On Friday Cindy and I branched out and actually (gasp) left Ota for the night! We wandered up north to the ever-happenin’ metropolis known as Shibukawa to party Shibs-style! It was a lot of fun, and Shibukawa is actually a lot bigger than I expected based on descriptions. It’s cute!
I do believe the whole night was a big excuse for me to ruin the week’s diet as much as possible. Not only did I get a “snack” at McDonald’s, but I also ate for like seven hours in a row. Hrm. Oh, well.
Anyway, we went to The Wiz, the local karaoke place, which was…..extremely interesting :) I don’t think words can do it justice, but I will try. First of all, I was surprised, because it is the American version of a karaoke bar. There aren’t karaoke boxes, but one karaoke machine and lots of tables (the place was huge!). All of the tables are surrounded by the most ‘70’s chairs one could possibly imagine, and it is all dark and VERY ghetto, indeed! The place is run by an old obachan who does everything herself, including putting in your songs. You write the numbers on a piece of paper, give them to her, and she puts them in. This gives her a bit too much control, as apparently some nights she will just stop putting them in when she is trying to “hint” that you should leave! Hahaha. Anyway, the place was huge, but we were the ONLY ones there. It was fun! It was nice to see Shibukawa peeps, as well as others that wandered on up. I think the lady may have had a crush on me, as she would stop serving drinks and stare at me while I was singing? Hmm, perhaps I can get some old lady action in Shibukawa! Sweeeeeeeeeeet!
After a lot of nomihoudai, we made our way to Chau’s house, where we proved that we are the biggest nerds EVER by playing Taboo until 4 in the morning. I seriously could have played it for like five more hours! We played east coasters versus west coasters, and might I say that west coasters are amazing! We more than doubled the east coasters’ score, and their may have been a small amount of bitterness in the room! Hehe. Also, I must say that Daniel is a genius and had the most elaborate explanations for words, while the rest of us could barely speak English. Hmm.
We assed out at Anna’s house at 5 in the morning (thanks, Anna!), and I discovered that I am an old man, as I hadn’t been up that late in a million years. Saturday we went to lunch in Shibs, then trained it back to Ota to see Narnia at AEON. Um, that is the longest movie EVER. It really isn’t THAT long, but it feels like eight years long. Also, the kids annoyed me. Ehhhhhh, I didn’t like it very much. Sad. We also tried the tabehoudai place at AEON and discovered that like many buffets in America, it was too good to be true. We got a coupon for a free meal the next time we went, and no one wanted it! Haha.
On Sunday I got on my knees, worked up a sweat, and got dirty………bleaching my floors! Hmm, perhaps I should have invested in some gloves for that project, as my hands still smell of poison. I came to the conclusion halfway through that I don’t plan on doing it again this year because cleaning floors sucks. Time to buy a Swiffer! It was good, tho, as I have been meaning to do it for like eight months. I should have visitors more often, my house is gonna be hella clean by the time Kris comes!
I also went to Bunshindo and rented the gayest shit EVER. I got another Hirai Ken CD, Waterboys (the movie about a high school boys’ synchronized swimming team), and Umizaru (a movie based on the TV show about divers who wear spandex the whole time). Mmmmm! I watched Waterboys, and it is really good in a horrible horrible way. Good stuff!
Meh, I really need to upload a million photos but I am oh, so lazy. Eventually!
Monday, March 13, 2006
Thursday, March 09, 2006
Busy doing nothing?
So this week I have practically no classes because of graduation prep and god knows what else. I usually get bored just sitting in the staffroom, but somehow I am extremely content doing nothing for seven hours? In fact, I got the rest of the month’s schedule this morning, and I was annoyed that I actually have more classes in the next two weeks than I thought. How dare I have to teach this month!
One might think that having so many hours of pure freedom would mean that I am getting all kinds of things done….reading and finishing the ENORMOUS pile of books awaiting me, making reservations for when my sister comes, planning…I dunno, stuff. But somehow 4:05 comes and I can’t remember what I did all day long. Seriously, I am never bored or just staring at the wall, but I have no proof of being productive. I do very, very small “chores,” but nothing big….where the hell does all of the time go?! I know I’m not the only ALT that feels this way. Hmm, perhaps the staffroom somehow alters one’s sense of time. Who knows. All I know is that I’m doing nothing and loving it!
