MIA

So, not that any of you out in cyberworld see me on a regular basis anyway, but if you did, you wouldn't be seeing me these days. My life has become consumed with the ever-ridiculous JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test). Now only 2 weeks away, my every free moment is spent learning how to read kanji like this: 投票, studying essays and texts, practicing grammar and memorizing vocabulary. Yeah, sounds thrilling, I know.

Anyway, so if I am missing from this blog for a bit, don't freak out- I'll be back. If, however, you still haven't heard from me after December 3, the test date, send out a search party to revive my broken and battered body. Please.

Here Fishy Fishy Fishy

Last week was Culture Day in Japan, so a couple of Japanese friends and I hit up the man-made lake to go fishing. Not only was the lake man-made, the black bass were imported from America. What the heck?! Being that it was culture day, I think our days lineup was perfectly culturally Japanese. Lots of people crammed around a fake lake, paying money to indulge in their hobby and not even getting to keep the fish.(catch and release only, even in the land of sushi!)

Nonetheless, it was good times. Beautiful sunny weather, a cup of coffee, and friends. What more could a girl ask for?!



Me getting bored, taking picks as I wait for the fish to bite.



Here's a view of the lake. It's pretty darn small. Unbelievably, on the dock in the middle of the lake there was even a vending machine. As you can imagine, vending machines are overrunning this country.



Finally... our first catch of the day!! Junichi rounded out the day as the fishing king, catching 4 fish.



And... yes, FINALLY I caught a fish! I was gonna try and take the hook out of its mouth but I took one look at it and decided to pass. No way was I touching that slimy creature.



I might not have touched my catch, but you better believe I was still proud I caught it! Check out that disgusted look on my face! I was so happy I caught something the old Japanese man next to us asked if I wanted to measure it. Ha! It's like 3 inches long. I guess he could tell I was quite ecstatic to have actually caught something after hours of nothingness on a dock. :) Yeay for Culture Day. Anything is better than, work, right?!?

Happy Happy Halloween

So this past week has been a whilrwind of Japanese style Halloween. And, I must admit, I'm sad the Japanese kids don't get to enjoy the sheer beauty of dressing up and getting loads of candy. I mean, remember when Halloween was THE event in October? Just the prospect of every adult I knew freely giving out candy was too much for my teeny candy-hyptonized brain at the age of 6.

First up on the list was the annual house party in Tokorozawa. Cassie and I were both there last year and decided we certainly couldn't miss it this year. Here's the pic of the crew. Maybe you can spot me, yes, that's me in a clam shell bra. Some weird Japanese men gave it to me as a birthday present last year. I mistakenly thought I could never use such an impractical gift but as it turns out it is a great addition to any hula dancer's outfit.





Cassie and Bryn- I LOVE the costumes. At one point during the night the conversation turned to prostitution and Cassie englightened us about the brothels in Australia. Hilarious.



This is my kids English Conversation Class (Eikaiwa) on Mondays. I have a class with kids and one with adults- both of which were hilarious. These are the cuties I get to play with every week... they are so adorable they make my job easy.



Two of the cuties... Kaori and Yuri.



And then there is the adult class... they are not as cute as the kids but equally as sweet. One of my students is 93 years old!



This is Yuko. This picture cracks me up like no other. (I'm even laughing now...)



Here's Shigeko. The peace sign pose apparently is cool at any age. I still have yet to understand this phenomenon.

Anyway, all in all Halloween was good times. Saturday night my pal Scott and I hit up the clubs in Roppongi and Monster Mashed the night away. Halloween in Japan is nothing like back home, but then again, nothing here is like back home. I'm getting over it. ;) Till next time...