Music & Christmas 2

On Friday night I went and saw a co-worker's band at the Spiegeltent. The band is called Wagons and you can sample a few of their tracks at their Myspace site. Very worth it. While I can't say the venue itself was to my taste, the band made the best of it and my co-worker Henry, also the lead singer, is an exceptional entertainer. At times I was waiting for songs to end just so I could hear what he'd say next!

Having organised a number of close Melbourne friends last year for a Christmas dinner at a great Burmese restaurant on Bridge Rd, it has been decided that this year there shall be Christmas 2. God knows how we'll organise a date that suits everyone but I am keen on the idea of Indian this year. Though all food is good. Except duck's feet. They are less good. Damn tricksy hobbit Chinese friends that made me eat that in Shanghai...

I was talking to a Japanese student at work the other day and we got onto blogging and she asked whether I ever blogged about Japan, seeing as how I'd spent a great deal of time there. Now despite my affection for the place it oftentimes seems weird and monotonous to speak about it. So many have been to Japan and most of them have had their say. I doubt I have anything new to add to the mix. Though during the post-gig dinner on Friday night, one of my colleagues asked me why the hell I went to Japan twice. Weird that I could some it up in a couple of sentences.
Wakayama :
- Wanted to do the overseas thing.
- Was dating a Japanese girl at the time.
Shizuoka :
- Went to lay to rest the ghost of girlfriend past (different one to the above reason but a result of the same trip).

My colleague was shocked that I would travel half way round the world (not quite that far but anyhow...) just to get closure. I'm not sure that I actually told anyone in Shiz that. I no doubt would have received the same look that my colleague gave me. But sure enough, I got what I needed and also made some new friends into the bargain. Not a bad nine months work if you ask me. Though I hated the job I was doing while I was there. The worst part was becoming an AT and having to fake that I was all "yay company" guy.

I would go back to Japan in a heartbeat if the right job came along. It's a great place to live as long as you're canny enough to make real Japanese friends. Yes, I make a distinction. There are the ones that are great and like you for who you are. And then there are those, oh so many of those, that are friends with you because you are a gaijin. Either they want to practice their English. Or date you. Or just show you off as though you are some kind of 2008 model console system that noone else has. This may seem harsh, but it happens. So Japan was no different for me. I was as selective of my Japanese friends as I would be of those I make here. Anyhow, that's neither here nor there. I won't be returning to Japan barring a holiday, just making the point that I think it's a great place for foreigners to live. The bonus being that spoken Japanese is pretty easy to pick up with minimal effort. Imagine what I could have accomplished had I actually spent any time at all studying...

So that's some stuff about Japan, just because a student made me think of it. Sometime soon I'll write a bit more. End of the year just gives you that gooey reflective feeling, don't you think?

P.S. W, I saw your old housemate Alice at the pub a couple of weeks ago. The Jp connections just keep on coming!