Mel,
Thanks for the tips. It’s a b***h being functionally illiterate. I wish I were adopted by the village, but the locals either cross the road when I walk by or think I’m Santa-san. I’m considering spending Christmas break in Australia to avoid the inevitable sneak beard-grabbing.
Now if Autolycus will reply so I know if I need to get the guest room ready…Oh, yeah, Auto, if you want a place in Tachikawa this weekend, I probably can arrange something.
I’m pretty sure their reactions are only because you are in Misawa - people in the rest of the prefecture aren’t like that - they may be a little scared at first but the defence base has coloured the locals reactions to foreigners where you are.
A guy I knew who lived way up the Shimokita hanto, had his office desparate to see his penis - he was a really big guy and they assumed he would be really big down there as well. When they finally got him to an onsen, they were a little disappointed!
Hey Pottu san - forgot to say - google search Aomori JET (other than the Misawa base, most foreigners in Aomori will be on the JET Programme). These guys are in all the small towns and out of the way places and will have good ideas on what to see and do and there will probably be some fun people to hang out with (I say probably, they tend to be 22ish and after living in Aomori for a few months, think they know everything about Japan - I can can say this, as I used to be one! - well, one of the less obnoxious ones…)
Domo arigato! I need all the help I can get for local knowledge. I hope our OP wasn’t washed away in the typhoon or caught in the earthquake in Kashiwazaki.
Well, he implied that he’d be checking in via 'net cafes. Hopefully, we’ll hear from him soon.
FTR, I’m in L.A., and a few hours ago, we had a jolt. Not much, but I’m fairly certain it was the last gasp of the Kashiwazaki quake.
::checks CNN:: Oh, crap! There’s been a 6.8 in the Sea of Japan! A new one, IOW! Oh dear…
No one reported dead in this new one - closer to Kyoto.
We had a few jiggles about bedtime last night. It trembled a bit, stopped for a few seconds, then resumed rumbling. I was a bit worried that it might escalate into “the big one.” It didn’t. I fell asleep. It’s amazing how quickly you get accustomed to these things.
Omatase shimashita! Sorry for the delayed response, I`ve been busier than a Bangkok whore. I survived the typhoon and the earthquake. I will give a short summary.
12th, arrive, find hotel in Asakusa Tokyo, eat dinner and end up making good friends with a Japanese psychology professor, sleep
13th, meet up with two penpals in Tokyo, one in the morning and one in the evening. Karaoke, korean lunch, izakaya (pub), etc etc. No waist-shaking ensued, but a good time had by all.
14th, travel to Shizuoka to stay with an ex-girlfriend and her family. I arrive and find a feast fit for a king. They are impressed by my Japanese, and treat me like a long-lost child. Everyone gets drunk as a skunk. Drunken sex with the ex ensues. Happy sleep.
15th, wake up, remember wtf happened last night, talk to ex-GF, ex-GF becomes ??? relationship. Go to onsen. After that, another gigantic meal. I eat whale for the first time. More romance. Good times.
16th, Wake up, pack, shower, travel to Kyoto to see Gion festival with friend. Super-duper fun. After that return to Nara and stay with same friend. Friend owns a webcafe and hosts foreign travelers very often. After we arrived, a drinking party ensued. I dont remember going to bed t.t
17th, wake up, futsuka yoi typing this, soon going to see Big Buddha again, and then another friend who owns a mom and pop bar in Nara.
So far its been a blast!!!
Caractacus, I will PM you my number. I am busy on the 21st, but I think I can maybe visit you on the 22nd. Is that ok?
Uhn tiss tiss baby!
Glad you survived the earthquake.