Life and Times of a Japanese Stewardess

Steamy Concrete

2005-08-01T22:36:00.000+09:30

P1010022
Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

Sprawling smoggy skyline of Eibsu in Tokyo.

Watermelon Squared

2005-08-01T22:35:00.000+09:30

P1010011
Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

Yes, that is a square shaped watermelon going for the retail price of about 120$, just one of the many shockingly high prices for fruit in Japan. I won't miss paying 2$ per apple or peach, even if they are seemingly perfect.

Girl from the Alps

2005-08-01T22:32:00.000+09:30

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Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

My good old friend Heidi of Kansas origins as well came over from her teaching job in Korea for a bit of business and a bit of fun, she is now a Muji convert, thanks to my slightly evil bidding.

Lite Traffic

2005-08-01T22:28:00.000+09:30

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Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

This was relatively light traffic and the intersection across from Shibuya Station...

SAYONARA

2005-07-13T09:45:00.000+09:30

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Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

So the two solid weeks of goodbyes before I leave started with force at a Sayonara party for the leaving and remaining JETs in my prefecture. I thought I'd cast the evening in a reflective light by going black and white with my photos (also because my entire outfit was black and white and I can't stop the urge to continue to coordinate).

It was a great night, in a nice club with good music and all my favorite people. The day started off with a quite afternoon at Claire's who supplied me with the movies to let my inner 80's child out. I've had great times at her place and will miss the family-like vibe we'd create for brunches on Sunday, and everything she owns from Muji. Mecha Arigats Ru!

Sappy Sepia

2005-07-13T09:37:00.000+09:30

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Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

Here's me, Chris, and Natasha, oops, I mean Amy. Both of them are staying another year in Japan and I will miss them but feel comforted by the fact they are adding just that extra little bit of fashion sense to the teacher staffrooms in Japan, who need all the help they can get. Chris leads by example with a stunning 100 yen tie, reflecting brillantly here.

Jezanese

2005-07-13T09:29:00.000+09:30

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Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

Though its entertaining, it is a pity this cap covered up a good haircut Jez had.

Under the Disco Ball

2005-07-13T09:26:00.000+09:30

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Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

Folks on the dance floor, Johanna, Chris, and Abby were in top boggie form.*

*Abby not actually pictured here, but more like vividly remembered.

Mike and Phil

2005-07-13T09:23:00.000+09:30

P1010013
Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

Can't get much cooler than these two, between the skinny tie and the fauxhawk...kakoii!!!

When in Rome...

2005-07-05T15:40:00.000+09:30

P1010067
Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

I do the peace sign now without thinking anymore, I need to be broken of this shamefully cute habit. But being around Chris doesn't help, he is all to willing to throw himself into the cute of Japan as well...

Smooth Operators

2005-07-05T15:38:00.000+09:30

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Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

Steamy Niimi

2005-07-04T19:42:00.000+09:30

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Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

So this is what most of Japan looked like the day we left for the beach in Tottori. Rainy season finally hit. The not so mighty Takahashi river is flowing at maxium capacity...

On the Road

2005-07-04T19:39:00.000+09:30

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Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

This was as sunny as it got on our small adventure to the Sea of Japan on the Tottori coast. Philip and I are standing in front of a green devil (oni in Japanese). He was much more menacing in person.

One Cloudy day a South African and a watermelon walk into a bar...

2005-07-04T19:31:00.000+09:30

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Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

One Summer Night

2005-07-04T19:24:00.000+09:30

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Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

This was a night spent at a Japanese beer garden, usually found on the roof of a department store. Everyone was having a grand time, and there were enough balloons for everybody.

Sweet Helium

2005-07-04T18:40:00.000+09:30

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Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

Not many people know about Matt’s brief career as a children’s clown in Korea. His hair was green back then and he went by Chuckles MaHeHeHe.

Things I Find Odd

2005-06-27T20:05:00.000+09:30

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Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

Typical Japanese bike. You can tell a lot about the owner by the presence of what I can only describe as oven mitts on the handle bars. Oven mitts are popular among older woman who are very sun concious and don't want their hands getting too brown from all the time spent in the sun on their bike. This is a pair of lacey light "summer oven mitts" that breathe in the heat...

Grubby Mitts

2005-06-27T19:53:00.000+09:30

P1010019
Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

Here is a more sinister pair of oven mitts, winter oven mitts, complete with a quilted leather outer coating, just begging for some little hoodlum to fill with shaving cream...

New Viewing

2005-06-06T19:46:00.000+09:30

P1010018
Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

It is officially summer, though school in Japan is still in full swing which has put me into a sort of timeless/seasonless state of mind, but attending BBQ’s is good summer therapy, I think. So this one took place on the roof top of an apartment building in Niimi, a city/town nestled in the valley of lots of modest green mountains.

Roof Top

2005-06-06T19:44:00.000+09:30

P1010014
Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

The BBQ began, unofficially at 5:30 and trailed into the wee early morning hours, and had three grills with meat and chicken on them, lots of beer, about 50 people, including two delightful Brazilians who brought chicken hearts, and two visits from the Japanese police, which is like having your grandpa pop his head in the basement and tell you to keep it down, very menacing...

