I think it must be all the electric wires and pylons just outside my balcony. Maybe it's the radiation or something, but living in my apartment seems to have a strong impact on some of my guests'.... shall we say 'mental faculties'...cough...'H. B.'...cough...
Some people spend time in Zama and end up talking like Nell from that Jodie Foster movie.
Anyway, my sister's visit has proved that previous outbreaks were not isolated incidents. Maybe a mix of the radiation , microwaves, jetlag and culture shock led her to come out with some real quotable Nellisms...tae in the ween!!!!! tae in the ween!!!!
Chief among them:
(whilst making a serious point over tea and cakes in a nice cafe) 'and one would think...(shocked silence)...Oooh I've just gotten cake in my ear!'
(on coming back from an ultra modern Japanese bathroom) 'I've just done the handjob thing in the toilet! (she was referring of course to the strange airdryers over here which are a little difficult to figure out at first)
(on being served delicious cocktails) 'Ooh I'll suck on that...wait that's not a straw!' (she was referring of course to the swizzle stick)
(when going from the airport sitting on the very last car of his train where you can see the conductor (not the driver!) in their own little compartment) 'Wow! The driver must have a hard time steering this thing all the way at the back without being able to see out - is there a camera at the front or something?' (I put this one down to jetlag after a monstrous fourteen hour flight)
(On discovering the joys of trying to get clothes dry in Japanese rainy season) 'I'm not wearing that - I don't want to smell like mouldy crotch!' (Seriously linen pants drying for three days indoors in 90% humididity... not a good smell, people. Don't try it at home.)
But the classic of all time for me was purely endearing. My sis made a huge effort to learn and speak lots of Japanese while she was over here. P., you have a serious competitor here.
All my friends and students were well impressed by how much she learned. But in the early stages of her learning she accidentally came out with a beauty.
In Japan, before eating, we say,'Itadakimasu'. It means something like 'Bon Appetit'. But Ro got it confused one day with me and said, 'Itamakidesu'. Roughly translated into English this means 'Hi, my name's Ita Mackey.' I was beside myself and now have a new favourite word and all meals now start this way with me. People must think I'm crazy.
I must now look officially like a totally bullying brother. But there is plenty she could hit back at me with. I mean, hello, scoring high in karaoke to Celine Dion. Or more embarrassingly the way I come up with my own special little names for daily objects and use them almost wihtout knowing it anymore. For example, the first car of the train is always the death car, echynacia tea is always euthenasia tea and the the hooks hanging from the ceiling of the train that you hold on to are always called strap-ons. This leads to the final hilarious Nellism which was therefore totally my fault:
(on a crowded commuter train, my sis shouts out) 'Ooh I just got hit in the face with a strap-on.'
Thank you and goodnight.
Thursday, 3 August 2006
I'm baaaack!
The thing with the blogoshpere and me is that it seems to fill a need. When my life is full of interesting things to do, exciting places to see and cool people to hang out with, then I just don't seem to be that interested in updating online.
So for the past two weeks while I've been having the time of my life showing my sister around Japan, my blog has been sadly neglected.
But now that my sis has safely returned home and I have gone back to my shallow, hollow, shell of an existence, you can bet I am going to be all about the internets once again.
Time of my life was not an exaggeration. We have had so much fun. It really has been like my own vacation too.
I don't want to guild the lily: my sister has done a bang-up job documenting our day-to-day adventures in her online travel journal. You can access it via her link on this blog. So rather than rehash what she has already said I’m just going to give you some of my top moments. In no particular order (as we had so many good times, they're impossible to rank):
1. Lunch at Arakawa Dam in Yamanashi. This is one of the most mountainous regions of Japan, home, famously, to Mount Fuji. The dam is this hidden away spot surrounded by lushly forested peaks. We reached there in perfect weather conditions - a dry, warm day with a blue sky and a light, refreshing breeze. There is nothing near the dam except this one small, eccentric restaurant. We sat there on their terrace, looking at the gourds and masks and wild flowers decorating the shop, listening to the gentle classical music playing in the background. Dragonflies buzzed about in their hundred's in the valley below. The staff could not have been friendlier and served us a lunch of houtou nabe, homemade pickles, almond tofu and traditional green tea. The houtou nabe is a local speciality consisting of fat, flat noodles - not unlike fettuccine - in a thick, creamy pumpkin soup, with other mixed veggies, served in a cast iron pot. Honestly, relaxing there with great food, great companions and a great atmosphere I just about blissed out and didn’t want it to end.
