Day 9: Besuto wo Tsukuse (Do Your Best)

I feel like I might want to post whenever I feel, which would be more often than just once a week, I'm afraid so much has happened to me so far I won't be able to adequately describe it! I'll just do what I've been doing for most of my time here and do my best. Before I do that though I want to make a statement that the program has warned me against lashing out about Corps Members online, probably so it doesn't cause drama, and that's a greaaaaaaaaaat point. So I'm going to try to not do that, but I don't want to shy away from criticizing the program if I have any, not like I'm going to be all that harsh or anything. Just understanding that I'm working for a federal organization so all the baggage that implies should...apply.





So the biggest thing is that we still aren't in our permanent teams. That's why I don't want to dwell on the WHO in this story yet, because we don't know who if any are going to be recurring characters. But there'll certainly be a main cast once it's established, and GOD do I wish it was this current group. A good deal of people were sent home today because the drug tests came back kicking them out. Good thing I've literally never done drugs haha But we only just practiced with driving the 15 passenger vans today (thank goodness they enforce ground guides or people that get out of the car to guide you) and the test will be later, but the teams will be assembled based on who we have left and who can drive, among other things like diversity. But that means I might not be staying with the people I've been with, which is unfortunate cause it doesn't seem like any of them are weird or crazy or have troublesome dietary restrictions. It'd be a great team to stick with for 10 months I think, but alas it probably won't be so. It's frustrating to say the least, they should've been prioritizing assembling THAT and not with all these darn PowerPoint presentations. Which yeah, it's mostly been PowerPoint presentations. On things like alcohol/drugs, STDs, and public speaking. Helpful for sure, but also like we're in high school (we're all 18-24 years old). It's certainly not DIFFICULT, and at least we get out at 5pm or today 3pm.

It hasn't been all dull though. We had the past weekend off, but those who wanted to join a special force exclusively for firefighting/emergency help had to take a PACK test! Wake up at 7am to go to the local YMCA's outdoor track, to walk (not run or jog, not allowed) 9.5 laps or 3.1 miles or a 5k in under 45 minutes....with a 45 pound vest (to simulate the heavy gear you'd have on). They also had to do interviews, emails, etc. etc. and there were very little additional benefits, so I wasn't interested in the special team.

But I was PRETTY interested in that PACK test, so I did it for fun! 😃

I (and three others like me) had to wait to the end since everyone else had to do it first. I spent that time observing and being some people's designated water buddy, which were required for you to have or they'd stop you. By the time I could go it was the fifth round, and each round lasts of course around 45 minutes, so it was almost the middle of a clear July day in Mississippi when I got to go. Some team leaders went on this round, one of them looked extra...alpha. You know the type, someone who just looks to be perfect at everything? I heard some other team leaders had done this a few times already just trying to best their times, so I took this guy as no different. Most people were passing this thing in about 40-42 minutes, I think I heard the best BEST time was something like 34 minutes. Thank GOD they allowed us to listen to music, I had a playlist of just the most hype tracks from Megalo Box. So fellas, know how when I walk in groups I accidentally keep walking ahead cause I'm just kind of a fast walker?

I got 37:15. Finally I can say I've taken revenge for that 20 min flat on my X-Country Senior Night! I out-lapped basically everybody. I pushed the envelope a bit by speedwalking like they do in that one episode of Malcom in the Middle. The unit leader (the guy timing in charge) said he almost disqualified me because some of what I was doing could be seen as jogging or running, generally just going too fast. But he let me slide because he saw me encouraging everybody I passed. I did talk to some of them, but the only reason I stopped at each one the way that I did was so I could match their pace and catch my breath. The only one that passed me was that team leader guy. He finally crept up on me around lap 4 or 5. I never looked back to see how far ahead I was because A) It wasn't a contest, or at least I shouldn't make it LOOK like I think it's a contest, and B ) turning my head would cost too much energy and might also psyche me out. My water buddy was real chill, he happened to get the best time for his round (don't know what it was). I made sure to apply the cool down techniques I learned in X-Country so I didn't DIE, and I also made sure I participated in the police line (garbage pick-up) right before we left, which lucky I did because I found a scrabble piece as a souvenir and some chalk where I left some mark of my conquest:

"BUI BUI!!" (V! V!) ✌✌

I made certain not to brag about my accomplishment, or anything about myself for that matter. I know I'm further along the path than most people: college degree, eagle scout, an absolute UNIT--I still haven't even told any of them I'm a YouTuber. I'm keeping myself composed and reserved, only doing my besuto when I'm allowed to, like yesterday's pacer test (y'know that PE thing where you run back and forth across the gym with beeps?) and I got to wave 10 with another guy (came in 2nd that time too) while most people got to 7 or 8. By the way I'm referring to it as "besuto" because I've been seriously inspired by Aim for the Ace recently, which I'll talk about later. I've even earned trust in my team leader to attend an exclusive feedback meeting with some of the instructors talking about the program and how it could be better. Yes I'm bragging here, but again I'm trying not to let it get to me.

