Fukuoka has a Coldstone!

I sat at work on Friday afternoon and drumming my fingers on my desk, trying to think of a feesable excuse to duck out early and avoid conversing in Engrish with my supervisor. Earlier this week I had the pleasure of spending a whole two days in her company at a seminar in Oita City. At this very seminar, she decided to go to a workshop on English Education in Elementary Schools. When I said, “Hirakawa-sensei, why are you going to a seminar on English Education in Elementary Schools? We teach at high school.” She replied, “Our students’ have Engrish level very low.” Considering that I stand in the back of the room during her classes while the kids whisper the correct answers to themselves while she badgers them with her boring lessons, I was really upset by this comment. Trust me, they aren’t English scholars, but they do not need to sing the ABC’s anymore. To top it all off, yesterday in class I asked the kids a question, and one of my girls (WHO HAS A STUDDER!) was actually brave enough to answer. Now, she is shy, so I made a really big deal about her wanting to answer the question, and stood really close to her desk so she wouldn’t have to shout. I was giving her the time she needed to get the answer out, but Hirkawa-sensei was standing there as well saying, “ANSWER QUESTION, JUST ANSWER QUESTION.IT'S OKAY TO JUST ANSWER QUESTION.” I shot her a look that said, “Back-off” and once she returned to the teacher’s podium the student relaxed, looked me right in the eye, and said “My favorite film is Totoro.” Rock on, kiddo.

So, these interactions have worn my patience for my boss down to a threadbare minimum. Last week my one of my best friends sent me candy corn, earrings, and a Pez dispenser in the mail. I have actually imagined using the Pez dispenser as a weapon. On days when I am particularly cranky, I imagine lifting up the little pumpkin’s head, and shooting out a Pez candies like projectile missiles.

Don't think I won't do it, this thing is spring-loaded.

In my head, I have really good aim, so my little colorful candies tend to hit her square in the eye. HA! I assure you I am not a violent person, but this woman is tempting my good-nature.

So, I told my Vice Principle I needed to leave early to catch a train, and he let me go. With that, I went home to pack, and actually hopped a train into Oita City. I spent the Friday night in Oita City with friends, and the next morning my friend Hunter and I hopped a train to Fukuoka.

Now, I like to compare Kyushu (my island) to the Midwest. The Midwest is full of all those barren square states, and despite the fact that the Midwest takes up quite a bit of room there in the middle of America, there really aren’t many cities. Well, Fukuoka is to Kyushu what Chicago is to the Midwest. Greg and his girlfriend Yuka met up with us about an hour after we arrived at Kyushu, and we all rushed to the first fast food restaurant we found- Wendy’s. Now, I never ate Wendy’s in America, but I sure ate it on Saturday, proudly I might add. Less than three hours later we stumbled upon a Coldstone Creamery, and I ate my weight in ice cream laden with Mangos. While the girls working there sang “Ice-cream makes you happy, fa-ra-ra-ra-ra…” Bless Fukouka, international metropolis and haven for American food. We walked and shopped all day, around 7 we met Danielle at the train station, and we all hopped a bus to none other than THE HARD ROCK CAFÉ!

Now, not only did the Hard Rock Café have PITCHERS OF AMERICAN BEER, BUT THEY HAD REAL AMERICAN FOOD! Actual large portions complete with all the grease and cheddar cheese. I myself ate an entire plate of nachos with heaps of jalapeños, real cheddar cheese, AND copious amounts of guacamole and salsa. I didn’t think things could get any better, but they did.

Greg, with a giant pitcher of beer =0)

Yuka, me, and Danielle 

me and Danielle 

So about 6 months ago one of my best friends was the leading fella in the new Puddle of Mudd music video for the song “We don’t have to look back now.” Well, THEY PLAYED THE VIDEO!

Here it is, if you’re curious…

http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=D5JKF3xlGCM

So as I lifted my beer to wash down some nacho goodness I glanced up and saw a very familiar face. I was so excited I jumped up and shouted ,”HEY! I KNOW THAT GUY! HEY!HEY!HEY GUYS! I KNOW THAT GUY!” My poor friends…. So, after a very delicious American meal the five of us hopped in a taxi and came back to our hotel to have a few drinks before going out for the night.

