Watashi wa Erin desu.

Odiaba

2009-11-15T03:07:00.000-08:00

So on this gorgeous Fall Sunday, Winston and I decided to get out of the house and go to Odiaba. Odiaba is a little part of Tokyo best known for it's gigantic ferris wheel:

Pictured above, Odiaba's big ol' ferris wheel. In 1999 the Guinness Book of World Records voted this colorful contraption as the tallest in the world.

But before our excited Ferris wheel ride, Winston and I grabbed lunch at a Hawaiian restaurant and poked around a mall. This is when we stumbled upon one of the strangest things I've ever seen in real life. A BARBIE STORE. When I say I found a Barbie store, I don't mean a store filled with dolls, I mean a store filled with clothing and accessories FOR GROWN WOMEN, inspired by Barbie.

Winston and I didn't actually go into the store, mainly because I was a little freaked out. But we did however manage to snap a quick picture of the store's front display.

So, after we'd had a yummy lunch and a good dose of Barbie inspired giggles, we each paid the equivalent of $9.00 to ride a ferris wheel. Mind you, this is the cost of a movie in America, BUT this is Tokyo.

Us atop the ferris wheel.

I thought this was a really cool picture....

One last picture of the ferris wheel as we headed to the bay for a boardwalk stroll.

On our way to the board walk for a sunset stroll, Winston saw an instant photo op. I thought this was a really amazing picture. Look at the sun! I wanted to take one of him as well, but since I am camera challenged, it took about 5 minutes for me to do it...darn. At least I tried.

See, Winston's picture turned out WAY better! I think it's safe to say that I won't be a photographer when I grow up.

This is the Rainbow Bridge.

One last shot of the day, on the boardwalk near Tokyo Bay.

Alright folks, that's all for now. More Tokyo adventures to come.....

Halloween in Tokyo.. We're not in Kansas anymore

2009-11-02T02:04:00.000-08:00

I apologize once again for my lack updates, but to be fair I'm full of excuses. I had a pretty rough cold for about a week, the direct result of spending 4 hours a day with toddlers at a preschool. I never thought one of my favorite jobs would involved getting coughed on, sneezed on, slobbered on, (today I even got peed on whilst diaper changing) BUT alas a little case of the sniffles is worth seeing how easy it is for me to make them smile.

So I spent my sick time eating lentil soup and watching the Alien Quadriligy. While I like to think I found a cure for the common cold that I can live with, I should probably admit that the mother of one of my students took pity on me and sent me home from a lesson one day with loads of cold medicine. I find that every time I travel I end up getting parented by proxy.

This is a very sick me eating my very delicious homemade lentil soup. That's right I cooked, successfully. No fires, no deaths, and you know what? other people that weren't me actually admitted that it tasted fabulous and went back for seconds. I can cook now! It's only taken 4.5 years living on my own to figure out how to feed myself.

Regardless I was healthy for Halloween, which is a "yay," considering it's my favorite holiday. Why? Because much to Winston's dismay Autumn is my favorite season (he enjoys the sweltering Summer heat that makes me wish I lived with penguins in the South Pole). Plus, I love carving pumpkins (and baking their yummy seeds), and on a side note I always crave candy corn in October. But only the the yellow/orange/white corn shaped ones. The pumpkins weird me out, which makes no sense because it's all nothing but corn syrup.

Now, I'm also a big fan of costumes. Halloween is the only day of the year wear it's socially acceptable to wear WHATEVER you want. This year, I decided to dress Winston and I as Star Fleet officers. Behold: Captain James T. Kirk and Leonard "Bones" McCoy of the Starship Enterprise...

We got loads of compliments on our costumes, and more than a few chuckles from foreign passer-bys. This surprised me, considering that al I did was spent $10 on some long sleeve shirts, color the collars with a Sharpie pen, smear dollar store glitter paint on some cardboard, and pull Winston and my black skinny jeans out of the closet. Whatayaknow, I'm resourceful.

So, our evening went a little epically something like this. Winston and I trained over to our friend Greg and Nicole's apartment. We ate lots of homemade salsa, guacamole, and had more than a few beers each. Did I mention that Greg and Nicole love me so much the actually bought me my own pumpkin to carve? Well, they did, and I consider myself quite lucky.

Behold, my pumpkin pride and joy.

Now, I'll admit my pumpkin is a bit toothy. To be fair i didn't have any official pumpkin carving tools, it was just a kitchen knife. However, me and my "one tooth wonder hillbilly" pumpkin look quite content.

I believe Nicole and I were discussing how being in the kitchen cooking together made us feel like "adults."

mmmmm. tomatoes

the fruits of our labor

After watching about 15 minutes of Saw, then the Candy Man, then Star Trek, we decided to head out for the evening. Now there are several reasons why I don't usually go out in Tokyo. The first is that the bars are too smokey. They second is that the bars are too crowded. The third is that a beer costs around $10 a piece. But on Halloween, exceptions must be made. Of course, our bar of choice was beyond crowded, so we grabbed a few corner store store beers, and stood on the street to watch the show.

Nicole, our "Naughty School Teacher" doing her best "mom face" That'd be her husband in the background =0)

she looked so darn cute in those glasses with that ruler.

Me, Nicole, and our friend Sachiko (who was an evil office lady)
This is Greg with his Japanese doppelganger. By far, Greg had the best costume of the night.

Minnies!

Buzz Lightyear to the rescue! Apparently Japan loves Disney.

zomygoodness! Robot!

Now, the next few pictures are all going to look the same, but I want you to notice how busy and crowded the streets are.

live long and prosper, or Nicole will beat you with her teacher stick.

Now, before drawing this lengthy post to a close, I'd like to show you all a "funny." Nicole is one of my dearest friends. We met at college, we ran around Europe together, and now we work together in Tokyo.

Now, this is Nicole and I dressed as a duck and a witch for our preschool's Halloween party:

And this is Nicole and I after hours, left to our own devices. We think we're pretty funny.

hope everyone had a happy Halloween!

Mutt in a Mug?

2009-10-22T05:10:00.000-07:00

While walking home from dinner a few nights ago Winston and I spotted this dog sitting in a comically sized mug outside a pawn shop. Needless to say, the dog looked a little agitated. I'd be in a foul mood too if someone made me sit in a cup. We sat there for a few minutes, as I watched a few Japanese people pet the dog. I decided it was safe to pet him myself. Well, he didn't want ME to touch him, in fact he snubbed me. That's right, I was snubbed by a fluffy dog in a cup.

It was then that I decided that the dog wasn't cranky because he's in a cup. He's cranky because he has a bad perm, his master makes him wear silly sweaters, AND he's a grumpy racist.

It's occurred to me that when I'm in foreign countries language barriers leave me rather trapped in my own head. Then I do things like give dogs personality traits, emotions, AND accuse them of racist tendencies. Darn.

Hat? I think so....

2009-10-11T22:22:00.001-07:00

People usually say that New York is "the city that never sleeps," but after a few weeks in Tokyo I'd have to disagree. If I had to use one word to describe Tokyo, it'd be busy. I don't think anyone in this city every just chills out. Everyone on the streets or on the trains looks like they're running late. I feel like the only person in Tokyo who strolls. If I ride my bike to work in the mornings I have to watch out for weaving cabs looking for their morning fares. If I take the train I have to wedge myself into a car, bury my face in a salary man's back, and wait for my station. I feel like the lazy bee in the hive, and it's like stress through osmosis. Between working 2 jobs my schedule is a delicate balance of working/eating/sleeping. Needless to say, my free time has become quite valuable, and since Fall is here there are a few things I can't seem to get enough of.

1. Dresses and Tights.

These ones are all green and patterned. Since I'd rather save than shop at the moment, tights are a nice, relatively inexpensive addiction.

2. Apples

I seriously eat 3-4 apples a day. I don't know what it is, but I can't get enough of them. Considering that apples are delicious and nutritious, this isn't a bad addiction either. At least I'm full of fiber. Winston thinks it's quite funny that I'm a black hole for all the fruit in the house.

3. Tea

I drink Green Tea in the mornings, Chai Tea in the afternoons, and Peppermint Tea after dinner. Maybe it's just because my lion mug is so darn cute, I really don't know. At least I'm hydrated.

4. Crocheting

When I was 19 my beautiful Grandmother taught me how to crochet. Since then, nearly everyone I know has received a scarf for Christmas/ other related holiday. My brother even got his own blanket a few years ago. Well, yesterday I managed to branch out, and make a hat. I was very proud that it not only looked like a hat, but the kind of hat you could buy in an actual store.

it's a hat!

granted, I made this one for Winston, but I just wanted you to see how cute it looks on! Now no one will be nervous when I ask them what color hat they'd like as a holiday gift.

5. Old Movies

Since Tokyo is a big expensive city, and Winston and I aren't really fans of big loud smoky over-priced clubs, when we want to do a little relaxing date night, we throw on an old movie. Lately Alfred Hitchcock has been our director of choice, but if you know your movies you'll see there's a Humphrey Bogart classic on the list as well. Here's a few of the movies we've watched the past few weeks:

1. Rear Window

2. Strangers on a Train

3. The Maltese Falcon

4. The Birds

5. Vertigo

Next on the list are:

1. The Ten Commandments

2. Dr. Zhivago

3. Cleopatra

4. Tokyo Joe

We don't consider ourselves boring, we consider ourselves indispensable wells of knowledge for bar trivia nights. That's just how we roll.

Okay, that's all for now- til I see another dog in a raincoat or a memorable Lolita girl.

Anniversary Pasta

2009-10-11T21:28:00.000-07:00

Here's a little Erin/ Winston trivia. October 5th marked 2 years since our first date, which consisted of pizza, a lot of German Beer, and a Journey themed Karaoke contest. And while my new dietary restrictions (dairy doesn't sit so well) prevent me from enjoying normal pizza, Winston and I still enjoy German Beer and a good round of Karaoke. So, to celebrate making it to two years we decided to make each other dinner. And when I say "make each other dinner," I mean I chopped veggies for a salad and Winston spent the day making pasta sauce. Here's our 2nd Anniversary menu:

Beverage: Red Wine

Appetizer: Fresh Garden Salad

Main Course: Whole Wheat Pasta and Sauce made from scratch

Dessert: Really yummy dark chocolate

To get our ingredients, we decided to shop at a local organic shop near the Hole. The folks that work there are super sweet, and the place is just adorable.

So cute!

the boy in front of the organic shop.

GIANT PUMPKIN! I want to cut it up and make a giant pie....

fresh squeezed juices

yum!

These tomatoes were amazing. I could have eaten several plain.

