Sayonara

Three years ago, I began this blog as a means of documenting my experiences in Japan. At the time I knew very little, except that 1) I didn't want to jump into teaching in the States, 2) I needed an outlet for my writing, and 3) I knew virtually nothing about the country I was about to live in. I was, to be fair, clueless about what I was doing, but I thought I'd see where it went.

While I can't say whether the "experiment" was a success or not - the writing has ebbed and flowed quite unspectacularly, as most blogs do - what I do know is that the experience has proved invaluable. And I'm not just talking about the blogging. Living in Japan has been an unbelievable experience, one that has constantly rewarded me and tested me and ultimately - hopefully - made me a better person. It was a dream that, unfortunately, has finally ended.

So what now? Well, I think it's an appropriate time to end the blog. That isn't to say I'm ready to stop blogging, but it's time to find a new outlet for my experiences. Whether that outlet ends up looking like this is still unknown even to me, but I can promise that the result will be exciting and, as always, honest. And as for a job, well, that I'm working on too. I can't say I know exactly where I'll be writing from next, but even with a daunting job search ahead of me I can say that I can't wait to find out.

I'm not typically fond of this kind of self-referential post, but I'd feel remiss if I didn't thank anyone who has read the blog over the past three years, as well as anyone who might have helped me out or given me constructive criticism. I know I've got a ways to go as a writer, but God and Tom Cruise willing I'll get there.

Finally, as I've left Japan for the greener pastures of Wisconsin, I'd like to end, appropriately, with a little cheese. I chose the name "The Long and Winding Road" when I started out because I hoped that my journey would lead me somewhere - to "your door" or elsewhere. I feel fortunate to have discovered quite a bit throughout the course of that journey, and so now I feel like it's a good time to end the blog because, well, I feel as though maybe I reached the of the road. It doesn't mean that I'm done searching altogether, only that I'll be choosing a new path.

I hope you'll come along with me.

Thank you, thank you, and sayonara.

-Jeff

Packing up

It's been nearly two a half weeks since I told you to check back in on Monday, but after a long absence from the blog I'm back. Sort of. On top of tying up loose ends here I've begun packing, which has led me to believe that perhaps a) I'm a hoarder, and b) I want and need significantly less stuff in the next phase of my life. And if just typing that isn't enough to prove my conviction, take a look at the stack of extra bedding I pulled from my closets yesterday:



It's gonna be a busy last ten days, but I'll try to check in soon.

I'm going out

Today was my last day at one of my junior high schools, which means I'm slamming a canned coffee and heading out for some middleoftheworldcupnosleepdelirium fun. After three years of avoiding it like the plague, I'm playing pachinko with the boys. What does that mean? Mostly, that I'll be dropping coins into a bottomless pit while doing permanent damage to my hearing and being peer-pressured into smoking cigarettes that will later make me vomit during the 65th minute of the Brazil-Portugal game. Think I'm joking? Tune in Monday to find out.


Hooray for bad ideas!

Save me, Google

The pain in my jaw is not the result of a right hook. The jittery hands and accelerated heartbeat are not consequences of too many cups of Peet's Coffee this past weekend, courtesy of @henrydreyfus (no he's not on twitter, but isn't this how we're supposed to write names these days?) To the best of my knowledge, I am not on drugs, suffering from anaphylaxis, or dying. Yet.

The source of my troubles, rather, is my impending job search in August. When I moved to Japan and decided that I would explore career opportunities outside of teaching (yes, I knew that my job here still counted as teaching), I took comfort in knowing that my next job search would be at least a year away. When I signed a paper last year saying that I would be staying at my teaching job for another 12 months, the search was pushed back even further. Now, 11 of those 12 short months later, the looming search is pushing back. Faced with the stark reality of the ruthless feeling out process ahead, there is no comfort to be taken. Until now. Sort of.

Last week, after some discussion over my ambitions to enter the seemingly dying field of journalism upon my return to the States, Mr. @dreyfus handed me a copy of The Atlantic. Apparently he had been struck by an article detailing Google's plans to save the print journalism industry and suggested I check it out. I'm glad he did.

Below is a brief excerpt from the article. Written by Jim Fallows, it describes Google's attempts to think constructively about the problems facing print journalism in the 21st century and outlines, though somewhat vaguely, the company's plans for aiding the news business. Whether you'll agree with Mr. Fallows' summation that the future of journalism is bright or not will be up to you, but if I can manage even slightly better sleep tonight because of these pages, it'll be just one more thing to thank the geniuses at Google for.

