Coffee

Most people have heard something of japanese vending machines, and how they sell everything you could possibly imagine. I haven't experienced much of this yet, but the machines I've seen are the drink machines, specifically coffee and tea. The thing I really like about these if you can get either hot or cold drinks, iced coffee in a can, hot tea in a can, hot coffee in a can, cold tea in a bottle. Hot drinks fall out the bottom and the metal almost scalds your hand. Each machine has many varieties of juices, teas, coffee, energy drinks, sodas, maybe 30 offerings per machine. Alcohol is a separate machine (not as many of them), but there are just as many varieties of beer being offered. You can also get a full cup of saki from yet another machine. Cigarettes are also in vending machines. You get the idea, but the reason for this post, I can get iced coffee almost anywhere. No Dunkin' Donuts withdrawal, wooooo!

Takoyaki

Today, went out with one of the faculty to do some admin work. We boarded the school shuttle and first went down to the government center where I filled out forms for alien registration, then went to look for a cell phone. Unfortunately, I need to wait a few weeks to get my alien registration form before I can get a prepaid phone. I had thought about getting a nice phone which I can then change the SIM card on and use back in the US, but the phones that allow this require a two year commitment (obviously not something I can do). After that, we walked back to the school (with some joking about it being a 20min walk for her and only a 5min walk with my long legs) and passed some agriculture areas. It's interesting the melding of garden space with sub/urban space, thats something missing in every other city I've ever visited, with the exception of the little asian man I used to walk past every day in Boston and his small 6'x6' plot of garden. It reminds me of the artist Agnes Denes and Wheatfield, in which she planted one acre of wheat in an empty lot in NYC as a way to highlight land usage and priority.

After relaxing in my apartment for a bit, I went out again as the sun went down. I wandered and found myself at Nagaoka tenmanguu shrine. I heard laughter in the air from hanami parties as I walked on wooden footpath around a moon-lite pond. The sakura trees were illuminated and there were many japanese out enjoying the evening. It was a calm night and I continued to wander. I wasn't the only one out, and walking down one street I heard karoke singing coming from within closed doors. I bought my first beer from a vending machine, only 210¥, and Kansai-regional fast food, takoyaki, from a street vendor (who spoke the best english of anyone I've met so far). Walking around town was very nice, but I look forward to getting a bicycle to expand my range of exploration.

Structure

Wandered around today, saw some of the area. Passed a big grove of bamboo along with a spattering of cherry blossom trees. Had lunch at a little place nearby, coffee and sandwiches. First time eating out, and it was very difficult ordering as the menu was only in kanji. Eventually we got the idea across and the food was good. Still looking for a genuine ramen place to frequent. Later, had a meeting with faculty in the Fine Arts dept about my class schedule. It's a good thing I had a translator as my nihon-go is very much lacking. I have painting classes Tuesday-Friday, lectures on Japanese/Asian art history both Thurs and Friday (in Japanese of course), and as yet to be scheduled language tutoring. I will be busy.

shokuryohin

Buying groceries is confusing when you can't read whats on the packages. You might see a few words of english here and there, or a diagram explaining something (such as how to cook noodles), but in general there is no reference. Many liquids, oils, drinks, soy sauce, come in waxed-paper cartons (like a milk carton) that all look the same if you can't read the kanji, but you can figure most of it out by the position of other goods. Cooking oil and soy sauce were the hardest because there was no english and both were surrounded by similar products (rice vinegar, seasoning sauces, vegetable oil, soy oil, etc).

Grocery stores are also places full of noise pollution. I had heard this was true in many areas of Japan, the reason being they like to make announcements and have recordings playing everywhere. The airport, every escalator, down or up, had a recording saying 'Mind your step' or something to that extent. The grocery store had pop music playing on the big speakers throughout the store, which mixed with the different announcements you heard when you were near the produce, meat, dairy, and bakery sections. Of course, the announcements all blurred together if you were between areas.

The noodles I prepared are, I'm certain, nowhere near as they should be, as the diagram didnt give me any cooking time, but they're edible. The tofu had an interesting texture and was pretty good (in case you're wondering, there was a nice diagram explaining open the package, flip it onto a plate, and serve, which is how I knew to eat it raw, normally I've always cooked it).

Intent.

The most common question asked when talking about studying abroad, is Why Japan? There are a few reasons, but the answer I like to give is, Because it's not Europe. Japan is removed; far outside of my own experience and comfort level. Japan is a myth; everyone has their idea of Japan, be it sushi, shinto, bonsai, karaoke, temples, sumi-e, martial arts, sake, nature, crowded streets, reserved demeanour, or neon lights. I choose Japan because of alluring myth, but only time can show the truth.

Intent:

• 1. Art - I have struggled as an artist. I've made art, I've sold art ($$=being an artist, right?), I've been a professional designer and made a living doing it. But those are 'outside' things that don't make me an artist on the inside. I'm too lazy with my craft. I'm too scattered in my direction. I have too many ideas which I don't follow through. By being here, studying a traditional style of painting, I will be able to fully immerse myself into study. I will learn technique, and I will gain discipline.


• 2. Language - I've sometimes envied people who were raised in a bi-lingual household, their world seems so much bigger. Japanese is a completely new language with a much different alphabet, unrelated to the european languages or to english. Many say its a hard language to learn. But with time, effort, and an immersive environment, I will gain some fluency in japanese before I leave.


• 3. Backpacking - Japan is made of mountains. I'm a big fan of mountains and I'll be hiking as much as I can while here. I've had few opportunities to do much wilderness backpacking in my life, and with a sleeping-bag and one-man tent, this is the perfect opportunity. This will also allow me to see and be inspired by more nature.


• 4. Intangible - I'm in Kyoto, Japan. I've never been in Japan, let alone live here. Who knows what will happen.

Sliced bread

Sliced bread an inch thick! Oh boy!

I'm in Japan!

I made it. Thats the first thing anyone should say after such a long flight. I was up all night packing, then boarded the plane from Boston to San Fran at 6AM, then the plane from San Fran to Kansai Int'l. Long flight. I could have watched Alvin and the Chipmunks 5 times over.

Landing was un-eventful and I was in the middle section not able to look out the window. Immigration involved standing in a very long, slow moving line for about 90mins, getting my picture taken and fingerprint scanned , then straight through with no additional questions. This was repeated again with customs, "You're a student?", "OK, thank you, go ahead."

I had an airport shuttle waiting (and a chauffeur holding up a nifty CRAYTON, SETH sign) and the drive into Kyoto was nothing special beyond the fact that most of the signs were all in kanji and hiragana. On arriving at the school, I was greeted by faculty of the school, filled out some forms, then walked with them to the grocery store (for some food) and my apartment. They were very nice in making very sure I was situated for the evening. Happy to find out there are two other americans (besides my classmate who arrives tomorrow) living in my building. They're both here teaching english, and promise to show me around the area as I get situated. I could have gone out with them for some food, but right now I intend to take a bath and crash.