Croguay Republic

Almost one year of living among vikings

noreply@blogger.com (Gaston) — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 12:55:00 +0000

Hello! No, we have not dissapeared!

We have not been taken over by a jealous country!

We have not sunk into economic crisis! (well, just a little...)

We have moved our mighty Republic to a new land among the legendary vikings in order to spread our beloved culture and sacred customs into new unsuspected acolytes. We call it smooth power. Total cultural and alcoholic dominance.

We have kept silent because we have kept busy. Moving a whole country -no matter how small- across the globe is not an easy matter. Besides, our new hosts are not much bigger than we are. We managed to find a cozy piece of land sandwiched between some other tenants in a classical (everything is "classical" here) building in Frederiksberg, which is an independent enclave within Copenhagen which is what we stand for. Independence in all forms and shapes.

We will keep you posted of our new adventures in this strange wild land of the drunken vikings.

Vi ses!

Gaston Birthday Party 2008!

noreply@blogger.com (Gaston) — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 02:28:00 +0000

Hello everyone!

First of all, thanks for showing up to those who did and, hope to see you next time to those who couldn't make it! We had a great time!!

Around 30 people came, I feel really blessed to have such amazing friends! The staff at Polo-Dog Nada was really helpful as usual and they had a great time as well, good move with the music at the end!

Here's a slideshow with some of the pictures taken that night. I am a bit disappointed at how I look on some of them, but alas! there's no excusing myself now! I was having an amazing time.

I am going to miss you all so much... I wish we could have parties like these every month.

Enough talk, enjoy the pics.

Gaston

Gaston's Birthday Party

noreply@blogger.com (Gaston) — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 00:36:00 +0000

Hello everyone,

It seems it's "that" time of the year again... and I'm becoming older and -hopefully- wiser. This time is very special since it marks a big change about to happen in our lives.

We are leaving Japan at the end of March heading to Europe and this would be my last birthday party here. For that reason, I would like to see as many of you as possible that night.

We will be gathering at a bar/pub called Polo-Dog in Nada on Friday February 29th from 7 PM.

This is a map of the location,

I'm looking forward of seeing many of you there!

Gaston

A nice view on religions...

noreply@blogger.com (Gaston) — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 02:14:00 +0000

Hello everyone,

I know we have been off line for quite some time now... the truth is, we have not much to write about these days. We have been very busy with work, studying and trying to remain sane while surviving yet another holidays season -hopefully the last- in Japan.

On the meantime before our New Year's best wishes post, let me show you a video I stumbled upon while reading some news feed the other day.

The guy makes a hilarious point about the nonsense of religions. As a non-religious christian myself (i.e. someone who tries to figure out what the old J said -before being executed as a religious fanatic terrorist- by myself as I live my life as it comes along and not following blindly what other people think I should live my life according to their own interpretations of what J really said), I happen to agree with most of what he says, besides, he makes it sound really funny.

Enough said, on with the video.

Jiro Yoshida in Kobe

noreply@blogger.com (Gaston) — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 13:45:00 +0000

Last Sunday we had the opportunity to go and see Jiro Yoshida playing in the same restaurant as last time. This time he played Christmas songs and we had a great, although kinda quiet, beautiful time.

Besides being a very talented guitarist, Jiro is super friendly and has a great sense of humor. He comes to say hello to our table after his performance and always has good jokes to crack.

He is playing in Japan all over the place but he will be in Okamoto in Kobe on the 27th. (Thursday) at the Born-Free pub. The entrance fee is 4000 Yen and it starts at 1930. I recommend everyone to go because he said it is going to be very lively.

We are not sure if we'll be going though... as much as we'd love to, this month has been quite hard on our budget and we are counting every penny left.

You can check the rest of his schedule in Jiro's website in case you might want to see him at other venues in Japan.

These are a couple of videos I shot at the restaurant with my phone last sunday. As always, quality is not the best and the light doesn't help either... who knows?, some of you might enjoy them anyway.

