Japan １１０８０８

Ｉｔ：ｓ　ｂｅｅｎ　ｓｏｍｅｔｉｍｅ.. since i:ve logged　on the internet.. too busy with the programs here in tokoname, japan. today was the last day to pack all works into the wood kiln. had been having drinks every night without fail… having too much fun… watching pretty girls in Japan…especially at the Utsumi beach yesterday.. it was a damn long ride from my host-family`s place… about an hour ride on my bicycle… but it was worth it　man… well i apologise for not entering any posts as i:ve limited access and limited time to actually rest. and i cannot upload any pics yet.. so i`ll do that when i get back to Singapore this september 15 (tentatively) … fuck i dunno which button i press and now every word is italic… and i can`t switch it back….

tomorrow will be the actual firing and we`ll have a small party with all members of the program and maybe the neighbours of the kiln…wooo

more coming up..i hope…

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Alright…. see u guys in 2 months time…

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A visit back to School of the Arts (SOTA)… to visit the students, lecturers, security guards there…

Amused by my helmet...

another noisy bunch.. but fun to be with

trying to imitate the pose

very lucky to visit SOTA today… got a chance to see Rueben’s Tube demonstration… nice.. very interesting… you can go to this youtube site and find out what the hell it’s about.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dp5wetCNUP8

John lighting up the tube

when sound waves are introduced

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“In our search of individuality… we became all the same…”

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Finally, i can wake up late.. no more squeezing in between cars in the morning…still i’ve got to work.. assisting a friend with her works… hahaahah rest??
Alright.. went to collect another pay check from another company.. which i have forgotten for quite sometime.. so more money to be thrown into this art + backpack trip. So since it’s at Takashimaya… i bought my Japan Railway Pass (Nationwide) at JTB travels for $751.00. there it goes.. but it’s worth it man. After which.. bought more things for the trip… gifts for the host family.. zip-lock bags (i love the army)..etc.

Alright after dinner.. got together all my pics and put together a presentation slides… damn it they only allow 10 minutes to talk cock… and not more than 20 slides.. mine’s 22 and not enough man.. hahaha so well deleted quite a few of the pics.

it was suppose to be part of the presentation

Something like this definitely got to go… hahahahaha.. so students that i’ve taught or met.. u might be part of the presentation.. more of the kids from pottery village & SOTA than Temasek Poly (don’t worry ah)..

Checked my mail and the boss over there told me they’re picking me up at the station and i’ll stay with my host family the day before the actual opening ceremoney… instead of my one day “wonder&getlost” program.. *poof*.. hmm.. at least i can save a day of about $60 ++ from hotel.. meals taken care of too… NICE!!

More packing to be done… still working tomorrow.. after that i think i can concentrate on packing my bag and do a rough planning of trip.

o ya… found this pics on google when i needed pics for presentation… when pics of myself working is so fucking hard to find..

Dragon kiln tour

Throwing Demonstration

Oyasuminasai

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Early in the morning… got a call fr Japan.. “Hello.. This is Ichihara Masaru, can i speak to Tok Yu Xiang….” i was quite shocked that i actually woke up. I haven’t reply a mail about when i’ll arrive in Tokoname.  it was quite embarrassing.. shit man (busy until i forget.. even my organiser is useless, well i don’t usually refer to it)..

I’ll be leaving on Thursday 17th night..offically 0100hrs of 18th July, and arrive in the morning of 18th July.. about 7 and 1/2 hrs flight.

On this fuzzy sunday.. late night after wandering ard with my bike, woken up by unexpected call.. and a fuzzy memory of what i need to buy. Referred to the sketch book… 1. digital camera, 2. Japan railway pass, 3. Clean and proper tees, shorts, boxers (many got holes already.. hahahah) and so on..

So off to collect pay 1st from my boss… wow..and off to Sim lim to get a digital camera. Tried my luck to see if a school mate’s working today.. and lucky me.. she’s there… very friendly and helpful.. got a camera in an instant (i hate shopping).. also nice to just able to chat a little… and also remind me of the past.. and a connection to other events that happened. hahahahaha couldn’t remember if we ever talk to each other in school.. i guess not… too engross with soccer and getting punished in Eng class.

After which, off to get some decent clothes.. also in an instant..  white tees and black shorts.. what could go wrong? hahahaha.. dropped by Thomas’ studio to catch up and lunch… his student brought me Japan Lonely planet and another chinese book about Tokyo (good thing for my month long back-packing) NICE lady.. and i’ve forgotten her name… usual of me.

Lots to be done… presentation slides.. emails… maybe a write-out of the dialogue for Furor-Space.. pack my bag.. change more Yen.. woooo

Back at home…knocked out.. lay myself on the floor and that’s it.. lasted not more than an hour.. got to go for a family outing (something of which i have not attended in my last 10 yrs i think)

Home again… tired.. fuzzy.. cannot think straight.. on the floor again…

Kopi with the head-prefect of my sec sch.. HAHAHAHA.. yet another representation of the past another connection.. sharing of experiences of his trip to China’s quake disaster as military relief.. the sight… emotions.. reactions.

Quote of the day

“There’s this something always bigger than what we are seeing or what we’ve seen.. something bigger than what we’re believing or what we believed.”

“Rich? what really is the meaning of being rich? or what is your reason for wanting to be? Rich in?”

Now just as a little documentation of a quote i wanna leave as a reminder for myself before i forget or have a damn hard time to remember. It’s for Furor-Space..

“If a dog can speak, and the dog request for a show of the dog’s works in Furor-Space, we’ll give the dog a show in that space.”

That’s it for tonight..

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The last day of work at Temasek Poly.. damn i didn’t take any pics with that noisy producing industry.. had lunch with the boss and senior.. chatted about encouraging students and directing them towards achieving something, and how important it is to have some sort of bonding with the students too.

Well we teach, we learn too. We’re not super-smart shits or think-only squad.

And if i could i would seriously like to be 17 again… just to make more noise.. and seriously laugh everyday till i can see my 6 pac again.

8 more days to the land of the rising sun… finally a good break from 7 working days per week for about 6 months…

it’s tough when teaching is the bread and butter. It’s seriously not easy to teach and motivate students. Each level is different… each batch is different.. each class is different.. each student is different.. and each method has to be different.. and at the end of the day it can be all the same…. fun & laughter..

I’ve got to finish up my presentation slides for the artist-in-residence program.. to talk to the audience about Singapore, my practice, studios, working environment, students and so on. Well i’ve got 30 slides max to describe.. still working on it.

Then i’m going to buy the Japan Railway Pass for 21 days.. about S$700 ++.. which helps save quite some $$$ for travelling around Japan after my residency program.

Bought the 2-way ticket SQ Flight for $1628 with tax and all the +++

This is the planned route as of today (subjected to change)

Tokoname – Tajime/Seto – Tokyo – Hiroshima – Kyoto – Nagano (maybe) – Nagoya – Singapore (flight)

The railway pass is like our bus pass… u can take the trains or the buses and even ferry provided by that one company and some others for 21 days… mine is just an ordinary pass.. so not entitled to reservation.. or any seats sometimes..u think i care? hahahahaah

Damn…still trying to learn some japanese… hahahahaha..