Adventure on the (Over) Seas

So much has happened over here in the past little while it is hard to write about everything but I will try. Its hard to write about much of anything because most days are simply living the life. Waking up and going to work the same as everyone else, the only difference is that I do that in Japan where I deal with cultural differences from time to time. Being pulled over by the police is complete with a rest in the back of their car almost every time! Back home that means your headed to the house for something serious.
I was pulled over today on my way to work for not stopping at the train tracks. The police officers asked me to sit in the back seat of their car. This freaked me out quite a bit, I could not bring myself to put both my feet in the back of their car just in case they tried to close the door on me. I've sat in the back of those enough times to know there are no inside handles!!! That was the third time in the past two weeks I have been stopped. They have all been my fault but it doesn't help me sleep at night...
First time I was driving with RO and went down the wrong way of a one way street. In my defence when I drove by the next day I still couldn't see the no entry sign from the direction I was coming from. The next day I was stopped for chatting on the phone while driving. This one was just pure impatience on my part. I was in the midst of an important phone call and after 20 minutes of standing talking I realized I was running late for the school Halloween events. So I jumped in the car. While driving I noticed that the bridge was a little backed up so I decided to take a "short cut" under the bridge. I turned the corner and WHAM-OOO, popo pointing right at me! No way to avoid that one... He wrote down my info and then told me to drive to the station. He told me that he would meet me there. I noticed that he had no vehicle. I asked him how as best I could... He put two fingers up and instead of making some obscure obscene gesture made his fingers do that walking... I told the man to get in my car and I would drive him there, he refused profusely!!! So I had to sit and wait for him at the station for him to give me a warning... He was attempting to shame me into behaving myself. That brings us to today's little mishap. Third time is a charm... 3 strikes, three warnings. I should start walking places.

I had RO over here visiting for a week which was pretty awesome. It was great to have some bonding time with my man from home. I was busy working for most of the week but he came along and helped me quite a bit preparing for Halloween. He was a huge hit with all of my co-workers. Everyone liked him so much I was almost jobless!!! Who would have thought, me replaced by the little man?!?!?! He also had a chance to meet a lot of my students, they have all been chatting about him since he left. I am thinking to myself, what am I? Minced meat?!?!? We did get a chance to hang out in Tokyo though when he arrived and we went around to a few of the sights and sounds. We didn't do the full tour but next time we will get around to that!

A little while back I went to a grand opening of the new bicycle race track. One of my student's husband is a professional bike racer. Its the same as the horse races but with men on bikes. It was an entertaining day. We got a behind the scenes look at the track and racers hotel. Because the gambling is such a big industry and there is a lot of money at stake in the races, when there is a race the racers must stay in a hotel with no contact with the outside world. It was really strange but imagine if you knew that the best racer in the world was drinking all night long before a big race, it would drastically change the way you gambled, no? It was just a really fun day out and about with Kana and Taiga.

I have been hanging out with my students more and more these days because I enjoy their company quite a bit. They are all really cool and their kids are awesome. They are able to teach me about Japan much better than other Gai KOKO Jins... A few weeks ago we had a BBQ and I pulled the stupidest stunt I've seen in a long time... I actually locked my keys in my car! And to top that one off... It was still running! I was in a rush with many things on my mind and used my phone to send an e-mail just before stepping out of my car and I forgot them...

The biggest news of the past little while happened last weekend. I entered into a Karate tournament!!! I even finished in third place and got a really nice certificate. Sadly I should mention that there were only three people in my category. I was really pumped about the tourney but was feeling really run down and actually, for the first time in my life, called in sick on Friday and actually was sick! I spent the day in bed trying to recover and had my girlfriend come over and take me to the doctor in the afternoon. Kae even cooked me up a really impressive dinner. I was resting all weekend but figured since I was entered in the tourney I should probably go to practice! Afterwards I met a friend for her birthday party but was home by 10:30. I tried to get to sleep but it would not come for me... I was a little too jacked up about the fights the following day. So I was not very well rested and nowhere near close to 100% for the day of my debut in the ring...
My first fight was really quite the experience. I have been practicing hard but there is a world of a difference between practicing and actually fighting while someone is hitting back as hard as they possible can. I can throw it down pretty well and so could this guy. He was an older dude but I was not even the slightest bit intimidated by the fact that he was bigger than I am. In fact I was pumped to face him. So pumped that I threw everything I had at him... for the first minute. Then I ran out of steam a combo of the lack of sleep and sickness left me feeling like a punching bag in the ring. Funny though, not one of his punches even hurt me. Even afterwards I when the fight was over and I had lost I was just disappointed with myself for not fighting smarter. I didn't get beat in the ring by anyone other than myself. It was a really good learning experience. Sorry for the anti-climatic story of my first Karate match. I had someone take some video so if it is blog worthy I will post it up.
My second fight started and finished with my opponent in the hospital. I wish I could say that I put him there but his first opponent had that honor. So I had to walk into the ring and be announced the winner before walking off the mats. It was a really embarrassing for me to accept the certificate for third place knowing that there were only four people in my category and even worse one of them was not there (read first paragraph). So I look real pathetic and I was also the only gaijin there!!! My embarrassment is going to be compounded soon when my photo and profile is uploaded onto the Karate website. One of the guys came over and asked me some questions and then took my photo. Since Karate does not seem to be working for me perhaps I should turn to modeling!
All in all my first tournament was really quite good. I am happy that I entered and am looking forward to the next tournament. Its strange even though I know that these guys can hit me hard enough to seriously hurt me I am not scared, not even for a moment before a fight. I am nervous but that's only because I am so competitive I am nervous to lose. Now that that's out of the way I am ready to fight again. I will post up the video and such after I watch it. Next month is another belt test so hopefully I will be upgraded to a blue belt. Yellow might still be a little ways out of my reach...

I am sorry for not posting much lately. Its hard to get motivated when I am not sure that anyone ever even reads my random thoughts and stories. I hope those of you that do enjoy what I have to write from time to time... Stay well!