It was difficult to limit ourselves and buy only what we needed to make dinner! Everything looked so delicious.

our salad.

our wine! This was actually a birthday gift from my friends Greg and Nicole. Thanks, guys!

Winston and I in our dark and dodgy kitchen of doom.

the final product, amazing pasta.

Winston spent all day on the pasta sauce. It was so delicious. He had it simmering all day, and progressively filled it with yummy seasonings. Since we don't eat meat, he loaded it with lentils as well. What a guy. Mind you, we're still looking for a new apartment so we are lacking a few key pieces of furniture.... like a table. So we used a box...

we opted not to use candles, considering the flammable nature of our furniture...

Tokyo Tofu Burger

2009-10-11T20:32:00.000-07:00

So, as many of you know one of the things I've come to miss most whilst here in Japan are Veggie Burgers. Since I ate mostly fruits, vegetables, seafood, and grains in the States adjusting to food here in Japan wasn't a big issue for me. I'm not dying without Wendy's or Pop Tarts. I do however, miss Veggie Burgers like you wouldn't believe.

Since coming to Tokyo I feel like I've had to go through culture shock all over again, which is frustrating. I played the "culture shock" game a year ago, and I'm over it. Recognizing that I've been a little bummed lately, Winston decided to get me a little comfort food and take me out for a "date night". This is where the Tokyo Tofu Burger comes into the story.

Japan has a fast food chain called, "Freshness Burger." I'd say in terms of healthy eating it's on par more with Subway and less with McDonald's. Anyway, they have a "Tofu Veggie Burger" on the menu! Hooray for the little things in life I have to look forward to.

typical one armed couple date night picture.

our waters and my side salad.

the inside of the burger shop. It was all cute and decorated for Halloween.

THE TOFU VEGGIE BURGER OF GREATNESS. One word: Epic.

The French Fries were also full of freshness, not to mention potato goodness.

the taste test
I'd love to know who comes into work extra early to make these pretty chalk signs.

Again, I'd love to know who comes in EVEN EARLIER to make this little chalk sign. It's so colorful and intricate.

the view from the outside.

one of my favorite veggie burger scouts.

That's all, until our next round of Tokyo Tofu Burgers.

Yoyogi Park

2009-10-07T22:05:00.000-07:00

Last weekend Winston and I went to Yoyogi park in Shibuya to go on a walk and soak up the last of the summer weather. Winston's the only one who's sad summer's over... I hate the humidity and the feeling that I'm breathing water. Summer in Japan makes me feel like a fish in a hot tub. So I welcome fall and all it's pretty colors and fresh apples.

Winston has an amazing camera and is a pretty good photographer, so I thought I'd post a few of the pictures he took.

Winston says this is his " favorite picture he's ever taken of me." Why? I have no idea, but he requested that I put it up.

the leaves changing

Rockabilly guys in Yoyogi Park. They go there and practice almost everyday. A lot of performing groups use Yoyogi park as a practice space, because it's big and free to be there.

Sock Hop Mama

Rockabilly babe

TIGHTS!!

This was a Hokkaido food festival

We saw this vintage car on our way back to the train station that night, seemed like a good picture to end on.

Happy October!

Typhoon?

2009-10-07T21:25:00.000-07:00

It's been raining ALL WEEK here in Tokyo. As a Northwest native I'm pretty used to the rain, however this was something a little different. It wasn't just pouring, it was "Holy Noah I'd better build an Arc," pouring. Then I was reminded that it's actually Typhoon Season here in Tokyo. That explains why I've been seeing dogs in raincoats.

It's hard to catch a good picture of these fashionable dogs on my phone, considering that they're walking most of the time... so though this is blurry I think you get the idea.

It was so windy this morning I thought someone was knocking on my door... then I saw the rain blowing sideways. After a morning of that, it's 77 degrees and sunny. Typhoon season is bizarre.

The Hole

2009-10-02T00:40:00.000-07:00

Moving Day: October 1st started out well. Winston and I had our lease signed by 9:30, the sun was shining, and we had ourselves a little cleaning party.

Winston and I at the station bright and early, on our way to sign the lease!

A typical morning at the station

Pre-game shrimp burger

cleaning....

After we finished packing and cleaning, Winston and I were pretty excited, mainly due to the fact that our new apartment has old school skeleton keys. Clearly we're easily excitable.

Then the movers arrived. Let it be known that these guys loaded our entire apartment into their truck IN 15 MINUTES! I timed them, for lack of anything better to do. I just stared at them in awe. I tried to take pictures of them in action, but they were seriously too fast for the shutter on my camera. They were the Olympians of moving. They were the Cat's Pajamas.

mover in action

moving van

teamwork

Then we got to our new apartment...and I cried... literally. We live above a grocery store and a karaoke club. This is not as wonderful as it sounds. The stairwell smells like salty peanut farts. THE WHOLE FLOOR shares a bathroom AND A SHOWER. No "little girls' room" or "little boys' room"... it's all co-ed, like the bathroom fro Ally McBeal, only dodgy. REALLY DODGY.

the urinal that's neighbors with the western style toilet and the squatter....yay

the peanut fart stairs.

here's the one shower on our floor....

here's the shower... I wear flip flops.

Upon seeing my reaction, Winston agreed completely that the place is a dump. So we named our new apartment "the hole." Why? Well...

it's not a black hole

it's not a pot hole

it's not a Hobbit hole (man, I wish it was)

it's a different kind of hole, the kind that is prefaced by a word worthy of a good soap rinse of the mouth that begins with an "S".... Get imaginative and you'll get the idea.

Now, The Hole does have it's strong points.

1. It has ample closet space (a hard thing to find)

2. It fits all our furniture and other stuff comfortably

3. There's hot water in the kitchen and Internet.

4. Once I organized, it was kinda cute (as long as your willing to ignore the fact that the wood looks rotten, the walls are stained, the screens on our windows mysteriously disappeared, the movers broke our desk, and the kitchen is a dark cave-like hallway).

this is what our futon looks like all folded up. it makes more space this way.
our bedroom
half of my closet.
the other half

our main room.

Our actual apartment isn't half bad now that we're about 3/4 of the way moved in, but the worst part is that we live right on a major highway. It's really loud, I think I got about 3 hours of sleep last night. Arg.

the view from our window.

Highway 2. the reason I get NO SLEEP here at our new apartment.

So, while the new apartment isn't 100% bad, it's definitely a hole. Since we have a month-to-month lease Winston and I are on the apartment hunt once again. We're going to take it slow, and make sure we work together to find the right place to live out the rest of our time here in Tokyo. We're both a little tired of all the moving around.

Until then, I'm going to ask my lovely and artistic cousin Julia to send me load of her artwork to decorate my bland walls. That way I can transform this hole into an art gallery.

Julia and her equally lovely sister Jenny made me this cute sign when I was home this summer. I think some artwork is just what the decorator doctor ordered.

I'm hoping the apartment grows on me, and the more we get settled in the less I want to cry. Then I take a shower in my flip flops in lukewarm water with zero water pressure and my will to move becomes ever stronger. I'll keep you posted...literally. I guess this is what I get for assuming any building with skeleton keys is cool. Lesson learned.

Tokyo Week One: The Move

2009-09-29T04:46:00.001-07:00

Today marks my one week anniversary being back in Japan. I'd like to say I did something cool to celebrate, like wear a festive hat or make a yummy dinner. But alas, there were no festive hats or creative meals today... because when I'm not at work MOVING is consuming my little life.

Way back in August, while I was home in America and Winston was on his summer bike tour of Japan, our landlord decided to inform us that he wouldn't be renewing our lease (which was up in October) because he'd decided to turn our apartments into dorms. Fabulous, eh? So Winston did a lot of shuffling and apartment hunting, and found us a new apartment, pronto. While I'm thankful that we're not homeless, apartment jumping inherently involves MOVING. Arg.

As anyone close to me knows, I organization is a big thing for me. In fact, I rank organizational skills right up there with sainthood. That said, there is nothing organized about moving. All my stuff is useful, there's no convenient time to shove it in a box for a couple days. I always end up losing something vital, like a pasta strainer or my deodorant. This is how I envision hell- me stuck in a box cluttered apartment with watery pasta and armpits that reek like carnival midgets.

seriously, carnival pits.... be afraid

Boxes and boxes and boxes galore:

Look! More boxes!

Lucky for me. Winston is a seasoned mover, and none of this phases him. Mostly he just laughs at me. It looks something like this:

It's a good thing we like each other....

Alrighty Cats and Kittens, that's all for now. TTFN, ta-ta til the move on October 1st....

blogger re-kindled

2009-09-25T17:47:00.000-07:00

Wow, after a summer long hiatus in America (away from my beloved blog) it's finally time to resume pounding away at the keys of my Mac again to tell you all about my misadventures here in Japan. A summer at home is just what I needed. While I knew how much I missed my family and friends, I'd forgotten how much I missed FM radio, pancakes, and eclectic stamps. Here are some snapshots of an American summer:

There was Mexican food galore:

Seattle Sunsets:

Cupcakes:

Mariner's Games:

Paparazzi dance shots:

video game mishaps:

ex-roomie bonding:

An afternoon "Riding the Ducks" with my girls:

A skipper and a fisheries major on Lake Washington:

A garter toss in Minnesota:

My dear Betsy and Darin deciding to dance the night way on their wedding night:

friends from Japan re-united in their natural American habitat:

A reminder of many mis-spent childhood allowances:

Spelling errors at the Lewis County fair:

Creative taxidermy:

A sample of the "Fish and Wildlife" section of the Lewis County fair:

The Fair:

Sandcastles:

Family:

Trampolines:

Cousins:

Cousin Brian:

Beautiful welcome home signs:

sewing lessons with Grandma:

Dinner with the Brother:

Quality time with my cousin Jaclyn:

Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, and Grandparents:

California fruit stands:

California Peaches:

My gorgeous California Mom:

Remember the scene from Dirty Harry, where Harry chases the guy through the stadium? Behold, THAT STADIUM. I call this my Dirty Harry homage:

San Francisco bridge:

R2, my astro-droid life partner in crime:

Bubba Gump's with Momma-san:

Pier 39:

Seatbelt sharing:

German beer and college buddies:

Old friends:

German beer:

Avocados and hummus:

Hiking:

Nature:

Bestie love:

Girl camping:

reading in Lake Kachess:

Fruit salad:

greasy girls camping:

sleeping in the sun:

Unicorn themed strip tease at the Can-Can for our dear Bachelorette, Nicole:

A Can-can employee who fell victim to a party dare:

Nicole's bachelorette party dinner:

besties from Vienna re-united:

Nicole and Greg tied the knot:

Their Arctic club ballroom reception:

Wedding cake:

The cutting of the cake:

Line Dancing:

I think it's pretty clear that this summer's activities left little time for blogging. However, now that I've moved back to Japan and started getting settled in Tokyo, the blog will be getting much more attention.

