One Crazy Night

Wow is all i can say. Last night the Hanshin Tigers won the pennant for their division. The city went crazy. But this time it was under control (sorta). I was warned about what happened the last time Hansin won the pennant in 1991. The city went nuts. There is a river here called the Dotumbori, and it is 10x dirtier than the Venice canals. People were jumping in in celebration. They would line up and yell through the batting order, and who ever looked like that player, they were peer-presured into jumping in. The funny part is that one player was american, so when they got to his spot in the batting order...the japanese looked around and no one looked like him, so what are they to do?...well they walked a block to KFC and ripped a massive Colonel Sanders statue and threw him in. One person died and 400,000 people marched through the streets.

So this time the police were more prepared. Since Hansin had the pennant secured for a long time, glass walls lined the river. I found out after work that they had won the pennant so some of my friends went down to party in the streets. When we got there we were in awe. 200,000 drunk japanese in yellow and black tiger costumes or other team paraphernalia. I dont know how to explain it, but it was the best night i have had here. (pictures are coming) I went to a few games and some readers might remember that each player has their own chant and dance. Well, i know some of those dances and last night the japanese were in awe that a blonde haired foreigner knew those dances. I led over 200 people in chants all night long. High-fives were aplenty. The best part was that i look like a american player on the team. So they would chant his name (Andy Sheets) and then they carried me on their arms. I was thrown into the air a couple dozen times. People would lift me up (politely hold my beer...and give it back!) and throw me into the air like i was on a large trampoline.

We were in the center of a great party, and i took it upon myself to be the ring leader of the chants. Today at work was a hard day, my voice is hoarse. But if Hansin wins the National Title in a few weaks, the craziness will be even greater!

Cirque du Soleil

Quick update. Im off to Alergria 2 tonight with the ex-girlfriend. (only as friends). Should be a fun show. We had been planning this well before we broke up, that is why we still got the tickets. $100 tickets, but it is worth it. (i know because my mom toom me to see them in Florida...thanks Mom). And the best part, if i remember correctly is that there are no words, only orchestrated music, so the show will be just as enjoyable for everyone there.

Hmmm #6

Hmmm #6
Originally uploaded by mtstaffa.

I don't know what to say. Apparently the Occult is funny to the Japanese. One feels really dumb when walking through a quiet bookstore full of people diligently reading away and you bust into laughter for no apparent reason. The reason being the sections of the bookstore that have been grouped together.

This is why they were grouped (imagine that "flashback" sound and the haze that surrounds the flashback images)......oh and imagine the following dialogue is in Japanese....

"Hey Satoshi, Mr. Yoshi called a meeting to go over our bookstore section naming."
"Oh yah, thats right Hiroko, I almost forgot!"

"Ok everyone, We are looking to be the bookstore that serves not only our proud people, but also those foreigners who visit our land of the rising sun. To facilitate those outsiders, I want to have our sections labeled in English. Does anyone speak English?"

"I do Mr. Yoshi"
"Great Satoshi, you lable the sections"

"Hmm, what sections should I group together? Well I did read a book about that Skeleton Key movie, but I didnt understand it...maybe it was a comedy."

What to teach?!

Ok, this is a request to all you readers out there. I am doing some private english lessons. What should i teach (rated PG!)

Here is the student's background. She has great grammer and excellent vocab. She does tend to be a bit long winded; my job is to help her with idioms and other ways native english speakers speak. (rather than text book english)

Any ideas?

Rules of Jumping Over Bikes

HA! The rules of the game are as follows. (and pay attention)

1. One can only jump over bikes with male passengers. (this is not sexism, just the rules here. It is a male dominated society)
2. The Jumper can only be a male.
3. The bike must be traveling fast
4. The biker must be traveling from right to left (if you are looking at it and attempting to do jump said bike)

Hope this helps anyone who wants to visit (hint hint) and is inclined to jump over bikes (following the aformentioned rules)

Signs

Signs
Originally uploaded by mtstaffa.

If you ever come to Japan, there are a few things you have to remember. This is a really orderly society. People follow rules. Most important of them all:

Don't Jump Over Bikes. It is not an olympic sport, it is dangerous and you might get hurt.

Just thought i'd inform you incase you came over here...don't want any cultural faux pas.

Kitakagaya

Kitakagaya
Originally uploaded by mtstaffa.

Sorry for the long delay in the posts. I will post more often now again. I dislocated my finger the other day playing Australian Rules Football (aka Footy). I did however score four goals in the effort. (dont worry Mom, my finger is fine). I set it back into place almost immediately so the recovery has been quite fast. I have almost full range of motion with it again. It is however, still a little "colorful".

So what has happened in the past week or so? Well I moved into the best room of the apartment. My cool Scottish roommate moved out and i got his room. I now have my own private balcony, fridge, lots of closet space and 2 windows. (all of this i lacked in the black-box of yesteryear.

I also went on another date the other day with a Japanese lady, of whom i taught how to play darts. In discussing various topics in choppy english and japanese, we both were shocked by eachother's age. I'm 24 and she is 30. ha. We have another date next week.

Oh, random side note for Rhyno, the picture of the kid sliding down into dog poop....i now know what the dog is saying. I guess dogs speak here and he muttered "Sorry".

Lots more updates to come. Topics coming: Joining a Japanese baseball team, being called David Beckham, the $500 Bali Restaurant Bill, and how the NEW roommate almost killed us all.

Send the postcards!