One might think that having so many hours of pure freedom would mean that I am getting all kinds of things done….reading and finishing the ENORMOUS pile of books awaiting me, making reservations for when my sister comes, planning…I dunno, stuff. But somehow 4:05 comes and I can’t remember what I did all day long. Seriously, I am never bored or just staring at the wall, but I have no proof of being productive. I do very, very small “chores,” but nothing big….where the hell does all of the time go?! I know I’m not the only ALT that feels this way. Hmm, perhaps the staffroom somehow alters one’s sense of time. Who knows. All I know is that I’m doing nothing and loving it!
Monday, March 06, 2006
Daietto chuu
Because we feel disgusting in every way possible, Ann, Cindy and I are attempting the impossible: we are going on a diet. It’s a sad day when we have to take such drastic measures, but I’m afraid we have reached that point where we are SO fucking fat and lazy from this stupid-ass winter that it feels like we’re each pregnant. With quintuplets.
The diet officially starts today, but I did a pretty good job yesterday, too, so it sorta started yesterday for me. Except for the Ministop berry parfait :) We aren’t going to stop eating by any means, but we are going to eat smaller portions and limit dessert to a small piece of candy or form of sugar that fixes the craving but doesn’t go overboard like, say, a bowl of MOW ice cream. I MUST lose weight before seeing Eduardo, dammit!
Fortunately for my body’s sake, the weather is starting to warm up, so it is actually possible to bike around and exercise a bit more than in the last three months or so. I went around town yesterday and it felt nice. Unfortunately for the diet, however, Kris (my sister) is coming in a week and a half, and I don’t see how two Santilli children together could possibly adhere to a diet while on vacation! Hmm. We shall see. If anyone wants to join our mission, you are more than welcome. Let’s ganbaru!
The diet officially starts today, but I did a pretty good job yesterday, too, so it sorta started yesterday for me. Except for the Ministop berry parfait :) We aren’t going to stop eating by any means, but we are going to eat smaller portions and limit dessert to a small piece of candy or form of sugar that fixes the craving but doesn’t go overboard like, say, a bowl of MOW ice cream. I MUST lose weight before seeing Eduardo, dammit!
Fortunately for my body’s sake, the weather is starting to warm up, so it is actually possible to bike around and exercise a bit more than in the last three months or so. I went around town yesterday and it felt nice. Unfortunately for the diet, however, Kris (my sister) is coming in a week and a half, and I don’t see how two Santilli children together could possibly adhere to a diet while on vacation! Hmm. We shall see. If anyone wants to join our mission, you are more than welcome. Let’s ganbaru!
Let’s play “find the gaijin!”
Eventually I want a picture of myself in a crowded Tokyo train with my head about ten feet above everyone else’s, but in the meantime I have my staff photo that is pretty much the same thing, only on bleachers. I was just handed the photo and it is RIDICULOUS, I really need a scan of it. I knew when they put me in the middle it was a bad idea in the first place, but I am seriously like three heads taller than the person next to me and white as…..something that’s really white. Oy oy oy. No wonder people can always find me in crowds!
A Debauchery-filled Weekend
I think I had enough fun on Friday to make up for my otherwise very chill weekend. Friday night was Ann’s and my combo birthday party and it was muy tanoshiiyo! Well, what I can remember of it, hehe. The night started out at Ikkyuu, my (and most people’s, kana?) favorite izakaya (Japanese-style bar) in Ota. We got a TON of food (too much, if such a thing exists!), and nomihoudai for $35, and we DEFINITELY got our money’s worth out of it. Hmm, I hope we can go back there! Anyway, I think there were 23 people there? A lot of loud-ass gaijin, is all I know! It was hella fun. Highlights included Grant’s bucket of 100 yen presents, including a princess set with rings, a wand and a crown that I was like “Fuck, no, I am NOT wearing that shit!,” then proceeded to wear it for an hour for some reason. Also, the obligatory freak dancing with Veronica, making out with a few people (um, I didn’t remember that until I saw photos….why do I always make out with people in Japan?), being loud as fuck, and god knows what else. It was fun fun fun fun fun, so thank you for everyone who came AND THANK YOU CINDY AND EMILY FOR ORGANIZING IT!
After that some of us went to karaoke at the usual place above Gen, which will no longer be the usual place, as we can never go back there again! I broke a glass, stole a Hirai Ken poster (and was SO not sneaky in doing so), we had a fucked-up remote (or fucked-up users, kana?) and we generally irritated them as much as possible. But it’s okay because we are sick of that place anyway. It wasn’t as fun as normal karaoke because of the fucked-up remote, unfortunately, sniff. But it was still fun, I’m sure….I can’t remember that much other than falling over on Veronica and her saying “AN ENTIRE MAN JUST FELL ON ME!” Hehehe. Sorry, V!
