I realized something today as I was putting siding on a house in the 94 degree heat, covered in concrete dust with sweat running down my brow and into my eyes. I realized that I like manual labor. Although you would never think so if you looked at me hunched over my computer or sitting at my desk with my nose in a book, there is nothing more satisfying (and exhausting) than spending the day under the sun laboring to make something. This is the third day I've been doing this and I love being able to look at the house and say, "I did that with my own two hands (and the leadership and know-how of my father)."
That was definitely one thing that I missed in Japan and hope to do a little bit of while I'm in Chicago. Maybe I could get involved with Habitat for Humanity or some urban renewal project. If you can think of something or know the name of a good program, leave me a comment and I'll look into it.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Sunday, August 16, 2009
The Naked Red Snapper is lost in the internets
So being stuck in Bowling Green away from the people I talked to in Japan, I have become addicted to living vicariously through people I have no contact with anymore. Facebook, you are the source of my problems. Instead of reading up on my Japanese history and studying for school, I sit in front of your useless information-filled screen. Sometimes I message people and sometimes I feel that I should. But most of all, I feel that I am in information overload and lost in the internets.
You can call me a Luddite all you want, but I miss talking to people. I miss being able to call people up and ask, "Hey, how are you doing?" without getting the vocal version of what you see at the bottom of every article written on the internet today; "If you want to find out more about me, check out my facebook page or blog at naninani.blogspot.com. Or you can follow me on twitter. Or if you feel that you must communicate with me instead of passively observing me life, you can text me impersonally at 555-5555. C U thr!"
All I ask is that the next time you would text someone, call them up and say, "What's up?" I know your vocal cords may need time to adjust, but it will give your thumbs a nice little break for them to think about what they could be doing instead of punching that tiny keyboard; perhaps they might enjoy some good old fashioned twiddling.
You can call me a Luddite all you want, but I miss talking to people. I miss being able to call people up and ask, "Hey, how are you doing?" without getting the vocal version of what you see at the bottom of every article written on the internet today; "If you want to find out more about me, check out my facebook page or blog at naninani.blogspot.com. Or you can follow me on twitter. Or if you feel that you must communicate with me instead of passively observing me life, you can text me impersonally at 555-5555. C U thr!"
All I ask is that the next time you would text someone, call them up and say, "What's up?" I know your vocal cords may need time to adjust, but it will give your thumbs a nice little break for them to think about what they could be doing instead of punching that tiny keyboard; perhaps they might enjoy some good old fashioned twiddling.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
The Naked Red Snapper Starts a Blog
I am the naked red snapper and this is my blog.
If you are wondering why this blog is called the naked red snapper, you are probably not the first. I'll give it to you simple. My name (Tyler) when rendered into Japanese becomes TAIRA. When those sounds (TAI and RA) are put into Japanese characters, they can be written in a plethora of ways. The most interesting of which is "red snapper" and "naked." Thus I am the naked red snapper.
I've just gotten back from Japan after teaching English there for the past two years. While there, I did a lot of great traveling, ate a lot of delicious and interesting food (Sea cucumber, anyone?), and met amazing people (one of whom is my soon to be wife). I've come back to the US to turn everything I am on its head. I am moving from a small village of about 1000 people in Japan to the capital of the Midwest, Chicago. When I left for Japan two years ago, I did so to become a teacher; I now return to become a student. Where once I was a bachelor, on September 5th, I will become a husband. Everything is getting flipped around. And you know what? I have never been more scared and excited. This will be my new life. I can't wait!
If you've ever felt like things are changing too quick and needed to see someone who is in the same boat, look no further. The naked red snapper is here. Who knows what he'll reveal next?
If you are wondering why this blog is called the naked red snapper, you are probably not the first. I'll give it to you simple. My name (Tyler) when rendered into Japanese becomes TAIRA. When those sounds (TAI and RA) are put into Japanese characters, they can be written in a plethora of ways. The most interesting of which is "red snapper" and "naked." Thus I am the naked red snapper.
I've just gotten back from Japan after teaching English there for the past two years. While there, I did a lot of great traveling, ate a lot of delicious and interesting food (Sea cucumber, anyone?), and met amazing people (one of whom is my soon to be wife). I've come back to the US to turn everything I am on its head. I am moving from a small village of about 1000 people in Japan to the capital of the Midwest, Chicago. When I left for Japan two years ago, I did so to become a teacher; I now return to become a student. Where once I was a bachelor, on September 5th, I will become a husband. Everything is getting flipped around. And you know what? I have never been more scared and excited. This will be my new life. I can't wait!
If you've ever felt like things are changing too quick and needed to see someone who is in the same boat, look no further. The naked red snapper is here. Who knows what he'll reveal next?
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