The Airport

The Airport.

Bloody Hell, I believe that is my new word when I am pissed off or something really impossible just happened. Like seconds I take off a mosquito patch off my shirt a mosquito bites me right in the nose. “Bloody hell” Blo e hew as I say it in the accent. I guess my new life here is taking a toll on me. I see things in a totally new perspective. I live in a town called Toyonaka, a rual town just 20 min from Osaka. Which is great cause I really don’t mind the hankyu line.

Leaving my house for the last time was like saying goodbye to everything that I have grown to be comfortable with.  Comfortable will ruin you. My house was 10 min away form my job, my job was easy, everything was cheap and I had no big issues to worry me. Time was passing me by. Before I knew it I had turned 28 and realized that being comfortable will age you to a point where one day you will wake up and say. “what the hell I am I doing”.

So I was not too effected when I left my home. My father had already went to work and we said our goodbye. Good ridden, “he probably thought to himself” for there was no emotion nor a single tear shed from his face. Either that or he has a heart of stone. Which is highly unlikely on account of I have seen him weep for a puppy that accidentally fell into the pool. The puppy was a gift from him to my mother. He stood there holding the shovel and cried simple tears. I was 12 at the time.  I guess men have their own way of expressing themselves. “good luck “ he said hugging me followed by a meaningful “ I love you”

Once it was my time to leave both my younger brothers followed me outside. I looked up at the sun and realized that this would be the last time I will see the Arizona sunset. “Don’t fuck up” I said, as I looked my 22 year old brother in the eyes. “You have a job here to do now and you know what to do, stay strong Chris and don’t fuck up”. “You know I won’t, and I promise”. Saying goodbye to him was not easy. A sudden memory struck my mind. Him 8 years old following me to the bust stop and me yelling at him to hurry up. He would walk in the corner in the street to purposely step on all the dry leaves just to hear them crunch. I have always been there to tell him to hurry up in life. But as a child and free spirited person he is, he will always go at his own paste. But I know he will make it to the bus stop regardless.

That just leaves my mother and my little brother Dominick. On the way to the airport I see the road I took to work. The thoughts I had when I would rest my head on my hands in the office say “god I wish I could just press fast forward to when I leave!”  and it was an uneasy feeling knowing I was moments away to never seeing my town again.

At the airport with my little brother and my mother it began, the travel sick. My bags were too heavy and I had to give up the things I need and pay an extra 100$. Dam you united. They should change the name to “sack o bitches”.  Before entering security I said my last goodbyes. First my mother, giving her a big hug and whispering in her ear. “I am sorry” “good luck and take care of yourself” she sobbed giving me one last tight hug.  My little brother was the last to say goodbye to. I opened my bag and pulled out a gold plated necklace in the shape of a sword. It was a usb hard drive. My little brother and I would watch a cartoon episode that the same one and always talked about it. He opened it and was surprised I believe it was the best gift I have given him. He has given me something much more. A friend to always talk to. When I was alone in my hometown he would always come up to me to show me something cool on his phone or play video games together. I gave him the gift of having an older brother to always be there no matter what. Something I never grew up with. 

The Big Move

OK, to save you all some time reading the old crap that nobody really cares about, Iam going to break it down to you. In 2005 went to japan to get laid. Did not happen but drank, partied and made out with hot j-chicks. My penal was more into herself and her white pen pal then me. But still she ended up paying for most things. (the Japanese exchange rate was 110 yen to the dollar compared to today 98 yen to the dollar.) So I had a good 3 weeks and came back to America BROKE, but ended up going back to college. Met a nice Korean girl and was with her for 6 amazing years. Went to japan 1 time while with her and also went to Korea to meet her parents. When we both arrived back in the United Stated we went our separate ways. I went back to Japan for 3 months and she went to Korea. As much as we loved each other we still wanted to be with each other. So when she continued school in the U.S we ended up back together. But she moved 3 hours away and we were together for 2 years after that. In the long run we ended up breaking up. So since I could not re kindle things with her I decided to live my life and move to Japan. My childhood dream. ^+^

As of today August 4th 2012 I begin my journey in surviving in the amazing country. I will document my life as it unfolds, and hopefully will uncover the underground of this country.

I would say moving to Japan was not so easy. It was a step I knew I had to take on account of I was not happy in my hometown. I had a great job, wore a suit to work, made good money, stayed out of trouble and always looked on the bright side of things. I dedicated years of my life taking care of my family and my relationship. But a person can only handle so much when they are not appreciated. I sold my car, sold my x-box, sold my phone, basically sold my life and packed my life in suitcases. I knew what I had to do.

Sacrifice is something most people don't understand. I am not talking about the feeling you get when you sacrifice your child lol. I mean when you are young you have a lot of wants and really don’t focus on what you need. I mean come on do you really need a I phone 4s that scratches your ass from a laser in space? That’s money out of your pocket I had that attitude in high school, however I knew that my town was filled with lost dreams. From the fat couples with babies at Walmart to the guy working at jack in the box to pay off his student loans.  I sold my car for 2,500 and bought a motorcycle for 900$ and threw the rest of it in the bank. IN THE BEGINNING OF WINTER. I froze my ass off and I almost had a heat stroke in the summer. BUT at least I was only paying 7 bucks a week for gas and riding a bike is very therapeutic. Saving money was hell. I am not kidding sheer and utter hell. I really wanted my money to grow and my desperateness of moving to Japan was so vast that I never went out. I never bought a simple coke for $1.00. I said no and became fierce with people who I usually treat all the time. It was sacrifice I had to make. The feeling you get when you work hard, and you get home and tell yourself. “ it’s ok I deserve that I worked hard all day” so you end up spending your money to maintain your mental stability. I became stronger with my stabilizing my mental state and the only happiness I sought was opening my bank account. I loved my games so I taught myself how to download and hack my games. Anywho.

I decided to move to Japan because I had what I wanted but in the wrong city. I would rather be homeless in Japan then be wearing a suit in my city that has doomed so many. Once I realized my relationship with my ex would could not be fixed, I looked in my high school yearbook and saw what I posted in the “my dream section” I stated “to live and die in Japan”.