Thanks for the welcome! What was the secret handshake again?
Yeah, I found Travelman before, down in Kagoshima. Looks kinda fun, and I might give an e-mail when I get back from Okinawa. As far as Oita diving, there's one PADI shop in Oita City. Dunno where they go, and might have to call in and do some investigating. But... yeah... looking out at Beppu Wan, I dunno that I want to be getting in the water there--not only would I have salt water to contend with, but also pollution. On the upside, there might be some strange-lookin breeds down there...
Here's an interesting question. Yeah, I speak Japanese, clawing my way to broken proficiency much like the redneck way of being taught to swim (throw her in the deep end, let's see if she sinks or not for the hell of it). But do you find problems, as a gaijin, tagging along on dive expeditions. You know how it is--most people don't mind a foreigner--maybe a little apprehensive, but they're okay once you establish that 1. you speak Japanese and 2. you speak Japanese-- but then there are others who just get all kinds of nervous when we're around, and even if we address them in Japanese they freak out. What's your experience? I want to dive in my last 2 months here, so I'm wondering how I'll be accepted. 'Cause I want to have fun diving with everyone, not spend time worrying about if I'm causing stress to others based upon the way that people keep glancing my way nervously.
