Message in a Tokkuri

I recently came back from a 5 day trip up to Akita. A beautiful place. My distant relatives reside basically at the gateway of the last frontier. Anyway you know what I mean. Three of these five days we spent up in the mountains hiking; as a result I have thighs like the California governor. But suprisingly I wasn't tired at all, I guess cycling everywhere really get's your health in check.

This was my third time visiting and I've enjoyed every trip (even the eight hour drive) mostly because of this one waterfall; Yasunotaki. It was named after a handsome women, Yasu, who threw herself off the top of this waterfall because she could not be with her lover. I guess it's cliche but the waterfall itself is inspiring. Though it could be the 2hr hike that makes it look so.

At this gateway town of course I had absolutely no reception, which was nice in a way. I was able to communicate instead with most of my distant relatives, except for the grandpa who I didn't know what he was talking about 98% of the time, but we talked for hours. The lack of communication wasn't all bad after I had soft cream covered in a special local sake. A winning combination. But a little weirdness did surround this entire trip; my fellow travellers included my uncle, aunt, and my cousin-in-law (male). We slept in one room which is not really the weirdest part. The cousin-in-law didn't speak. I heard he was pretty quiet but in all 5days he might have said 10words. Once my aunt and uncle left us at the breakfast table..it made it to the top ten most uncomfortable occurances in my life. No where else to look but at the food.

And my aunt started to annoy me because she decided to start a self-assigned campaign to improve Ann. Like I'm not perfect already. Usually its my uncle annoying me in his obnoxious drunken stupor when not driving, and agitated when driving anticipating the next time he can have alcohol streaming down his throat.

On a depressing note, this is unforgiveable and lame but just pretend it took time to travel across the ocean. Cassie and Jessica HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! And congratulations Cassie for setting the date!

ps. wow how long ago was this? I was going to revise, but I accidently left it on the burner. A little crispy but enjoy. YAY! 2 more weeks until they come!!

Retail Alphabet Game 4th Edition

Ok here it is, this is a collaborative work. Congrats.








Drum roll-------- ANSWERS:

A: Saturn
B: ABC
C: Canon
D: Glad
E: Zales
F: Ruffles
G: Lego
H: Yahoo!
I : Bic
J: Jif
K: Burger King
L: Google
M: Sam Adams
N: Nasa
O: Kinko’s
P: UPS
Q: Diary Queen
R: Walgreens
S: Sony
T: Citibank
U: Blockbusters
V: Volvo
W: Mountain Dew
X: Twix
Y: Lay’s

Z: Zenith

manifold

HARRY POTTER
Sometimes I go for 24 or even 72 hrs at a time only speaking roughly 20 words a day. Thus when I want to speak to someone…words don't willingly come out right away. Since practice makes perfect, I’ve taken up a ritual where every night before I go to bed instead of simply reading Harry Potter, I read Harry Potter out loud (occassionally in a British accent). Lately the words ‘shoulder,’ ‘world,’ ‘roar,’ and ‘wizardry’ are giving me trouble. Should I be worried?

BROADWAY
We went to see Movin' Out. I missed hearing live music. I realized that all those songs that are used over and over again on movie soundtracks are Billy Joel songs. And it's no wonder they use them over and over again because they're amazing. The main vocal/piano was an understudy, but his voice was so expressive that it couldn't have been done better. Coincidentlly gay pride was going down in the same Tokyo area. Except we weren't too sure if there was actual pride because some people were covering their faces as they passed cameras. But I guess it's good they still have one... In November I'm seeing two Johnathan Larson's. Tick Tick Boom and Rent. The former in Japanese, latter in English.

JET
I just finished helping with out the Gunma orientation. Nothing interesting to report, which is what I'm reporting... no cute guys... Next week four days of English Camp up in the mountains...

