He’s Back

Sorry for the lack of updates for anyone other than my immediate family and friends who read this.  I am now back for the time being in America.  My stay in Japan has finished and I am back to the usuall grind of my life.  Classes at my University have started and I am already overloaded.  Hopefully if I have time I will continue to update my site with more of my stories from Japan that I left out as well as my current life.  For the record my goal for the summer is to head back to Japan to either visit or to have an internship.  I have already started the internship paperwork and now it is just depends on luck.

later

Andrew Lee

Happy Thanksgiving

Well, I hope everyone out there had a wonderful holiday.  The students in Japan celebrated in our own way.  We had a day off for some holiday that most japanese people don’t even know about.  So we spent our day back on Monkey mountain.  Many people heard of our tale and wanted their own experience. So we went again.  Thats the good thing about wild monkeys is that you never know what they are going to do.  I won’t go into the details.  One story of wild monkeys is enough for me.  We ended the night in a classic turkey day style.  We went to KFC.  Yes Japan has a Kentucky Fried Chicken.  But sadly it isn’t the same.  I don’t know what it was.  It was either the hard, soggy chicken, the price, or the fact that they didn’t come in a bucket.  We were all just thankful that we could celebrate it together and in Japan.  Man, I want some mashed potatoes.

And One And Two…

Well, I have now accomplished another of my goals for Japan.  I am going to be on Japanese Television.  To be specific, I am going to be on Japanese public television.  Not great but not bad.  At least in my opinion.  I am sure all of you out there are asking, ” Andrew, why are you going to be on television?”  The answer is very simple: Aerobics.  Yes aerobics, the activity of Kings and royalty.  The show was to be taped in our dorm and they needed some of the students from the dorm to take part.  Of course how could I say no to dancing around on national television.  You also can’t do aerobics on national television without the proper wardrobe either.  This includes: sweatbands, wristbands, tight shirt, speedo, and anything else that makes you look like a cast member from the movie “Flashdance”.  If you could have seen all of us you would have died laughing.  All the japanese kids were talking about how serious it is supposed to be.  We were all very serious in our spandex.  One of the students, Dan, used to play football and probably weighs more than 200 pounds.  He borrowed a shirt that belonged to a 120 pound japanese GIRL.  Holy stretched shirt Batman.  We all did what we were supposed to once the cameras started rolling.  Many of the Exchange students were thrown in the back.  Why, I do not know.  But about halfway through the show the producer walks up to me and says “Ikimashoo”,  which means come with me.  He drags me to the front and starts tapping again.  MOMMY MOMMY Your boys a star now.  THere was a camera in my face more than half the time.  I am not exagerating either.  The director came up to me afterwards and said, “Man, we had that camera on you half the time.  Why weren’t you smiling more.”  Maybe because I had a camera two inches from my face while I was trying to do aerobics on national tv.  Everyone be sure to tune into to NHK on February 2 at 9:00 a.m. 

Adventure on Monkey Mountain

Sorry I thought I published this last week.  I guess I don’t know how to use the internet. 

Well, I can now scratch off one more thing from my list of “Things to do in Japan”.  Today I tagged along on a class field trip to go hiking in the mountains near Kyoto.  I had to skip one of my classes but it was absolutely worth it.  We the walk to the mountain is a tourist dream with stores everywhere.  There were a few restaurants that were overlooking a creek in the forest.  I wanted to stop to eat there so badly but then I saw the menu and realized that some of the best things in life are not free.  As we continue up we pass by many small temples along the path which just radiate history and beauty.  And in the background some of the trees have started to change for fall.  All around green mixes with vibrant reds, yellows, oranges, and all the shades inbetween.  It is one of the most amazing, spine-tingling sights I have beheld here in Japan.  Well enough about the beauty, it’s time for the interesting part of the trip.

So on our way to the top of the mountain we run across a group of mountain monkeys.  When I say a group I mean a legion.  There were monkeys jumping down from everywhere.  The best part was they weren’t even afraid of humans.  They would just walk up to us and just look at us.  One stared at me for a while. I think that one might have been thinking “Hey look at this stupid guy with red hair.  What a weirdo.”  Well, you know what monkey, your butt is red so shut up, you damn monkey.  I know I shouldn’t pick a fight with the monkeys but in my defence they started it.  As we were walking past one of them walked up to my friend Matt and started attacking him.  None of us had any idea why either, it just started jumping up and swiping at him.  Then we found out why.  Matt had bought a thing of chicken before we left and the monkey had smelled it.  So after about two seconds the monkey rips apart Matts bag and runs off with his chicken.  We all sit back and laugh as the monkey tries to get the the chicken out of the saran wrap.  The second he does monkeys start coming out of the woodworks to get a piece.  If any of you doubt me I have video proof.  Hopefully I will have that up soon.  Of course I have said that about every piece of video I have but please be patient.  Also I have updated my photos on the .mac account so give them a look.

Kansai Festival. PARTY PARTY

This weekend was my universities festival.  They really take festivals serious.  For four days the entire university was shut down in order for everyone to take part in the festivities.  I shall now recap what has happened.

