The Short Straw: A Year Abroad Reflection

I`ve never been on Lady Luck`s good side. Coming onto the JET Program and getting one of the most rural placements in one of the strictest prefectures only solidified this fact. I went into this year abroad hoping to be in a sizeable city, working for an engaging school, and enjoying a relatively popping social life with other JETs and Japanese young adults. Instead, I got a sleepy rural town with a very old population, teaching for a school that constantly puts English and my classes on the back burner, and placed in the same town as a few other foreigners who made it very clear that they do not need or want another friend here. After many months of tears, frustration, and saying, “Why me?” I realized that I`m glad my JET adventure turned out to be a less-than-stellar version of what I expected. This year has lowered my expectations, brought me down to Earth, and made me realize how lucky I do have it back in New Orleans.

First, I am happy I got an inaka placement. Prior to coming to Japan, I swore to myself that if I got a rural placement that was not by the sea, I`d turn the position down. I wasn`t coming here to learn how to cope with living a lifestyle that I never wanted for myself, especially if that placement got a lot of snow. Well, by the time I found out about my placement, I only had 2 weeks to make the final decision. I knew it would be rural, and I knew being in the mountains would probably yield snow. Still, I already had my new suitcase, my forms filled out, and all of my savings converted into crisp, new yen bills. My fate was sealed, and I`m glad I didn't back out. It's the challenges of this past year that marked it as a learning experience and a turning point in my life. 

The winter was the hardest part. It`s no mystery that I hate cold weather, and pairing it with snow and no car really tested my patience. The lack of friendships (and believe me, I tried) added to the loneliness those long, winter nights bring. I definitely fell into a slump during those months. Some days, I would struggle back home and only manage to curl under my electric blanket while the heater would blast on its warmest temperature. Sometimes, that wouldn`t be enough, and I`d shiver my night away.

 I`m also the most land-locked I`ve ever been in my life. The higher altitudes and dry climates are unsettling to my New Orleans blood. Other JETs scoff when I mention this, but I like my air wet and hot. For 5 months, I had the opposite. But this is all good, being away from my river, lake, and bayou, I will appreciate the smell of the water when I go home. And as for the heat, well I won`t say I`ll never complain, but I`ll do my best to remember those frigid nights when I`m sitting on my riverside porch in late August.

I`m also happy I got placed in the same town as two unfriendly JETs. That`s not to say they weren`t, and still are, extremely helpful if I ever need help figuring something out. They just have each other and weren`t taking any applications for new friends. This took me the longest to get over, even longer than the longest night in winter. Finally, after nearly 11 months, I decided to ask if I was wasting my time inviting them to hang out, and I got an answer that read more like a breakup letter. Seriously, I have it saved because in hindsight, when I`m far away from my inaka town, it will make me laugh.

I`m a very social person by nature, and coming to a town with a small group of foreigners made me assume we`d all be hanging out in our little Gaijin Club. Maybe this was karma getting me back for being a mean middle school girl, but nothing hurts more than to invite people to hang out only to hear them have a grand old time next door without you. I kicked about that one and got pity invites to the next couple of gatherings only to realize something profound. I`m not going to like everyone I meet, and everyone I meet won`t like me. That`s not to say we bicker and fight every time we come into contact, but a solo night out has more meaning than listening to two guys share inside jokes and stories about trips I`d never been on. The idea that I could be the solo adventurer within a group of people is an honor and something I thought I`d never be. 

It also forced me to go elsewhere, oftentimes traveling long distances, to see the friends I have made here. Though they be far, our bond is strong, and I appreciate the friendships I`ve made along the way. It also all but forced me to find a Japanese group of friends within my inaka town. As a result, I fell into the local taiko group, who have made the days in my town well worth every struggle. Despite the sizable language barrier, they took me in and actually made the effort to get to know me and include me in things. And you know what? If they think I`m alright, then that means loads more than the unfriendly foreigners in town.

 Having said that, being here more or less on my own has me itching to get back to my friends. I was a bit of a moody flake when I was home, and I can`t wait to get back and rectify all of the times I was a less-than-stellar friend. I am more than ready to make up for the times I backed out of plans and skirted around events back home. Hope y'all are ready for some high-quality hangage! 

