Archive for the 'Personal' Category

Welcome to the World, Kieran

Published
by
jasohill
on February 6, 2008
in Personal
. 0 Comments

When good news comes along, I am always happy to blog about it. So I’m really glad to report on something this wonderful. My good friends Mannie and Dan Ross are proud to announce the birth of their Son Kieran James Ross. He is a bouncing baby at 5 pounds, 6 ounces and he came out with a full head of hair. I want to wish both parents and Kieran the most joyous of times together. I only wish I could be there to see the little guy.

If you are a long time reader of my blog, then you’ll know that both Dan and Mannie have visited me in Japan before, and both of them have a deep interest in the culture of this country. Kieran also comes from a Japanese origin name.

Week of Crushing Immobility(Part 2)

Published
by
jasohill
on December 6, 2007
in Culture, Hachimantai, Iwate and Personal
. 4 Comments

As you might recalled from my last post, I twisted my ankle while playing a volleyball game at school. I begged and pleaded with the staff to let me walk it off, but given the size of the swelling, they insisted I make a trip to the doctor, and prevented me from walking on it. This is the continuation of that post. Please enjoy.

Continue reading ‘Week of Crushing Immobility(Part 2)’

Week of Crushing Immobility(part 1)

Published
by
jasohill
on November 21, 2007
in Culture, Education, Hachimantai and Personal
. 2 Comments

If I were asked by someone what my worst experience in Japan was, I would have to say that this week would come very close to being the winner. I spent the last week hobbling around in a leg cast, and it left me unable to leave my house. But it’s not quite as bad as you think. What happened to my leg? Here is my sad little story.

Continue reading ‘Week of Crushing Immobility(part 1)’

As the days go by…

Published
by
jasohill
on July 31, 2007
in Culture and Personal
. 6 Comments

I am sitting here at my desk, trying to explain to myself why I haven’t blogged anything in the last three weeks. I would assume the one thing that keeps me from doing so is my absolute lack of desire to blog about Japan at this time. It’s not that there hasn’t been anything to blog about. I am just finding myself in a position of complete disillusionment.

As the summer months crawl by, I keep asking myself the same old questions. “Why I am still in Japan, when so many have moved on.” “Why I am still single, when so many my age have married and started families?” Or better yet, “Why I can’t seem to settle on a career when I am 31 and many are already well entrenched in their ambitions? ” It’s not that I am envious of those who are “successful” in the oxford definition of a happy life.  Yet I can’t help but feel the ALT lifestyle is leaving me stretched thin.  I love many aspects of Japan, yet feel I can never really amount to anything if I stay here. But then I ask myself, what is this “anything” I want to amount to in the first place.  Is it worthwhile? Will it leave me satisfied? Can I really say that digging myself into a mediocre career with a wife and kids will give me anymore satisfaction than what I am doing now?

But there lies the problem. What am I doing now? The life of an ALT is a strange one indeed. I am there to assist my teachers with lessons, and I even make my own lesson plans when it comes to elementary school? Sadly, there is little that changes year to year. I am always making flashcards and finding songs. I am always using myself as a human tape recorder when I am in the Junior High classes. There are no promotions and no raises. I am not a human here. I am an ALT, and that is something I will always be. I am highly expendable, and that bothers me. As much as I enjoy this job it is not something I can do for rest of my life. When it comes to being ambitious, I am not Howard Hughes, but I am also not Kleatus, the slack jawed yokel. I feel like some days I am force to choose between these ridiculous extremes.

Which brings me to the next step. What that is, I’m not sure, however, I need to find it as soon as possible. I delayed this decision last year by moving out into the middle of nowhere. I fear now that if I don’t make it soon, I’ll be relegated to the vast rice-fields of Japan for years to come. In the mean time I will resume my blogging ways, and finding ways to make Japan enjoyable for all of you on the outside. Thanks for sticking around.

The Ass End of Japanese Cuisine

Published
by
jasohill
on January 31, 2007
in Culture and Personal
. 3 Comments

I’d like to talk to you today about Japanese Cuisine. I’m not going to mention any food in particular, but I would like to get a little intimate with you. You see, I love Japanese food, and there are very few dishes I cannot handle, other than perhaps Sea Pineapple and Raw Liver here.) However, subsisting on a Japanese diet for over a month can have some really interesting consequences on you body.
Continue reading ‘The Ass End of Japanese Cuisine’

The Dreary Doldrumes of January

Published
by
jasohill
on January 12, 2007
in Iwate and Personal
. 3 Comments

Well, I’m now back in Japan. After a 14 hour trip that, coincidently, had me on the same plane as a friend of mine. I arrived back in Tokyo and got myself a bullet train up to the frozen north of Iwate. It’s amazing how the weather goes from warm and raining, to cold and blizzardy all in the space of 400km. Within a day of returning, I was back at work and back to routine. My trusty kerosene heater decided it didn’t want to work, and is now in the shop, leaving me chilled to the bone.

I’m not sure what it is about 2007 that already has me in a bit of a funk. It could be the rather cold reception I got when I came back(Oh! you’re back. Whoop de doo), or possibly the army of friends and acquaintances I know that seem to have found true love in the last six months. I always know about how happy they are, because they never stop reminding me. This wouldn’t bother me so much if it weren’t for the fact that I can’t seem to locate a woman that shares anything in common with me. I have been in three rocky relationships in the last three years, and I have spelunked my way out of them. I do want to relax a little and enjoy my freedom, but, as some of my younger friends remind me, “Wow, you’re 30? Why don’t you have like three kids by now?” It’s hard to shake that artificial pressure that at this age that I need to be with someone. But I’ll do my best to fight it.

