Far From home

Nyuzen Student Delegation in Forest Grove

2008-11-20T15:34:00.015+09:00

About two weeks ago some students, a city delegate and an English teacher from the town of Nyuzen, Toyama-ken in Japan visited Forest Grove in Oregon. Forest Grove and Nyuzen are sister cities and students and officials often participate in exchanges for language study, experience of foreign life and foreign relations.

I couldn't wait to see some of my students again after almost a year! I had taught in five schools which covered every area of Nyuzen so I was sure to know most of them. I was also interested to see how they would react to being in the U.S. since many of my students were often shy about using their English.

I was to meet the delegation on Friday the 31st, Halloween. When I was in Nyuzen I would ask the students who had gone to Forest Grove what their favorite part of their trip was. The resounding answer was 'trick-or-treating.' What could be more fun than walking through a street in a foreign country where everyone gives you candy for saying a seemingly magic phrase???

Very little.

I was told I would be helping translate for the day but without much details. I speak Japanese, but poorly at best since leaving. Thinking the occassion would be casual, I dressed in slacks with a sweater which I thought would have be safe. I arrived and was told I would be the official translator for the Nyuzen city official. I found a respectable man dressed in a black suit who spoke little English. To make matters worse, we were to tour the Police Department, Power Dept, Parks and Rec dept, Waterworks, Library and Fire dept and to top it all off, have lunch with the mayor. There's only one thing you can do in a situation such as this... and I'm still trying to figure out what.

To make matter worse, I ran into traffic coming up to to Forest Grove that morning. The first stop for the delegate was the Police department. Since neither could really communicate without me, the police took liberty and had the official shoot a gun at the firing range. Now, I can't think of many things that embody America's image in the eyes of the world as being able to easily obtain a firearm. In fact, Japanese tourists will often pay top-dollar to be able to shoot a weapon in the US. So, this may have been the highlight of this man's exchange experience and I didn't have to translate anything!

Most of the remainder of the day was probably not nearly as exciting for the delegate, although for me it was very interesting trying to figure out how to explain in Japanese how a domestic power breaker works or how water is purified into a drinkable state for the city.

At the end of the day we were able to meet with my students. They had been visiting the Forest Grove schools with their host families. Their clothing and mannerisms were very distinctly Japanese, which, when in juxtapposition to Americans', struck me as interesting. We spoke in some English, some Japanese but it felt as though I was back in Japan.

The fire department had brought out their fire engine for the students to see and were giving rides up the ladder/lift. The head fireman was also feeling a bit outdone by the police dept allowing the delegate to fire a gun so they turned on the fire hose and allowed everyone to shoot it.

Finally, the students took a tour through the city to see what trick-or-treating is like. The shops offer candy for the kids on Halloween and so the Japanese students were able, while equipped with the words, "trick-or-treat," to obtain bags of sweets and other goodies. The girls loved the little children in costumes and there was no end to the '可愛い!' or kawaii, which means cute.

After we had returned to the townhall, we departed. It wasn't the last time I would see them however. I met them one final time at the airport and bade them farewell. I wanted to show them much more of my home but was content with being able to just see my friends again. Thanks for visiting Oregon!

またね!

By Popular Demand...

2008-10-04T15:08:00.008+09:00

My new bike, a Scott Cyclocross Comp...

...And me with the bike

Eat your heart out!

Pamelia Lake, Cheesy Poofs and Bears!

2008-10-04T14:01:00.014+09:00

All of these things are good by themselves but even better when encountered together, which is exactly what happened last weekend.

Check out these pictures from our hike into the Jefferson wilderness and along the Pacific Crest Trail! My friends and I want to complete a good part of this in segments over the next 50 years, give or take a few, so this was good practice.

Part of the 2.3 mile hike to Pamelia Lake.

A very intimidating rock near Hanks Lake. A couple of annoying switchbacks to the top and a hour and half later...

Hunts Lake?

Some of the fall colors contrasting with the surrounding evergreens.

Jefferson at Dusk...

...and Pamelia Lake at Dawn.

If you're wondering where the bear came in, we happened to hear it [roaring] as we were packing up in the morning. It was about a mile away but kept getting closer and closer. It was like something out of a horror film, hearing but never seeing the approaching monster in the woods who thinks you or your dog would make a nice snack. Luckily I brought my whistle:P Perhaps one of the greater relizations I had was that it would have been nice to have an enclosed tent rather than a tarp!

Whaaa happen?

2008-09-08T16:21:00.005+09:00

This may or may not come as a surprise to some of you, but I haven't blogged in a long time. So, this is my attempt at a jump-start. What I'm looking for is support. If you read this, let me know! It'll help me become motivated again.

In other news, I bought a bike! I am trying to cut down on driving and I'm hoping I can commute around my town with it whilst exercising. At 22 pounds, aluminum frame, carbon fork and aggresive tread and brakes, this Scott cyclocross doesn't take smack from no road! Unless it's bumpy.

I've never used clip-in pedals before and the day after I brought the bike home I came to a stop and had forgotten to unclip which caused me to fall over. Flustered, I quickly picked up the bike and stood up to see a couple people driving by and probably laughing at me. I'm pretty sure they were just jealous.

Tel Aviv Customs

2008-01-18T16:04:00.000+09:00

Being a single, male, somewhat well-traveled back-packer of Asian appearance in the Middle East, I can understand why I would bring attention to myself in the airport. I had no idea how much however.