The one thing I really did not want to compromise on was my school situation. I`d made the grave mistake of reading JET blogs before coming here, some of them recounting horrible encounters with inactive supervisors and dead beat schools. Guess who got both of those! My warm welcome to town consisted of my supervisor showing me my 4 months deserted apartment full of mold and lacking a stove or fridge. He extended his welcome by failing to get my ever important hanko (a stamp that seals all fates in Japan) thus resulting in my not getting a bank account or a cellphone for a month after my arrival. The time frame for getting a cell phone is 7 days, by the way, but I wouldn`t have been so impatient about getting this technology if my supervisor hadn`t informed me that I`d be making a solo journey on public transportation to a random town during my 4^th week in Japan. He had no problem letting me go, with no knowledge of public transport (you don`t ride the bus in New Orleans) and no means of communication should I get insanely lost.

However, I took this challenge as an opportunity to speak of for myself in order to get needed getting done. Despite hearing about how Japanese people avoid conflict at all cost, I used my gaijin-smashing power to get my bank account set up and which allowed me to get my cell phone. And though my supervisor should have been more helpful in the beginning, his inactivity allowed me to speak up when I was confused about something or to ask for help when I needed it. Before coming to Japan my pride and desire to not bother anybody would have kept my mouth shut. Now I`m not afraid to get what I need and ask questions when I have them. Coming to a country where you understand only half of what is going on is the big dose of medicine I needed to take to overcome that silly fear. It will be nice to be around people back home who inherently know if you have a question or need help, though.

So, overall, my JET experience was the opposite of what I had in mind. I`m glad it wasn`t the smooth-sailing ride I`d hoped for and heard other JETs have. Maybe they didn`t need an extra serving of humble pie in their mid-20s, and I`m glad. My bratty self definitely needed it, and it challenged and shaped me. As Ernest Hemmingway said, “We`re stronger in the places we`ve been broken,” and that is a lesson I learn every time I go abroad. Life is gonna throw you some curve balls, but instead of simply chalking them up as experience, try to learn from them. You may find some ugly truths about yourself, but like a cavity, it`ll only get better if you tackle them head on and create something better from its absence. A year in Japan showed me how I need to lighten up with the friend making, to take not-so-optimal situations as they come, to be a better friend and citizen in my own country, and it showed me that I can take on a lot more than I thought. Here`s to this past year, and may the lessons I`ve learned never leave me! 

Shimanami Spring Intensity!

Ahoy, lovely readers!

With Spring in the air, a lot of creative energy has struck me lately. The biggest of all is finally finishing Devon`s second adventure. That`s right, Reverie is officially written and is now undergoing beta reader and pre-edits! I will keep you updated on any news that comes my way. Get excited!

As if editing a sequel wasn`t enough to deal with, Japan has thrown me many great experiences in this past month. Being from a sub-tropical climate, I never really get to experience a proper spring. The best part, hands-down, were the lovely sakura trees blossoming seemingly out of nowhere. Seriously, these trees went from being barren to full of pink and white lovelies! They only lasted for a few weeks, but that makes them even more special. I`m lucky to be in a prefecture with lots of great places for hanami (sakura viewing.) Onomichi, a town about a 90 minute drive south from me, has the most breathtaking park that is a sakura wonderland in the spring. My own town`s humble park has a pretty good spread, as well. The nighttime events for my town`s sakura was the best. I stumbled upon the festivities one night during a lonely drive. Really lucky I did!

So

Many

SAKURA! 

Alas, it appears springtime is also fleeting in the Land of the Rising Sun. Summer is well on its way, but I used the last cool weekend to do a feat of endurance and strength. Onomichi (I frequent that place, if it`s not obvious) is also famous for being one end of the Shimanami-Kaido, the longest suspension bridge system in Japan. This 77km road spans across several small islands, connecting mainland Honshu to the island of Shikoku. The road is comprised of 7 bridges, beautiful beach roads, and cultural stops along the way. The salty sea air propelled me and my friends forward, even when the bike seats started to abuse our backsides. Oftentimes, the bridge ramps seemed impossible, but reaching the top of each bridge rewarded me with a stunning view of the Seto Inland Sea and astonishingly beautiful beaches. Through all the sweat, heat, and bottom pain, the only thing I could think of was how beautiful the ride was. Those scenes were why I came to Japan.

