Snow is Falling

The second snowstorm of the season has hit Otaru! As promised, the Hokkaido snow is "dry." On Saturday evening, I witnessed a lightning storm whilst the snow was falling. I've seen plenty of snow and many a lightning bolt in my day, but never simultaneously!

In celebration of the snow, my neighbor Andi and I grabbed our winter gear and headed outside the dormitory for some sledding and to resurrect Frosty. It didn't take long before others find their way outside. Maybe it was the snowballs we threw at their windows?

Warming up the camera 

Happy Thanksgiving

As you baste your turkey and slide the cranberry sauce onto Grandma's china dish, I want to thank you. It has been my great fortune to have the support of dear friends and family as I continue this journey called life. According to The Beatles, "All you need is love." I couldn't agree more which is why I am blessed to have such a strong circle of family and friends. As I sit half a world away from home, I have not forgotten the sacrifices that the brave men and women of our military have made. Earlier today, I listened to a friend, fellow international student, and South Korean reflect on his mandatory years of military service. He was fortunate having not had to enter combat, but fears his younger brother might not be so lucky. As bargain hunters gear up for Black Friday, many young servicemen and women around the globe fear they will soon be standing in a different line. I will spend this Thanksgiving counting my lucky stars.

Construction Update

For months now, we international students have been living an arm's reach from a construction site. Workers have been building a second dormitory rumored to be available to Japanese students wishing to live on campus. Living on the first floor of the international dormitory, the only view from the balcony has been a tall, white wall functioning as a construction barricade. That is changing today! After class, I discovered workers removing the eyesore. Some students are comparing it to the fall of the Berlin Wall. I quickly grabbed my iPod Touch to film this monumental event.

日本 Halloween

What are the chances? 

Mario is captured by Otaru police women Dari and Hyunjin

Disgruntled member of Blue Man Group

What's more American than Kentucky Friend Chicken? Taken with
my Japanese Senseis Tomita-san, Abe-san, and Tokano-san

Mario and Luigi (Andi and Lukas) protect the toad (Qu Zhan)

Monika and Lee are the 80's work out divas

The Joker and a bank robber conspiring

Serving tray with chicken is part of Colonel's ensemble 

Pictures from Otaru

Supermarket Tour

I've been grocery shopping in Japan for a couple months now and wanted to make a video to show my friends back home some of the unique products. My cameraman wasn't available for this shoot so I managed on my own. I hope you enjoy!

Onsen

I spent the evening of my 23rd birthday soaking in an Onsen along with my Austrian friend and neighbor Andy. Similar to the picture below, an Onsen is a shallow outdoor pool with hot, mineral water circulating through it.  

Popular with natives and tourists alike, these natural hot springs are located throughout Japan thanks to the volcanic activity below. Onsens have long been a part of Japanese tradition. Relaxation and rejuvenation is now the primary motive for visiting rather than hygiene. The particular Onsen we visited is called Asarigawa Onsen and is about a 40 minute bus ride from the university dormitory. Patrons are expected to strip down and scrub up. It is not only good manners but also strict policy to thoroughly clean the body before entering the body. As with many things Japanese, cleanliness is next to Godliness (or Buddha-ness, if you will). It seemed as if I spent more time soaping myself than soaking; nonetheless, I could feel the calming, therapeutic benefits for many days after.

Big in Japan

In younger years, I graced the pages of my hometown newspaper for such acclaim as "B-Honor Roll" and "Boy's State Delegate." Now, after only two months in Japan, I've been quoted in The Otaru Journal following an interview at Japanese Culture Day, mentioned in a previous post. It seems I may have a future promoting any Japanese products that are tasty and/or delicious. The quote reads: 

アメリカのジェツップ･ジェイコブ･ライアンさん(23)は、「抹茶も和菓子も美味しかった

English translation: The American Jesopu Jeikopu Raian-san (23) said: Japanese Green Tea and Sweets were very delicious.  

View full article at http://otaru-journal.com/2010/10/1030-2.php

"Mmmm... Oishii Desu"

Japanese Culture Day

A group of us international students participated in "Japanese Culture Day" in Otaru on Saturday, October 30th. Below is an short video from the Otaru Journal showing a few highlights of our experience. All of the students in the video are international students with whom I share a dormitory, classes, and friendships with. I can't say enough about how generous our hosts are to have shown us traditional Japanese tea ceremony, flower arranging, and an art project. 




A short appearance by yours truly. I am recorded saying "Oishii desu" which means "very tasty" or "delicious" in English. What can I say --I am a man of few Japanese words.