Rick in Japan

I trim the garden around house every year. There are two maon processes. I explain one of those processes here. 

We live in an area with lots of open spaces.  But there are also many rice felids and unused grounds too.  We are lucky that there are no buildings on any side of pour house. Kobayahsi-san came and bought three parcels of land and cultivated them. One is directly next to our house. At first our relationship was rocky but as the Bard would say ALLS WELL THAT ENDS WELL.

I lose things. I forget things. I misplace things. This has plagued me my whole life. I spend 30% of my time (rough estimate) looking for things and/or trying to remember things. However, when I teach most of what I do is on the fly... that is, I create lessons. That is who I am. That is what I do. And this missing car key is just one of many, many things I have searched for in my life. This story has a happy ending. 

There is a Russian Orthodox Church in Tokyo. It is the Nicholai Do. they hold mass every Sunday. I went there for my fourth and final time. It was 2.5 hours long, always standing.  I survived and it was an unforgettable experience that I will never do again. But it was FANTASTIC!

While on Maui, and by luck, I made a connection in Chigasaki, Kanagawa prefecture, Japan. That was with Gaiety at her Shonan English school. From there I made many new acquaintances. One was Imada Kenichi a.k.a. Papa-san. He was a prince of a man and helped me out tremendously. He owned and operated a family soba shop. He also loved dumb animals...such as me.

I had to leave Michigan. I had done lots of damage to friends, family and even acquaintances. I had to get away...escape. At 25 i was still an adolescent at best. John provided an off ramp. I moved to Colorado to live with him. John understands dumb animals, and I was the dumbest. I can’t say it enough...Thank you John, and certainly to my mother and father...Always!

I use this original English Lesson at the kindergartens where I teach. I have been doing this since 1998. These kids are 5-year-olds. So, they are very Genki as the Japanese people would say. And it is good exercise for all. That means that I , too, have to be Genki. I feel it helps me stay young and is good exercise.

One job i had in Snowmass was as a Gantman. That was a hotel where I worked as a shuttle driver and Hotel handyman. I smoked a lot of grass in the empty rooms at night.  I did earn the Title of Gant Man of the month ponce as I waxed the shuttle van. Whatttaguy!

Japan Proficiency Test. This test grades your skill in the Japanese language, concerning reading and listening comprehension. This was my second and final time. Most foreigners take it to get work. I did it to test my Japanese. My goal, N1, which is the top rank, fell short by one correct answer. Heavy sigh. I have to be satisfied with that as I will never take the test again.

One friend I had back in Michigan growing up was Richard M. His last name was Polish and had no vowels in it. Handsome guy and happy go lucky. He knew what he wanted.... unlike me. We had many adventures where I was my typical foolish self. I share several here.