I even got to see a dinosaur! 

One of the many beautiful scenes atop the bridges.

Hard to stop when there were so many beautiful sights! 

I REALLY didn't feel like tackling that last bridge. 

But we did and we FINISHED! Dekita! 

After the ride, a victory dinner, and a night in a traditional ryokan (Japanese inn,) I headed back to my little mountain town full of pride and feeling accomplished. I truly cannot wait to see what the next 3 months will bring!

Ryokan supplied the hungry cyclists with MEAT! Could've eaten 20 more of these pots, to be honest.

Until next time, keep readin and dreamin!

-Fred

First big book review gets a little peculiar!

Miss Peregrine`s Peculiar Children  review

Ahoy, readers!

This time I have a non-travel blog post for you! Recently, I`ve been working hard on finishing up Reverie, but the ending is giving me a bit of trouble. Now, when writer`s block comes on, the best cure is to lose myself in another writer`s world for a bit. So, I downloaded my handy Overdrive app (wonderful device for e-reading if you have a library card,) and started going through my lists of recommendations, which led me to read Miss Peregrine`s House for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs. Two of the series are out now! 

Here's the first: 

And the second:

I read both. There's also a graphic novel version out, as well! And, naturally, there's going to be a film released next year!

Now, I usually don`t do reviews on already mainstream books. My fiction features usually include indie authors, such as myself, or those who are only on the e-book shelves, again such as myself. I feel there are too many reviews out there for the popular books and that mine won`t make much of a splash. Well, Riggs`s story has made me change my mind and compelled me to review –or really gush over—this amazing world of past, present, and peculiar characters.

Synopsis:

            Jacob Portman is a teenage boy who grew up somewhat of a loner. With only one friend to claim, Jacob spent most of his childhood listening to his hero, his grandfather Abe`s childhood stories. As Jacob grew, he realized his grandfather`s tales of his time in a foster home were fantastical representations of the truth. Jacob even began to realize how bogus his grandfather`s old photos looked. Is it really that difficult to make it look like a girl can levitate? And how hard is it to stuff some clothes to make it look like an invisible boy is wearing them? Jacob`s parents reminded him of the horrors his grandfather experienced as a Polish Jew in WWII and convinced Jacob that Abe`s peculiar stories were ways to cope with his actual memories of the past. As Grandpa Abe descended into what Jacob`s parents believed to be dementia, Jacob grew apart from his childhood hero and accepted his lonely, mundane life. It wasn`t until his grandfather died a gruesome and inexplicable death that Jacob`s world took a most peculiar turn. His grandfather`s stories didn`t seem so bogus after all. In fact ,they were the key to Jacob beginning his own adventure.

Why I loved it:

            First, I`m a sucker for anything involving historical fiction, especially if it involves WWII. After learning that the story focuses on Jacob`s grandfather`s past for a lot of the book, I knew I would be interested in the plot. What I didn`t know what how in-depth Riggs takes both Jacob`s and Abe`s stories, intertwining, analyzing, and expanding both of the Portman men`s lives in ways unimaginable. Riggs cleverly combines his own fantasy world with actual events of the past, such as the London air raids. I`m also a sucker for an average-boy-turned hero story, if that`s not obvious. Jacob reminded me a lot of Devon, both suffer from the teenage affliction of low self-esteem. The power of friendship and believing in oneself helps both heroes attain their goals. I also have to hand it to Riggs for writing in first person. Anyone can write from a character`s perspective, but it takes a true author to have empathy for a character he creates. Riggs doesn`t write Jacob so much as he feels for Jacob as he delves deeper into his story of becoming a hero. Even though this is a YA work, there are a lot of deep revelations Jacob experiences throughout the story. I really enjoyed reading these, as teenagers often have the capacity to feel as much as to think as deeply as adults. It was a great contrast of kiddie adventure and not-quite-adult harsh reality.