Cheers!

Sayanara....

2009-07-22T23:24:00.001-07:00

With the contract year drawing to a close, the goodbyes began. The Saiyanara parties were stretched out over the past 2 weekends. The official Oita JET Saiyanara Party was on July 11th at a beer garden in Oita City. Now to be completely honest, the whole night is a bit hazy in my memory. All I know is that I ended up at McDonald's, which proves that my judgement was seriously impaired. Luckily, I got some really great pictures out of the night despite everyones' inebriation.

all my friends are tall and blonde....

I've gotten really good at these one-armed pictures. If by some tragic accident I lost my arm, I think I'd be able to handle it okay, much like Def Leopard's drummer.

candid.

Me, Danielle, Darin, and Nick

Me, Greg, Hunter, and Darin. I'm not quite sure why Darin was so pensive. He does study Anthropology, which makes him a modern day Indiana Jones, minus the whip and the hat. Lucky for Darin there are plenty of costume stores in America.

Shazana's boyfriend stole the flower from my hair, but I think she liked it.

Karaoke...

Gross. I sat at a McDonald's. Worse yet, I ate at a McDonald's. WORSER STILL I LOOK HAPPY ABOUT IT!

Where the night ended, our favorite bar in Oita City. Shortly after this picture was taken Danielle and I headed back to her apartment and fell asleep while holding hands and watching "End of Days." Why "End of Days"? Because if anyone can save the world from the devil, it's Arnold.

**********************

The following weekend the crew and I decided to head to a waterfall about 45 minutes away. It was gorgeous, and I can't think of a better way we could have spend our last weekend together. Plus, Betsy's sister Jennifer was visiting, so she was able to see a side of Japan that a lot of tourists miss.

This is the waterfall. There were several little lagoons to swim in, and you could slide down the smoother rocks on tubes.

The Girls: Jennifer, Betsy, me, Caitlyn, and Danielle. Notice a height difference? I told you, all my friends here are tall and blonde.

The Boys: Ryan, Darin, and Stephen

Jennifer took a picture of all of us together!

I can't get over how much they look alike!

After a day of swimming, diving off the rocks, and riding down the waterfall on the tube I was famished, so Ryan, Danielle, and I decided to go to a Mexican Food Restaurant in Oita City. Lucky for me, they had a birthday special... Said birthday special included a complementary margarita in a festive cup, and a costumed group photo.

When I mentioned a "festive cup" this is what I meant...

our group shot.

Alright, dinner is calling. That's all for now...

23?!?!

2009-07-22T22:50:00.000-07:00

Well it's official, I'm somewhat of a grown-up. July 15th I turned 23. I don't know why, but 23 just seems like an adult age, 22 was too close to 21 to be taken seriously I guess.

Since July 15th landed on a Wednesday this year, so I found myself at work at 8am decked out in my Star Wars t-shirt and some cargo shorts, because for some reason I have a serious aversion to adult clothing. 23 or no, some things will never change.

Now, I don't know how they figured it out, but I swear all my kids knew it was my birthday. All my classes sang to me, and about 300 kids shouted "ELLIN! HA-PI BU-SU-DAY!" It was cute, but occasionally startling.

Right after work I grabbed one of my teachers and headed to Oita City (the closest movie theatre 90 minutes away) to see Harry Potter 6 on opening night.

Before the movie a few of us met at an Italian restaurant for dinner. Whilst waiting for our food, I was presented with a birthday crown, a Harry Potter wand, and an R2D2 with a removable head for all your robo storage needs.

Danielle and one very happy birthday girl

This is Hunter and Kate. Kate is a bit leery of our dear Hunter, because he reminds her a bit of Jason Van Der Beek.

Meet Saito-sensei and Watanabe-sensei, two of my favorite teachers.

This was the biggest bowl of pasta I have ever seen. Hunter's a trooper.

Now, if you don't already know, Winston ordered me a bike!!! Tokyo trains are over-priced and over-crowded, so I've decided that biking is my new choice mode of transportation. Here's my bike:

Coordination is not one of my gifts, so naturally my friends and family have been a little concerned about my safety. Well fear no more, because Betsy and Darin gave me a very practical present:

Nothing says "SAFETY!" Like Mega Man. Bets painted this helmet for Darin earlier this year, and rather than haul it home they decided to bequeath it to their clumsy friend. Rock on.

Happy 4th of July, with love, from North Korea

2009-07-04T18:54:00.000-07:00

July 3rd Kunisaki was host to an epic storm. It was pouring rain, there was thunder and lightning a plenty, and it was nice and windy. It reminded me of that storm at the end of "The Shawshank Redemption" when Andy finally busts out of jail.

July 4th the sun was shining, and everything smelled like the ocean. That's what I love about summer storms in Kunisaki, they make everything smell like the ocean, which sort of smells like salami, but in a good way (bizarre I know, I can't stand meat).

So I woke up around 8 am on July 4th to sunshine and the smell of MSG, which put me in a pretty good mood. I opted for a morning jog. Of course it was so muggy I was practically breathing water, AND since I'm not a fish that was rather uncomfortable. After a cold shower I threw on some shorts and a tank-top (my summer uniform) and drove to Hiji (a few towns over) to have dinner with one of my old teachers.

Kawatani-sensei was one of my favorite teachers last year, but in accordance with Japanese bureaucratic rules she was transfered to another school. Lame. She's also friends with Betsy and Darin, so she invited the 3 of us to her house for 4th of July dinner.

Kawatani-sensei is the most American Japanese person I've ever met. She loves beer, her and her husband love basketball, they live in a beach house, and they have the coolest toilet I have ever seen. The seat has a motion sensor, and it lifts automatically when you open the door. There's also a nightlight in the bowl, for midnight potty missions. Sweet.

Once it got dark, we lit up some sparklers and sang America a Happy Birthday song. Well, Bets, Darin, and I did... Kawatani-sensei and her husband just sort of hummed along. "A" for effort though

Kawatani-sensei and her husband

Sparklers IGNITE!

...and the rockets' red glare

the bombs bursting in air...

so pretty

We were all having a good time, and after driving Bets and Darin to a train station I headed home around 11, Brooks and Dunn blaring. There was a 4th of July bonfire in Kunisaki that I'd planned on attending. However, I assume all my friends were a little too "patriotic" to answer their phones. So I went for a late night walk on the beach hoping that I'd be able to hear them. But no luck, so I headed home and watched "Independence Day" all by my lonesome. Nothing says FREEDOM like Will Smith sucker-punching an alien hell bent on mayhem and destruction of the human race.

So today, July 5th, I woke up at 9 to the sound of rain and a buzz saw. Damn buzz saw, buzz saws are worse than alarms, because buzz saws don't have snooze buttons. So I decided to check the news. After filtering through all the Michael Jackson related articles I stumbled upon a few about North Korea. EVIDENTLY North Korea celebrated the 4th of July too, with missiles, in the water between Korea and Japan. Yeppers, I'm now feeling a bit nervous in my current country of residence, because missiles are unsettling.

Happy 4th, keep it safe...

Zombie Apocalypse?

2009-06-28T00:37:00.000-07:00

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....

2009-06-17T01:19:00.001-07:00

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

2009-06-08T01:34:00.000-07:00

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.

Life in Shelob's Lair

2009-05-18T02:01:00.000-07:00

Much to my dismay I was called into work this past Saturday for PTA day. Basically, the parents of the students come to the school and observe lessons. This is a big deal for the actual faculty. They spend heaps of time pre-paring, writing memos, and stressing out. For me, all it meant was that I had to go to one class, dress somewhat nice (ie not in jeans) and spend the rest of the day quietly at my desk. So on Saturday morning at 6:30 am I found myself showered, hair dried, lunch packed, and headed to my closet to look for my seersucker pants. I'd decided to wear my seersucker pants to work because they're cute, and they're comfortable as hell. If a pair of Carharts and my favorite sweatpants had a baby, that baby would come in the form of my favorite seersucker pants. I call them my "Train Conductor Pants," although I can't really give you a reason why.

So on Saturday morning unsuspecting Erin in her poka-dot underpants opened her closet and about had a heart attach when she saw the critter hanging out on a pair of Joe's Jeans.

Meet Shelob

I assume all giant spiders are female and feast on flesh because I was the type of kid to read Lord of the Rings, instead of Charlotte's Web.

Now, upon seeing The Fellowship of the Ring in theatres my Mom came home and told me that my small stature, pale skin, appetite, lovably dis-shoveled curly hair, and callused feet (seriously, I could probably walk on coals) had her convinced I was a Hobbit. Awesome.

So, just as Frodo found himself face to face with Shelob deep within the Ephel Duath Mountains that border Mordor, I found myself face to face with a beast of its likeness in my closet. Only unlike Frodo who was armed with Sting (the enchanted sword that glows blue when Orcs are near), all I had was tupperware.

Frodo's Sword vs Erin's Tupperware

So, upon encasing Shelob in an impenetrable fortress of cheap plastic, Erin the Brave and most Literary of all Hobbits (that's me!) ran outside, opened the lid, chucked the beast to the other end of the yard, and upon hearing a loud "thud" ran back into the house and slammed the door.

So ends my tale. After teaching one class on "Subject-Verb-Object-Object" and "Subject-Verb-Object-Complementary" sentence structures I spent the rest of my day reading the His Dark Materials trilogy. At 4:00 I hopped in my car and drove into Oita City to have dinner with my friends, after which we used the timer on my camera to take a picture together in front of a Combini- because it's come to my attention that we don't have many group pictures together.

That night I decided that this Christmas I am going to ask for a sword, for the slaying of man devouring spiders, because I'm not much like other girls.

The End

Meet Charlton

2009-05-11T04:14:00.000-07:00

So today was a Monday like any other. I rolled off my futon at 7 am, did a face plant into my tatami, grunted, and magically found myself at work by 7:55. I taught four classes, visited the official "Star Trek" website, bought some jam that my students made (from fruit they grew themselves!), went jogging, and talked to my brother on Skype. Around 7:00 crazy futuristic Japanese time, it occurred to me that I should probably take a shower. So I opened my I-tunes and started singing a long to "Lisztomania" by Phoenix, which is my new favorite song. Check it out! It will put the happy, dancing, toe-tapping mood I was in into context.