Have fun,

Gaston

'The Man from Earth'- again!!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Natasa) — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 12:02:00 +0000

I do love film. And I know what I like, so I will not change my mind about 'The Man From Earth'. I did not like the film. But, I also did not like 'Star Wars', ' Lord of the Rings', any of 007 and so on... It certainly does not mean those were bad films. But, we all have the right to an opinion, we all have different tastes. My fiance, my friend Cameron and some others loved 'The Man from Earth'.

On the other hand, I will not undermine anybody's work, because I do not know how much love and devotion somebody invests into making a film. So I will congratulate to the team who made 'The Man from Earth' because they are so proud of their work, and I hope they continue doing what they like, even if it meant some bad critique on the way.

Masa did it!

noreply@blogger.com (Gaston) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 13:28:00 +0000

Masa at Croguay Republic

Our friend Masa did it as he had promised he would! Yatta!!!

Yoku dekimashita! Omedetou!!

We at the Republic are very proud of our friend whom we helped prepare for such an important event by providing him with the right amount of calories necessary to undertake such an effort! (as seen on the picture to the right)

As you can see by the official result above, it took him a bit over 6 hours to complete the full length of the track.

We are anxiously waiting for his return to hear his own account of the events and to know how he felt while pushing his body to its limits.

On the meantime, please check his blog where he posted how he trained for the race.

Thanks Masa for the good news! Otsukaresama deshita!!!

Gaston

Engaged

noreply@blogger.com (Natasa) — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 07:37:00 +0000

Dear Croguay sympathizers and others,

We are glad to inform you that we, the Croguayans, got engaged. It is true, it happened
on the 24th November, he was on his knees, I got the ring with a rock and I said 'yes'.

To tell the truth, he took advice from some of his friends, caught me off guard, in the morning, before the first coffee, when my brain's off duty, so I would agree on everything as long as it follows with a shot of caffeine and a nice slice of bread....

So I said 'yes' and than I cried. I just experienced the happiest moment in my life (I do admit I am just a girl and we love moments like this, when you see in his eyes how much you matter).

Yes, it was the happiest moment, I didn't expect it at all. Not to mention, it was before I could brush my teeth, or comb my hair, or look at least a bit attractive so he doesn't change his mind looking at me all swollen from sleep. Than I thought how little all these things matter, the most important thing was kneeling there in front of me, his voice trembling but his lines determined to get this one right....And it was right....This was the greatest birthday present....

....Hey, did I mention also that I got the ring, too... well....

Tract against biometric control for foreigners entering Japan

noreply@blogger.com (Gaston) — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 03:54:00 +0000

The protest blog Re-entry Japan has produced a tract explaining the main opposing points foreigners have against biometric control at the time of entering the country.

If you find this interesting and/or useful, click on the image to download a .pdf version of the tract to print out and distribute. You can also see the original post by clicking here.

Gaston

P.S. I don't need to be fingerprinted in this country anymore...

Nacha's Birthday party

noreply@blogger.com (Croguay Vox Populi) — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 01:50:00 +0000

The Man from Earth

noreply@blogger.com (Natasa) — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 14:54:00 +0000

I saw a great movie the other day, 'The American Gangster' with my favorite Denzel Washington and my second favorite Rusell Crowe in it.

I also saw a very bad movie called The Man from Earth. Please don't watch it even if your bestest, dearest , greatest , est .....friend recommends it.
Your friend is wrong this time, very wrong.

The Man From Earth

noreply@blogger.com (Gaston) — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 22:20:00 +0000

I saw a great movie yesterday, our friend Cameron recommended it to us. I won't tell what it is about, just that it makes you think in ways I had already forgotten movies could.

Based on a Jerome Bixby's story, the movie is a flashback to old science fiction at its best.

Don't expect a lot of effects, and bear with the music sometimes. Just don't close yourselves to the story and be amused, amazed or angry at the possibilities.

Enjoy!

