Some of the nicest things about Japan are the traditions, many pertaining to showing respect. There are always exceptions to the rule, I'll be the first to admit that, but one such tradition is the group "Kampai" (cheers!).
A major rule when at any drinking party is that everyone waits until everyone has a drink, then, and only then, can EVERYONE raise glasses together and clink yelling Kampai. Then the floodgates are open and usually at least one person passes out and another turns bright red, it's always good comedy nonetheless.
Usually one doesn't have to wait very long for the entire party/group/table to get all of their drinks, so it's not a problem. I was witness to a glitch in the system though last night.
I was at an all-Japanese bonenkai (end of the year party). It also doubled as a pot-luck meal. The party was due to start at 6 at a friends house, and since things run on time in Japan, I was ready at 5:30 after rushing like mad all day long. I should add, I didn't know many of the people there. So there was alot of nervous tension. Think back to when you need to break the tension meeting some inlaws, or at a high school get together, you drink. Well the food is getting put down on the tables, and the 6 of us that had arrived on time were sitting on the floor patiently waiting for the last 4 to show up.
I should remind you. Nervous tension+Booze=Everyone becomes best Friends.
But we could'nt open our beers, because not everyone had arrived. So Ive got a magically chilled tall can of Suntory in front of me, but I can't touch it. And I've got a spread of food (shrimp, guacamole, hummus, chicken etc) all in front of me, but I can only smell and ooh/ahh at how good it looks (standard practice), I can't eat it. At 7pm 2 more showed up. Then at EIGHT pm the final 2 had arrived.
Ill remind you again, 2 hours, nervous tension, awkward broken Japanese small talk, and no booze or food. It was almost comical, watching the Japanese folk with me try to save face and deal with this delay properly and politely. There were alot of "tabetaiiiii's"(I want to eat that!) and "nomitaiiiii's" (I want to DRINK that!), and awkward glances at the clock. I was passing out beers to the other guys there within 42 seconds of the last 2 people showing up, and I'm pretty sure I saw tears of gratitude in their eyes, as the strain had gotten to them too.
3 seconds after that, a round of cans popped open and a loud KAMPAI was shouted before the boozing began in earnest, time check, 8:05pm. The nervous looking guy across from me killed his beer in two drinks, and suddenly he was at ease, joking, telling stories, giving me thumbs up, and asking for another rum/coke (I should add, I was the only one to bring a 26oz bottle of rum, they thought it was interesting to no end). The other guy who nervously sat by his wife earlier, suddenly was drinking rum on the rocks, spilling rice, and laughing away. He lasted exactly 2 hours then passed out flat on the living room floor. He was covered up and a pillow put under his head, and the party went on with a body next to the table. I thought of what would happen in Canada, maybe one of the jokers would take crude pictures, maybe another would draw lewd drawings with a marker on his cheek, someone would definitely put his hand in a warm glass of water and giggle hoping he'd piss his pants.
Things just carried right on, no problem. On one side of the room a god awful SMAP concert DVD played with one lady (superfan) singing along, then at 1am an inpromptu yoga session went on (no, I did not partake in this). Anything goes, once the kampai tension has been broken.
Sunday, December 24, 2006
Sunday, December 17, 2006
The Icy Season Begins
Well it's here, and I'm not talking about the festive season, the White Illumination on the streets, or the boozy Bonenkai (year end parties), it is...the icy season.
I've never known a place like this, for all the good things Sapporo has going for it, the winter is tough. The roads are generally unsalted, and the sidewalks 99% unshovelled or cleared. What you get is a narrow sidewalk lane where people have trampled the snow down into a packed uneven obstacle course in the end. As for the streets, they waver between bare, icy, bubbled ice, black ice, or snow lanes right now. For most people, it is 'shoganai', it cant be helped..but or a person who bikes and needs to commute for his sanity, it is the saddest time of the year.
To date I've managed to limit my hard crashes to two. The first when a taxi wasnt going to stop for me to bike across the intersection (which was green for ME to go through), the second being two days ago when I hit black ice at a red light and hit the ground on my hip and elbow, still clutching the handlebars it happened so fast. My post travel budget doesnt allow for $180 for 2 spike tires, so for now my thick mtb tires will have to do, along with a healthy dose of patience.