            The coolest bit, of course, is that Riggs places actual vintage photos throughout his stories. Though they are of real people from times in the past, they fit perfectly to serve as a visual for characters and events throughout the story. Also, I learned that people took weird pictures back in the day! Riggs gives credit to all of the photos uses at the end of each story.

Who should read this:

            I first have to encourage people of the YA age to read this. I`d say 7<sup>th</sup>-high school is age-appropriate. There is a bit of a romance going on, but it`s all PG. Even the brief moments of nudity are comical and can be likened to the kind of humor one will see in Diary of a Wimpy Kid so no worries there. Some of the monsters can be a bit scary, so any kids who are afraid of the dark might want to find a lighter book to read. I also encourage adults who are still into YA fiction or write for the genre to read these stories. If you want to see a non-conventional fantasy story work, and work well, this is a must-read.

            First two books are out now! The third will be out September, 2015!

Until next time, keep readin and dreamin!

-Fred

Friends, Frenemies, and Finding Oneself: Krysten Lindsay Hager's Newest Release!

Ahoy, lovely readers!

This post takes a break from the regular travel stuff I`ve been talking about. Time to get back to my blog`s roots. With some new good books!

I`m especially honored to bring you today`s fiction feature!

Best Friends…Forever? (Landry’s True Colors Series) by Krysten Lindsay Hager

Good friends have your back, but some go behind it.

Landry Albright hopes the new year will start off in an amazing way—instead she has to deal with more frenemy issues, boy drama, and having most of her best friends make the cheerleading squad without her. Suddenly, it seems like all anyone can talk about is starting high school next year—something she finds terrifying.

                Landry gets her first boyfriend, but then gets dumped just as things come to a head with her friends. She feels lost and left out, but finds good advice about dealing with frenemies from what she considers an unlikely source. Landry faces having to speak up for what’s right, tell the truth (even when it hurts), and how to get past the fear of failure as she gets another shot at competing in the American Ingénue modeling competition.

                I am extremely eager to talk to you about the sequel to True Colors, especially since I did one of my first reviews on the first book! Krysten also does a stellar job writing stories that inspire tweens everywhere and hit very close to home for us who remember how awkward and difficult being a teenage girl was!
                But enough of my gushing, let Best Friends…Forever? do the talking for me!

I got ready for bed and then stopped to check my social media page one more time and that's when I saw it — another picture of Peyton, India, and Devon hanging out. They were sitting on the couch with their heads scrunched close together and laughing. It was a cute picture, but then I saw the caption: So glad we could all be together for the holidays. Love these guys soooo much! Best friends forever. #Alltogether #Threemusketeers #BestFriendsForever #ThreeBestFriends #ThreesCompany.

My heart sank. It was India’s caption and anyone who read it would think what a close‑knit group of friends and not realize anyone was missing from that photo. Sure, I was in another state, so naturally I couldn’t be there for it, but the way India wrote that made me feel so left out. I mean, what did she mean by the "ʺThree’s Company"ʺ hashtag? And sometimes people tagged friends who weren’t there in pictures and added, "ʺWish you were here,"ʺ but there was no mention of a fourth member of the group.

“Ready for bed, hon?” Mom asked coming into my room.

“Yeah, just signing off.”

“Okay, sleep well.”

I got into bed and hoped I was reading into things, but the knot in my stomach wouldn’t go away.

And if that`s not enough to bring you back to the teenage struggle…

 “Landry, it’s gotta be so awkward for you to be going to Vladi’s school next year,” Tori said. “I mean, what if you run into him during the tour?"

"It’s a huge place,ʺ Ashanti said. “People break up all the time. It’s not a big deal.ʺ

Tori raised her eyebrows as if to say, “Yeah, right,” and went back to her sandwich. Meanwhile my delicious homemade soup was no longer sitting well. It never occurred to me Vladi might be around during the first pre‑freshman tour. I would be mortified if I ran into him and he was with a girl. Or worse yet, running into him, and he was with Yasmin. Plus, I hadn’t told my mom about the breakup, so if she saw him, she’d probably go over to talk to him. I could already imagine it: “Landry, Vladi’s here! Hon? Why are you hiding behind the garbage can? Your boyfriend, Vladi, is here. Come say, ‘hello.’ Stop trying to run away. Why is everyone laughing and pointing at you and calling you a ‘loser dumpee?’ What does that mean?”