I arrived at the Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv about 2 1/2 hours before departure knowing I might need it. I had a large hiking backpack and a small carry-on bag. I found my check-in area and was immediately taken aside for questioning. As the customs agent and her trainee looked over my passport I could see the red lights begin to flash over the former's face. "Here we go," I thought. "You've been to Egypt? What did you do there? Why were you in Jordan? Did you meet any people in Israel? You spent a lot of time in Galilee, what were you doing? When was the last time you were home? 1 1/2 years?? Why so long?" My story was rather complex which only complicated the interrogation. I didn't want to give away the fact I'd worked on an organic farm because I'm pretty sure "organic" is just an synonym for "terrorism" to the agents. Anyway, I was slightly amused by the whole affair considering I had [little] to hide.

Next, I was taken aside and both my bags and their entire contents were searched and inspected for chemical residue. This was very unamusing. In fact, I was quite vexed because I had spent an hour packing to get it just right. They spared nothing however. It was sheer ruthlessness. They scanned all of the electronics I was carrying and made me take out all my clothes, rain gear, presents, etc.

Then, as if I hadn't been completely violated, they took me into a separate room and had me take off my shoes, my neck wallet, my watch, and scanned these items. Then they patted me down; they went so far as to feel the cuffs of my sleeves and pants!

When I returned to my bag, its contents spilled carelessly around the inspection desk, I took my time repacking. I could hear the customs agent sighing in frustration which made me feel better. The whole process took about two hours. I knew I wasn't missing my plane so I couldn't be too upset but repacking my bag was annoying. When I was cleared, the check-in counter had closed and the agents took care of it. Then they took me through most of the checkpoints to get me to my plane. That was nice of them.

When I stepped on the plane, I felt like I was on the Fiesta deck of some giant cruise ship. There were kids yelling and people talking loudly. "Great," I thought. It gave me great reassurance to know I had my MP3 player. As I pulled it out and tried to turn it on, the screen stayed black. When I tried to turn it off, no luck either. It was broken. Just what I needed.

When we landed, people were clapping. If I ever wonder why I have a disposition for disliking transit in traveling, that day was all the reassurance I need!

2007-12-07T03:34:00.000+09:00

The Old City

2007-12-05T01:04:00.001+09:00

Jerusalem! I've dreamt of walking through the city gates of this city for 6 years, and now I'm here! To explain everything in detail is impossible so I'll highlight a few of the main events over the past several days of my time here. In a different post.

Bethlehem, West Bank

Byzantine chapel, bethlehem

Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem

West Bank wall

Byzantine chapel, Bethlehem

Lutheran church, Old City
Dome of the Rock, from the Lutheran church tower

Haredi Jews
Herod's Gate, Old City
Yad Veshem, Holocaust memorial

I found a job!
Approximately 2000 year old olive tree, Garden of Olives
Church of All Nations, Jerusalem
David's Tower, old city

Jewish Graveyard, Jerusalem

Mary's Tomb, Mt. Zion, Jerusalem

Arab Market, Old City
The Western Wall

Via Dolorosa, The path of the Passion, Old City

David's City

Muslim holy day, Old City

where a seal bearing a name from the Bible was discovered, David's City, Jerusalem

Outer wall, Old City

The Holy Sepulchre, Old City

Via Dolorosa

Dome of the Rock

Where the Romans scourged Jesus, Via Dolorosa

From my dorm room, two streets from the Via Dolorosa!

Lake Galilee

2007-12-05T00:42:00.001+09:00

I did a 50 kilometer ride on mountain bike around the historical sea of Galilee. It was a beautiful day and the ride was gentle. It made for a great alternative to a tourist group. Plus, I could stop where I wanted and spend as much time as I needed. The ruins were interesting though the most interesting part of this trip was seeing the different groups of pilgrims. I met a group from India, Italians, Germans, and a deaf group.

Towards the end of the sea was a small stream used for baptising pilgrims. It was set in a beautiful garden area with everything from changing rooms to jugs of "Holy Water" for sale. If that wasn't commercialization of religion, I don't know what is!

On another note, I left my driving license at the hotel.

Narareth

2007-12-05T00:20:00.000+09:00

The old part of Nazareth was pleasant with its old buildings and quaint streets. I was able to stay in the Sisters of Nazareth convent for one night and highly recommend it (There is a curfue). There are some beautiful churches in the area and I was able to attend the candlelight procession at the Basillica of the Annunciation, the largest of the city's churches.

Organic Farming on a Moshav

2007-11-29T23:16:00.000+09:00

Upon coming to Israel, I had many things I wanted to see and do, the foremost being traveling to the Old City in Jerusalem. I wasn't interested in the standard tourist experience however. Seeing Jerusalem alone is enough to satisfy most hoi ploy, but I also wanted to volunteer. At first, I looked into peace work but found nothing. Then, I checked into kibbutz but there too was thwarted. Finally, on a whim, I looked into organic (permaculture in fact) farming.

What I found was a unique way to volunteer while also learning about saving our planet. My experience began on the tiny Moshav (village) of Nahalal in the Northern area of Israel, near Nazareth. For two weeks I worked on a small farm with its manager, Merav. Along with her sophisticated sidekick dog, Jean Pierre, and another volunteer from the US, Chris, we worked grueling 10 hour days, from dawn to dusk.

Well, perhaps grueling is a slight overstatement. We did work hard however, and with the first rains of winter were frantically running around securing the house and farm from leaks and other problems.

