Odin Joly
I first heard of Odin Joly in an e-mail from Mike and Erin, our predessors. It was just a single sentence, something like: "And living below you is a couple from France, the guy Odin works at Kozukata with you." My first impression was "Dude, I move to Japan and live along side French people! Thats frickin' awesome! Talk about an international experience!" That was the last I thought about it until I arrived.
The first afternoon in Yahaba I was introduced to Odin and Aurely his girlfriend. He offered to give Adam and I a quick tour Yahaba, showing us at least the basics, and he took us to the grocery store and pointed out some good things for us, for at least the first night. I didn't believe he was french. There was no accent. So I asked him where he was from and he said "Oh come on, I know Mike must have mentioned me! I'm from France!" That evening I was tired and stressed and he has a very quirky sense of humor, so that impression didn't turn out so well.
Though in the coming days, hell, the rest of the year, I depended on him. I have a Japanese advisor if I need help, but they're often busy, and they don't live in Yahaba anyway. So I would ask Odin. "Where can I do _____?" "How do you say ______ in Japanese?" "What does ______ mean?" "What is going on?" Whats going on? was probably the most frequently asked question, right under "Are you going to the gym tonight?" He introduced us to Pacific Winds, a gym, and we became members. Its been a great experience, I've gotten more in shape, sometimes talk with the ladies in the shower room or the workers there and it was something to do after work. It was important not to just sit in the apartment watching t.v shows and movies like we did in the beginning.
Odin is just... a really nice guy. I normally shun the word "nice" as so many other adjs do the job more specifically and generally better, but nice genuienly suits him. He will always make time to help you. He has a quirky/corny sense of humor but is quick to laugh, and his smile is HUGE. I've never actually seen someone's eyes sparkle when they smile until him. He is sorta a health freak, not drinking any pop/soda, no alcohol, and rarely any junk food, though he did have a soft spot for good chocolate. He was also big into video games of all types, especially RPGs. He also watched a bit of anime, and in the last couple of months here started to translate for a group from Japanese into French. He wasn't the most social guy, but you had dinner together at least once a month, and did a bit of sight seeing together in September/October, and that was always exciting. I can't even begin to recount all of the jokes and conversations we had on dull afternoons at school. I'd just wander over to his desk and sit at the always perpetually empty desk beside him. Once they moved around desks that became impossible, so he more often came to mine.
Over the next two days I will probably be very annoyed with him, because he left us so much of his stuff to sort out and deal with, but this past week I felt, and still do, that its the least I can do.
One hour ago he left. I went to the station to see him off, and a few other teachers did the same. They talked and laughed together, and I followed the conversation for the most part, but Odin made sure to explain some bits in english and include me in the conversation, as always. Sasuga, Odin. Now that I think on it, さすが (sasuga) was the first word Odin taught me, back at my welcome party. It means something like "excellent, as expected from you" and is a really good compliment.
Its fitting, so I'll say it again: オダン、さすが！ さようなら。
The first afternoon in Yahaba I was introduced to Odin and Aurely his girlfriend. He offered to give Adam and I a quick tour Yahaba, showing us at least the basics, and he took us to the grocery store and pointed out some good things for us, for at least the first night. I didn't believe he was french. There was no accent. So I asked him where he was from and he said "Oh come on, I know Mike must have mentioned me! I'm from France!" That evening I was tired and stressed and he has a very quirky sense of humor, so that impression didn't turn out so well.
Though in the coming days, hell, the rest of the year, I depended on him. I have a Japanese advisor if I need help, but they're often busy, and they don't live in Yahaba anyway. So I would ask Odin. "Where can I do _____?" "How do you say ______ in Japanese?" "What does ______ mean?" "What is going on?" Whats going on? was probably the most frequently asked question, right under "Are you going to the gym tonight?" He introduced us to Pacific Winds, a gym, and we became members. Its been a great experience, I've gotten more in shape, sometimes talk with the ladies in the shower room or the workers there and it was something to do after work. It was important not to just sit in the apartment watching t.v shows and movies like we did in the beginning.
Odin is just... a really nice guy. I normally shun the word "nice" as so many other adjs do the job more specifically and generally better, but nice genuienly suits him. He will always make time to help you. He has a quirky/corny sense of humor but is quick to laugh, and his smile is HUGE. I've never actually seen someone's eyes sparkle when they smile until him. He is sorta a health freak, not drinking any pop/soda, no alcohol, and rarely any junk food, though he did have a soft spot for good chocolate. He was also big into video games of all types, especially RPGs. He also watched a bit of anime, and in the last couple of months here started to translate for a group from Japanese into French. He wasn't the most social guy, but you had dinner together at least once a month, and did a bit of sight seeing together in September/October, and that was always exciting. I can't even begin to recount all of the jokes and conversations we had on dull afternoons at school. I'd just wander over to his desk and sit at the always perpetually empty desk beside him. Once they moved around desks that became impossible, so he more often came to mine.
Over the next two days I will probably be very annoyed with him, because he left us so much of his stuff to sort out and deal with, but this past week I felt, and still do, that its the least I can do.
One hour ago he left. I went to the station to see him off, and a few other teachers did the same. They talked and laughed together, and I followed the conversation for the most part, but Odin made sure to explain some bits in english and include me in the conversation, as always. Sasuga, Odin. Now that I think on it, さすが (sasuga) was the first word Odin taught me, back at my welcome party. It means something like "excellent, as expected from you" and is a really good compliment.
Its fitting, so I'll say it again: オダン、さすが！ さようなら。