Job Hunting

NOVA's doing poorly enough that I'm hunting for other gigs, while still maintaining some hope they can pull through. This strip perfectly captures my hybrid identity at a crisis in landing work:

Credit to Tak Toyoshima for being brilliant.

Subways: Commute Fresh

I really love subways. I take the Midosuji Red Line to work, from Shinkanaoka to Namba. It's a really nice twenty-minute ride becuse I don't have to transfer lines, so I can just enjoy my time with my iPod, a solid reading session, people watch, and practice my Hiragana on advertisements and the names of stops.




Why doesn't Los Angeles have a better subway system that expands further East than the freaking Gold Line to Pasadena. LA's just too big. I'd really like to live in the city instead of out in the 'burbs. Everything is too spread out, everyone's too rich, you never see people. But shit, LA being big should be no excuse. I mean the Bay Area is physically as widespread as LA is to the San Gabriel Valley and beyond, but you can still jump BART from Oakland to Downtown SF. I remember having a conversation with Jake Bowdoin, an old soul from Art Center College of Design, telling me that LA used to have an extensive trolley system but was halted due to the automotive, gas, and rubber lobbyists. And LA is the one city that needs it the most. Imagine the cut-down on smog in the valley, congestion on the freeways. Not to mention the safety and convenience externalities of having drunk people ride instead of drive. Wasted at 5 AM after partying all night? Have no fear, you can get home just fine.

You know when you ride subways and you can see down the whole train into other cabins too? I love that. That visual helps me realize the scope of it all and reminds of how much less of a negative environmental impact we make through mass transit rather than millions of one-person-one-car deals sitting on highways.

Public transportation builds community. It allows us to at the very least see the people with whom we share our city, our pride, our home. And at it's very best it's a channel to open random conversations, forums, and meet new people. Not to mention the exposure potentials for public art, grassroots politics, and underground musicians. One of my favorite stops is on my walk from Namba Station to the office building is seeing b-boys and b-girls dance on the streets, especially when big speakers are brought in on Saturdays. Hip Hop is alive in Osaka, people.

Knowing how to navigate a subway system is like being in a close relationship with your town. I'd be lying if I didn't say my heart beats twice in gratification every time I bust out my monthly pass entering and exiting the subway. Somehow I'm just more legit than people buying single tickets. I ride this madness daily, I flow through the veins and arteries of the city and we're getting to know each other better every day.

A Rainy Day in Osaka

There's something really rewarding about waking up, having your flatmate give you the newest Astonishing X-Men comic to look forward to later, hanging your washed clothes outside to dry in lieu of a drying machine that uses up too much energy, biking down to the grocery store, putting that little bag of delights in the wire basket affixed to the front of the bicycle, getting caught in the rain on the way back, winding left and right on the little small-town feel streets of my new neighborhood, and cooking a delicious and nutritious meal for yourself.

In other news, I've decided to update this blog with some shorter, random entries instead of big updates on life. I'm writing too many letters that I have a list of people I need to get back to as one of my stickies on my wallpaper. I write that like it's this tedious task I have to perform but I'm enjoying it very, very much. Thanks for all the correspondence, everyone. And I think I prefer the personalized tales of romance, danger, and secret agent adventures, instead of verbose blog entries. I'll still update though, just expect different stuff that will make our friend brevity smile.

But now, to the food. Perhaps the novelty of everything will wear off soon and these wet, rainy days will become a nuisance, but right now I'm quite happy.

The Blog Title Is No Longer A Lie

I have landed in Osaka, Japan. Am currently sitting in my new home, just moved in a few hours ago. So much to talk about, it's fucking nuts. But no time at the moment. Had a really spectacular last few days in Taiwan too. Big update coming on the way. With pictures.

Just wanted to drop a few things:

To people who IMmed me today and didn't get a response: I wasn't ignoring you, I was online at Kansai Airport and they have shitty Wifi. I'll speak with you all soon.

To people who wrote/wrote back to me: I will respond very soon with letters, I have not forgotten you!! I'm floating on a big literary cloud right now (reading and writing some amazing prose and poetry), allowing me the latitude to enjoy correspondence at a ridiculously high level. Playing with diction and language is quite amusing. Plus I'm loving hearing how you all are and want to tell you more about me. Give me time.

Okay gotta go sort shit out, life is nuts right now! I'M IN JAPAN WHOAAAAA.

Taiwan, Leg Two

So last night I found myself on the dance floor of the swanky club Ziga Zaga at the Hyatt Hotel. Before I knew it, I was dancing with a lady with a nice dress and a figure to fill it out. The zany thing about it all was that she was about forty. Gotta say that it was certainly a first for me, but I'll play Ashton Kutcher to her Demi Moore any night of the week. I didn't realize her age 'til about mid-"Billie Jean" 'cause she initially had her back to me a lot of the time and her hair smelled so nice, but around the second chorus my hazy mind wrapped itself around the realization that the girl freaking me was alive in the 60's!! But hey, in my defense Halle Berry and Selma Hayek are both over forty and I had no problem letting her experience teach me a lesson or two.