2. The state of the art coffee vending machines. At one rest stop on one of our road trips we came across this amazing coffee vending machine. The thing is unlike any other I've seen. It freshly grinds the beans in a mill inside the machine before preparing the coffee for you. And just to prove it, there's a little camera inside the machine which projects all the workings on an outer screen as you stand there waiting for your drink. Seriously you put your money in the machine, the little jingle starts and for about two minutes you follow your beverage's progress on camera from whole bean to steaming goodness. It was SO cool. I know it's totally awful for the environment and wasteful of precious energy, but I really saw it more like performance art. And on top of it all, the coffee was gooood.
3. Scoring 100% on a karaoke machine in downtown Tokyo. No trip to Japan would be complete without a karaoke party. On one of our last days I took my sister and a friend to a karaoke bar. My sis loved it and needed no arm-twisting to sing after a few minutes. Everyone is always shy and reluctant and first and in the end you have to wrestle the mic out of their hands. I have a longstanding love affair with the old karaoke box and have built up quite a little repertoire. To make things more interesting, the more modern facilities provide little extras to entertain you. Some karaoke machines show you how many calories you've burned as you sing. Others allow you to sing along with your chosen idol. Others still give a percentage rating periodically through your performance. This last one is the type of machine we had chosen - it's nice to know how you're doing. Anyway, for the first time ever I scored 100%. In my many brutal years of karaoke I have never known that joy. Cue creaming, shouting, stamping of feet and me fumbling with my camera as my hands shook with glee trying to capture a picture of the perfect score before it disappeared from the screen. I failed. Okay, full disclosure: The song I achieved the perfect score to is shameful. I would point out that my sister chose it for me. It was, ahem... that Celine Dion song from Titanic, ahem... I know, I totally wish I'd done so well with something cooler. But true to my experience, even my great successes are tinged with shame and mortification. I must have really belted it out though. Unfortunately, as I said, the score itself was not captured on film, but the memory, like my heart, will go on.
4. The times where we just stopped, sat back and let the city go on around us. A few cases in point. After a long walk in Shinjuku picking a little cafe with a nice view of the evening city and just drinking a few Corona. An Asian restaurant in Inokashira park which I'd discovered with a friend who'd visited last year where we could sit and watch the thick growth of trees being lashed by the heavy rain as we sipped mojitos in the balmy afternoon air and really felt like we were in Asia. Dog Garden Café in Yokohama where my sis got her puppy and chocolate fix while I readjusted my dangerously low alcohol levels. Sitting there outside the café, near the sea, laughing, joking, watching the lights come on around us in Yokohama Bay was simple satisfaction.
5. The phat dinner my sis treated me to in the heart of Tokyo at Marunouchi. It was a cool restaurant, all ethnic and minimal. Each dish was presented like a work of art. Each element - the fresh ingredients, the inspired presentation, the fusion of modern and traditional styles, the taste - was as important as the other. Thanks to Ro I now have a new fave place to bring people who visit.
6. Our first day of sunshine after being pounded by the rainy seasonal weather front for the first few days. Walking around Shinjuku Gyoen in the bright rays and just taking the mickey out of each other is something I don't get to do over here.
7. The two power naps we were able to grab. I'll admit it. I overstuffed the schedule. We were way too busy. But this made the two brief chances we had to grab a thirty-minute rest all the more wonderful.
8. The times when we avoided taking a crowded commuter train for a bit and Ro allowed me to walk her through the city at night. At this time of year, the days can be pretty unforgiving but the nights are lovely and balmy. Walking from downtown skyscrapers and wide boulevards to little traditional homes built on top of each other in the zigzag maze of the suburbs was a joy. It was also a real buzz for me to show my sis that I now know the city better than many Japanese. I can navigate my way with confidence, something I'm ashamed to say I still can't manage in Dublin, my home!
All in all, it was just too much fun. I'm sure there are a million things I'm leaving out that were just as great, but there were the moments that came to mind
So for the past two weeks while I've been having the time of my life showing my sister around Japan, my blog has been sadly neglected.
