Merry Christmas!

I received a scanner for Christmas, so I am now able to share with you this picture...


That is one sneaky looking Santa.

a neeeeew caaaaaar! (to me)

The fanciest car I've ever had (not that it had much competition): 2003 ice blue hyundai accent. I didn't ask for the spoiler and tinted windows, but now that I realize how super fast they allow me to travel, I couldn't do without them.

In case anyone was wondering, I have not been in Vienna since August, despite the appearance of this site. I have finally uploaded all my trip photos, not because anyone’s still reading, but for a sense of closure. So if you happen upon this page and desire to see endless pictures of buildings and bodies of water interspersed with plates of food and a couple cows, check out the link.

If you’re looking to hear about new adventures, those are on hold at the moment, so please come back at a later date. If I wrote now I would be limited to stories of chasing raccoons off the deck and driving to the grocery store.

Until then, I think I’ll post the occasional photo, in order to amuse myself.

The Symphony
I've decided to live in Czesky Krumlov. I'm sure no more perfect place exists. Please come visit me. We'll have this for breakfast.And I'll defend you from bears.

Vienna highlights

Spacey airport in Abu Dhabi...
So that I don´t want to spend a fortune at internet cafes, I´ll try and post some highlights from each place... Apple Strudel!
Klimt and Schiele in every museum!
Nice buildings!

Tonight we´re off to watch the opera on a screen outside surrounded by a food festival. Tomorrow is Czesky Krumlov...

There you have it! As you can see, after a few hectic and sleepless days, I have officially left Japan. I arrived in Taipei at 9:30 this morning, and will depart for Vienna at 9:30 pm. I was planning on leaving the airport to do some sightseeing, but since it takes a while to get to the city, and because I could hardly see straight when I got here, I decided to park it at the airport. Woo! Actually I think it's just what I needed. The airport is quiet and comfortable and has some nice cafes. Not to mention free internet! And the most gloriously smooth rolly carts I have ever experienced, in all my travels. I can hang on to it with only my pinky finger and it dances along beside me.

So it's too bad I don't get to see Taiwan, but I've learned many things about it just from spending time in the airport. For example, they enjoy tea and Bon Jovi. (I got to listen to his greatest hits while I napped on some chairs.)

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to post anything else from the last month of action in Japan. It's a shame too, because it was a good month. An overwhelming one, but a good one.

I will try to put up some pictures once in a while from the road when I have the chance, though posts may be sparse. For the record, here's a brief itinerary:

Vienna, Prague, Teplice, Krakow, Tatras Mountains, Bratislava, Budapest, Croatia, Slovenia, Scotland, Italy, New York, HOME.

I feel like the luckiest person on the planet right now.

Leave me comments. It will make me happy.

Ciao!

I will try to post a smattering of photos of the events of the Last Days. It will probably be random and unsatisfying. Random end of days event number one:

KIMONO WEARING!!

My favorite ladies decided they wanted to play dress up and took me to a photo studio to get these pictures, usually intended to be used as arranged marriage promo photos. Fingers crossed!

This is the one that's supposed to score me a mate.

Or perhaps this one? Check out the umbrella wielding prowess, fellas!

I was carefully put into place and told to freeze.

Half the preparation time was alotted to getting my hair into this pseudo-beehive. The hair ladies spend the entire hour wondering loudly to each other why a foreigner was planning to get outfitted in a kimono. Notice Tomiko peeking in the corner.

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Next came the several layers of undergarments

Tomiko wrestles me into my kimono. Her massive skills are evident in this impressive bow.

I had a marriage offer by cellphone as soon as I was suited up.

My Laydeez. They put me in front so my head looks gigantic. Guys like big heads, right?

This is it. It’s 12:06 am, July 16th, and after two years, I’m leaving Japan in ten days.

It’s hitting like they said culture shock would but never did. Dizzy waves of awe and confusion and excitement and sadness and resignation punch me in the face at unexpected intervals.

I find it dangerous to use such numbering systems; if I had counted out the last 100 days, each would have been spent mourning what was to come without experiencing every day. I'll try to remember this as I enjoy these last ones with the people who have meant so much to me for the most recent significant chunk of my life.

I can’t summarize what it feels like to be leaving this life. But it was good. Ahhh, it was good.

“I rabu him, I rabu him, I rabu him, and weah he goes I forrow, I forrow, I forrow…”

Before I came to Japan, I figured that I would encounter some study of calligraphy. Maybe a little tea ceremony. I might even learn a traditional instrument or become a ninja.

I did not think I would join a gospel choir.