One of the main purposes of Merav's farm is the promotion of ecology and reusing of resources. A few ways in which she recycled was using dish water (with biodegradable soap) for irrigation, recylcing and reusing most "garbage," feeding food scraps to her chickens and using their droppings for fertilizer, and even funelling the washing machine's "grey" water to the toilet!

Every last Saturday of the month, Merav hosted a market near her farm based on the idea of sharing and reusing. People brought clothes and other things they no longer needed to the market, and those things were in turn free for others to take. A minimal entry fee of 10 shekels helped cover costs. This drew people from all over the neighborhood and surrounding areas, Israeli, Arab, Thai, and other nationalities.

While at the farm, I was also able to indulge in organic cuisines. Until then I hadn't realized the differences between organic and processed foods. I found myself feeling more energetic and healthier and, in my opinion, organic food is also tastier.

Talking with Merav and others in the ecology movement, I learned how these ideas can also promote peace; an especially serious issue for Israel and its neighbors. We all live on and use the resources from one planet. Our survival depends on it. This affects every person, it's not selective. Only together can we deal with the problems of our planet. Hopefully, this will bring people to work together, regardless of their differences.

Working on Merav's farm was a great experience and I was able to meet some interesting people at the beginning of my time in Israel. I hope I can share with others what I have learned and apply some of her techniques to my own farm!

Thanks Merav!

Petra

2007-11-11T19:10:00.001+09:00

If you go to Jordan and see one thing, Petra should be it. Full of hiking trails, un-excavated caves, and fantastic views, most of the enormous site is open to exploration, allowing for a self-tailored adventure. You can easily spend up to three days here so a three day ticket may be well worth the 40$ admission (one day/30$).

The splendor of Petra is not the ancient Nabataean structures alone but also in the formations and designs in the area's red sandstone.

From Nuweiba, Sinai to Aqaba, Jordan I took a ferry that crossed the Red Sea. It was a nice boat though it was two hours late. Customs was a joke. When we arrived in Aqaba, a helpful taxi driver took us to a cheap restaurant and then for a two hour ride to Petra. He even called ahead to his cousin's hotel and reserved a place for us.

Petra is best known for the Temple, the great Roman like building in the center of a gorge. Indiana Jones' fans will note this is the same building used at the end of the Last Crusade. There were no traps or Grail inside unfortunately. The face is incredible to behold however.

There were also many Bedouin people there selling trinkets or offering donkey rides. Although I was against it in the beginning, we caved in and rode one about a kilometer through the site. It was uncomfortably bouncy but fun. Poor guy, there was a Bedouin kid running behind it, giving it a switch the whole time.

After two days in Petra, I left for Israel.

Dahab, Mt. Sinai, St. Catherine's Cathedral& a Burning Bush

2007-11-11T18:45:00.000+09:00

Sinai, where Moses and his people traveled through en route to the promised land. This was an incredibly moving experience for me, but mostly in the form of stomach problems. I was told I had dysentery, but I disagree. The symptoms would have been much worse.

Apart from that, I can't praise my time in Dahab and at St. Catherine's monestary enough. Dahab is an icredible place to chill-out with scuba diving, snorkelling, and beach side cafes and Mt. Sinai is overflowing with historical and spiritual allusions. Sitting on top of Sinai at sunrise was something I will never forget.

I spent most of my time with some Japanese friends I made on the bus from Cairo. I spoke mostly Japanese for a week, something I haven't done since leaving Japan, making my experience somewhat surreal but very fun. Japanese people tend to have 'light blood,' as they say in Egypt.

Annapurna pictures 2

2007-11-03T21:35:00.000+09:00

Sorry, not to be confused with the mountain Annapurna II. These are more pictures from our Annapurna circuit trek.

Alexandria

2007-11-03T21:17:00.000+09:00

I didn't have much time in the ancient city of Alexandria, but my experience was good. I was hoping for a healthy dose of history but most of the ruins and famous sites have since been buried and forgotten. However, I enjoyed its modern vibe. It was very different from Cairo and other cities in Egypt which was very refreshing.

Upon returning to Cairo I rode a mini-bus that cost about 3$ but was super cramped. I only recommend it if you don't have a lot of luggage!

The Sahara-Siwa Oasis, West Egypt

2007-11-03T20:29:00.001+09:00

Egypt-Aswan-Luxor

2007-10-23T06:42:00.001+09:00

Egypt-Cairo

2007-10-23T06:41:00.001+09:00

Bahrain

2007-10-23T06:40:00.000+09:00

A could be disaster turned out for the best in an over-night layover in Bahrain. Arriving in the international airport at 10pm, I thought surely I would be sleeping in the lobby. The guards were pushy and short-tempered, something I was relatively unprepared for after travelling Asia. However, after speaking to the information desk, I discovered room and board is included in over-night layovers. Still, what can you expect with "free" services?
When we arrived at the hotel, I was surprised to discover a 3 star hotel with a pool, finely furnished lobby with bar and restaurant, and a room with hardwood floor, king-sized bed and cable tv. Just what I needed. I fell asleep at 2am after watching the Fast and the Furious 2 (I don't recommend it).
Breakfast, also included in the free service, was buffet style with all the fixings.

So, the best part of the ordeal? The Bahrain stamp in my passport! Thanks Gulfair!

