around me. I can't live in the future because there is so little present left.

Welcome

There are a few very sweet people out there. They work at the AEON Hamamatso-cho school, the school where I will be working at in a few days. They go by the names of Claire, Emi, Stuart, Hiromi, Aya, and Arata.

In the mail I received a season's greetings and welcome card from them. I almost started tearing up, such unexpected sweetness and warmth from people who I haven't even met yet. I really do look forward to meeting them all.

Resolution 2007

It was so magical.

Linda and I arrived there at 12:30 in the AM. I danced until 11 AM the next day. After just half an hour Linda and I both agreed that it was way better than Black and Blue '06. Victor Calderone was all that I wanted him to be an more. Max Graham unexpectedly gave perhaps one of the best sets ever, delivering bass-lines I did not even know were possible. DJ Tiesto got there three hours late, being the superstar DJ he is. He started off kinda slow but built it up slowly but steadily: at the end I have never danced so hard in my life.

I look back upon those ten-and-a-half hours and want to cry. The experience was surreal: nothing but beauty existed, words can't express how wonderful it was. Linda, you are amazing: you get off a plane and hours later without even napping you are good to go. You are the ultimate party animal! Efie, through good fortune we realize we are both going and I am so happy I was able to the experience with you!