Ann and I stayed over at Cindy’s that night, which was a cool way to make it so the night didn’t end with last trains.
The next morning we woke up far too early, but had a good breakfast and chilled with our hangovers. Because of tiredness and general badness, Saturday was pretty much a waste of time :)
Sunday was more productive than most Sundays, but nothing exciting to talk about. Except for the Ministop double berry parfait, which is SO DAMN GOOD. Everyone must go to Ministop right now and get one. On that thrilling note, I will end this entry. Photos to come when I get unlazy!
After that some of us went to karaoke at the usual place above Gen, which will no longer be the usual place, as we can never go back there again! I broke a glass, stole a Hirai Ken poster (and was SO not sneaky in doing so), we had a fucked-up remote (or fucked-up users, kana?) and we generally irritated them as much as possible. But it’s okay because we are sick of that place anyway. It wasn’t as fun as normal karaoke because of the fucked-up remote, unfortunately, sniff. But it was still fun, I’m sure….I can’t remember that much other than falling over on Veronica and her saying “AN ENTIRE MAN JUST FELL ON ME!” Hehehe. Sorry, V!
Ann and I stayed over at Cindy’s that night, which was a cool way to make it so the night didn’t end with last trains.
The next morning we woke up far too early, but had a good breakfast and chilled with our hangovers. Because of tiredness and general badness, Saturday was pretty much a waste of time :)
Sunday was more productive than most Sundays, but nothing exciting to talk about. Except for the Ministop double berry parfait, which is SO DAMN GOOD. Everyone must go to Ministop right now and get one. On that thrilling note, I will end this entry. Photos to come when I get unlazy!
Friday, March 03, 2006
The health benefits or gargling?
K, so I have been meaning to ask this for a while…
In Japan, to promote staying healthy, they tell you to wash your hands and gargle water. There are signs all over school for it (though to be fair, there are signs all over school for EVERYTHING, from “wear a bike helmet!” to “save your money!”). I understand the need to wash your hands (even though the Japanese soap-in-the-net thing is a bit sketchy to me), but does gargling actually have any health benefits? The only time I ever think to gargle is with salt water if I have a sore throat. Does gargling water actually get rid of germs? What is the apparent point of doing so, and does it actually work? I need to know, people! Feel free to leave a comment.
In Japan, to promote staying healthy, they tell you to wash your hands and gargle water. There are signs all over school for it (though to be fair, there are signs all over school for EVERYTHING, from “wear a bike helmet!” to “save your money!”). I understand the need to wash your hands (even though the Japanese soap-in-the-net thing is a bit sketchy to me), but does gargling actually have any health benefits? The only time I ever think to gargle is with salt water if I have a sore throat. Does gargling water actually get rid of germs? What is the apparent point of doing so, and does it actually work? I need to know, people! Feel free to leave a comment.
In the words of Aristotle, this is some fucked-up shit
Apparently eating too much crappy-ass pizza can mess with your brain.
Thursday, March 02, 2006
Those crazy Chinese
Yesterday, Ann, Cindy, Sean and I were discussing how Beijing would never be ready to host the Olympics, and then today this article comes out. Too amusing.
Shizougakkou
Check out my awesome rapper Japanese. I’m really cool!
Yesterday I had shougakkou for the first time in three weeks. I managed to avoid it two weeks in a row thanks to an orientation and being sick, so I was dreading actually drudging up enough energy (hmm, I don’t think that’s the right word. Or the right use of that word. Hmm. Drudge? Eh, whatever) to teach 5 genki shougakkou classes. However, it actually turned out to be a fun (albeit COMPLETELY exhausting) day.
Apparently I had enough genki-ness stored up from the two weeks off that I was like on crack the whole time and was all over the place and really happy? It was strange and I kinda freaked myself out, but the kids seemed to enjoy it. We’re also at the end of the year, so I don’t really care if I have big themes for the lessons or not. I did for most of ‘em, but some I was just like “Let’s play fruit basket and karuta for 50 minutes!” which the kids seemed to love. Also, the lesson of the day is: if you own a big-ass dice, bring it to shougakkou and let the kids roll it. It will entertain them for HOURS and they will beg you to let them roll it more. Not exactly sure why, but I highly suggest it.