That nice cafe

Anyway, the food has been very good, I get to make my own breakfast and lunch, and our floor's kitchen has lots of options. For dinner it's been different things and recently the teams on our floor have been responsible. Our team is doing dinner next time, I think it's something like chicken broccoli pasta? We'll see how that goes...The people have been friendly with only a small handful of weirdos, and I overall love the facility we're staying at. Everything's pretty close by, and we move around enough so things don't get too stale. The pool is VERY close by and it's gorgeous. When I was down there some members were even using the grill to cook burgers! Probably not gonna be often of course, but still cool to see that being used at all. I haven't even mentioned the downtown, which honestly isn't a lot, we're sort of regimented to just a street of storefronts, but there was a bookstore where I bought a physical copy of DUNE, and a cafe with a 2nd floor art exhibit (I didn't even explore that yet) that had very delicious cake if a LITTLE slow on the service. There's a pizza joint there too that I want to try next time, and even a Coca Cola museum? There's a tour we didn't go on.

I think that about does it for this installment, it's probably gonna be a WHOLE other can of worms come Monday when I might have to excavate from this comfortable living space and people and get dragged somewhere else to people and places I might not like as much. Which yeah, that's the gist of the program, but this was supposed to be our BASE! Couldn't we rationally expect something consistent to come back to?

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Accurate recreation of me watching Aim For the Ace

So Aim for the Ace was SPECTACULAR. I started it with a discord channel I had to leave, and I wouldn't have started it without them because I wanted to wait for the OVA Aim for the Ace 2 to finish subbing (there's only 8 out of 13 episodes available). But I'm SO HAPPY I didn't sleep on it forever, it's a classic. The show was such a colorful, energetic, sometimes hard to watch for all the suffering Hiromi goes through (the alternative title for this show is Aim for the Face), but super rewarding and had a great message of perseverance and passion that I absolutely crave in my own life. Hiromi's definitely making it as one of my favorite female heroes, not sure about Ochofujin as best villain but certainly they have one of the best rivalries I've ever seen. The MOVIE that summarizes the show was a banger as well, it was made 6 years later but there's NO reused footage, some themes are enhanced even more, and the ending is probably the second strongest Dezaki anime ending I could ask for. It's also a MOST IMPORTANT ULTIMATE SQUAD ANIME, which is the official title I'm giving an anime with all three key members; Dezaki directing, Sugino character designs, and Kobayashi art direction. I'd recommend both (though the series should be first because how the show ends I think re-contextualizes a lot so I think watching the show with new fresh eyes is best). Currently watching 2, as of right now, and the story SEEMS to be out-staying it's welcome, and it's actually kind of up in the air whether Dezaki actually directed it or not? Not to mention I won't be finishing it or getting to the last OVA "Final Stage" anytime soon. But it's only fair to wait (and wait and wait and wait for those subs!!) and see...

I'm not done with Gainer JUST yet so I'll try to talk about that next time, but I STILL haven't talked about this brand new QUAD I just started! I'm watching one ep a week sort of like seasonal anime, and so far I feel good about all of them (YES! ALL of them!) Tamako Market was probably the one I was most excited for, since seeing the OP back when it came out five years ago I've always wanted to try it. This is my third Yamada work after Hibike s1 and Koe no Katachi, but Tamako really seems like HER kind of dialogue, directing, and overall tone that I will come to expect when getting around to K-On sometime soon this year or next (I have it in an upcoming quad). It's comfy and sweet and sometimes funny, though I can't say I'm straight falling in love with it like I hoped. Let's hope the movie at the end fixes that up!

Top Left: Koi Kaze, Top Right: Tamako Market
Bottom Left: Hourou Musuko, Bottom Right: Kuragehime

I have it paired with some not so light fare, Koi Kaze and Hourou Musuko. Both these works are dealing with pretty sensitive and heavy topics, the latter about being transgender (about a boy who wants to be a girl and a girl who wants to be a guy) and the former about incest (more acutely, about a man struggling with guilt for having lustful thoughts towards his newly discovered younger sister). When it comes to quads I always can't help but compare/contrast and ultimately rank one over another, even while it's unjustified. At first Hourou was incredibly bold to me for not yet ONCE taking an overly dramatic approach to it's subject matter, when it very well could have. Everything in the show from visuals to voice acting to script to music to directing to character design is so restrained, neutral, tasteful, the opposite of flashy, when I think a safe majority of works that handle these topics do not hold the same tact. I think all of it is in service to making the "dilemma" (which I'm calling it that because the two characters are clearly struggling with handling it) seem totally acceptable. It's deeply sympathetic is what I'd call it, to put it shortly. But I've only seen 3 episodes out of 11, so I don't want to come out as understanding the whole show.

