eigo-wa muzukashi desu ne...

One of the most fantastic discoveries I've had since I came to Japan has been that ANYone can communicate with ANYone else if one has patience, empathy, social skills and (beer). Gesture is the universal language of course, but a tiny bit of english from one party and a skosh of nihongo from the second makes for a very fun evening!

I went out tonight with Yamasaki Kazu san. I call him Doc Kazu. He's a doctor in Gotsu who enjoys taking me out from time to time. When Tom was still around (O my beloved Tom, we talked about you so much this evening it was as if you were sitting with us and helping us understand each other) we went to dinner a few times with Kazu and Kouno-san. Kouno-san is a community leader, I still have yet to truly understand his position in the community but it seems pretty high (He was Tom's host father for a little while, and hosts many foreign students in his home, I found out tonight that he studied english for 13 years! It was a shock to me because he seemed to be able to speak very little, but he is a prime example of that which isn't used, disappears). We went to dinner, ate yaki-nikku (they ordered a whole other steak just for me) and then to my favorite bar in Gotsu called, the "Mac". The bartender plays the saxophone and violin, and plays only jazz concerts on his big screen TV. He also plays a great deal of good music (mostly vinyl) in the bar. My father's George Benson record is laying in wait to be given to the bartender when I find time. I think tomorrow will be a good time...considering the evening I just spent with them.

We talked about anything we could that could be understood with little English and little Japanese. We even touched apon Taiwan and whether or not it should retain its independence. At the "Mac" we talked about the subtle and obvious differences between Japanese and American culture. We considered gestures, language, and ideals within cultural ettiquette. Granted, this was all in very limited conversation, a lot of gesture, and osake o takusan nomimashita.

Either I am assuming too much, or misreading these interactions, but this is one of many experiences in which I have had a lack of intelligent mutual language exchange, and yet have gotten through complex topics fairly easily.

It's wonderful. One more reason to stay and learn more.

In other news...
I found a great, quiet spot above the cemetery to sit and watch Gotsu. These are some photos I took while watching:Someone in the Church is dying for this photo of God above Milky Way Hall in Gotsu. And then there's the paper factory.
Love to all.