But now that my sis has safely returned home and I have gone back to my shallow, hollow, shell of an existence, you can bet I am going to be all about the internets once again.
Time of my life was not an exaggeration. We have had so much fun. It really has been like my own vacation too.
I don't want to guild the lily: my sister has done a bang-up job documenting our day-to-day adventures in her online travel journal. You can access it via her link on this blog. So rather than rehash what she has already said I’m just going to give you some of my top moments. In no particular order (as we had so many good times, they're impossible to rank):
1. Lunch at Arakawa Dam in Yamanashi. This is one of the most mountainous regions of Japan, home, famously, to Mount Fuji. The dam is this hidden away spot surrounded by lushly forested peaks. We reached there in perfect weather conditions - a dry, warm day with a blue sky and a light, refreshing breeze. There is nothing near the dam except this one small, eccentric restaurant. We sat there on their terrace, looking at the gourds and masks and wild flowers decorating the shop, listening to the gentle classical music playing in the background. Dragonflies buzzed about in their hundred's in the valley below. The staff could not have been friendlier and served us a lunch of houtou nabe, homemade pickles, almond tofu and traditional green tea. The houtou nabe is a local speciality consisting of fat, flat noodles - not unlike fettuccine - in a thick, creamy pumpkin soup, with other mixed veggies, served in a cast iron pot. Honestly, relaxing there with great food, great companions and a great atmosphere I just about blissed out and didn’t want it to end.
2. The state of the art coffee vending machines. At one rest stop on one of our road trips we came across this amazing coffee vending machine. The thing is unlike any other I've seen. It freshly grinds the beans in a mill inside the machine before preparing the coffee for you. And just to prove it, there's a little camera inside the machine which projects all the workings on an outer screen as you stand there waiting for your drink. Seriously you put your money in the machine, the little jingle starts and for about two minutes you follow your beverage's progress on camera from whole bean to steaming goodness. It was SO cool. I know it's totally awful for the environment and wasteful of precious energy, but I really saw it more like performance art. And on top of it all, the coffee was gooood.
3. Scoring 100% on a karaoke machine in downtown Tokyo. No trip to Japan would be complete without a karaoke party. On one of our last days I took my sister and a friend to a karaoke bar. My sis loved it and needed no arm-twisting to sing after a few minutes. Everyone is always shy and reluctant and first and in the end you have to wrestle the mic out of their hands. I have a longstanding love affair with the old karaoke box and have built up quite a little repertoire. To make things more interesting, the more modern facilities provide little extras to entertain you. Some karaoke machines show you how many calories you've burned as you sing. Others allow you to sing along with your chosen idol. Others still give a percentage rating periodically through your performance. This last one is the type of machine we had chosen - it's nice to know how you're doing. Anyway, for the first time ever I scored 100%. In my many brutal years of karaoke I have never known that joy. Cue creaming, shouting, stamping of feet and me fumbling with my camera as my hands shook with glee trying to capture a picture of the perfect score before it disappeared from the screen. I failed. Okay, full disclosure: The song I achieved the perfect score to is shameful. I would point out that my sister chose it for me. It was, ahem... that Celine Dion song from Titanic, ahem... I know, I totally wish I'd done so well with something cooler. But true to my experience, even my great successes are tinged with shame and mortification. I must have really belted it out though. Unfortunately, as I said, the score itself was not captured on film, but the memory, like my heart, will go on.
4. The times where we just stopped, sat back and let the city go on around us. A few cases in point. After a long walk in Shinjuku picking a little cafe with a nice view of the evening city and just drinking a few Corona. An Asian restaurant in Inokashira park which I'd discovered with a friend who'd visited last year where we could sit and watch the thick growth of trees being lashed by the heavy rain as we sipped mojitos in the balmy afternoon air and really felt like we were in Asia. Dog Garden Café in Yokohama where my sis got her puppy and chocolate fix while I readjusted my dangerously low alcohol levels. Sitting there outside the café, near the sea, laughing, joking, watching the lights come on around us in Yokohama Bay was simple satisfaction.
5. The phat dinner my sis treated me to in the heart of Tokyo at Marunouchi. It was a cool restaurant, all ethnic and minimal. Each dish was presented like a work of art. Each element - the fresh ingredients, the inspired presentation, the fusion of modern and traditional styles, the taste - was as important as the other. Thanks to Ro I now have a new fave place to bring people who visit.