Koi Kaze ep 1

Koi Kaze also seemed to have a similar restraint to it, but I think that was more of a combination of the time period this was made (2004) and that a show which tackle incest seriously would NEVER want to steer the other way. Needless to say the show so far has been very smart about how it's going about it, how it's framed, why his train of thought leads him here, giving plenty of dialogue and individual screen time to the sister, somehow tastefully? only objectifying her so you understand the brother's perspective, and of course most importantly NOT ONCE insinuating these feelings are OK. I did think Hourou was having the upper hand for just being stronger in it's restrained approach, but Koi Kaze brought it back episode 5 in particular, after an act of (let's say) shame, he carries this incredible weight of guilt and frustration that he lashes out on everyone around him, I couldn't help but feel sorry for the guy. As someone who isn't immune to sexual urges (I swear I'm trying not to go TMI here) I can imagine how stressful that must be, and the way it affected his mood really got me to wondering what I would do in his situation. I'm rooting for this show in all honesty, I think it's got something really important.

But those weren't even my favorite (great, I don't even know if I can say all that much about this last one as those last two), that honor definitely goes to Kuragehime or Princess Jellyfish. Boy do I prefer an anime that has me in a permanent smile. It has such infectious charm and humor to it, the princess theme while not suited to ME exactly resonates with me as someone who's coming out of a long socially awkward phase in my life (that I'm still self-conscious I haven't grown out of). I also literally can't handle how adorable Tsukimi is and the potential romance with the cross dresser's brother. The whole thing is just so endearing and I can't get the OP out of my head even when I knew about it years beforehand. See? Yeah I knew I couldn't talk about it for longer than Koi or Hourou, I don't care, it's great great great!

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The roulette has decided I talk about a Top Ten Favorite of mine! Kaiji Ultimate Survivor. "Against All Odds" or Kaiji s2 or Part 2 is lumped together, I take Kaiji as a franchise, especially because the best part of the series isn't even animated yet! But I'm getting ahead of myself, I feel this really is a time for me to justify (at least to myself) why Kaiji is this respected by me, as a Top Ten Favorite.

I think for one I've explored how it has one of my favorite aesthetics EVER in my Fukumoto video, all my top ten have some level of respect in my eyes for their visual identity, and Kaiji is easily one of the strongest. But I didn't even mention in that video how drop dead IDEAL that soundtrack is. RIP that composer's career, he left behind such incredible work. And the first OP, can't deny, is STILL my All Time Favorite Opening Theme. The whole show to me looks, sounds, perfect. However the absolute strength of this show for me is in it's binge factor and just recommendation factor. If someone needs an anime to watch, I almost always start with Kaiji. Few people have seen it, and it's a high chance they'll love it. It's so engrossing for me in it's games and drama and tension, it was like a roller coaster. I can still picture myself cuddled in my chair glued to the screen, refusing to stop until I finished. And I do keep thinking back over, would I still love it as much if I rewatched it? And that answer is still yes, because not only does it have engrossing scenarios (that I don't recollect all that well so it'll still be somewhat fresh for me), but seriously endearing characters like Kaiji and.................................................Kaiji LOL Everyone else are scumbags, but Fukumoto has a great way with that, I still actually kinda like the scumbags (which is why Tonegawa so far has been a joy). Kaiji though is smart on both a surprising level but a relate-able level. His easily addicted personality and constantly thinking/analyzing mind set really resonates to me. But yeah, nothing I don't think is ever gonna be that addicting for me again.

As I mentioned earlier though, I don't even think the anime's the best material. Part 5 or One Poker Arc MIGHT be the best "arc" thing I've ever seen? I don't really consider Joe or LoGH to have the same kind of definable arcs, and while I do think Berserk's Golden Age Arc is spectacular, it's also the ONLY Berserk thing that matters to me, so do I really count it as an "arc to a story?" ehhhhh. One Poker has not only one of my favorite heroes, but one of my favorite villains--Kazuya Kazutaka--and just the best game Fukumoto's ever invented, with such great ups and downs, twists and close calls, and an ending I couldn't actually keep back tears as I read chapter after chapter. There's still more after, but I don't care if it never holds up to One Poker, I'm happy the series had a high peak like that. If it has an even higher peak, sign me up, but I sincerely doubt it. If you haven't already, watch Kaiji. If you've watched Kaiji, please read Kaiji. Don't worry, just pretend you know how to play Mahjong.