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Saturday, February 22, 2003
Saturday 22 February
Fingers crossed this posting goes up, I've been battling with Aol all day. I've not posted for a few days, as I've been so busy I've not had chance. Thanks for all of the emails; it's really good to hear what's happening in England. Sheil kindly sent me pics of Timber and the Princess of Pert at this weeks Brits.
Timber and her Pertness
It's official, I've caught old. I looked at myself last night - sat on my heated carpet (the greatest invention in the world) with a towel wrapped round my head after a hot bath listening to Jonny Cash, in cosy socks, surrounded by computer equipment, happy as I'm so warm and I realised that 5 years of making work about elderly people has turned me prematurely old - 70 at 30. Mmmmmmm heated carpet.
Elderly neon - Gotanda
Does anyone have any recommendations for new music to listen to, I've exhausted my I tunes collection and need something new to listen to, Tower records is beckoning... Have you heard McCarther park by Jimmy Webb, what's going on? '...Someone left the cake out in the rain, and I know that I should save it, because it took so long to bake it and I'll never have that recipe again'
I've just finished reading Them by Jon Ronson about the secret Rulers of the world. It's really funny and disturbing all at the same time.
Meguro Cafe
The work rate has accelerated this week with the exhibition looming. On Thursday Yuko-san, Nao-chan and myself were planning at Muse till 3am, and the last 2 nights I've worked till 4am. It feels like being a student again, and is something I vowed I'd never do again so am trying to start and finish early. Trouble is everything starts and finishes late here.
I had another interview with a newspaper - this time the Mainichi times, I'm looking forward to seeing the press which should come out next week.
I�ve written a lot in this blog about the cultural differences between Japan and the UK as they have shaped my whole experience of working here. The differences are the exciting and enjoyable things about visiting another country but can also be infuriating! This week I've been trying to get things done quickly but it seems impossible to do. Everything seems to run at a slower, maybe more considered pace. For example I went to buy a lamp for Home-Maker and the transaction took 25 minutes as the salesman packed it great care and consideration. Lovely but I just wanted him to sling it into a carrier so I could catch my train. Maybe I'm just an impatient gai-jin.
JR Railway - snow bear
There's so many codes of behavior that I sometimes feel like rebelling like a petulant teenager and wearing my shoes in the house, blowing my nose, jaywalking when I see my bus coming, not wearing the special toilet slippers when I wee and wearing a low cut top, but I like and respect my Japanese friends too much to offend them. I read an article that the UK fans that came over for the world cup were really well behaved here as the Japanese kindness made them not want to offend anyone.
Rabbit drinks vending machine
This week, inspired my Mangi-san I've been collecting photos of Japanese kawai - cuteness. It is everywhere, In a day I probably see 30 different cute characters on TV, buses, usually public service instructions. Japanese animators all seem to be good at showing the kawai bowing.
I made 2 trips to Akihabara this week to speed up my computer and the editing process - I bought 512mb of ram which I had installed which has helped, and I bought the cutest miniature firewire drive. I also had a mini technical breakthrough last night, I successfully installed Japanese keyboard layout which should have been simple but took a visit to a mac chatroom (I am a geek, official) is now working and consequently I have been subtitling the Home-maker UK films into Japanese. Kanji and Katakana subtitles look so beautiful, much more than English and it looks funny Roy being rude about his ex-wife in Japanese.
Soba Party
It's not all been work this week and on Thursday I went to Yamaouchi-San's Soba party (my landlord and his wife). On the second floor they have a soba house and once a month they have a party where (some chefs) make soba noodles, their friends come round and they have a big soba meal. I had to stand up and introduce myself in Japanese which earnt me a round of applause and all the sake I could drink.
Soba Party
It was really nice, there were about 20 people there and I pushed my Japanese to its limits. I've definitely improved, I'm not about to win any language awards but I can converse at the bus stop with ease now!
Yamaouchi-san
Today I got up early to meet Sayaka-San at Muse, she didn't come (slept in) so I took the opportunity to walk around Harajuku before I went back to edit at home.
Konichi-wa Becks
Emily Temple Cute
Harajuku is full of boutiques, film crews and teenagers who dress up to go down and hang out. These girls looked amazing - Goth maids I had to get their picture. On the way I passed a wedding parade enroute to their reception in a Tiffanys style store, the assistants all rang wee bells as the couple walked in.
Wedding
Back home and the junior sumo's were taking on the big boys at Tug of war, the Juniors won. The big sumo players were consoled by performing karaoke duets with j-pop stars. Those guys can really sing.
Junior Sumo
Japan's wanted - Police Station
Taksan shigoto o shimasu, ashta mata x
posted by Jeanie Saturday, February 22, 2003