Gaston

Marcelo Russillo & Hugo Fattoruso in Japan

noreply@blogger.com (Gaston) — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 02:30:00 +0000

Hello everyone,

I am in Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture today. We came here to inspect a Brazilian ship that had some troubles on its way from Rio de Janeiro to Japan. Why is that so important? well, the ship is only work related making it not that important, nor is Yokkaichi... but yesterday, I spent my evening in Nagoya and that was important!

First, I arrived to Nagoya station at around 3 pm and met my Uruguayan friend Emi Abe for coffee. We had a great time catching up about whas was new in our respective lives as well as critizicing (as only uruguayans can do) everything possible about our time in Japan. It was a very relieving -cathartic- experience. We talked, we went shopping for a gift to her friend, we had fun. Unfortunately she had plans and couldn't come with me to see the main event of the evening.

Hugo Fattoruso in concert at Cafe Dubi!

Yes, as unbelievable as it may sound, I came to go to an Hugo's concert for the first time in my life in Nagoya, Japan. Unusual things happen to unusual people I guess...

The story starts a little earlier this week though. Our friend Ernesto from Argentina has a tango school in Kobe and organized a tango show to present the ensemble Tango Negro Trio which was touring Japan. Croguay Republic attended the event and was overwhelmed with joy at hearing all that Uruguayan-Afro music shaping the history of Argentine tango. It was a well deserved homenage to candombe, havanera and samba for their roles in tango, with a bit of jazz added just for flavor. We had a great time.

The percusionist of the group is an Uruguayan called Marcelo Rusillo who has been living in Paris for 15 years. After the show we went to talk to him and he mentioned he had been with Fattoruso in Nagoya 2 days before. I couldn't believe it. Fattoruso in Japan? I said. How? When? Tell me!! He said I should check on the net for his concerts schedule. So I did; first thing when I got back home that evening.

As it turned out, Hugo was touring Japan since last week together with an old friend of his, percusionist Tomohiro Yahiro, a Tokyo talent born and raised in the Canary Islands. I checked the list and found -to my dismay- that he had had a couple of concerts in Osaka the weekend before. I said, Not Fair!!! the next ones would be in Nagoya before he headed north, completely out of my reach. By a great turn of destiny, this ship we were working on happened to be in Yokkaichi and we were designated to go and work on it during the weekend. Yokkaichi is only 30 min from Nagoya on the local train... hmmmm a plan started forming in my mind right away. What if I can spend my evening in Nagoya before going to the hotel in Yokkaichi?

It seems we were going to Nagoya in the first place (the Shinkansen doesn't go through Yokkaichi) and I was told it was okay to stay there and enjoy my evening as long as I was ready to go at the hotel lobby by 8 am next morning.

I called Emi and we met right after I got to Nagoya as related earlier, then I left for the Cafe where Hugo was going to be playing with plenty of time to spend before the show started. I got there one hour before the designated time and had a chat with the maestro. I was the only other Uruguayan in the room. He seems like a great guy who knows his trade inside out, a straightforward man with tons of talent and who obviously enjoys inmensely what he does for a living. We talked about me and what I was doing in Japan as well as his tour and how Uruguay was like nowadays to his eyes. He's so Uruguayan that I felt like a complete stranger.

The show began by him singing alone, some borrowed songs and some of his own. It was nice, poetic, melancholic, metaphysical as only uruguayan lyrics can be. He played the synthetizer, the drum, an accordion and his own voice in more ways than I can even remember. He was playing a meter and a half away from my table in this tiny cafe with no more than 35 people inside, almost all of them Japanese... he spoke in spanish and nobody translated for him, it made the evening the more special.

He reminded me of my friend Milton Anton, they are the same generation, my father's generation. People who admired the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, and from Uruguay, tango and candombe. I wonder if Malvin does something to people. I always said if I went back to live in Montevideo there's where I want to have a house. Sea, beach, an island, candombe and chivitos... what's better than that?

After the concert finished, I ran to Chikusa station and took the subway back to Nagoya station where I caught the train to Yokkaichi at around 22:30. I arrived at the hotel at 15 past 2300 and after chatting with my babicitich went right to sleep in order to be up by 0630 the next morning and continue with my Japanese life.

