So anyway, I'm going to start a bit of a project, just to give myself a necessary kick in the arse to write stuff that I want to write. I guess this is going to try to be a Whereverhome blog-collabo fictional experimental piece for myself, with some sort of meaning behind putting it on my village well. On the wall of the well. So that when it starts to stink I'll kick it into the depths. Australian Bank Account will be in separate entries from regular blog entries, at least that's kind of how I picture it right now. But seriously, please don't expect too much. Wooord. Presenting:
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
"Well, it sounded good at the time..." & Australian Bank Account (part one)
So anyway, I'm going to start a bit of a project, just to give myself a necessary kick in the arse to write stuff that I want to write. I guess this is going to try to be a Whereverhome blog-collabo fictional experimental piece for myself, with some sort of meaning behind putting it on my village well. On the wall of the well. So that when it starts to stink I'll kick it into the depths. Australian Bank Account will be in separate entries from regular blog entries, at least that's kind of how I picture it right now. But seriously, please don't expect too much. Wooord. Presenting:
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Skating in Okinawa
There's not much time to skate in Okinawa, with work and that, but it's always like, no matter how tired I am or how late at night it is, if I do get up on my board for a little bit, that rattling and crunching and reverberation brings me back. And then I hang up on that tall curb and eat shit... hahah Aahhh, the beauty of skating in a place where the buildings are old and the sidewalks look like mini-earthquakes were thrown onto them for the rats. I got to roll down 58.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Two Years of Summer
Probably like two years ago I took this photo... for some
reason it was in my LA file. My LA file, like
LA Gear black and neon green.
So last summer I was in Los Angeles, chillin at the Colby house, working nights at that restaurant on Santa Monica Blvd and at the Institute for Intercultural Studies during the hot bicycling days (big ups to Dr. Han). Then I moved to Australia, which I'm sure you know is in the opposite hemisphere north-south ways. For some reason this creates a January mid-damnin-hot summer, I think because of the tilt of the world. Then this year, I came back up past the equator to Okinawa for a burning hot summer on a tropical island. So the last time I tasted real, good cold air was like two years ago.
It made me realize how much I love summer, but a perpetual one wouldn't be good for me. I need some sort of seasonal change; I think we all do. Isn't that why the Earth, like, turns? Yeah, change is progress, and I get really cold recently riding my moped with two jackets on, hunchbacked and notredamed, teeth chattering, but I'm actually down for it. Watttuuupp winterrr.
I'm coming home! I got a flight back to LA on the 23rd of December and will be in America until Jan 6th... I'm pretty hyped; I actually miss my country, the smooth sidewalks, Comedy Central, right-gear-shifts, all my clothes in storage, my books, two tacos for a dollar... Let me know if you're around- I'll probably be staying in Torrance, near that Benihana's. Which is good to the Wilmington skateplace you say about, Geoff. Damn, I'm about to just drive out to the Korean Bell and kiiicckk ittttt.
Words, there's a new live music class in our curriculum here, which is pretty sick, and all is ever-proceeding with Okinawa Actors School and Live City, too. I'm lucky to be able to be doing this translating, curating, teaching and filming.
Peace, see you soon.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Monday, November 3, 2008
ATLiens Running OKInawathons
That no I'm not from the ATL
But rather I have the power in me to yell
That I come from Los Angeles County
You get more aware of that while living in a different country
It's likely
That most, many, or some of the people who we meet
In this Japanese nation or on an Okinawan street
Have only visions of movies and television
Cultural differences and a foreign vision
Allow me to perceive how I perceive
Not through any media except my own eyes
The information that I receive
The ways that people create both laughter and drawn out sighs
It's like good roasted pork meat
Like a timelessly marinated OutKast beat
It's all quite neat
and
Interesting.
I don't know about that sighs part.. what do you think?
Aaaanyway.....
It's good to know that my absentee ballot is either in the LA County Clerk's office or just a couple miles away now. Big day tomorrow. To be honest, I feel really American right now. Letss doo this!
Later y'allestikos
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Surroundings (日本式)
lights pursue, just a normal picture...
Damn, this movie was siiiick.
So we're putting on another surfball tournament this weekend, and we've got a team made of Marines. They're actually pretty cool, which is a little rare.
Filming for our TV show, Live City, is continuing as well. We're on Episode 28 now, jjeeah.
laaater, and yes, i would like to know how you're doing, please let me know. Big ups to cold green tea!
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Recently, my cell phone got up and took some pictures.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
iMoved
So I'm planning on going to this cafe across the street where I might get a good view and maybe some pictures. I didn't even notice I moved in under _______ (my landlord said he doesn't have a name, and I haven't named him yet) until my sister said, "Do you live in the building with the big dog on top of it?" And I went home and there was a dog on top of my building. A bit more info on the dog to come..