Fire Good

2005-06-06T19:39:00.000+09:30

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Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

Here Amy "mans" one of the grills...

Turning Japanese

2005-05-16T17:36:00.000+09:30

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Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

Claire said for us to pull a Japanese face, so here we are at our most Japanese, notice the restraint of our expressions, the exactness in our tea cup holding...

Behold the Glory

2005-05-16T11:08:00.000+09:30

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Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

Tis the glory of Golden Week and our feverish quest to seek out neon-lit entertainment...

GW ain't just a Bush in Japan

2005-05-16T11:01:00.000+09:30

One thing Japan doesn't lack is national holidays. April 29th kicked off the start of Golden Week (aka GW), the longest stretch of holidays during the year. April 29th was Green Day, no relation to the band, it came about from a past Emperor's love of nature, I’m not sure what folks here traditionally do on Green Day, I think I watched a couple movies though. Next comes Constitution Day on May 2nd, with a name that squelches any desire for further investigation, your boring guess is probably right, then May 3rd, which I think is the real jewel of all holiday’s in Japan is unofficially In-Between Day, just a freebie thrown in to connect Constitution Day with Children's Day on May 4th so everyone gets three days off in a row.

Good time for a road trip, so I hopped in my friend Amy's toaster shaped car along with Claire and Jez and we drove five hours to Kyushu, the western island of Japan. The highlight of the car trip was when Claire relented and let me thrown some of her hard boiled eggs out the window at a concrete wall. After one night in a non-descript city called Kokura, we drove down to Beppu a city of about 100,000 known Japan-wide for it's quality hot springs. It hosts two types of hot springs, ones for bathing called onsen and ones purely for watching and unfortunately smelling, called Hells. The Hells emit hellish looking smoke and sulfur smells, but give the city a certain mystical edge when driving into its manicured mountain sides, as if the whole area were resting on top of a bubbling caldron. Beppu is also known for its kitsch tourist value and for a museum devoted solely to sex, which is not listed on any tourist maps in town but in the Lonely Planet for the foreign traveler's amusement. And amused we were by its artifacts from bygone brothels and a down right naughty interpretation of Snow White's stay with the Seven Dwarves. The highlight of Beppu was staying at a traditional Japanese style hotel, called a ryokan, where we had use of a private onsen, and then had a traditional Japanese meal brought to our tatami mat room, to be consumed while wearing mint green and purple yukata (lightweight robes), after which the four of us played various games involving lies, truths, and cards into the wee hours…

Then we headed to Kyushu's largest city, Fukuoka and checked into another ryokan. Philip came to meet us and more drunken card games ensued. After the cards we headed to a dance club called the Happy Cock, whose mascot was a quite sinister looking rooster. There rest of our time spent in Fukuoka was either lazing around the ryokan or traipsing through the mega shopping center called Canal City, which the travel guide described as "verging on the sexy." I think Kyushu is doing its best to try and increase the birthrate in Japan, but it was fraught with sexual innuendos at every turn.

Cha-Cha Town

2005-05-16T11:00:00.000+09:30

P1010005
Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

Amy's smile is a lie. We all vowed this would be the last time we rode in one of the many lame ferris wheel that every city thats any city seems to have in Japan...

Firey Hell

2005-05-16T10:58:00.000+09:30

P1010016
Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

Here we are in the steamy pits of hell in Beppu... Actually, unless hell is filled with elaborated manicured gardens, clear skys, bright sun, pleasant temperatures and ample amounts of cool refreshing beverage vending machines, then its tough to call this place a hell...

Post Onsen Din-Din

2005-05-16T10:55:00.000+09:30

eating dinner at the ryokan- beppu
Originally uploaded by clcummins.

Here are our lovely hospitalish yukata...

The Toaster

2005-05-16T10:53:00.000+09:30

burt and his passengers
Originally uploaded by clcummins.

Here we are with Amy's lavendar toaster car...

Pocky Mon

2005-05-15T21:59:00.000+09:30

P1010024
Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

Here's Philip next to a giant Pocky stick in a tacky store in Fukuoka's Canal City mega shopping construction...

Good Sterile Fun

2005-04-27T09:32:00.000+09:30

P1010003
Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

Happy and germ free!

Sort of Arbitrary Really

2005-04-27T09:29:00.000+09:30

To continue on my observations of the more odd culture found in Japan, my next subject is SARs masks. At least that’s what I know them as because other than doctors or dentists I never saw people wearing these white masks in public until the threat of SARs broke out, which was shortly before my first visit to Japan in 2003. In Japan they are just called “masks” or more accurately “masku” and people wear them all the time. Students wear them when they serve school lunch (kids dish out the lunches in Japan, not Lunch Ladies) and adults wear them if they have a cold or the flu or if they don’t want to contract a cold or the flu. I just think it’s creepy. To see so many people looking like they walking into surgery, but really are on their way to teach a class. I even see people wearing them alone, while driving in their cars, protecting themselves from what? They give people an expressionless mute-like quality that reminds me of Hello Kitty, because she too, has no mouth. But there is a sort of sinister element, a sort of obsessive-compulsive germ-a-phobia about the whole thing. But it’s Japan, so they’ve taken some dark and made it cute. I’ve started collecting children’s SARs masks which come in brightly colored packaging, with cute character details, because something about them is uniquely and thoroughly Japanese.

