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| Mary (l) and Mari Ann (r) |
Let me begin by knowing that you have already arrived. It's how I try to live my life.
You might think that being a foreigner and in a plush job as an assistant English teacher in the Jet (Japan Exchange & Teaching) Programme would allow for good pay, a short hours... and for that actual job of teaching at one of seven junior high schools four days a week (with one day at the Ohatawara Board of Education (OBOE)), you would be correct.
Unfortunately, I'm a little social butterfly. Flitting around from one event to the next. Making myself seen and heard - always trying to show a happy face for the Japanese and others.
I'm here in this country to show the Japanese that foreigners (gaijin) are not only cool, but are just like themselves. Hard-working but also hard-partying.
The problem is that while the OBOE has parties maybe once every two months, I'm involved with more than just the OBOE. I have JET (or AJET) responsibilities. I also participate in the Ohtawara International Friendship Association, and I teach at a couple of night school classes to pick up some extra yen to spend (which I always do!).
I'm also trying to learn as much about Japan and the Japanese, while trying to grow up a bit. I've also been in and out of more relationships than I can count at the moment of this writing--but that's okay, because I had only had two relationships prior to arriving in Japan, and neither involved intercourse--unless it was that time I was told to go 'intercourse yourself'.
Along with the women, I also have friends. Friends who, like myself, sometimes need the company of other like-minded (IE: English-speaking people) to converse with. All of us foreigners in Japan suffer from some form of homesickness. I get that way every once in a while, but then, some woman will come along and make me forget about ever wanting to leave this wonderful rife (life) I have begun to forge here in Japan.
Sometimes, I do think I am going crazy. Other times, despite being surrounded by so many people, I feel like the loneliest guy on the planet. Really, it's all just a state of mind. Excluding those with a chemical imbalance, one really can be happy if you let yourself be happy.
At this moment in my life, I'm a tad burnt-out. I can feel myself getting tired--I don't sleep enough. I don't have a girlfriend this week, but I am sleeping with my ex-girlfriend while making the moves on a Japanese girl I like. I was recently stalked by a drop-dead gorgeous Japanese university student who wanted to throw away everything for me--but despite enjoying being tied up, I didn't want to be tied down yet. I had to let her, and our fantastic sexual romps, be taken away by strange men in the night who literally took her and placed her in a car and took her back home and hopefully placed her on some reasonably-priced meds.
Today, I'm supposed to head down to Oyama-shi to meet Mari Ann Hironaka--an attractive Japanese-Canadian on the JET Programme with me, who is feeling the homesickness a lot worse than others... I think. I'm the type of guy who will talk to others about stuff like this and invite them to open up--and, brother have they. Of course, most of the people I talk to are women on the JET Programme... but that's mostly because the men on the JET Programme are hitting on any breathing Japanese woman they see.... and that leaves a lot of foreign woman needing comfort. That's where I've been coming in, so to speak. Someone needs to look after these women.
Oh, and don't think I don't also try to help out the poor Japanese women who want to date a foreigner--and surprisingly, there are plenty in this fine upstanding country.
Regardless... down in Oyama, Mari Ann and I head over to Mary Mueller's apartment. Mary is a sexy, blond American who loves to talk, is very opinionated, but has the brains to back it up--and I really like her. Too bad she has a boyfriend named Peter (who I like dammit) and she is going home in a couple of weeks time. Mary was the leader of AJET here in Tochigi-ken before handing the reins over to Susan St. Cyr a few months ago. Tochigi-ken AJET seems to have gone into the dumper since then.
We are supposed to be at Mary's for a meeting with Susan, mixed with a farewell party for the non-renewers. Susan, of course doesn't show up. We were also supposed to meet a few days ago, but Susan canceled it telling everybody involved but me. Needless to say, I'm not impressed.
Apparently Susan got caught teaching an aerobics's class at Robinson's department store in Utsunomiya-shi, the capital of Tochigi-ken. As a result, she's having an emergency meeting with her office. We're not supposed to teach outside of our office, but my OBOE is so freaking cool that they don't care what I do as long as I do it safely. That's why each and every one of those people at the OBOE are my friends.
So... Mary, Mari Ann and I plot the future of Tochigi AJET. I have no idea why I am bothering as I don't think I am going to re-up with AJET. I can save a few yen, and can participate if asked, but really, I'll get back a few days a months for myself.
Later, during the party (what am I doing here?... I feel odd... aside from Mari Ann and myself, everyone else is leaving this country in a few weeks... how do I relate?), there is an electrical storm that interrupts our pizza party.
I wait around for 30 minutes and decide to head back home.
Back at Nishinasuno-eki (Nishinasuno station just north of my town of Ohtawara), it's 11PM. On a whim, I decide to see if Ashley (my ex) is up... it's not a given, as she's usually pooped by 10PM.
But she's awake. So we chat. She reads me the story of Jonathon Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach--the entire book! I'm blown away when I hear the line: "Begin by knowing you have already arrived." Holy crap! Does she think that about me? Or is it about her? Or, is it a warning that I don't know everything, or is she telling me that I do know everything?
Whatever. I'm here. I'm here in the now.
Ashley still cares for me--more than for the sex. I'm sure of it now! Still, we'll see what happens after she comes back from her trip home to Augusta, Georgia. But, I'm not going to worry about it. At least not here in the now.
I borrow her book and head home arriving at 2AM.
It's raining, but all in all, I think I had a good day.
Somewhere enjoying Japan,
Andrew Joseph
Today's blog title is by The Loving Spoonful: WHATADAY
PS: Yup.. .that horrible shot up above is of a toasted Mary and Mari Ann, and it might be the only photo I have of these two pretty women. I'm afraid it doesn't do them justice at all... except that is what they looked like drunk.
PPS: Very busy this week, so nothing else until 24 hours later!