Soon though, the streets will get worse. The city's snowploughs wait for the first big pile of snow to get packed down into ice citywide, then they scrape the top layers off. Surely this makes sense in some office, somewhere. So it packs down, and the odd time that it melts a little, it refreezes into an uneven hell, unride-able to a bike tire. The sidewalk cleaning machines come through and move the snow to the side, creating the famous 'snow walls', and thereby creating equally famous 'blind corners' for the ever speeding drivers to fly into then skid and slide when a pedestrian makes them hit the holy shit brakes.
The Icy Season is here, but that also means the hills are getting filled up with deep powder, ready to get torn up over the holidays, if I have gear. Heres to starting the countdown til bike-able days again......
I've never known a place like this, for all the good things Sapporo has going for it, the winter is tough. The roads are generally unsalted, and the sidewalks 99% unshovelled or cleared. What you get is a narrow sidewalk lane where people have trampled the snow down into a packed uneven obstacle course in the end. As for the streets, they waver between bare, icy, bubbled ice, black ice, or snow lanes right now. For most people, it is 'shoganai', it cant be helped..but or a person who bikes and needs to commute for his sanity, it is the saddest time of the year.
To date I've managed to limit my hard crashes to two. The first when a taxi wasnt going to stop for me to bike across the intersection (which was green for ME to go through), the second being two days ago when I hit black ice at a red light and hit the ground on my hip and elbow, still clutching the handlebars it happened so fast. My post travel budget doesnt allow for $180 for 2 spike tires, so for now my thick mtb tires will have to do, along with a healthy dose of patience.
Soon though, the streets will get worse. The city's snowploughs wait for the first big pile of snow to get packed down into ice citywide, then they scrape the top layers off. Surely this makes sense in some office, somewhere. So it packs down, and the odd time that it melts a little, it refreezes into an uneven hell, unride-able to a bike tire. The sidewalk cleaning machines come through and move the snow to the side, creating the famous 'snow walls', and thereby creating equally famous 'blind corners' for the ever speeding drivers to fly into then skid and slide when a pedestrian makes them hit the holy shit brakes.
The Icy Season is here, but that also means the hills are getting filled up with deep powder, ready to get torn up over the holidays, if I have gear. Heres to starting the countdown til bike-able days again......
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Tibetan Shooting at Nangpa La
Hit on this link below to see the real footage from the shooting. It explains itself.
China's Got Issues
and the follow-up website
Shoot Me Too
China's Got Issues
and the follow-up website
Shoot Me Too
Friday, December 01, 2006
3 Years in Japan
I had just said goodbye to my Grandpa for the last time and was getting driven to Calgary by my Mom and sister, and I vividly recall thinking that 'its never going to be like this again'. The next morning I was to fly to Japan with no job, no apartment, and no real wad of savings to hold me over. I also knew no matter what I'd return eventually, but I'd be changed, and things back home inevitably would have changed too.
Everyone uses a 'milestone' of some sort to mark something, to grade progress, something to guage themselves and their life's path by. Some expat Gaijin in Japan use the 'Japanniversary' as exactly that.
It's hard to believe that it was 3 yrs ago, I can still remember the cold sweat as I landed at Tokyo. I remember seeing all the little workers in cute little worker outfits all dressed properly and bowing to the plane, each other, the baggage, and anything else they didnt feel the urge to offend at the moment. I was in a daze through security/immigration/customs, and suddenly I was in the arrivals meeting Nobuko (friend from Canada), who quickly guided me on how to work the Japan Rail ticket machines and gates. Then the culture shock hit...
I was on the train from Narita to Yokohama. I have no idea what train lines I took. I know I changed at least 3 times. It was hell. It was 5pm, the rush of salarymen and office ladies were being literally crushed INTO the train by the official 'train packers'. I had a seat, with my large backpack on my knees, and my forehead buried into it trying to block it out. I looked, rough. I had a nice clausterphobic crush and a slight panic attack thinking, 'if this is Japan Im not lasting a month'.