!Outbreak!

2005-04-27T09:28:00.000+09:30

P1010001
Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

My prize collection of SARs masks, ranging from monkey endorsed to Hello Kitty and Winnie the Pooh. It's too cute and weird to resist.

Culture Shmulture

2005-04-13T10:27:00.000+09:30

Okay, I vowed this cherry blossom stuff would be my last highlight of traditional Japanese culture for a while. Because what I am equally, if not more so fascinated with is Japanese pop culture or just plain weird stuff. So I'll begin at the beginning. Most people, coming to Japan for the first time will go to Tokyo, and once in Tokyo, after a fitful night of sleep in a hotel, will venture out into the streets. And for most, hoping for a little normalcy and comfort from home, will do what they often do at some point during the day, and that is stop into a convenient store. Convenient stores, or "com-bee-knees" as they are called in Japan, have been just that for me, comforting, if not normal. I’m sure this obsession is just something I inherited from my dad, whose passion and compulsion for convenient stores would be hard for even me to match.

My favorite chain here is Lawson's, which I recently learned is named after a defunct chain that didn't make it in the US. The other top dogs are 7-11 (just like at home), Poplar, Daily Yamazaki, Sunkus, and Family Mart. What makes Lawson's so special in my heart, is for one, its color scheme and employee uniforms. The bubble gum pink, blue, and white stripes smocks and a big milk bottle as it's logo smacks of a seventies revival of the 1930's milkman/ ice cream parlor. I also believe Lawson's to have the highest quality of crust cut off sandwiches in Japan, (A good sandwich is hard to come by here, and it's even harder to find one that doesn't have the crusts cutoff already, but Lawson's does a good egg salad and ham) as well as a superior selection of bottled beverages and chocolate.

My Beacon in the Night

2005-04-13T10:26:00.000+09:30

P1010027
Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

Lawson's, recently lovingly portrayed in a New York Times's magazine article.

Lawson's Girl

2005-04-13T10:25:00.000+09:30

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Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

You can count on Lawson's for a lot of things, including a clerk with elaborately fashioned hair, dyed just the right shade of orange to really set off the lovely blue striped smock they must wear...

Lawson's Kitty

2005-04-13T10:22:00.000+09:30

P1010030
Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

Lawson's is so cool they even have their own Hello Kitty doll, which is the offical seal of cool in Japan. The longer I'm here the harder it becomes to resist Hello Kitty, she taunts me with her patient mouthless persistance, she is everywhere, all the time, watching me with that wide blinkless stare.

Eek, O-den!

2005-04-13T10:13:00.000+09:30

P1010003
Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

So this is the Japanese equivalent to nasty convenient store hotdogs and brats, this vat of mysterious broth draining the life out of unidentified food products... The guess here is some kinds of tofu, processed fish on a stick, noodly rice things, goat liver, I don't know. Smells horrible though...

Pocky Aisle

2005-04-13T10:10:00.000+09:30

P1010002
Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

Ah, Pocky, it's a tasty stick dipped into something even tastier, chocolate, white chocolate, banana chocolate, green tea chocolate, strawberry white chocolate, sesame seed white chocolate...

Should All Acquaintance Be Forgot...

2005-04-13T09:41:00.000+09:30

P1010024
Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

This park/castle grounds in Tsuyama is covered with cherry blossom trees and we arrived at the perfect time to view them in full bloom. The park turns into a party as food stalls sell various sea creatures on a stick and the locals bring blankets and coolers of beer to enjoy the festive atmosphere and romantic lighting... The only downfall is the park closes at 10pm and the "get the hell out of the park" music is the New Year's Eve song (sorry, don't know it's proper name) played over and over and over again, which just seems wrong to use out of context, but somehow reminds you intensely of the fact you are in Japan.

Tsuyama Castle

2005-04-13T09:26:00.000+09:30

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Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

This castle is probably recently rebuilt, but the steps up to it are not. But once at the top there is a lovely nighttime view of the city to behold, which is a good thing, because I've seen Tsuyama in the daytime, and it's not much to look at...

A Tree Grows in Niimi

2005-04-13T09:23:00.000+09:30

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Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

Who wouldn't want to have a picnic under that?

Sakura

2005-04-13T09:22:00.000+09:30

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Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

Some up close action of the blooms...

Temple, Surely?

2005-04-06T11:25:00.000+09:30

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Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

One of many buildings at the Chion-in Temple in Kyoto....