Himalaya trek-Annapurna 1

2007-10-23T06:37:00.002+09:00

Annapurna, in the Himalayas, is among the highest mountains in the world, just under Everest at 8091 meters. Our 18 day, 200 kilometer trek took us around the mountain and most of its subsidiary peaks as well.

We slept in tea houses or mini-hotels at night. They also had small restaurants that served everything from pizza to spaghetti to Mexican food, but it all tasted like Dahl baht, the national staple meal. Our journey was incredible and we were able to network with other trekkers from all over the world. Next time, I need to pack lighter!

Around Tibet-Everest Base Camp

2007-10-23T06:36:00.003+09:00

After spending a week in Lhasa (Mostly recovering from severe altitude sickness!), we took a jeep tour of the outlying areas of Tibet, ending at the Nepalese border. Along the way we were able to see some amazing things, the pinnacle being Everest Base Camp. We stayed at the camp for two days in a tent hotel. Our host was a very large, jolly Tibetan man who couldn't speak much English but made a mean lunch. During our two days, we were blessed with blue skies and the world's highest peak was clearly visible in front of us.

Our journey after Everest Base Camp was hell however. We left at noon and didn't arrive at the border until around 10 or 11 pm. Most of our time was spent waiting for the road workers to dynamite landslide areas. Unfortunately, we were on a sheer cliff overlooking a steep ravine that dropped into a rushing river so our choices were limited. I never knew Scrabble could be so fun!

Tibet

2007-10-23T06:36:00.001+09:00

Tibet!

Qinhai Tibet Train

2007-10-21T06:51:00.000+09:00

The Qinhai train from Peking to Lhasa opened in 2006 to Chinese and foreigners alike. Indeed, the new line has made Tibet more accessible to the world. This is not without controversy however as many people, especially Tibetans, see this new development as a threat to Tibetan culture as more people begin to migrate towards the high plateau.

The state-of-the-art train is equipped with oxygen tanks, fed directly into each bunk, to help prevent AMS, or altitude sickness. The train reaches its highest point at around 5000 meters. The service, the facilities, and the rooms are of the best but there are a few oddities. The cheapest sleeper room has no door or curtain, giving tit a public feel. Additionally, the room light is controlled by the car operator. You are at their mercy to sleeping and waking. There are also no personal lights and claustrophobics should think twice about sleeping in a small room with six other people. If you are on a budget, plan on eating lots of noodle bowls; there is little else offered in the stations. There is also a dining car available.

The train gave some amazing views of the lower Chinese countryside and the plateau. As you cross the tundra, it's hard to believe tracks could be laid in such a seemingly inaccessible area. My contention? I've had worse.

More Beijing Photos!

2007-08-31T00:35:00.000+09:00

The Great Wall! Banrinochocho!

Beijing

2007-08-28T21:40:00.000+09:00

Photos; Russia to Mongolia to Peking

2007-08-27T00:52:00.001+09:00

Irkutsk to Ulan Baatar

2007-08-24T23:21:00.000+09:00

Just a week ago I was working deep in the woods of Khamar Daban near Lake Baikal in Russia. From there I travelled via Trans-Mongolian railway to Ulan Baatar, Mongolia and then to Peking, China, from where I currently write. The difference between the three of these countries cannot be described shortly. The changes range from landscape to demography, politics to people, weather to food. It's remarkable!

Our trip to Mongolia was slightly tedious, because of various circumstances ranging from a unagreeable attendant to having only one bathroom to having an unpleasant odor from our carriage mate's feet. We made it, however, and it was worth all the trouble!

Mongolia... the one place on my journey I knew very little of and was hesitant to venture to! What a disappointment I would have had if I had missed this amazing country! Full of rolling hills, farm animals, and perhaps the last real cowboys on earth, I quickly fell in love with the place.

Our time was spent mostly on tour, west of the capital. It was expensive at $60 a day per person but worth it as the sites of the city are quickly exhausted. Our tour was well supplied with a guide/translator/cook and driver plus tent, food and supplies. Our driver also lived in Japan for 2 1/2 years and spoke some Japanese so we could communicate quite well even without our translator!

We stayed in a nomadic man's hut the first night and played a game much like Spoons. It was a bad game, because we had punishments for losing. It ended with me running into a neighboring family's yert in my boxer shorts asking if I could stay there for the night. I hope they don't shape their opinion of Americans based on me!:P

That was near the "little" Gobi Dessert, which is a slightly scaled down version of the "big" Gobi dessert, yet still desert-y. Almost manufactured in appearance, where the grass ended, the dunes began. That evening we had a lighning storm that made the sky turn orange at each flash. It reminded me of a pachinko parlor in Japan.

The following day we went to a Buddhist monestary and a lake, both that seemed surreal in their surroundings. At the monestary I drank a bowl of fermented mare's milk. It was sour but easy to drink. All of the young monks were drinking it during their study which made me wonder what exactly they were learning.

The lake was beautiful and from the peak where we first spotted it resembled a small puddle with the endless fields around it. We stayed there two nights and did very little except sleep, swim and eat. What a great tour!

Looking back, Mongolia feels like a dream; we didn't have much time there. Our experiences in that short period were incredible though and as we travel through Asia, contrasting the countries has been interesting. Maybe one day I'll find myself returning there (the translator said she'd marry me).

Two Weeks in Siberia

2007-08-15T21:40:00.000+09:00

I just finished a two week work camp in Siberia near Lake Bailkal. We worked building trails in the jungle in the southern area of the lake with a team of 6 Russians and 6 foreigners. The organization is called GBT, for the Great Baikal Trail and is working towards maintaining as well as awareness of the lake's natural beauty.