SUA - New Class
I saw the 6th class aka class of 2010 in the Seikyo Shimbun. Someone will definitely be utilizing the handicap access this year, but it looks like she's on a battery operated type so it shouldn't be as hard as we imagined it to be. On a whole it looks like an older bunch, or they're tall or something. I get the mature and humble vibe from them. But surprised at their size...I wonder how many of their fellow applicants the 85 had to fight off to end up in this picture. Although few, they brought in some new countries: Poland, Romania (maybe he/she's a vampire), Malaysia, and Taiwan. Contribution noted.
Up to this point there was a way of making the class feel special somehow, but I gotta say you'd be hard pressed to find something special about this class in context of the founding (but I'm sure they will). It's official, half the school has never had the pleasure of being in our glorious company. Our influences are waring thin. I'm feeling detached, and these things I wonder: how their food is, if they still have core classes, if Phat can find students he likes, if the pool table is still alive, if there's a student that got in on his/her 6th try, which one's will date cafeteria workers, and who will question administrative authority and think they're the first. I guess wether they can change the school's future or not, I'm sure no matter what they will be forever changed. Anyway good luck to them, cuz it's easy to make traditions whereas changing them can be a lot harder.

Good Hunting.

It's SUMMER!

It's Summer!

Internet in the home is life changing. I now have time to read over my past blogs to see what I have been sort of blindly writing, in which case my true self was revealed. And what a JERK I am!! I know I'm not supposed to, but I went back and tweeked parts so that I don't have to face the embarrassement again. I'm not quite sure what I intend to do about my unseemly mannerisms, but I guess the first step is to apologise. I'm sorry you had to put up with me all this time!! I'm just amazed that you have thus far. I'm still me, but maybe you guys'll now keep me around for amiable purposes rather than as a reminder that there's still evil in this world. I guess I noticed it a little while back, but it wasn't until I could actually sit down in solitude that I was able to really look. If these are the realizations that are promised in my future, than I can't wait to get older. Or I just need to edit. Don't get your hopes up, I'll change back to my old self possibly the minute I post this.

Everybody, check Sammie's blog, haha I made her do it. And what a pleasant surprise. We must find who this mystery man is in later blogs. Stay tuned for her next installment. I know it's a little late, but cheers to Cassie for her leap forward. And may I just say that Pili is amazing. I'm progressively feeling uncomfortable with my born-again-(or for the first time-)atheist self. How come leaving the gakkai is making me nice?

Anyway, overall a good cleaning day. And I added some photos while I tweeked the blemishes of my attitude. m(_ _)m <-- I learned something in Japan. Also I forgot to report from a loooong time ago that Billy is engaged to his junior high school classmate. He had his ring and everything... he just hasn't told his parents yet.

Quick update on JET: Old JETs leaving, new coming in. I am now the Tobu region rep. (a small portion of Gunma) And I speak Harry Potter now.

Good Hunting.

An Entry For The Soul (gag if you must)

Warning: This entry contains commentary on the SGI and cheap maudlin speech.

I've been reading "Chicken Soup for the Soul" and let me tell you, I AM E-MO-TION-AL!! It totally made me want to be a better person. I'm sure this will ware off in a few hours, like once I wake-up tomorrow. But that's why I'm glad to have internet in my home now, so that I can seize these emotional moments and blog something that'll be a total embarrassment to me later. Confession: when I graduated I decided to go on a daimoku fast. I've been on my fast for a year now. To be honest I have my ups and downs, but now I don't dwell on them. I've always found that the physical position of chanting compelled my "soul" to become dependent on something else other than myself. Of course we are taught this is wrong, and even though I know it, I can't help it. Thus my reason to fast. (Instead of chant to overcome my dependence.)