Well, maybe the world would end and I wouldn’t have to deal with high school or Vladi and my mother running into each other.

****

Sadly, the world did not end, and on Thursday, we all had to go to the high school for a freshman information night from 6 to 9 p.m.

Let`s learn a little about our wonderful author, shall we?

Krysten Lindsay Hager is an author and book addict who has never met a bookstore she didn’t like. She’s worked as a journalist and also writes middle grade, YA, humor essays, and adult fiction. Best Friends…Forever? is the second book in the Landry’s True Colors series. True Colors was her international bestselling debut novel from Clean Reads. She is originally from Michigan and has lived in South Dakota, Portugal, and currently resides in Southern Ohio where you can find her reading and writing when she’s not catching up on her favorite TV shows. She received her master’s in American Culture from the University of Michigan-Flint.

And if you still need a reason to start reading the True Colors series, here`s what people are saying about the first novel:

From Teenage Book Recommendations in the UK: "This is a fantastically relatable and real book which I feel captures all of the insecurities and troubles which haunt the modern teenage girl. It is about a young model who has to go through tough times when she is torn between a life as a model and managing her friendships. You learn which friends she can most trust and which will create the drama typical of teenage life. Follow the life of Landry and try to see if you can find out which are her true friends before their true colours are revealed. This book is all about relationships, hopes and truth. I loved this book!"

From Books & Authors Spot: “This book is such an inspiration for those who just care about their looks and are tensed about them. This thing is looks aren't everything. This book is related to every teen's problem. Hager has written a very inspiring novel.”

You can buy Best Friends…Forever? at these links below!

Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Best-Friends-Forever-Landrys-Colors-ebook/dp/B00UIP1N5S/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1427190173&sr=1-2

Amazon international: http://authl.it/B00UIP1N5S

Barnesandnoble.com: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/krysten-lindsay-hager

itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/true-colors/id890673002

And be sure to talk to Krysten and keep up on all True Colors news at these sites:

Website: http://www.krystenlindsay.com/     

Instagram: http://instagram.com/krystenlindsay

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KrystenLindsayHagerAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KrystenLindsay

Well, that’s it for now! Lots of exciting things are happening in Japan right now, so stay tuned for more travel news and book updates. Still working hard on Reverie! Until then, keep readin and dreamin!

-Fred

Lots of First and a JET Q&A!

Ahoy wonderful readers!

I hope you're enjoying warmer weather as I am. Seriously, I've been prancing to school in this wonderful sunshine and warmth!

Just kidding, I've been DRIVING!

Look at that beaut~ 

I finally decided to become mobile during my remaining months in Japan. My only regret is that I didn't get this puppy sooner! The roads are tiny, winding, and yes I have to drive on the "wrong" side of the road, but it's all pretty easy to adjust to. The fact that a little rain won't keep me shut in anymore is well worth it! 

I also had another first over the weekend. As I've mentioned in earlier posts (on my old travel blog, https;//marsjaws.tumblr.com ) I joined a taiko group in November. March 15th was my debut, and I didn't mess up! I love these guys. They really took me in as one of their own, and it was an honor to drum alongside them. 

Me and my best bud, Sota-san. Look how awesome our uniforms are! 

Needless to say, I've been busy. Don't you worry, dear readers, I'm setting time aside to write as well! Devon's story is on track, so do not fret! I do have this whole living-and-working-in-Japan thing to deal with, but that's giving me more stories to tell! 

And it's also giving me great opportunities to give aspiring and soon-to-be future JETs words of wisdom! My friend and fellow 1st year JET, Francesca started a #JET20questions chain (you can check out her amazing blog at http://memoirsofagaijin.com ) where current JETs answer 20 questions to hopefully give others a better idea of how the JET Program and living in Japan pans out. As per usual, every situation is different, but it's really interesting to see how ex-pats all over this great nation are enjoying and living in Japan! 

