Thursday, March 30, 2006

Photos from the Game



Im not sure about the veins on my forehead! But you can see the 6 seconds on the clock!

Cancucks Go Crazy

I just went to my first Ice Hockey game. Canucks V's Minnesota. I was pretty excited to see a 'real game'...I watched it on T.V. last Saturday night, and I wasn't that interested in it. Plus, they were playing Minnesota. For me, Minnesota is the place that Brandon and Brenda from Beverly Hills 90210 came from, and it was Brandons favorite hockey team.

General Motors Place or GM Place (as the locals call it) is located down town Vancouver. Our seats were right at the very top of the stadium of 19,000. I felt very small and insignificant. I have never been to the MCG Footy Stadium in Melbournne, so I had never really had a 'real sporting experience' in a huge stadium. Come to think of it, I have never really watched a male dominated sport from the start to finish ever. It was a night of firsts.

Rickards beers in hand, Chad and I sat next to a lovely Vancouver-ite (born and bred is rare). She was a major hockey fan - and began to explain the jerseys to me, and the different logos. Suddenly, the lights dimmed, and and this fantastic light show began. Was I at a Madonna concert or an Ice Hockey game?

The drop of the puck I missed - too busy chatting to the girl beside me about the cute hockey players, but I soon became engrosed in the game...wow....watching sport is exciting! The girl beside me would comment after each missed goal opportunity, with an endearing cuss, 'Son of a ....', and stop there, afraid she would offend me. This was a girl that once won 'Fan of the Game' a few years back. I knew that she could do better!

As an ex-figure skater and field hockey player, I was down with the concept of the game, and was hanging out for some Biffo action...If this was a game against a rival hockey team, like Calgary, or Edmonton, there would be, but the Canucks were nice to the U.S. team. Poo. That was the one reason whey I wanted to see the game! I wanted to see some guy smash the crap out of another with his stick. The beauty of hockey is that you can pretty much get away with any contact at all with a 2 minute penalty. Nice. No footy tribunal here in Canada.

The fast paced skating was enthalling to watch and before I knew it, the game was almost over, and the 'Son of a ...' expletives turned into,'Come on! Son of a bitch, score, goddammit!'. That was more like it! The Canucks scored early, with Minnesota soon to follow. The game was now tied -and looking like it would go to penalty shoot outs. Even I was yelling at the team, getting wrapped up in the tension in the stadium. With 10 seconds to go and the Canucks on a Power Play, it wasn't looking incredibly hopeful...7 seconds to go, people were leaving...6 seconds to go, Holy Cow! The Canucks scored and the whole stadium stood up and cheered! The atmosphere was electrifying! Chad and I kissed. I could feel the love.

The Canucks had won! What a game. I think I am a fan.

Wednesday, March 29, 2006

Life in Candida


I went to a "Canadian Tire" store today. But, I didn't actually buy any tires. I bought coathangers.

I am strangely attracted to the hot dog stand on Granville and Broadway. People crowd around it during the lunch time rush, coating their dogs in mustard and ketchup. I don't understand why I want to eat one because I am a vegetarian and haven't eaten a hot dog in years. Is 'Hot Dog' one word, or two?

When I go driving, I always reach for the gears with my left hand, and end up hitting a door. I have to use my right hand now.

Life in Candida is difficult, yet interesting.

I am busy finding jobs, and learning to drive. Both actions make me sweat profusely. The first time I drove by myself, I had a strange pain in my heart and left shoulder, like I was about to have a heart attack. My first left-hand turn across an interesection was almost a disaster. The chinese man in the car behind me didn't like the fact that I had put on my indicator late, and as I propped in the middle of the intersection chanting under my breath, "Ricky Racoon lives on the Right, Right, Right, Right...", he started beeping violently, and gesteruring like a lunatic assylum escapee...But that is the pot calling the kettle black! Chinese drivers across the world are renowned for being the worst drivers in the world. My Chinese friend, Jenn, admits that she is the worst driver in the world.

According to the 'RoadSense (one word!!) for Drivers: B.C.'s Safe Driving Guide' if someone displays agression and beeps impatiently at you whilst driving, you should, 'Respond with good driving manners. Give the other dirver plently of room and the right-of-way', and, 'Don't return aggression. Avoid eye-contact, keep away from erratic drivers and dont gesture back.'

I don't think the book was written by that Chinese person.