As of now I feel I can be powerful as ever, even if I don't chant. And, I've never felt better about myself as I do now. Of course this is not a ploy of some kind to convince my readers (which I discovered I still have! Love ya guys!) that are striving toward buddhahood to quit. And I don't hate the SGI either. It's true what president Ikeda says, it's an organization for peace. But, it's not for me (not peace, but yeah...). I can't sit in front of the gohonzon and feel right with myself. Perhaps I will be told, more a reason to chant! I believe a community is necessary where one can feel at ease to drop our layers, but the religion is not for me. I will truly miss meetings; everyone's so damn nice! I wish there were such a community that will allow people to feel that way toward each other without the rules and retribution of religion restraining us.

I want to improve myself but not by means of religion. Aren't I allowed to believe that's possible? I want to be conscious of my actions and deliberate when carrying them out. This is the only way I can fully feel responsible for myself. I guess you can say I'm not strong enough to hold myself solely responsible with the gohonzon acting as a buffer. Yes, strength is necessary to be religious. And I don't have it, at least not that kind...

I feel I can do life with out it and still come out okay. I read something in the book about "the healing power;" (no really I haven't been possessed by a Tibetan monk) I believe this. Yes, we all have it and perhaps the gohonzon helps hone that power to heal others and ourselves. But I don't want to believe that just because I don't chant for you all, that my healing powers aren't reaching you just as strongly. I think about all of you quite often in my daily life, hoping for nothing but the best. Thus will the power to heal myself be any less?

Of course it's been implied that "bad things" will happen to me if I quit, but I will be doing no one harm if I do. If anyone it'll be me; thus if I do end up leading a miserable life, you have permission to tell your grandchildren of my story as yet another lesson not to stray. I'm convinced I've searched thoroughly in the depths of my soul to reach this conclusion. I've considered perhaps this is my way of not facing the gohonzon thus not facing myself. But then again, perhaps that's an excuse not to go with what I feel, derived from among many anecdotes I have been taught since my birth.

I feel great about being 'on my own,' but perhaps this is again an egotistical obsession with myself and strength. But, there are very convincing arguments for almost any idea. And, it's just the time for me to stop analyzing and decide. I will take away its philosophies, whether I like it or not, which some I do. Maybe I'll come to appreciate those philosophies I have yet to understand, but for now it's adios. Although I can say there never will be a religion I'm more proud to have been a part of: a religion for humanity; not a God but for the God within. Quite catchy. And just gotta add, ironically for the first time, I'm able to comfortably admire President Ikeda.

Sorry this is dragged on so long...

Now that I've gotten all your perfect comments, its just like me to disappoint all of you with an announcement to leave something related to something that binds us together. So I take it all back.

Good Hunting.

ps. to Uyennie: the title of the previous entry was a reference to Nathan's greatness for entering said school.
ps. to Ellie: I'll read that book soon (^_^;)

Harvard School of Education

So I'm going up the stairs of the Kiryu Kaikan, fulfilling my once a month obligatory visit to the community center, purposely late so I don't have to listen to the people before sensei yelling at me... I guess I should have come earlier cuz all of the sudden I hear a familiar voice... English even....It was Nathan. It was Nathan the first non-Japanese person that I've ever seen up there before sensei's speech. I came late so I didn't get to hear the first half of his speech, but I jumped right in when he started saying that it is well known in American how stupid the Japanese media is... Maybe I had to be there for the first half to get this. I'm such a bitch I know. Nevertheless its always nice to see a familiar face on TV. I wasn't sure what the reaction of the crowd at the Kaikan was suppose to mean. There was an unsettling rustle of voices go up when he said that. It was either "did he just say Japanese people are stupid?" or "wow. so incredible that he recognizes that even if he's not Japanese!" I'm permanantly, irrevocably changed and molded by this religion. There's no escape.

When you translate what we call him it's "teacher." That's gotta be pretty creepy from an outsiders perspective. We're such a cult. Yea I'm in a dark place right now. For now the philosphy that comforts me the most is something that Lincoln said, "Do good and I feel good, do bad and I feel bad." Why can't it be that simple.

