Late Night Surprise

I drove home very late (early?) this morning, leaving my friend's apartment around 3:30. Though he graciously offered me a spot to crash, I preferred to get back and wake up early, getting some things done at my place before the day gets too hot.

As I sat down to eventually turn my computer off, I couldn't help but hear something that sounded like a critter munching on something. Thinking it might have been a dog (or worse!) that had dug into my compost pile, I took a look. And I was amazed to see a bat hanging in the tree just outside my doors.

He was chomping on whatever type of fruit grows in whatever type of tree that I have yet to decided to eliminate or not. He had a furry head of white hair, and his wingspan was easily 2.5 to 3 feet. I was going to try and snap a dark shot of him, but as I was creeping to get my camera, I bumped the mouse, illuminating the screen of the computer that was in standby, and he flew away. I'm not sure if the events are related (bats don't see well, right?), but it was still cool enough to have watched him for those few moments.

Another one

Earthquake.

Tuesday, 16:47 JST

More info can be found here.

Was stronger than the quake last year, and I was at school, which made a difference in that it became quite the buzz for a while. Nothing serious, just shaking and rattling, though this one seemed to have two distinct stages: weak, and stronger. When the strength changed, just for a minute I thought, "Uh oh, I hope this isn't a pattern."

30 seconds maybe. Over and done with. Is it normal to feel this way?

硫黄島からの手紙

It is not often that I watch a movie that very deeply moves me.

And so I was surprised tonight when watching "Letters from Iwo Jima" to be terribly saddened by the history it was portraying - of men forced from their homes, their wives and children and family, to be put into a position often resulting only in death; of men shooting each other for no reason other than having been told to do so; of men with nothing but the hope of survival.

I can't even imagine what it must have been like. I can only be glad that nobody I've ever known has had to endure a situation like that.

I Wonder as I Wander

[Uta no Hi: Sunset at the Begin Concert, Nishihara]

I remember singing this song (though being most impressed with Chanticleer's version of it) when I was younger. The lyrics I barely remember; if I took the time to look them up, I might lose interest in typing, so just bear with me and pretend I know what I'm talking about.

I'm pretty sure the song has a religious connotation, but again, I'm not sure. The title strikes me the most, however.

Eleven months have passed since I came to Japan last year. In that time, I have met amazing people, spilled my heart and feelings to some of them, made connections that will never be broken - stretched as some may already be through time and distance - and put myself to the task of learning to speak and understand Japanese as a Japanese. I was so determined to come on JET a while back, that I never took the time to imagine what I wanted to do next.

Just today, as I was sitting with friends, chatting about time spent in Japan, time yet to be spent here by some, and the upcoming departure of others, I thought, "What's next?" The simple answer is "another year in Okinawa, duh." And so I settled down for a minute. Then my brain did what it always does: it jumped ahead and asked, "And after that?"

There was no answer. There is no answer. I have no idea what I want to do with my life. If you ask me (please don't, I already have, see?) what I want to do after JET, I'd say, "Be happy, healthy, and in love. With a stringed musical instrument in my hands." Great answers, yeah?, and there's not much more I desire. Practically, some money has to be made and saved to some extent, but the money doesn't make life more valuable. It helps to make things available, and then perhaps interesting and entertaining, but haven't most of us had those moments where just by lying around and doing nothing, the best of the best just springs forth spontaneously? Or by teaching Elementary school children - they are the most amazing people sometimes. I don't remember ever having bought a laugh. I don't remember ever having bought a memory. And I've certainly never bought any of the feelings that well inside of me and bring me happiness, misery, or contentment.

And so I was wondering today, what next? I need to shorten the time-line, say perhaps to this week, or tomorrow. Or even just a few hours from now. You wanna know what it is I'm thinking about? I'll give you this miserable hint: _ _ _/_ _ _ _/_ (think I) _ _ _ _

PS - It's a happy thought, in case you read this post wrong. And no, it's not the upcoming Kanken.

Last Minute Notices

I purchased a ticket to a concert that starts at 1:00 this Saturday. The ticket cost me 3,800 yen.

I got a phone call from my supervisor yesterday (Thursday). My next week's school changed their schedule and the event that was to be held on a normal Monday, will now be held on this Saturday. My supervisor told me I had to go. Meaning I can't go to the concert. Meaning 3,800 yen went to a pretty piece of paper.

There is a systemic problem in my village (and some other ALTs complain of a similar situation in other towns and cities) where I am poorly informed of events both voluntary and mandatory. Poorly, meaning eventually, but at such a last minute, that any plans I had made previously have to be changed drastically or dumped or I just don't go to the (voluntary) village functions. One such example was two weeks ago when I was to fly to Tokyo to meet some friends. Two weeks after I book the tickets (for a weekend trip), I'm told I'm needed to be an MC for a speech contest (they found a replacement).

I've brought this problem up with all the people I work with, but the only way I can see to get any real change started is to put it on the agenda of the next village English meeting (principals, teachers, and boss). I have a feeling if I started popping last minute news on my schools, the earth would explode.