I am now back in Japan from my two week trip back to Vancouver and a short stop in Taiwan. Before I arrived in Vancouver, I had a 14 hour stopover in Taipei and met up with Asuka’s friend Aya. It was my first time in Taipei and Aya and her boyfriend were kind enough to bring me around. If you remember from my first few posts, Aya was also the first person I saw in Tokyo when I arrived last year- so it was interesting that once again she was taking me around a city.
I had fun few hours walking around Taipei, even though it was to the day after a Typhoon. We got absolutely drenched - especially at Longhan Temple. I managed to also get yelled at by a lady who thought my incense I was holding in my hand was burning her husband’s clothes. I was trying to close a umbrella with my right hand and shelter myself from the rain, while balancing the incense with my left hand and the incense must have come close to his shirt. Luckily I can’t understand Taiwanese and all I got was dirty look, scream, dirty look.
Taipei was nice as I ate a lot of good food with Aya and managed to see a bit of the city. A lot of the night markets and shops were close due to the rain, but nevertheless I had a good time. I’m really looking forward to going back someday, hopefully with Mike. (Picture Below: The large Wong family)
I got home on Friday and went to my cousin’s wedding the next day. It was nice catching up with my large family and seeing my cousin Eric get married. (Picture Below: Eric and his wife, Julie)
The next week and a half was pretty much spent catching up and seeing everyone back home. I had fun basically doing a whole lot of nothing and I’m glad I was able to see almost everyone.
Some highlights were Joel’s mini golf Birthday trip to Castle Fun Park.
And the ensuing ninja poker chip fight at 4am after watching Jessica Alba and having Jaeger bombs with Benson, Kozak and Rich.
Heading down to Seattle to catch the Mariners game with Kozak and Mike.
Whale watching…sort of as the whale were always at a distance, with Joel.
Well it was really interesting being back the first few days, as I kind of felt a bit of reverse cultural shock. I don’t think I got cultural shock when I came to Japan, as I really had a good idea of what I was getting into, but I really felt out of place the first few days in Vancouver. The people were much different then I was use to and customer service is a lot worse. A few other subtle things, as well as driving again was awkward at first. It really made me realize how much Japan is really different then Canada and how accustomed I have gotten to life here.
Well I have another year here and I’m really looking forward to this year, as a lot of new English teachers have arrived and I’m wanting to getting more involved in my school and town. Thanks also to all the family and friends that donated to my hockey stick fund. As most of you know, I asked for a small donation so that I could bring back cosom hockey sticks to Japan to start a hockey club at my school. I’ll make sure to keep you all updated, but thanks to everyone who helped out.
Japanese Factoid #28: Japan is full of machines, either game machines or sticker picture machines called Print Club. You may have seen them back home at Asian malls, but the ones here a so much more intense. They actually have costumes which you can dress up in and they have whole floors devoted to these machines. An interesting thing about Print club is men can not go alone. A few years back, a lot of creepy guys where pepping at girls and being the sickos that they are, that many places have a rule that girls must accompany guys to any print club places. Since the new JETs arrived a few days ago, we snapped a bunch when we were in Hiroshima for the weekend. They get pretty intricate as you can decorate the pictures with art using a touch computer screen.
I am now back in 