On a brighter note: yeeeeaaaaaahhhh!! Ellie and Jess are coming to Japan. They bought their ticket so I don't have to keep myself on a defensive for dissappointment.



P.S. To be honest, I'm a little sad that I'm not getting any comments on my blog anymore... It's basically been Uyen leaving comments for me all this time, which was definitely a endorphine booster! Next time someone leave a comment so I know at least one person is reading my crap!!

...yogiyo...

I've been to Korea yeah-- Ineresting stuff I did worth mentioning? I went to the North Korean border. Which was pretty awesome. They built a new train station on the South Korean side so that a train line connecting Pyongyang and Seoul can go through, but North Korea isn't finished with their side. And...we went down to one of the tunnels that North Korea was digging to get to Seoul. Fortunately, they discovered it before it could get too far in. Kim Jong Il's workers would dig 1m a day. They would blow up parts with dynamite, but since they would hear it above they pretended they were testing dynamites up top. They would explode them simultaneously. Sneaky buggers. Hmmm...what else is worth mentioning? Korean men are mighty attractive. The mandatory two year military service do them goooooood. Oh yea Sammie, heard the news. Dude, most of us don't know how to do that, let alone on computer. I also went to the Seoul Tower... well I went to the Seoul Tower on the famous Nam Sam Cable Car but didn't actually go up the tower. Are any of you guys watching the World Cup? Pretty crazy that England lost to Portugal. I think it's time for another reunion.

Annoyed at myself for being too Emo. Apparently, flowage is the key to life. I just might agree on that.
Good Hunting.

A Quickie

I've been reading over past blogs and I realized how much I babble. So I'll get straight to the point. I'm recontracting. My students are gradually getting bored with my presence. A teacher at my visiting high school, who is the first japanese man that I've seen with a hot ass (much less having one), is passive aggressively hitting on me and told me the other day that he's tired and "mou ippai ippai." I'm becoming too japanese for my own good. I officially had rats in the house for about a month. I got rid of the rats. My situation with the other ALTs is that groups, cliques, pairs are forming and I'm the odd left over, or so I feel. I've been asked to choose a side. Too much shit talking for my taste. But, I'm trying to make the best of it. Tis my life.

Who's commenting on my blogs?
Jess: I'm a Mind Control Master too...wouldn't you know it.
No Fumar: Are you reading my blog? Just don't go to my secret porno site.

Good Hunting.

The Inside Man

So I saw the Inside Man a few minutes ago... it just came out this weekend here. I don't know what the reviews are like out there, but it was a good movie to me. For those in Ken Saragosa's American Cinema class (am I only talking to Ellie here?) I think its a good movie to watch. Spike Lee has definitely progressed as a director, does that sound too condescending? Ok so what was good about the movie. Spike Lee's still Spike Lee where he keeps talking about racial issues, but he doesn't make them as clear cut this time as in his awesome movie Do the Right Thing. Clive Owen in the end says "respect is the only 'secure?' currency." And that's basically the underlying theme of the movie; or at least that's what I got out of it. In any case I think it was better than Crash, and more "real" even though the plot was about a successful bank robbery. And may I just say, Clive Owen is hot! Overall I'd call it a successful movie.

ps. I heard... Ken was selling drugs on campus. Is this a fact or is this a bunch of crap. I hope its the latter.

Good Hunting.

JET 102

Ok so I really need to get internet cuz I wanted wanted and wanted to blog for the past three days and as soon as I touched these lickable keyboards again in the oh so magnificent kiryu internet cafe, I just lost the will to. Or maybe it was because I got those complitments on the comments area and I made the indulging mistake of looking at them first.

I need to get in the mood... Oh yea so the three of us had the JET returners conference at Shinjuku and we stayed at the 5star or not so 5star Keio Plaza Hotel. Guess who we saw. No really guess. Hey is that? Then Allison yells in my ear "Oh My God!! it's Danny Habuki!!!" what? "Hiii guyyys, I soo Timosee (and was just about to avoid you all until Allison horned me in)." We small talk with the president of our university and make him talk to Rumiko on Allie's cellphone, while my ALT friend Jeff stands by in shock and confusion; not just at our president, but at the way Tim is acting.