Gospel music seems to be gaining popularity in Japan, although I use the term “gospel” quite loosely. In the case of my choir it is defined as: “Any song performed in Sister Act I or II, or perhaps another movie with nuns (Sound of Music).” Or by Ken Hirai. (The most soulful singer in the country. And by soulful I mean soul crushingly bland). In two years we exhausted the Sister Act Catalogue, and so were forced to look elsewhere. I remember struggling with the question, “Which is more gospel, ‘Climb Every Mountain,’ or ‘My Way?’” I had trouble linking Frank Sinatra in any way to gospel music, so I went with the nuns.

Even if it hadn’t been for the soundtrack, I would have felt like I was living the Japanese version of the movie, featuring half tone deaf rhythm-less housewives rather than church ladies. Complete with the batty soprano who seems to sing three octaves above anyone else and the alto who loudly steamrollers over the music. Instead of Whoopi, we have a showboat of a too tight pants wearing choir leader who believes that we are only there to be her backup singers, so she gives herself solos on nearly every song, and lets us carry on with our business without the mildest suggestion.

Last weekend’s concert was the culmination of months of practice, and I was not disappointed. It was two hours of pure comedy. It’s difficult to describe the humor of a group of people so thoroughly missing the mark of gospel music, but I nearly peed myself laughing during some portions.

The high point was probably the featured high school soloist for “Oh Happy Day.” You remember the movie. The kid starts out dejected and meek and pathetic. She nailed this. But then, with Whoopi by his side, movie kid throws off his robe and goes all crazy good running up and down the scales. Instead, high school girl instantly awed us with her horrible-ness. Standing behind her with the choir, I had the best seat in the house, since I was able to witness the various levels of masked horror in the audience. “Do you think she’s terminally ill, and they’ve been forced to let her sing?” one man (probably) asked.

Then there was the “hip hop” dance routine featuring some other high schoolers set to a pitiful rendition of “Oh Champs Elysees,” which I can’t even get into. Two more ill-fitting elements I have never seen.

All that being said, I have thoroughly enjoyed spending time with these delightful people, and as I watch crazy soprano’s joyful face as she sings, I know they are fulfilled by this strange brand of gospel music they have created. For which I have nothing but admiration.

The only time we ever all clapped at the same time, and it was caught on film! Hallelujah.

(The only photos I have are the blurry prints from when the newpaper came to interview us, hence these artsy shots including my fingers.)

Crazy Soprano is second from the right in the front row. Can't you just feel her explosive happiness?

So much to update! Too bad my computer can't take the heat that's sneaking up on Japan, and any time I ask it to do anything remotely strenuous, like post pictures or watch Daily Show clips, the fan starts whirring a million miles an hour, and then I hear

BEEEEEEP.....BEEEEEP.....BEEEEP...... (as in, this computer will self destruct into tiny shards in 3...2...1...)

I've thought about putting it in the freezer. Unwise? Help me out computer folk.

In addition to my ninja skills, I also recently learned the art of rice planting. The season has come when the fields are flooded, making temporary oceans in the hills. One of my favorite sights in Japan.
The flooding is not to help the rice grow (rice can grow in anything), but to keep other non-rice vegetation from growing. Farmer Guy explains the proper way to shove seeds in the mud. Try and find Keitorin sensei at the back of the pack...
This back breaking work is best left to children.
I even made the Fukui newspaper! "Foreign labor threatens Japanese farmers..." Or something like that.

Krazy Kar Rally

Fact: if you stay in Japan long enough, you will become a ninja.

It happened to us last month when we attacked the south of Fukui for a second time, this time more successfully than we did as pirates. (Evidence for ninjas in the controversial "if pirates and ninjas fought, who would win" debate.)

This time around, our method was slow determination and thoroughness. And though we were the last team to reach the finish line, we... DUH DUH DUHHHHH.... won the trophy! That's right! The glory is ours! Ninjas forever!!!

Team Ninja. We decided to adopt Spice Girl-like titles, so here we have: Red Ninja, Fashion Ninja, Katsudon Ninja, Craft Ninja, Snow Ninja, and Gentleman Ninja. We're dorks.

The original gang. Note the plus two-ness of above team. Yuki's driving skills and Hudson's... redness... certainly helped lead us to victory.

Hudson battles Chris with his homemade nunchucks. Chris tries to intimidate Hudson with his homemade... nevermind.

A rare photo of Craft Ninja before I escape back into the shadows.

The A-Team.
Bag of flour baby, a required participant in all rally photos, even the ones involving swimming.

Natto challenge. Piece o'cake. Yoga Ninja.
Probably my favorite team costume. The Super Captains of the Universe, or something like that.

Power Rangers at the conbini.

Victory!