It's Tuesday, July 23, 1991 - Ohtawara-shi (Ohtawara City), Tochigi-ken (Tochigi Prefecture), Japan. You regular readers already have a pretty good idea of the location... but here is where I'm at today:
I'm up at 7AM, shower and get dressed quickly and ride 20 minutes out to my ex-girlfriend - but friend with benefits, Ashley's place in Nishinasuno-machi (Nishisnasuno Town). It feels like it's an hour-long trek, as I'm very much down today.
Arriving at 8:30AM, we load up our bicycles with her luggage and go back inside her dark, little apartment. She's heading back home to Augusta, Georgia for a vacation.
We kiss... kiss like we never stopped loving one another. At least that what it feels like to me. I wonder... I wish...
We ride slowly out to the nearby train station - dammit, but it's hot out today! I assume Georgia is as hot as Tochigi-ken is today.
I give her a short hug and she me. We both turn away to avoid crying in front of each other... at least that's why I turn away.
As I leave the train station... I feel sad... and as I get further away... I feel less sad. I'll miss her though, but I know I'll survive.
At home (and Ohtawara is my home!) I watch some television and then go to the Ohtawara Board of Education to do some work for AJET (The Association for Japan Exchange & Teaching)—it's just some welcome information for the newcomers to our Prefecture later this month. I'm the writer, I put it together.
Matthew comes by the office at 2:30, and we head out for lunch at Mosburger—one of the very few food-related things I miss about Japan... I live in Toronto, a very cosmopolitan city... we can get any food we want... just not this fastfood-franchises great cuisine!). Back at my place we watch some videos and then head out to Matsuri, a wonderful restaurant located just below our favourite drinking establishment, The 4C.
I guess Matthew knows I'm a tad down today and buys me dinner - a very expensive one at that, but I'm still not going to sleep with him. Just kidding. I'm kidding about the kidding. Hey! How about those Bears?! And other manly things!
I tell you folks... through all of my ups and downs with Japan—actually, it was all woman related, so I guess it really has nothing to do with Japan - Matthew has been there for me. To prop me up so I don't choke on my own vomit after a great night out having a couple of drinks.
Tonight, we chill.
We rent the movies FX and Rebel Without A Cause. We watch FX at his place with his girlfriend Takako... until 11PM, when I get the idea I should leave.
So I ride home (five minutes or so?) and watch Rebel until 1:30AM.
God, but I'm so effin' tired. Maybe I'm bored? Maybe I enjoy it better when my life is in total chaos? I wish I had some chaos!
My friend John from Toronto is coming this weekend. Plus there all those newcomers (WOMEN!) arriving next Monday - more options for Andrew! Horray for me!
Somewhere not being careful what I wish for,
Andrew Joseph
Today's blog title is by The Eageles: FLYAWAY.
PS: Ashley had a boyfriend back in the U.S. before coming here to Japan. Did they break up? Yes. Even though Ashley and I met and were an item on our second day in the country. Was I worried that she would hook up with her ex while at home? Nope. I'm pretty sure she might get hit on by him... but she is a year-older and much more globally-experienced.
PPS: Besides... once they've had BROWN they always come 'round.
PPPS: Not sure HOW original that is, but I came up with it on my own back in 1990 the first time Ashely got back after breaking up with me. Ego... thy name is Andrew.
I'm up at 7AM, shower and get dressed quickly and ride 20 minutes out to my ex-girlfriend - but friend with benefits, Ashley's place in Nishinasuno-machi (Nishisnasuno Town). It feels like it's an hour-long trek, as I'm very much down today.
Arriving at 8:30AM, we load up our bicycles with her luggage and go back inside her dark, little apartment. She's heading back home to Augusta, Georgia for a vacation.
We kiss... kiss like we never stopped loving one another. At least that what it feels like to me. I wonder... I wish...
We ride slowly out to the nearby train station - dammit, but it's hot out today! I assume Georgia is as hot as Tochigi-ken is today.
I give her a short hug and she me. We both turn away to avoid crying in front of each other... at least that's why I turn away.
As I leave the train station... I feel sad... and as I get further away... I feel less sad. I'll miss her though, but I know I'll survive.
At home (and Ohtawara is my home!) I watch some television and then go to the Ohtawara Board of Education to do some work for AJET (The Association for Japan Exchange & Teaching)—it's just some welcome information for the newcomers to our Prefecture later this month. I'm the writer, I put it together.
Matthew comes by the office at 2:30, and we head out for lunch at Mosburger—one of the very few food-related things I miss about Japan... I live in Toronto, a very cosmopolitan city... we can get any food we want... just not this fastfood-franchises great cuisine!). Back at my place we watch some videos and then head out to Matsuri, a wonderful restaurant located just below our favourite drinking establishment, The 4C.
I guess Matthew knows I'm a tad down today and buys me dinner - a very expensive one at that, but I'm still not going to sleep with him. Just kidding. I'm kidding about the kidding. Hey! How about those Bears?! And other manly things!
I tell you folks... through all of my ups and downs with Japan—actually, it was all woman related, so I guess it really has nothing to do with Japan - Matthew has been there for me. To prop me up so I don't choke on my own vomit after a great night out having a couple of drinks.
Tonight, we chill.
We rent the movies FX and Rebel Without A Cause. We watch FX at his place with his girlfriend Takako... until 11PM, when I get the idea I should leave.
So I ride home (five minutes or so?) and watch Rebel until 1:30AM.
God, but I'm so effin' tired. Maybe I'm bored? Maybe I enjoy it better when my life is in total chaos? I wish I had some chaos!
My friend John from Toronto is coming this weekend. Plus there all those newcomers (WOMEN!) arriving next Monday - more options for Andrew! Horray for me!
Somewhere not being careful what I wish for,
Andrew Joseph
Today's blog title is by The Eageles: FLYAWAY.
PS: Ashley had a boyfriend back in the U.S. before coming here to Japan. Did they break up? Yes. Even though Ashley and I met and were an item on our second day in the country. Was I worried that she would hook up with her ex while at home? Nope. I'm pretty sure she might get hit on by him... but she is a year-older and much more globally-experienced.
PPS: Besides... once they've had BROWN they always come 'round.
PPPS: Not sure HOW original that is, but I came up with it on my own back in 1990 the first time Ashely got back after breaking up with me. Ego... thy name is Andrew.