We say goodbye to Habuki and we start our night out. As Tokyo smog sticks to my bodice Allison, Rumiko, Tim, and I walk towards Indian curry and nan. The food takes an hour to come out because every other JET is there also. But, it was all good cuz it created the opportune time to start a global citizen dialogue. So we talked about the Komeito Party, plastic poisoning, balance, Tim's mother chanting to sleep with David Bowie (and actually did), Bush, ignorance, Kehlen, and of course enzymes that break down carrots in Japan, well... Allison and Tim talked about those things anyway...

Overall I had fun at the conference, there were two beds and two people in my room which was good, but i was afraid Ryo might come over and sleep next to my roommate for lack of space... I also had the pleasure of having Mexican food, but the best part of the meal was the awesome Mariachi band singing 'La Vida es Carnival,' and 'Besa me.' The worst part was the artsy movie silently playing in the background, occasionally showing blood, death, and girls on toilet seats without pants.

Well keepin' it short since I think I might have given Andy glaucoma from my last blog. I expect I will not have much inspiration to write a blog from now on anyway since my sole source of inspiration is actually being with you guys. I enjoy our unspokens and our particular argot, taintful as it may be. Well I'm off to Korea next week.

ps. For some reason I think Sinan would marry me if I asked him to.

Hisashiburi

Hisash my people. So I finally get to a computer where I can blog in peace. Presently, Jessica, Sammy, and Andy have gone on a walk while I figure out in my drunken stupor of what to put in my hisash blog. ...Andy's playlist is playing gakkai songs........ It's good to be back in the good 'ol bubble. Although getting here I was almost regretting it. Being in Japan for almost a year now has made me softer than downy towels. I felt like crying when the guys who straighten the luggages on the belt didn't grab my suitcase when I asked him nicely. He annoyingly said, "to late it already passed." Although after the customs checker said, "oh, from Las Vegaaas, very sin city." Even though it was a random comment and grammatically awkward I missed the little efforts to make small talk. But, then I really felt like crying when I saw Kimiko and Mitsuko and they left me there at the airport without any feelings of regret.

Anyway enough with the mushy talk. I wrote that a while back and now I'm at the Kiryu shady ass internet cafe in Kiryu for the first time cuz I realized how necessary it is for me to check up on your blogs more often and to blog myself. And let me just tell you about this internet cafe: to my left is a little closet space area shut off with an indian rug, under it I can see pillows, a guys folded legs and a flickering tv. Then to my right is a calendar of Japanese girls looking submissive and inviting. Hmmm yea I really need to get me some hand sanytizer after this. My whole body has probably been spermified the minute I walked in here.

Ok so this is mostly for Jess to report on Andy's brother (since he took me to the airport and I got a little more information after Ellie, Sammie, and I began the process of inducting him into our group). He definitely didnt seem to mind us asking him questions. Here we thought were interrogating him, but slightly masochistic he seemed to have enjoyed it and consequently kept asking for more. "What else?" he said. So we asked him a couple of questions and found out that he graduated with an IB degree, therefore asked him what grad school he would like to go to, he answered Harvard... We told him, "wrong answer." According to his big bro he's a genius. Ok whatever but he does speak better Japanese than Andy which Andy will promptly explain to you why. "What else?" he asked again with a little more vigor this time. So Ellie asks, "whats the first thing that comes to your mind when you see a bee that is just about to die in something something... (I actually dont think I know this inside joke)" He answers, "the bees about to die." Again we tell him, "wrong answer." He asks for the right answer, so Ellie and Sammie tell him, "I wanna go to grad school." Then we parted our ways with hugs. Good hugs definitely run in the Reker family. Eric ended up taking me to the airport, in the car I found out he likes Jazz, he can play like three instruments, his dream is to travel all the habitable continents, he wants to do the JET program, he's a good driver, he also listens to some Japanese music, and he danced half naked in a cabin somewhere with his friends while Kelly Clarkson was blasting on the boombox. Thus ends my report on Eric Reker. Oh yea and he seriously answered that he can do flips, backflips, handstands with his pinky...etc. I don't know what else, but since he can dance we established that he's not Ellie's future husband.