So, without further ado, here's my contributions to the 20 questions thing! 

1.   Name: Lauren Frederick

2.   Prefecture Placement: Hiroshima

3.   Prefecture Requests: Shimane, Hyogo, Hokkaido

4.   Teaching experience: 2 years of private tutoring and substitute teaching middle school and TESOL certified

5.   Number of schools: 3 high schools

6.   School level: ranges from low to really low to have-you-ever-studied-english-before low. My base school is agriculture (lowest) and my 2 visit schools are low to mid-low academic schools. 

7.   Average classes per day: 2-3

8.   Closest JET to you distance wise: Right next door, and there`s another one of us about a 5 minute drive away.

9.   Best part of the job: Being able to form many new relationships and working your way into little communities of students and faculty. The enkais are pretty amazing, as well.

10. Worst part of the job: The fact that most of it is a desk-warming or babysitting job and the Japanese bureaucracy.

11. Best part of living in Japan: Being able to feel like you belong in a Japanese town and having the ability to explore all of Japan and Asia. Oh, and conbinis are amazing. 

12. Worst part of living in Japan: Lack of insulation, old fashioned technology (お久しぶり、fax machines,) and no debit card system.

13. Favorite memory so far: It has to be my first party with my taiko group. The party was during the beginning of the holiday homesickness time, and even though I was not performing just yet, my taiko group invited me to their show and let me tag along to the after-party. It ended up being an extended family barbecue, which was the defining moment when I realized I was meant to be in my little inaka town at that place and time. Truly touching.

14. Hardest time so far: The winter, all of it. Being a southern girl, I was not ready for a Japanese winter. I think the worst of the worst was waking up in the middle of the night, with the electric blanket and aircon on at full blast on the highest settings, and still shivering from the cold. I also didn`t have a car during the snow, so walking through that to get to work on time was really tough and resulted in tons of slips and bruises. Winter also brought about loneliness, as no one seemed to want to brave the weather to hang out or do things, so it was just a dark time that I kind of want to blank out of my JET memories.

15. What do you miss most about home? My friends, hands-down. I don`t really click with the other JETs in town, so I miss just being able to hang out with people who like me for my obnoxious self. I also really miss my dog—we are joined at the hip and not a morning passes where I`m sad he`s not there to wake me up. I also miss my gym. I was big into group fitness, and want to eventually become a fitness instructor, so going from 2 hours of that to a tiny room with a few treadmills and weights was pretty depressing. I also miss the climate, but not everyone gets that I love hot, humid weather, so I`ll leave it at that. Food and family are a given, as I`m from New Orleans, so I won`t elaborate.

16. What would you miss most about Japan if you left tomorrow? My taiko group, which goes without saying. Those guys seriously gave this year abroad meaning, and I almost stayed another year just for them. They took me in as one of their own, don't treat me as a token gaijin, and opened me up to many more possibilities and opportunities in my little inaka town. Oh, and I`d miss the hell out of Hiroshima-yaki, aka the best okonomiyaki in the world.

17. The one thing you wish you`d brought with you to Japan? I wish I`d brought more books and hand held video games to pass the time. Some days on JET, especially those during exams and student holidays, are 8 hours of nothing, and there`s only so much time one can spend scrolling through social media.

18. What`s something you brought that you wish you didn`t? I brought way too many clothes. Unless you have a really unique body type, you will be able to find things to wear in Japan. Cute things that you will want to buy. Had I known I`d give myself a wardrobe makeover over here, I would`ve made my second checked luggage an empty suitcase to fill with all my new gear.

19. Tip for living in Japan: Don`t be afraid to make a fool out of yourself. Your Japanese might not be stellar, but there will be times you`ll have to fumble through a 100% Japanese conversation in order to get things done. Also, don`t be afraid to explore your town. Even the most isolated of towns will have a few people really eager to meet the new gaijin and want to show you around. Don`t spend those weekends holed up in your apartment, living vicariously through your friends` snap chats. Get out and explore! Also, if you`re even vaguely considering driving, go for it. It will make your life so much better, especially if you`re in the inaka. Also, who wouldn`t want to road trip through beautiful coastlines, mountains ,and rice fields?