No matter how I look on the outside or what I do for a living or who I interact with in my daily routine, inside, there's a core of uncorrupted uruguayness that cannot be entirely suppressed. It takes only a drum call -cha-cha-cha cha-cha!- to wake it up and make me want to drink mate and smoke a cigarette while listening to the waves braking in la rambla of my unforgettable Montevideo.

Thanks Marcelo and thanks Hugo for the timely beautiful relief in such a rough week. Keep on drumming.

Gaston

P.S. I recorded some short videos with my mobile. Quality is not the best but it does give some idea of what kind of music he does. Enjoy.

When you just want to scream, but there's nobody to hear you

noreply@blogger.com (Natasa) — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 06:54:00 +0000

First, an apology to all of my Japanese friends who will read this. But I am f... pissed off at all I have to put up with here, and not only me, all other foreigners and Japanese as well.

Well, the case is, Gaston picked a bicycle from a pile of garbage at uni, gave it to his friend, who gave it to her friend, and a friend was stopped by the police. It turned out the bicycle was stolen some years ago. A smart friend (well done Santiago) says Gaston was the one who gave him the bicycle and the police calls Gaston. The pull and push starts and Gaston ends up with a charge for a bicycle theft. How nice!!!

First, nobody is f....... interesting who really stole the bicycle. Then, the police conveniently called Gaston to sign the so- called confession on a Sunday, no lawyers, no embassy working. Is this fair???

Then, is this because he is a foreigner?? Are Japanese treated the same.??And what is police doing about all the prostitution in this f....... country, all the freaks walking around and all the Yakuza piling up money. NOTHING. The police is prosecuting a gaijin, with a bicycle he didn't steal but picked up from a pile of junk.

This bicycle ended up being really expensive, all those police officers working to give it back to its owner. How nice. And all the tax payers (including me) paying for those people to work.
I found out that 99% of all the cases in Japanese court end up with a conviction-GUILTY. And that people are forced to sign up their confessions, after which they kill themselves or serve their time innocent.

So much about the democracy, fair trials, and other things we take for granted. Japan successfully polished a picture of itself as a nice country of high technology and clean streets. What do they need clean streets and fast trains for, if there's still middle ages in their minds and they are slaves to all the elders, sempai, men, parents, kacho, shacho, and so on.
I hope Japanese people will find out one day they are prisoners of the rules they made themselves. The rules that make person a cold hearted machine, not a human.
I hope one day there will be a Japanese to lead his/her people out of slavery.

I am f....... mad.

"El Chancho" visited Croguay Republic

noreply@blogger.com (Croguay Vox Populi) — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 05:34:00 +0000

Clara and Alejandro dropped for a visit today, we can't believe how much Ale has grown since we saw him in Buenos Aires. After only 6 months he's already over 70 cm and almost 10 kg!

We had fun... played, took pictures, fed the baby, walked the baby, sang to the baby, cleaned the baby, played with the baby (again)... etc. At the end they fell asleep, yes, both of them. Clara was just exhausted.

In the meantime we were left to ourselves to consider having a baby of our own. Don't get too excited... even though we would love to have them, it won't happen right away. Croguay is in not a situation stable enough to accept new citizens just yet. Specially those who need super extra care (and extra income too). However, it is in our plans.

Enjoy the pictures and if you happen to be in Kobe and able to lend Clara a hand with the little Chancho, please do.

Mobile blogging

noreply@blogger.com (Gaston) — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 05:32:00 +0000

Hello everyone.

I'm on a company's car returning from measuring a train tank wagon to calculate its volume table at the Kawasaki manufacturing plant in Harima, west of Kobe. I'm typing this on my mobile phone, I'm also attaching a picture just as a test to see if it posts it.

Nacha is still in China. She arrived to Beijing this morning and is supposed to be meeting Miki, my host family's daughter who is there because her husband was assigned to the Japanese embassy there. She seems to be having fun for what I read on the SMS she sends me. I'm coping as well as I can with the house and work, it had been a while since I looked forward to weekends with this intensity. I'm exhausted.