On to somethin' else... I'd say it was a pretty successful trip. My aunt called me when I got back and told me that she didn't recognize me in the newspaper because I was wearing a dress. jeez I'll never shed the tomboy will I, nor am I in a hurry to. It was good to see everybody sans Allie. I feel like the transition was complete between Maju and I: she has become, well, non-japanese and I have become japanese. And, Jessica took her earrings. Seeing everyone else was pretty cool too, nobody has really changed much. Since we were back for only a short time I thought I would be as nice as possible and behave unlike the phychopathic bitch that I'm used to being as much as possible, but I think many sokites were confused and dazed and couldn't figure out who the hell I was (maybe it was the haircut). The ceremony was pretty kool the speaker in my opinion was better than our speaker, I didn't fall asleep. He actually made jokes that were pretty funny and gave good advice at the same time. The "new and improved" Ode To Joy was pretty riveting, we all wondered if they were going to extend it to a whole 30min production for the next graduation. Soon it'll be the whole graduation. The second class created a tradition of their own to perform at their graduation ceremony. Probably wasn't a good idea since crying people shouldn't sing mariah carey solos from the movie Honey. And the finale, ohh the finale. Michelle told us that the finale was going to be exciting, "fireworks girls, fireworks!" True to her words there were fireworks... indoor fireworks. Too bad the faculty sitting on stage weren't informed... I think one of the woman faculty sitting on the edge peed her pants while fleeing for her life. Well whatever was in her pants didn't really have a chance to dry too quickly since the weather was pretty sordid, but good news to the graduates no sweatage. Congratulations Andy.

Soka gossip 402: Amitesh got married. Something possibly going on with Phat (wait does he read this? I remember giving him my address at one time; to confirm the gossip e-mail Jessica). Sally had been kicked out a month before she gave birth. Stanley no longer attends Soka. The Alumni center is now the "small conference room" for tax purposes. The curriculum is changing, again. Jessica has decided to become a writer, thanks to Gonzo. I feel like I'm missing a whole chunk... add in what you please.

Finally no trip to soka would be complete without Pili, at least once, mentioning his poop. Ellie snorting. Cassie talkin' to Ed on the phone. Andy drivin us somewhere. Ryo not saying no. Lisa taking care of us. Michael getting a li~ttle more attention from a dog than the rest of us. Jessica doin'...something weird. Sammie doin' something different from us because of mormonism. Uyen finger drumming everyone's back. And, Phat putting on women's clothing except this trip was not complete since Allie wasn't there to let out a juicy one.

Other things that happened. Pili, Jessica, and I ended up in the Long Beach fishmarket at 3 in the morning. One of Jessica's many many non-bright ideas that Jessica had on this trip. I blindly and dutifully followed as Jessica's Turkey Inforcer. The market finally opened and picked up around 4, 4:30am... we slept in the car while Pili bought the next days dinner, which he would cook for us to be eaten under Michelle's new awesome candle (with a touch of lamp) lit canopy thingy. Then a trip to Bar Maitai where I showed my Japanese Registration Card, the bouncer showcased the card to his buddies simultaneously showcasing me as the psycho FOB Asian trying to pass. But I got in, thank goodness cuz I would have missed Jessica's fa~bulous entrance into the bar wearing a disco ball on her body. A dress she found in the salvation army pile in 300 the day before. (I ended up scoring a Chinese/English dictionary, a book on Hitler, and a dress thingy only appropriate to wear in Japan as well.)