6. Our first day of sunshine after being pounded by the rainy seasonal weather front for the first few days. Walking around Shinjuku Gyoen in the bright rays and just taking the mickey out of each other is something I don't get to do over here.
7. The two power naps we were able to grab. I'll admit it. I overstuffed the schedule. We were way too busy. But this made the two brief chances we had to grab a thirty-minute rest all the more wonderful.
8. The times when we avoided taking a crowded commuter train for a bit and Ro allowed me to walk her through the city at night. At this time of year, the days can be pretty unforgiving but the nights are lovely and balmy. Walking from downtown skyscrapers and wide boulevards to little traditional homes built on top of each other in the zigzag maze of the suburbs was a joy. It was also a real buzz for me to show my sis that I now know the city better than many Japanese. I can navigate my way with confidence, something I'm ashamed to say I still can't manage in Dublin, my home!
All in all, it was just too much fun. I'm sure there are a million things I'm leaving out that were just as great, but there were the moments that came to mind
Thursday, 13 July 2006
Irish Pride: We're kinda proud of it...
So it looks like I've inherited the Cadwell knack for backing the wrong horse.
I chose Japan over Ireland based on the safety of the place, the mannerliness of the people, and the overall quality of life.
As my previous god-knows-how-many entries will show, all these wonderful things now seem to be going to the dogs. While at the same time, the Emerald Isle I abandoned is kicking ass and taking names:
It was reported over here that Ireland has come top in a worldwide ranking of the safest places for tourists to travel to. How do ya like them apples!
According to analysis by Norwich Union and some sort of large insurers' group, Ireland had fewer reports of pickpocketing, road accidents, food poisoning, violent crime, insect bites, and so on, and so on, than any other country.
I was pretty shocked about the country which came out worst in the poll: Poor old Thailand. I would guess that was mostly down to the dismal traffic safety and the variety of bugs which like to eat you over there.
But other results were interesting, too. The Czech Republic beat out Italy for pickpocketing, you're most likely to experience violent crime in South Africa, and the idea of 'Dehli Belly' though stereotypical, is well-deserved by India.
Overall I was really proud of little old Ireland. Y'all rock the tourism!
Like I said before, I'm going to try and keep the focus more positive from now on. But I'm starting to wonder if I shouldn't be thinking of moving back home - before a wonky North Korean missile lands on my balcony by accident, that is.
I chose Japan over Ireland based on the safety of the place, the mannerliness of the people, and the overall quality of life.
As my previous god-knows-how-many entries will show, all these wonderful things now seem to be going to the dogs. While at the same time, the Emerald Isle I abandoned is kicking ass and taking names:
It was reported over here that Ireland has come top in a worldwide ranking of the safest places for tourists to travel to. How do ya like them apples!
According to analysis by Norwich Union and some sort of large insurers' group, Ireland had fewer reports of pickpocketing, road accidents, food poisoning, violent crime, insect bites, and so on, and so on, than any other country.
I was pretty shocked about the country which came out worst in the poll: Poor old Thailand. I would guess that was mostly down to the dismal traffic safety and the variety of bugs which like to eat you over there.
But other results were interesting, too. The Czech Republic beat out Italy for pickpocketing, you're most likely to experience violent crime in South Africa, and the idea of 'Dehli Belly' though stereotypical, is well-deserved by India.
Overall I was really proud of little old Ireland. Y'all rock the tourism!
Like I said before, I'm going to try and keep the focus more positive from now on. But I'm starting to wonder if I shouldn't be thinking of moving back home - before a wonky North Korean missile lands on my balcony by accident, that is.
Monday, 10 July 2006
Look at it sparkle
I am now plumbing the depths of boring blog entries. I have abolsutely nothing to say. So I decided to take a picture of my extractor fan and show you how it sparkles.Yes, that's the best idea I could come up with.
This weekend was a big old blah. The calm before the storm, you might say. Me and my guest are going to be busy over the coming weeks.
Anyway, I cut class today to clean my apartment. Things are always very tidy here at Cadwell Heights (see previous entry about OCD), but sometimes hygiene standards slip.