Nachita come back!!

以上です。

G. Petrocelli - Marine Surveyor

noreply@blogger.com (Gaston) — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 07:35:00 +0000

Just wanted to share a couple of pictures of my first field assignment. I didn't do much cause I am still going as an observer, but I spotted a couple of irregularities which I pointed out to my colleagues, to the dismay of the ship's 2nd. Officer. It feels weird to be on the other side of the fence but I guess it pays off. I couldn't help feeling sympathy for the guys on board though.

Talking to Fuchimoto on the bridge.

Enjoying the view of the loading operation from the upper deck.

The pictures are not that good but you are allowed to make fun of the funny uniform I have to wear.

Enjoy!

Gaston

Life of an average sarariman-Part 1 'Before he even started'

noreply@blogger.com (Natasa) — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 02:21:00 +0000

Today is officially babycito's first day at work. Omedetooooo!!!

But before he started, he went drinking with his work-buddies and this is the result (see the picture).

He fell asleep on the sofa, at 10 pm, not knowing much about his own state. Then he woke up at 3 am, asking for water and somebody to talk to...yup he woke me up....he couldn't eat his breakfast and left with a headache and a terrible hangover.

I hope he's having a great first day, but I doubt it is so.

Congratulation darling, for becoming one of those sarariman, who smell on sake at 9pm train, get home and crush into the bed. No wonder everybody in this country sleeps all day, in the trains and at work.

It's sake magic.

Depra ljudi, depra

noreply@blogger.com (Natasa) — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 03:25:00 +0000

Evo malo ću po naški, šatrovački, da ne zaboravim pisat. Uhvatila me neka depra danas, čistim kuću i kuham neki čušpajz, a na CD'u Jinxi i Haustor. Čak me uhvatila suza na Konobu i Sve ću preživit. Evo i to se sluša u Japanu. Meri, Tedi a da vam ne kažem da sam iskopala negdje i Ne dirajte mi ravnicu. E na to me uhvatila još veća depra. Ipak moja slavonska krv još uvijek kuha.

E pa dosta mi je ovih brda i Fujija i vulkana, nedostaje mi ravnica. Ravnica, nigdje brda, kukuruz i suncokret. I da ne nabrajam.

Svima koje se stići ove riječi, napišite koju. Na ne puknem skroz.

Gaston got his working visa!

noreply@blogger.com (Gaston) — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 01:23:00 +0000

Hello everyone,

After a whole month of waiting I finally got my working visa! I is amazing how much meaning a little paper sticker can have. I am happy that things will start moving in the next couple of weeks, I was sincerely tired of being at home.

I am due to start working on Aug. 1st at the Kobe branch of Nippon Kaiji Kentei Kyokai - Global Support, a Japanese marine certification company as a marine surveyor. I am really excited about it. It represents the crown on top of a three years long effort to change the course of my career. It seems it worked. Yahoo!

I would like to thank all of you who shared your support, patience and prayers with us during this time. I won't let you down. Special thanks go to my best half for having coped with me being at home and using her computer... I love you so much!! The house and the computer are yours again!

Because proper celebrations are in place we are in the process of planning a get (a bit drunk) together in the near future... did someone say something about a BBQ on the beach? Hmmm... sounds pretty good. Suggestions are welcome.

That's all for now. Stay tuned.

Gaston

Blogs about Uruguay

noreply@blogger.com (Croguay Vox Populi) — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 06:35:00 +0000

We Croguayans come from two very far away countries which are not very well known to the outside world, however, as Croguay Republic has shown its presence on the blogsphere, so have these two original tiny countries managed to achieve the same feat.

I have had people come up to me and ask me things about my country of origin and I realize there's not much information out there written in English about it. To try to help clarify the questions readers of this blog may have about this, I will write down the list of blogs I use to read about Uruguay. Most are written by foreign expats living now in the country and one by an Uruguayan.

You may be wondering how I manage to read all of these blogs. Luckily I don't need to go to those sites anymore. I've been using Netvibes to read their news feeds as well as from my friends' blogs. It does save a lot of time.

