Monday, July 27, 2009
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Photos
Hello Everyone,I am currently uploading my photos (i have over 300 so far!) and figuring out the best way to show them to you all. My flicker link is http://www.flickr.com/photos/sk8kiran/. However, flickr only lets me upload about 50 pictures a month. Considering I did not upload any in April, I am experiencing a log jam in my photo posting. Anyways, check out my flickr for some of my photos. Arata has posted his pictures of our Nikko trip on his flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/arata_sakamoto/.
On a different note, the "writing spider" is still crawing around on my back. It is itching me to put into words (for my own sake) the complexity of observations, experiences, and feelings that come into my crazy Tokyo life. And as with the pictures, there is a log jam in my mind of things to write about: the times of confusion, euphoria, hardship, discovery, and pure fun. I will produce soon, just hoping the dust will settle.
[this is a photo of me at the ubiquitious "Pachinko Parlors" (gambling places) in Tokyo. You put these balls into a "pin ball" like machine and turn the knob just the right amount and hope that you win, I am still completely confused with its appeal... But, suprisingly, I have found myself becoming increasingly addicted to it. I can't stop playing, after class, before class, until 5 AM in the morning. Maybe this is why I can't find the time to write about this place? hahahaa OK OK, i am just kidding...]
[this is a photo of me at the ubiquitious "Pachinko Parlors" (gambling places) in Tokyo. You put these balls into a "pin ball" like machine and turn the knob just the right amount and hope that you win, I am still completely confused with its appeal... But, suprisingly, I have found myself becoming increasingly addicted to it. I can't stop playing, after class, before class, until 5 AM in the morning. Maybe this is why I can't find the time to write about this place? hahahaa OK OK, i am just kidding...]
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Brief Outline of My Time In Japan
April 1-5: Arrived in Tokyo during one of the happiest and most sacred periods of the Japanese year: Sakura Festival and Hanami (cherry blossom blooming). Stayed in Ryokan (traditional Japanese Inn) near Arata Sakamoto’s (family friend) home. Spent a lot of time with Arata and his family, as they helped us settle into Tokyo. We filed for our alien registration cards, bought prepaid cell phones, set up our ATM situations, and de-jetlagged…
April 5: moved into our home in Sendagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo. Although my roommate Justin and I share a closet sized room, we don’t mind because we live in the best location in the heart of Tokyo!
April 5-12: Spring Break. Settled into our new apartment, went to Japanese “pic-and-saves” and “100 yen stores” to buy our towels, linens, school supplies, kitchen supplies, etc. Bought used bikes and expanded our mobility in the city. Met a new friend (now one of our best) Kanjin Ogawa, a Japanese-American guy from UC Santa Barbara who has already been studying at Sophia University for a semester. Kanjin has been a great help showing us the city: like bars where you can get $ 1.00 beers and teaching me good Japanese pick-up lines (like anata wa kire: you are beautiful, and amerika ja zettai moteru no yo ne: you would be super popular in America). During this time before school started, we had picnics under the Sakura (cherry) blossoms, sang some karaoke, and drank with Japanese “sararimen” aka suited salarymen. Also, I found a hotel that was converted into a skateramp, art gallery, and bar, and I made friends with many Japanese skateboarders.
April 13: started Spring Semester at Sophia University, a “Japanese Ivy League” Jesuit university in central Tokyo. I am taking three economics classes and one Japanese language class.
April 13-30: continued classes Monday through Friday at Sophia. My economics classes, though interesting, are relatively easy. However my Japanese class is insanely and unreasonably difficult. From Monday through Friday, 90 minutes per day, I am learning Japanese. In the first 4 days of class we were required to learn the entire 52 character Japanese Alphabet of Hiragana. In the next four days of class we were required to learn Katakana, another 52 character Japanese Alphabet for western (roman) words. At first I was having a lot of trouble and I went to every office in the university searching for a way to drop the class. But now I have stopped whining and am enjoying the challenge and benefit of studying Japanese for over 3 hours a day. I can now write some text messages (in Japanese) to my friends and am starting to communicate more in Japanese.
Today is May 1, 2009, the beginning of the Japanese Golden Week: a time where a series of holidays form a week long vacation for the Japanese. Tomorrow Arata-san and his family are graciously taking Justin and I to the mountain town of Nikko, near Mt. Fuji. There we will stay at a Japanese Ryokan (traditional Inn) and sip sake in onsens (natural hot springs) overlooking the beautiful landscape. Believe me, I am not complaining one bit!
