FUCKIN COOL!

Sometimes it's cold in Japan, but how cold is it? ....

SMOKING SECTION?

Obviously she isn't part of the clean-up campaign. I want to be part of FamilyMart's life.

BLING BLING FRUIT

Would you be happy to get strawberries for a present? I hope so! Because these puppies are 50 bucks usa.

STEAK OR MELON?

Want some melon? It's on sale for only 11550yen, or roughly 100 bucks!!!! usa. Must be delicious.

PIZZA?

Ordered some pizza from Pizza Hut. Wanted to try something new and ordered this lovely creation. Looks like some sort of creature! The crust was filled with nice yummy cheese, and they also provided honey and hot sauce. This thing sure was good! But might have to go back to the old skool crust, looks more legit. PS ordered Dominos in Japan too, and just like in America it sucks too! Well, at least you don't have to tip the driver in Japan, or in fact anywhere.

THE ARTISTS

The other day, Megumi "aka Yankee Judo" and Madoka intercepted me and said by the orders of Kubo sensei that they had to draw me. Of course I agreed, Kubo sensei said it was for class but she wouldn't elaborate more. Anyways it was fun to hang out with M and M, funny girls. Madoka likes to draw and body slam people in judo, how cool is that.

ME?

This is the finished product. Does it look like me? I think this is the first time to be drawn, kinda shy about it, so I made sure to make the kids more nervous than me by peppering them with tons of English questions during the session, haha.

I CAN

This week the 1st grade students were learning "I can". They made some sentences, some are regular and some are interesting.

"I can play tennis"
"I can speak Japanese"
"I can cook"

But my favorites were ..

"I can conquer the world."
"I can moonwalk." ... but damn the kid didn't do it in class, I wanted to see ..

WHAT'S YOUR DREAM?

This was the question for my 2nd grade kids. So they put together their speeches and read them aloud in class from memory (which I can't even do and I speak English, so mad props to the kids) each speech was about 5 to 10 sentences. Many good ones, and some dreams included, being a pilot, teacher, robot engineer, doctor, baker, flight attendant, translator, sushi master, chef, salary man (business man), professional soccer or baseball player, news reporter, vet, etc. After their speech I got to ask 3 questions. But one of the most interesting answers was ...

markane: So you want to be a preschool teacher?
student: Yes
markane: Do you like children?
student: No, I don't.
class: eeeehhhhh ?????
markane: Oh, wow! One more time, do you like children?
student: No, I don't.
teacher: (in Japanese) Do you like children? 子供が好きですか?
student: No, I don't.
teacher: (in Japanese) Really? ホンマ?
student: Yes

HANSHIN EARTHQUAKE

January 17th, 1995 marks the date of the Hanshin Earthquake. The earthquake centered around the Hanshin area of Kobe and Nishinomiya (the place I live in now). About 6,300 people died in the quake. The other day in the school gym we had a assembly remembering the earthquake, as well as a moment of silence for those who died. Most of the homes in the area I live in are pretty new, as I am pretty sure all the old homes were taken down after the earthquake. Sometimes hearing about the earthquake puts things into perspective how dangerous earthquakes can be, anywhere you live in the world. Here is a picture of Kobe's "illuminare" event taken around Xmas time remembering the earthquake.

MIYASHIMA

A new year performer on the island of Miyashima.

SEIJINSHIKI 成人式

On the second Monday of January there is a national holiday in Japan to honor boys and girls entry into adulthood. Many of the girls dress up in special kimonos called "furisode" and go to special events with their friends. Age 20 also marks the time when they can legally smoke and drink. ** These girls were checking out their digital camera pics on the local train.