Monday, March 20, 2006

Love Japan

I love Japan.

Japan is fabulous.

I love it.

3 years was the perfect amount of time to wait to come back. Love Japan.

I was lucky enough to go to my old schools' Sotsugyoushiki (graduation ceremony). As I was a 'special guest', I was lucky enough to be able to rub noses with the famous Seto people, like the Mayor and Board of Education Minister. They remembered me, and somehow I had a conversation with them...I'm not exactly sure what I said to them, though...Although when they asked me a seemingly easy question in Japanese; 'Doko ni oraremasu ka?', I mistook it for them asking me 'Where am I?(now)', as opposed to the real meaning of 'Where are you living now?' and I dutifully replied, 'Nippon?'. Its true, I was in Japan as this very moment in time...but the tilt of their head to the left, confirmed that I wasn't in Nippon, and that I didn't know where I lived...
I taught the graduating students for about 4 months just before I left and some of them remembered me. The highlight of the ceremony is the speeches made by the 3rd and 2nd year students to each other. The speakers are told to speak loudly and strongly to the audience, but it comes across as a high pitched yell as they are fighting back the tears...(TO THE GRADUATING STUDENTS! YOU ALWAYS TREATED US SO WELL. THANK YOU! GOOD LUCK! FIGHT HARD IN YOUR LIFE!) I desperately tried not to laugh, as I was sitting in the 'Special Guest' section. And then the graduating students then sing a song to the 1st and 2nd years, and to their parents and they sing one back. When the ceremony is over, and the 3rd years depart the hall, their empty seats, are like a gaping hole in the hearts of the teachers, younger students, and the mothers. There wasn't a dry eye in the house, and I was even fighting back a tear or two, and I don't even really know them!....Love Japan.

I was also lucky to have a shuji lesson with Mamiya sensei. I still practise calligraphy in Canada, but was a bit rusty but produced some interesting work...I then had a Tea Ceremony lesson for 4 1/2 hours...I haven't drunk Matcha tea for 3 years, and it was a little hard to swallow after the 8th cup. But I performed the ceremony, and from somewhere in the recesses of my brain, I remembered the movements...Love Japan.
I found a wedding kimono in a 2nd hand shop in Kurashiki for 6000yen. Most of them retail for a thousands of dollars. It's 30 years old. Love Japan.

The beer is still shit and I hate it, but am compelled to drink it at Izakaya's(Japanese pubs). Love Japan.

Chuhai gives you horrible hangovers. Love Japan.

Japanese people still bow. Love Japan.

I ate enough food to feed the 3rd world in 2 weeks. My appetite is yet to return, 1 week after. Love Japan.

Kitsune Udon bought at a station platform restaurant is still better than any restaurant in the western world. Love Japan.
Okonomiyaki at Musashi's in Seto is still the best in the world. Love Japan.

Konbini (Convenience store) food is still amazing, and takuan- yellow dyed daikon radish at 12 am is still my number one choice for a late night snack. Love Japan.
Bitamin C drinks from Vending Machines when you feel like shit works wonders. Love Japan.
Actually, any drinks - hot or cold from a vending machine is great. Love Japan.

Tokyo still amazes me, and the 'Unchi-Biru' is the strangest building I have ever witnessed. The 'Unchi-biru', or Asahi beer building is an office building in the shape of a black beer glass with stylised yellow 'Froth' on top. Only, the froth looks like a poo, hence the name 'Unchi Biru'. 'Poo Building.' Love Japan.
I really enjoyed my time being back. Thanks to Mori, Rich, Bill, Ranna and the Sayama's, Mamiya Sensei, Sakon-Sensei, Hitomi, Hayashi-sensei, Yasuko, Toshie, Musashi Mama and Papa, Seto Town, Okayama, and Singapore Airlines, for making my time in Japan special!

Thursday, March 16, 2006

Holy Nippon!



Hey Mori,

Thank you for having me here in Japan....I really like your cute aparto in Tamashima...I really like being here in Nippon with you. I still dont like Japanese beer, or chuhai ( it makes me feel sayaku), but I love LOVE japanese food...natto, kimuchi, chikuwa, sushi, okonimyaki...and your gaijin boyfriend, even though he is American, he is a nice boy...ne!

I really like Bill Gates, but she always licks my hand when I am sleeping...chotto mendokusai...

Please come to Canada soon, yo!

Jodyxx