The highlight of the day was lunch time, when one of the 6nensei classes had a big lunch party with the teachers. It was SO fun and SOOO cute, I wish I had brought my camera! They invited all of the teachers into a special room with their kyushoku, but they also made us yakisoba sandwiches and a strawberry pastry dessert, and they served us drinks, as well. Oh, I also got an invite in the mail from them for this party, AND they re-scheduled it so I could be there, awww! I love my 6nensei!
Each table had a few students and a few teachers, and the kids made a board game for us to play. And at the end of the (huge and delicious) lunch, they played a song for us on their recorders! AWWWWW! I really wish I would have brought my camera! They were so cute, though, and really excited for it. Aww, I love my 6nensei! I can’t wait to teach them at chuugakkou (although that means I have to watch them turn into teenagers and become possibly bitchy! Noooooo!).
It was a good day, though. I also turned in my FUCKING culture board, finally. I refuse to do it next year, dammit!
Last night Sean, Cindy, Ann and I went out to dinner and stayed out as long as possible to delay going home and thinking about work the next day. It was a fun dinner, though.
And now I’m at work….lalalalalala. One class cut today, though! AND evil Yoshiki’s class is cut tomorrow, wheeeee!
Yesterday I had shougakkou for the first time in three weeks. I managed to avoid it two weeks in a row thanks to an orientation and being sick, so I was dreading actually drudging up enough energy (hmm, I don’t think that’s the right word. Or the right use of that word. Hmm. Drudge? Eh, whatever) to teach 5 genki shougakkou classes. However, it actually turned out to be a fun (albeit COMPLETELY exhausting) day.
Apparently I had enough genki-ness stored up from the two weeks off that I was like on crack the whole time and was all over the place and really happy? It was strange and I kinda freaked myself out, but the kids seemed to enjoy it. We’re also at the end of the year, so I don’t really care if I have big themes for the lessons or not. I did for most of ‘em, but some I was just like “Let’s play fruit basket and karuta for 50 minutes!” which the kids seemed to love. Also, the lesson of the day is: if you own a big-ass dice, bring it to shougakkou and let the kids roll it. It will entertain them for HOURS and they will beg you to let them roll it more. Not exactly sure why, but I highly suggest it.
The highlight of the day was lunch time, when one of the 6nensei classes had a big lunch party with the teachers. It was SO fun and SOOO cute, I wish I had brought my camera! They invited all of the teachers into a special room with their kyushoku, but they also made us yakisoba sandwiches and a strawberry pastry dessert, and they served us drinks, as well. Oh, I also got an invite in the mail from them for this party, AND they re-scheduled it so I could be there, awww! I love my 6nensei!
Each table had a few students and a few teachers, and the kids made a board game for us to play. And at the end of the (huge and delicious) lunch, they played a song for us on their recorders! AWWWWW! I really wish I would have brought my camera! They were so cute, though, and really excited for it. Aww, I love my 6nensei! I can’t wait to teach them at chuugakkou (although that means I have to watch them turn into teenagers and become possibly bitchy! Noooooo!).
It was a good day, though. I also turned in my FUCKING culture board, finally. I refuse to do it next year, dammit!
Last night Sean, Cindy, Ann and I went out to dinner and stayed out as long as possible to delay going home and thinking about work the next day. It was a fun dinner, though.
And now I’m at work….lalalalalala. One class cut today, though! AND evil Yoshiki’s class is cut tomorrow, wheeeee!
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Saabisu
So in Japan products will oftentimes randomly come with a "saabisu" (service), which is a free little present (usually of the cute variety) that comes along with said product. These are often attached to sodas and other things at the grocery store.
Today I was at the drug store and had to choose a decongestant. I would usually get Sudafed, but it is illegal here because of the meth-making stuff in it. Anyway, while debating between brand names, I noticed that Contac, while being a bit more expensive than everything else, came with a cute saabisu. So, that made my decision for me! Damn, I guess that cheap-ass marketing really works....
Kawaiiiiiii!
A towel that came with a bottle of water.
This came on a wine bottle. What could this mysterious plastic contain?
It OBVIOUSLY becomes an extremely classy wine "glass" for picnics!
Today I was at the drug store and had to choose a decongestant. I would usually get Sudafed, but it is illegal here because of the meth-making stuff in it. Anyway, while debating between brand names, I noticed that Contac, while being a bit more expensive than everything else, came with a cute saabisu. So, that made my decision for me! Damn, I guess that cheap-ass marketing really works....
Kawaiiiiiii!
A towel that came with a bottle of water.
This came on a wine bottle. What could this mysterious plastic contain?
It OBVIOUSLY becomes an extremely classy wine "glass" for picnics!
