April 2001:

Tuesday night at around 11:57, I was lying in bed, finishing off the Salman Rushdie book I had started about a month earlier, when I noticed my bed vibrating. This struck me as odd because a) I was the only one in my bed at the time, and b) I don't remember my bed being coin-operated. Then I heard the walls creak. Considering it wasn't one of the walls that faced the outside of the building, it couldn't have been the wind. Then it hit me: Walls don't creak! Yes, it was an earthquake. The epicentre was about 150 km south of us in Shizuoka, and measured 5.1 on the Richter scale. In Matsumoto, it was a little more than a tremor. Still, an exciting experience. I can now say I've lived through 2 earthquakes!

Well, Friday was the big presentation. I stood in front of about 20 AISoft employees, laser pointer in hand and started to explain-- in slow, short sentences-- the project I had been working on for the last 4 months. I was met with many blank stares, and I realized I had overestimated their collective English abilities. Luckily demonstrations are the international language, so I passed around 3 cell phones and let them try my game.

In case you haven't read a hundred times what I've been working while here in Japan, I'll write it again. It's Crazy 8s for the cell phone. Users play over the Internet in groups of 2 to 6. Besides many technical limitations and problems, the project was an overall success. The demonstration however...

The most expensive cell phone (capable of displaying 16,000 colours) was given to the vice-president of AISoft. About 5 minutes into the demo, I was feeling pretty good about myself. Everyone, huddled into little groups around each cell phone, seemed to be having a good time. Yes, at this point what could possibly go wrong?

"Eraa?!" The vice-president yelled. Eraa? He meant "Error"! He was holding up his phone, with the Japanese error message printed clearly across the screen. It was at that point I concluded the demo and, with a mere trifle of the self-esteem I had just minutes before, finished my presentation. If I'm not on a plane being sent back to Canada, I'll be starting my new project on Tuesday.

Ok, quick recap of the week:

Wednesday: John, Guillaume, Moui, Charlotte and I joined our Japanese teacher for a traditional tea ceremony. It was very interesting. There is a certain way to pour the tea, pick up the cup, drink etc. It was even special tea, a kind of dark green slightly bitter tea.

Thursday we all went to a Chinese restaurant. It was one of the many going-away dinners planned for Paul and Miranda, two Waterloo Co-ops who have just finished their one-year stint in Japan.

Friday John, Ryan and I attended AISoft's semi-annual kickoff meeting and party. It started with a 3 hour Japanese presentation, explaining the company's fiscal plan. Even if we could understand the presentation, I don't we could have cared. After the meeting was a delicious buffet of Western and Japanese-style foods. We played Bingo and watched some bizarre comedic sketches involving highly-respected AISoft executives. The strangest of sketch was a kind of contest. Contestants took turns sitting in a chair, grabbing the mic and naming a city or prefecture. People in the audience would raise their hands if they come from said area. The whole time the manager is sitting on the chair, another manager is holding a balloon hooked up to an air hose. The loser is the one caught under the balloon when it pops. That night I learned what Japanese balloons are HUGE. I could have fit inside this thing before it burst.

Saturday was a big BBQ, another good-bye meal, with all our basketball friends. We set up in Matsumoto Sky Park, about half a kilometer from the Matsumoto airport (hence the name). I ate BBQ'd chicken, beef, pork and veggies, then they made a Hiroshima special: Okonomiyaki. I can't believe how much I ate.

Easter Sunday we were invited to Murai-san's house again, for yet-another-farewell-meal. We rolled our own te-maki and ate more Okonomiyaki. After that, we joined our Japanese teachers for, what else, a going away dinner! None of us were particularly hungry, but we forced down spring rolls, shrimp, sausages and spaghetti anyway.

Monday we got out new computers at work! Yay! For all you geeks our there, we're now using Pentium III 866 machines. Sweet.

Well, Paul and Miranda are gone. Paul left Tuesday morning, and Miranda left Thursday morning. It's just not going to be the same without them. They made us feel really welcome, and I can only hope we'll be as friendly towards their replacements.

Ryan and I are planning a trip for the holidays in May, called Golden Week. We're planning to go to Osaka, Kobe (for the famous beef), Kyoto and Nara. Expect a full report.

Friday we went to a company Hanami (flower viewing) to see what was left of the sakura (cherry blossoms). Sakura viewing is a very important cultural thing for the Japanese. It was also an excuse to go out and drink beer in a public park.

What a way to start the week. Playing basketball on Sunday resulted in me fracturing my left pinky. Read all about my afternoon in a Japanese hospital here.

Wednesday I went to the hospital in Murai to have my finger X-rayed and reassessed. After taking 4 X-rays (without supplying me with a lead codpiece, I might add) and redressing my wound, I was prescribed some medication. One pill for the swelling, one for the pain, and one for the inevitable nausea caused by the other two pills.

After that, I went to Matsumoto hospital to pay my bill from Sunday. In total this accident has cost me around $750! Don't worry, AISoft's insurance will pay me back. I have to go back on Tuesday for another check-up (and bill).