My other nights have consisted of much more conventional fun. Sorry, no bar or club pictures, though a few were hit. I'll put up another Facebook album later, I'm too indolent at the moment. Also just kicked it with lots of relatives and consumed pounds and pounds of the finest cuisine in my life. Some random tidbits though from the past week or so:

1. Hangovers hurt as much in Asia as they do in the US.
2. Twist And Shout is the most fun song to dance to, ever.
3. I really, really love my family.
4. Ramen in Taiwan is completely acceptable as breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
5. I'm sporting new glasses.
6. Typhoons are crazy!
7. Must. Get. A. Wii.
8. I am madly enchanted by René Magritte's art right now. Like, deliriously.

Oh, and Nova has since sent me my residential info. I'll be in Sakai, a 'burb of Osaka and living with an American and New Zealander as flatmates.

It's now a lazy Sunday afternoon and I'm on my own. My mom and sister flew back to the States and have landed safely. I hopped a Taipei-Hualien train this morning and three, four hours later I'm laying on my hotel bed, wrapped up in a warm comforter and the smug tranquility of independence.

How's everyone at home doing? Holla atcha boy.

Letter of Death

Check out the recent e-mail Nova sent me:

Dear Vincent,

I hope this email finds you well and that you are excited about your upcoming departure to Japan!

We know you are eager to find out your accommodation information and location assignment. Due to the large number of new teachers arriving in September, our head office notified us that they are still finalizing arrival plans and that the information will be slightly delayed. We expect to receive the information very soon and forward it to you, as soon as possible. We will contact you by telephone when we send out the information. Your arrival and accommodation information will be sent by email as a pdf attachment.

We sincerely apologize for the delays and we look forward to speaking with you very soon.


Kind Regards,

Lindsay Tateishi
The Nova Recruiting Office
Nova Group Japan

Should I be worried? A little over a week left and I still don't know my roomates, my address, and if anyone is REALLY going to pick me up at Kansai Aiport next Wednesday. Things must be going haywire for this company. Time to do some heavy research on other eikawa schools... Ack!

Taiwan, Leg One

It's been an eventful initial days here in Taiwan. I've been able to see a tranquil alternative to the hustle and bustle of the big city metropolis life, spending my time in the mountains of Central and Southern Taiwan.

Had a really good conversation at 4 AM with my mom over cookies and coffee on our balcony overlooking Sun Moon Lake the morning after we checked in. The dusk hours here are the best because the cool air mixes with the humidity to create very comfortable outside lounging weather.

Went for a short stroll along the shoreline and rowed out onto the lake with True for kicks. Entertained the existence of sea monsters and aquatic zombies as we braved the blue-green waters. Ernest Hemingway would have been proud.

This whole time has been really relaxing and conducive to some heavy reflection time sprinkled with magnificent environments for a good book-snuggling and omnipresent eating. Food in Taiwan is the best. Super good, super cheap. I'm just waiting in eager anticipation for my next meal. I'm already counting down the seconds 'til lunch today. Never in my life have my smiles been so dependent on steaming soup, yummy noodles, and salty, spicy meat.

We left the lake towards Alishan, a national park area up in the mountains. Our car started leaking coolant along the way so we stopped at a garage shop in a very isolated location. The owners were just about as friendly as humanly possible. They invited us to sit with them and poured us the best oolong tea I've had (a locally grown specialty). We chatted about American culture, Taiwan politics, and contrasting education systems. The whole time I felt reminded of how incredibly privileged I am by class, with a family that's struggled through immigration and assimilation for my sister and I, and having been able to be born and raised in the States. This mother only dreams of sending her kids to America to study and find a higher standard of living, instead she's lived in the same village her entire life and her studious children can't afford to study anywhere out of Taiwan's borders no matter how hard they work. The myth of meritocracy inherent in capitalism is on full display here.

Cutting through the narrow mountain roads, we feast our eyes on lush mountains of emerald covered in thick, grey fog. Once at Alishan, we hike through some trails and get personally acquainted with giant trees: most over 800 years old and one over 2,000 years old. When Jesus Christ was alive, SO WAS THIS TREE. Pretty fucking cool. The hiking is much, much shorter than I'd like it to be. I wanted to sleep inside the park, but we leave for free bed and breakfast rooms at a family friend's inn nearby.

