Teacher

18 September 2007: Bike ride to Claire's school, Kyoyama.

The bike ride was a blessed relief from the heat. The students here must swelter - they stay in the same classrooms - the teachers come to them!

We met the principal and staff after a warm welcome. Together the three of us gave a quick lesson in translation: Claire in English, Lauren in Swahili, and me in Spanish. We were accepted with the universal sign of I don't know - the smile and nod.

After school, students participate in mandatory clubs. I was thrilled walking around campus, peering into the basketball and ping pong gym, hearing brass band music all over campus, watching baseball boys outside in the dirt, cheering dance performances, and coaching swim team.

We also got to meet up with one of Claire's buddies, Emi, the school gym teacher and very effective Judo instructor. Check it out.

Images from: jackie

Reader

18 September 2007: Lunch with Claire's Japanese mothers.

One mom frames paper scrolls with Japanese characters. I ask her if there is any character whose image is considered most beautiful or wabi-sabi.

To my surprise she responds that the character has been lost - now most people instead only know Kanji, used for foreign words.

Lesson

17 September 2007: Japanese karaoke is a great way to learn.

I learned karaoke in Japan is totally different from karaoke in America. Instead of a free performance space at an American bar, Japanese karaoke is in a paid, private room.

I learned Japanese by pairing the sounds with characters. We later got home and Claire gave Lauren and I a more complete lesson in Hiragana and Katakana.

I also got to teach English through Styx: Domo arigato, Mr. Roboto...

Green

17 September 2007: Off to the Okayama countryside to visit Claire's friends, Sara and Shuzo, at Wallabis Farm.

The 100 year old Japanese farm house, rice fields, and vegetable garden will soon find the addition of a bread shop. After our fresh lunch we heard stories about other ways in which the countryside has changed.

Their 80 year old neighbors no longer cultivate the forests, which have now become overrun with bamboo. Even wild boars are coming off the hills into the garden. Hunters follow and electric fences are turned on.

Walking around the garden, Lauren's in her ecology element.

Image from: jackie

Plans

16 September 2007: In Yoyogi Park beside Harajuku and Meiji Shrine I met two guys on opposite paths of my host, Claire (Rhubarb a la Mode).

The Melbourne natives plan on teaching English in Japan for 3 years, while Claire taught English through the JET Program for 3 years. The guys are hopeful.

I also told them she's now heading to Melbourne. They were impressed. But this is where their paths diverged...

- What's your mate gonna do in Melbourne?
- She's going to meditate.
- ???

Image from: anthonygrimley

Asakusa

16 September 2007: I am proud to report I have the largest breasts in Japan.

I also sweat the most - it must be a gland thing...

In the marketplace beside Sensoji Temple I snapped a clear picture without foot traffic in front of me. Possible because I was on the open air side, while everyone else was below the market AC vents.

Image from: jackie

Dateline

15 September 2007: 29 pounds prepared for 5 months.

Check-in and security went quickly and easily at Los Angeles International. At the gate I met a group of martial artists bound to compete in Shanghai. Restless already, they were doing stretches.

The plane left on time. 1h 20m into the flight, a smoker was caught in the bathroom. Restless already.

I got some sleep on the 12h flight.

Image from: manganite

Theme

8 September 2007: The first half of my trip includes Japan and India - please enjoy my travel theme with a good sound system.

The video features Zakir Hussain on tabla and a Japanese Takio drummer. Also, for the uninitiated, here is a tabla lesson.

Plot

2 September 2007: My elementary school and high school sandwich not only UCLA, but the resting place of Marilyn Monroe.

I never knew Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery even existed. Yet there she lies...

Groucho Marx expressed a desire to be buried on top of Marilyn Monroe. He also joked that his epitaph should read: Excuse me, I can't stand up.

However, his mausoleum marker (in another Los Angeles County cemetery) bears only: Groucho Marx 1890-1977. Similar to Marilyn's crypt: Marilyn Monroe 1926-1962.

The craved spot above her, instead goes to Richard F. Poncher.

What about the unoccupied spot available beside her? It's reserved for Hugh Hefner.

Image from: cinema ieti