About 3 or 4 weeks ago I was awoken in the night to feel my bed (and the whole room) shaking fairly violently. There was a storm going on, so I just attributed the shaking to that. However it felt different to just strong wind... even to the point where I thought it was just a dream. On Saturday (My Birthday) The very same shaking occurred whilst we were packing and it was a completly calm day...
I have been here 6 weeks and I have already experienced 2 earthquakes...
I didn't do anything exciting on my day off so I will share with you my completely unique birthday celebrations instead...
I love Japan. It sent me a special earthquake on my Birthday, a Birthquake if you will... In any case this little blog is being written to inform you that My birthday was a much more sensible affair this year. There was no drunken debauchery, no embarressing scenarios, I can remember everything and in general it all seemed much more... refined.
An uneventful, but perfectly enjoyable, meal on friday, followed by a normal days work on saturday (bar the 'birhquake') with a simple calligraphy lesson come tea party in the evening. The tea party was very comforting, the teachers family is particularly endearing in the way they offer support by checking a little computer and then all coming out with the phrase at the same time like "well done" or "you have good posture". I am not particularly enthralled by calligraphy but when everyone is so supportive it is difficult to stop going because I end up feeling guilty. This week we had to draw/paint/make a mess on a very special piece of card.
They also bought me some toe socks which are obviously brilliant (you can never have too many pairs of toe socks I always find...) and one of the children wrote an especially entertaining letter to me.
Anyway all this was very nice but it didn't quite feel the same as going out with my buddies to drink the night away or having a fun filled meal with my family. Last year was particularly memorable as there was a wonderful melding of the two on a racecourse, in the sun.
Still I suppose this year was always going to be different.
Another thing to note is that birthdays are not so celebrated here as they are in the UK so it is incredibly heartwarming to see the effort that was made.
8 comments:
Incidently another earthquake "struck" yesterday. The strongest one yet. I ran downstairs and apologised saying that it was probably due to last nights baked beans... No one laughed...
Still that puts the tally up to 3.
Those are some lovely toe socks. Do they come in handy? I would imagine you'd get very sweaty feet if you were to wear them in Japan with its climate being so warm and humid.
J
Dear Matthew, It was nice to share your respectable birthday antics.
Firstly we think you are the first member of the family to experience an earthquake let alone three. We loved the toe socks, as you say you can never have too many and it was lovely to have a tea party also the letter was delightful.
Maybe we will be able to do Goodwood again next year.
All our love, Granny and Grandad xxx
Matt, hang in there.
Great to here that you had a great birthquake. Things are definitely different here in Japan - It`ll take you at least 6 months to really understand - and then you`ll be gone and free anyway....
Hey , great music..
Cheers Colin
Ehime Ken
Ex Kasukawa!!
Sorry I did not wish you Happy Birthday on your Birthday but Happy Birthday anyway. I had a lesson from your Dad last night so now know how to comment ( I am a bit slooow on the uptake when it comes to this technology ).
Keep on blogging Matt.
Earthquakes!! could this have anything to do with your epic sexual conquests?
Why is everybody getting some and not me?
(I mean of course sex, not earthquakes)
Incidentally the Japanese have some of the most advanced earthquake proof building designs in the world so keep it up (if you know what I mean)
In honour of your birthday I drank until dawn in a beach bar in Kamari Greece, I woke up in the aforementioned beach bar at 11.45AM the next morning feeling pretty good considering the Torrey Canyon amounts of alcohol I had consumed previously.
As it was your birthday I also refrained from sleeping with my cousin.
Yours with love
The one they call
The pain in the ass.
(SCOTT)
Ah Mr C
Something on your mind? Take your filthy smut elsewhere, this is a happy innocent place that should not be tarnished by your sex and drugs and rock and roll.
Incidently, buildings are for the most part earthquake proof. Except the barn where I sleep and work was made by the bossman himself and so does not have certain important "earthquake" pillars. He laughed and said it was a dangerous building... I laughed aswell... nervously.
Ah Mr W
It would sound as though Bossman has your life at a lower priority than his own, rise up in socialist revolution and bring down the ruling class.
REVOLUTION!
I'll write you a protest song, Billy Bragg style.
A Happy, Innocent place??
Sounds awful, everyone needs Sex, Drugs, Rock and Roll.
Well I do anyway.
Yours lovingly
THE GOD OF SMALL THINGS
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