Check it out.

How to Save the News

BY JAMES FALLOWS

Plummeting newspaper circulation, disappearing classified ads, “unbundling” of content—the list of what’s killing journalism is long. But high on that list, many would say, is Google, the biggest unbundler of them all. Now, having helped break the news business, the company wants to fix it—for commercial as well as civic reasons: if news organizations stop producing great journalism, says one Google executive, the search engine will no longer have interesting content to link to. So some of the smartest minds at the company are thinking about this, and working with publishers, and peering ahead to see what the future of journalism looks like. Guess what? It’s bright.

Read the whole thing here.

Night sounds

Thank you, Seoul, for the free entertainment.

Seoul in technicolor

6.5.10

Unreal.

Rugby 3.0

That cool breeze blowing across the Pacific this week is me exhaling after finally relinquishing my organizing duties yesterday. The 7th Annual Tokushima AJET Touch Rugby Tournament has come and passed, and while I'm happy to put the work behind me, I'll be sad to miss out on the action next year. The much-improved Su-touch-i squad finished with 26 points and its first ever top half finish, but as always the best moments of the weekend occurred off the pitch and in the company of 300 new friends. Here's a look at what has become far and away my favorite event of the year:


breaking it down before the first game


lookin' like Ryan Grant in the open field


beaten but not finished


giving a pep talk


swapping teams


a tired but pleased Su-touch-i team

Instant classic

One of the top ten commercials I've ever seen. Easy.

Smoke and frosting

Birthday cake for Patrick's 23rd. Shout out to the one guy who's as excited for the LOST series finale as I am.

Singing for drinks

After a month off, the "play easy Beatles songs" tour continued Saturday night as Adam and I hit up a small open mic downtown. Not sure they'll let me out with a guitar once I come back to the States, but I'll milk it for what it's worth as long as I'm here.


With A Little Help From My Friends


Come Together

It's coming

Just as the Lost writers are busy unraveling the remaining mysteries on their show (or are they?), Tokushima's biggest head-scratcher looks like it will finally be resolved in the coming month. What could we possibly be getting that just about everyone else in the world already has? How this didn't happen sooner is something I will never be able to comprehend.

Lock n' loll

When I wasn't busy dodging burgers like the one below in Kyushu last week, I was off in Beppu finding the best bar on this side of the Pacific. A short walk from the port, Hit Parade is an intoxicatingly bizarre blend of Japanese and Western culture. 3600 yen (3000 for women) gets you in the door, which is a steal once you see what's inside. Waiting when you get to your table is a bottle of Suntory whiskey and a rockabilly waiter ready to show you to the all-you-can-eat buffet. Throw in several sets of live American 50s music from the house band The Hit Paraders, plus SEVEN HOURS of nomihodai (all you can drink), and you've found a recipe for a great night out in southern Japan.

Accurate delivery of American rock lyrics? Not so much. A fun time anyway? You betcha.


the joint


the grub


the tunes

Tall order

From the hall of all things that don't make sense in Japan, I present to you the Lotteria tower cheese burger:



I found this baby while strolling through Fukuoka in the north of Kyushu, and while the nutritional facts were nowhere to be found on the restaurant's website, I think the picture speaks for itself. That's ten beef patties, ten slices of cheese, and all the ketchup and mustard you can handle. All for the modest price of 990 yen. In fact, if cramming all that inside your mouth still isn't enough for you, you can even add fries and a soft drink for an extra 250 yen.

Another mega meal, courtesy of the land of small people.

The strange country

A friend brought my attention to this video a while back, and if it weren't made by a Japanese guy I might have thrown it into the "overgeneralization" bin. Take it for what it's worth, but I suppose you can't deny the production value.

(click to view in a new window)

Strange or not, I'm officially out of here July 22. Here's to a memorable last three months.

Best movies of 2009

I may be four months late to the game, but now that I've more or less finished watching 2009's most talked about movies, I think it's about time I ranked them. Here are, in descending order, my favorite films of 2009.

10. Up in the Air
Cool, relevant, and surprisingly touching in spades. It’s a career-defining role for George Clooney, but I somehow doubt it will be his last.