Ankeeto
This month’s lunch menu came with the results of a survey of 2nensei students on the back. The survey had questions regarding their eating, sleeping and health habits, and I think was just an excuse to indulge Japan’s not-so-secret love with surveys and graphs, but it had some interesting results.
When asked how they were feeling the morning they took the survey, only 22% felt well, 8 % “felt well and had various conditions” (um, I have NO clue what that means), and 69% didn’t feel well.
When asked what time they went to sleep the night before, only 9% went to bed between 9-10:00. 18% went to bed between 10-11, 29% went to bed between 11-12, and freaking 42% went to bed some time after midnight. Dude, that is NOT much sleep for growing chuugakusei to be getting! Might I mention that it’s later than I go to bed, sad! No wonder these kids are always sick, they’re too busy studying, doing sports, and studying even more to eat, sleep, or have fun. Poor kids!
When asked how they were feeling the morning they took the survey, only 22% felt well, 8 % “felt well and had various conditions” (um, I have NO clue what that means), and 69% didn’t feel well.
When asked what time they went to sleep the night before, only 9% went to bed between 9-10:00. 18% went to bed between 10-11, 29% went to bed between 11-12, and freaking 42% went to bed some time after midnight. Dude, that is NOT much sleep for growing chuugakusei to be getting! Might I mention that it’s later than I go to bed, sad! No wonder these kids are always sick, they’re too busy studying, doing sports, and studying even more to eat, sleep, or have fun. Poor kids!
Gee, Bush is so multi-cultural
From The NY Times:
“President Bush is planning a two-day wind sprint across India this week, when he will meet with political leaders, chat up high-tech millionaires and give a speech at a 16th-century fort. But to the consternation of the Indians, he will not see the country's most famous monument, the Taj Mahal, a decision that Mr. Bush said was made by an omnipotent scheduler.
"Look, if I were the scheduler, perhaps I'd be doing things differently," Mr. Bush said last week, when he was asked in an interview with Indian reporters at the White House why he was skipping the Taj. "I'll be the president, we've got the scheduler being the scheduler. I'm going to miss a lot of the really interesting parts of your great country. I know that."
Mr. Bush has never been a sightseer, and his planned two days in India and one in Pakistan are typical of a president who visited the Great Wall of China in 30 minutes flat.”
Not only does he sound like a jack-ass in the interview with the reporters, but how the hell does someone visit the Great Wall in 30 minutes?! Ugh.
“President Bush is planning a two-day wind sprint across India this week, when he will meet with political leaders, chat up high-tech millionaires and give a speech at a 16th-century fort. But to the consternation of the Indians, he will not see the country's most famous monument, the Taj Mahal, a decision that Mr. Bush said was made by an omnipotent scheduler.
"Look, if I were the scheduler, perhaps I'd be doing things differently," Mr. Bush said last week, when he was asked in an interview with Indian reporters at the White House why he was skipping the Taj. "I'll be the president, we've got the scheduler being the scheduler. I'm going to miss a lot of the really interesting parts of your great country. I know that."
Mr. Bush has never been a sightseer, and his planned two days in India and one in Pakistan are typical of a president who visited the Great Wall of China in 30 minutes flat.”
Not only does he sound like a jack-ass in the interview with the reporters, but how the hell does someone visit the Great Wall in 30 minutes?! Ugh.
Monday, February 27, 2006
Oishiizo
So, I am officially in love with Hirai Ken, the Japanese popstar. He is the hottest not-hot guy in the entire world! I am far too addicted to his greatest hits CD and DVD....I have been watching his music videos in unhealthy doses lately, but....Hirai Ken! ROWR!
I don't expect anyone in the States to understand my obsession, as I would also be confused at my choice. But coming from Japanese Jeff, he's fucking hot, yo!
I don't expect anyone in the States to understand my obsession, as I would also be confused at my choice. But coming from Japanese Jeff, he's fucking hot, yo!
Koukou
My 3nensei graduate in two weeks, and many don’t even know what high school they are going to yet! I can’t imagine not knowing what high school I would attend a month away from the new school year starting. That is so crazy to my procrastinate-y American mind, let alone an organized Japanese mind! How do they not go crazy not knowing such things? More power to ‘em, I suppose.
I also can’t believe how far some of my students are going for school. One of my favorite students told me today that she is going to a school in Takasaki. Dude, I can barely be bothered to go there for shopping on a Saturday because it takes so long to get there! How the hell can she go there and back every single day?! It seriously takes like an hour and a half to get there from here because of the train transfer (unless she is motivated and wants to bike a half hour to Iwajuku every day, which would equally suck). Man, these kids are crazy.