20. Tip for being a JET: Be as open minded as you can and don`t take things personally. Not every student or JTE will like your lesson. You may not click well with your fellow JETs in town. You might really hate the fact that you`re land-locked in the middle of nowhere instead of the metropolis you hoped for, but there will be times—wonderfully brilliant times—that will make all of the other crap worth it. This is your adventure, your story. Make it what you want to be. 

Aaaaaand I'll leave it at that! Thanks for giving it a read.

I hope it gives some of you out there a better idea of what you'll experience in August.

It's a wonderful journey, so enjoy every minute of it! 

Until next time, keep readin and dreamin! 

-Fred 

Oysters, Deer, and Fried Bananas: Typical Valentine's Day

Ahoy, wonderful readers!

I told you I would be more frequent with my blog posts, didn't I? I promise not to disappoint with another travel post!


The day of love has come and gone again. Usually, this lonely author broods on Valentine's Day, anxiously waiting for the half-priced chocolate craze of February 15th. This time, things went a little differently. Living abroad surely turns the tables in the best way possible!

I was lucky enough to catch the Miyajima Oyster Festival. Hiroshima is famous for its oysters, and as a seafood lover, I knew I could not miss the chance to sample some of these delicacies cooked in various, delicious ways. Though I live in Hiroshima, I never trekked out to the other side of town and across the sea to the famous Miyajima site.

Eat delicious oysters and see a world famous landmark? I'm in!

You may or may not have seen this in countless Japanese travel brochures.

My friend and I headed out early, but as it takes us a few hours to get to Hiroshima city --and more time to get to Miyajima-- we ended up hitting the fest at the peak time. The long lines were worth the delicious oyster dishes, all served for around 200 yen! 

Oyster Okonomiyaki- like Hiroshima didn't already make the best of this stuff!

Fried momijimanju which is a delicious leaf-shaped treat (stuffed with oysters, of course.) 

Oyster ride porridge. Perfect for a cold day! 

Another highlight of this famous island are the domestic deer who are free to roam about. Be careful; those deer are always hungry and will not think twice before pulling food out of your hand or handbag! 

 These deer would not rest until we gave them food!

 A majestic deer by the sea

The deer whisperer. She is fabled to be telepathically connected to all of the deer on the island. Fear her mighty presence! 

After taking the ferry back to Hiroshima, my friend and I made the most of our day trip and roamed the city. It's always nice to escape my country town for a taste of the city life! Though we just walked around and window shopped, I was happy to be around so many people and buildings again. Once we burned off all those oyster treats, we treated ourselves to a meal worthy of two single women! The dessert was the, well, sweetest part! 

That, my friend, is a banana chimichanga. T'was love at first bite~ 

Moral of the story: Valentine's Day doesn't have to be a drag for single people. It's a day to celebrate love-- no matter how you experience it. Take the time to love yourself and treat yourself to something nice. Get out and volunteer to share your love to the community. Spend the day with your grandparents. Love manifests itself in many different ways, and wasting an entire day on feeling miserable about your singleness seems like a silly waste of time. It's not too late! You can still treat yourself! Go get out there! 

Until next time, keep readin, dreamin, and doin!

-Fred

L. E. Fred: Travel Writer. (now, anyway)

Ahoy, wonderful readers!

I told you I had some cool things up on the horizon, didn`t I? The time has finally come!

As some of you may know, I`ve been living in Japan since last August. Though I have a separate I have not been very religious keeping up with either. 

So, I figured why not try to merge the two? 

I am –alongside with Reverie—working on a story chronicling my travels abroad with a sci-fi twist. Totally gives me an excuse to condense the two blogs, right? Anyway, it would be a shame to keep all of my amazing adventures from you wonderful readers, as I know these past few months have greatly influenced Devon & Co`s adventures.

If you want to read my previous travel posts, please go to this link: http://marsjaws.tumblr.com

But for now, let me tell you about my time in the great white north, Hokkaido!

