Thursday and Weekend

Potentially a long entry... sorry.

On Thursday... uh, I don't really recall much happening besides me going to school... oh, but, I did find a Mos Burger on my way to school... so, hell fuck yeah I'm going to try to get my ass there whenever I get the opportunity... woot woot!

Oh, and I also was allowed to go home early, so, I actually managed to cook. And I cooked some Japanese curry... and it was hella good. Oh man was it good... \o/

Making the curry wasn't difficult. Just boiled the chicken with some salt, pepper and basil (which I never used until now... and holyness does it smell really good!). While the chickened boiled... I chopped an onion, tomato, carrot, and some potatoes and garlic. Let me just say... the vegetables here are soooo fresh. They smell good and... well, fresh. I don't know how else to go about explaning it... but, they are also very dirty. Jebus... I had to wash, then peel, then wash the potatoes and carrot again. It took a while, but it was worth it. As I finished chopping stuff, I continue added it into the pot with the chicken and it began smelling better and better. By the end... it seems like it would've made a pretty good soup... but, I was in the mood for curry... heh heh, so I added the block of curry and it was just amazing and delicious!

I also made rice... but, yeah... seeing that I never had a rice pot, and it was in Japanese... I had no idea how to go about using it. I actually just got lucky that rice was made... so, I guess I'll just stick to the method I lucked into... heh heh.

Funny thing is... yeah, I made a lot. So, I invited Rob to help me eat as much as he'd like. I still had leftovers... so the curry became my breakfast and dinner before heading over to Morioka on Friday... heh heh.

Friday, pretty unproductive... but, it was still a fun day. Left the school and showered and packed to get set to head over to Morioka since a group of us ALTs decided to meet up during this 3-day weekend. By the time I finished, Rob was free from school... so, I picked him up and he got set. We headed out about 7:15 PM and arrived around 9:20-9:30. The drive wasn't as bad or scary as I expected. It mostly took place in mountains... in intense darkness, which is why I was worried. But, like I said... it wasn't bad. Only problem was that once we arrived at Morioka... we spent like 45 minutes figuring out where the Moriokans (composed of 4 ALTs) wanted us to park. We eventually found it and headed to where everybody was already hanging and drinking.

Man, everyone was pretty much smashed by the time we arrived. Seeing that we arrived about an hour to an hour and a half later... it's not very surprising. I figured it'd be too late to drink since everyone was long gone already... but, since Sara (one of the Moriokans) said the best drunk stories begin with, "I had to catch up...", I felt a challenge was presented and catch up I did. That and it looked as if people were getting ready to leave and counting up people to split the check... including me... so, might as well drink if I'm paying. So, chug I did... a Tequila Sunrise, a pink drink, two beers, and a warm beer (man... that was pretty nasty... c'mon... beer is nasty enough as it is).

So, yeah... by the time we paid and we waited outside... I was pretty set. Let me just put it this way... the chugging and paying and going outside all occurred within a matter of 10 minutes... so, yeah... I felt the alcohol pretty well. We headed to a Karaoke bar and began singing and drinking more beer... and at that point... I figured I might as well continue with beer and drank 3 more. Looks like I'm finally going to acquire the taste for beer... since, not much of a choice. I broke the seal and proceeded to peeing about 4 times while Karaoke-ing. By then, we all split up and went to our respective Moriokan who would be allowing us to bunk up with them. We had Tynka, so, Rob, John and I followed her... in a very unsober manner, seeing that all of us were pretty tipsy. John wanted some McDonald's... so, we headed there and one of the Japanese girls that were hanging out with us followed. She was mad cool people... and, yeah... I could see why there aren't any good looking girls in Ofunato... they are all pretty much in Morioka... heh heh.

