Some reflections
I’ve not written for some time, primarily because I’ve been distracted by two very very exhilarating computer games, as well as some existential issues. But I guess I need to record down some events of the days past, events that I would want to remember.
Last Thursday, meaning more than one week ago, I did two pretty groundbreaking things (as a personal record). For like the first time I can remember I went out of school for lunch before returning later for activities (went to Pepper Lunch in Ang Mo Kio with Changxing, THEN went down to Kino, and THEN back to school for a Club Alchemy session). After Club Alchemy it was a rush down to Cuppage Plaza where I was supposed to be for a dinner at a ryoutei of sorts (料亭). The president of Honjo Chemical was buying the the three Japan Quiz winners dinner, and the Japanese Cultural Society president was also there with a couple of folks from Naoshima (直島), where we would be staying for a few days in May this year. Also along was a Mr. Thio (the father of one of the girls who was in the same Cambridge event, though she was doing biology), who is an old friend of Mr. Honjo. It was a pretty good dinner (though some of the food items they ordered were positively disgusting - I still have much to learn with respect to authentic Japanese food), and I had just a little too much to drink, but it was a good experience. I remember arguing with Mr. Honjo over the construction industry in Japan (its dominance, wastage and corruption), as well as the general economy of Japan. I guess I overdid it because after a while he just gave up rebutting and just stated that I needed to talk to and listen to people more to find out more about the world. Apparently doing so would smooth out my edges and make me understand that textbook material doesn’t apply very well to the real world. I buy that - I am inexperienced, to be sure - but somehow or other wasting taxpayer money to do useless construction work just to keep people from being unemployed is to me nothing more than inefficient government-mandated charity. I’ll try to keep my mind and ears open - but there’s something of a capitalist zealot in me that can never go away.
Mr. Gan (the JCS president) also outlined several important points regarding our trip. First and foremost, it seems like it’s really going to be a big thing. He mentioned that we have to go down to see the Japanese ambassador in Singapore before our trip (just to say hello, apparently), and he also informed us that we would almost certainly be meeting a minister on our first full day in Japan (the day right after landing), and it would either be the foreign affairs, economy and industry or the prime minister. Of course, assuming that they are free, and there isn’t an election. Apparently there will also be an interview with the Toyo Keizai Shimbun (東洋経済新聞). After we get to Naoshima there’ll also be a need for us to do a presentation on Singapore to the local councilpeople (only one of us has to do it - but if it is in Japanese chances are it’s either me or the lady who works at Shimizu Construction [清水建設]). Two, we get to choose what we want to do, to some extent. I mooted the idea of visiting the secondary school at Naoshima, an idea that both female prize winners also agreed to. So I guess there’s going to be another speech of sorts. I also mentioned that I have motion sickness, so we’ll be doing our fishing on the pier (I felt a little bad about this, but Mr. Honjo helped me out by adding in that taking a boat out takes time, and fishing from an aquaculture farm is a lot easier and more satisfying for beginners). Three, Mr. Gan has also obtained a provisional approval from the airlines (JAL and ANA are sponsoring two tickets each) for a postponement of the return date, but that it most likely has to be before June (meaning latest May 31). Given that we’ll probably be leaving on the 18th it doesn’t leave us with very much time, but it can’t be helped. In any case if the confirmation arrives I guess I’ll be visiting the Otsukas in Saitama 埼玉 (in Ageo City 上尾市), and perhaps Chikako-sensei herself (more on this later).
Mr. Thio also showed us pictures and a video of Naoshima, and it does seem pretty good. I guess it’s worth looking forward to. Mr. Leong (one of the vice-principals of RJC) also gave me approval to take time off school to participate in the trip, but that I would need to submit a letter to the principal as a matter of formality. That’s not an issue, and I’m already letting my teachers know that I’d be skipping the second common test this year as a direct consequence of my exams and the trip right after that. Mr. Thio also showed me a picture of Si Min (actually of her poised to cut her birthday cake) - and I have to admit that she looks better in the picture than she did in person (at least at Cambridge). Or maybe it’s just the occasion. I get the feeling that Mr. Thio’s a pretty dutiful father (and quite adept with technology and perhaps Japanese as well, but that’s not exactly too relevant). And he’s coming along! That’s a comfort, since having an English-speaking Singaporean as a guide is reassuring (since my Japanese is still pretty shabby).
Moving on.
As I’ve already mentioned earlier, my mentor Chikako-sensei will be leaving for home (meaning Nippon) soon, most likely next month. It seems that her husband’s been transfered back home. She’s reluctant to go back (for some reason she really likes life here), but I do sincerely hope she re-adapts to life back there quickly and finds joy in life again. I guess I’ll be missing her pretty badly, but for now I’m already over the shock.
On another note, over the past week or so I’ve been busy playing Civilization IV (and a little of Beyond the Sword, which is one of the expansion packs), as well as this fantastic game called Scarlett. I really can’t praise or exalt Scarlett enough - it’s definitely one of the bestest games I’ve ever had the pleasure of playing. Its story is unparalleled in its scope, and the portrayal of the critical themes in the story - family and ‘ordinary life’ - is done to perfection. It was incredibly emotionally draining to play it (even more so when drunk, which I was), but after I played it I guess something has changed in me. Perhaps it’s a change that won’t bear fruit, but perhaps it might. But in any case, I won’t ever forget about the game. I’ll also try to get my hands on it when I visit Japan this year.
By the way I’m actually at Heidi’s (a classmate of mine - and an ice-skating enthusiast), so I’m busy stuffing myself with all sorts of fattening stuff, as well as getting owned (and owning) poor Changxing with our both horrendous tennis skills.
Looks like it’ll be an interesting day. I only wonder if Ayako-sama is well.