I lived a lot in the last week. Here are the pictures.
Wednesday was a holiday (Culture Day). So to get things started off right, I went to my local to meet a friend (Keiran from Gisborne, NZ - we met at the Yaizu Kattaa boat race). We had a couple of drinks, found the guitar, and did some live karaoke. The folks gave us a courtesy-clap, but we had fun.
Next day, he and I went to Diadogei - the International Busker World Cup - in Shizuoka. I saw many different acts from all over (Oz, USA, Germany, France, Spain, Russia, Japan) and most were quality. I saw the yo-yo world champion and he was god. Absolutely god. There were stilt walkers that did target practice (fire breathing target practice), crazy acrobats, good slight-of-hand magicians, and good performance artists (a great clown, and a lovely pantamime story).
Then, the weekend took my to Kyoto - said to be Japan’s cultural capital. And it certainly reflected in how many people were walking around with the Lonely Planet: Japan. But, despite the tourists (it’s funny how quickly you can spot a Westerner who hasn’t been in Japan for more than a month - even as arrogant as that sounds), I had a great time with the Commonwealth Crew (Aroop, Nick, Peter - UK, UK, Oz).
Friday night, we ate just west of Gion, at a traditional Korean restaurant, and then went to bed. Saturday was a guantlet. We hired bikes and toured the east part of Old Kyoto. We saw the Silver temple (Ginkakuji), the Eikando temple, the 1000 Buddha temple (Sanjusangendo), and Kiyomizudera before wandering around Gion. We tried a few restaurants, but we were told we couldn’t afford it (a polite way of saying we were out of dress code - we are certainly well enough paid to afford the once-a-year US$150 meal). So we headed back to west Gion and at a great Indian place.
Bike riding was so fun - we went everywhere. Each of us had bells on our bike, and we composed a simple tune on the bells and rang it whenever we passed by large groups. We had tourists, cool Jpop guys, and locals chuckling at our silly song. Each temple is slightly different (which is to say that they’re mostly the same), and the gardens are spectacular - especially after not seeing large green areas for the last 3 months. Absolutely peaceful.
Sunday, we breakfasted on udon noodles (one of Kyoto’s famous foods) and went to Nijo Castle, the Golden Temple (Kinkakuji), and the Ryoanji zen garden. The zen garden was quiet and the other landscape gardens used much moss. I don’t see moss that often, and I loved it. So green, soft, quiet, and everywhere. It’s like snow but in warm weather. Dinner was at Bikkuri Donkii - or Surprise Donkey. It’s a hamburger steak restaurant, even more poorly decorated than Ruby Tuesday’s. I had a hamburger steak with gnochhi and cream sauce on top. Curious, and really good.
My trip to Kyoto taught me to believe the Japanese assertion of what a place is famous for. When I say I’m going to some place, they say that Xxxx spot is good for xxxx food. I thot they were simply tyring to make conversation, but they’re right. Shizuoka is famous for green tea, and the green tea I had over in Kyoto was terrible. I’ve been ruined for tea! And fish as well, considering that Yaizu has the best fish in Japan. Crazy. Now I need to a famous spot for beer. Ah, yes! The Sapporo snow festival in February. Perfect.
Daily genki is daily indeed. During the trip in Kyoto I was excited about seeing new places and loved the jazz bar we went to. Oh yeah! The jazz bar - think a small hole in the wall and this wall is in the basement. So we went there, and an amazing woman was playing all sorts of bluesy songs, as well as some classics. I ate it up, and it made feel like I was somewhere very familar (perhaps Denver, or Melbourne, or ChCh) and I felt like I was at home. It was a tremendously romantic place and that made me happy and lonely at the same time.
And so this is why my daily energy is up and down. Oh, the throes of culture shock. A constant feeling of disconnectedness. A good way to describe it would be a fish in a small glass aquarium in a bigger aquariam.
Upon hearing from Sarah and her energetic time in Africa, I noticed how cynical or despondant I had become. Things aren’t really shiny anymore, and it feels like the international community is about to fall apart. I see no silver linings for the US or Iraq or many other places.
At the same time in Kyoto, I was feeling a bit off. i wanna say that it’s because I’ve done the sight seeing thing so much that I’m over it, or sick of it, or desensitized to it. I dunno. I think I just need a more stable social network. The lads are great, but we haven’t really connected yet (or at least I don’t feel connected yet). It’s definately partially my fault - those silly walls and great small talk aptitude. Uf.
And today we had a meeting for the English curriculum next year. Things are changing and I’m happy to help plan. I’m undcided yet as to whether or not I’m staying on another year. (This emotional limbo can only go so low, right?) But, the vice-principle said at the end of the meeting that I was one of their best ALTs. After he had hinted that I complete the re-contracting form. So who knows. I wouldn’t mind staying on, but I’m worried about growing too comfortable with the easy life (ample cash to travel, a trump card to not fully integrate into society - the big ticket of reservation for me, a simple low-stress job, not really needing to plan for the future). I mean, it’s a selfish experience. I don’t volunteer or anything like that. Uf.
K, this has got end some time, so now’s a good a time as any. Later