Happy Respect-for-the-Aged Day (9/15). I looked up 敬老の日, the Japanese holiday, and that came up. Really though, props to all who are living large and madd yearrrrsss. Respect.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Roppongi, Yanbaru, and the end of the Olympics (among other things)
So here are some photos, as Beirut sings, it's 'A scenic world'...
this pic of Pixar hats is a decent depiction of height
difference, at least. Maan, we became small children again!
when we were in line for Thunder Mountain,
which was refreshing.
Yessirr, that's how some of it went down. I took a video camera and taped my (real) Aniki and myself climbing Mt. Fuji two Fridays ago, which was quite an experience, but my camera broke on the way down the mountain and I have yet to extract the pictures from it.
Now I'm back in the office, comfortable and getting ready for the new semester starting next week. Yeah!! And hopefully I can continue filming as well, jeeeeaaahh! I'm finishing up a Hemingway book on bullfighting, pyyeeaaahhh. And I picked up a new Raymond Carver collection, sssssssssseyyyyyyyyyyyeeaaahhhh.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Waddup Now Bruddahh
The food was allright but the service was shit
so I had to down hot clams and salmon so
we wouldn't miss Ohki's flight. If you're ever
in Okinawa, check out the tree-restaurant; it's on
the right when you come into the city out of the airport.
You can't miss it. I don't necessarily recommend eating
there, though. Although they had a bigscreen playing
The Making of Blue Planet, which was minimally
cool. Questionable, but cool. How about this essay-type
caption for two photos? Yeah
So, getting goodly busy these days with a different kind of work from teaching... I'm getting the chance to learn to be a cameraman for Live City! Siiick! I like cameras, and cameras are suuper dope to work with, just like the amazing people here. Yeah, reminds me of good ol Kam-Ra back home- how you iiisss homie? I'd like to thank people. Thank you, momma. Later, more to come. Peace my fleece. For Fuji.
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Happy Fourth of July
But I always tell people I meet- and they are always like "Oh, you're from Los Angeles, you must have like 28 bullet holes in your front door and your aunt must carry a gat"- and I'm like, damn, people really do base a lot of what they know about America on television and movies. I guess it's an obvious thing. But I always say, sure there's crazy shit going down all the time, but there are also some of the best people and great moments happening in the U.S.A. even now. Reality is reality, and there are lots of misconceptions of the reality of the U.S.
Anyway, it's good to be able to rep my country and connect back to my blood at the same time. And there's always the new experience. I'm getting a bit used to work and life here, but I don't ever want to forget all the little thangs that make it fun- like aasaa(seaweed, good in soup) getting stuck all up in my naplocks when I go for my morning dip in the ocean. Gotta make sure to wash it out though, aasaa could get mighty stank.
So America, America, America, I miss you, all the good and the bad. The people, the people. Happy Fourth! Then on to Bastille Day! I don't see nothing wrong with the French. Ou revoir, baby. Is that from a Van Damme movie? Naw, he doesn't say baby, that's hasta la vista. Who remembers that Van Damme movie set in Quebec where he says ou revoir, something? Damn, let me know if you know... anyway, laaater dudes. Chyeahh
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Finally Some Vision
I finally got my camera running again, and so here are some photos from a snorkel trip some of my students and I went on yesterday. I'm in the classroom and the office all day on weekdays, so it was really nice to get out with our school's marine crew, WaterWorld.
how many mph... we were going like 120 kph, which is
like as fast as a doped up donkey, I guess.
Represent, foooooooooooooo
running around on the beach.
I'm blessed to be a part of something as great as this. I have the awesome job (no joke, it's so good to see all the different places and work with such a commited group of people) to drive the crew van whenever I can. I like driving. Allright, I gotta translate this song for class, thanks for the comments, and please let me know how you're doing. I miss yall. Peace for your niece.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Keeping in with the TaiChi
Duuuude, how it iiisss. Hope you're doing well, if you're reading this at all, sorry for the long intervals in between. Damn I want to see that movie Darjeeling Unlimited. I've been trying to either run or swim in the ocean every morning if I have time, but it only seems to work if I can get to sleep before 1 am. Maybe I'm just lazy. The ocean is getting madd nice, warm even in the am, cleansly. And also a bit of TaiChi everyday, thanks Baylen, I'm trying to keep it up. I need to learn more, get a master or something.
A note on the Pacific: it's definitely not as salty and soupy as the Indian along the west coast of Oz. It's real nice and kind of soft, like the coral reef put in some kind of elixir or something that makes it all ex-for-e-ating or whatever. That's what I feel like, like my skins freaking ex-for-ee-ating when I sweeeem in ze oshun.
Good busy days, the school is going well. I want to give props to Dr. Han for training me well, thank you.
Right, I gotta eat some foods. Ahhh damn the Okinawa-soba is good stuff. Had some for lunch today, which is pretty rare. Yo, eat while you can! That's what they say.... Laaater.
Friday, May 23, 2008
The Joys of Fridays
I've created a pretty crazy schedule for myself these days, with teaching and getting a faculty-type system together, curriculums, texts and meetings. But I find the things that are just as important- taking a swim in the ocean for 10 minutes, going for a 20 minute skate, zoning out at my desk for a couple seconds (that one I just did.. duuuuuhhhhh)- are hard to find time for but so crucial. I want to give thanks, and to be able to know that I'm so damn lucky to be doing what I'm doing. Woooord.
