The sush is loose!

It’s been a rough life, folks. Two weeks off for Christmas, two weeks off for Chinese New Year and a week off for spring break. Wedged in between were six, 10-hour work days each week, but I can’t complain as I leave my latest travel destination: Japan. 

I had no real interest in visiting Japan prior to making the trip. Everything I’ve heard about Japan has been eat, poop and repeat. Visiting the oval office is all well and good, but I wasn’t going to make a trip of it....though I am buying a Japanese toilet when I have my own home. I know we’re talking taking a grumper, but stay with me here. First, heated seats. Doesn’t tickle your fancy? The remote controlled water jets will do just that; spray your bum, adjust the pressure, maybe some background noise? Ladies, it even has a jet for the front door. It did everything but wipe your ass and tell you good job.

I think that’s enough poo talk. Let’s crack on.

I was never keen on Tokyo (too many damn people), so I flew into Osaka and immediately jumped a train to Kyoto. The old capital of Japan, Kyoto had a lot temples, shrines and paths to check out the cherry blossoms. The latter are only in full blossom for about a week, so the country was filled to the brim with old white folks taking a trillion photos. Surprisingly enough, it was still quiet, serene and quite stunning.

All I wanted to do after the enlightenment I obtained after the Philosopher’s Path was eat a shit ton of sushi. Good news is that there’s a fair few places to eat sushi in Japan. We found a conveyer belt sushi joint with a stereotypically loud Japanese chef. Carnage ensued. The sushi was so fresh and so good that I soon had a fairly large stack of plates in front of me. 

Worth. Every. Penny.

After walking around what felt like all of Kyoto, my blistered feet and I hopped on a train back to Osaka and straight to Universal Studios. The main attraction: Harry Potter Wizarding World. Like a little kid in a candy shop (they actually had a Honeydukes there). I was stunned how well Universal Studios did putting this together. You walk through the village of Hogsmeade with all its shops, butterbeer vendors and the Hogwarts Express. It the backdrop is the Hogwarts castle. This thing was MASSIVE. A tip to anyone who goes: get the express pass. We waited a shade under three hours for two rides. 

After a quick visit to ‘New York’ for the Spider-man ride and waiting a ridiculously long time for the park’s biggest coaster, The Flying Dinosaur, it was back into Osaka central for a little more exploration, food and another night of sleep in a capsule. A capsule? It’s basically a personal, coffin-sized box in a room of a dozen plus other capsules. Those who are claustrophobic...maybe not your cup of tea.

Alas, no more adventures for me until I come back home late June. The next month will be the downhill slope of a ridiculously busy Semester 2 and, by roughly mid May, it’ll be smooth sailing until I’m stateside....I hope.

Look forward a sushi-less Iowa in a couple-ish months, even with it’s ordinary toilets...

Going to Angkor be like Waaaaat

Firstly, I apologize. The title...just not my best work. You’d think I’d change it, but no. I’m in such a state of chill that I just decided to crack on so I can enjoy this view instead of burying my head in my iPad.

After the longest five weeks of my life, school broke for Chinese New Year. A 17-day holiday five weeks after our winter holiday (also 17 days). 

I’ll take it. 

After a wonderful couple of weeks stateside (apologies to those I didn’t catch; this summer!), I continued my tour of Southeast Asia by hopping over to Siem Reap, Cambodia. The biggest draw of the city lies just outside its limits: Angkor Wat. Saving the best for last, I spent the first couple of days catching up on sleep, exploring the markets and drinking 50 cent beers. Yep, quality beer for 50 cents. All day, everyday. My kind of place. Couple that with a slew of Nike and Under Armour products sold in the market for about a quarter of the US retail price, I was in heaven.

The temples, Angkor Wat, Bayon and Ta Prohm, were beyond describing. The sheer magnitude of each temple, the history, how long it took to build, how quickly it was destroyed. It was just all mind boggling. If you don’t have an appreciation for history after seeing such things, you’re not human.