There's nothing like having a visitor coming to spur you on to action. I spent the weekend (and today playing hookie) cleaning behind the fridge, washing out the recylcle bins, clearing out cupboards and junk drawers, and of course de-greasifying the above extractor fan.
It was shameful - I think it is only the second time since I've been in this apartment that I cleaned the thing. And even then, I think I only did so last time because I had a visitor coming.
In my defense, because I never cook meat or fish (and never really 'cook' that much at all) it's never really that icky.
But now it's like a little sunflower smiling down at me as I prepare my morning coffee.
I'm not quite done with getting ready. The windows still need a good seeing to. I can't even remember the last time they saw a wet cloth! The thing is, in Japan we have earthquakes, so often our windows, especially in old apartments like mine, are smash-proofed with interlacing wires running through them. This means you can't even see out the darned things. But as a payoff I think the layers of grime are pretty well hidden too.
Big sis, you needn't feel too guilty about me staying home on the mitch today. It's not like I cleaned 24/7. I somehow managed to squeeze in sleeping in till 10am, two episodes of Southpark, reading the paper cover to cover, and a good session of yoga.
Nonetheless, when I inevitably fail my end of year exams, you are all most welcome to say that I have nobody to blame but myself! I will reform and study like a madman when my sis is gone to fill the gaping hole she will leave behind.
Sunday, 2 July 2006
Danger! Danger! High Voltage...
While our Prime Minister, Koizumi, if off swanning around Graceland with Bush, there is a perception here at home that Japan is going to the dogs.
In the last two weeks, there have beeen several shocking new stories.
We've had a single mother (who is suspected to have abused and murdered her own child) go on to murder one of that daughter's little classmates. And this in a small country town of 1000 where people don't lock their doors, etc., etc.
We've had a sixteen-year-old boy who, it seems, was under terrible pressure from his father for academic success. Unable to cope with this very common 'Japanese' stress, the boy decided to punish his dad. The answer was arson. When his father was out at work and while his step mother and two step sisters were sleeping upstairs, the boy locked all the doors and windows and set fire to the lot. Ebing a wooden house, the family had no chance and died instantly. The boy showed no remorse, it was reported, and was captured on breaking into a stranger's house. Apparently he didn't want to miss a big match Japan was playing in the World Cup.
And then there last week we had the story of a rich girl kidnapped in broad daylight and held for ransom . Seriously this place is starting to feel like Colombia or something. The kidnapping story would nearly be funny for its amateurism, but it was deadly serious. The criminals, though inept, had an illegal Russian pistol and weren't afraid to use it. This is nigh unheard of over here and a very worrying trend. Luckily this had a happy ending with no-one injured and the kidnappee safely recovered.
Now I know I have to keep things in prespective. Japan is still very safe. I myself have no experience of crime, and, beyond a little burglary, none of the people in my circle do either.
What may be happening is just that crime is now more widely reported.
For example the papers said tlast week that the level of domestic abuse went up 20% last year in Japan. I really don't think the crime itself increased so much. I would say rather 'reports'of such crimes increased 20%.
For manyn many years, the idea of saving face and maintaining family honour meant that if something terrible happened to you, the first reaction was to try and cover it up. But now, with the traditional family unit breaking down, it seems that the true, dark undebelly of life in Japan is coming to light.
Like I said, I'm not going to get swept up in the mass media scare-mongering. But there is no denying this society is changing one way or the other.
I know, also, that my recent posts about Japan have been very negative. This is just a phase. As soon as my big sis gets over, I'll see the place through here eyes and fall in love with the country all over again.
In the last two weeks, there have beeen several shocking new stories.
We've had a single mother (who is suspected to have abused and murdered her own child) go on to murder one of that daughter's little classmates. And this in a small country town of 1000 where people don't lock their doors, etc., etc.
We've had a sixteen-year-old boy who, it seems, was under terrible pressure from his father for academic success. Unable to cope with this very common 'Japanese' stress, the boy decided to punish his dad. The answer was arson. When his father was out at work and while his step mother and two step sisters were sleeping upstairs, the boy locked all the doors and windows and set fire to the lot. Ebing a wooden house, the family had no chance and died instantly. The boy showed no remorse, it was reported, and was captured on breaking into a stranger's house. Apparently he didn't want to miss a big match Japan was playing in the World Cup.
