Zombie Apocalypse?

It’s the rainy season now, and the weather is pretty dodgy. It’s hot, it’s humid, and every afternoon there’s a downpour. Everything is damp, all the time. I have no doubt that this is what it would feel like to be in a washing machine. 

The worst part of my Monday-Friday life is the school's A/C policy. The bureaucrats up top have decided that the A/C doesn't need to be turned on until the teacher's room hits 82 degrees. Then, the A/C can be switched on BUT ONLY to maintain that 82 degrees. What is so magic about 82 degrees? I have no idea. And even then, we aren't allowed to turn the A/C on til July. What is so magic about July? I have no idea. 

So my kids pluck at my t-shirts and say “Sa-mma crothes?” and I grumble “yes.” I’ve tried to explain to the Vice Principle that this is a first world contry and that my sweat glands don’t operate on a calendar, and that I start sweating way before office hits 82 degrees. My pleas have fallen on deaf ears.

So I've taken to wearing pretty much whatever I want to school. Baggy cargo shorts, don't mind if I do. Star Wars t-shirts, why yes I think I will. Sports bras, why yes I've ordered several off Target.com these past few months. Nothing makes me sleepier than warm weather. On Thursday around 3 I decided to read my book. I woke up at 4, face in my book amidst a puddle of my own drool.... professional, neh?

Now, North Korea's nuclear activity is making Japan nervous- but not as nervous as Swine flu. Everyone wears masks, and every morning homeroom teachers chart the student temps. A few towns over a kid got Swine flu (ONE KID), and 10 schools were closed. There is more on the news about Swine flu and Michael Jackson than unfriendly North Korea.

So because I’m bored, I can’t keep my feet on the ground, and I have an over active imagination I spend a lot of time thinking. In my mind this muggy weather, the Swine flu pandemic, and the threat of a neighbor with a nuclear arsenal can mean only one thing; Zombie Apocalypse. This muggy weather makes Japan the perfect warm petri-dish environment for the hypothetical "hybrid- nuclear- Swine- flu -super -virus" to thrive in. Said virus will take the nation by storm and BOOM, Zombie Apocalypse. 

So I wear t-shirts, sports bras, shorts, and sandals. That was if the zombie apocalypse really hits, I’ll be geared up to take my stand- armed with my weapons of choice: a Light Saber and a Chainsaw Bow-Staff.

My friends share my sentiments, so this weekend we all had a get together in Oita. Friday we played drinking games in a room with 2 giant fans on "high." Friday's drinking game was "The Power Hour," a YouTube treasure featuring the intros of all your favorite 90s television classics. You take a shot of beer after every intro, and reflect on the shows that shaped your childhood and molded you into the citizen you are today. Sophisticated, I know. Saturday we had a picnic in the park. 

Behold: YouTube's "Power Hour." You can't help but sing along, the nostalgia takes you by storm! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twgWKFSF3JA

Danielle and Darin! 

Hunter, the fresh face of "The Power Hour"

Me, Danielle, and Caitlyn pose for a cute picture

the giggles ensue, due to Caitlyn's claws of doom

and the giggles continue 

Darin is looking at me rather judgmentally... 

Hunter attempts to seduce me, but alas, the Force is too strong with me. I am impervious to seduction

Ryan looks so classy with his beer cozy

Saturday afternoon Picnic Salsa. "O-I-SHI!" aka "Delicious"

Betsy and Darin play a little Saturday Soccer 

I'm leaving Oita in 24 days...whoa

Winston's last visit to Oita-ken....

So, we're officially at countdown status. I have T-Minus 35 days left in Kunisaki. I'm considering taking some construction paper and tape, and creating a contraption in the likeness of a "Christmas counter-downer," only this one would be a "Kunisaki counter-downer." I have the time on my hands and the materials, but I'm lacking the motivation. 

Since my time here is running short, Winston decided to fly down this past weekend and pay me one last visit here at my paper house. 

My paper house in all its flammable glory 

We had a pretty packed schedule. 

Friday: Hit Parade

Saturday: "African Safari"

Sunday: Lazy beach day 

Man, I love lists. Okay, so on to Hit Parade. There's not much to tell really, this is my third time blogging about it, and it just keeps getting cooler.  What's cooler than a bunch of Japanese people dressed for a Sock Hop with righteous hair and classy tunes? Nothing, that's right- Hit Parade is the cat's pajamas. 

Betsy, Danielle, and myself. 

on the dance floor

Winston and I rockin' our fifties feet. 

Mouseketeers? 

Cool pic, eh?

We woke up on Saturday morning, had some breakfast, and drove to Beppu to explore the "African Safari." Now, I went to the African Safari when I first came to Oita, but that was in a car. This time, Winston and I opted for the Jungle Bus. 