Springtime Blooms

2005-04-06T11:14:00.001+09:30

Finally, I made it to the cultural treasure chest of Japan, Kyoto. It is a prime Spring time tourist mecca as the cherry blossom trees burst forth in abundant pinkness. Japanese folks all over the country are enjoying the same, as the cherry blossom, sakura in Japanese, begins to bloom and many a hanami party takes place. Hanami, which roughly means flower viewing, is basically a well-placed picnic. Folks get blankets, food, and drink and sit under one of the blooming trees and wile the afternoon way, gazing at the loveliness.

Unfortunately, the blooming was but a whisper in Kyoto when I went, maybe 10% of the buds had graduated in flowers. Still, Kyoto has more to offer than just flower watching. It is said to be more cosmopolitan than Tokyo, and the art and culture hot spot. But like all of Japan, the old culture is fused with an increasing modernness. Like when I was at Starbucks in Gion (the geisha part of town) just a block down from an old temple, and a fully dressed geisha, sans makeup was behind me in line waiting for a latte. Now, I�'m used to seeing the occasional woman dressed in kimono in my town or nearby ones, but the geisha have the really elaborate hair going on and often times the five inch tall wood sandals so they make quite an impression.

Kyoto is also home to temples, shrines, castles, imperial villas, and just general old stuff. I heard something about the US purposely not bombing it because of it historical value. So you could spend a week seeing just those things, but really, I think they are best seen in small doses. Luckily Philip was of the same mind so we kept the temple viewing to a minimum. The best of which was Chion Temple. The Golden temple is said to be a good one, with an interesting history, the original was burned down in 1949 by a monk whose obcession with it had to end with him lighting it effectively aflame.

River's Edge

2005-04-06T11:14:00.000+09:30

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Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

The Geisha Get Down

2005-04-06T11:11:00.000+09:30

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Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

These geisha are doing the autumn dance. There was amazing scenery changes for each season, ending with the spring time cherry blossom set. There were also geisha playing traditional instruments and singing. It was an hour thoroughly well spent...

Little Bloomin' Bit

2005-04-06T11:04:00.000+09:30

P1010017
Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

One of the few trees in full bloom at the park we went to, but I'm pretty sure these are not cherry blossoms...

The Japanese Bride

2005-04-06T11:02:00.000+09:30

P1010019
Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

This is a traditional wedding I had the good fortune to intrude upon, but I take comfort in the fact I was one of many taking pictures...

Run Kenji Run

2005-04-06T11:00:00.000+09:30

P1010003
Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

This was a shop front in Gion in Kyoto. I'm sure this is depicting some old fable, but I don't know it, there are so many reasons the dog would have effectively ripped the boy's pants off, I can't really venture a guess, but the two main crimes in Japan are bike and umbrella theft.

Sumo Specifics...

2005-03-22T11:35:00.000+10:30

P1010026
Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

Fun, Fat and a little Furry

2005-03-22T11:28:00.000+10:30

So I finally made it to the long awaited sumo tournament. It was me and the boys, Philip, Jez and Matt. Matt is from New Zealand, has and plans to stay in this country too long for his own good, but is a fountain of sumo knowledge, and follows it on TV and knows all the players little quirks. We arrived at the sumo stadium around two in the afternoon when some of the less advance matches were going on. The best wrestlers and matches are left until the end of the day, between 4-6. We reserved a “box” which seats four people, but was really a 3ft by 3ft square with four cushions to sit on, a bit cramped but very Japanese. All around were Japanese families eating boxed lunches and munching on dried squid which smells like one would imagine it to. But for me at a sporting event, I was thoroughly entertained and enjoyed the spirit of it all.

There is a whole lot of ceremony to the event, as one might expect, but the gist of the match is one guy has one chance to push the other out of the ring or to get him to fall down inside the ring to win. The longest match I saw maybe lasted a minute and a half or two. Most were over in thirty seconds. It’s fun to take bets on who will win, because it isn’t necessarily the fattest, a certain amount of agility is involved. Longer than the match itself, it seemed, was the amount of time it took the “announcer” to sing the wrestler’s names, which comes out sounding like off-key moaning vowels.

Sumo wrestlers aren’t just Japanese either. There are some successful wrestlers from Korea, Mongolia, and Russia. They are required to grow their hair long so it can be slicked into the traditional looking topknot. They eat several large meals a day and try to sleep right after so as to not burn any precious calories. I’d say an average sized guy was 300lbs. But the biggest was nearly 400lbs. The scariest part was the occasional appearance of back and breast hair.

I'm Coming Out

2005-03-22T11:03:00.000+10:30

P1010023
Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

Here are some of the top wrestlers in their sort of "coming out" ceremony in which they wear not only the diaper, but also a decorative "apron" in front. So lets recap, these "men" must have long hair swept into dramatic up-do's, wear embroidered silky aprons, grow ample bosoms, wear silky diapers, and walk around barefoot while looking seemingly pregnant... hmmmmm.

