Ahhh Spring, has it really sprung? The birds are chirping, the snow is melting, all indications point to yes. Of course, in this place, spring one day could very well mean a blizzard and hail storm the next. But for now the gentle breezes and the puddles bring a sort of familiarity like a morning shower.
Throughout the HAJET (Hokkaido JETs) list serv, there is talk about a race to Kyoto starting on Golden week. What is Golden week you may ask? Well it is 4 official days off, that come somewhat close to each other (depending on the year). Last year, the days were scattered and it meant that you would go to work Monday, have a holiday Tuesday, go to work on Wednesday, have a holiday Thursday, and then go to work on Friday. This year however, the holiday are April 29th, and May 3rd, 4th, and 5th. Thus, if one was to take days off for the 30th, the 6th, and the 7th, you could have 11 traveling days of mayhem and madness. That is where this race business begins. On the 29th people are planning on meeting in Otaru (a port city where the ferry to Honshu departs), riding the ferry across, then hitch-hiking all the way to Kyoto. The first team there wins the greate and highly esteemed honor of being the first team to arrive. Its a race, but the prize is really in the journey. The only rules are that people have to travel in at least teams of 2, and that one of those 2 people have to have a cellular phone (for safety sake and direction sake). Once in Kyoto, teams meet, party, and then hitch-hike back. In an attempt to get back to their respective Northern towns before the dreaded Monday starts.
Now you would be crazy to miss such an event really. Or crazy to do such an event. But the main point reveals why I love living on this island so much. I am surrounded by people who think up these crazy activities, and I live in a country safe enough and open enough that all these ideas can be put into fruition. YAY JET life. Is there really a better post-graduate job out there?
Life really is about the journey rather than the destination.
Throughout the HAJET (Hokkaido JETs) list serv, there is talk about a race to Kyoto starting on Golden week. What is Golden week you may ask? Well it is 4 official days off, that come somewhat close to each other (depending on the year). Last year, the days were scattered and it meant that you would go to work Monday, have a holiday Tuesday, go to work on Wednesday, have a holiday Thursday, and then go to work on Friday. This year however, the holiday are April 29th, and May 3rd, 4th, and 5th. Thus, if one was to take days off for the 30th, the 6th, and the 7th, you could have 11 traveling days of mayhem and madness. That is where this race business begins. On the 29th people are planning on meeting in Otaru (a port city where the ferry to Honshu departs), riding the ferry across, then hitch-hiking all the way to Kyoto. The first team there wins the greate and highly esteemed honor of being the first team to arrive. Its a race, but the prize is really in the journey. The only rules are that people have to travel in at least teams of 2, and that one of those 2 people have to have a cellular phone (for safety sake and direction sake). Once in Kyoto, teams meet, party, and then hitch-hike back. In an attempt to get back to their respective Northern towns before the dreaded Monday starts.
Now you would be crazy to miss such an event really. Or crazy to do such an event. But the main point reveals why I love living on this island so much. I am surrounded by people who think up these crazy activities, and I live in a country safe enough and open enough that all these ideas can be put into fruition. YAY JET life. Is there really a better post-graduate job out there?
Life really is about the journey rather than the destination.
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