Okay, back to the story. As I opened my shower door I noticed a squeaky noise. My first instinct was to look behind me, because in slasher movies girls headed to the shower are too aloof to look behind them. Not to say that I expected to see a squeaky Japanese version of JASON with a chainsaw, but you never know. After checking for deranged serial killers I decided to look up, thinking that a bird was hanging out around the fan outside. Nope, no bird. Then I looked down, and I saw what I can only describe as a mouse-mole-duck billed platypus. Meet Charlton:

Why did I name him Charlton? Well, Charlton is my new old man name. Before I met Winston I assumed that all old British men and bulldogs were named Winston. Now that I'm dating a 27 year old Winston who's guitar skills, motor cycle skills, and good looks have crushed my pre-conceived notions of a proper name for an old guy, I had to come up with a new old man name, and after some consideration I decided on Charlton. Since this little bugger was running into everything, half blind from my camera's flash, and stuck in my bathroom without a clue as to how he arrived, I decided that he was worthy of the name Charlton. That, and it's easier to talk about him behind his back when he has a name.

Now, don't get me wrong I enjoy surprises when they come in the form of concert tickets or pancakes. That being said, it's hard to enjoy any surprise when you're "dressed" for a shower and the surprise happens to be a rodent as opposed to the fore mentioned concert tickets or pancakes. I don't see myself as a squeamish person, but for some reason I was terrified of this little guy. Why do you ask? Well I asked that myself. Now that I've had a shower, a box of Cracker Jack, and I'm wrapped in the safety of a pair of sweats, I have the blessing of retrospect to help me reflect on this little mis-adventure. So I'll make a list, because they're easy to read and I enjoy their organizational qualities.

Top 3 Reasons I was terrified of Charlton (because anymore than 3 reasons dives too far into my inner geek):

1. The "Tribble" Theory

In the original "Star Trek" series the beloved 1960s cast of the Enterprise finds an entrepreneur in their midst with these adorable little things called "Tribbles." The catch was, they multiplied like bacteria in a warm petri dish.

Now, I operate under the assumption that all rodents multiply like Tribbles. So, my first thought upon seeing Charlton was, "Cripes, how many Charltons are crawling around my paper house? Will I wake up and see one crawling across the floor? Will I find one in my cereal?!"

2. R.O.U.S's

Anyone who has ever seen The Princess Bride is familiar with the following conversation with Buttercup and Westley while they're perilously venturing through the dreaded Fire Swamp:

Buttercup: We'll never succeed. We may as well die here.

Westley: No, no. We have already succeeded. I mean, what are the three terrors of the Fire Swamp? One, the flame spurt - no problem. There's a popping sound preceding each; we can avoid that. Two, the lightning sand, which you were clever enough to discover what that looks like, so in the future we can avoid that too.

Buttercup: Westley, what about the R.O.U.S.'s?

Westley: Rodents Of Unusual Size? I don't think they exist.

Seconds there after Westley is attacked be an R.O.U.S. Now, I realize that Charlton is anything but a R.O.U.S, but still, everything has to start out small when it's a baby, who's to say he won't grow into an R.O.U.S? I've seen spiders bigger than my hand in this house!

3. Gelflings

Gelflings are these little Muppet things from the 1982 movie The Dark Crystal.

Now, the female Gelflings can fly, and upon first seeing Charlton and letting out a loud "eeeek," I couldn't help but notice his resemblence to a Gelfling. I think it's his long nose. Then I started to worry that all his loud squeaks would call his winged mother, who in all likelihood has talons.

So, for everyone's enjoyment, I took a little video footage of the little fellow who shook up my Monday evening.

So, for fear of Tribble like reproduction abilities, R.O.U.S size, and Gelfling mothers with talons, I managed to get Charlton into a tupperware container and get him outside.

Now, I've found my fair share of critters in this paper house. My first evening here I found a green lizard in my kitchen. Bats live in my rafters, and I've killed countless man-sized spiders. I don't want to think about how they get in, as it is I have dreams that my tatami mats have unheard of creatures living beneath their depths, prepared to nab me in my sleep.

this is the "why does everyday feel like camping?" face

this is the "I'm completely baffled" face

So here's me, signing off, wide-eyed and astounded at how ridiculous my life can be AND thankful that I'm updated on my Tetanus shots. Someday I'll triumphantly return to civilization and bequeath this paper house to someone new. Until then, you can bet I'll be making a lot of faces like the ones featured above, courtesy of my MacBook's camera.

Don't let the bed bugs bite....seriously

Easter Weekend

2009-04-15T02:36:00.000-07:00

So for Easter weekend my dear friend Nicole (who I studied abroad with in Vienna) and her fiancee Greg decided to take some time away from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo and join me for a few days in Kyushu. Because let's face it, Kyushu has ZERO hustle and bustle.

I was thrilled at the idea of company, so I met them at the airport and drove them straight to Beppu for a weekend of good old fashioned fun. Literally, old fashioned...

Stop #1 on Erin+Nicole+Greg's epic Oita-ken adventure: HIT PARADE!

Albeit tucked away in the back streets of Beppu and surrounded by what may or may not be Brothels and/or Snack Bars- Beppu City's "Hit Parade" is a must see for anyone in Oita. Heck, I've seen it twice... and I'll be back.

So with a complimentary bottle of Whiskey on the table, all you could drink beers, and an "all you can eat" buffet at our disposal the three of us hunkered down for an evening of debauchery in good old 1955- Where platform saddle shoes are socially acceptable and hair grease is not only abundant, but cool.

Greg opted to set his camera on what Nicole calls "forgiving black and white," because we are all rather pale.

This would be me eating Edamame beans. Edamame beans are one of my favorite things about Japan.

Nicole starts in on her beer, and I make use of the bottle of Whiskey and the bucket of ice.

Nicole, myself, and Judy Garland...we're all legendary

Needless to say, after a few drinks and a few trips to the buffet table we were ready to shake our fifties feet!

look at those two!

This man is the Asian Teddy Bear hybrid equivalent of Eddie Van Halen. He will play the most EPIC guitar solos, but his facial expression never changes.

MORE COWBELL!

I'm in love with this guy! He plays the sax...

I attempted to dance with one of the waiters, but upon seeing his dance moves up close I decided to keep my distance. Judging by the move he's striking here, I made a good choice.

Rock Stars....

At some point during the evening it occurred to me that my camera has a video function... Now via the magical Internet you can have a little piece of "Hit Parade" in your own home:

I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that we didn't get back to our grungy hostel til after 1 a.m., which is really late for the three of us. We were up, hang-over free, and out the door by 11 a.m. on Saturday.

Stop #2 on Erin+Nicole+Greg's Oita-ken Adventure: Beppu Sand Bath!

Right on the beach with a stunning view of the Pacific, the three of us took a few pictures before paying 1000 Yen (about 10 dollars) to be buried in geo-thermal sand.

So basically you lay down in these little pre-dug pits wearing nothing but Yukatas (little robes) while tiny Japanese woman bury you in warm sand. It's sort of like when you fall asleep at the beach and wake-up to see that you're friends have buried you in sand and that you look like a poorly sculptured mermaid. Only this is much more pleasant and only lasts for 15 minutes. After that we showered, got the majority of the sand out of our hair, and headed to our next destination.

Stop #3 on Erin+Nicole+Greg's Epic Oita-ken Adventure: Takasakiyama Mountain

Takasakiyama Mountain is better known as "Monkey Mountain," because about a thousand wild snow monkeys roam around. Upon your assent to the mountain, there are several signs to enlighten you on proper snow monkey protocol:

I want everyone to take a minute to truly appreciate the grammar in the sign. Someone called their English speaking buddy and had it proofread before sending it to print. This is rare.

What I can only guess reads:

1. Please do not touch baby monkeys while their mothers are giving them piggy-back rides-they will attack you.

2. Please do not look monkeys in the eye, they will attack you.

3. Please do not chase monkeys, they will get upset and attack you.

4. As Nicole put it, "Please do not give handkerchiefs to monkeys. They will attack you."

5. Please do not feed us. While it will make us happy we will take your food and then attack you.

While the babies were adorable, Monkey Mountain is actually a little scary. The monkeys have this shrill cry that they all do at the same time. I think it's a war cry personally. I was afraid to look any of them in the eye, for fear of being mauled. They're tiny but they have sharp teeth and thumbs. You can do a lot of damage with a thumb, even a little one.

Nicole and I were terrified of the shrill screams coming from all the monkeys. We were also terrified of making eye-contact with a monkey, and ending up without a face.

Luckily the three of us managed to make it out of Monkey Mountain unscathed, so to celebrate we got some crepes and took some pictures by the water before heading back to Kunisaki.

Stop #4 on Erin+Nicole+Greg's Epic Oita-ken Adventure: Kunisaki Beach Bonfire

My friend Greg decided to throw a bonfire party in celebration of the beautiful Spring weather. So we loaded up on chocolate, "Smore" fixings, and beer and headed to the beach!

Before we knew it, it was Easter Sunday! After sleeping in and enjoying a leisurely breakfast we headed back to Beppu.

Stop #5 on Erin+Nicole+Greg's Epic Oita-Ken Adventure: Umi-Jigoku

While it smells a bit like stinky egg farts, the "Sea Hell" is still really beautiful.

Stop #6 on Erin+Nicole+Greg's Epic Oita-ken Adventure: The Beppu City Sex Museum

Alright, this might not be the most appropriate thing to admit you've visited, but it's still hilarious. Beppu is known as the "Las Vegas" of Kyushu because of the legalized sex trade. As such, they've erected (no pun intended) a Sex Museum, complete with lots of rather phallic statues, shocking wax sculptures (including an interpretation of Snow White and the seven dwarves that's burned into my brain), and a theatre which plays Japanese porn 24/7, needless to say Greg, Nicole, and I got our money's worth in laughter.

I assure you, these were the most PG-13 pictures we walked out with.

Sadly for all of us Monday rolled around before we were ready and Greg and Nicole headed back up to Tokyo. However, the trip was really great for all three of us. Greg and Nicole got a much needed break from the city, and I got to see some of my closest friends.

Maybe it's because I made an awesome air-mattress guest bed and lay out fresh towels, or maybe it's because seeing old friends leaves you happy in the most inexplicable way. Regardless of what it was, I know Greg and Nicole had a great time.

ah, shucks...

Seeing these two has completely brought me out of my anti-social Winter hibernation mode. More than anything it reminded me that I'm leaving Oita in 3 months and headed to Tokyo, where a wonderful boyfriend and a built in group of hilarious friends are readily awaiting my arrival. That's a really special feeling, the kind that leaves you all warm and fuzzy.

Happy Easter!

If there is a heaven, I'm almost positive it's made of cherry blossoms

2009-04-02T02:47:00.000-07:00

When I first came to Japan in August I was greeted by the muggy, bug infested, sweat inducing, hair frizzy-fying season that is known as Summer in Japan.