We then proceeded to Tynka's by cab... since I was too smash too drive. Which, it wouldn't matter one way or another since in Japan... the alcohol tolerance for driving and riding bicycles is... 0... meaning, if you had a sip of alcohol... you in deep shit. I was too drunk to care about my car at the moment, so we got in the cab and we all pretty much passed out right away. Don't know how long it was to Tynka's... but, we all abruptly woke up when we felt the car stop and the door open. That was when I realized how bad I had to pee again... so, my infamous action of public urination proceeded. I went near the train tracks and peed real fast. Good thing too... because as soon as I finished... a train passed... heh heh.

That was all for Friday... we ended up asleep around 4:30 and woke up at 8 since everyone was getting set to meet up by 11:30. There were 4 of us... so, we began getting ready and caught the train back to the station. That was when Rob and I returned to my car... and thankfully it was there in tact and without any tickets or problems. We changed inside my car (taking turns) and the four of us then proceeded to meeting up with everyone. There was a bit of a gloom about us... since a lot of people were sleep-deprived and hung over. We had some food then met back at the station and bought a train ticket for Hanamaki where a Matsuri (festival) was going to occur.

When we got there, there were already floats being pushed by people and music playing (it's common for people to decorate floats and then push them through town... I forgot the Japanese term for that). We found the area of the festival and started with some dipping dots. Turns out only the Americans knew dipping dots... so, we had to introduce it to the other ALTs... heh heh. Too bad we forgot to mention that you're supposed to let it sit in your mouth for like 3 seconds before you bite into them... cause, yeah... it's really cold. So simultaneously... they all freaked at how cold it was and how there teeth hurt... heh heh.

We crossed the street next to this stream to wait for the Matsuri to begin. That was when I noticed that if you walked about 100 m (oh man... I'm beginning to use metric units...) you were able to go down these stairs and be next to the stream. It was only about 5 meters below the rest of the group... and I just wanted to snap pictures.

This group of elementary kids then came along with their teachers and float next to the stairs... and they suddenly caught sight of me. I didn't hear them at first... but, then I realized they were saying hi to me. So, I said hello right back and they all giggled and continued to say "Hello!" back to me. But, the more I responded back... the closer they got to me. Suddenly, all I heard from the ALTs above me was, "Oh no Victor... you're trapped! It's too late for you..." since the stairs were the only way to and from where I was. Sure enough, they all came and surrounded me... there were like 7-10 of them and they kept asking me questions in Japanese and I answered and understood them for the most part. It was really cute... especially when they asked about my labret piercing and I showed them the inside of it. Everyone else began snapping pictures of me because I was surrounded by them... and well, if you looked on for a while, you realized it appeared as if I was slowly being consumed by the pool of kids. I started standing up... they would go lower and lower to hear them and try to understand their Japanese... and, yeah... before I knew it I was sitting in the middle of them all... heh heh. I took some pictures with them... and I showed them how my camera was a touch screen... which was really cool for them and I allowed all of them to use it and snap some pictures of and with me. They then began eating and they asked me more questions and even were offering me some of their food. It was really cute... heh heh. I tried to say that I was full though... because although the teachers were acceptive of me being with them... I didn't want them to think I was eating their food. Rob joined in and we just sat and talked/hung with the kids for like 30 minutes or so. Then, they got us to sign a fan for them... and they even asked me to sign their hand... heh heh.

The festival then began... so, Rob and I decided to say bye to them and head back to the group. I had so much fun with them... if only I had internet so I can post and get the rest of the pictures people took of me with the kids.

Though we were right next to the group the whole time... the fuckers left us without telling us... heh heh. We tried looking for them... but, it was kind of a lost cause. We just enjoyed watching the festival... and it was funny because the women dancing would then catch eyes of us... two foreigners who obviously stood out very much... and they would laugh and kind of blush with excitement at the fact that we were at the festival and watching their dancing. I very much like this celebrity-like status. We then caught eye of a large group of foreigners from across the street, and realized they must be the JET ALTs that were arriving after us. So, we eventually went in the same direction and ended up stumbing into our friends. We all hung out... us and the JET ALTs... and it was nice to know that there didn't seem to be animosity amongst us. Supposedly there is this unstated rivalry between our two companies... especially since JET is slowly being replaced in Iwate with us. But, they are still fairly new as well, so, they don't like that animosity and were really cool. They also asked about our company, that way they can determine whether to switch over once they're contract expires.