And then there last week we had the story of a rich girl kidnapped in broad daylight and held for ransom . Seriously this place is starting to feel like Colombia or something. The kidnapping story would nearly be funny for its amateurism, but it was deadly serious. The criminals, though inept, had an illegal Russian pistol and weren't afraid to use it. This is nigh unheard of over here and a very worrying trend. Luckily this had a happy ending with no-one injured and the kidnappee safely recovered.
Now I know I have to keep things in prespective. Japan is still very safe. I myself have no experience of crime, and, beyond a little burglary, none of the people in my circle do either.
What may be happening is just that crime is now more widely reported.
For example the papers said tlast week that the level of domestic abuse went up 20% last year in Japan. I really don't think the crime itself increased so much. I would say rather 'reports'of such crimes increased 20%.
For manyn many years, the idea of saving face and maintaining family honour meant that if something terrible happened to you, the first reaction was to try and cover it up. But now, with the traditional family unit breaking down, it seems that the true, dark undebelly of life in Japan is coming to light.
Like I said, I'm not going to get swept up in the mass media scare-mongering. But there is no denying this society is changing one way or the other.
I know, also, that my recent posts about Japan have been very negative. This is just a phase. As soon as my big sis gets over, I'll see the place through here eyes and fall in love with the country all over again.
Technology in Japan
I will keep this short - see previous entry!
I just wanted to hear your opinion on how techonolgy is advertized in the west.
I was watching an ad yesterday. It got me to thinking that when technological products are marketed here in Japan, the company underlines how the item will affect your life emotionally.
To the best of my recollection, in Europe at least, when you see an advertisement for a new piece of technology, it's all about how fast it is, how powerful it is, how small it is, and so on.
But here in Japan, it's more like, you can use this camera to record your baby's smile (because you'll be working so hard it's the only way you'll ever see it). Or this mobile phone will help ressassure you your child has safely reached the school (because you won't have time to drop her off yourself). Or your daughter is too busy with studies to come and visit you, the aging parents, but this super-fast internet connection will keep your family bond from falling apart.
These are the stories lines of real ads over here. I can honestly say I have no idea what the specs are for any of these devices. But I sure know what sort of impact they are supposed to have on the emotional life of the customer.
Robots and artifical interreaction are everywhere over here. Kids get their first tamagotchi at the age of three or four and upgrade from their. Robots vacuum, dance and serve you drinks. ATMs bow to you, reversing trucks speak to you, gas cookers tell you when your pasta is boiled. Even pet robot dogs whine if you don't give them enough attention.
I think this is all a little uncomfortable for us in the west. We don't like machines playing with our emotions. We prefer to see them as simple tools. Or am I totally wrong here?
A funny aside. I went ot the Sony Centre in Ginza to check out the lastest version of the Aibo, a pet dog which mimics real canine behaviour to an incredible degree. I swear to God, I just touched the thing and it curled up and died, flashing a big 'recharge necessary' sign all up in my face. Whether natural or atricifical my paternal instinct is clearly short of the mark.
I just wanted to hear your opinion on how techonolgy is advertized in the west.
I was watching an ad yesterday. It got me to thinking that when technological products are marketed here in Japan, the company underlines how the item will affect your life emotionally.
To the best of my recollection, in Europe at least, when you see an advertisement for a new piece of technology, it's all about how fast it is, how powerful it is, how small it is, and so on.
But here in Japan, it's more like, you can use this camera to record your baby's smile (because you'll be working so hard it's the only way you'll ever see it). Or this mobile phone will help ressassure you your child has safely reached the school (because you won't have time to drop her off yourself). Or your daughter is too busy with studies to come and visit you, the aging parents, but this super-fast internet connection will keep your family bond from falling apart.
These are the stories lines of real ads over here. I can honestly say I have no idea what the specs are for any of these devices. But I sure know what sort of impact they are supposed to have on the emotional life of the customer.
Robots and artifical interreaction are everywhere over here. Kids get their first tamagotchi at the age of three or four and upgrade from their. Robots vacuum, dance and serve you drinks. ATMs bow to you, reversing trucks speak to you, gas cookers tell you when your pasta is boiled. Even pet robot dogs whine if you don't give them enough attention.
I think this is all a little uncomfortable for us in the west. We don't like machines playing with our emotions. We prefer to see them as simple tools. Or am I totally wrong here?