I didn't think it could get any hotter. I went to an African Safari and it made me wish I had a real elephant.

If I had a real elephant, I would name him Louis. In truth, I named this fellow Louis. Now, Geppetto was able to wish Pinocchio into a real boy... so why can't I wish Louis into a real elephant? Disney gave me false hopes about reality....

Gradually the days started to cool down, the leaves started to change, I began to really make some friends, and life in Japan started to seem pretty cool. I even discovered a rip in the space time continuum which has resulted in a part of Japan that is perpetually trapped in 1955. This is also known as "Hit Parade."

I half expected the Doc to fly in on his Delorean with Marty. Back to the Future IV? I think so.

And then it happened: WINTER. I could see my own breathe when I brushed my teeth, I stopped needing to refrigerate my vegetables, and sitting on my toilet seat reminded me of what it would feel like to sit on a bobsled in Russia in the dead of December, naked.

I didn't think it could get any colder. Thus, I spent 3 months hibernating under my Kotatsu

I've watched all 9 seasons of the X-Files while basking in the warmth of this awkward contraption... and taught myself to knit. All and all that's not a bad way to spend 3 months....

But now it's happened: Spring. Yesterday I snuck out of work for several reasons: boredom, I had errands to run, it's Spring Break and I haven't taught in two weeks, and everyone was switching desks so I knew they'd be too busy to notice how long I was gone.

Somewhere in between mailing some letters and paying my rent, I noticed that the Sakura trees are fully in bloom now. I stopped my car, parked, and spent 20 minutes taking pictures.

I don't think anything could ever be more beautiful.

I'm not a religious person, I'm more of an Agnostic than anything. But I was completely in awe of the beauty of these little flowers. If there's a heaven I'm almost positive it's made of cherry blossoms. People walking on cherry blossom streets, wearing cherry blossom togas, walking into buildings with cherry blossom pillars while eating cherry blossom ice cream. I'm not even joking.... this is how I envision a possible afterlife.

Spring also means a new school year. In Japan the school year ends in March and begins anew in April. This meant saying "see you next year" to a few of my favorite classes.

Meet the students of 2-3. They are split into 2 separate classes because there's so many of them. I love them because they're funny, they're not afraid to ask questions, and they do all of the crazy assignments I give them, and even though they are difficult-the kids all smile and enjoy themselves. For Halloween they watched the "Sleepy Hollow" cartoon that Disney did- Bing Crosby narrated, and for the election the watched part of Obama's acceptance speech. I LOVE them.....

As a goodbye present the learned all the words to "Let it be" by the Beatles and sang it for me. It was so sweet I cried.

A few of my other classes made me cards, to thank me for teaching this year. Here are a few of my favorites:

THANK YOU

Your SMILE is very CUTE!!

I like your smile and you

ERIN SENSEI

Thank you for teaching me English!

Erin Sensei

I had a happy time!

Thank you very much

Dear Erin Senei

I love you...

Please teach us English next year!!

Now, this one is by far my favorite....... I know you can't read it, so allow me to translate:

Dear Erin,

Hello, Erin.

How are you?

I'm tired and I feel very sleepy.

I'm sleepy everytime.

This is my nature.

I don't know your nature.

It is too bad.

I wan to know your nature in next year.

D. Nada

What's not to love?

So now that it's officially April I have less than for months before I embark for Tokyo. On Saint Patrick's day Winston and I got the apartment we wanted. It is the biggest we could get for under $1.000 a month. It's small, but I like to think of it as cozy. In the words of Winston's step-dad,"I hope you two like each other, because you're going to be living on top of one another!" Here's the floor plan:

http://www.oakridge-housing.com/Hatanodai/Hatanodai301.html

Winston came for a visit last weekend, and we went on a date to celebrate getting the apartment.

That's all for now! Happy Spring!

Tokyo....

2009-02-28T21:50:00.000-08:00

So let's face up to reality, I have spent my winter months curled up in my house like a hermit wearing at least 4 layers of clothing, while watching old X-Files episodes, and teaching myself how to knit. I'm proud to say I can now add "knitting" to the list of commonalities I share with members of AARP, along with:

- Crocheting

-Complaining about knee pain

- Talking about characters on TV shows I watch as if they are close personal acquaintances

- My inability to function past 11pm

- The fact that I still write letters...

However, it will be pretty cool when a few years down the road I can start knitting my very own festive holiday sweaters, adorned with snowmen and reindeer. Of course, everyone has to start somewhere. So "thumbs up" to me for learning the "knit" stitch...

I decided to break up this rather anti-social routine of mine and head up to Tokyo for Valentine's Day. So on a sunny Tuesday afternoon I hopped a plane and after 90 minutes I found myself at the Tokyo Haneda Airport, where a rather handsome young man (also known as Winston) ran across a crowded plaza and kissed me in front of an entire tour group.

Winston and I on the train headed out of Haneda Airport

Winston still had class that day so we headed to Azabu-juban (where Winston's school is). Now, across the street from Temple University-Tokyo, there is an adorable hole in the wall Falafel place run by the sweetest little guy from Israel. After 6 long months without Hummus, this bento lunch was a sight for sore eyes....or in this case a lonely hummus deprived stomach.

Hummus!

After Winston finished class we decided to head to Shibuya. Shibuya is sort of the Time Square of Tokyo, and single-handedly the most crowded place I've ever been in my entire life. When people cross the street they don't really use the cross walks, they just sort of swarm across the road, like bees. It's a bit intimidating.

While strolling through the crowded streets of Shibuya, Winston and I happened upon this store. I think the name speaks for itself.

Needless to say a few of these condom varieties were outright scary. Creative, but scary.

Winston and I spent the rest of the day walking around various areas of Tokyo and eventually ended up in Shinjuku.

We found our way to the roof of a really tall building. The view would have been a lot prettier without the bars.

After walking around for the better part of a day we were both pretty tired, so we stopped in at an over-priced Irish bar for a pint.

That night Winston and I headed to Hiro to meet up with my dear friend Nicole and her fiance Greg.

Greg and Nicole were nice enough to take us to this AMAZING American Japanese fusion restaurant. For those of you who've seen "Kill Bill: Volume 1," this is the restaurant that inspired the set from the end, where Beatrix Kiddo slaughters "The Crazy 88" while dressed like Bruce Lee from "Game of Death." Any restaurant that has the SLIGHTEST bit to do with Kung-fu is cool in my book.

Words can't describe how wonderful it was to see Nicole. We met in college and studied abroad together in Vienna. As luck would have it, we're both living in Japan. After dinner Winston headed back to his host family's house to do some homework, Greg headed back to their apartment to relax, and Nicole and I walked through Roppongi arm in arm.

The beautiful Nicole and I, with Tokyo Tower in the background

The next night Nicole, Greg, and I had dinner. The thing I love about Greg and Nicole is that they are just a low-key as I am. So after dinner we simply headed back to their apartment and watched "30 days of Night."

Greg and Nicole =0)

I've lost count of how many countries we've shared beers together in...

Before I knew it Friday had rolled around and it was time to meet up with Winston once again. Nicole and I opted to get in the last of our "girl time," and found an adorable little French themed pastry shop. That's the great thing about Tokyo, you can find anything.

Two espressos and a delicious cream filled chocolate ball of goodness.

That night Greg, Nicole, Winston and I met Winston's friend Taka back in Shibuya. Taka is a design student, and used Winston as his model for his graduation fashion show.

Taka, Winston, Me, and Greg

haha, I believe Nicole's exact words were, "why you no love me?!"

Winston and Taka!

oh how I adore this girl.

We had absolutely PERFECT weather on Valentine's Day. It was so warm we spent the day in our t-shirts. Our first stop was a temple in Ueno with a huge flea market. We stopped a few times for street vendor food, of course...

Winston's big Valentine's Day surprise was a picnic at the Imperial Palace, which was adorable. We stopped and picked up some sandwiches and fruit, and sat barefoot in the grass for a few hours. We also took lots of one-armed couple pictures.

Now until Winston came along I wasn't really one for romantic-ish stuff. In fact last year (upon my request) we ate cheap sushi and saw the new "Rambo" movie on the big screen. So instead of spending a lot of money we'd rather save for the apartment (Winston is moving in April, and I'm moving in with him in July!) we opted to eat cheap.

By sheer luck we found this little restaurant by our hotel. It was a lot like Denny's, but with Italian food. We split a 2 salads, pasta, and a pizza for less that $20. We were quite proud.

For dessert we just stopped at a little coffee shop and split some cheesecake and chocolate cake.

The next day I flew back home to the boonies and un-packed. Now, Winston and I have been talking about my move to Tokyo for awhile now. But it wasn't until this visit to Tokyo that it really hit me that I'm actually going. It actually seems close enough to be excited about.

I can't wait to trade living alone in a paper house with a car for living with a cute boy in a shoebox sized apartment with a bike.

I think the bat that lives in my rafters wants to thieve my peanut butter...

2009-01-22T00:34:00.000-08:00

The mysterious Japanese thermometer ventures towards its native habitat....the armpit.

My life here in Japan is proving to be less than glamorous as the weather gets colder and colder, transforming my humble paper house into a paper ice-cube.

Monday I had the pleasure of visiting a Japanese doctor. Now for the record, I hate going to the doctor. Why do you ask? Well, the doctor's office is full of sick people. You go in sick loaded with your own germs, and come out covered in new ones. Going to the doctor is like going to Target to return something. You might go in to exchange a toaster, but you'll come out with a NEW toaster, a bag of Sun Chips, a copy of "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure," and new pajamas. Bottom line, you go in with one thing and come out with a bunch of other stuff you don't need.

So, on Monday morning this lone American found herself at work as usual, only there was nothing usual about it. I am normally FREEZING at work. I wear 2-3 sweaters, a wool coat, long johns, and leg-warmers. Needless to say I knew I was running a little warm when I got to work and peeled off nearly all my layers and still found myself burning up. I headed to my Supervisor and said, "I think I need to go to the doctor." Off we went.

The doctor's office in Japan is just like the doctor's office in America. There were a lot of sick people, magazines, and a TV. BUT since everything was in Japanese I felt quite out of place. The woman at the reception desk handed my Supervisor some paperwork, and handed me a rather dirty looking thermometer. This caught me off guard for several reasons. For starters, back home in the land of McDonald's we take our temperature orally, only there is always a little plastic shield between the patient and the fever-gaging device. Secondly, this thing just looked dirty and I wasn't exactly excited at the thought of putting it in my mouth. So, I cleared my throat, looked confused, pointed to the thermometer and said, "Doko desu ka?" Now as far as I know "Doko" means "where" and anything that ends in "ka" is a question. She seemed to gather that I was trying to figure out where to put the thermometer, and she pointed to my armpit. It all of a sudden clicked in my head why that thermometer looked so....weathered may be the kindest word. It was brought to my attention later that day that having your temperature taken out of your armpit is far more appealing than having your temperature taken rectally. That's when it occurred to me that there really isn't a desirable part of the body to take your temperature out of.

