Winter's End

Greetings from the center of Nagano! It's the end of April, and the spring weather has finally arrived. That only means that a blog post is in order. As much as I enjoyed snowboarding, I can't say that I'd be able to handle too much more winter. My shorts were beginning to collect dust, and for those of you who know me all too well, Jimmy and shorts are like flies and cake.

Hi! I like shorts! They're comfy and easy to wear...

So, even though the first day of spring is technically in March, the month of April is when the weather takes a turn for the better here in Nagano. People start putting away their winter toys, tools, and woes, and start gearing up for spring.

One of the more popular activities for Japanese people is お花見, or "viewing of the flowers." This term is used from March to May, depending on where you live in Japan, to specifically refer to enjoying the さくら trees and their blossoms. People gather with their loved ones in the parks and castle grounds of the country to eat picnic-style lunches and consume excessive amounts of alcohol. 

Just last weekend, my local chapter of AJET hosted an Ohanami picnic to get all us foreigners together. The theme was pub-trivia, and I had the opportunity to be a question master alongside my friend, Angela. I thought we made a great team. It was a great turnout, and everyone was super nice. I met a few new foreigners to the area, and also got to catch up with people I hadn't seen since we all went into winter hiding.

Along with the great changes in the weather, this season is also the fresh start of the new school year for students in Japan. Unlike back at home, the school year here starts in April. I saw the ninth graders from last year graduate and move up to senior high, and the cute little elementary school sixth graders start their first few weeks of middle school. My best friend, Japanese citizen wise, has also left 塩尻中学校 to teach at another junior high school in the area. I'm still not sure how I feel about the changing of teachers every few years or so, but it's something that I can't control, so I try not to think about it too much. The whole cycle is pretty reminiscent of real life. To be pretentious and zen about it, I try to look at it the same way the seasons turn.

Winter, spring, summer, and fall- Four seasons for love...

With all the season changes, and the moon, and the stars, and the this, and the that, I too decided that it was time for a change, and what better way to start fresh than with a brand new hair cut? It had been  more than three years since I've had my ears lowered, and I welcomed the clippers with open arms. I walked next door to my neighbors' house, as she happens to operate a barbershop, and asked her to cut it all off. After nearly giving her and her mother both a heart attack, they agreed to cut my hair for twenty bucks. I think she was just nervous and excited at the same time. In my most basic Japanese, I asked her if it was her first time cutting a black person's hair and what was going on in her head. She told me that it was indeed her first time, and she said it was interesting and fun. Although it was just another hair cut for me, I'm sure that woman will remember that day for the rest of her life... You're welcome.

April 22, 2014- It's been quite the run, dreads...

Is this a piece of the set from 2001: A Space Odyssey?

No. It's an epic sink that looks as though its heyday was about thirty years ago.

Hooray for haircuts!

The reactions I got from everyone in my town were all of shock and surprise. These people have only known me for nine months, and in that time, my hair has been about shoulder length from the start. "You surprised me!" is the most popular response I've been greeted with. A few other common ones are "Wow," "New face," and "かっこいい!" Perhaps the most interesting reaction I've received is "Did you just get dumped by your girlfriend?" The answer to that, of course, is "No." I cut my hair for the same reason most people cut their hair: I wanted to. I wish there was some magical reason that involved a spiritual awakening or a major metamorphosis, but the truth is there wasn't. I woke up one day and decided to cut it off, and that was that.

With my new fresh-cut I was off to Tokyo with my Ace from Shiojiri, the lovely Miss Karen. Anytime we get together, we act a fool, and this time was no exception. Our main mission for this excursion was to dance the night away on Saturday and check out the goings on of Tokyo Rainbow Week on Sunday. Usually events like this aren't my jam, but c'mon, who wouldn't want to go to a gay pride parade in one of the most popular cities in the world? I had only been to one "gay pride parade" type event in my life, and that was a few years ago in Houston. It was wild and crazy. Lots of beautiful people- both men and women doing their thing and letting their hair down. I figured that Tokyo's would be like Houston's parade but on steroids. Boy, was I wrong.

Much like everything else in Japan, this event was super structured and in order. I didn't see a single person who was visibly drunk, and with the exception of a few of our western brethren, everyone was quiet and orderly. I felt like this event ranked just below "The Pleasant Paws Pet Place Annual Fun Run for Feline Leukemia," as far as noise levels go. In fact, it was so the opposite of what I imagined it to be. That they didn't even stop traffic. The police officers were directing the traffic lights, allowing a few parade "floats" at a time to go, followed by pedestrians, followed by regular vehicular traffic.

Police officer allowing pedestrians to cross the road. Looks like a grand parade, doesn't it?

The larger than life first banner for the parade start

Official mascot of the whole event. Notice how elaborate the float is.

I really enjoyed checking out the festival, despite how quiet and low energy the crowds were. There were many people from all over the world, mainly white Europeans and Americans, but nevertheless, many countries were represented. I even found out later that the First Lady of Japan made an appearance too. Above all else, I spent time with Karen, and it seemed like she enjoyed taking in the sights and sounds as well.

Let's enjoy the sun in Tokyo. 

Jimmy, Karen, and some furry culture- esque dudes in dog costumes...

On Sunday afternoon, Karen returned to Shiojiri, and I went to hang out with some friends that were also in town from Nagano City. Alicia was on a grand tour of Japan with her friend Nicole from Florida, and Frank was catching up with an old friend from University who recently moved to Tokyo. We walked through the Harajuku neighborhood and did some window shopping, and the ladies ended up buying some cute Japanese girl costume pieces. For dinner, we went out to a nice sushi restaurant, and I ate thirty dollars worth of ocean critters, rice, and miso soup. Some was raw, most was cooked. All was delicious.

Nicole, Alicia, Aliyah, Frank, and Jimmy take a dinner selfie. Notice this photo was taken before all the dirty dishes and straw wrappers appear on the table...

Monday was also a big day for me: I went to Tokyo DisneySea with Alicia and Nicole. I've wanted to visit this park since I learned about it on the web, and I'm glad I finally had the chance to go. The park has a nautical theme, and is situated right off Tokyo Bay. It's geared more towards the adult demographic, and its scenery is unparalleled. We were there from opening to closing, and it was worth every yen spent.

Getting excited for a day at the park- Mount Prometheus in the background

Disney's tribute to Jules Verne: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and Journey to the Center of the Earth

When all was said and done, my trip to Tokyo was just what I needed. I had the chance to both play and relax in one of the world's greatest cities, which is conveniently located just a few hours away. I spent time with people I care about, and experienced new things through the eyes of my imagination. It was a great holiday and a nice segue into Golden Week. I'm well rested and looking forward to my next Tokyo adventure. Who knows what will be in store the next time?