I hope you find the above list of your interest. A lot of issues regarding life in Uruguay, culture, economy and how life is in general are thoroughly discussed there. Please let us know if you cannot find an answer to your question anyway.

Much love,

Gaston

P.S. Croatia's version will come later... stay tuned.

Amanohashidate

noreply@blogger.com (Croguay Vox Populi) — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 06:09:00 +0000

On May 25th, taking advantage of a free trip for foreign students organized by Nacha's faculty, Croguay Republic embarked towards one of Japan's three scenic views: Amanohashidate or "heaven's bridge".

Since we have been to Itsukushima shrine already, we only have to go to Matsushima in Miyagi prefecture in order to see all the best spots in Japan according to local tradition.

The day was rainy and we almost didn't go, however, we had a great time and I learned a lot about cartoons played in eastern Europe during the 80's... (for more information refer to Gabor, Florin or Natasa).

The bridge is supposed to look as if it was suspended in the sky by looking at it backwards between your legs. It didn't work for me, but it did make a good picture of it.

I hope you find the pics interesting.

Great saturday night

noreply@blogger.com (Gaston) — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 16:09:00 +0000

Hello everyone,

today the Kimuras (my host family) invited us for dinner to a "special" restaurant... We expected something fancy like the places they always take us. This place was not fancy, it was super exclusive. Up in the mountain in Ashiya, a private "club" where you cannot only eat a great dinner but also enjoy private concerts.

We were told a nice guitarist was going to play afterwards but we didn't expect to see someone of Jiro Yoshida and Benisuke Sakai's caliber there. We are so non sophisticated in the Republic... Anyway, we hadn't event heard of them before.

Mr. Yoshida was superb. You can find out more about his career at http://www.jiroyoshida.com. He's been living in the US for almost 25 years now and speaks perfect English. He spoke to us directly more than once during the concert and even told a language joke which we loved.

Benisuke Sakai seems to be an icon wood bass player everywhere. He was playing a 200 years old bass at the club and was standing about 1m from where I was sitting. I can hardly describe how those fingers were hitting those strings...

We were -once more- left speechless by this country and its people. Some of these things do happen outside Japan but they had never happened to me... as I said... we are just out-of-the-cave here.

Anyway, just wanted to let you know about these great artists which I hope you don't let slip by if you hear they'll be playing in a place near you, it's more than worthy. Did I mention Mr. Yoshida is also an UN ambassador?

Take care and peace.

Gaston

Montevideo Sights I

noreply@blogger.com (Gaston) — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 08:53:00 +0000

When we finally found some free time we went to tour the old city. I called my very good friend Carla to be our guide. She studies architecture and knows a lot about the place and its history.

We had a great time walking around and eating outside. Nacha was particularly surprised by the garbage pickers. These are poor people without any other income who travel the streets pulling a cart or on a horse pulled cart checking garbage and separating what can be sold for a small profit. They sell what they find to recycling facilities. With the new garbage separation rules their destiny is uncertain. Not as a traditional kind of thing but as unemployed people... quite a reminder of the economical situation.

Enjoy the pics.

Nacha's real test!

noreply@blogger.com (Gaston) — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 08:05:00 +0000

There's no worse thing when it comes to keep a man happy than not knowing how to cook. That's specially true for men in my family. Therefore, women tend to be proud of their cooking and judge the potential new additions to the family by the same standards.

When my dad's family came to visit us while we were there (they live in my dad's original town about 80km from Montevideo), Nacha dutifully offered to cook. I didn't have anything to do with it! I promise! She still complains my mom tricked her into doing it alluding to communication problems... hmmm.... my saintly mom would never do anything like that... would she?

Nacha decided to go for her time seasoned stuffed peppers. We cooked (well, she did...) and even recruited my cousin Nando to help her.

The lunch was a complete success and the women decided to approve of her. My dad and uncle couldn't stop eating and that was a good sign. Nevertheless, they hardly seem to be able to stop eating on anything at all...

Hope you enjoy the pictures.