I also can’t believe how far some of my students are going for school. One of my favorite students told me today that she is going to a school in Takasaki. Dude, I can barely be bothered to go there for shopping on a Saturday because it takes so long to get there! How the hell can she go there and back every single day?! It seriously takes like an hour and a half to get there from here because of the train transfer (unless she is motivated and wants to bike a half hour to Iwajuku every day, which would equally suck). Man, these kids are crazy.
Doing new things?! What’s that?
I had a VERY enjoyable weekend, although it went far too fast. I love that weeks go by really quickly, but I don’t enjoy the fact that weekends go by equally as fast. Hrm.
Anyway, Friday night there was a Country Ma’am (me, Jenny and Cindy) gathering at Cindy’s place to watch the Golden Globes and other assorted American entertainment. It served as an excuse for us to eat far too much food and talk shit about celebrities for four hours. We thought more people were coming, so we had enough food for like six people or more, but of course the three of us ate almost all of it. Jesus, we have problems. It was fun to watch the Golden Globes, tho, and the good thing about watching it a month and a half after it airs is that we all forgot who won, so it was surprising!
We also watched a few interviews with Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger (yes, I realize I have mentioned Brokeback like 300 times in the last two weeks, but whatever!) and I got really annoyed with the STUPID questions they ask them. First of all, every interview is the same, and every interview is homophobic. It’s really annoying! I am half irritated at the interviewer and half irritated with our society for those questions needing to be asked. Like, every interview pretty much consisted of them asking about the “risks” involved with playing a gay character and how nervous they were doing the kissing scenes and stupid shit like that. Like, it is obvious that they will ask those questions, but it is also so fucking stupid, in my opinion. Hello, they’re fucking actors, their job is to pretend to be someone else, it shouldn’t be a “risk” to pretend they’re gay. Also, I got especially irritated when Oprah was asking these questions because I would have expected better than her. To me it’s not different than asking if an actor was nervous about kissing a black person on screen or anything like that. It’s fucking ridiculous. *breathes*
Um, where was I? Anyway, that was Friday and it was fun! Hehe. On Saturday I met up with Cindy and Ann and went to Korona no yu, which is the onsen and sauna at Korona. I had heard great things about it, but I didn’t realize that it was the GREATEST PLACE ON THE PLANET, holy shit! It’s really new-looking and nice, and was SO relaxing. The onsen was great, but I fucking loved the sauna. You get to wear these comfy-ass pajama-like things made out of towel material, and since you’re not naked, it’s co-ed (not that naked things aren’t co-ed in Japan). There was this great hot rock room and all kinds of stuff. I was the lonely sweaty-ass Whitey McWhiterson, but I still enjoyed it. There is also a theater room where you can lay down and watch movies, a relaxation room with magazines and TV to watch, and all kinds of shit. It was sooooooooooo good, I am SO bringing any visitors there.
After that we met up with Emily and had Thai food in Ashikaga to celebrate Ann’s birthday (happy birthday, Ann!). It was sooooo good. They also gave us the “VIP room,” which was like our own private dining room, which was cool. And we deserved it since we ordered about 300 different dishes.
After that we headed back to Korona and wasted time while waiting for a pool table. While we never ended up playing pool, we did some crappy purikura, I rocked ass on taiko (and got my own little fan club of kids who practiced their English on me, awwww! And I got fucking blisters from the drum sticks, bastards!), and played darts (don’t ever play with Cindy; I think she is secretly British!). It was a really fun day because all of the activities were something we hadn’t done before. It was soooo nice to discover there is more stuff to do in Ota! Very very fun day.
On Sunday I talked to my sister for over an hour about her visit…I can’t believe she’s here in less than three weeks! We have some fun stuff planned, I can’t wait. I also talked to my family, watched Love Actually (fuck, Rodrigo Santoro is fucking hot), and wasted time doing god knows what. I love me some Sundays.
Anyway, Friday night there was a Country Ma’am (me, Jenny and Cindy) gathering at Cindy’s place to watch the Golden Globes and other assorted American entertainment. It served as an excuse for us to eat far too much food and talk shit about celebrities for four hours. We thought more people were coming, so we had enough food for like six people or more, but of course the three of us ate almost all of it. Jesus, we have problems. It was fun to watch the Golden Globes, tho, and the good thing about watching it a month and a half after it airs is that we all forgot who won, so it was surprising!