There were calm moments as well, back in dorm 375 aka Hotel Kwan, where a game of scrabble began amongst 20 people in a 100sqft. area. No spades, which has to be remedied next time. Besides losing my rings (Jessica?) and losing $13 in Andy's room, all in all twas a fantastic and cathartic trip. I managed to check off most things on my "to do" list: eat Taco Bell, eat Inn-n-Out, eat Boba, etc.. It went by in a flash or like a blast of indoor fireworks. I approx. slept a total of 9hrs in the 4days I was there. Now I'm back in Japan missing laughing out loud, but I'm ready for the world once again and I think, as the fortune cookie said "The world is ready to receive your talents (in bed)."



Good Hunting.

ps. hey! its a picture of me, jess, and maju!!

Curses of Being a Woman

So I watched this kdrama recently that's what the people around me are doing to me: making me watch kdrama against my will. Anywho this one called My Name Is Sam Soon or something like that is really good. I'm here at a little cheap onsen place in Gunma that a whole bunch of us have gathered to enjoy the Mongolian Sauna that is incredible, but I can't go cuz ...lady's you know why. So here I am at Korona World internet cafe blogging. Not that I shouldn't be here since I haven't blogged in a month. Look at me babbling. I can't believe one of us has gone on to get a master's degree yay a little prestige in our midst! I really want to go to graduation guys.... I think I'm going to make the effort to try to make it. Since it will be pointless to attend any further graudations since I didn't associate with any student lower than a junior. hey I'm on my period let it be.

Me & Jeffs Birthday pictures.

Luvyaguys!

Hey after I blogged I read your blogs and just gotta say that I luvyaguys!!! Sorry I didn't send xmas cards or new year cards or like even send those ecards or call someone... yea I'm not a horrible person really I'm not!! I'm in Japan for goodness sake all I did on new years is drink with my uncle. didn't feel any different the next day cuz we started drinking again in the morning... Man I miss you guys! uh...happy belated new year and...merry xmas and and early Valentines Day!!

General Hospital

So a little while after I last blogged I was hit by a mean virus which made me throw up at least 15 times, feverish, and delirious. Naoko and Naoko's mom took care of me. Tokyo made me sick. Japan is really weird when it comes to illnesses. I was taken to the hospital by ambulence, which became understandable since I was told its a free service. so they put me on a stretcher. Then when I go to the ER all the nurses and docs were totally bored out of their minds, and then they took a look at me and they gave me the "oh my god stop over reacting" look. Excuse me I may not have a bullet wound but I deserve some... something I don't know. They at least gave me an IV drip. Anyway couldn't eat proper for a few days. Is this gettin' anyone excited?? yea well, I'm in Tokyo at an internet cafe because I'm going to see Jason Mraz in concert!! yea! uhhh...I have nothing else to blog about except that its blimey cold. But snow is kinda cool. I haven't been doing any cool stuff you're suppose to do while abroad. oh yea I'm in love with the starbucks manager at the local mall tee hee.

In Tokyo!

Im in a internet cafe with Allison and Andy is being stupid and not calling!!!! If you havent noticed I stopped using the apostrophe since it is located as a shift on the number seven and Im too lazy to shift it every time I say Im. I wish I can be part of the book club now since Im reading books like crazy. Not as crazy as Jessica but crazy. Im finally being educated. The first thing we did in Tokyo was to go get some TGIF. We also found a carpet that Jessica would probably have bought. I drink a lot but I never drank so much in my life with my aunt and uncle. Ok since Allison just made fun of me for not blogging the juice Ill blog it. I had a date with this English guy whos hot. I mean hot. He asked me out on a date so we went to Dennys. Thats right laugh it up, but thats the hottest place in Kiryu girls (and guys). Conversation was good but hes too hot for me and he plays soccer, he snowboards, he skateboards(which is basically snowboarding on land), and he loves his parents... I dont think hes the right guy for me, do you?? And I have bad news guys: Im not shopping. Really Im not shopping. Im sending money home to pay my loans. But Im thinking about taking it easy, so that I can shop a little to keep my sanity. Also over some TGIF Cajun-fried Chicken Salad, Allison and I talked about moving to Seattle after JET (maybe) (oh and sorry Ellie we dont want to go to Portland). So Jessica get ready for some roommates. Were gonna be Sexy In the City of Seattle.