After we discovered I was running a fever I was shown to the doctor's office. The tiny gray haired doctor was sitting alone in a big room with lots of beds and curtains at a desk that looked too big for him. He asked what was wrong, so I told him, "Well, I have a headache, a sore throat, a cough, and a stuffy nose." He took a few notes, tipped down his glasses and asked, "do you have loss of appetite?" I just said "yes," which I realize isn't very interesting. With that he asked where I was from, and when I told him "Seattle" he said what every Japanese person says: "SUZUKI-SAN!" With that, he sent me home with a lot of medicine to be taken after every meal.

This is a powder stuff I have to dump down my throat and wash down with water. It tastes like the type of kitchen chemical that sits under the sink with a neon "yuck!" sticker on it.

These are my throat lozenges. They look like TUMS and taste like Pepto-Bismol.

These little red ones are rather small and inoffensive.

These two are also rather small and inoffensive.

The good news is that thanks to a lot of medication I am slowly inching my exceedingly pale-self closer and closer to health. The bad news is Japanese cold medicine lacks the energizing element contained in most American cold medicine. So despite the fact that I sleep 10 hours a night, I am groggy and exhausted all day. I miss Day Quil (which is illegal in Japan because it contains slight amounts of amphetamines).

Now while my cold medicine doesn't have any daytime stimulants, it is chalk full of night time side effects. The past few nights I have had the most vivid dreams. For example, there is a bat in my rafters. I don't really mind because I figure he'll eat all the giant bugs that come around. Plus, I have really good insurance right now so if I'm going to get rabies this is the time. I first heard him flapping around in November after watching the X-Files by myself in the dark for a week straight. When I first heard his high-pitched squeaking I was convinced it was an alien. I've since stopped watching the X-Files because even at 22 I don't have the maturity to separate reality from 90s sci-fi television. So, last night I had a dream that the bat was in my kitchen dive-bombing me because he wanted my peanut butter. I woke up screaming "Get your own!" Being sick when you live alone is rough.

Stay healthy!

Christmas.....

2009-01-07T01:02:00.000-08:00

Christmas officially kicked off upon Winston’s arrival at the Fukuoka airport. However, getting him from the Fukuoka airport to my house in the boonies involved a 10 minute subway ride, a 2 hour train-ride, and a 30 minute car ride (all in that order). Not to mention one very small girl and one very exhausted boy hauling 170 lbs of luggage up and down train station stairwells (no escalators, just stairs). In the end we triumphed over adversity and made it home, but we looked like this:

Sleepy, sleepy pandas.

We had a fairly busy schedule. Our first event was the JET bonenkai, which is a traditional Japanese “end of the year” party. Of course, considering most all the attendants were foreign it became more of a Christmas party than anything. True to fashion, right after dinner we headed to karaoke in our Christmas sweaters, scarves, and festive hats.

Our table at dinner

Yellie and her festive LED Santa hat

Hunter had an epic Christmas sweater, so he gave himself a "thumbs up." Hunter said he'd give me his festive Christmas hat at the end of the night, so I gave him a "thumbs up" as well. Clearly Hunter was the man of the night.

This is Darin. I made the scarf he's wearing!

I also made the scarf that Hunter is wearing. When they are both in Christmas sweaters and my scarves they look like brothers.... brothers who were dropped on their heads as infants.

When Danielle and Darin sing together it gives Greg a headache.

Betsy and I were caught in the moment, singing our hearts out. Clearly Winston didn't care to join.

This is Hunter's new girlfriend, serenades are a pretty serious courting ritual.....

this was Betsy's satin holiday skirt. Complete with a bow and a tag that said "for you," it was a holiday hit.

Their wedding is in August =0)

I missed the "make a funny face in this picture" memo.

he looks so regal.

Later that week Winston and I headed back into Oita City for a concert. TAO is an internationally known Taiko drumming group. They are really famous here in Japan; especially on there home island Kyushu. They all live together on a commune, growing their own food, making their own instruments, and writing their own music. The proceeds from their concerts all go back to support their commune. Now, taiko drumming is one of my favorite things about Japanese culture. It’s so high energy, it just sounds epic. The pounding of the drums makes my heart absolutely race and gives me an instant adrenaline rush. It makes me feel like I should be storming onto a battlefield, wind in my hair, sun on my back, running to the beat of the drums to slay some ancient monster with a sword. I’d be so much cooler if I could wield a sword. Alas. The tickets were a little pricey, but it was totally worth it. Not only were there drummers, but there were flute players and shamisens. Every movement was perfectly synchronized and accompanied by flashing colorful lights and elaborate stage props. All their movements were so graceful. It was hard to get pictures because the room was so dark and photography wasn’t really allowed, but Winston still got a few shots.

Our next stop was Nagasaki. We stayed at an adorable hostel, and spent our days and nights exploring the new city. Since Nagasaki was bombed, they had a unique albeit tragic reason to re-build the city. Argo in all my travels, Nagasaki has been the one of the easiest cities to navigate. This is saying a lot, considering that I get lost in my tiny hometown that I lived in for nearly 19 years. A good sense of direction is not one of my strong points.

It’s always funny coming across little pockets of Western culture in the Eastern world. Take KFC for example. They’re everywhere! The best part about KFC in Japan is the giant statues of the Colonel.
I am not totally sure why Winston held his hat out to the Colonel. Perhaps he'd changed his mind about being a vegetarian and wanted some popcorn chicken.
nope. still a vegetarian.
Everyone needs hugs, even giant plastic mascots who advertises genetically manipulated chicken.
why are you dressed as Santa Colonel Sanders?!

Now Nagasaki has an all out Penguin aquarium, which for me was a must see. Penguins are one of the coolest animals in my book. They all look like they’re wearing tuxedos! It doesn’t matter where they are; in the entirety of the animal kingdom the penguin is always classy. As someone who personally fights dressing up tooth and nail, I find them fascinating. So off to the aquarium we went.
this banner was there to great us when we got off the bus. I literally skipped through the parking lot I was so excited.
I found these fellows in the parking lot

this building looked a bit bland to be something as cool as a penguin aquarium. I think it needs a few more plasma screen tvs and flashy lights.
I don't think Santa has elves, Santa has penguins. Penguins are much cuter than elves.

I was quite mesmerized by all the invertebrates in this tank.
penguins!
this fella looks like he has two heads
he's the loner penguin
he was quite flexible.

Now, around noon it was lunchtime for the penguins. I can’t speak Japanese, so when I heard “blah blah blah….SANTA-DIIIVAR-SAN” I looked up at Winston waiting for a translation. He just smiled and walked me to the tank. Only in Japan would a little man in a wet suit dress like Santa with a bag of dead fish to swim with penguins.
SANTA-DIIIVAR-SAN!?!!!!!

Winston and I opted to use our second day in Nagasaki as a chance to hop a train to nearby Sasebo. I wanted to go mainly because my Papa was stationed there when he was in the Navy. The minute we came out of the train station gate Winston and I stumbled upon a giant inflatable Hamburger. This was a telltale sign that lots of foreigners live in Sasebo (actually about 30,000 on a big ol' Naval base).

I like to think this could be a giant Veggie burger! mmmmmm!

Sasebo wasn’t exactly the prettiest city I’ve ever seen. In all honesty it is the kind of place that made me very self-conscious of my own nationality. Everywhere we went we were surrounded by very loud, obnoxious, and rather over-weight people who shared our nationality. It was a cold day, but we spent our afternoon walking around taking pictures before heading back to Nagasaki.
This is about as far onto the Naval base as we got.
This was taken in a giant shopping arcade...
I'm sure this is a popular spot considering all the foreigners in Sasebo.
We got a few shots of the base from across the bay.

Our last day in Nagasaki we met up with Winston’s cousin Salem (who is a JET near Kyoto), his Aunt, his cousin Becca, and Salem’s girlfriend Katie. We opted to visit the Atomic-Bomb site, the museum, and the peace park. The Atomic-Bomb site was a lot different than I’d expected. In my head I envisioned a giant hole in the ground, which is extremely ignorant to think considering that the bomb actually exploded 500 meters above the hypocenter. It’s a very pretty park now, which makes it hard to believe that a bomb ever went off anywhere near there.

The museum was also a very sobering experience. Rather than blame America for dropping the bombs it advocated the obliteration of atomic weapons. However, it’s always interesting to look at history from another culture’s perspective. There were lots of facts on the walls about America never warning Japan that they would drop the bombs, but there was no mention of Japan’s involvement in the war. No mention of Pearl Harbor… That’s the funny thing about history; facts and truths all depend on who exactly is doing the writing.

Our next stop was the Peace Park, but unfortunately we didn’t get to spend a lot of time there because we needed to catch a train back to Beppu (a city near my house), but Winston still got some good shots.
The entrance to the Peace Park

Before we knew it, it was Christmas Eve. We opted to spend the day wondering around what are known in Beppu as “The Hells.” “The Hells” are a series of natural mineral hot springs. Some of them are up to 100 Celsius! Steam perpetually bursts out through vents in the streets, and the whole place smells like sulfur.

I wasn't exagerating, stinky sulfur steam street vents
this one was over 100 degrees C!
When Winston gives himself a sulfur steam facial it looks like he's eaten Sour Patch Kids.
For some reason this one seemed rather pre-historic, like dino bones are preserved deep within that hot mud.

this one looked a bit like blood.

For the most part “The Hells” were really beautiful.

Now, I’d like to preface the following rant by saying that I am by no means a burning heart animal rights activist. Of course I’m against clubbing baby seals and poaching endangered species, but I wouldn't go rioting through the streets or pour fake blood on fur coats. So on the map Winston, his cousin Becca, and I noticed a “Zoo Hell.” We didn’t realize the name was literal.

Let’s start with the Elephant. My Grandparent’s living room is bigger than this elephant’s cage. A lot of animals in captivity will pace back and forth in their cages as a nervous habit. This guy didn’t even have room to pace. Instead he just swayed his head back and forth. Besides looking completely emaciated, the poor thing just looked sad. My foreign companions and I were the only ones who seemed repulsed. All the Japanese people were all smiles.
It's hard to see, but the little boy on the bench was holding a little white paper bag filled with peanuts. He was throwing them to the elephant, but they didn't get close enough for the elephant to reach them.
This elephant was even more depressing to see in real life
I assure you this is a full grown elephant. He's just starved.