The camp lay about 5 kilometers south of the lake and was in gorgeous, rather untouched jungle in the mountains. Near the camp and running parallel to the path we were on and were building was a prisitine river, perfect for bathing, swimming, drinking, etc.

Though I know almost no Russian, communicating with the locals was not a problem. We were provided with a translator, Julia, who quickly became known as Mama (well, at least among me and my friend Matt:). The people we were with were very hospitable and fun and almost every night was spent around a camp fire singing, or more often listening, to Russian songs. It made me realize how few songs I actually know the entire lyrics to!

I could spend a page thanking each person who I worked with but I for now, I'll focus on the man who bore the weight of the group on his shoulders. Our leader, Roma, was half man, all incredible. Every day he carried a chainsaw to and from the worksite wich was about 30 minutes from camp. On our return he carried the chainsaw, four shovels, a tent, two packs, and his own belongings! And boy could he laugh! He also brought his cat which would roam about the camp while we were working. Thanks Roma!

Spending time camping without electricity, running water, internet, etc. helped me simplify my life-style greatly and I began appreciating the simpler things more such as bathing and eating. Other things include singing, quiet time in the morning, sunsets, star-filled nights, bugs, soap, etc.

It was an incredible way to experience Russia and to meet its people but also a reality check. Without the daily distractions there seemed to be more time to think, pray, read, laugh, and experience life richly.

Tomorrow I leave for Ulan-bator, Mongolia. Two nights on a hot train! Yes!

J

Toyama to Irkutsk

2007-08-01T22:54:00.000+09:00

I am currently in the center of Siberia, in Irkutsk. We just got off the Trans-siberian train today after 3 nights and days. There were no showers, little food (bread,cheese,snacks,etc.), and no electronics; only time. It was amazing. The views were mostly of the Russian countryside which began much like the East with rolling hills and then became more like Oregon with dense pine forests. Russian people seem very nice and we haven't had any real problems yet. In fact, we were asked to have a drink with the train car attendants yesterday where we discussed American and Russian differences with the help of our guide book and hand-gestures. However, after they tried to charge us for what we ate and drink. That wasn't very friendly.

The ferry from Toyama to Vladivostok wasn't bad. We had pleasant weather and the seas were calm. There were various dancing groups on board too so we were given a free show! It was luxury compared to the dirty, dirty train!

Tomorrow we head out to our work project near the lake building trails for two weeks!

Forum Snowboard & Bindings

2007-05-07T22:23:00.000+09:00

Goodbye dear friend!

Me

2007-05-06T18:01:00.000+09:00

Only 3 months left before I leave my home in Nyuzen, Japan. I am unsure what to do after though I'm hoping to continue learning Japanese and interacting with the people. Someday I think I'd like to come back to Japan to work, though I can't say in what field. Maybe fugu chef???

Does anyone have any ideas for what to do when I go home???

The Philippines!

2007-03-21T21:59:00.000+09:00

I leave for the Philippines in two days! I am becoming more and more anxious as the date approaches. Today I packed and finished last minute shopping for things I will donate to the center we're working at. I bought lots of chopsticks for gifts, twisty balloons, and water balloons. I also bought a new pillow for my neck which I injured last month snowboarding.

I will be leading a team of two other people to the island of Mindanao where we will be helping out at a center for orphans. Last year I worked at the same place and greatly affected by the experience. The kids have come from very difficult family situations involving abuse and are awaiting adoption into new families. However, despite their histories they are some of the happiest, good-natured kids I have ever worked with. I have also never met females who were more willing or at ease with killing a thumb-sized cochroach or mouse than me.

The staff are equally amazing and I was impressed by their parenting/teaching methods. Some of them work 24 hours a day at the center, taking only occassional days of rest or breaks but never faulting it seems. It is truly a community of renewed hope and joy.

Our journey will begin tomorrow evening with an over-night bus to the Kyoto, two trains to Kansai airport, a plane to Manila, an over-night layover, and then another plane to Cagayan de Oro. This makes for a grand-total of 36hours, 15minutes of travel time. Let the good times roll!

Stop smoking!

2007-02-06T19:49:00.000+09:00

Cigarette Killer

For Kirsten

School Lunch

2006-12-10T20:39:00.000+09:00

...Today's lunch is...

...Rice, soup, fish, pickled vegetables, and milk.

Who's the biggest turkey??? Please VOTE

2006-11-26T20:59:00.000+09:00

How to cook a turkey and stuffing

2006-11-26T14:56:00.000+09:00

For the last three years I have helped cook the turkey and this year I found a great recipe online. The turkey and the stuffing were both delicious and I have found that it's not nearly as difficult as it may seem. It does take a lot of time however. Here is the link to the turkey recipe:
http://www.elise.com/recipes/archives/000037moms_roast_turkey.php
and the stuffing recipe
http://www.elise.com/recipes/archives/000036moms_turkey_stuffing.php

So, though I may have led you all to believe the delicious flavor palussa you experienced was my own concoction, It wasn't. However, it still took eight hours to make and I got sick again because of it. Stupid turkey...

Happy Thanksgiving!