Living in a foreign country definitely takes some sacrifices. I hear it too often from old friends that "you're living the life" etc. No, I'm living my life, you're living yours. I made these choices, you made yours. To live abroad you have to uproot yourself. I was lucky enough to have almost no roots put down and could pick up and roll on, but its still a challenge, and its something that each gaijin in Japan shares.
You do miss out on things. You miss Christmas' with family, you miss your sisters birthday, you miss your brothers first house, your miss Grandpa and Grandma's funerals, you miss your friends, your friends weddings, your friends new babies. You miss the NHL Playoffs every April-June, you miss the glacier, the Rockies, you miss running with your buddies trading stories that get better and better with time, you miss a steak, a slurpee, and real bacon.
But there's alot to be gained from it as well, and alot of things you learn to love.
I saw my first talking/music playing toilet.
I also had to learn HOW to use the toilets.
I had to learn how to take an Onsen (communal bath/hot spring) and sit on the mini stool without falling off, and learned to love soaking next to a group of strangers in the same water. Although my initial shock was, 'I have to soak next to some old balls in the same pool?!'
I can have a pretty good conversation in Japanese with a 4 yr old nowadays, or a very simple one with an adult.
I can actually read what some 'squiggly things' (kanji) say and what those 'boxy things' (katakana) mean too.
I love the mini cans of Coke and Guarana, just the right amount of pop that you don't get bloated (about 1/8th the size of a SuperSize McDs Coke back home, which would put me in the hospital now).
I love coffee in a can now.
Even if its cold coffee.
I also love coffee ice bars.
I just realized I may consume as much coffee as my Dad now.
I managed to get over eating Sushi and even like it, a little.
I got to BBQ fresh squid and got over the 'grossness' of it to admit it was kinda, sorta, good.
I got used to playing hockey and bowing to the refs after the game even if they usually were shit. And won two city championships along the way.
I even led in goals, and of course, penalty minutes.
I helped get the Sapporo Terry Fox Run off the ground for 2 yrs with the help of an unreal group of supporters.
I ran 3 marathons in 3 yrs.
I ran my fastest half marathon, full marathon, and 10k in Japan.
I was able to feel comfortable in a room of 8 four year olds, some crying, some pissing themselves, and some staring at me trying to figure out why I had blue eyes, likes it some sort of affliction.
I managed to get so used to those four years olds that when I left them they were 6 and 7 yr olds and I actually missed them, alot.
I was able to save up enough to get half out of debt, and even take a dream trip through Tibet, Nepal, and Vietnam.
I even love the private karaoke boxes here (not for the songs, but for the drinks and good times)
I love the all you can eat and all you can drink set ups here.
I really love the fact you can sit outside in the part and sip a beer, and its not against the law, its not offending an overprotective civil rights group, you can just sit outside, and enjoy it.
And the snow in Hokkaido is the best in the world.
It turned out I lasted that first month, my travels around Japan, throughout Hokkaido, 3 (yes THREE) trips back home to Canada, a Christmas in Okinawa, and a bike ride through Tibet. What was a working holiday visa year (max one year mom, I swear) has turned into 3 today. It's easier to look back on 3 yrs not just for what you've done or what you've learned, but look back and imagine your life without the people you've met along the way, the good times had, and you'll find you can't imagine NOT having come to Japan. As long as you keep moving forward, life keeps up. If you're not moving forward, you're spinning your wheels (or pulling a 'smokeshow' if youre in my redneck hometown).
Cheers Japan, here's to the next three.
(kidding Mom, put the phone down)
Everyone uses a 'milestone' of some sort to mark something, to grade progress, something to guage themselves and their life's path by. Some expat Gaijin in Japan use the 'Japanniversary' as exactly that.
It's hard to believe that it was 3 yrs ago, I can still remember the cold sweat as I landed at Tokyo. I remember seeing all the little workers in cute little worker outfits all dressed properly and bowing to the plane, each other, the baggage, and anything else they didnt feel the urge to offend at the moment. I was in a daze through security/immigration/customs, and suddenly I was in the arrivals meeting Nobuko (friend from Canada), who quickly guided me on how to work the Japan Rail ticket machines and gates. Then the culture shock hit...
