Hajimemashite. Nick desu. Watashi wa Nihon-jin dewa arimasen.*

Yeah you like that title don't you. And after just one class I can say all that and more!! I decided to start taking college classes here on the base, and one of the few that weren't cancelled this semester was Elementary Japanese. So I figured I could use an interesting class to get myself back in the ways of school, that and my "Japanese for Dummies" book wasn't helping out much, whatever that means. We only meet twice a week for 2 and a half hours over the next 2 months, so it is not a rigorous schedule. Having the teacher be very understandable and interesting and my drive to communicate with the people for whom I am now surrounded by, I think this class will be alot of fun and very helpful. At least I'll be able to talk to the waiters at the Japanese Steak Houses back in the states. Oh and while I'm on the topic of school, A big Omedeto Gozaimas (Congratulations) to my brothers Joshua and Abraham who graduated College and High School respectively this past week.

* How do you do. I'm Nick. I am not a Japanese.

Kuju Mountains

The Kuju mountains rise from the Senomoto Plateau to form the highest peaks on the island of Kyushu. Mt. Kuju is an extinct volcano but there are some active area of steaming fumaroles on the slopes of the mountain. There were many peaks but we just climbed Mt. Mimata, the picture here was on top of it. This hike was a bit more challenging as most of it was over big rocks and steep hills. once we finished the hike we spent some good time in a natural hot spring and the hot water really felt good after the climb. After eating at a nice restaurant we returned home. I was supposed to run in a 5k race this morning, but I dont think my legs and back are ready for it. I'll just run the next one....

A view from Mt. Kuju

Archaeology

Here's something interesting for you history buffs; Tuesday the base got shot down by security for a bomb threat. It turns out there was some construction occuring on one of the fingers of the Tategami peninsula on base and a bunker was unearthed with some explosive devices dating back to WWII. Apparently there are alot of these bombs that get discovered when the surrounding waters are drug, but none have been found in the ground. Turns out they were no threat but I was still fascinated that there are still artifacts around from that era.

Bittersweet

I guess all the time I spend at the gym is starting to payoff. The first pitch I got tonight finally got sent over the centerfield fence for my first ever homerun. Two innings later I sent the first pitch I got over the left field fence for homerun number two. With all the steroid scandals in the Major League, my quit witted teamates all demanded a urine test after the game and were astonished with the sudden boost of power. However the joy was short lived as we blew another big lead and lost by one.

Disapointment continues

Our softball season seems to be spiraling out of control. We had a double header tonight coming off a week and a half of off time and playing two good teams. No one could hit the in the first game and the second game we gave up a 12-3 lead to lose by 3. Thankfully this season will end soon and we can start the summer season off on a fresh start. Here's hoping.

View from the plate

Paintball

This morning there was a scheduled power outage that lasted from early morning until about three in the afternoon. The same organization that sponsors the hikes/kayaking trips also does paintball Sunday afternoons. One of the guys that works there is also on my softball team and asked if I wanted to come out. Since pretty much the whole base was shut down I accepted his invitation. Because there's not a whole big area around here that we can play in, the OREC uses the out field of the softball diamonds and places several bunkers to maneuver around. About half way through our day a reporter from the local military TV station AFN (American Forces Network, which broadcasts shows from the US over her so we can watch them) comes over and asks if they can shoot our game for a report he was doing. With strict gidelines about wearing protective clothing and masks he wasn't allowed close, but that was the shot he needed, so we just emptied our guns and shot air at each other while he filmed us going through the motions. It was like he was directing a movie out there with all the stuff he wanted us to do. I never thought acting would be so hard. I expended more energy running around the camera than I did in an actual game. Once he got all that he needed we continued playing until the paint supply was vanquished. I only have a few welts on my chest and arms but they should vanish within a few days. Nothing like expelling some stress with paintball guns on a hot Sunday afternoon. Side note: I watched the clip from the news and it only had about 15 total seconds of us actually playing. Time well spent I guess.

