Thread: Back in Asia: Isolated in Japan.

Hello TD`ers,

I have not posted much in a long time, but had a lot of fun here years ago. At some point, I lost the passion to post, and besides checking in to read the news posts now and again, I have not felt like posting much at all in recent years.

I posted a thread in the members room a little while ago, which explained my life situation, but I requested that the thread be deleted the following day after posting.

At the time of posting the thread I had been back in Australia for 3 years, after quiting good jobs in Tokyo, and closing down several airbnb properties that I was operating - which was one of many times that I have thrown away something that I worked very hard for.

Upon returning to Australia I opened a record / collectalbes store in Surfers Paradise, but closed it down not long after opening. It was my first time to live on the gold coast for 25 years, after living in Asia for about 22 years - mostly in Japan, but I lived in Thailand from 2004-2008, which was when I started posting on thai forums. The record shop was a really dumb idea, but I understand now, it was a way I used to distract myself, as I went back to the place in Australia where traumatic events happened when I was a child.

I have lived a very turbulent life where I have uprooted myself to move far away every few years or so, for all of my adult life. It was only after moving back to the Gold Coast, where I spent my childhood, did I begin to understand the reason for my sporatic life.

I had been living in a state of trauma for over 40 years.

Some really fucked up shit happened to me when I was 10 years old.

The way traumatic memories work, is they are blocked away in a part of your brain, where they are not processed - effecting your life in ways that you don`t realize. My shrink told me that most people who live what I lived through end up on heavy drugs, in prison, or dead. So he tells me I am one of the fortunate ones. I don`t feel bladdy fortunate...

Those of you who met me when I was in Thailand know me as a cheerful person, who was always joking - which is how I have been on the surface for most of my life.

After moving back to the gold coast a few years ago, surpressed memories came back from my childhood.

Everything began to make sense. I finally understand why I have lived the life that I have.

I recently had EMDR sessions which are apparently one of the best treatments for childhood trauma.

Once I began to understand things, I have been trying to pick up the pieces.

I went back to my neighborhood in Tokyo (which feels like home) a few months ago, but with limited money, and the timing not so good, I could not get a job or a work visa and returned back to Australia after a month or so.

Upon arriving back to Australia, I began applying for jobs anywhere in Japan. I landed a job teaching in a High School waaay out in the boonies. It is my first time to live in the countryside, and it`s a far cry from from the vibrant part of Tokyo where I have spent many years.

I have a contract until April next year, and plan to return to Tokyo once i have my work visa and have saved a bit of dosh.

I have not seen any other falangs since arriving here. There are no gyms or places to meet people. I have found a karate doujo where i hope to be able to enter. Besides that, there is no central part of town that offers a place to meet people.

So I am hoping TD can help me deal with the isolation. I have not lived in Thailand for quite a few years, but as many teachers in Japan who get paid holidays 3 or 4 months a year, it is on top of the list for places to go when school holidays are on.

Last time I was in Thailand I met Marmite the Dog, and Magpie - two founding members of this forum.

I went to a few TD gatherings when I lived in LOS, and met some good people. It is a mindblowing thought in knowing that was 15 years ago now ...

So here I am, back in Japan - finally living in the `now` after spending 40 years largely in a state of trauma.

I sit at my desk quite a lot right now, and TD is where I am finding myself spending a lot of time.

I am hoping I can have some more good times here ....

PS: Those of you who are blessed with children - nurture them, talk to them, protect them for the few short years you have them in your care. Kids can find it hard to talk about things which may cause them trauma - and if they never get to speak about something that may have happened that was traumatic - lives can be ruined..

Love Wally.

Welcome back Wally.

^ thanks mate! what are you doing these days?

Thanks for the update.

I hope you can work through it and get a fresh start in Japan.

Originally Posted by Wally Dorian Raffles

What are you doing these days?

I was asked years ago by some major international customers to design and manufacture a rectangular container that a paint roller could go fit into and I set about designing one.

Big problem was rectangular containers are far more difficult to produce when compared to cylindrical containers and were historically 35% more heavier so more expensive to produce.

Anyway after 3 years of R&D and trial and error I am confident I am almost there but the effort has fucked up my cash flow big time.

If you don't see the product in the market within the next 12 months you will know I fucked up big time and I will probably be standing on the dole queue in Australia.

Maybe you can get me a job in Japan?

Welcome back, WAlly.

@wally - welcome back! I hope you work out your issues and are in a happier state of mind.

If ever you decide to visit PI (Manila and surrounds) - you can contact me and I can tour you if I have the time or give tips/advice.

TD has been generally good to me, and I've met Terry57, Aging One, BLD in my travels, and Betty oo when he visited Manila. It's always nice to meet a new friend or acquaintance.

Keep cool, keep calm. Chin up!

^^^^ Sounds interesting LT, and I wish you luck in completing your project. Have you invented things in the past?

When I was about 21 some friends and I were launching our speedboats into the water before going waterskiing.

I noticed that just about every car with a trailer attached to it had dent marks on the bumper-bar, caused by the trailer jack-knifing. I said to my mates that inventing a cap that fitted over the tow-ball with arms sticking out on each side, that set off a bell when the arms hit the bumper-bar would allow the driver to stop when the bell rang and prevent dents in the bumper. I said it could be called a `boppa-stoppa` - as it prevented the trailer bopping into the bumper bar

A few weeks later a guy who was there got back to me and asked me if i was going to invent such a device - i said no, I was just thinking out loud.

The guy ended up inventing the prototype and had it patented..

Originally Posted by TheRealKW

Welcome back, WAlly.

Thanks KW.

