News in Japan
I'm sitting in the Odawara Station waiting room, waiting to meet up with my friend Ikuko. I arrived earlier than expected, and I don't have a reliable way to let her know, so I'll just wait for the earlier planned meeting time.
It's fascinating to watch the world through an entirely different perspective. What does the Japanese news program find important?
Well, last night I saw some kind of report about the バンガバンガ parties of a certain crazy former Italian PM. Today, they started with what looked like the results of the Spanish election. Then, a story about the stock market, then, something that looked like earthquake recovery. Next, there was a story about a tree, I think. It was a single tree, reaaaaallly tall, with branches and leaves only at the very top. There was a crane involved, I think they were trying to stabilize it, or something.
Then, of course, came the big news. The Softbank baseball team (I'm actually really confused on that point) beat the Chunichi Dragons to win the championship. They've been playing the Japanese World Series (or whatever it is called) for a few days. I guess the final game was last night. The celebration of the players put a smile on quite a few faces here in the waiting room.
Anyway…Maybe it is that I don't know what's actually going on, but it is fun to speculate. Maybe it's something else. In any case, I'm enjoying myself.
This is probably my last trip to Japan for a collaboration meeting. I've been trying very hard to keep it casual, but there have been a couple moments where I've gotten sentimental. Things like, my first, and last, meal ever in Osawano were both at the conveyer belt sushi place there. Whenever anyone asked me when they'd next see me, I let them know I probably wouldn't be at the next collaboration meeting, but that I figured we'd meet again somewhere, since high energy physics is a really small world. Honestly, I figure I'll see some of them again, but not others. That's just how it works. But, in any case, there's no need for any regrets. It has all been good.
I didn't have any talks this meeting. I think I contributed slightly by asking questions in the pre-meeting, taking a couple of shifts at the detector (which may have actually pushed me over the limit where I don't need to come back here for
any more), and discussing a couple plans with a couple people. Nothing so major. I'm glad I came, though, because it has been really nice seeing people.
I remember, when I started here, feeling like the young guy, the outsider (although very welcomed), watching everyone else being happy with their good SK friends. Now that I've gone to, probably, my last meeting, I realize I've become that guy. For the first time, I went to an after collaboration meeting party at which I never got bored. I enjoyed chatting and drinking with everyone for hours. Now, I'm glad I didn't go to the secret (not secret) Canadian afterparty that went until 6 AM, but that's largely because I was tired. I really found a group of people here that I enjoy hanging out with. I'm now the one introducing new members to my friends. I've come full circle, and it's a good feeling.
I arranged the travel from the dorm to the party and back a couple nights ago (it didn't go smoothly, but it went, so that's what's important), and then for a trip to Kanazawa yesterday. I had been there before, but I saw some new things, and really enjoyed myself. Moreover, everyone who came had a good time. This was an extremely good thing. It was intermittently rainy that day, I had difficulty getting people to agree on where to go, getting the travel plans worked out, and getting a certain grad student out of bed to come. But it all worked, and everyone was happy. They were commenting on how they should try to make a trip like this after every meeting. I guess I did a good job. Also, the company that day was excellent, and the Ninja temple in Kanazawa is pretty awesome. Especially the parts where they kill you. We somehow mostly avoided the rain, and, while my knees hurt and I was tired, I felt very satisfied by that day.
I took an overnight bus from Toyama to Ueno (except I got off at Tokyo, which is fine, that's why I'm at my destination early), and my adventure continues! Time for me to go, meet up with Ikuko, and find out what Hakone is like!
It's fascinating to watch the world through an entirely different perspective. What does the Japanese news program find important?
Well, last night I saw some kind of report about the バンガバンガ parties of a certain crazy former Italian PM. Today, they started with what looked like the results of the Spanish election. Then, a story about the stock market, then, something that looked like earthquake recovery. Next, there was a story about a tree, I think. It was a single tree, reaaaaallly tall, with branches and leaves only at the very top. There was a crane involved, I think they were trying to stabilize it, or something.
Then, of course, came the big news. The Softbank baseball team (I'm actually really confused on that point) beat the Chunichi Dragons to win the championship. They've been playing the Japanese World Series (or whatever it is called) for a few days. I guess the final game was last night. The celebration of the players put a smile on quite a few faces here in the waiting room.
Anyway…Maybe it is that I don't know what's actually going on, but it is fun to speculate. Maybe it's something else. In any case, I'm enjoying myself.
This is probably my last trip to Japan for a collaboration meeting. I've been trying very hard to keep it casual, but there have been a couple moments where I've gotten sentimental. Things like, my first, and last, meal ever in Osawano were both at the conveyer belt sushi place there. Whenever anyone asked me when they'd next see me, I let them know I probably wouldn't be at the next collaboration meeting, but that I figured we'd meet again somewhere, since high energy physics is a really small world. Honestly, I figure I'll see some of them again, but not others. That's just how it works. But, in any case, there's no need for any regrets. It has all been good.
I didn't have any talks this meeting. I think I contributed slightly by asking questions in the pre-meeting, taking a couple of shifts at the detector (which may have actually pushed me over the limit where I don't need to come back here for
any more), and discussing a couple plans with a couple people. Nothing so major. I'm glad I came, though, because it has been really nice seeing people.
I remember, when I started here, feeling like the young guy, the outsider (although very welcomed), watching everyone else being happy with their good SK friends. Now that I've gone to, probably, my last meeting, I realize I've become that guy. For the first time, I went to an after collaboration meeting party at which I never got bored. I enjoyed chatting and drinking with everyone for hours. Now, I'm glad I didn't go to the secret (not secret) Canadian afterparty that went until 6 AM, but that's largely because I was tired. I really found a group of people here that I enjoy hanging out with. I'm now the one introducing new members to my friends. I've come full circle, and it's a good feeling.
I arranged the travel from the dorm to the party and back a couple nights ago (it didn't go smoothly, but it went, so that's what's important), and then for a trip to Kanazawa yesterday. I had been there before, but I saw some new things, and really enjoyed myself. Moreover, everyone who came had a good time. This was an extremely good thing. It was intermittently rainy that day, I had difficulty getting people to agree on where to go, getting the travel plans worked out, and getting a certain grad student out of bed to come. But it all worked, and everyone was happy. They were commenting on how they should try to make a trip like this after every meeting. I guess I did a good job. Also, the company that day was excellent, and the Ninja temple in Kanazawa is pretty awesome. Especially the parts where they kill you. We somehow mostly avoided the rain, and, while my knees hurt and I was tired, I felt very satisfied by that day.
I took an overnight bus from Toyama to Ueno (except I got off at Tokyo, which is fine, that's why I'm at my destination early), and my adventure continues! Time for me to go, meet up with Ikuko, and find out what Hakone is like!