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oghapa213
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Name: Yoshi
Birthday: 2/13/1975
Gender: Male
Interests: USC, Lakers, basketball, fighting, snowboarding, yoga, winning on the river (Texas Hold'em), bowling, billiards, paintball, music, groovin on the dancefloor, chillin with friends, watching movies, eating good grub, sleeping, meeting new people, traveling and experiencing other cultures.
Expertise: card mechanic - 360 Jam - P I M P'n -I'm a hustla baby!
Occupation: Education/training
Message: message meEmail: email me
Member Since:
4/28/2004
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| -streets are really wide and i can read all the signs of the passing stores without struggling.
-new buildings, new restaurants, new logos, etc... there have been so many changes.
-not remembering where all the streets are or where freeways go. feels like i've been gone forever and can't remember the city I lived in for the first 28 years of my life. it's all slowly coming back. just need time.
-cars are really big. hearing music bumpin' from someone's ride is so la.
-there is just sooo much space.
-lots of traffic.road rage. people cutting others off or giving the finger.
-highways are free to use. no toll required. can't wait to go on a roadtrip.
-lack of trains. i don't have a car in la anymore and am so use to being able to get up and go anywhere using public transport and my feet. don't want to get one either, in case i decide to go back to japan. also been taking long 20-30 minute walks to keep myself in Japanese walking shape.
-worrying if people are okay to drive. no need for a designated driver in Japan. just need to take the first train at 5:29am or hop in a taxi.
-turning my head when i see a gaijin(foreigner). getting a neck workout. typically knew most of the other foreigners in Otsu. now they are everywhere and I don't know them. starting to spot the Japanese tourists now and I just want to run up to them and chat.
-catching myself still referring to Japan as home.
-stopped by a japanese travel agency the other day and started getting quotes for one-way flights to japan. $400 + tax on United. going back in November, either to visit or stay. don't know which yet.
-no more students jumping up and down, waving at me, calling me hooba-sensei, asking for my autograph, telling me they rabu me (love me), "I'm fine. Thank you, and you?", joining in the afterschool clubs, smiling, laughter. . .definitely miss my kids.
-my parents place seems so spacious. my bedroom is the size of 2 tatami rooms in my Japanese apartment.
-the lights come on immediately when you hit the switch. don't have to wait 3 seconds in the dark for the lights to flicker on.
-constant flow of hot water. no need to turn the switch for hot water on and off, then wait for it to heat up.
-constant flow of gas to the stove. is this dangerous? CA is along a fault line. i remember the old man walking through my neighborhood at night clanging two pipes or something to remind everyone to turn off their gas.
-a dryer that can dry my clothes in about 40 minutes, not the 2 1/2 hours it took my dryer in Japan to do the job. at least I had a dryer. most people don't have dryers and have to hang up their clothes. tried it once but hated the crunchy clothes. dryer sheets.
-the grocery store. enormous fruit selection. large packaging. high shelves. all the cereal i can eat. the selection of frutis, meat. ribs. multi-grained bread. tortillas. oh, i could go on forever. never new a grocery store could be such a cultural experience. i'm still in awe.
-shopping malls. very spacious. stores and brands I've heard of, and lots of new ones I haven't.
-fake boobies. 
-tailgating and going to SC football games. haven't seen a game in over 3 years. used to just wake up at 2-5am and listen to the game over the internet. a bit lonely cheering and yelling at my computer in my japanese apartment. but i still felt connected with the rest of Trojan Nation cheering at the same time throughout the world. Fight On!
-watchin tv and truly understanding what's going on.
-outdoor basketball courts. great to attend sunday church and ball with the fellas. can't believe we've been balling at the same place for over 6 years.
-Southern California weather. nothing like it. Fairly nice year round. Of all 4 seasons in Japan (did you know they have all 4 season*sarcasm*), the summer humidity sucks.
-catching up with old friends. continuing where we left off years ago. and reconnecting with others.
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| Goodbye Japan. It has been a wonderful 3 years. Thank you so much for
everything. I will miss you dearly. Until we meet again...
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| Mae and I are about to head out to Shikoku. Not really sure how
to get there, where we are going, what we are going to do and when we
are coming back. Gonna just throw stuff in the car and
drive. Don't you just love spontaneity or lack of planning.
This will be our last adventure together before I return to LA on
August --th. Still can't believe I'm finally returning
home. Not sure when it's going to hit me. See all of you in LA shortly.
Ok, we're off!!!
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| Well, I'm heading out to Tokyo tomorrow to interview with 2 executive
search firms for consultant positions. Being a headhunter in
Tokyo isn't a career path I've had any intention of pursuing, but after
meeting a headhunter in Yokohama at the JET Returner's Conference, I've
opened up to the possibility. I was looking to enter the real
estate or financial arena in Tokyo but my lack of experience and
Japanese ability has been a huge hurdle. I am much more
marketable back in the States. One company I will be interviewing
with just so happens to have offices in California and Tokyo.
Wouldn't it be great to work between Cali and Tokyo? I wouldn't
have to say goodbye to Japan and could have the best of both
worlds. I'd be an all-around hapa. Worst case scenario if
nothing pans out with these interviews, it'll give me some experience
interviewing again, and I can get the rust out before I start
interviewing in LA. Wish me luck! Oh, and I think I'll
finally be staying in one of those famed capsule hotels.  Don't worry. I'll take lots of pictures.
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