Still in Indo?

Originally Posted by katie23

@wally - welcome back! I hope you work out your issues and are in a happier state of mind.

If ever you decide to visit PI (Manila and surrounds) - you can contact me and I can tour you if I have the time or give tips/advice.

TD has been generally good to me, and I've met Terry57, Aging One, BLD in my travels, and Betty oo when he visited Manila. It's always nice to meet a new friend or acquaintance.

Keep cool, keep calm. Chin up!

Thank you for the kind offer!

I`ve also met AO a few times, and have met quite a few other posters.

I may be up for a trip to the Phillies at some point as a good friend just moved there ...

I recall your last thread, seems like you have a better handle on the issues now?

Regardless wish you the best with it all.

Originally Posted by AntRobertson

I recall your last thread, seems like you have a better handle on the issues now?

Regardless wish you the best with it all.

Thank you!

Yes, getting a grip. It`s all about acceptance ..

Good luck wally. Quite a sad story hope your back on track now. Thanks for reaching out

Originally Posted by Wally Dorian Raffles

Sounds interesting LT, and I wish you luck in completing your project. Have you invented things in the past?

Thanks mate.

Yes, it is very interesting and frustrating at the same time.

I have already patented the container and this is the second container patent I have been awarded.

The big time consuming issue was the production process about how to make a strong lightweight container.

After trialling the injection moulds with the best available injection technology I found that I was wasting my time and I had to come up with something new to achieve a commercially viable end product.

I am confident I have this now and am preparing another patent to protect the manufacturing process and the device.

The most important thing is never lose faith in your ability and it looks like you have recovered your faith and are getting on with business.

Looks like yer on the up and up Wally.

Rural Japan sounds interesting.

Would be great to see pics/a thread about it, if you get the chance sometime.

Cheers.

It certainly seemed like the best option based on that post a while back.

Time to become a karate master.

Welcome back wally. If you have not done so already, I suggest you go read the Mandaloopy does china thread. You might find it striking a few chords.

Originally Posted by Luigi

Looks like yer on the up and up Wally.

Rural Japan sounds interesting.

Would be great to see pics/a thread about it, if you get the chance sometime.

Cheers.

Thank you!!

It`s very different in rural japan compared to my comfort zone in Tokyo, but it`s growing on me.

When I first came to Japan in 1992, foreigners were a novelty for the Japanese. Kids would point fingers and run away in fear, whilst adults went out of their way to make you feel at home. The locals out here remind of people from years gone by in Japan. I never realised how much I missed those kids pointing fingers ...

There was a volleyball game between teachers and parents at my school on Saturday. after the game we went out for eating and drinking. Apparently this region in Japan is known for it`s drinking games -- the teachers were playing drinking games and going bonkas. Followed by a karaoke bar ...... the Japanese work hard, but take their play time just as serious ..

It was the first real laugh I have had in a long time, and I made a few friends too..

Can`t post pictures on the spastic computer at work, but will do so once I receive my work visa and are able to get an inernet connection at home (they won`t give you a contract until you get work visa). Right now, I use the net at work, then use the free internet at conveniece stores that have tables you can sit down with a beer. TD is not accessable from convenience stores as it comes up as an unsecure network.

Originally Posted by cyrille

It certainly seemed like the best option based on that post a while back.

Time to become a karate master.

Cheers!

Yes, hoping they will let me join the doujo..

How`s life over in the cricket thread?

I really enjoyed last ashes. lots of ebbs and flows..

Originally Posted by nidhogg

Welcome back wally. If you have not done so already, I suggest you go read the Mandaloopy does china thread. You might find it striking a few chords.

thank you!!! will check it out..

Onya, Wally !

Rural Japanese people are much more friendly than city people.....but I guess you have found that out already. Hope you have a cool experience out there....and please do eventually post a few photos...

Originally Posted by Latindancer

Onya, Wally !

Rural Japanese people are much more friendly than city people.....but I guess you have found that out already. Hope you have a cool experience out there....and please do eventually post a few photos...

Thanks LD! Yes - the people out here are very friendly.

I have frequented only one place since arriving here. A whole in the wall restaurant ran by a guy in his 80`s named Shimizu san. Shimizu san has been running his little restaurant for 46 years. He has gone out his way to make me feel at home. He runs a `yakiniku` restaurant which is originally from Korea, and is one of those places where you have a small gas grill in front of you, where you cook small slices of meat or vegetables on. He also makes his own kimchee to go with it. He has a friend who runs a fishing boat, and he has telephoned me a couple of times to invite me in for free sashimi that he got from his mate. He drinks and smokes behind the counter despite his age, and is constantly joking and taking the piss out of his mates, who do the same with him. He has offered to show me around town on my day off, and sometimes just calls to make sure I am settling in okay. This would not happen in Tokyo ..

Originally Posted by Wally Dorian Raffles

How`s life over in the cricket thread?

Well I was a bit cynical about a world cup followed by the ashes but it was a brilliant summer in the end.

Gone a bit quiet on that thread now though.

@wally - do they have hiking groups there? Or maybe in FB? There may be organizers looking for "joiners" in hiking activities or tours. It's a good place to meet people - just socialise and you get to explore new places too. Last year, I found some hiking groups on FB. I was a solo joiner for one hike, and have found a "gang" - regular friends that I hike with. We even have a Christmas party /get-together scheduled!

Cheers and I hope you find/make friends there and adjust to your situation.

Look up Mandaloopy's thread, as well as NZDick's thread about prices of goods in Japan. That was interesting too.

How far are you from Fukuoka? U should hook up with the Dickster, that should cover over any previous trauma