Quench the Crave

I miss driving... I miss sound proof walls... I miss the Korean restaurant appetizers that don't exist in Japan... I miss seinfeld... I miss simpsons... and I miss taco bell!!! and I miss you guys of course. Oh but our son is coming xmas eve. (by the way note to Andy, call me when you get here since I assume you'll be spending xmas eve with la familia) Now there are occassional perks to being in Japan, cuz you can go to Tokyo and feel like you're at the center of everything. Like when I go to see Jason Mraz in January. that's right I have converted to a Jason Mraz fan, and I do not have the right to feel that I am truly a fan since he has been Ellie's husband for two years now.

Talking to Chester

I get online occassionally when I stay the night at friends house. But Chester and Ryo have been the only people who've I've talked to, well mostly Chester. I'm talking to Chester now...and now Sheldon. Damn it where are you guys? I'm gonna be alone for X'mas guys...feel sorry for me. All the ALTs are going home, and I will be in Japan where there are no X'mas trees. Well hope ya'll had a nice Thanksgiving...it doesn't feel like the holidays here.... I need to be in the holiday spirit. Some of the teachers really can't speak English and it's beginning to annoy me. Because a lot of these kids are freakin' smart and I kNOW if they had a teacher that could speak English then they would be better at English and they might actually like it. It's sad I say something in class and some students understand me and they explain to the teacher who doesn't... These kids are awesome... well most of them. Japanese Soka students are not the only angelic one's, but I guess they're more extreme. More to come.

ps. if you want to read other ALTs blogs they're funnier cuz they have internet at their home and they blog about everything....everything meaning food. So here it is. cindyng.blogspot.com
and jeffsantilli.blogspot.com Damn it I can't put pics on here...

I'm here!!!!

Still alive and kicking... I hate not being able to blog... Omg. oh yea Jess I got you a hanten for your late birthday... early X'mas.... congratualtions on getting a kool job! ...... gift. I haven't sent it yet so....winter might be over by the time it gets there... You know had to wait until payday which was today... whatelse..... Going to be alone for Xmas.....sad....

How to make a Ann
Ingredients:3 parts pride1 part courage5 parts energy
Method:Stir together in a glass tumbler with a salted rim. Add a little cocktail umbrella and a dash of wisdom

I like the dash of wisdom.... I MISSS you guuuuuuuyyyyyyssssssss!!!!!!

Longtime no see...

ha.... I'm a shitty person I haven't blogged.... I really want to get internet but phone line is so expensive. Not really liking my blogs lately... getting lazy and can't really make them interesting. Anyway... sameO sameO here. ...how many more months until you guys get here?? Did I say congrats to you all for getting jobs? and Sammy's opting for a career change in Iraq or a hostess in Japan. I got some hooks up for ya sammy if you ever need. I CANT wait to watch Elizabethtown! It just came out today but... I don't have enough money. I have about $200 to last me until the 21st. ok well don't have any interesting to say.

My apologies...

the onsen was really fun all the guys got drunk and we talked about pornos and politics.....oh yea and did you all know that Naomi has been with Yukio since senior year?? Went clubbing in Roppongi, there was a Japanese guy all G'd up wearing a shirt that said "I'm Black." Ok sorry I realize I've been blogging on and on I'm not concentrating on the content...haa...I need to get internet...so I can relax find my chi and type kick ass blogs... Anyway I'm glad you guys are starting to plan the trip to Japan!!