Wednesday, July 21, 2004

Greetings and salutations!

Joe VS the Volcano


It was a cataclysmic matchup - one man against 4000 vertical metres of volcanic mountain! The trail was steep and the lava rock sharp; conditions were gruelling. But in the end, though sunburned, broken and battered, I emerged victorious, conquering the rocky beast in a record 5 hr ascent. This was followed by a stunning and suicidal 2 hr descent! Yes folks, it's true, the amazing has been accomplished! I climbed to the summit of Japan's highest mountain yesterday, the volcano just waiting to take me down...that's right...Mount Fuji!

Ok I had to get that out of the way, but in all seriousness, it really was a spectacular accomplishment and a unique opportunity. It is an experience I will remember for the rest of my life. The combination of the physical and mental challenge and the awe inspiring supernatural beauty of the mountainside hike is, without doubt, the most rewarding journey I've had so far in Japan.

The Japanese saying (roughly translated) is "Climb Mt. Fuji once, you're lucky. Climb it twice, you're a fool. Climb it three times, you're insane." I can now see the reasoning behind this proverb. I am used to serious hiking, but it had been a while and I wasn't totally prepared for the huge workout the climb became. I brought the right clothes and gear, along with some water and gatorade...but I admit I felt like giving up a few times. It's a blessing and a curse that I get so bloody competitive with myself sometimes *S* I knew I wasn't going to start down until I couldn't go any higher!

Here follows a brief chronology and my apologies in advance for the lack of detail. Arriving at 9:00 at Base Station 5 (2400 M) after a train, a van, and a bus ride, my friend Chiyumi and I prepared to set out. Early on that morning we were simply two of hundreds of people visiting Fuji on their own terms. In the end, I would be one of only a dozen or so people at the summit. We procurred climbing sticks which we would have stamped (branded actually) at each station on the way up the mountain. There were all kinds of gift shops and the usual capitalist tourist amenities which we quickly bypassed. It made me curious though, of how the mountain was serviced with utilities.

I met an American named Jim, a software developer, at Station 5. He was on vacation from some work he was doing in Korea. We chatted about how the Koreans are just exploding in the software market and other such things. He was really the only other gaijin (foreigner) I talked to aside from Chiyumi of course, and we kept in contact until he stopped climbing at Station 7. It was wonderful to meet so many different people on the mountain, and I felt more at home with the Japanese than I ever had up to that point. Most Japanese that I had run into were polite but standoffish. The people I talked to on the mountain were warm and inviting.

Station 7 (about 3400 M) is where the majority of people stop and head back, though some may stay all night to catch the sunrise, as is quite popular in the June-August climbing season. While I'd like to do this some other time (which would make me a fool apparently), I could be satisfied with nothing short of reaching the summit, even if it killed me...and if my knees had anything to say about it...it seemed that it would *S* The climb actually got a lot more difficult after Station 7. The angle of ascent gets much steeper while the air becomes thinner and the temperature drops. I knew my knees and my ankles were in rough shape, and I had a headache, but I didn't notice the sunburn until I got off the mountain hours later. In any case it didn't worry me too much because, foolishly or no, I was far too focused on getting to the top. Along the way there were some amazing moments, and not just because of the view. It took me a second to realize what I was looking at, but I actually saw one man climb the mountain on his HANDS! No...he wasn't insane, he simply had no legs! I couldn't believe it....but that guy was certainly inspiring. I hope he made it to the top, though I imagine it would have taken him more than a day.

The next couple stations were essentially just chances to catch my breath. There weren't many other climbers at this point. The clouds were surrounding the mountain which was eerie but cool at the same time. Plus I though of it as steam from the volcano *S* Every station looked so much closer than it really was, but I kept pushing on. I finally did reach the top and it was such a humbling, invigorating arrival. I got to look down into the deep crevass of Fuji...and I wish I could have stayed for hours, if even just to heal up...but the last bus was leaving in 4 hours...so after talking with some fellow climbers and having my climbing stick branded one last time, I began the long battle with inertia to the bottom. I think I freaked a few people out because I was jumping from boulder to boulder at times *S* Oh, there was also a quaint buddhist shrine at the peak, as well as a post office...so you can send a letter from the highest point in Japan...neat stuff. Anyway I met back with Chiyumi at Station 8 and continued on home for some much needed rest!

Unfortunately, I am unable to fully share the tale as I would like to, so hopefully the pictures will tell the story better than I. Be sure to click the TRAVEL PICTURES link on the left of your screen. I leave off this compressed chronicle by posting a quick video,
live from the mountain, enjoy....

Another quick note, I'll be travelling to Tokyo this weekend at long last....nearly 8 million people...I can't wait!

With Hope,
Joseph

....a deeper revelation
......for provision, protection, and favor
.........for clarity and the boldness to take steps of faith!

...fictional dreams, fragments of fantasy being distilled in the corners of my mind...dripping and flowing onto paper, the internet, or wherever they wish to go...

...lost, lost in a place where both a kiss and a blade draw blood, i have fallen into a dark embrace, and given up all memory of light, now even my dreams are shadows...

Monday, July 12, 2004

Greetings and salutations!

Quick comment...
I saw Spiderman 2 tonight, quite different from the first film. I thought the best scene was when SM had to stop the runaway train and everyone found out who he was, but they protected him and carried him on their shoulders...yeah that's all I have to say I guess.