The flamingos have the highest standard of living at the “Zoo Hell.”

The baboons have the worst. I didn’t think it was possible to be any more disgusted with this shabby excuse for a zoo, until I saw the baboon cages. When I imagine the apocalypse I think of 3rd word Russia, bombed and over-run by zombies. All the buildings have dirty walls with chipped paint and rusty bars on the windows. This is what the baboon cages look liked.

Lastly, there was the hippo. He didn’t have much space, but I never really saw him move at all. He just kept his mouth open upward in the direction of any tourist, waiting for the biscuits the zoo sells for 100 yen to fall into his gaping mouth.

Sometimes it's easy to forget that I live in a first world country. Alright, I've said my piece, moving on. So, after "the Hells" Winston's family, Winston and I went to dinner and then hopped a Taxi back into the mountains of Beppu. We attempted to watch the fireworks in Beppu bay, but we couldn't really see them. So, we proceeded to the "Mud Onsen" nearby to relax on Christmas Eve.

waiting for our taxi in the taxi depot. From left to right, Winston's Aunt Patty, his cousin's girlfriend Katie, Winston, and myself.

this is the blurriest picture there ever was, but there were indeed Christmas fireworks.

we tried to make mud sculptures at the onsen, but most of them didn't last long.

Onsen aren't exactly the best place to take pictures, but from left to right, Winston's cousin Becca, Winston (with a lot of mud on his face) myself, and Winston's cousin Salem with a lot of mud in his hand.

Christmas morning Winston's family set off to explore other parts of Japan, and Winston and I set off for a Christmas adventure.

We waited for a bus to downtown Oita City. When Winston kisses my nose the butterflies that live in my stomach do summersalts.

We had Pizza and ice cream at a cute little cafe.

Yay for Soy Hot Chocolate!

Winston and I found this gentleman dresses as a reindeer outside of Starbucks.

At last we made it back home at sat under my tiny Christmas tree.

And that ladies and gentleman is my Holiday season in a rather large nutshell. Happy holidays! TTFN, tata for now!

Greg the Christmas Bush

2008-11-30T04:59:00.001-08:00

So, this past Saturday my friend Kelly (the cute blonde featured above) took it upon herself to cook us homesick foreigners a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. Now, while the turkey decided not to thaw in time for dinner, we still had a feast of lasagna, potatoes, stuffing, deviled eggs, salad, and of course my personal favorite PUMPKIN PIE! After a delicious home cooked feast I looked over at Greg, patted my stomach, and tried out my new favorite Japanese word, "O-I-SHI!" which means delicious. He smiled, swallowed his last bite of pie and said, "hey girl, how was your day?"

(this is best friend Greg and I at a bar in Osaka. We get along because we have curly hair. Plus, Greg is Jewish, and everyone in the country thinks I am Jewish.)

Now, quite frankly, my day had been fabulous. While helping Kelly do a little Thanksgiving shopping, I stumbled upon a 500 Yen Christmas tree and 100 Yen Christmas ornaments! I found some 900 Yen Christmas lights, and I was in business! Thrilled to put a tree together for less than 20 bucks, I described my purchases to Greg in animated detail. He was happy for me and asked, "Wow, that sounds great, what are you going to name it?" Greg has now known me long enough to know that I name almost every inanimate object I come in contact with. I replied, "Well, since my tree is only about 90 centimeters tall, I think I'm just going to call it my Christmas Bush."

Greg about spit tea all over my sweater. Now to spare all my family members reading this blog, let's just say I meant Christmas Bush in an innocent sense. like something you'd find in nature. Greg interpreted Christmas Bush in a slightly less innocent sense. Actually, a not at all innocent sense. He meant it in more of a porno sense. Sorry, guess that's not sparing anyone. Of course, my comment made it around to everyone else at the table, and I turned different shades of scarlet as people around me burst into giggles and said:

"DOES YOUR CHRISTMAS BUSH HAVE LIGHTS?"

"HOW OFTEN DO YOU TRIM YOUR CHRISTMAS BUSH?"

"HOW DO YOU HANG ORNAMENTS ON YOUR CHRISTMAS BUSH?"

"WHAT KIND OF PRESENTS DO YOU KEEP UNDER YOUR CHRISTMAS BUSH?"

I told them all to get their dirty minds out of the gutter, Greg told me to stop saying "Christmas Bush" and rename my tree. So I named it Greg. Greg the Christmas Bush. And after I came home, 5 shades of red and full of pie, I watched "Home Alone" and decorated my tree.

Check it out!

Now, I accidentally bought strobing Christmas lights. It's pretty, but slightly distracting. When I told Winston my tree was going to give me a seizure, he told me me not to exaggerate. Alas, he's far more reasonable than I at times. It takes a very patient man to handle the outlandish claims I made on a daily basis.

And while my little Christmas corner is looking a little bare at the moment, but when Winston comes he's going to bring stockings, and I'll have some presents under there soon =0)

So, now that Thanksgiving is over it's officially acceptable to blare Christmas music, watch Christmas movies, and begin Christmas shopping!

Happy Holidays everyone!

Japan's Rules of of the Road

2008-11-30T03:50:00.000-08:00

So, after about a month of driving in Japan, I think it's time to discuss the particularities of driving in my slice of Asia, because besides the whole driving on the right side of the car and the left side of the road there's a few things that have caught this little American off her guard.....

My car looks like an egg..........

Japan's Rules of the Road.

1. Even though you drive on the left side of the road, there is no such thing as a “free left.” This is a serious flaw in Japan's driving etiquette.

2. A green light means “go,” a yellow light means “go,” and a red light means, “at least 4 more cars can go really fast, until people start honking.”

3. Police cars ALWAYS have their sirens on. You don’t have to pull over unless they start yelling into their loud speaker. This is very distracting.

4. You always have to stop at train tracks. I haven’t actually stopped at train tracks since I rode the bus in 6th grade. The bus driver would stop at the tracks, and stay at a standstill until every student on the bus was silent, with their arms in the air and their hands making a peace sign. This acknowledged that we knew we were supposed to shut the hell up. When I come across train tracks I can’t help it, I turn my music down and make a peace sign until I’ve checked that the coast is clear. Conditioning is eerie….

5. There is zero tolerance for drinking and driving. No beer with dinner, no wine with dinner, no nothing. If you even blow .01 from drinking cough syrup you’re deported.

So needless to say I miss the freedom of the American "free right," the ability to legally drink and drive, and of course the safety of American intersections (seriously, if somebody runs a red and whacks into my egg shaped car in an intersection, I have NO idea how to say "Officer, with all due respect that butt head ran a red! I think the Japanese are too polite to even have a word that translates into butt head.....)

Ratty has become my highway sanctuary. For a tiny dented car shaped like an egg, the acoustics in there are amazing! I have an amazing do-hickey that hooks my I-pod up to my stereo, so my car has become a my own personal portable Karaoke box. However, I fear I look rather strange on the highway tapping my steering wheel with my thumbs and making these faces:

Now, remember that these were taken a few months ago in an actual Karaoke box. I assure you my eyes are open when I sing AND drive. Still, I don't think the Japanese out here in the countryside have ever seen (or heard) anything quite like what they get when I cruise by. They gave me a paper house, so I'm giving them the American driving experience. Not only is it a feast for the senses, it's a cultural exchange. I even have a top 15 list of favorite songs to sing in the car:

Erin's Toe-Tappin' Tunes-the super- happy- long -time Metric System Edition

(when you can't think of how many miles an hour 60km is, just sing!)

1. Brooks and Dunn- Boot Scootin' Boogie

2. Badfinger- No Matter What

3. Charlie Daniels and the Charlie Daniel's band- The Devil went down to Georgia

4. Journey-Don't Stop Believin'

5. Vampire Weekend- Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa

6. M.I.A- Paper Planes

7. Toto-Rosanna

8. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers- American Girl

9. Johnny Cash- Boy Named Sue

10.Leonard Cohen- So Long, Marianne

11. Salt-n-Pepa-Shoop

12. Nancy Sinatra- These boots are made for walkin'

13. Against Me! -Don't lose touch

14. Bonnie Tyler- Total Eclipse of the heart

15. Chicago- If you leave me now

Eclectic, I know.

In other news, last weekend marked a significant landmark in my adventures in driving. I had my first passengers! Greg decided to invite some friends from Oita City to Kunisaki for the night, and since I wasn’t in the mood for drinking I volunteered my services as a designated driver. So, we kicked the night off at a Korean restaurant near Greg’s house.

Once we arrived back at Greg’s apartment, we uncovered an old friend. When my mom sent me my Jedi Knight costume for Halloween, it came with an Obi Wan Kenobi mask. I was too embarrassed to wear it, and somehow it ended up at Greg’s apartment. Since I was sober and they were all drunk, it was fairly easy to talk them into taking turns wearing the mask. I like to think it was the power of The Force.

As Hunter demonstrated, Obi Wan Kenobi LOVES NorthFace fleece jackets.

I tried to convince Betsy and Darin that this should be their engagement picture.

Betsy's exact words were "Oh heavens! It's cold on the ice planet Hoth!"

Classic SNL tribute photo.

Me: I SAID WHO'S THAT SPARTAN IN MY TEE-PEE?!

Danielle:It's ME! It's ME!

Scene 1: Obi Wan was stalking us around a corner. We were too involved in our conversation to notice.

Scene 2: Realizing we aren't paying any attention whatsoever, Obi Wan gets a little bolder.

Scene 3: HOLY SHIT OBI WAN COMES AT US WITH A PAIR OF SCISSORS AND WE DON'T EVEN NOTICE BECAUSE WE ARE TWIRLING OUR HAIR. Judging by the blank expression upon that plastic face, I'm going to say this is a merciless crime, and the crime- committer will have no remorse. No doubt this will end up on CSI: Japan.

When I wear the mask, I just look like Jeebus. Then Shahzana mauls me.

Hunter just caresses my sharp nose. He knows that I am really a softy under than false plastic exterior.

So, I left the mask with my friends and headed home early. The next morning we all headed into the mountains to see the leaves and visit a temple. Now, since everyone besides Greg and I were hung over, we didn’t stay long. However, I was able to get a few pictures in before my battery died. It was absolutely stunning.

Hope everyone had a happy Thanksgiving!

Me, the Kotatsu, and the Sci-Fi Channel.....