A location-descriptive list: CDs strewn, white walls, pen lines, humidity, Port of Pearls the book, the Calypso, my ¥100 mug, backaches, library, Aesop, Japanese words, vending machines, little cars, a fire extinguisher that says Hatsuta on it. AAnnd the Belafonte:
Yeeeah, watchoo know about daatt? Thanks, Steve. Right then, take it eeeasy, thanks for reeeading.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
In the Week of Gold
So yeah, hope you're doing well, and my week is about chillin and getting ready for the next long semester at this school. Yeeeashh, along with making up conversation worksheets and stuff, I'm also doing a marine class and we're going to choose boats- be like Jacques Cousteau on the Calypso or Charles Darwin with the Beagle- and do madd research on an imaginary journey so we can get some knowledge and do something to help save the dying coral reefs of Okinawa. I'm also teaching English playing sports and stuff, saying like "Pass the ball!! Here!" Good times, good times... This teaching thing is pretty dope, but that's probably because the institution I work for is pretty free and still developing, rather than already set in educational values, methods, and rules. I'm real lucky to be given this opportunity to try things my way. We'll see how it turns out.
So yeah, I've also been running around on the beach three times a week, playing this sport we invented... Everyone keeps telling me I look all dark, but I can't really tell myself. Dipping in the ocean after a morning of running full speed- mmm, nice. And never forget the food, the food, so lucky to have food! Way different from my college-writing days when I lived on trail-mix and Folger's. Hahaha- Hope you're all doing well back in LA, in Australia, in Japan, everywhere.
Woo Gnarl's Barkley Odd Couple, and also Nat King Cole and Thelonious these days...
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Of Mopeds and Cold-Sunny Days
In other news: I recently picked my fro, I bought an Oolong tea from the vending machine two days ago and I got a bottle of water, fresh is the word, my Honda moped speed-demonizes everyone, and I haven't had much clothes to wear because I have only what was in my backpack for 6 months.
Sorry there are no pics, the battery on my camera died again. I really should get a rechargeable one. I miss you all back in LA, hope things are well. It's nice to think.....
of Clouds and Hot-Tasty Foods.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
I made it back to the island
So my journey through Southeast Asia was really good, I kind of sped through Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Hong Kong in ten days. I'm still kind of in "reflection mode" or whatever, getting ready for the new semester here, starting in April. So yeah, here are some photos, kind of like my recent mind-photos (I've been working on my photographic memory), and I would like to thank everyone who I've met, who helped me out along the way this time, in Australia, Battambang, that pickup truck, whatever. I'm really lucky to be living this life I am. Word!
The river runs through Bangkok.
Battambang, Cambodia. My favorite city that I hit this time.
Phnom Penh, the capitol. Everyone wants to skate in Cambodia!!
On the train from Ho Chi Minh to Ha Noi.
French-looking old ladies in Ha Noi. Check the flag.
I tripped out on Hong Kong, crazy city! Siiiick skating there.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Hello from Phnom Penh
Pictures to come probably when I get back to Okinawa, if you want to see some crap photos I've taken from guest house balconies and stuff. Ah well, hope you're doing well. Daamn this is a trip...!
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Peace Beagle Bay
the john or having a shower. Or maybe that was his
cousin. Taking a shower.
shell from the water and push them through that
cleaning machine behind me, and then the crew on the other
side chips all the sea-shit off. Spew
cuz he got the tip of his finger chopped off by a rope on the boat.
Ahhyeah, I'll miss yall and the sea.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Colors (Iro-Iro)
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Catch of the Day(z)(e)
So there are lots of animals in the wild west of Australia. Here's a couple caught on a couple days after work. Scotty the reptile man (and marine engineer) is always getting some lizard or snake and we all play with them before we let them go. And we've been fishing quite a bit (pretty spoiled, fishing-wise, in the Norwest). Yeah Animales!
good fight, good fresh sashimi. I was daamn happy.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Back in the wayoutback, I reminisce of my last day in town...
Here's a bit of historical goodness, and in a way I feel like I am retracing the steps of some of my ancestors. This is the Japanese cemetary in Broome, where a plaque states that most lying here died from the bends from diving for pearls or in massive typhoons. A big reason why I came to work on the pearl farms in Broome is the history of Japanese people who came here in the mid 1800s from places like Wakayama and Taiji, and sort of their legacy. I've been to the library reading up on some stuff, and if it weren't for the Japanese, much of the industry wouldn't be what it is today. I paid my respects, and the cemetary really reminded me of those few I've visited in Japan. Thought of my grannies and grandfathers. A bit of an indirect ohakamairi, I guess. It's really a beautiful place.
Yup, now I have a stomach full of chicken, peas, and sweet potatoes, so I shall leave and go to sleep, for tomorrow is a new day. Later yalls, let's hope the boats don't break down too bad tomorrow.