Nagasaki Prefecture Forest

Today was a great day for a hike. Not too hot and a nice breeze constantly blowing. The Nagasaki Prefecture Forest is located on a peninsula between Omura Bay and the ocean. The trail we walked followed a very picturesque river with small waterfalls like the one in the picture at every bend. I could of easily stayed on this trail for hours just watching the water. There wasn't much wildlife because this particular forest is harvested and replanted so the trees are almost evenly spaced apart and not alot of undergrowth.More Pictures Can be found here and on my website.

Standing Before A Small Waterfall In The Nagasaki Prefecture Forest.

Moving Day

Friday the 13th: Moving Day. My shipment of all my stuff finally gets here to Sasebo. For those of you not familiar with how the military works it's As Slow As Possible. So receiving all my housewares almost two months after I get here is considered normal. I knew I didnt have much stuff but I didn't realize how little until it all actually fit in this room. On moving day its like Christmas because I forgot what I packed and every box I opened was a moderate surprise. You can see below that it wouldn't take much to fill it up. That's my room and I share a bathroom and kitchen area with another guy.

My room with all my stuff

View from atop of Oshima Island.

Cherry Blossoms.

City of Sasebo

Unpropitious

As most of you know I am a huge sports enthusiast. For three years I watched the last place Washington Wizards lose consistently as well as the Baltimore Orioles. It wsn't much fun unless they were playing the Lakers or the Yankees. But now, no more than three months after my departure from the capital district, the Wizards are now in the second round of the playoffs, the Orioles are in first place in their division with their best start in I dont know how long, and now the District gets their baseball team back, the Washington Nationals (formerly the Montreal Expos), and their not doing so bad either. I only hope the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks (the closest major league team to Sasebo) can bring as much fun and success as the home teams I left back in DC!! Go Hawks!

Softball (9MAY05)

Game one: Branch Medical Bonecrushers vs. Japanese Fire Dept FireDreams

When I first got to Sasebo I called around to see if any softball teams had slots to fill because the season started in two days. I get a call about two hours after the email goes out and get invited to play with the medical team, all the doctors and corpsmen and some other stragglers like myself. A brief catchup we started the season horribly but in the past couple of weeks we have pulled out ahead and over .500. Tonight was going to be rough, we had watched the Firedreams dismantle alot of other teams with their sound fundamentals and speed, and tonight was no different. We managed to hold them to four runs in the first but we only retaliated with one. The next inning we held them to two, so I thought we'd be in it, but then got no run support in the bottom. And then I guess they stopped playing around with us because they scored 12 runs in the third and in this league, 12 runs in one of the first three innings is a mercy rule, so we got to bat again....and again we didnt have but one run and the game was called due to a brutal shlacking 18-2. What I like about this team is we're always cracking jokes on each other and how everyone plays. During this game we kind of lost all that humor having it been the first time we've been run ruled in the third since our second game.

Game two Branch Medical Bonecrushers vs. DOD Educators

This was the Educators debut game so we did not know what to expect. We staretd out well scoring 5 in thie first. I got my second inside the park homerun of the season. (actually it was a triple with an error but I have to make myself feel good). The teachers came back in the bottom and put up 4. The second, third, and fourth was quiet with neither team scoring many runs. The fifth we picked up our hitting and scored about 10 runs. I got caught in a pretty pickle trying to make a double into a triple on the way to third base. What seemed like an eternity running between the two bags was only four throws and then the ball sailed over the second basemans head and I cruised into home. It was another good win. So we evened out the night and got our record to 9-7. At least it's better than the KC Royals....

Introduction

Greetings from Japan! I created this page for all of you that are begging me to send pictures of my new residence and that are enjoying the letters that are getting sent out bi-weekly. It's also going to be a great way for me to look back and see all that I've done and experienced in the next three years. I will soon be posting pictures, stories and thoughts about my new location in the Pacific Ocean. It's kind of like an online journal/diary and you all have the key. Feel free to write and comment on what you see in the upcoming months. And a special thanks to SGT Natalie Condos for letting me know about this page to have a scource for me to post pictures of Japan. Enjoy!!