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| Your author having a cold one. Shibata-sensei looks on with evil glee. |
Today, let's look away from all of the bad stuff going on in Japan. I may still post the odd post throughout the day should I find something interesting that I just can't wait to share - but, for now... here's a part one of five of something I called: Beer Bottle Blues - my view of Japan while I sit in a bar.
The bar is the 4C located in Ohtawara-shi (City of Ohtawara), Tochigi-ken (Tochigi Prefecture), Japan. While these musings take part in and around the 13th month of my sojourn, I did end up staying 3+ years - and enjoying the crap out of my time - which is why I keep writing about the place. Trust me... my wife has zero understanding why I continue to do this. Personally, along with confusing her, I just like to write. And writers should write what they know - and if not, fake the whole thing. Guess which one I'm doing.
Wrong.
BEERBOTTLE BLUES - 1
Draft please.
Yeah,I still can't believe I'm still in Japan. I came here with the high hopes ofhaving an international experience and being paid for it. Of course, it's$9,000 a year less than what I made as a reporter for the top newspaper in mycountry - but sometimes it just isn't enough. Uh, that's called sarcasm.
Thankgoodness this city (ie: village with a glandular problem) has one good barwhere a foreigner need not feel like he's from Mars.
Iusually go there after 11 PM with a buddy of mine. It's amazing, really. Wetalk to each other virtually every single day and we aren't bored. At least I'mnot.
Romances.Lusts. Things we've done. People we've done. Things to do. People to do. All infront of a bottle of beer.
TonightI make the idle promise of swearing off women for the month. Won't even thinkabout'em. Yeah, right. Still, it's the thought that counts. Guess I've beenstung once too many times. This country certainly gets to you after awhile.
I remember when Ifirst got here. It was hot and so were the women. This place does wonders forthe ego. Back home, I couldn't even get a woman to look at me without thembeing drunk first. Now it's MY choice.
Gods, but it'sdepressing. The worst part is: I don't know why. Still, it's my home now.
Hey, can you get meanother beer, please?
End of the short (really short) story.
Somewhere discovering where my mind was at,
Andrew Joseph
Today's blog title is by ZZ Top: TWISTTOP
PS: I actually make about $7,000 a year more as an Assistant English Teacher than I did working for The Toronto Star as a reporter. I think I wrote what I wrote so that the joke would work. The rest of the story is factually correct.
PPS: Drinking is a national past time in Japan - and when in Rome (or Japan)... do what the Romans (or Japanese) do. It helps you fit in.