We usually listen to Hunter’s I-pod when we pre-funk, but we couldn’t get it to work. So, we watched Mission Impossible I on TV (dubbed in Japanese) and drank every time something “impossible” happened, or every time we heard the name “Eeefan” (Engrish for Ethan).

Greg bought a really giant beer, and I was a little concerned.....

Danielle with a fruity drink thing, me with a bottle of Guinness, and Yuka with Greg's beer(which was about the size of her) 

Best Friend Hunter accused me of getting HIM pregnant.... hmmmm

Greg and Yuka 

Best friend Hunter and I attempted once again to take a proper picture

Danielle, the only veteran JET among us has been to Fukuoka several times, so she recommended we go to a bar called “Happy Cock.” Like most bars in Japan, it is tucked away in a tall building a few stories up in some random room. However, it was a really great bar and for a 2000 yen cover (about 20 bucks) it was all you could drink. I was here that we met up with our other foreign friends, and of course debauchery ensued.

 Best friend Hunter and I found Cheryl at "Happy Cock." This is what foreigners look like when it's all you can drink. 

Cheryl, Danielle, me

Danielle, me, and Cheryl waiting at the bar

"HI! ERIN! IT'S ME GREG! I'M GREG! YOU'RE MY FRIEND!"

Greg was thrown off the stage for being a boy, and Shahzana and were thrown on for being cute girls. 

Shahzana and I know how to "bust a move," or whatever it is that the kids call it these days...

Danielle joined the party 

I don't know....

I look like I'm singing karaoke

Yuka came to dance =0)

me, Shahzana, Yuka, and Danielle

Cheryl and Danielle

Danielle looks quite seductive, Yuka looks adorable, I accidently cut off Greg's head, and I just look confused.

Yuka is adorable

there is a lot of cleavage in this picture...

The next afternoon, we all rolled off our futons and headed to Sumo. Here we met up with even more foreigners. It’s really funny to watch how Japanese people react to large groups of Gaigen (that is Japanese for foreigner.) They sort of back away and shield their children. Hmmm…..

This is Betsy

Greg, me, Hunter, and Betsy 

Darin, Betsy, Greg, and me. Darin and Betsy are getting married in August! How cool is that?!

Now, Sumo is hands down one of the coolest things I have ever seen in real life. Now that I’ve actually watched several bouts, I realize there is a lot more to the sport than fat Japanese dudes crashing into each other. It’s actually a lot about balance, flexibility, and agility. For the most part, these are not characteristics I would bestow amongst men of this size. However, they surprised me.

This was my favorite picture of the day. Despite my attempts to take Sumo seriously, there is still nothing funnier than a fist full of Japanese man-boob. 

this was the tiniest Sumo wrestler I've ever seen.

the stare down

the bout begins, and Mr. Black is going right for Mr. Purple's throat. 

It looks as though Mr. Purple is giving Mr. Black a wedgie. 

This was the major division. These are the fellas who are married to models and actresses. 

These guys were huge!

I'm not sure what this guy was wearing....

I don't know what type of interpretive dance he was doing, but he looked very elegant doing it.

right before a "bout."

So, after Sumo Hunter, Greg, Betsy, Darin, and I headed back to the train station to go home. Danielle didn’t want to go to Sumo, so she shopped all day and met us at the station when the tournament was over. Bless her heart, she came with Subway sandwiches for all of us! Mine was laden with avocado and guacamole of course, and I was a happy panda. The train ride home was relaxing.

These shirts were on sale at the Hard Rock Cafe, so we both got one =0)

Greg looks adorable with a ribbon in his hair

Darin doesn't look as adorable with the ribbon in his hair.....but Betsy is still cute.

Now that I’ve been in Japan for about 3 months I am starting to feel more settled here. I have actually made friends that I would legitimately hang out with in America, which has made life a lot easier. As I mentioned before, two of my new friends, Besty and Darin, are engaged. Danielle is a bridesmaid. This weekend they invited Hunter, Greg, and I to their wedding in August. This was a big deal for me, considering that I’ve never been to a wedding that wasn’t for a relative. The really comforting thing about this little group of friends is the constant stream of inside jokes. I actually feel like I have a place here now. And while I still miss home, it’s not as bad as it was 3 months ago.

So, that said, I’m going to call it a night. 

Cheers!