2008-11-18T02:22:00.000-08:00

So, as fall rolls into winter, the temperature just keeps dropping. The leaves are finally starting to change, so when I look up at the mountains there are brilliant shades of red and yellow mixed in with the green staring back at me in all their vivid seasonal glory. While this is all beautiful, and I’m thrilled to death that the humidity is gone (seriously I am from the Northwest, I can’t handle humidity), it’s getting bloody cold! Now, this was never an issue in America. The biggest difference right now between my native first world country, and my current first world country of residence is CENTRAL HEATING. It is nowhere to be found. They just don’t have it. So, how do the Japanese keep warm? Well, let me introduce the Kotatsu. I wish I was making this up, but I am dead serious. I am sitting under this table as we speak, making this face....

This is my Kotatsu, it came with my paper house.

So, here's how it works

**********************

Step 1: Remove the top

Step 2: put a blanket under the top, and place the top back on.

Step 3: plug in the Kotatsu.

Now, there are several different ways to stay warm under the Kotatsu.

Position 1: Just put your legs under it while you work, or eat, or watch mindless television on your computer. If you do it this way, you can probably share the warmth with a buddy. Since I don’t have a buddy right now, this isn’t really an issue.

Position 2:Lie under the Kotatsu atop your futon. This is a good way to warm your buns, but your feet are left exposed. Lame sauce. However, this is a good way to stay warm while reading a book, or again, while watching mindless television on your computer.

Position 3: This is my personal favorite. Curl up into a ball, and submerge your entire tiny little body under the heat of the Kotatsu and do nothing but watch mindless television on your computer.

So, here’s the main issue. Since the rest of my house is so cold, I literally come home, crawl under the table, and remain there all night. I don’t get up until my hunger pangs force me to go hunting in my kitchen for peanut butter and jelly fixings, or until I have to go to the bathroom. For the latter I wait until the last possible moment, because my toilet seat is colder than ice, which is not a pleasant surprise.

So, I think I will spend my first winter in Japan in hibernation under this awkward contraption curled into a ball watching various Sci-Fi channel mini-series. Since my doors are made of paper, correction, since my entire house is made of paper, I wouldn’t exactly consider it very insulated. This whole Kotatsu business makes me feel like one of those little baby chickies at the feed store back in Chehalis. In the winter they were always hiding in the corner of their pens under the blanket of warmth cast out by the heat lamp. Thanks Japan- for making me feel like a baby chicken.

Speaking of Japan, Japan and I are in a fight right now. That’s right, I have given the entire country its own persona, and we’re not speaking right now. Why? Well, since there is no central heating at school, I come to work wearing at least 5 layers and a wool coat. I wear so much padding, I look like an NFL line-backer, with really tiny little girl legs. Well, after class yesterday one of my teachers actually said, “Ereein-sensei, have you got fat since you come to Japan?” I was completely speechless. Not only am I freezing, but now I am fat?! Thanks again Japan, for transforming my hands and feet into popsicle-worthy extremities, AND for this recent boost to my self -esteem. I wanted to make this face, but I didn't....

That's all for now, stay warm =0)

Fukuoka has a Coldstone!

2008-11-18T01:03:00.000-08:00

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!

the tale of the car.....

2008-11-10T03:15:00.000-08:00

I think this weekend may have been the most stressful I've had here in Japan. I came straight home after work Friday after a long day of deciphering Engrish. It's really cold here, and as far as I know my paper house doesn't have central heating. So, generally when I get home I put on my jammy jams (my pajamas), curl up on my futon, and I bury myself in blankets. I turn on my computer, and I don't get up unless it's absolutely necessary. I was really tired, but knowing what was ahead of me in the coming weekend had me in a panic. Saturday I knew I had to go get my car in Mei (which is about a 3 hour drive away) and I knew Sunday I had the Tamaguci marathon in Kunisaki. I can't say I was very excited about either prospect.

Saturday morning rolled around. I made myself some eggs and toast for breakfast, and waited for one of my teachers to drive me to the train station. Watanabe-sensei picked me up around 10:20, and drove me to the train station in Kitsuki. Getting a train from Kitsuki to Oita City was really easy. Once I got into Oita City I bought another train ticket to Mei. Now, here's where my day got a little more spicy. Now, at this point my anxiety attack was in full swing. The thought of driving on the left side of the road, on the right side of the car, in A FOREIGN COUNTRY had me about ready to throw up on my shoes. I get lost in Chehalis, and my imagination was running amok thinking of all the ways I could get lost on the drive from Mei to Kunisaki.

I was absentmindedly wandering through the train station looking for platform 6, so I could catch my train to Mei (and as far as I was concerned impending doom). I got a little lost, and I asked someone in my very broken Japanese if I was heading in the correct direction. I don't know what happened, but the next thing I knew a tiny Japanese woman had grabbed me by the hand, and was dragging me up an escalator towards platform 6. It was very clear that I didn't speak any Japanese, but she didn't seem to notice, she just kept smiling in rattling off in Japanese at a million miles a minute. I heard her say "Mei" several times, which led me to believe that she was going to take it upon herself to get me to Mei. She proceeded to take me into this tiny glass waiting room on platform 6. It was miserably hott and stuffy, and since I was the only white person, everyone was looking at me like I had a fetus growing out of my head. It was so stuffy, I started to sweat, and I felt like I couldn't breathe. I wanted to distract myself, so I pulled out Mean Mr. Mustard (my I-pod). I put my headphones in, and put Mean Mr. Mustard on shuffle. The sound of the rain on the roof of the little waiting room died out, and The Doors "People are Strange" came on. I love my Mean Mr. Mustard. Whenever I put him on shuffle, he has this habit of playing a song that is perfect for the situation I'm in. I looked at the old woman next to me, my self appointed Japanese care taker, and I could feel everyone's eyes on me. I just looked at my feet and listened to the lyrics:

When you're strange

faces come out of the rain,

when you're strange

no one remembers your name

when you're strange

when you're strange.....

I was indeed, feeling pretty strange. About 5 minutes before the train was going to arrive, I fled my stuffy sanctuary and went to a vending machine to get a cold tea. I was hoping it would settle my stomach. I went to put my money in, when a tiny wrinkled hand stopped me. Of course, it was the little old lady. One hand was holding my arm (preventing me from buying my drink) and the other hand was grasping a thermos full of home-brewed tea. Now, I am not saying this little old lady wasn't really sweet, I know she was just trying to help. However, in the midst of an anxiety attack, I generally want my space, and I definately did not want to drink mystery tea from a purse thermos. I did my best to smile, and I bought the tea anyway.

The train arrived, and she pulled me down in the seat next to her. I felt like I was going to throw up on my shoes. I was so nervous about driving back to Kunisaki. I was running all the possible scenarios of things that could go wrong through my twisted little imagination, when the tiny wrinkled hand re-appeared. Only this time, she had fruit. I don't know what it was, but she stared me down and kept saying "DOZO!DOZO!" which means please. So, I ate the mystery fruit, and smiled to be nice. I don't know what it was, but it had the texture of an apple and the flavor of a cantaloupe. It also had really giant seeds. My stomach was turing, and I started to worry I might get sick right on the little old lady's lap. I kept smiling awkwardly, but inside I wanted to die a little. I know these things are easier to read when there's pictures, so I used my computer's camera to roughly capture my feelings at this moment:

This was not a cheerful Erin. Eventually, the train got to Mei, and the little old lady tried to pull me towards her car. Lucky for me Ryan (the JET I bought the car from) was already waiting for me in the parking lot. He saved the day, and literally, saved me from a very sweet and maternal Japanese old lady who would have probably taken me home and kept me as her little American pet.

Ryan took me to the parking lot where my car was sitting. He gave me directions on how to get back to the city, which were quite vague, but it was the best he could do. He wanted to drive around the block with me a few times, but I honestly just wanted to be left alone. He respected my wishes, and left the parking lot. I was on my own.

So, meet "ratty."

I didn't name the car "Ratty," the previous owners did. I actually really like the car. It's a lot like the Millennium Falcon, she doesn't look like much, but she's got it where it counts. Now "Ratty" only has four forward gears, and if you go faster than 85 km an hour it starts to sound cranky. Now, considering that I still don't understand the metric system I HAVE NO CLUE HOW FAST THAT IS. I'm going to guess that this baby tops out at around 55 mph. The blinker and the windshield wipers are on opposite sides. Driving on the left side of the road and the right side of the car has me all mixed up. Every time I try to make a turn my windshield wipers kick on and I have to struggle to remember which side of the road I belong on.

After a few hours of stressful driving, I managed to get myself lost. This is no surprise, I have absolutely no sense of direction. I knew I was lost, so with a lack any better options I pulled into a gas station. Now the gas station attendant didn't speak any English, but I managed to have him show me where I was on the map. I got back in my car, and I literally started to cry. I was so frustrated, I didn't really know what else to do. After a few minutes of a tantrum, I pulled myself together. Over our road trip this summer Winston not only taught me how to drive a stick shift, but he taught me how to tell my way on a map, and he taught as much as he could about direction. So, thanks to the lessons of a fabulous teacher, I set off for Kunisaki.

About an hour later I was in Oita City, familiar territory, and I was able to find my way back home. By the time I got home it was dark and rainy, but I didn't care, I made it home safe. I came home, and curled up on my futon. After a long stressful day, I was still pretty jittery. I found myself up at 2am. Not knowing what else to do, I called Winston. He was able to calm me down, and I went to sleep. Bless his pea-pickin' little heart, my little freak outs never scare him, he always thinks it's cute. I don't know how anyone could think my panic attacks are cute, but lucky for me he handles them flawlessly.

I was up the next morning at 9. I made myself breakfast, put on my sweatsuit, and started stretching. Greg came to pick me up around 10:30 and we set off for the Tamaguchi Marathon. It was a cold day, but it didn't rain. I'm happy to say that I ran the whole 10 marathon, in 1hour 12minutes, 2seconds. The jog was great. My kids were all volunteering, handing out water and bananas every 2 km. Every time they saw me, they screamed, jumped up and down, and screamed "FIGHT ERREEEN! FIGHT HARD!" The route led us all towards the mountains along the rice patties. As much as Kunisaki lacks a lot of modern convinces, I know I will look back on this whole experience positively. I am seeing a part of Japan few people know about. The agricultural part, the quiet part, the part without Wi-fi internet and bullet trains. It felt good to hear the kids cheering me on, that's something that really only happens is a small town.

So needless to say, I had a stressful weekend. I think driving here is going to take some getting used to, but that's okay. Considering that I live in the boonies, driving shouldn't be too complicated. But, I did conquer my first road trip in Japan (all by myself!) and a 10k marathon. Not too bad!

Sorry this post tapered off a bit at the end, but I want to eat dinner. Like a true adult, I made myself soup and a peanut butter jelly sandwich. I enjoy eating my soup out of an amusingly large mug.

So, it's time for me to turn off the blog, eat my dinner, and go to bed. Before I go, I did buy myself some new slippers, enjoy!

they're duckies!