The first day a group of us showed up to take a look around.  The second we get there we get swarmed by people trying to sell stuff to us.  It was so funny how people came running at us expecting us to by whatever they were selling.  Well, at least it was funny for the first five minutes.  Then it got really, really annoying.  Because when we didn’t buy thing from people they got mad at us.  They also wouldn’t leave us alone either.  It was like walking around in a third world country.  It was infuriating.  Just to as a quick note, it was like this everyday that we were there.  But putting that behind us we went and watched a fashion show that a fellow exchange student was in.  I wish I could show everyone all the weird things that people wore in the show.  Of course I am the one who sat in on the fashion show.  Of all the things to do in Japan a fashion show was not one of them.  After that we walked around and ate some interesting festival food.  There wasn’t much to do besides eating and watching people and shows.  I guess the theme this year was “Pirates of the Caribbean”   because many of the shows had pirates in it.  Many people dressed up as Captain Jack Sparrow.  Of course many people were dressed up in funny costumes.  People were dressed in drag, as pirates, cats, winnie the pooh, dragons, power rangers, vegetables, maids, and a few others that I can’t remember.  Now I tell you this not to describe the festivals weirdness.  I am telling you so you can understand my anger.  As we were walking around we noticed people staring at us.  Now a little staring is expected, in fact it’s a daily occurrence, but at the festival EVERYONE stared and not discretely either.  People were pointing and gawking at us.  Once time I walked by someone dressed up as a pirate, he lifted his eye patch to get a better look at me.  All these people in crazy costumes and WE WERE THE ODDITIES.  I really wanted to dress up like a robot, that way I could walk around without being stared at.

The second day we checked out the flea market area.  It wasn’t too impressive but it did have a few things I found interesting.  We also checked out some japanese style comedy.  I didn’t get it but then again I couldn’t understand what he was saying.  Then afterwards a big group of guys went out to get a tabehodai of yakiniku.  In english that means all you can eat meat for two hours.  That was a fun night.  I haven’t eaten like that since I left America.

The third day passed without anything exciting happening.  So sorry.

The fourth day was the fun day.  It was also the coldest.  We started out as we had the past few days.  Walked around and eat some food.  Then we found some new things.  I pied a guy in the face.  They had a booth set up to pie people.  So I took a turn.  Got that guy square in the face.  I even have it on tape.  I taped a bunch of stuff that day.  Or at least had a friend tape it.  After that we went and checked out some of the free concerts they had.  It was an interesting list of bands.  First was a cover band of System of a Down which was horrible.  They tried to sing in english and they couldn’t.  The second was a pop girls band which sang and danced and just looked cute.  Then was another cover band playing Slipknot.  Then the school band playing the school song. Just to clear the air if there is any confusion: Hard rock, girly girl band, death rock, school anthem.  Trust me it was weird to see.  But the interesting thing I must add is that there was a small mosh pit near the stage during the Slipknot cover.  Not wanting to miss the opportunity me and a few of the guys rushed over to join in.  I like japanese mosh pits because I was one of the biggest guys in the crowd.  My other friend, who is a meat tank, just stood while people ran into him and just bounced off.  I also accomplished one of my life goals: I crowdsurfed.  My friend started helping me up when some other guys noticed and just hoisted me in the air.  I was flopping around for a good minute.  I also have this on tape.  I was one of the lucky few because the crowd couldn’t support the weight of anyone else.  Another guy from the group ran on stage and jumped into the crowd and took out like half the people in it.  After that was done there was a parade that ended at the same stage we were just at.  People sang the school anthem and there was a closing ceremony and that was it.  The festival was over.

My weekend In Kyoto

One of the students from Webster has been dying to see a Geisha show in Kyoto for the longest time.  So last weekend a trip was planed to go to Gion, the Giesha district of Kyoto.  The plan was to go see a performance somewhere.  This is what it turned into.  First, we arrive in Gion and have a little look around the area.  Gion still has many houses from the earlier part of this century.  We wandered around until we ran across this big building with a rather remarkable line leading up to it.  Being the daring adventurers that we are we decided to take a quick look.  The one important fact I should mention is that this line was filled with old Japanese people wearing fancy, old Japanese clothing.  A group of ten, foreign college students wearing clothes that hadn’t been washed in months was a little out of place.  It turned out to be a special invitation only event that only the elite of Japan were invited to.  So as we were leaving a little old lady came running up to us and said “No, its okay.  You can all come in as my guests.”  BAM.  We were in.  It was amazing.  The whole thing was a showcase of award winning clothing, art, fashion, and food.  In the first room we meet a very famous Japanese artist/actor.  I don’t know who he is but he was famous to them.  The whole thing was breath taking.  I felt very humble to be able to take part in a once in lifetime event.  At the end of the exhibit, the award winning chefs were giving out samples of their food.  We tasted Japanese sweets, green tea, and a Japanese type of noodle called soba.  It was all delecious.  The weird thing was the guy taking photos of us the whole time we ate.  It was a little creepy just for the reasong that he only took the photos when we were about to put food in our mouths.  Every shot was of us, mouths full extended, preparing to shovel food into our faces.  And then as we were leaving a very pretty lady was walking in wearing a beautiful kimono.  Everyone seemed excited to see her.  So we asked if we could take a few pictures with her.  Later on after she left it turned out she was the Queen of Kimonos.  The Japanese equivelent to Miss Universe.