Face Off

2005-03-22T10:55:00.000+10:30

P1010019
Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

This match took place fairly early in the day, which is why I was able to get the close up wedgie shot. What you can't see is how remarkable close some people are sitting to the ring, and when someone gets shoved out, thats a whole lot of momentum and flesh to have smack into you.

Osaka Streets

2005-03-22T10:51:00.000+10:30

P1010012
Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

This is the front of the sumo stadium. Apparently all of the flags were handmade. It is located right in the heart of downtown Osaka which made it strange to see the sumo wrestlers in traditional robes wandering the streets, walking past, or maybe into the McDonalds or a convient store...

Even Better Than the Real Thing

2005-03-22T10:47:00.000+10:30

P1010033
Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

This is as close as I would get to the big fat men. Every other time I saw them they were beat walls with their hands and heads or just generally looking intimidating.

Call me Mrs. Robinson

2005-03-17T17:33:00.000+10:30

So, some fun facts about the Japanese Public School System! First, the school year begins in April and ends in the following March, so I am currently coming upon graduation time. For me personally, graduation was that thing that happened at the end of high school and again at the end of college. But now in Japan, I must attend three graduations this week, Bisei Junior High, Elementary School and Pre-School. I was trying to explain to my fellow teacher that I didn't have these graduation ceremonies growing up, and the main was, no one really cares. For me, even the High School and College graduations I did attend were mostly going through the motions and a good excuse to eat elaborately iced cakes. High School Graduation I grabbed the diploma in one hand and twirled the lolly-pop I was enjoying in the other, and for college I walked through the line with headphones on listening to a soundtrack from a documentary about gypsies.

Graduations in Japan are a real flower fest, I've seen some wicked flower arrangements at these and graduating students also give their teachers single roses as a token of appreciation. The homeroom teachers got at least two dozen each. I got three roses, the highlight of which was Yuma's. Yuma is the tallest boy in school, with the deepest voice, and big dreams of being a break dancer/ DJ. The whole event must have brought out the adolescent in me because when this 15 year old boy gave me a rose I actually blushed.

Nice and Flower-y

2005-03-17T17:26:00.000+10:30

P1010011
Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

Taste of Sucess

2005-03-17T17:23:00.000+10:30

P1010009
Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

Graduation in Japan does reap some tasty benefits, but it's not about the cake here, it's all about the bento, baby. O bento, or roughly translated, Honorable Boxed Lunch, is something Japan does very well, or very bad depending on where you get it. It generally consists of tasty bits of fish, raw, cooked and fried, as well as a light dotting of veggies, fruit, and rice or sushi.

With Honors

2005-03-17T17:19:00.000+10:30

P1010010
Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

Here is a graduating wee one standing next to the Graduation Giraffe. What might catch your eye are her "fancy" socks, these "fancy" socks are reserved for special occasions such as graduation or Culture Day. "Fancy" socks are worn by little girls, generally go up to the knee and end in large protruding ruffles.

Valley of the Dolls

2005-03-06T22:56:00.000+10:30

This weekend was spent in the quaint town of Katsuyama, where my friend Chris lives. The event on Tap was the O Hina Matsuri, or Girls Festival, which is basically a large display of large sets of ornate dolls. The dolls are put on display around March 3rd for any little girls a family might have to promote their happiness. The displays are then swiftly taken down because as supersition has it, if the dolls are left “on the shelf” too long it means the girl will be late getting married. Families are very concerned about their girls getting married swiftly, at 25, I am nearing “Christmas Cake” status, meaning on December 24th everyone in Japan buys a Christmas Cake, and those not bought and left over on the 25th are old and unwanted, so same is supposed to go for woman. I like to think I do not need consumer validation to know I am a quality, tasty looking cake, made with love and fresh ingredients, and that I can live a full cake life both on or off the shelf.

Luckily, this intense girlishness was balanced out by something not so girlish; monkeys. Chris befriended a delightfully sweet Japanese woman named Nao, who drove us up to a nearby waterfall. The highlight of the waterfall was wild monkeys live there! I’ve been dying to see some monkeys since I got here. And I got an eyeful, about 50 some monkeys were frolicking about, and they were so used to the tourists you could get really close to them, there were baby monkeys, and even baby monkey making!

Welcome to the Doll House

2005-03-06T22:53:00.000+10:30

P1010007
Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

The regal court of dolls...

Oishikatta!

2005-03-06T22:52:00.000+10:30

P1010010
Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

To go along with doll viewing, little cakes and tea help set the mood. These are mochi cakes, which is rice that is beaten into a soft dough, sweetened, steamed and wrapped around anko, which is a sweet red bean paste. I will miss these dearly when I leave...

Look, it's Nature!

2005-03-06T22:49:00.000+10:30

P1010020
Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

Behind me is actually an impressive waterfall, but this photo is not doing it justice, and those little gray lumps are the monkeys.