We also watched a few interviews with Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger (yes, I realize I have mentioned Brokeback like 300 times in the last two weeks, but whatever!) and I got really annoyed with the STUPID questions they ask them. First of all, every interview is the same, and every interview is homophobic. It’s really annoying! I am half irritated at the interviewer and half irritated with our society for those questions needing to be asked. Like, every interview pretty much consisted of them asking about the “risks” involved with playing a gay character and how nervous they were doing the kissing scenes and stupid shit like that. Like, it is obvious that they will ask those questions, but it is also so fucking stupid, in my opinion. Hello, they’re fucking actors, their job is to pretend to be someone else, it shouldn’t be a “risk” to pretend they’re gay. Also, I got especially irritated when Oprah was asking these questions because I would have expected better than her. To me it’s not different than asking if an actor was nervous about kissing a black person on screen or anything like that. It’s fucking ridiculous. *breathes*
Um, where was I? Anyway, that was Friday and it was fun! Hehe. On Saturday I met up with Cindy and Ann and went to Korona no yu, which is the onsen and sauna at Korona. I had heard great things about it, but I didn’t realize that it was the GREATEST PLACE ON THE PLANET, holy shit! It’s really new-looking and nice, and was SO relaxing. The onsen was great, but I fucking loved the sauna. You get to wear these comfy-ass pajama-like things made out of towel material, and since you’re not naked, it’s co-ed (not that naked things aren’t co-ed in Japan). There was this great hot rock room and all kinds of stuff. I was the lonely sweaty-ass Whitey McWhiterson, but I still enjoyed it. There is also a theater room where you can lay down and watch movies, a relaxation room with magazines and TV to watch, and all kinds of shit. It was sooooooooooo good, I am SO bringing any visitors there.
After that we met up with Emily and had Thai food in Ashikaga to celebrate Ann’s birthday (happy birthday, Ann!). It was sooooo good. They also gave us the “VIP room,” which was like our own private dining room, which was cool. And we deserved it since we ordered about 300 different dishes.
After that we headed back to Korona and wasted time while waiting for a pool table. While we never ended up playing pool, we did some crappy purikura, I rocked ass on taiko (and got my own little fan club of kids who practiced their English on me, awwww! And I got fucking blisters from the drum sticks, bastards!), and played darts (don’t ever play with Cindy; I think she is secretly British!). It was a really fun day because all of the activities were something we hadn’t done before. It was soooo nice to discover there is more stuff to do in Ota! Very very fun day.
On Sunday I talked to my sister for over an hour about her visit…I can’t believe she’s here in less than three weeks! We have some fun stuff planned, I can’t wait. I also talked to my family, watched Love Actually (fuck, Rodrigo Santoro is fucking hot), and wasted time doing god knows what. I love me some Sundays.
Friday, February 24, 2006
Ah, Memories
Sean asked me the other day what I did for my last birthday, and I couldn’t remember at all. My generic answer was, “Hmm, probably drinking with friends and dancing. There’s always lots of dancing!” Thanks to iPhoto and the “remember the drunkest moments of your college career in photos” website known as DannyFayDotCom, the flashbacks came flooding back of a very fun cocktail party turned into a very very drunk and bad scene of me raping poor Nathaniel (pretty much literally) on the dance floor of Neighbors (for those of you fortunate enough to have never been to Neighbors, it is the sole gay bar in Eugene, Oregon (my college town), and to add to its classiness, it used to be a McDonald’s). Ugh, bad bad bad memories. Nate-kun, I highly doubt you are reading this, but just in case….sorry! Hee hee. A few photos of the occasion just because I’m bored:
Danny Bonaduce! YEEEEEEEEEEA!
Aww, the girls!
Poor "stung by a bee on the face" Alexia!
Where da hooks for hands at?
Awww, dinner party memories!
Me and mi mexicano.
Nate, pre-rape
Always a sign of badness to come....
Thank god this picture doesn't go further left...
Danny Bonaduce! YEEEEEEEEEEA!
Aww, the girls!
Poor "stung by a bee on the face" Alexia!
Where da hooks for hands at?
Awww, dinner party memories!
Me and mi mexicano.
Nate, pre-rape
Always a sign of badness to come....
Thank god this picture doesn't go further left...
Thursday, February 23, 2006
Movies!
Man, I am so excited that good films are coming out in the next month. A bunch of us saw Walk the Line on Monday (I would recommend to anyone…I didn’t give a shit about Johnny Cash, but it was a good film and Reese Witherspoon and Joaquin Phoenix were amazing in it), and I think I’m seeing Jarhead this Monday. Narnia and Syriana are out next Saturday, then Wallace and Gromit and Brokeback are out later in March. Yay, movies!