To continue on…….We showed up to the theater to watch the Performance.  We had bought our tickets as a group to save money.  Thats why I thought we would be sitting together.  Instead we get to the far back row and I find that my seat is not with the group.  A few other people had the same problem.  So we went to the lady in charge of finding seats and asked her.  She was very helpful in leading us to our seats.  No wonder we couldn’t find them.  They were box seats.  That’s right. BOX SEATS.  We were right next to the stage in the only box in the whole theater.  I don’t know how that even happened.  It was complete luck.  So we were able to watch the performance in style and comfort.  That was my weekend.  Next week we are going to back to pick a fight with the mountain monkeys they have wandering freely.

New Pics

Alright Alright.  I now have a place to load all my photo.  If anyone wants to see it the address is

http://web.mac.com/andrewleeblog/iWeb/Site/Welcome.html

Give it a look.

He can’t fly, he can’t fly, he can’t fly

This weekend one of the theater groups at my school did a performance of “Peter Pan”.  Check that, they did a performance of “Panta Pin”.  “Who’s Panta Pin, Andrew”.  Thank you for asking.  Panta Pin is the hilariously messed up version of peter pan.  As it turns out not that many japanese people know the story of peter pan so they had nothing to base the play on.  I did and let me say it was a little off.  Lets start things off.  We have Wendy and two other girls whose names I don’t know.  Wendy is a child beater and enjoys taking off her shoe to hit her sisters.  Panta Pin is a crappy Peter Pan wannabe(thats seriously who he is in the play) who goes around stealing purses and girls underwear.  Tinkerbell is a dude.  The two dudes take the girls to a wonderful place called moneyland where they basically try to rip the girls off.  Captain hook doesn’t have a hook but instead is the boss of moneyland and goes around collecting rent.  And instead of being afraid of a crocodile he is afraid of a gay man with a pocket watch.  Yes thats right a gay man with a pocket watch.  First you hear the ticking, then captain non-hook freaks out, and enter a man with a pocket watch dangaling around his neck, slicked back hair, and a tendency to feel up other men.  One of the lost boys was a cross dresser.   There I said it.  Oh, and Panta Pin couldn’t fly.  It wasn’t because it was a small production it was because he cared more about money then dreams.  Morals.  Who doesn’t love them.  The last bit of weirdness was that the evil people kept pulling out giant handguns to shoot people.  SO WEIRD, BRAIN IMPLODING.

Andrew Goes to Court

I had to go to a court hearing today because noone told me that climbing a tree half-naked was illegal in Japan (guess which half).  Just kidding folks.  My Japanese law class took a trip to Umeda to sit in on a few trials.  It was pretty cool.  They have their courts set up a little differently than ours.  Instead of the prosecutor and the defendant facing the judge they are on opposite sides of the room facing each other.  A couple other differences but I won`t go into that right now.    The coolest part was when the accused came into the room.  The first guy came in wearing a suit, standing by himself, and talking to the judge.  The second guy came in like Hannibal Lecter.  He had on handcuffs and feetcuffs and the two of those were chained together.  He was brought in by two armed guards, one of which was behind him with a leash around his stomach.  Turned out that this terrible person got drunk and pulled a knife on someone.  Sure shows the difference between Japan and America.  In Japan that`s considered extremly violent.  In St. Louis that`s  completely normal.  Anyway, the trial began and was extremly boring from the get go.  Everyone(including myself) fell asleep at one point or another.  I would feel alot worse except that I caught one of the trainee judges, who was sitting in the corner with other judges-to-be, snoozing too.  After the trial was over our teacher took us out to lunch with a few of the judges from the building.  So, for the entire meal, we had a chance to chat with a couple judges about law and order and the differences between Japan and other countries.  Definitely a memorable day.

Finishing the weekend

To end it all, we actually did get to stay long at the hotel.  Just slept there and then left.  Which was sad because it turned out to be an amazing resort.  But we had to move on to more important things.  Like…

Lake Biwa.   Yes we had to learn about the largest lake in Japan.  Yaaah for education.  So, we watched a fun movie about the lake.  Once more everything was in Japanese.  Easy for my to understand, Japanese.  Not much to say about this.  Except for the interesting little room of rain.  Get this,  you go into the room and experience different levels of rain.  Really practical for a country in which it RAINS EVERY OTHER DAY.  Why on your day off from rain would you like to go into a room and experience more rain.  Do you not get enough in your daily life.  I have been here for a week and seen more rain then I ever would back in the midwest.  Hell, there has been a typhoon in the short time that I have been here.

But I digress.  After the movie we got on our bus and went back to the dorm.

The End