2006-11-26T10:12:00.000+09:00

Thanksgiving may be the "turkey" among holidays here in Japan but we've done a pretty good job of "stuffing" it into our schedules. Since most people cannot afford to go home for Thanksgiving (Canucks and Yanks), we are forced to celebrate one of our most endeared holidays in Japan. However, it has proven to be quite fun in the past two years and this year was no different.

We do not only invite Canadians and Americans though. Plenty of Japanese and Limeys have turned up as well and, being a potluck, the food has lacked interestingness. However, we have still managed to retain the staples; turkey, stuffing, mash potatoes, gravy, pumpkin pie and a few others.

With forty people, the location can be very important so with the help of fellow Japanese, we have been able to use a mountainside cabin for two years now. It has an indoor bath, a lake, a park, and bears.

Here's a video from us Nyuzen folk at the 3rd annual Thanksgiving celebration in our town. It was enjoyed.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=566908626765349016&pr=goog-sl Happy

Here are some photos of the day in retrospect.

Thank you to Sumiyoshisan for reserving the house for us two years in a row. Thank you Josh for organizing the event. Thank you Matt for not bringing crackers. No thank you to everyone who took all the pie home and didn't leave any for me. Just for that, I won't be cooking the turkey next year;)

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Chuo Alps

2006-11-19T22:17:00.000+09:00

In one of my previous posts, I (emphatically) described my backpacking journey through the mountains in Nagano. The same mountain range is clearly visible from my town, the bases climbing straight up, constrasting strongly with the very flat plane of fields from which they emerge. As the season progresses, a white blanket has begun to fall over these peaks, slowly flowing down, in time meeting the ocean. For us Toyama gaikokujin (foreigners), it is impossible to imagine snow in our area during the uncomfortable humidity of the summer, where a small errand such as going to the store could require a shower and a change of clothes. Each season carries a distinct presence in Toyama though, and winter brings with it new pleasantries such as snowboarding, burrying little kids in snow, and two sphered snowmen.

Here are some pictures of the beautiful tree, snow (and bear) covered mountains from the last week. Enjoy

The guy who couldn't play an instrument...but knew how to splice video!

2006-11-11T14:29:00.000+09:00

Unbelievable video splicing made into a song!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzqumbhfxRo&eurl=

More Halloween Pics

2006-11-08T21:09:00.000+09:00

Pneumonia

2006-11-07T20:19:00.000+09:00

I've been sick for the last month, directly after hiking Hakuba with my friend Tim. It began with losing my voice but progressed into chronic coughing, so much that I often couldn't sleep. I went to the doctor three times, each time with a different person who either sacrificed their free time or work time to help me. Others brought me food, medicine or tea. Thank you to all who helped me recover!

The second time I was at the doctor, they took a chest xray and found a white shadow, indicating I might have pneumonia. They then sent me to have a CT-scan (cat scan) and were able to identify it for sure. It was frightening to think that without medicine I might not get better. Thankfully, they said it was not a serious case and if I rested and took the medication, I would recover quickly.

Last year I was sick again and went to the doctor to have a check-up. He did a test on me known as the Bi-digital O-ring test. It's too weird to describe in detail so I'll direct you to an informative website, http://www.bpmlegal.com/wfinger.html. They told me I had pneumonia then too but I am pretty sure I didn't after having gone through this.

Two sick days and three weeks, many meds, and two boxes of tissues later, I stopped coughing and regained my ability to smell. I realized how badly I needed to take out the trash in my apartment...

Halloween in Japan!

2006-11-07T20:06:00.000+09:00

Many of us lost interest in the American holiday Halloween long ago (Or were never interested at all, as the case may be) but Halloween has proven to be quite different for some of the students here in Nyuzen. We have taught them the meaning of "trick or treat," shown them how to carve a pumpkin, and even given them candy corn. Some of them said the candy was too sweet but they're wrong.

The festivities began in September when our town held a giant pumpkin festival (どで南瓜大会) where we had seed spitting contests, pumpkin carving, and a pumpkin dance. In past festivals the opening ceremony included speeches from officials such as the town mayor. In other words, thte festival is taken (somewhat) seriously.

In one of my elementary schools (小学生), the first grade students (一年生） made pumpkin masks and practiced trick or treating to win candy. I also made a box with things inside that felt like eyeballs, brains, and toe nails. They weren't real but the kids were often too scared to smell or taste what they had touched so the illusion prevailed.

I came into the fifth grade class today and found the students dressed in elaborate costumes. One student had constructed a witch's hat, another had borrowed her elder sister's junior high uniform and one boy went so far as to grease his hair, wear a cape, a white shirt and fangs for Dracula. The one student who forgot a costume colored a big red spot on paper, laid down on the ground and told us he was road kill. Such creativity!

Many Japanese have never seen a real Jack-O-Lantern so I carved a pumpkin for our three-year school festival at my junior high. It's ちょっと difficult to find small saws around here so it took me about three hours to complete. I also carved a pumpkin for one of my elementary schools which was much more plain but the kids seemed to enjoy it.

In my eighth grade elective English class I taught the kids how to trick or treat and they had to draw a costume for themselves. At the end I had them make teams and then turn one of their teammates into a mummy using toilet paper. The students really enjoyed dressing their classmates in tissue and even found creative ways to incorporate the brown tube.

Yup, I'd say Halloween hasn't been laid in the coffin yet. It's still alive and well among batty kids here in Japan, even if it is just a skeleton form. gwa haha

Yeah, you were at English Camp!