I think I’ll just chalk it up to SAD again this year and try to move on with my life. There should be plenty of interesting things to blog about here in Iwate. Overall, I’m sure I’m just a little tired from a long flight across the pacific. I really enjoyed my trip back to Edmonton, and I can take away a lot of positive memories from it. I also took some great pictures and will be sharing them with all of you as well. So here is a preemptive “cheers” to 2007!

From afar

Published
by
jasohill
on January 4, 2007
in Personal and Travel
. 2 Comments

First of all, I want to wish all of my readers a happy 2007. I am currently in Edmonton, Alberta on vacation and I have not been blogging about Japan. Today I want to reflect a little on what it is like to return to North America after three years living in Japan.

Continue reading ‘From afar’

Homeward Bound

Published
by
jasohill
on December 19, 2006
in Personal
. 0 Comments

On Saturday I’m doing something I haven’t done in a very long time.

I’m going home.

I’m not sure why I waited three years to return. All I know is that now is the time. I will be staying in Vermont for eight days and then flying to Edmonton for eight days. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t a little nervous about this.

What has changed in three years? How have I changed in three years?

Honestly, I thought I could make a home for myself in Japan. My entire family moved away from Edmonton three years ago and made lives for themselves. Japan was supposed to be my place. Why is it not working out the way I wanted it to?

Is it something about Japan? Is it something about me?

In addition to all of this, I got my contract renewed today. It is good until April of 2008. I will be coming back to Japan for another year. What will it be like? Should I still try to make this a home? Or should I abandon this effort and return to Canada when 2008 comes around. There are many perplexing questions I have to deal with, and there doesn’t seem to be an easy way to attack them. One thing is certain, however. On Saturday, I am going home.

The Test From Hell!

Published
by
jasohill
on December 5, 2006
in Language, National and Personal
. 0 Comments

When it comes to tests, I’ve pretty much seen it all. I have been through the labs and essays. I’ve survived four hours exams and thirty minute interviews. I even walked away with a University Degree at the simple cost of my soul. Yet no exam in the entire world has frustrated me more than the dreaded Japanese Proficiency Exam(日本語能力試験.) I just wrote the 2nd level test for the third time this past Sunday and I want to scream “bloody murder!” Now I’ll tell you why.

The first and foremost reason why I hate this exam is that it’s very difficult. It keeps getting more difficult every year you take it. Almost like a cold war between exam writers and participants. Every year, I approach the exam site with an arsenal of new grammer and vocabulary. Oh, but the test is ready for me. It constantly finds new ways to confuse the hell out of me and leave me bleeding on the floor. But that is only the worst part. I bet you didn’t know there were other nasty elements to this exam. .

Did you know that the exam only happens once a year? Yes, you have one shot to nail it or you’re screwed. But if that wasn’t bad enough, you also pay 5500 yen to take the damn thing. Oh, and guess what happens if you actually find a way to pass an exam. If you ant to receive the a diploma, you need to send them money for the diploma and the shipping cost. Yes, they are so cheap they won’t even send you a diploma with your results. Also, did want to see how you did on the exam. Too bad! You don’t get your results. You only know if you passed or failed. You can, however buy a copy of the answer for about 1200 yen at the bookstore.

So you can see, I am not a big fan of this exam. Lucky for me, the only reason I take it is to improve my Japanese. I’d be in real trouble if I needed it for a certification of something. To wrap this up, I’m going to go out and call JESS(the organization that administrates the exam) something they need to be called. You are TEST NAZIES. Stop being so damned cheap and extreme about this test! There, I feel much better now.

I’m an Atheist

Published
by
jasohill
on November 29, 2006
in Personal
. 2 Comments

There, I’ve come out and said it.

I’m an Atheist.

I have some friends who proudly announced it when they found Christ. I suppose that when your heart is full of joy, you just have to tell the whole world. I suppose that is why I am placing this on my blog. An old friend told me that coming to Japan would change my life. I didn’t know how right she would be. Japan itself doesn’t have a lot to do with this decision, but it was the place I was in when I made it. So I’d to announce it once again for the entire world to read.

I’m an Atheist.

I have decided to completely turn my back on organized religion. In addition to this, I will also being making brochures that proclaim critical thinking and open-mindedness as the only salvation for humanity. Whenever I see Mormons or other preachers on the street, I will hand out my brochures after them and encourage people to consider reason over madness. I am not the first to do this, but I think it’s essential to progress. So what is my new philosophy?

-I find the existence of a God to be highly unlikely or impossible (as god is currently defined)

-I live for the here and now, knowing that an afterlife is not waiting for me.

-I live as a secular humanist to help the plight of the poor and the persecuted all over the world.

-I will encourage critical thinking and skepticism. I seek the truth, regardless of how harsh that truth may be. I seek comfort what is.

-I will explore the natural world. It is my home. It is all I know.

-I will look at everything with an open mind.

For the first time in my life I feel truly liberated. I’ve known about this for a long time now, but I wanted to make it official.

If you feel the same as I do, I encourage you to comment and talk about it as well. Here are some places you may with to check out:

Point of Inquiry

Center for Inquiry

The Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science

I feel it is important to get involved now. The forces of intolerance are closing in and we need to prepare. We need to do everything we can to spread the word of free thought and reason.