A funny aside. I went ot the Sony Centre in Ginza to check out the lastest version of the Aibo, a pet dog which mimics real canine behaviour to an incredible degree. I swear to God, I just touched the thing and it curled up and died, flashing a big 'recharge necessary' sign all up in my face. Whether natural or atricifical my paternal instinct is clearly short of the mark.
A Stinky Post
Well, we are still in the throes of rainy season. Think drippy, sweaty moistness 24 / 7... especially since God flicked the switch about a week ago and sent us up into the 30s every day. I had been predicting it would be a cool summer. What I don't know could fill a barn, I tell ya!
With my big sis's impending visit, I was hoping the weather wouldn't be too muggy. I honestly don't mind it that much myself but for the uninitiated it can be a challenge.
I also try to be a bit of a tree-hugger when it comes to the whole aircon thing. I avoid using it as much as possible. I really believe that all those conditioning systems running all day and night, using up so much power and pouring out hot air into the atmosphere crank up the temperature a good three or four degrees. I'm totally cereal! (Southpark fans will hopefully get the quote)
But when big sis arrives I say screw global warming. I'll have my apartment a dry and icy oasis for the two weeks she's here.
By way of parenthesis, I booked one night in a swanky hotel for the two of us in Tokyo right near the Imperial Palace. I am so excited. Probably way more than she is. We're only going away up the north on a tour for two days. It's a very early start so a Tokyo hotel will be way more convenient than schlepping in from the burbs. But with only this small break to look forward to, I feel like I'm getting ready to take another round the world trip. My life is clearly very sad and needs more excitement.
Back to the issue of the rainy season perma-mist.
So at this time of year it's practically impossible to get clothes dry. Friends from Lux (especially those now living in Israel) will know quite how dear 'good drying out' is to my heart.
Not only do we have to worry about our garments getting covered in mould around now, on the rare chances you have to whip the clothes out on the blacony, there's always the danger a bloody stink beetle will alight on them and do its worst. Yes, on top of earthquakes, typhoons, volcanoes and rainy season, we have bloomin' stink beetles to contend with.
A certain travelling companion of mine will know exactly what stink beetle smells like. Think vomit mixed with kerosene. While touring Western Australia together, she of the bright ideas couldn't bare to sleep with stink beetles near her and decided to take a brush and sweep them violently out of the room. Not a good idea. If left alone, they don't do too much harm. But if dragged and squished along a hard concrete floor, they tend to panic and release their pheromones. Needless to say the room we slept in that night was not the most pleasant smelling.
Not that I can crticise. I was not much help. In fact, I wasn't that much good for anything on that particular tour having given myself a good dose of alcohol poisoning there the first night. I need to go to my happy place. Seriously traumatic memories.
Here in Japan, I think my combats my have been the victim of the old stink beetle juice there the other day. I had left some laundry out over night, which is a major no-no at this time of year as that's when the bugs come out. I am also informed by my friend that it is very bad feng shue.
Anyway, I was in class and every now and then got a terrible whiff. I thought it was maybe from the carpet or something, but it followed me when I changed classrooms.
I then got really paranoid. I started to worry that it was coming from me. I mean from inside of me. I was starting to fear that you could actually catch old people smell.
You see the average age of my students is about 65, and the idea of elderly odour is a major topic in Japan right now. Seriously it's on the news, in magazines, in everyday conversation. There is a booming trade in measures to battle old people smell - special herbs and supplements, ointments, creams and even specially treated fabrics from which to make clothes.
Now don't get me wrong, Japanese people are incredibly hygienic. A daily bath is sacrosanct. But Japanese (especially older Japanese) are averse to using and cologne or fragrance. Ideally Japanese people prefer no smell at all, neither good nor bad. But as you age, your internal organs decay a little, your teeth and gums are not what they used to be, and even your hair and nails lose their condition. This can lead to an odour emanating from you which no amount of washing can change. I think in the west, this smell is often just masked. But here it's literally in your face.
So for a good few hours I was convinced I had somehow managed to join the ranks of the malodourous aged. I spend most of the time thinking my students have given me premature senility, so to think they'd given me old people smell too was not that much of a stretch.
But, that night, on closer inpection of my trousers (read almost wretching when I held them up to my nose) I figured an insect attack was the more likely explanation.