Now, the Jungle Bus is a bus shaped like a safari animal with a metal mesh barrier. People inside the bus can feed the safari animals snacks with tongs through the mesh. Safer than it sounds, I assure you. 

behold, the Jungle Bus. 

Winston and I set off on our Jungle Bus adventure

Our tray of Jungle Bus snacks, and the tongs 

Winston fed a ram

I fed a lordly lion

A Pride of Proud Lions 

Elephant!!!!

Giraffe!!!!

Winston and I took a typical one armed couple picture in front of the Jungle Bus

We slept in on Sunday, and headed to the beach in Kunisaki. We got some cool pictures. 

Two kissy kids on the beach with their books. 

Pale girl meets ocean

Kelp, moo grass of the sea

With those colorful arms, who needs a tan?

Watch out, he'll unleash his kung-fu all up on you!

Winston wading....

Thus ended our weekend. Monday morning I took Winston to the airport before work. Sad day. But the end is in sight, and we're at the final countdown. And while I've enjoyed my time here, I'm ready to leave too. Hooray for summer! 

Gloomy Bear

So once upon a few weekends ago, my friends convinced me to go to a beer garden in Oita City with them. Now, let me preface this by saying that there are several reasons why I don't generally go out. Let's make a list, we all know I like lists.

1. I do RIDICULOUS things

2. I giggle uncontrollably

3. I like to be in bed by 11. Going drinking usually doesn't result in getting a good night's sleep.

4. I equate drinking money with book money. My inner monologue says, "Well, you could spend $60 on beer and bars tonight OR you could order Isaac Asimov's Foundation series of Amazon.jp AND get free shipping. The books usually win over the beer.

However, the beer garden in Oita City is open from 6-9, it's all you can eat and all you can drink, and it's only about $30. Even I can't say "no" to that. 

"Dino Arms," a frequently issued drinking game penalty. 

Caitlyn, Betsy, and myself. 

Our table and the beer garden. 

the empties...

Now, since I don't eat meat or dairy I was a bit limited in my food options. By limited I mean that all I ate was pineapple, edamame beans, and some french fries. Now with 3 hours of all you can drink, we packed a deck of cards and organized a few games, which ended in me getting tanked. Observe: 

yeppers.... giggles McGee at it again. 

Once the beer garden closed, we decided to head to the arcade to do "Purikura." Now, "Purikura" is crazy popular in Japan. They're basically green screen photo booths. Here are a few examples (taken in Fukuoka back in January, it was totally worth the $5 bucks)

Very Aqua Teen Hunger Force

Someday I'll have my very own potbellied pink pigmy elephant...

Three magical princesses ride a majestic carousel unicorn into a galaxy of octopi and stars... it happens in Japan. 

So back to the story, the afore shown examples of "Purikura" inspired us to head to the arcade. 

I don't know why I was so sad

Darin and Ryan being Darin and Ryan. 

the faces say it all

In the end we canned the "Purikura" plan and discovered the claw machines. Now, everyone headed for the "Hello Kitty" and "Rilakuma" machines. Everyone but me. Why? Because I HATE "Hello Kitty" and "Rilakuma." 

Reasons I hate "Hello Kitty"

1. Hello Kitty has no mouth

2. Hello Kitty's facial expression never changes

3. Hello Kitty has a pet cat- creepy

4. Hello Kitty reminds me of Jeffrey Dahmer. I don't know why, maybe because Hello Kitty's vacant expression leads me to believe that she's homicidal. My mind works in mysterious ways. 

Reasons I hate Rilakuma:

1. Rilakuma pretty much means "lazy bear." This bear has way too much attitude for a "lazy bear." Anyone who is legitimately lazy is too lazy by definition to be so "in your face" about their laziness.

2. While Rilakuma has a mouth, once again his facial expression is vacant, expressionless, and never changing. 

Then I found him, a Japanese animation character I can really get behind. Gloomy Bear:

Meet Gloomy Bear:

As I post this picture, I can hear my Grandma's voice in my head saying, "Erin! That's gross!" But, hear me out. Gloomy Bear's tag says, and I quote: "GLOOMY The Naughty Grizzly. "Gloomy" is Pity's pet bear. His height is about 7 ft. He is well trained...except he as a hard time remembering not to attack humans."

Now, unlike "Hello Kitty" or Rilakuma, Gloomy Bear doesn't hide who he is. While his expression is vacant, his face, mouth, and claws are covered in blood. There's no questioning Gloomy Bear's motives, he'll mess you up. So, for reasons unknown Drunk Erin fell in love with Gloomy Bear, at which time she bullied the arcade employees into moving the bears around in the claw machines TWICE, thus, she won not one, but TWO murderous bears. 

One word: Victory 

True, elated, drunken joy. 

So I woke up on Sunday morning snuggling my new bears... unexpected yet hilarious. 

Cheers to beer gardens and bears.