On a non-movie note, Holly informed me today that Coldplay is coming to Japan in mid-July! Woot! Let’s going!
On a non-movie note, Holly informed me today that Coldplay is coming to Japan in mid-July! Woot! Let’s going!
Almost Friday
Man, the week goes by much faster when you miss two days of work! I was feeling crappy this week, so I didn’t go to work on Tuesday or Wednesday. I was planning on taking a “sick” day on Tuesday anyway for my mental health, but I think the fates punished me for doing such a thing, as I was actually sick, hrm. But at least it made me feel a lot less guilty! I was still out of it on Wednesday and couldn’t even think of being genki enough for shougakkou, so I missed that, as well.
Man, days off are addicting! Sleeping in + being able to talk to Eduardo + lots of TV + making yummy breakfasts = why do I ever go to work?! I made huevos rancheros yesterday with the corn tortillas I found at AEON (!!!) and it was fucking GOOD. I found salsa there, too, and it is wayyy spicier than I expected. Man, I am so Japanese now, I can’t handle spicy stuff at all. I was like sweating and sniffling and crap, it was embarrassing. I may very well die in Mexico.
Yesterday was my birthday, and might I say that anything past 21 is just really boring! Oh, well. At least I didn't have to work on my birthday ;) At night I went to Chuck E. Cheese’s with my friends and we ate some pizza and played lots of games….I won enough tickets to get a back scratcher!!!!!
…Or, I went to Moti (yummy Indian restaurant) and ate WAY too much food.
Today I came back to work, and it was a fine day. We had the 3nensei okurukai, which is like a goodbye party for the 3nensei (different than graduation). I thought it would be a bit more interesting than it was. It was a couple of speeches and all of the grades singing their konkuuru songs. I didn’t really get the point of it, and even the 3nensei seemed bored. Hello, Ann’s high school had like rock performances and skits and shit! Oh, well.
This is a really boring blog entry! 15 more minutes of work, yay!
Man, days off are addicting! Sleeping in + being able to talk to Eduardo + lots of TV + making yummy breakfasts = why do I ever go to work?! I made huevos rancheros yesterday with the corn tortillas I found at AEON (!!!) and it was fucking GOOD. I found salsa there, too, and it is wayyy spicier than I expected. Man, I am so Japanese now, I can’t handle spicy stuff at all. I was like sweating and sniffling and crap, it was embarrassing. I may very well die in Mexico.
Yesterday was my birthday, and might I say that anything past 21 is just really boring! Oh, well. At least I didn't have to work on my birthday ;) At night I went to Chuck E. Cheese’s with my friends and we ate some pizza and played lots of games….I won enough tickets to get a back scratcher!!!!!
…Or, I went to Moti (yummy Indian restaurant) and ate WAY too much food.
Today I came back to work, and it was a fine day. We had the 3nensei okurukai, which is like a goodbye party for the 3nensei (different than graduation). I thought it would be a bit more interesting than it was. It was a couple of speeches and all of the grades singing their konkuuru songs. I didn’t really get the point of it, and even the 3nensei seemed bored. Hello, Ann’s high school had like rock performances and skits and shit! Oh, well.
This is a really boring blog entry! 15 more minutes of work, yay!
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Pictures!
Finally, pics to show from Jenny and Skye's birthday party...
Aww, Ota love!
Crazy girls not getting alcoholic drinks! Tsk tsk!
This picture scares me a bit.
This picture scares me a LOT more! That is the most molester-ish look I have ever seen! At least Jenny seems pleased with it ;)
Dipping my "chopstick" in a "Mexican"
WOW, Aussies put their all into karaoke!
Hmmmm.
I remember being really impressed with not falling over while doing this.
Look out, Sean, you got competition!
I do my best Brokeback Mountain impression....
More photos can be seen on my photos page.
Aww, Ota love!
Crazy girls not getting alcoholic drinks! Tsk tsk!
This picture scares me a bit.
This picture scares me a LOT more! That is the most molester-ish look I have ever seen! At least Jenny seems pleased with it ;)
Dipping my "chopstick" in a "Mexican"
WOW, Aussies put their all into karaoke!
Hmmmm.
I remember being really impressed with not falling over while doing this.
Look out, Sean, you got competition!
I do my best Brokeback Mountain impression....
More photos can be seen on my photos page.
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