9. Precious
A punishing film that, unlike fellow best picture nominee The Blind Side, highlights the struggle of one individual rather than the kindness of a few around her. The real meat is in the supporting acting, but make no mistake – this story is all about the triumph of its lead.

8. Zombieland
Call it surprise 1.5 on the list. Jessie Eisenberg and Woody Harrelson are hilarious as strangers brought together to fight zombies in post-apocalyptic America. Watch it for 2009’s best cameo alone.


a banner year for zombies, Nazis, and Woody Harrelson

7. 500 Days of Summer
The anti-He’s Just Not That Into You. A romantic comedy that forgoes box office muscle for actual acting talent with dazzling results. An endlessly charming movie that feels just right from start to finish.

6. District 9
An original story in a year full of re-makes. Treads a little too close to Michael Bay territory in its last half hour, but nevertheless gripping cinema that has me excited to see what Neill Blomkamp does next.

5. The Cove
The biggest surprise, for me, on this list. Thrilling documentary that had me cheering on the edge of my seat before its devastating final act. A must-see film.

4. Fantastic Mr. Fox
Two animated movies in the top five? You betcha. As funny as Up but with a few more winks and nods. It’ll make you think that all Wes Anderson movies ought to be animated.


big love for George Clooney's other role

3. Up
As close to a perfect film as 2009 had to offer.

2. Avatar
Like Star Wars but with a no-brainer environmental message. I suspect it’ll be even more well-received over time.

1. Inglourious Basterds
The best movie, with the best performance and the best single scene of any film this year. In fact, it may have had the three best scenes. It’s funny, scary at times, and perhaps Tarantino’s best work to date.


Christoph Waltz is thinking about how awesome he is

A kick and a smile

I'm currently feeling like I just escaped a fight with a bear, but it's worth it after a good weekend of competition at the Annual Awaji Spring Soccer Tournament. Three losses by a combined three goals put as at a modest 1-3-2 for the weekend, but the wins and losses can hardly be used to sum up two days of fun times with new friends.


closing down on the Predator


the opponent crying over his choice of uniform colors


Scott makes the turn


Team Shikoku

Stock watching

Yesterday marked the beginning of a new school year here, which for me meant a new desk and a whole mess of new teachers. While it's too early to judge this year's crop of English teachers, I have to admit I'm having a hard time adjusting to my new desk nearer the administration. Why is it so bad, you ask? Allow me to point to the LWP index:



The LWP, or "Lost Watching Potential" index, charts my ability to watch LOST during work hours. The far left part of the graph shows my LOST watching productivity during working year one, in which my desk was located in a far back corner of the staff room. The graph then dips as I was moved to a partially obstructed but high traffic seat next to the school lunch table last year, before finally taking a nose dive with this most current move to the front of the room.

Fair? Well that depends on who you ask. On one hand, one could argue that perhaps watching LOST is not the best use of one's time on the clock (although one could also argue that there is, in fact, never a bad time to watch Terry O'Quinn wrangle wild boar). On the other hand, with the school's high turnover rate, I've somehow found myself somewhere near the middle of the in-house seniority scale, which you'd think would land me a more choice desk location.

This little move may prove more productive in the long run, but it's guaranteed to be a whole lot less awesome.

Isn't this what twitter's for?

Thought of the day: In the past 24 hours, I have tripled my number of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches consumed since 2008.

And now, a video:

Homegrown

As the smallest capital city on Japan's forgotten island, Tokushima isn't know for much, but last week at Austin's South by Southwest Festival three Tokushima natives were making waves for their hometown. Joto High School's own Chatmonchy headlined the festival's Japan Nite on March 19, and while Japanese bands have had a notoriously tough time building a following stateside, the group was at least able to catch the attention of Spin Magazine, who included the girls in their "50 Must-Hear Bands at SXSW":

CHATMONCHY

HOMETOWN: Tokushima, Japan
WHY THEY MATTER: With catchy, raw, emotional rock anthems, this all-girl power trio is like the 21st-century Japanese version of the Runaways. Their sound has already swept their native land, and the band -- making their U.S. debut at SXSW -- is looking to repeat the success stateside.
YOU SHOULD KNOW: Almost all of Chatmonchy's lyrics are sung in Japanese. "We want to challenge ourselves in other countries and see if we can convey our music with just the groove, without the lyrics," drummer Takahashi told The Japan Times.

Read more from Spin here, or click here to check out the full interview from the Japan Times.