I was on the train from Narita to Yokohama. I have no idea what train lines I took. I know I changed at least 3 times. It was hell. It was 5pm, the rush of salarymen and office ladies were being literally crushed INTO the train by the official 'train packers'. I had a seat, with my large backpack on my knees, and my forehead buried into it trying to block it out. I looked, rough. I had a nice clausterphobic crush and a slight panic attack thinking, 'if this is Japan Im not lasting a month'.
Living in a foreign country definitely takes some sacrifices. I hear it too often from old friends that "you're living the life" etc. No, I'm living my life, you're living yours. I made these choices, you made yours. To live abroad you have to uproot yourself. I was lucky enough to have almost no roots put down and could pick up and roll on, but its still a challenge, and its something that each gaijin in Japan shares.
You do miss out on things. You miss Christmas' with family, you miss your sisters birthday, you miss your brothers first house, your miss Grandpa and Grandma's funerals, you miss your friends, your friends weddings, your friends new babies. You miss the NHL Playoffs every April-June, you miss the glacier, the Rockies, you miss running with your buddies trading stories that get better and better with time, you miss a steak, a slurpee, and real bacon.
But there's alot to be gained from it as well, and alot of things you learn to love.
I saw my first talking/music playing toilet.
I also had to learn HOW to use the toilets.
I had to learn how to take an Onsen (communal bath/hot spring) and sit on the mini stool without falling off, and learned to love soaking next to a group of strangers in the same water. Although my initial shock was, 'I have to soak next to some old balls in the same pool?!'
I can have a pretty good conversation in Japanese with a 4 yr old nowadays, or a very simple one with an adult.
I can actually read what some 'squiggly things' (kanji) say and what those 'boxy things' (katakana) mean too.
I love the mini cans of Coke and Guarana, just the right amount of pop that you don't get bloated (about 1/8th the size of a SuperSize McDs Coke back home, which would put me in the hospital now).
I love coffee in a can now.
Even if its cold coffee.
I also love coffee ice bars.
I just realized I may consume as much coffee as my Dad now.
I managed to get over eating Sushi and even like it, a little.
I got to BBQ fresh squid and got over the 'grossness' of it to admit it was kinda, sorta, good.
I got used to playing hockey and bowing to the refs after the game even if they usually were shit. And won two city championships along the way.
I even led in goals, and of course, penalty minutes.
I helped get the Sapporo Terry Fox Run off the ground for 2 yrs with the help of an unreal group of supporters.
I ran 3 marathons in 3 yrs.
I ran my fastest half marathon, full marathon, and 10k in Japan.
I was able to feel comfortable in a room of 8 four year olds, some crying, some pissing themselves, and some staring at me trying to figure out why I had blue eyes, likes it some sort of affliction.
I managed to get so used to those four years olds that when I left them they were 6 and 7 yr olds and I actually missed them, alot.
I was able to save up enough to get half out of debt, and even take a dream trip through Tibet, Nepal, and Vietnam.
I even love the private karaoke boxes here (not for the songs, but for the drinks and good times)
I love the all you can eat and all you can drink set ups here.
I really love the fact you can sit outside in the part and sip a beer, and its not against the law, its not offending an overprotective civil rights group, you can just sit outside, and enjoy it.
And the snow in Hokkaido is the best in the world.
It turned out I lasted that first month, my travels around Japan, throughout Hokkaido, 3 (yes THREE) trips back home to Canada, a Christmas in Okinawa, and a bike ride through Tibet. What was a working holiday visa year (max one year mom, I swear) has turned into 3 today. It's easier to look back on 3 yrs not just for what you've done or what you've learned, but look back and imagine your life without the people you've met along the way, the good times had, and you'll find you can't imagine NOT having come to Japan. As long as you keep moving forward, life keeps up. If you're not moving forward, you're spinning your wheels (or pulling a 'smokeshow' if youre in my redneck hometown).
Cheers Japan, here's to the next three.
(kidding Mom, put the phone down)
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