2006-10-30T21:14:00.000+09:00

So there

PS: Delicious cookies by the way

Yesterday

2006-10-29T00:32:00.000+09:00

Yesterday I went to Pizza Jamboree with Kirsten, Matt, and Cheeks. We ate real American style pizza, club sandwiches, and drank Coca-Cola and an over-priced rootbeer. It was...wow.

Ocean to Summit-From 白鳥山 to 白馬岳

2006-10-14T21:20:00.000+09:00

My apologies, this is a very long post but I wanted to include most of the details for others interested in the same hike.
Day 1
We began at 1:40pm on a Friday afternoon. Tim's wife, Michino, dropped us off at our starting point and we began our ascent. The trail, though well-cut, happened to be mostly steep stairs and ropes for the first couple hours and we were drenched in our own sweat before long. The vegetation was dense like most Japanese mountain sides, along with a thin blanket of fog, creating an eerie sense of seclusion. However, after a while, we approached the first hut on 白鳥山(Shirotoriyama, Mt. White Bird) around 3:20pm. This was not our final destination though and we still had a few hours left of daylight.

The remainder of the day was spent rushing to the next rest house before dark. We had set a reasonable pace but Tim was decided on pushing himself harder than I could keep up with and was soon far ahead. When we met again, the poor guy was exhausted and I had to lead! We came to a standstill around 6:30 when dusk had left and darkness surrounded us. We were worried about traveling while being exhausted and in the dark so we sat down, rested, and had a Snickers Bar. It was slower in the dark but there was a bright moon illuminating our path, so much that only I needed my headlamp and Tim followed behind.

We arrived at 犬ヶ岳小屋(Inugadake, Mt. Dog? cabin) around 7:05 where four other people were already bedded for the night. We set up a small cooking area outside and had canned chili, sandwiches Michino had made, and some other things. It was beautiful around us. You could see for miles/kilometers where the moonlight fell on the crests of the hills and mountains. After a couple hours of resting and talking, we went to bed. However, not before running into one more problem that night: mice.

I have never had a problem with mice but they proved quite formidable in a few moments on this particular occasion. I had set my pack inside the cabin and had gone outside to cook. Ten minutes later I returned to hear scuttling and found a hole eaten though my bag's side pocket, two plastic ziplock bags, and half a cookie (The stories about mice asking for cookies is bull! They'd have eaten the whole bag if I hadn't caught the little thieves!). That night we stored the remainder of the food under a metal trash can.
Day 2
We awoke around 6AM and were moving by 7:40AM. According to Tim, the mice had been running around our heads at night but I was sound asleep and missed the fiasco. It was a beautiful morning. The sun was shining brightly and apart from small groups of clouds forming in the Northwest, it was a clear day. Looking far off into the distance was 朝日岳(Asahidake,Mt. Morning Sun), the second to last mountain we would climb that day. This seemed an impossible distance but we would do that and more.

The path too was gorgeous, following the tops of the hills that lead to the next mountain. All were covered with small scraggly trees, grasses and flowers.
We had overcome most of the steep climbs in the beginning so our journey was mostly a relatively easy ascent above the trees and through the many small plateau-like hills dotted with quaint lakes. We summitted three mountains by 12:45pm and stopped for lunch. I had a PB&J (peanut butter and Jelly) sandwich and Tim made ramen. The terrain had changed a little but the small trees and brush still defined our terrain.

We summitted 朝日岳 by 2:20pm. We were now above the clouds which were much thicker by now. We proceeded on to the next mountain, 雪倉岳(Yukikuradake, Mt. Snow Storehouse?) which is notable for it's view and lightning strikes apparently. Around this time we met two other travelers, Tetsu and Shinya, who were from 石川県(Ishikawaken). They were coming from Regge温泉 (Onsen, hot spring) and had traveled almost the same distance as us in half a day. We decided to travel together since we were all going to the same place that night.

Tim and Testu were quite fast but Shinya and I were lagging quite badly and when we finally reached the base of 雪倉岳 we were all quite tired but knew we had to keep going if we were going to reach camp before night fall. Shinya was exhausted by this point and was taking rests every 100 feet or so. I had thought to bring a ski pole and was leaning on it heavily with every step. Without that pole, I would not have finished until much later. It was about 5:00pm by then.

雪倉岳 was alike no other mountain experience I have had in Japan. It was intimidating to look at for it's face was a sheer vertical climb but the path led along the hill next to it which was still quite difficult. Our hope rested on the idea that the top of that mountain would be the summit. When we reached the top of that face however, there was another smaller mountain leading to our left and the sun could be seen clearly, setting in the East. We were all depressed and tired and knew we couldn't stay there because it was too cold and the next cabin was supposedly not too far away. I ate my last Snickers Bar and plodded behind the other three guys.

We summitted 雪倉岳 at 6:30pm. The moon was bright and I was able to descend to the cabin with no headlamp. Again, it was a perfectly clear night and we could easily see our final destination, 白馬岳(Hakubadake, Mt. White Horse). Shinya was in a state of craze by then for he and the others were descending quite quickly with the cabin in view. I took my time, enjoying the night scenery and singing as I clamored down. We reached the cabin by 7:10pm.