Monkeys to Suit

2005-03-06T22:47:00.000+10:30

P1010015
Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

Here is a baby monkey hitching a ride on itâs motherâs back. As far as mood lifters go, monkeys are just as good as chocolate, I was enchanted with them on site.

A Vision in Green

2005-03-04T16:07:00.000+10:30

P1010027
Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

It's Jez, seen here with the most 70's like hair and expression to match anyones reaction to really 70'sish looking hair. He has posted an equally unflattering picture of me on his blog, so in all fairness, this was my only option. I suppose that describes our friendship as well, slightly antagonistic but all in fun. He was a psychology major, which makes him a good companion for people watching, he also has a seemingly unlimited capacity for pulling all nighters, McDonalds, and funny hats.
The ladies behind him aren't his backup singers, it's Zoe and Ilana, his fellow Australians...

The C's

2005-03-04T16:03:00.000+10:30

The C's
Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

You might say Claire is my roommate here. I invade her apartment in the city nearly every weekend, throw my belongings all over the living room, use the shower, cook copious amounts of food in the kitchen, eat her chocolate, and drink her divine coffee. The good thing for her is she never has to make her own coffee or breakfast on the weekends, there is always some waiting for her, and it is really the only way to wake her up, she is blessed with the ability to sleep in long powerful chunks. Claire likes to shop and eat at the same times as I do, which is basically all I require from a good girlfriend, and it doesn't hurt that she has good taste in movies, is well traveled, and has an entertaining vocabulary, both in English and Japanese.

The Naked Man Festival

2005-02-21T23:45:00.000+10:30

P1010034
Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

The Temple at Saidiji where boys become men.

Male Bondage

2005-02-21T23:39:00.000+10:30

So, I went to view my prefecture's most famous festival, the Hadaka Matsuri or Naked Man. On a cold night in February each year, thousands of men flock to the temple to don nothing but a sumo-like diaper arrangement (and this is no ordinary diaper, it is ten feet of white cloth twisted into what has been described as the ATOMIC wedgie, a wedgie so powerful you can taste), run several times through a chest deep 'cleansing lake,' consume enough sake to make the whole affair seem somewhat sane, and then fight over a large stick dropped into the crowd by a priest to win a year of good luck.

Several JET English teachers from other prefectures came in for the event, and we all took three buses to the temple grounds. One bus was filled with a bunch of guys who actually running to try to win the stick for the foreign community, but there was no way the Japanese yakuza (mob) was going to let that happen.

It was a flesh colored sea punctuated by black dots of hair with countless arms and legs undulating like tentacles. An eerie mist of steam rose above the mass along with the noises of drunken effort and struggle. If you were watching closely, the lines of men parading in groups seemed to pass by three times before they ended up dissolving into the sea. Rinse and repeat this image for an hour until your mental picture is filled to the brim with these naked men. Cry out as large waves of men fall down the steep stairs of the temple. Think, 'That must have hurt' after the tenth times, then you'll get used to it. Finally the lights go out and large sticks are being dropped into the mass, but you can't see them. For the rest of the ceremony, you will never see the stick, this is disappointing and unsatisfying to you. For the most part, it is anti-climatic because the mass post-stick doesn't look much different to the mass pre-stick. And it isn't until you leave the temple and see grown men wandering the streets in diapers, alone and cold that the metaphor of a womb for the mass comes to mind, that all these men were inside something wet, warm, possibly very gooey, and they are now ejected back out into the cold hard world with nothing but a soggy diaper, some colorful bruises, and an empty hand where a triumphant stick should have been.

Throngs of Thongs

2005-02-21T23:21:00.000+10:30

P1010036
Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

Part of the steamy mass of bodies in pursuit of the precious stick or in Japanese the 'shingi' which rhythms with 'thingy' which somehow seems appropriate. I'm sure there were lots of thingy sightings in the crowd.

Devil Inside

2005-02-21T23:16:00.000+10:30

P1010016
Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

Some close up action of the naked men. These boys are freshly diapered and ready to hit the temple. On the right is Philip who has some stunning bruises to show for his fall down the temple steps, and the left is Jaco from South Africa. Claire loaned me the devilish hat which didn't seem to offend the Buddhists...

Temporarily Grounded

2005-02-09T17:22:00.000+10:30

As much as I'm sure everyone is dying to know what winter in Japan is like, I just can't bring myself to 'talk about the weather' on this, what is supposed to colorful and exciting documentation of my life. I would be lying though, to say everything is exciting right now, I have gone into more of a hybernation here then ever before, namely because of the lack of central heating in my apartment. I have a few space heaters, but they are really only good for heating one room, so there I stay fortified with English movies and the occasional torture of Japanese TV.*

*Japanese TV comes with 8 basic channels, at any one time at least four of these channels will be airing a show about food, any show about food will consist of a woman dining in a restaurant by herself, there will be a tight close up of a quivering piece of glossy gelatinous food pinched between chopsticks, then the enormous bite will disappear into her mouth, 2 seconds later she will exclaim in estactic delight, "OOOOOOOIISSSSHHHHI!" (Japanese for delicious), she will chew some more, and repeat the cry again. At first I was fascinated and sat through several of these programs back to back, now I can't bear to watch and wish the Japanese could consider varying the word for, tastes good. There is 'UMAI' but only men are supposed to use it, and as I said, these shows only involve women...

