Daniel-dont laugh at me please!

OK, so here is a slice of life in Japan for you. This is my fourth grade, well, one of my fourth grade classes at Hotei Elem. We are doing our "feelings" lesson-are you... yes I am/no Im not. Not the most exciting lesson, but it is pretty cool. I like the game actually, but it is only a vocabulary exercise. I like to seperate girls against boys. I think they like that, but hell, they are easy to please all in all. This was my sixth class of the day, and I was, and am, exausted. It is Friday, and I am updating my blog, chatting with Kim, and drinking sake. Probably on my way to be before too long!

In my defense, however, last night was a late one. I went to a language exchange party-kind of the equivelent of UW's kaiwa table, except half and half English and Japnaese. It is always fun; it is usually me and four Japanese people at our own table yakking it up. Funny how I cant seem to get away from white folk, and they can't seem to find em. Well, that is not my problem, is it?

So, I have realized that my Japanese is getting pretty damn good compared to six months ago. I still have no idea what is going on, but I am can rattle on for many minutes on certain subjects; mostly about me! Anyway, enough about that, lets talk about me; Johnny Bravo. Yeah, baby. Gimmee some sugar. Ok, not really sure where that came from, but OK! I am off to the races then, ya'll take care.

Staind

Just another day in not paradise, at least the weather is warm. I been sweating up a storm of late, today even and I did nothing for most of the day. They had some parents visiting day, and I had no classes to teach. Therefore, I sat on my bum and read, or studied. The last hour I played dodge ball, followed by soccer with the kids. That was fun, but I was really sweating after that. I just finished dinner; Thai Red Curry, but it was not that great. Mediocre to good, I suppose, and I took a walk. I figured the weather is good, and I have nothing better to do really. Nice evenings are a nice thing. I remember the evenings in 29 Palms; they were so nice compared to the days of intense heat. They made it worth living out there I think. I rather miss the desert sometimes. Anyway, I am on the third episode of Band of Brothers. Good trash that show; very motivating. It always makes me want to assault something!

Interesting

82 People Could Read This...(Pretty Amazing Actually)
Body: Body: i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae.

The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!


Makes learning Japanese seem impossible.

Garth Brooks

A Night Riders Lament; in a very liberal fashion, this song is my life. Liberal in that I have never ridden a horse, let alone ridden the great divide. Nor have I ever once in my life met a man named cookie, or Black Jim. However, it is a good song.
This, and Belleua Wood, are two of my favorites from him. Most are not aware, but it was at the battle of Belleua Wood where the Marines earned their nickname; Devildogs. The Germans defending against their onsluaght refferred to them-vice the Army, or French units, as Teufelhunden. German for, geuss what? Mostly, this was becuase they did what Marines do, they killed a lot of people and died bravely. Here is a link.

http://www.scuttlebuttsmallchow.com/fountain.html


Interesting history for ye whoefully underinformed.

Barrack Obama

Interesting guy with a cool voice. Do you ever have those mornings when you wonder where the hell all the time has come from? I have 30 minutes until I leave, and I am done. I usually clean house in the morning, but I am not going to do that today. Too lazy. Last night I watched LOST episodes 16-19. I am not looking forward to running out of episodes to watch. That is such a great show-although the DAVE episode I watched last night was a bit predictable in parts, but it did end with a surprise!

Anyway, I am all set to go hiking; I just need someplace to go! I am trying to figure out what to do on during my vacation in August. I am off for, well, august, plus parts of july and september. I am thinking I ought to go home, as I think I would actually SAVE money by doing so. Japan is expensive, and having nothing to do makes it REALLY expensive; what with train fairs, entrance fees. Etc, etc... HOWEVER...I did come all this way. We shall see...

NPR

Well, I guess you can tell I had a week off; no time to post. I went all over the area I live in, and even made it to Osaka again, and from there I saw Kyoto-finally. I must say that I wish I had gotten my folks there while they were here, but I must also say that I was in many ways unimpressed. I expected less commerce from the cultural heart of Japan. It seemed to look a lot like a giant store that was stocked with more culturally significant wares. It was fun though, and the temples were impressive.

Work is going well, again. I am enjoying my job still. Today was cool. Turns out one of the teacher is from Okinawa, and we were talking, and it ended up with me and several older ladies yacking on for about 2 hours. It was fun. I will be bringing some pictures from Oki to work tomorrow to show off. Thankfully I bought my thumb drive eh?

My phone finally broke. I can't listen to music on it anymore. Oh well, I guess it is only a phone, dictionary, and camera now. What a gyp! =)

Anyway, here is some pictures. Enjoy!