That night Tim and I ate spaghetti and Tetsu ate soup and freeze dried rice. Shinya didn't eat but became sick and went to bed. We took our time in setting up our beds and enjoying the company of our new friends. I did some night photography too but am not sure they turned out. The sky, on this rare occasion, was clear enough so we could see the milky way and billions of stars! It reminded me of the nights at Tadmor summer camp in Oregon.
Day 3
The next morning we were moving by 7am. Shinya decided to descend by himself instead of summitting 白馬岳 so there were three of us. Actually, the final ascent was easy because were able to leave our bags at a cross-road we would have to return to. We reached the top of 白馬岳 by 9am. It provided a spectacular view on both sides of the mountain. One side overlooked 富山県(Toyama ken) and the other 長野県(Nagano ken). On Toyama's side, one could see clearly the valley in which I live. On the Nagano side, a sea of clouds covered all but the tallest peaks (known as 雲海, unkai. This is not to be mistaken with unko, which is poop).

Soon we were headed back down the mountain. We reached 小Regge山 at 10:45am. We climbed down a little farther and had lunch around 12:20 at large red shelter nestled in a small peak with a lake. It was picturesque and made even more enjoyable by the warm, delicious ramen we consumed.

The remainder of our descent was through beautiful forest, whose leaves were beginning to turn their famous autumn red. We could see the mountains we had climbed the day before on our left, whose appearance was very stunning but also frightening for they appeared much larger from a distance. We reached Regge 温泉 at 3:30pm and slightly after it began to rain. We took a much needed bath in the outdoor onsen and then Shinya, who had made it down with no problem, graciously drove us back to Tim's house in Niigata. That evening Michino made a large yakisoba meal. It was the perfect way to end the perfect hike! Thanks Michino!

A side note, a week later, some older people who were climbing the Hakubadake were caught in a snowstorm and died. Shinya, who was on the mountain again at the same time, was able to get his tent and sleeping bag out and was able to descend safely. Whew!

From Ocean to Summit

2006-09-29T02:07:00.000+09:00

This is one of the hiking moments I've been awaiting since arriving in Nyuzen, Japan. The hike from the ocean in Asahi to the world famous ski area in Nagano, Hakuba. Once traversed by monks, this trail has become a favorite hiking area for amateur and seasoned mountaineers alike.

As I pack, I sift through the items for any excess ounce that I can do without. At first it's easy; food packaging, ramen containers, and extra clothes. After the obvious choices it becomes more difficult however. Opting out on heavier foods, Not bringing your 50+ gadget leatherman, and having only one pair of underwear (Sorry Tim). Thus the scrutenous code of ultra-light backpacking, where packing becomes an art. My finished work: a thirteen-pound pack.

My friend Tim, an ALT from Omi-machi, and I will be making the ascent to the White Horse Mountain at 1pm tomorrow. Our hike will be arduous, stretching over nearly six mountains, and hasty, carried out in the period of two and a half days. Canned chili, ramen, spaghetti, granola, sandwiches, and assorted snacks: our only consolation. Our mission: Don't die.

2006-09-25T16:08:00.000+09:00

create your own visited countries map

Hiking Sougadake

2006-09-24T21:23:00.000+09:00

Today I climbed the small mountain of Sougadake in Kurobe with my friends Chika and Kylie. We began at 8:30am but I had to get breakfast from a "konbini" (minimart) because I was in such a hurry to go I forgot to eat my oatmeal. The rest of the day I was worried I had left the burner on (I didn't)! Silly Johnny

We started at the tiny Unazuki ski town in the gorge and drove past the giant Japanese Statue. I was driving the old trusty Suzuki Alto. Soon we were above the clouds and were able to catch glimpses of the valley below. There were rocks scattered around the windy mountain roads, warning me to keep one eye on the mountain and the other...somewhere else.

We reached the top after a short while and entered the trail. Kylie, a girl from Arizona who is here on an artist's Visa, immediately noticed many types of clay which any hoyploy would have mistaken for dirt and would have quickly trampled underfoot. I however, being so cultured, noticed it as slightly miscolored dirt.

We were mostly alone while hiking, probably because the official "hiking season" is over. Does that apply to humans and animals alike because I didn't see very many of either.

At one point Kylie fell off the trail and could have carreened to a bad injury but was quick enough to grab onto a tree as she was falling. It gave us a good startle so we took a break and ate some cookies. She only received some minor cuts and scrapes.

An hour and a half later we summitted and were covered in the mist of the clouds, reminding me of the previous week's adventure, Mt. Hakusan. We took a lunch break, an event I had been talking about since that morning because I had made a Marionberry jam and natural peanut butter sandwich (in Japan they usually sell processed jam and peanut creme...), a bag of sea salt and vinegar Kettle Chips, and a grapefruit. It was arguably the best part of my day apart from going to bed which could be better (I'll let you know).

After our descent we drove back into Nyuzen and went straight to our favorite sweets shop, Amataro. This little Mom&Pop desserts shop serves everything from "American" sundays to the best shaved ice this side of the rice fields. The restraunt owners, a nice older couple, asked me to bring them some lemon-flavored candy from the U.S. so I presented them with America's finest, lemonheads. They were so happy they gave us free rice cakes, tea and nori (seaweed). It was awesome.

After, I went for an onsen or natural spa and then came home. The end

The beginning

2006-09-05T22:37:00.000+09:00

Since arriving in Japan I've written one mass email detailing events in my life. I quickly realized writing to many different people has its drawbacks. Mainly, it's difficult. I stopped altogether.

Many of my friends use blogs to keep distant people up-to-date with their lives as well as humoring those close to them. I hope at least it will serve to share my travels and adventures in this far away land.