2012

Well here it is, 2012.  In just 100 more years the priests of the temples of Syrinx will fill their hallowed halls with computers (if you know what I'm talking about pat yourself on the back).

To kick the new year off, I though I would give you 20 interesting facts about Japan, followed by 12 new years resolutions.

20 interesting facts about Japan:

1.  There aren't trash cans on the side walks but no one here litters.  It makes for very clean streets and the annoyance of having to carry your garbage around with you.

2.  Christmas is mostly celebrated on Christmas Eve here.  You spend time with your girlfriend, not your family.

3.  New Years however is a huge deal, it has its own food, games, activities and has monetary present giving.  Nice.

4.  Japanese game shows usually don't feature random civilians but rather pit celebrities against each other. Not only are the game shows better in pretty much every way, but you are able to see your favorite stars do hilarious things.

5.  Japanese television is mostly variety type shows and educational programs featuring different combinations of about 100 celebrities.  Its actually pretty fun to watch, its like reality tv that makes you smarter instead of slowly killing off your brain cells.

6.  Since school uniforms are a must here, elementary school boys wear short shorts and middle/high school girls wear skirts all year.  Even winter.  Even though the temperature is almost freezing.  I feel bad for the elementary school boys most of all, they're cold and have to wear short shorts.

7.  The lowest quality cell phones here are better than any American non-smart phone yet you would think the Japanese haven't imported a computer since 1996.

8.  Speaking of which I don't think they've manufactured a basketball for the last 20 odd years.

9.  They say your never three feet away from a spider; in Japan I'm never three feet away from a vending machine.  I swear there's one for every citizen here.

10.  I may have said this in an earlier post but.... People go to Disneyland decked out in mickey ears and Disney clothing like I go to a Blazer game.

11.  Cell phone accessaries are a must.  They range from fairly small little figurines to "are you kidding me" sized plastic food and stuffed animals.

12.  I literally have 2 whole months of break between semesters.  So does everyone else.

13.  The Tokyo Tower is an orange slightly taller Eiffel Tower.  #when8metersmatters.

14.  I ate a small squid the other day, then two days later ate another one.

15.  I'm pretty sure every Japanese song in the last 10 years has at least one English word in it.  Its actually hilarious to listen too because its all Japanese and then suddenly there's some random English phrase that doesn't quite make sense.  i.e. "do you wanna play tag?"

16.  Setting aside the traditional singers, every artist here is a pop artist, even the ones that are trying to be a rock band or a rapper.

17.  The train system here is impeccable.

18.  Earthquakes (small ones) happen fairly frequently here.  By the way, there was a pretty big one today but I am fine and as far as I know there weren't any injuries etc.

19.  Convenience stores here sell edible food and the cashiers are polite.

20.  Japan has a great mix of the modern and the traditional.  There are lots of really cool new buildings as well as beautiful shrines and temples close by.

12 new years resolutions:

1.  Become a legend in Japan.

2.  Eat more cheeseburgers.

3.  Bring honor to my ancestors

4.  Catch a Dragon

5.  Find out Dragons aren't real.

6.  Discover the lost city of Atlantis

7.  Write a book about a teenager who finds out he's 1/4 vampire, 1/4 werewolf, 1/8 swamp monster and 1/2 Australian.  Don't worry, the people that read these books can't do math.

8.  Invent a new pig based meat.

9.  Learn to go off on endless tangents like so many of professors can do.

10.  Memorize the Friends theme song.

11.  Prove to CBS that they are not in fact the best television station.  I'm not sure on what planet Mike and Molly is the number one new comedy and Neil Patrick Harris is overrated.  No offense Neil.

12.  Become Supreme Commander of something.