I knew I had to get to Hokkaido during my time here. In a sense, the strangely not-so-Japanese part of Japan is the reason I reconsidered applying for the JET Program. I remember sitting on my mother`s sofa, my habitat for the 2 years after college, flicking through daytime television. An oldie but goodie of Anthony Bourdain`s No Reservations about Hokkaido was on. As I watched him eat and drink his way through Hokkaido, the desire to go to Japan had instantly been rekindled. While I wanted to come here for more reasons than crab ramen (which, honestly, would have been more than a good enough reason) it reminded me of all the things this great, big world has to offer. So, I blew a bunch of money to have my dreams come true!

I started off in Sapporo, of course. The annual 雪祭り (Snow Fest) was in full, melty swing by the time I rolled on out of Chitose Airport. It`s a shame the weather was just hovering above freezing so the sculptures were droopy, but I wasn`t complaining. 1 degree Celcius is still well cold, so I naturally had to make my pilgrimage to the world`s best ramen.

The most spectacular thing about ramen alley is that it`s not really a tourist trap. Really! Of course they have their “English OK” and “[Insert famous person here] ate at my shop,” but there`s still that authentic alleyway vibe that people come to this alley for. And, of course, there was ramen. Lots and lots of it. Now, I`m no stranger to ramen, but I didn`t know what to expect from the city that started the noodle soup craze.

It was delicious, I`ll tell you that. Crab, corn, scallops, pork, and the most clear and flavorful ramen broth? The only thing that could make it better was a beer. Oh, look! A perfect lunch! Ramen Alley is worth the hype. Trust me.

(I did not eat at this place. Figured one author per shop was a good policy to start.)

After doing some more Snow Festival sight-seeing, I joined fellow travelers at a 焼肉 (yaki-niku) all-you-can-eat party. What makes this 焼肉 better than the rest? More crab! And lamb! But mostly crab! It was my first time grilling the (already boiled) crab, and I`m not sure I`m sold on the concept. It supposedly makes the crab smokier, but it honestly just made peeling an intense and blistery process. Still, the beer was flowing, and the meat was sizzling, so it was a good time.

You grill your own meat. Sadly did not get a photo of the seafood plate, as it promptly ended up in my stomach.

We went from Sapporo up to Niseko for snow sports adventures. Coming from the Deep South, I have never stepped food on a snowy mountain, much less strapped boards to my feet to slide down it. The entire concept seemed like a stupid idea until I saw all of the other people having the time of their lives on the slopes. Niseko is famed for having some of the best powder, or so I'm told, so it would be a shame to waste the opportunity to shred some powder (see: fall my way down the mountain.)

 So I rented a snowboard and had a crack at it. It`s safe to say that I`m more of a water sports person, but snowboarding is easily addictive. Maybe I`m a glutton for pain, or maybe the snow triggered some sort of madness, but I will be out on those slops again one day. Best part was working for the amazing lamb chop plate at the resort`s restaurant!

Earned it. 

I finished up a tour of the northern island by visiting the seaside town of Otaru. This was definitely the most quaint, and coldest, part of the tour. The town was very adorable, a little town with a little port and canal, but it was too cold to really enjoy anything other than the heated glass shops and beer hall. The beer was delicious, though, and they served you a lot of it. 

The glass shops were also cute! Your grandma would probably love it! The biggest attraction was the snow illumination that turned the entire town into a Christmas decoration. It was adorable, heart-warming, and a sight to see, but man was it cold. Still managed to capture some of the magic before hauling it to the train station for my warm inn.

Overall, the trip to Hokkaido was well worth it. To come from central Japan to the far north was an eye-opening experience. Hokkaido, in many senses, is not very Japanese. The streets are too wide, there are way too many foreigners, and the portions are too big. In other ways, though, that`s what makes Hokkaido Japanese. Their hospitality is the essence of Japanese culture and their local festivals –even the tourist trap ones—screams Japan. Well done, Hokkaido, well done.

I will dream of the crab ramen to propel me to my next Southern seafood buffet. 

Well, that's it for now, y'all! I hope to keep up with this hybrid blog now that I have more reasons to do so. Will update you on all thins Lucid, give you good reads, and allow you to live vicariously through my travels.

Until next time, keep readin, dreamin, and doin! 

-Fred