夕焼け

Not the greatest day, so when I got to the park and saw how beautiful the sunset was, I parked my granny bike and just watched it for awhile. Right now is typhoon season so we are getting some of the most incredible clouds.



I've been asked a lot lately why I am in Japan. It's simple really. I've always wanted to learn Japanese. Not just textbook Japanese like I learned in high school, but how to truly speak and think in Japanese. If I don't do it now, I might never have the chance again.

Sometimes I think of giving up. Its been very difficult to make good friends. My phone is full of numbers, but none of them feel like my true friends. Mostly just people I hang out with occasionally. The usual, go out to eat, go to a bar...but it very rarely goes beyond small talk, due to my limited ability to speak the language. Of course, I improve everyday. When I run across someone I haven't seen in a few months and they are blown away by how much better I have become, its a huge encouragement.

But trust me...this is the most difficult thing I have ever done. I have a great amount of respect for all the Japanese people who have become fluent in English. They are two drastically different languges, and completely switching the way you think is close to impossible.

がんばってます！

The wheels on the bus go round and round

Public transportation is one of the most wonderful things about Japan...once you figure it out. You can get just about ANYWHERE by bus, and they are almost always right on time. You can set your watch by it.



All the destinations are written in Chinese Characters, with only the bus's final destination written in English, which makes catching the correct bus a bitconfusing. There is a chart that is very easy to read...if you can read Japanese fairly fluently...which I cant.

When you get on the bus, you pull a number from a box at the door, like you're waiting in line to return something at Target.



At the front of the bus there is an electronic sign with all the different ticket numbers on it, and the bus fares written below. These fares keep changing the further you go. When you reach your destination, you check the fare written below your number, get your change ready, and move to the front of the bus.



Here's where it gets tricky. Remember everything is written in Japanese, most of the time using a lot of the Chinese characters that I can't read. At the front of the bus (I didn' get a picture) imagine this metal box with about 76 different places to insert things. Rather than insert your money into the coin slot ( that just gives you change) you put your ticket, AND your money in this clear box at the top with a conveyor belt at the bottom. It took me about 10 times before I figured this out, each time the bus driver giving me instructions into his microphone so EVERYONE on the bus can hear.

Anyway, I have the bus system down now, and last night had a nice peaceful bus ride to the sounds of Nickel Creek on my ipod.





When I reached my destination, the river look so sweet, I had to take a picture.



These little carts are a Hakata (Fukuoka) tradition. You can find one for any type of tradiational Japanese food, and share a meal with a bunch of Japanese strangers.

Just Dance

My good friend Ai Ueno invited me to a concert on Friday night at this extremely compact club, Keith Flack. The band was Little Fats and Swingin Hot Shot Party (ridiculously hard to pronounce for Japanese people...go figure) from Tokyo. This was their second time in Fukuoka, and they were INCREDIBLE. It was my first time seeing an all Japanese Jazz band but all my fears were put to rest as soon as the first note was played.





EVERYONE was dancing their hearts out. It was a blast, and I was the ONLY white guy there. It was like...heaven or something.




My incredibly creative artist friend Ai. We met quite randomly on a missionary ship that was staying in the Fukuoka harbor. Sometimes I go to church with her and her family, but it takes about an hour and half to 2 hours to get there, so I dont make it every Sunday.




Ai`s boyfriend is a stinkin awesome DJ





The concert was followed by a 2 hour conversation downstairs in the lounge, ALL IN JAPANESE!!! Naturally, it consisted mostly of me intently listening, wracking my brain for any words I could understand. The guy in the sailor outfit spoke about as fast as the micro machines guy, which certainly didnt help in my ability to understand, but he was such a good storyteller I couldnt stop listening.

Good times. Many dances were danced. Many friends were made.

A long time coming...

Ive been in Japan for what...4 months now. A bit hard to believe, especially considering how much trouble I have communicating, but this whole language learning thing is finally starting to come along.

Rather than try to create an interesting story in the 20 minutes of remaining break time I have between classes, Ill just how you pictures. Stories can come later.

I lost my camera in Korea and had to buy a new one, these were the first pictures I took.



Ohoori Park. I pass through here everyday on my way home. Its a good way to get away from the smell of exhaust for a few minutes.




an old man i found reading the newspaper in a sweet little resting spot.




a river pretty close to my apartment




my sweet basket carrying my trusty umbrella.




the building on the right is my apartment. Chris if you read this you will love to know that my apartments name is Riberaru...or "Liberal". I just moved in here about 2 weeks ago. It was quite the experience.




a sneak peak at my TINY apartment. Its actually pretty big for Japan standards.




this is the cooking equipment that came with my "fully equipped" apartment




this so-called stove is an old electric MESS. and it stinks.




These things are my best friends. Throw an eggand some boiling water in there, and BAM instant gourmet dinner.




BARI UMA! Delicious!

I miss you all, Ill write more later. Sorry for not putting up ANYTHING in the last 4 months. Ja!