After the unbogglement, I made my way to the airport and onto my next destination: Luang Prabang, Laos. I’ll give you a second to check Google Maps. I promise it’s a real place though.

The entire town was recently named a UNESCO heritage sight due to all the surrounding attractions: various waterfalls, a buffalo dairy ranch (weird, right?), caves, elephant sanctuaries and a ridiculous amount of Buddhist temples. If the above and a 11:30 drinking curfew appeals to you, this is the spot for you. A place after my own heart: I can wake up and do touristy shit, start drinking by early afternoon, be in bed by 11pm. My soul, that of 67 year old grandpa, is perfectly content.

All too quickly, I was back on the plane to normality. After a day in Hong Kong, my remaining 5ish days of holiday was restocking my fridge, exploring a near vacant Shenzhen and prepping for the craziness that is the coming month. 

The good news: March will consist of a couple business (turned vacation) trips to Macau before another week of holiday in early April. The destination: Japan. I plan to have my mind yin and yanged during the Philosopher’s Walk in Kyoto, stuff my face is Osaka and then head to the HP Wizarding World. Oh, yes...you heard me correctly. I submit to nerdom when it comes to Harry Potter. No shame.

Already booked my flight back home in June, so let’s start stocking up on the dog, white rice and noodles now! I’m kidding...maybe. Til next time!

Ni Hou, China

This month marks my sixth in China, though it seems now like I’ve been there longer (though ‘ni hou’ is about the extent on my Mandarin; means ‘hello’). Assimilating into the Chinese culture has been easy in Shenzhen, compared to Jakarta. Primarily because Shenzhen is so much more developed than Jakarta. The tech hub of China has a quality metro, expat friendly services and, more importantly, microbreweries. Good beer...I didn’t realize how much I missed you. To say Jakarta had none of these would be an understatement. I’ll miss the people, the food and how simple the language was, but Shenzhen has been a welcome upgrade, standard of living wise.

Now, onto the new school: a newly accredited international school (huge deal in the international community, as many are not), beautiful campus and an (accredited) IB world school.

I don’t know why they hired me.

I know I’m more than capable of the job, that’s not what I mean. Myself and every other young teacher/administrator understands how a lack of experience deters employers. At the original job fair I went to, schools wouldn’t even give you a sniff unless you had two years of experience. I BARELY had two years experience as an Athletic Director (that title being a stretch, with what I was doing at my former school) and only five years of total teaching experience. Most teachers in the States bust their hump for 10+ years before being able to toss their name in the AD hat. So, needless to say, I was shocked when such an established, albeit young, school wanted a second interview, let alone offer me a contract.

I soon figured it out. The school, only in its sixth year, had created the AD position a year prior. Naturally, they handed the position to the veteran Physical Education teacher. One of my best friends is a PE teacher, so I mean no disrespect, but it still baffles me how any competent administrator believes the AD position has anything to do with PE. Both positions require a person who...likes wearing shorts? Obviously, they’re the same then. (Insert a face palm-type WeChat sticker here)

And off my soap box...

Long weeks plagued my first semester while completely overhauling the athletics program: ordering new jerseys, forming a booster club, rebranding the new logo/slogan and so much more. There were some lumps along the way: incompetent manufacturers, me threatening murder, excessive red tape, etc. You know, the usual. However, I can now see a light at the end of the tunnel because of supportive superiors and a competent (and willing) Board. The latter highlights how poor the Boards at my previous schools were. It has done nothing to regret my decision of running, not walking, away from an extension offer at my previous school.

My first two holidays were quite tame: a half-week exploring Hong Kong and Macau in October and going home for Christmas. Apologies to those I missed over the last holiday, but I only had 2ish weeks back home. Most international schools in China had similarly short holidays. Why? Because we turn around 4-5 weeks later and have 2+ weeks off for Chinese New Year.

And that’s where I’m at right now: currently starting my holiday in a cafe, enjoying my reading and writing in Siem Reap, Cambodia. For those that want to hear of the awesomeness of Angkor Wat and where I plan on going next, don’t fret. A separate blog post will be coming soon after!