Kyoto,
Japan
Tuesday, November 26, 2002
Week 6 (11.20 - 11.27.02) - Another funny miscommunication happened in my "voice" class..."voice" is not a teaching period, but more like a free conversation where the students can talk about anything they want...mostly they ask about us and we end up doing most of the talking. Anyway, this very high level student, a doctor who is about to go to DC for a conference, was in voice and was telling me about his week...apparently he was in not one, but two car crashes. The way he described it was "I got bumped in the ass twice this week!" Again, after containing myself I had to explain to him what that meant from my perspective and why he shouldn't tell that story while in America. The funny part was that he didn't get it, but was dying to know, so I ended up drawing stick figure pictures of it for him before he finally understood!!! Hahahaha Ahhh, I'm very happy, I finally found a copy of "Hiking in Japan", which is full of hikes all over Japan, so I can finally head off to do some real hiking. What else...oh, I think I found a new place to live. You see, I'm in this company apartment and my rent is Y58000/month (about $480), as is both my roommates. So we all pay Y58000each, but then I find out that our company pays Y58000 TOTAL for the apartment...it seems they make everyone pay the price of the apartment as rent in the event that 2 people move out, the company still won't have to cover any expenses. But, I just can't stand being ripped off and the fact that when I get my paycheck a good portion is going straight back to the people who just paid me! So, I looked around and found a place, kind of like a dorm, but better. I have my own room with my own kitchen, kind of like a studio apartment, and then there are shared bathrooms and showers. The rent is Y25000 per month, so just by moving, I'll be saving Y33000 a month ($270)!! I move on December 15th, I can't wait. I do have to pay a non-refundable deposit (called key money here, basically a gift to the landlord for the privilege of staying in his space!), but after January I make it back up with the difference in price and will gain my $270 a month! For reference, Y33000 is about what round-trip airfare to Thailand costs! ;) Another note, I think the move will be best for my friendship with Craig. He's a really good guy and we get along pretty good, but I've been noticing some weird trends with him, as well as some hypocrisy. He acts somewhat suspicious on occasion, just little things he says like he thinks I'll try to steal his women or that I want some apartment he's looking at...he says them as a joke, but it's one of things where there's probably more to it that that. I don't know, but I think the move will be for the best...definitely for me and for my friendship with him as well.
Man, I just talked with my dad and found out some more info on my new little sister.
She was premature but apparently is doing very well. She's like 3.5 pounds and 16 inches long. She hasn't needed to be on oxygen and might get to come home soon, if she can show that she can hold her body temperature steady. He said that Joan is doing great and that the baby's eating well and is pretty feisty...definitely my sis! Japan has been a great experience so far, but I really feel that sometimes I'm missing out on some important things. I mean, my new sister and my godson are both in Denver and I have a ton of great family members there. It's very hard being away from all that. I would go back, but what would I do...at least I have a place here in Japan, I provide a service that is very much in demand...more than I can say for my work experiences in the States. I mean, I love talking to my dad or mom or friends, but it makes me think about these things and as happy as I am when I'm talking with them, I'm as equally sad after talking with them...does that make sense?
I went to Kyoto today for the first time, but the weather wasn't so good and it rained on me about an hour after I got there. I was only able to see one temple, Toji Temple. Its official name is Kyo-o-gokokuji, which means "the temple that guards the capital". It was the central seminary of Esoteric Buddhism and contains the treasures of Esoteric Buddhism in its exterior halls. The style of temple is called a pagoda and this one happens to be the tallest in Japan, 187 feet. It was built in 826 a.d. and has burned down 4 times b/c of being struck by lightning. The halls (other buildings) outside of the pagoda are filled with sacred statues, Buddhist statues (you know, the statues of a Buddhist sitting in the lotus position and has 4 arms), ranging from Bodhisattvas and kings to generals and guardians (Vajrayanistic style?). Of course, like every practically every temple in Japan, there is a beautiful, sculptured garden outside and a huge grounds complex. I hate rain!!