The festival was really cool... imgaine the anime festivals with the little booths of food, dessert, drinks, games, and the FISHES! Heh heh... I thought that was awesome since it actually was exactly like the anime. They then had floats running along the street and it was very cool. The students also did there float pushing... and Rob and I tried to look for the kids we hung out with. I wanted to see them and wave at them as they passed... but, I kind of thought it would be cool if they then asked us to join in the parade with them... since we caught two older foreigners join in when asked.

By that time, we were pretty tired and went back to Morioka for some dinner. Some where looking forward to dancing... but, they needed more drinking first. I stuck with the group... but, I was really tired... as was Tynka, Rob and John. The funny thing was... the four of us didn't say anything since we didn't want to be the party pooper that caused the rest to leave. So, from one bar to another we went and hung out until it became obvious that the four of us where about to pass out. We laughed when we realized how tired we all were... and just headed to my car to drive to Tynka's. I was just glad my car was still there without any tickets or fees. I was worried because the parking lot we were in appeared to be free... but, it kind of didn't make sense since it was empty while the parking lots around that one were ones you had to pay. But, whatever... I shouldn't question free parking for two days... heh heh.

This morning we slept in until late and John left since he had to catch a train. So, after we got set, Rob and I also decided to head out. We went to the station first since we wanted to see the Imported Goods store... or, how I like calling it... the Gaijin Store. Oh man... it was awesome... there were lots of stuff from home, so I bought Heinz Ketchup and some salsa and chili (some of you know what that means, huh?) I wanted to make dip for some of my schools... so, I needed those items.

Oh man, and while at the store... a kid passed us and then realized we were foreigners and got all excited when we said hi to him. Rob then told me, "We have a little ninja following us."... and it turned out that the little kid was sneaking around following us. It was cute. His parents and us then eventually ended up in the same aisle, and we talked with the little kid. More Japanese practice for me. He was really cute and also took interest in my piercing, so I had to show him and his parents. We talked for a bit (the parents as well) and then said goodbye to each other. They were all really nice. And, kids... especially the younger ones, are the best ice breaker. Overall... Japanese stick to themselves and avoid foreigners... not because they hate us or anything like that... they are just mostly worried that we'll need their help and speak English to them and neither party will understand each other... so, they figure avoiding us makes it so that problem doesn't arise. However, the younger kids do not fear this yet and are more likely to be all excited when they see a foreigner. Once I begin speaking in some Japanese, the older Japanese then feel safer and then join in to talking more. And, god knows I need the Japanese practice... thus, little kids are the best ice breakers! But, more simply... they are just too cute!

We then made it to the bank and to eat. We stopped at a KFC... but, mostly because I wanted the Japanese version of biscuits with honey. I had that in Kyoto last year and wanted some biscuit with honey again!


Then, back to Ofunato it was. It was a pretty good weekend! But, I am glad to be back in Ofunato where it's less hectic and where it is quiet and I can relax. I had a lot of fun in Morioka though... and can't wait to return. Especially since that's where the younger Japanese folk around my age are. It seems that... excluding the school children... Rob (24) and I are pretty much the only ones around our age in Ofunato. My reasoning is that... after high school... people go to other places to start college or work... so, yeah... Rob and I are really the only ones that I know around our age. It's basically the school generation... Rob and I... then the adults. In Morioka... there are also the group of Japanese who love the Gaijin... and do everything possible to hang out with them and teach each others' language to each other. Most populous cities have this group (for us RSJP folk... imagine our buddies). So, yeah... definitely looking forward to returning... especially since we ended up running into a girl who we drank with on Friday and she introduced us to her friend who was like... I want to drink with you guys! He was really cool... but, I had to break it to him that we're not from Morioka... and hopefully we can run into him the next time we hit Morioka.

Anyway... this entry has been to long and I think Rob is waiting for me so that we can grab some dinner.