Chops

Today I bid farewell to these majestic sideburns, sometimes called mutton chops. If you look at my Australia photos or Charlie's, you may notice that I let my facial hair grow unhindered in my time down under. That was so until the final night, when instead of outright shaving, I decided to try something new.

At the time I hated the new look, but decided to endure just for the sake of being rediculous. Partially due to prodding by my travelling companions, and partially due to my own curiousity, I decided to keep the chops not only on my flight home, but to my first day of work. Japanese schools tend to be conservative. The students wear strict uniforms, and most of the men wear suits every day (I don't). I expected some kind of backlash to the chops, but there was none. Some were shocked, others impressed. Some loved it and some hated it, but there was no official disapproval from any authorities. Every morning for a week I fought with myself in front of the mirror about whether or not that would be the day to remove the chops. I kept asking other people's opinions until I determined that only one opinion really mattered -- my own. And off they came. They just didn't feel like "me".

But now, in retrospect, looking at the pictures taken during their brief lifetime, I have begun to miss the chops. Maybe I just didn't give them enough time to settle in. Oh well, I shall remain clean shaven for the time being, but the pictures have led me to believe, a short, clean cut beard could be a possibility in the future. We'll see.