Winter

I had a feeling that I might slip into the habit of not writing in my blog, and I invariably did.

Much has past since my last posts, including a trip to Kansai, Korea, the United States (including both California and New York), Tokyo and Hokkaido.

I am currently writing this blog from the decidedly bland city of Tsukuba, in Ibaraki-ken. This place is roughly an hour away from Tokyo, and I have come here to stay at a fellow Fulbrighter's (who is unfortunately absent) place while I wait for Fulbright Alum Nick Hatt to arrive in Tokyo for a short vacation. I have snuck into the campus's computer lab, and using my friend's password and ID, have been able to log in.

Writing after such a long time is a daunting task, and if I were to follow the writing style of my previous posts, I would most likely be writing for days. In order to mediate this issue, I will write some short fact-based posts which will focus on my trips.

Kansai - Thanksgiving in Kobe was my first Thanksgiving away from my family, and accordingly had some big shoes to fill. It was, however, a resounding success, with 12 Fulbrighters gathering, each bringing a local speciality (I brought Fukuoka's famous Hakata Ramen) and sitting down for some great food, drink and conversation. It was a great chance to catch up with (almost) everyone and learn about their lifestyles in their respective cities. This was followed up by a quick trip to visit my host-family in Osaka, who in true Kansai fashion greeted me with the phrase "You again?" It was nice to catch up with them as well, and see my host-sister-in-law, who is pregnant and expecting a child this Spring.

(South) Korea - This was an intensely interesting experience. Having studied China and Japan, I guessed that Korea would be a cultural amalgam of the two. This was the case in some ways, but not in others. Korea does indeed carry its own unique culture, very separate from China and Japan. One interesting, albeit immediately apparent difference is the fact that metal chopsticks are used there, as opposed to wood in China and Japan. Food is also very different, with scissors many times used chop meat. Happening on a small work-based party led me to infer that corporate relations are somewhat similar to Japan in that after work drinks are obligatory. The city of Seoul had the shiny skyscrapers to rival Tokyo, but also backstreet markets that resembled what can be found in China. The experience was topped with the exchange rate, with the Yen strong throughout the world and the Won weak throughout. I found myself eating more than I could remember, which was great with all of the amazing Korean food. I would like to visit, once more, however, when my Korean friend is there. That way I will be able to meet and chat with more Koreans, which was the one activity I was not able to engage in as much as I would have liked.

United States of America - This was an interesting trip in that it forced me to be introspective. Before touching down on the SFO tarmac, I had decided that I might want to stay in Japan for a number of years before returning to the States. This trip would be a big test as to see if I would change my mind after 2 weeks enjoying the many luxuries of the States. Seeing my friends was great, while seeing high school acquaintances struggling in the now crippled economy was awkward at best. Through the trip I realized that I do have a deep appreciation for my family and friends, and of course I had the feeling that it would be nice to see them more. I did not, however, have any feelings of wanting to move back to the States after my Fulbright year. I am not finished with Japan. A last side note - I went to New York City for the first time, gathering with some of my closest friends for a week beginning with New Year's Eve celebrations. I liked New York more than I expected. People were nicer and more approachable than one might think after watching television and film set in the area.

Tokyo - I returned to Tokyo last week (plane tickets and two nights accommodation provided by the good people at the Japan-U.S. Educational Commission) to have the mid-year conference. They chose to have the mid-year conference earlier than previous years, hoping it would serve as an impetus for more focused research. Most of the conversations, interestingly enough, focused on our daily lives rather than our (lack of) research. I have a feeling many Fulbrighters spend the first semester focusing on classes, fitting in socially, and the Japanese language and focus on research during the second semester. This will definitely be my case. It was good to catch up with Fulbrighters and see how they have progressed. I also had a chance to speak with some Fulbright alumni and get an idea of what my post-Fulbright options are.

Hokkaido - Just a few days ago I got back from a trip to the frigid northern island of Hokkaido. There are two fellows residing there, one living in Sapporo - the largest city on the island, and one in Iwamizawa, a tiny town in the snowy countryside. Sapporo was hosting the annual Snow Festival, so I was able to see a great many snow and ice sculptures. There was some sort of international snow sculpture competition going on which begged the question "Where are the Mexicans and Malaysians building their snow sculpting skills?" As a large festival, the festival grounds were complete with international cuisine. I delighted in some Indian and Turkish food, which seemed to be selling well, while the stand with traditional Russian fare looked lonely and isolated. Going to the back country allowed me to engage in a few activities which I never would have sought out on my own, namely cross-country skiing and snow-shoeing. We were also able to find a Sapporo Izakaya (Japanese style of bar) welcoming its customers with 30 minute all-you-can-drink specials for 300 yen (roughly 3 dollars) a person. This is simply unheard of. Additionally Japanese cuisine was available for the outlandish price of 300 yen. Kimchi pork, fried chicken breast, over-sized Onigiri - all 300 yen! The place was almost too cheap, with each of us coming up with more and more ridiculous explanations.

Well I am sure I have bored you all enough with my relentless trip-based stories. I will stop directly after talking about future plans. I have applied to a language school in Yokohama and will hear my results in March. If I were to obtain funding, I think it might be a good decision. I am also looking at jobs, and plan on going to some large Job Fairs in Tokyo in June and July. Lastly, through my research I hope to interview managers at large Japanese firms, and hopefully build relationships that could lead to job offers. Hopefully I will not be homeless come September!

Max