I just finished reading Sharon Shinn's The Alleluiah Files. It was a good book from a cool Fantasy/Sci-Fi series I recommend checking out..but the first book in the series is the best. I am currently reading The New Male Sexuality by psychologist Bernie Zilbergeld.

With Hope,
Joe

Saturday, July 10, 2004

Greetings and salutations!

Well I figure it's about time for an actual update! I've been living in Numazu for a week now and things are going well. I haven't visited all my schools yet but at least home feels like home. I am planning a trip to Tokyo in a couple weeks to visit Takako and Keishiro. I am very much looking forward to it. I hope to stay in a capsule hotel just for the experience. In a capsule hotel you basically get a coffin sized space to sleep in...good times *S* That reminds me...they have these cool parking lots here...but they're actually these large towers with rotating lifts that hold parked cars...all to make up for such little available space...its pretty neat to watch the cars load onto the devices...but yeah...moving on...

I have met two other persons of the faith amongst the other teachers. The one I met most recently is a fabulous person whom unfortunately will only be here until December. I have atteneded one service...which was Lutheran and therefore dull and uncomfortable. My search for a house of worship here continues. As a side note, to those persons uncomfortable with teaching the children "bless you," remember that gezuntheiht(sp) is simply German for the same thing! From religion to politics...read about the Liberal minority...sounds like Canada is in for even more fun. Well at least Albertan's can enjoy the Calgary Stampede!

I've been trying to get internet access, which has proven to be an expensive and frustrating affair. Hopefully it will all be done by next week. At least I'll have an IP phone which tickles my fancy...I do hate phones but an IP phone is very convenient for calling Canada (12 cents/minute) and I'm even getting used to my cell phone...a pitty it will be useless if I ever leave. The internet problem is complex in that you have to buy or rent a phone line, then you have to get an account with an ISP as well as with NTT, the national telecom company....ah the good times never end.

Ran into some marines the other day. The Americans were happy to find another English speaker. They're training up at a base near Mt. Fuji (which I should be climbing very soon). Of course, the main American military presence is in Okinawa, where I will be visiting at some point. Speaking of military, it took me a little while to get used to all the swastikas....yeah you read right...swastikas..they're everywhere here. It's actually a religious symbol of peace and appears at any holy site. But still...kinda creepy. Other things of note...the other day I'm commuting as normal when this woman walks onto the train carrying the largest bow (weapon type) I'd ever seen, and a full quiver of arrows...don't know what the story there is but it was cool!

As far as work goes, November retraining has been cancelled which blows because we don't get to meet up with everyone from training and meet all the teachers across the country, but hopefully we'll be compensated with some vacation time. Summer School is also about to start which is nuts because it's a whole new cirriculum with more classes of more students...and we work 8 days straight...sick.

Anyway...now to the real meat of this post...an interesting series of thoughts that I've recently been focused on...pay attention because this gets a little interesting...

Modern psychology/sociology tells us that human behaviour is essentially based on a series of causual determinations, these being Genetic Determinism (we are the combination of our parents' genes), Psychic Determinism (we are the result of what we are taught), and Environmental/Social determinism. The core of these systems is they exist in a Stimulus/Response framework. The general ideas is that, in a given situation, there is an initiating action (stimulus) to which a subject responds - subconsciously for the most part. Of course, even animals operate according to these principles, and evolutionists take comfort in that. What comes into consideration however, is the issue of choice. Aside from issues of power (brought up in the Matrix trilogy for example), choice is the first thing that separates us from animals who operate on instinct. Granted, humans are creatures of instinct as well, and no one honestly knows the way animal behavior is truly governed, but we'll leave those questions aside for now.

A human being is capable of taking an opportunity, in any given situation and for proportionate amounts of time, to CHOOSE how to respond to a given stimulus. Though they may feel a certain instinct, humans can choose how they will respond, choose to supress or embrace the instinctive response. So many stories chronicle how people in tragic situations chose to respond in amazing and contrary ways to redefine their realities. So first there is choice. But there is also rationality...which is closely tied with choice, as emotion is tied to instinct, and the unique ability to exercise exterior self awareness, that is, to be able to look at yourself from outside your body in your mind as well as consider your future and be have the power to shape it. These qualities are key indicators of our humanity and allow us to govern our behavior.

I would argue though, that there is another determinism to consider, that of Spiritual Determinism. I would further argue that if a person has a connection to the God, he or she has access to expanded powers of discernment and comprehension, and thereby has the ability to see alternatives and choices that others may not, that ultimately, the power of God, infused in a person, expands the power of choice that person has. This results in a potentially radically different worldview and offers up new debates and possibilities that I won't bother getting into at this time as it's already midnight and I'm certain this rambling is fragmented at best *S* Nonetheless...something to consider.

With Hope,
Joseph

Monday, July 05, 2004

Greetings and salutations!

Complete Contact Information for Joe Armstrong:

Address:

410-0057
Shizuoka Ken, Numazu Shi
Takazawa cho 4-3
Suruga Urban Village #803
JAPAN

Mobile #:
080-3654-1923 International: 011-81-80-3654-1923 (I think) *International Calling Cards save you $$$
You can call me at any time. It costs me nothing to receive calls/mail.
Mobile Mail:
jarmstrong@c.vodafone.ne.jp