A big night out is to the supermarket, which has also become slightly torturous due to SUPERMARKET MUSIC, canned slightly electronic, slightly elevator, wordless covers of some of the worst English songs ever made, "Welcome to The Jungle," anything by the Carpenters, one store only plays a pop version of the Rocky theme song, over and over and over.

Please feel free to donate English materials to my mountain top....

Moonviewing Party

2005-02-09T17:17:00.000+10:30

Moonviewing Party
Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

The true Japan Moneyshot, a bunch of foriegners in traditional garb! This was taken way back in October during a Moonviewing party in which people partake of rice cakes and gaze longingly at the full moon. So thats me on the far left, next is Susan from Canada who, in the middle in green is Hanna, the superwoman who has helped me out of more jams in here than anyone else, and below her is her granddaughter in pink, then Sarah from England, but really, after a misspelling of her name on offical documents as Saram, we just call her Sadam, and finally Rachel, from New Zealand who lives in the town closest to me. Apparently the kimono I'm wearing cost $3,000!

Little Sumo Studs

2005-02-09T17:10:00.000+10:30

P1010011
Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

These four year olds are ready to face off in a do or die sumo match, winner goes on to face me. Sometimes I cheat and just pick them up and throw them outside the circle and marvel at my triumph. I will to a real sumo tournament in March, so those will be the photos to look out for!

Tide of Thailand

2005-01-20T15:50:00.000+10:30

P1010039
Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

Exit Row Duties

2005-01-20T15:42:00.001+10:30

So, this Stewardess logged some major flight time over the winter holidays, working out of the busy hub at Osakas's Kansai Airport, moonlighting with both United and Japan Airlines flights.
What happens in Bangkok, get in cab and in the blink of an eye you could be at the driver's cousin's brother in law's jewelry shop, intended to fall for a scam, instead the desired destination. We even got kicked out of one cab for refusing the offer, after I stated 'I HATE jewelry!' Nevermind that I was making it at this time last year.

First impressions were Thailand reminded me of Mexico, a bit run down, lots of shiny gold religious imagery, bright, colorful, SPICY food, but with the most international mix of people I've seen yet in my travels.

Christmas in Bangkok was spent on a scenic boat cruise down the river that runs through the center of the city, traditional Thai food, dancing, and music, except when the woman playing the traditional Thai musical instrument, of which I do not know the name, slipped into a thoroughly Thai verison of Jingle Bells.

But the real gem of time spent in Thailand was spent on the island of Koh Pha Ngan, off of Koh Samui on the EAST coast of southern Thailand. Never once did I consider going to Phuket, having heard of its status as a major tourist spot. So when the tsunami hit, the day we arrived on the island, on the 26th, we saw nothing but a calm paradise. An oddly surreal experience...

Who-la-la!

2005-01-20T15:39:00.000+10:30

P1010053
Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

These were the best hip shakers at apparently the best Luau to be found in Maui, the Old Lahina. You're greeted with a mai tai and a lei upon arrival, and the entire staff is extra friendly sarong wearing, tattooed Hawaiians. An open bar specializing in super fruity drinks and the pig in the ground undigging kick things off, but it's the dancers that are the most memorable.

Aloha

2005-01-20T15:38:00.000+10:30

P1010051
Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

Here's Kate and I in the midst of a sunset.

It's SUPER!

2005-01-20T15:37:00.000+10:30

P1010035
Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

It's the SUPER THAI BOXING Truck! This thing prowled the streets of Thong Sala, on Koh Pha Ngan, playing curious Thai Boxing music and repeating, âTHAI BOXING-(undistinguishable Thai) - THAI BOXING and more strange music.â THAI BOXING was highly entertaining, especially because they started off with the 10-12 yr olds, who get really mad at each other. The older guys had some amazing kick attack moves, and surprisingly funky traditional dance moves, as well.

Christmas

2005-01-20T15:35:00.000+10:30

P1010023
Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

See if you can find Philip in this reflective photo of a reflection. This was the Christmas Day dinner canal cruise. I think I might start my own tradition of eating Thai food for Christmas in coming years. The red curry with green beans makes for festive coloring. It was a perfect eveningâ¦

TASTY!

2005-01-20T15:33:00.000+10:30

P1010013
Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

One the sort of outdoor markets/street vendors in Bangkok. Best new vegetable discovery, this little green thing that looks like an olive but tastes like a combination of zucchini and eggplant. Too many new fruits to count, but one Philip and I dubbed a queer combination of celery and apple, mostly tasteless but you wanted to like it.

Wholesome dancing

2005-01-20T15:31:00.000+10:30

P1010028
Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

Traditional Thai dancing action, these girls have the most flexible hands I've ever seen.

