Where is Derek?

Hung out with a co worker, Tom at this Izakaya or Japanese style pub in Yokohama. Had very interesting conversation about Japan. It is very interesting hearing everyone’s opinion about their experience of Japan. There’s some people who just want to hook up and leave, there’s people who don’t give Japan a chance and just talk about their country, there’s people who get only superficial experiences in Japan and then there’s those rare few that get to experience REAL Japan. Of the latter two, there’s a real big difference between people who think they know Japan and Tokyo and those few that get to experience Real Japan. It’s fun doing things and going to places in Tokyo/Japan but that does not make an authentic experience. Talking with Tom, I realized that in order to experience Japanese culture to its fullest, you NEED to: know about Japan’s history, speak Japanese and live in Japan. I realize that if I want to experience Japan, I MUST double efforts. There’s a real difference between communicating your thoughts and having functional conversational skills. As I begin to slowly learn more about the culture of Japan, the more I am falling in love with Japan. I don’t know people, I might stay another year or two.


I love the dramatic contrasts of Japan. There’s modern buildings everywhere and a 1000 year old temple sandwiched between the two buildings, there’s women wearing 90000 dollar kimonos next to men wearing 90000 Versace suits, I have been to Shibuya about a million times since I got here and I will never be able to do the same thing twice!, I ride the train with people who make more money in one month than people make in a year, some of my students hold high levels in mega conglomerates and I am making money using a skill that I have been using ever since I was born.


There’s so much culture and history in Japan. That is what is missing in the States. Honestly, I will have NYC in my heart but I was getting bored with NYC. I know I’ve only been in Kanto for little over two months but everyday, I see and learn something new. Honestly, I have been learning more these past 2 months than my whole life in NYC. I thank God for giving me this opportunity and shining his grace on me. I honestly want to cry because I’ve never been so happy. I should have done this a long time ago.


There are some interesting things about Japanese people that I am beginning to realize. Everyone has been telling me that the Japanese are stiff and boring but when you get them to drink, they have passion inside them but Japanese society is very critical and judgemental, you might be saying to yourself, wtf?!! but you need to realize the Japanese society was formed over hundreds and hundreds of yeart. You need to understand the history of Japan to understand the Japanese.


One last note: as I mentioned before I will double my efforts to learn Japanese, I don’t want a functional knowledge of the language I will work my ass off to express my thoughts. I have good motivation! hehe, I wonder what that is?!! hahaha.


I.Love.Japan

Want some pictures/video of something interesting you heard about it Japan? My brother, Darren asked me to take some photos/video of the internet cafes in Japan so I’m going to make a post on it. If you have any ideas of anything worth while, post and it might get done? Maid cafes? Huge sumos on bicycles? That indian guy that swims and bathes in beer? Post… Post… Post, I said!!!! laterz

Went to a Hanami Party way back when and forgot to upload these awesome pictures of a real Kountry playground. It may look shabby but these people made a playground for their kids with what they had. It’s the resourcefulness that I admire. In some countries, kids are happy with a rolled up rag as a ball and an open dirt field to play football aka soccer for your herbs. All I have to say is that as long as I have a belly full of food, a warm and safe place to sleep, tasty drink wetting my lips and good friends, I am happy.


Kids Shanty Playhouse





Kommunity Kitchen





Kids Shanty Park view 2

Aries live life head first; after all, those horns on your head are not just for fighting. Your headstrong nature can make you a “battering ram” and woe is the person who stands in your way.

Aries are noted for courage and leadership qualities, primarily because you are nearly always ready for action. The need for excitement pushes you into new territory — and as long as you are ahead of others while demonstrating confidence, chances are that they will follow you. As self-ordained leader of the pack, Aries fight for what you believe to be important. But it’s not that Aries are fearless. Your courage is more of a commitment to face your fears and overcome them.

Aries motto is “Ready, fire, aim!” It may be backwards for others, but you’d rather figure out what to do while you are doing it. Impulsive actions, however, can bring you your share of trouble. While others are gathering information to make informed decisions, you are already on your way. As such, you could suffer from false starts. In fact, you Aries are so good at starting things that you can be off onto your next project before completing the previous one. As you Aries mature, you learn to slow down your reaction time in order to think about the consequences of your actions.

Element: Fire
Fire signs are naturally warm. A fire gives light and heat, but it doesn’t get depleted as others feed on its warmth. One candle can bring light to a room and it won’t burn any faster if ten people read from its light than if there was only one. Fire doesn’t plan it next move; it isn’t logical. It simply is in the moment and will burn what fuel is available without judgment or forethought. For this reason fire signs can successfully rely on their intuition and survival instincts.

The fire of Aries is spontaneous and hot. It’s like a pile of dry kindling that burns fast but cannot sustain itself for the long haul.

First House: Self
The First House symbolizes our physical body and our personality — how we appear to the outer world. It’s not necessarily who we are; it’s what we bring to a situation and how others see us. It represents our childhood, the beginning of any activity or even the start of a new relationship. It’s not, however, about the other person; it’s about how others see us. No doubt, everything starts with the First House.

Key Planet: Mars
Mars is called the “Angry Red Planet.” In Greek mythology, Mars was the God of War. But Mars isn’t only about fighting; it’s about going somewhere, going anywhere. If someone is in our path, then, perhaps we must fight with them in order to keep going. Mars is like the gas pedal of our bodies. It’s represents how we move forward in life. In any chart, Mars offers clues as to how we express our basic energy. As the key planet of Aries, it reminds us to “just do it.”

Aries Greatest Strength:
Your courage to overcome fear

Aries Possible Weakness:
Not finishing things you start

what can I say about aGeha? A big effing club with three rooms: hiphop, trance/house and pool deck with reggae. All i have to say is aGeha is pure hedonism. Japanese high out of their minds off ‘E’ sluts everywhere, it was cool at first but then as the night progressed it was disgusting. As the hot women were being taken home, the later you stay the club pimps and their hoez, pray on the horny losers who are left high off E. It was facinating to watch as the dude is obviously high as fuck, feeling his clothes and chewing like a mutha effer and the buzzards approach. One dude and two skanky hoes. Effing gross, but one things is for sure, you have to be careful because the regular slutty girls and hoez are strikingly similar except for the paying part. since aGeha is a big club, you have the usual posers and chicks who think they are hot shit so it’s pretty much the same scene as in nyc but the japanese do it different. here’s how:

there’s an effing food court! but the food court serves multiple purposes like meat market, drug deals and prostitiution. also the japanese girls are really submissive, yes the rules are the same everywhere, you have money or the goods then you are golden but i noticed that also if you have massive balls and just grab them, they will go with you. i think its because they are wacked out of their minds off E. but no trip to Tokyo is complete without a trip to aGeha.

One thing freaking amazing about that night was that this Indian dude was so wacked out of his mind, either high or drunk, he was pouring everyone’s beer over his head and taking a beer bath in the middle of the dance floor and this fucker was so drunk, he slipped and ended up on the floor and started doing back strokes in the puddle of beer he was lying in. effing unbelieveable, entertaining but sad. I video’d his ass but the light was too dark and when the fucker saw me videoing his ass, he tried to hug me with his beer soaked body. effing gross. Oh another thing, there is a BIG difference between Kanto and Kansai people. Wow, it wasn’t until after i came back from Kansai that the disparity was revealed. Holy shit, I’m working in the wrong place! i.love.japan