I apologize for flooding you all with extensive rantings about my life in Japan. Please delete this from your inbox if you have no interest, and I will not be- offended. These writings are equally for my own benefit as they are to share with my loved ones.
I would love to hear from you all soon. Domo Arigato Gozaimashta.
Love,
Ajay
April 5: moved into our home in Sendagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo. Although my roommate Justin and I share a closet sized room, we don’t mind because we live in the best location in the heart of Tokyo!
April 5-12: Spring Break. Settled into our new apartment, went to Japanese “pic-and-saves” and “100 yen stores” to buy our towels, linens, school supplies, kitchen supplies, etc. Bought used bikes and expanded our mobility in the city. Met a new friend (now one of our best) Kanjin Ogawa, a Japanese-American guy from UC Santa Barbara who has already been studying at Sophia University for a semester. Kanjin has been a great help showing us the city: like bars where you can get $ 1.00 beers and teaching me good Japanese pick-up lines (like anata wa kire: you are beautiful, and amerika ja zettai moteru no yo ne: you would be super popular in America). During this time before school started, we had picnics under the Sakura (cherry) blossoms, sang some karaoke, and drank with Japanese “sararimen” aka suited salarymen. Also, I found a hotel that was converted into a skateramp, art gallery, and bar, and I made friends with many Japanese skateboarders.
April 13: started Spring Semester at Sophia University, a “Japanese Ivy League” Jesuit university in central Tokyo. I am taking three economics classes and one Japanese language class.
April 13-30: continued classes Monday through Friday at Sophia. My economics classes, though interesting, are relatively easy. However my Japanese class is insanely and unreasonably difficult. From Monday through Friday, 90 minutes per day, I am learning Japanese. In the first 4 days of class we were required to learn the entire 52 character Japanese Alphabet of Hiragana. In the next four days of class we were required to learn Katakana, another 52 character Japanese Alphabet for western (roman) words. At first I was having a lot of trouble and I went to every office in the university searching for a way to drop the class. But now I have stopped whining and am enjoying the challenge and benefit of studying Japanese for over 3 hours a day. I can now write some text messages (in Japanese) to my friends and am starting to communicate more in Japanese.
Today is May 1, 2009, the beginning of the Japanese Golden Week: a time where a series of holidays form a week long vacation for the Japanese. Tomorrow Arata-san and his family are graciously taking Justin and I to the mountain town of Nikko, near Mt. Fuji. There we will stay at a Japanese Ryokan (traditional Inn) and sip sake in onsens (natural hot springs) overlooking the beautiful landscape. Believe me, I am not complaining one bit!
I apologize for flooding you all with extensive rantings about my life in Japan. Please delete this from your inbox if you have no interest, and I will not be- offended. These writings are equally for my own benefit as they are to share with my loved ones.
I would love to hear from you all soon. Domo Arigato Gozaimashta.
Love,
Ajay
Friday, May 1, 2009
Tokyo to Mission Control...
Tokyo to mission control… This is Ajay Mittal, and I am writing to let you know that I have landed safely and begun to settle in the land of the rising sun, also known as日本, Nippon, or JAPAN! I have now lived in Japan for nearly month… Wait, begun to settle? Yes, believe it or not, I still have not fully “settled” in Japan. I believe that is why I still have not written back to my “mission control” with a full report of my experiences. Being caught up a whirlwind tremendous physical, social, and emotional life changes, I still have not sat down, caught my breath, and reflected.
About a week ago I picked up my “Alien Registration Card” from the Shibuya City Office in central Tokyo. And yes, it is aptly named: I am alien, now registered on this foreign planet. I have never felt like such an alien in my life.
• Firstly, I speak an “alien language” and communicating with the Japanese has been challenge. Surprisingly, despite the government mandate for at least 7 years of English education for all citizens, very few people speak the language well. The other day I skyped with Dhruv, my 13 year-old cousin in India, and he spoke better English than 95% of the Japanese population. As a result, simple tasks from ordering food, buying groceries, and greeting people have been an endeavor.