Viva the King!

2005-01-19T13:41:00.000+10:30

P1010014
Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

This was one of the main temple strips devoting more than half of its gold to the King of Thailand and the rest to that buddha guy, whoever his is...
The King is getting up there, so most photos had that fuzzy touched up look about them to keep him looking forever young.

Keki Making

2004-12-21T11:02:00.000+10:30

Keki Making
Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

These are Christmas Cake making Junior High girls. They are absolutely mad for sugar. There was a lot of ear piercing squealing going on. And whipped cream ended up in some odd places...

Smooth Operating

2004-12-21T11:00:00.000+10:30

Smooth Operating
Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

This scene is taking place during an Eighties Dance Party at the Aussie bar, a bar in Okayama city run by an Australian ex-pat. My Hutchinson Goodwill 'Back to the Future' t-shirt came in really handy. I'm dancing to the smooth sound of Sade with Chris, a delightful man-boy from England who can wear rainbows and purple like nobody's business...

Coors

2004-12-21T10:55:00.000+10:30

Coors
Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

This photo was also taken at the International Food festival in November. I made banana bread and wore a Coors t-shirt, how much more American do you want? Here I'm taking a break from the cricket game going on, (my first cricket experience) wearing Mac-khun's, the little guy hovering behind me, hat.

Haruka-chan

2004-12-21T10:51:00.000+10:30

Haruka-chan
Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

Haruka on the left, is one of my most favoritest little ones. This day she spear headed an all on attack on me. I had about eight 4 and 5 year olds dog piled on top of me at one point and the teacher actually "in charge" of the class was now where to be found. I ended up flinging most of them aside and successfully chased them into the Kindergarten principal's office, a kindly older guy that really loves golf.

Bowling Guy

2004-12-21T10:46:00.000+10:30

Bowling Guy
Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

Let's Bowling. This bowling alley in Okayama City offers the highest entertainment value because all the employees must wear vinyl bowling pin hats on their heads, except this guy, who donned the whole pin suit. The non-bowling accessary clad gal next to him is Amy, from New Castle. It was her birthday organizing efforts that got everyone down to the alley.

Staff Room

2004-12-21T10:28:00.000+10:30

Staff Room
Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

This is the view from my desk at the Junior High. On the left is Nurse Harada, who speaks little English, but offers up the best snacks throughout the day. And on the right is Yamaki Sensei, the office lady who is the only other person who works at the school, besides me, that actually lives in the town of Bisei.

Seated Upright with Securely Fastened Belts

2004-12-16T06:10:00.000+10:30

My first blog entry is coming rather late, considering my actual entry into Japan happened four months ago. Better late than never...

Banana Keki

2004-12-15T15:49:00.000+10:30

Banana Keki
Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

This was my contribution to the Ibara International Food Festival, an event in a nearby city offering the cuisines of 8 odd countries. Being Mid-western I made banana bread, which to do the lack of loaf pans became banana muffins, and then due to the Japanese confusion that the product looked nothing like bread then became Banana Cake or in Japanese Banana Keki (pronounced kay-key).

Awfully Australian

2004-12-15T15:45:00.000+10:30

Awfully Australian
Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

Depsite the looks of this photo, Jez and Philip really don't sucumb to the typical Australian stereotypes. Granted Jez does like to shorten words, like say, Carolyn to Caz or afternoon to avro, and Philip gets his 'reckon-ing' in here and there, but I've never seen either one actually consume Vegemite or speak wistfully of the pet kangaroo left behind...

Ahhh Aki

2004-12-15T15:38:00.000+10:30

Ahhh Aki
Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

This is Philip and I having a "moment" on a perfect autumn (aki) day, at the Ibara International Food Festival.

Shiho Playing House

2004-12-15T15:36:00.000+10:30

Shiho Playing House
Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

One of many gosh darn cute kindergartners whom I see every Friday.

Junior High Sports Day

2004-12-15T15:34:00.000+10:30

Junior High Sports Day
Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

These are my Junior High students boldly marching forth into their impending Sports Day. For Americans you participated in something called Super Kids Day in elementary school, Sports Day is the same concept but more serious and Japanese, with really cheesey music.

Flickr

2004-12-15T15:26:00.000+10:30

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

Bisei Lights

2004-12-15T13:45:00.000+10:30

Bisei Lights
Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

This is Bisei, the little mountain top town I live in. There are about 6,000 people here. Bisei mean 'beautiful star' and it's claims to fame are clear night skys for star viewing and milk, delicious whole milk, delivered forth from mysterious (fushigi) cows I have never seen...

Finding Favorites

2004-12-15T13:41:00.000+10:30

Finding Favorites
Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

Next to me in the lime green is Jez, across from him in the plaid number is Philip, and in front is the scarf swathed Claire. I like these people. A lot.

My Humble Home

2004-12-15T13:40:00.000+10:30

My Humble Home
Originally uploaded by Carolyn Sensei.

Flickr

2004-12-15T13:36:00.000+10:30

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.