2 Weeks' Worth Laundry List

Ok, because I missed last week's entry, I'm just going to do a laundry list more for my memory than for your entertainment. Sorry about this, but there's just too much to write and not enough time for me to study Japanese if I write it. So, without further ado.

Two weeks ago Saturday (15th):

• Went to the salmon festival in Oirase with Tina and Natalie. We had salmon nabe with special miso sauce. Afterwards, we walked around all of the cool salmon-inspired things.
• We met up with Grahame, who was working the festival.
• I caught a salmon with my bare hands in the salmon-catch. Afterwards, I paid 300 yen and they cut and cleaned it.
• Existential crisis about killing an animal, don't get me started again.
• We went to the sports store, then my apartment, and met up with Erin.
• Off to Gonohe! We pick up Seth and drive to zazen meditation in Shichinohe.
• We get there right on time, meditate, and have an awesome meal afterwards.
• Back home!

Sunday (16th):

• That fish-market in Hachinohe for lunch.
• Home Center Sunday/Pia Do/Yamada Denki for various shopping stuff.
• French dessert cafe for pre-dinner dessert.
• Yakiniku place for dinner.
• Home to begin the Week again

This past week was the Mid-year seminar. Thursday I got on the train with my supervisor, ran into the other Hach JETs, and seminar'd it up.

My supervisor decided to get a hotel as far away from the seminar as possible. So a 45 minute walk in the snow later, we made it to our hotel. In order to get to the talent show that night, I walked the 45 minutes back to the main street, near the ASPAM building.

The talent show was awesome! I played waiter for a little bit, getting drinks out to everyone. Hands-down, the best talent of the night was Sam dancing to Daft Punk. He wrote the words on his clothes, and by the end of the song, he was moving in a synchronized motion and the words on his body matched with the words in the song. There was a katana demonstration as well, and, the 2nd best talent and best auction for the night was the Rokkasho crew. Normally, their performance wouldn't be so good, but conditions were perfect. It was the end of the night, people were drunk, including the performers, and something crazy had to happen.

After rowing themselves onstage with their makeshift didgeridoos , they proceeded to sing "didgeridoo" into their cardboard tubes. They actually had some cool sort of thing going. Then, the missing Rokkashite (that's what they call themselves) showed up, hitting a small drum-thing and making tribal screeches. It was weird. It was quirky. It was hilarious.

They then auctioned themselves (for the night was both a service auction and a talent show). Of course, when you are drunk, you'll say many things. "We will build you an igloo. Then, we will cook you a 4 course meal inside the igloo, while we play a movie on the ceiling of the igloo. We will find penguins and populate the igloo for your enjoyment. We will do this all shirtless and singing."

How much does such a believable feat go for? 900 dollars. Yep, a group of 4 bought them for 900. Yeah.

Speaking of which, yours truly got $250 for karate and massage lessons.

Afterwards, I then proceeded to walk the 45 minutes to the hotel and passed out.

Friday (21st)

• Went to more seminars.
• Went home.
• Exciting eh?

Saturday (22nd)

• Met up with office at 8:30 for the trip.
• The first drink was popped open at 8:37 AM, and they continued to drink on the bus during the entire day.
• We arrive at a museum of things. Yes, you can tell how much I like old pottery, especially when my only explanation is 亜非ンジャ　(these kanji may not load on your computer, and I just typed them randomly, so I have no idea what they mean).
• Teppanyaki lunch.
• Walk up to an old temple area. I saw a 1000 year old mini-temple made all of gold. It was wicked cool.
• Back on the bus for more drinks and a drive to a museum of an old school near Sendai.
• Over to a really nice hotel.
• Do I really need to onsen with you guys? Ugh, I'll hide in the corner.
• Change and just in time for the main event. Drinking dinner and a set meal.
• Everyone is getting plastered around me. This is sort of funny.
• You guys are pretty cool, and now that I can speak basic Japanese, this is sort of fun.
• Ah, the 1 guy makes a fool of himself at the karaoke. No, Tanaka-san, I will NOT sing for the office! Stop asking me.
• Bedtime? No, not yet, it's time for us to see a chinese acrobat show! These middle and high-school girls are really talented. I didn't think humans could do such things, I'll try and put a picture up.
• Bedtime yet? No, time for us to get Ramen.
• Bedtime yet? No, time for me to walk around the hotel and see what there is. Hint, not much at all.
• Bedtime, how about now? No, I went to room 1411 to watch the guys play Mahjong, drink, and smoke. I felt like one of the guys. You know, the deaf and mute one who just sits and does nothing.
• Ok, finally bedtime. Oh wait, these rooms hold 5 people on futons. And, my supervisor snores.

Sunday (23rd)

• Let's wake up before the sunrise and see it rise beautifully!
• After breakfast, it's time to leave...only to go to the shark marketplace!
• Ok, goodbye shark place, and now, to the sake distillery.
• Woohoo, lots of sake and a good lunch at this olde-fashioned place. Very cool, but wow, you guys really like to drink.
• How much do they like to drink? Enough to go to the winery right after the sake distillery. Yep. I did buy myself a nice bottle of wine afterwards though.
• Ok, you all found out that I'm going to a jazz concert afterwards and might not make it on time. I really don't want to cause a fuss, so please, stop offering to drive me when we get back, I'll just take the bus.
• Ok Tanaka-san, thanks for the ride. You have a really cool family.
• Hey, Jazz concert, very fun.
• Hey, I could still go for a few drinks, you interested? Yes? Ok, if you say this is a good pizza place, let's go!
• Taxi, please, take me back to Shiriuchimachi post-haste!

Monday, the day off:

• Went with Paul for all you can eat Yakiniku. We got our money's worth.
• Random errands, including changing my tires.
• Cleaning, trying to pry myself away from the piano.
• Oyasuminasai.

And now to study Japanese.