• Secondly, I know an Alien Culture. With an Irish mother and an Indian father, I can safely say that I am a multi-cultural person. I was born in the state of California in the country of America, where diversity reigns and countless cultures and peoples interact each day. I have been fortunate enough to travel around the world and observe the way different humans approach the world and create meaning for it. And yet still, I have never seen anything like the Japanese culture. It is an unwritten encyclopedia of manners, traditions, values, and beliefs that are remarkably organized, complex, and puzzling. Before landing in Japan, I read several books about the Japanese culture and customs. These books assigned a formula to the “Japanese Way,” with assertions like: the Japanese will always adamantly deny any compliment you give them, the Japanese will never blow their nose in public, the Japanese will point their chopsticks at someone else... (the list goes on). And to be honest, these observations were correct. Through all my time spent with Japanese people (young and old) no one has ever taken a compliment without denying it. I have never seen a culture where such formulaic illustrations can be applied and then subsequently witnessed. However, these strictly and universally followed cultural intricacies are grounded in profound virtues. For example, the Japanese will never talk too loud or blow their nose in public because it places an imposition on people around them. In addition, the Japanese will deny a complement, because simply accepting one would be arrogant. By denying a complement, the individual expresses humility and reaffirms the belief that perfection is a journey not a destination. These are just small examples of the Japanese way-of-life. I could go on about all my observations and interactions with the culture (but I wont). I am still learning about this amazing culture and will continue to write and share more about what I experience. Regardless, the extensiveness and complexity of the culture brings much more anxiety into my daily life. I am always asking myself “I am offending anyone?” “Should I not be doing this?”… I have to remind myself to never bring my bento onto the train and to always say “sumimasen” or “excuse me” before speaking to anyone and to never pour my own drink…
• And lastly, the most apparent element of my “alien-ness,” my looks! In America we boast a rainbow of ethnicities and cultures. Walking down the street in Los Angeles one will surely pass someone with Mexican descent, African descent, European descent, Middle Eastern descent, and Asian descent. Yet in Japan, this is not the case. Everyone is, yes you’ve guessed right, Japanese! When walking down the doori (or street) in Japan, I am that 1 in 1000 person that is not Japanese. The person who looks so different, so peculiar, so alien, so gaijin! The word “Gaijin” is the Japanese word for foreigner (now considered politically incorrect), literally meaning “outsider.” One of the most difficult changes I have experienced in the last month is this cloud of distinct outsider alien-ness that hangs above me. It has been both a gift and a curse. The best way I can describe my experience in Japan would be this: imagine yourself in a large bustling city, passing along the boulevard with underwear on your head. Everyone will surely stare at you with curiosity and bewilderment. Some will look at you with utter disgust and scorn (usually older men). And others will look at you with excitement, interest, and even awe (usually the younger Japanese, and fortunately often the young women!).
So there you have it, I am no longer just Ajay…. I am ALIEN Ajay. The foundation of my social framework and understanding has completely collapsed, and I struggling to “settle” into a new one. However, this transformation has been remarkably rewarding and liberating. I have learned so much about my life, my identity, and humanity at large.
I apologize for droning on and on. Needless to say I have a lot to talk about, particularly because I failed to write home for a whole month! From now on this will end, I plan on keeping a blog (thethoughtforfood.blogspot.com) and uploading my photos onto flickr often. Also, I have a skype account that I am often using (name: ajeezmittal).
Believe it or not I have just begun to share my life in Tokyo. I want to show you all pictures and tell you experiences with the many aspects of my life: my home, my adventures, my observations, my friends, my university, my classes, etc. etc. In the next e-mail, I have included a brief outline of what I have done in Japan. I plan to go into more depth with posts on my blog (with pictures included). Along with this “Tokyo to Mission Control” connection that I have finally established, I want to keep updated on the lives of all my loved ones. Please send me e-mails with updates on your lives. Recently I learned that one of my best friends from Santa Clara was in a car accident. He hit his head quite hard and is currently in the ICU. Although he is in stable condition and the MRI looks promising, there is a possibility he will suffer from brain damage. This news was devastating and shocking for me. It made me so scared about the safety of all of my loved ones. Being this far makes it even worse. Please be safe and take care of the precious lives we have. I promise to do the same here in Japan. I love you all and miss you and think of you constantly.
Love,
Your Alien
Ajay
Blog: Thethoughtforfood.blogspot.com
Skype: ajeezmittal
Cell phone (Japan): 090-8505-5700
About a week ago I picked up my “Alien Registration Card” from the Shibuya City Office in central Tokyo. And yes, it is aptly named: I am alien, now registered on this foreign planet. I have never felt like such an alien in my life.
• Firstly, I speak an “alien language” and communicating with the Japanese has been challenge. Surprisingly, despite the government mandate for at least 7 years of English education for all citizens, very few people speak the language well. The other day I skyped with Dhruv, my 13 year-old cousin in India, and he spoke better English than 95% of the Japanese population. As a result, simple tasks from ordering food, buying groceries, and greeting people have been an endeavor.