Now I realise this was a very long-winded post. But I was trying to make a point. You see a little birdie told me that my Mam tends to give up when the entries I make here are too long, and doesn't bother reading them at all! Only a mother's love... You never get a big head in my family, I'll tell you that. Mam, if you made it this far, I promise I'll keep posts brief from now on.
With my big sis's impending visit, I was hoping the weather wouldn't be too muggy. I honestly don't mind it that much myself but for the uninitiated it can be a challenge.
I also try to be a bit of a tree-hugger when it comes to the whole aircon thing. I avoid using it as much as possible. I really believe that all those conditioning systems running all day and night, using up so much power and pouring out hot air into the atmosphere crank up the temperature a good three or four degrees. I'm totally cereal! (Southpark fans will hopefully get the quote)
But when big sis arrives I say screw global warming. I'll have my apartment a dry and icy oasis for the two weeks she's here.
By way of parenthesis, I booked one night in a swanky hotel for the two of us in Tokyo right near the Imperial Palace. I am so excited. Probably way more than she is. We're only going away up the north on a tour for two days. It's a very early start so a Tokyo hotel will be way more convenient than schlepping in from the burbs. But with only this small break to look forward to, I feel like I'm getting ready to take another round the world trip. My life is clearly very sad and needs more excitement.
Back to the issue of the rainy season perma-mist.
So at this time of year it's practically impossible to get clothes dry. Friends from Lux (especially those now living in Israel) will know quite how dear 'good drying out' is to my heart.
Not only do we have to worry about our garments getting covered in mould around now, on the rare chances you have to whip the clothes out on the blacony, there's always the danger a bloody stink beetle will alight on them and do its worst. Yes, on top of earthquakes, typhoons, volcanoes and rainy season, we have bloomin' stink beetles to contend with.
A certain travelling companion of mine will know exactly what stink beetle smells like. Think vomit mixed with kerosene. While touring Western Australia together, she of the bright ideas couldn't bare to sleep with stink beetles near her and decided to take a brush and sweep them violently out of the room. Not a good idea. If left alone, they don't do too much harm. But if dragged and squished along a hard concrete floor, they tend to panic and release their pheromones. Needless to say the room we slept in that night was not the most pleasant smelling.
Not that I can crticise. I was not much help. In fact, I wasn't that much good for anything on that particular tour having given myself a good dose of alcohol poisoning there the first night. I need to go to my happy place. Seriously traumatic memories.
Here in Japan, I think my combats my have been the victim of the old stink beetle juice there the other day. I had left some laundry out over night, which is a major no-no at this time of year as that's when the bugs come out. I am also informed by my friend that it is very bad feng shue.
Anyway, I was in class and every now and then got a terrible whiff. I thought it was maybe from the carpet or something, but it followed me when I changed classrooms.
I then got really paranoid. I started to worry that it was coming from me. I mean from inside of me. I was starting to fear that you could actually catch old people smell.
You see the average age of my students is about 65, and the idea of elderly odour is a major topic in Japan right now. Seriously it's on the news, in magazines, in everyday conversation. There is a booming trade in measures to battle old people smell - special herbs and supplements, ointments, creams and even specially treated fabrics from which to make clothes.
Now don't get me wrong, Japanese people are incredibly hygienic. A daily bath is sacrosanct. But Japanese (especially older Japanese) are averse to using and cologne or fragrance. Ideally Japanese people prefer no smell at all, neither good nor bad. But as you age, your internal organs decay a little, your teeth and gums are not what they used to be, and even your hair and nails lose their condition. This can lead to an odour emanating from you which no amount of washing can change. I think in the west, this smell is often just masked. But here it's literally in your face.
So for a good few hours I was convinced I had somehow managed to join the ranks of the malodourous aged. I spend most of the time thinking my students have given me premature senility, so to think they'd given me old people smell too was not that much of a stretch.
But, that night, on closer inpection of my trousers (read almost wretching when I held them up to my nose) I figured an insect attack was the more likely explanation.
Now I realise this was a very long-winded post. But I was trying to make a point. You see a little birdie told me that my Mam tends to give up when the entries I make here are too long, and doesn't bother reading them at all! Only a mother's love... You never get a big head in my family, I'll tell you that. Mam, if you made it this far, I promise I'll keep posts brief from now on.
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