A charming house later, we enjoy an adorably fancy meal. Van Gogh paintings, sunflowers, and wooden planks give the building an arborescent, Dutch vibe. I've fallen in love with waking at dawn, and the morning at this pleasant setting was no exception. We took to the roof of the establishment. The sun rose at 6:09 AM on September 22nd, 2007 in Xi Zuo to a coffee breath and my smiling face.

I also visited the temple where my grandparents' ashes are kept and paid my respects. It was initially closed, but the nice lady allowed us in after explaining we had traveled across the Pacific for the opportunity. Ate lunch in Chiayi with family with what can be best described as bomb-ass turkey & gravy rice. Doesn't sound like much but dude, it's damn tasty.

Now I'm back in Taipei. Time to speed things up with about double the family in the area and the stark urban sprawl of buildings, cars, and pedestrians. Stay classy, friends. Wild city nights on the way.

The Eagle Has Landed

Whee, I've landed in Taiwan! Yep, still not in Japan until Sept. 26th... gotta visit the motherland first to see some family, enjoy the good eats, and chillax to the max before I put on the suit and tie.

Landed this morning in Taipei and drove down to Sun Moon Lake near Taichung. Checked into a hotel with the bomb lakeside view. It's really nice here, but the humidity and heat are kicking my ass. Been continuously eating and will constantly be stuffing my face for the next 264 hours.

More updates to come, wireless Internet is everywhere. Peace all!

Peace, USA

What do people think about? Be it a fleeting thought or deep reflection, the human mind's sigh can be really refreshing. I love to just stop and get lost in my own thoughts:

Weekend plans, memories of friends, family, lovers, the most embarrassing moment from high school, what to wear tonight, what you wanna do with your life, how you felt after you finished the last line of your favorite book, am i hungry?, fantasies of your ideal mate or your ideal getaway. Pensive activity seems to be in limited supply nowadays as we chortle our way though half-hour sitcoms (or is it hour-long never-ending dramas in this day and age?). We should stop and think more often.

I'm sitting down right now, about to get on the plane; thinking (you guessed it) about leaving the United States for a year. I don't know how I'm supposed to react to this realization. I really want to get the hell outta here and see and live more of the world, but I'm leaving a lot of good stuff behind too. Can't really put a word to how I'm feeling. It's a vexing conundrum to not be able to articulate the inner workings of your psyche, especially to yourself.

Family's selling the house soon after I leave. Mom is going to move back to Taiwan. It's going to be strange when I come back States-side to not have a home, though it will be really empowering and exciting to be on my own. Life really moves.

Feeling ready though. I'm prepared to jump-start the next phase of my life and I'm eager to devour new people and places. It is nice to take a pause and just spill out some ramblings though. It's cathartic.

Perhaps I'm thinking about the whole US-hiatus too much and should just be more transient about it. After all, the daily incomprehension of life is already enough food for thought, right?

Oh, the wonder of a good ponder.

What's Your Seduction Style?

I am tumbling into the pitfalls of blogging:

In other news: I declare the San Diego Zoo as flipping fabulous and I'm currently spinning the new Ye album. I should probably get around to purchasing some luggage since I'm leaving in a week too.

The most difficult object to obtain in the known universe

At last, I have received it.

The silly Certificate of Eligibility that took multiple attempts to apply for and many months to process (I hate red tape with a crimson passion) was finally Priority-mailed to me today by Nova:



Just gotta take it to the Japanese Embassy in LA tomorrow and trade it for a Work Visa. Which means I'll be in the downtown area. Which means Sushi Gen in Little Tokyo for lunch. The freshest sashimi in Los Angeles, one of my all-time favorite restaurants. Woot.

Blastoff!

So this is the official launch of my blog for the upcoming life of mayhem in Japan.

Forgive the title being complete BS at the moment, as there will be no Osaka stuff until Sept. 26th. That is, if the company that hired me (NOVA Group, Japan) can survive until then. The 411 is this: there was a class-action lawsuit against the company. The company has its customers purchase points which they redeem for English lessons. However... ex-students wanted refunds because they were unable to book their lessons (Nova allegedly made the malicious decision to make scheduling classes extremely difficult so people would be stuck with unredeemable points) and Nova refused.

Enter METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry). This arm of the Japanese gov. ruled on the case in favor of the plaintiffs and threw down a six-month ban on signing new students as punishment for the firm. This started in June, and now I'm reading all these articles on how Nova's bleeding money as they continue to try and operate without any incoming cash flow. I've watched their stock drop faster than Linday Lohan's credibility as an actress this whole summer.

I'm cautiously optimistic about the situation though, as the company is basically the Microsoft of Eikaiwa schools in Japan. Friends and family in Asia report thumbs-up on Survival Outlook Watch as Nova's received a fair amount of media attention there. So hopefully they won't go bankrupt and leave me homeless and jobless after I've landed in Japan. Though it could be kinda cool to bum around and get in random adventures...