• Secondly, I know an Alien Culture. With an Irish mother and an Indian father, I can safely say that I am a multi-cultural person. I was born in the state of California in the country of America, where diversity reigns and countless cultures and peoples interact each day. I have been fortunate enough to travel around the world and observe the way different humans approach the world and create meaning for it. And yet still, I have never seen anything like the Japanese culture. It is an unwritten encyclopedia of manners, traditions, values, and beliefs that are remarkably organized, complex, and puzzling. Before landing in Japan, I read several books about the Japanese culture and customs. These books assigned a formula to the “Japanese Way,” with assertions like: the Japanese will always adamantly deny any compliment you give them, the Japanese will never blow their nose in public, the Japanese will point their chopsticks at someone else... (the list goes on). And to be honest, these observations were correct. Through all my time spent with Japanese people (young and old) no one has ever taken a compliment without denying it. I have never seen a culture where such formulaic illustrations can be applied and then subsequently witnessed. However, these strictly and universally followed cultural intricacies are grounded in profound virtues. For example, the Japanese will never talk too loud or blow their nose in public because it places an imposition on people around them. In addition, the Japanese will deny a complement, because simply accepting one would be arrogant. By denying a complement, the individual expresses humility and reaffirms the belief that perfection is a journey not a destination. These are just small examples of the Japanese way-of-life. I could go on about all my observations and interactions with the culture (but I wont). I am still learning about this amazing culture and will continue to write and share more about what I experience. Regardless, the extensiveness and complexity of the culture brings much more anxiety into my daily life. I am always asking myself “I am offending anyone?” “Should I not be doing this?”… I have to remind myself to never bring my bento onto the train and to always say “sumimasen” or “excuse me” before speaking to anyone and to never pour my own drink…
• And lastly, the most apparent element of my “alien-ness,” my looks! In America we boast a rainbow of ethnicities and cultures. Walking down the street in Los Angeles one will surely pass someone with Mexican descent, African descent, European descent, Middle Eastern descent, and Asian descent. Yet in Japan, this is not the case. Everyone is, yes you’ve guessed right, Japanese! When walking down the doori (or street) in Japan, I am that 1 in 1000 person that is not Japanese. The person who looks so different, so peculiar, so alien, so gaijin! The word “Gaijin” is the Japanese word for foreigner (now considered politically incorrect), literally meaning “outsider.” One of the most difficult changes I have experienced in the last month is this cloud of distinct outsider alien-ness that hangs above me. It has been both a gift and a curse. The best way I can describe my experience in Japan would be this: imagine yourself in a large bustling city, passing along the boulevard with underwear on your head. Everyone will surely stare at you with curiosity and bewilderment. Some will look at you with utter disgust and scorn (usually older men). And others will look at you with excitement, interest, and even awe (usually the younger Japanese, and fortunately often the young women!).
So there you have it, I am no longer just Ajay…. I am ALIEN Ajay. The foundation of my social framework and understanding has completely collapsed, and I struggling to “settle” into a new one. However, this transformation has been remarkably rewarding and liberating. I have learned so much about my life, my identity, and humanity at large.
I apologize for droning on and on. Needless to say I have a lot to talk about, particularly because I failed to write home for a whole month! From now on this will end, I plan on keeping a blog (thethoughtforfood.blogspot.com) and uploading my photos onto flickr often. Also, I have a skype account that I am often using (name: ajeezmittal).
Believe it or not I have just begun to share my life in Tokyo. I want to show you all pictures and tell you experiences with the many aspects of my life: my home, my adventures, my observations, my friends, my university, my classes, etc. etc. In the next e-mail, I have included a brief outline of what I have done in Japan. I plan to go into more depth with posts on my blog (with pictures included). Along with this “Tokyo to Mission Control” connection that I have finally established, I want to keep updated on the lives of all my loved ones. Please send me e-mails with updates on your lives. Recently I learned that one of my best friends from Santa Clara was in a car accident. He hit his head quite hard and is currently in the ICU. Although he is in stable condition and the MRI looks promising, there is a possibility he will suffer from brain damage. This news was devastating and shocking for me. It made me so scared about the safety of all of my loved ones. Being this far makes it even worse. Please be safe and take care of the precious lives we have. I promise to do the same here in Japan. I love you all and miss you and think of you constantly.
Love,
Your Alien
Ajay
Blog: Thethoughtforfood.blogspot.com
Skype: ajeezmittal
Cell phone (Japan): 090-8505-5700
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