モスバーがー

変なバーがー！！何が楽しいん？　バーがーの間中はなかなったん！それはボッタクリ！！

蕎麦

コンビにの蕎麦大好き！

学校とマスク

まず僕の日本語は下手けど頑張ろう。。。一週間休み、休校、新型インフルエンザから。皆の生徒はめちゃ元気、皆は気分がいいを見たい。誰も新型インフルエンザ感染したなかった、良かったね。校長先生の指揮は授業中すべての先生マスクを付ける。これは初めて、アメリカ人はマスクをあまり付かないが問題ない。皆の安全最も重要な事があるんから。芝原先生から四つマスクを貰った。そのマスクは医者のマスク見たい。マスクの一方は緑でもう一方は白、どちが表か裏誰も分からない、先生は半分緑は表残り白は表ちょっと面白かった。生徒も私にそのマスクの質問を聞いた。マーケンのマスクは緑けど先の先生のマスクは白、誰が間違う？めちゃ面白い！それで生徒にほこり説明を教えた。表は緑、ほこり付いたら時は見やすいから。

休校

No school for one week because of swine flu. All schools in Hyogo and Osaka are closed. Elementary, Junior High, Senior High, thats about 1200000 students.

手？

Hans and Frans would be happy to see their name on the sign. "We want to pump you up!"

兵庫県の知事井戸敏三

Hyogo prefrecture governor Toshizo Ito, 兵庫県の知事井戸敏三　makes his speech to the crowd of private high school teachers and principals. Its election year so the big politicians gather everyone to talk about the future of education or was it to collect votes? Anyways the cool thing the governor is from Tatsuno, Shingu where I used to live, and his birthday is August 10th, Leo just like me.

新型インフルエンザ

The swine flu has arrived in Japan, masks are sold out, school is closed. Japan is probably the most country most used to wearing masks either for allergy season, or in winter the common cold season. So it kinda looks like a normal day.

On the side note i havent updated my blog for ages. Well I have been crazy busy. But with the swine flu going around, school has been closed for a week, good news there, so I can play with my blog and photos. The bad news, gotta make it up in the HOT HUMID summer, fuck. I would rather teach classes now. Oh well. Kids, they got no school, no juku, nothing to do, they just chillin all over town. Its kinda funny. The flu thing has been taking way overboard. Nobody has died, its just as serious as the common flu, which isn't all that bad. Japanese wear masks on a regular basis, kinda looks like a normal day with all the masks. Only thing is at the store they are all sold out. And then you got your Moss Burger workers and every other store workers wearing masks, kinda funny.

NICE DAY

Ah forgot to mention its a beautiful sunny day! Um second thought it was .. well in the 50s, last day of Feb, snow is melting in the mountains.

FINALLY!

Got the two final tests out of the way, well 2 hours sleep and completing it 20 minutes before the test, call it just in time. Made it a bit challenging for the kids, hey it can't always be easy. Take a mini break work on grad apps, then correct that mountain of tests on monday!

Ah saw some of my first grade kids, oh I will miss them, don't teach them anymore when they change to 2nd grade next quarter. Just talking to MoriMori and Yanagi Tomoko, aka Usagi (rabbit) or Unagi (eel). Damn I love to butcher Japanese names.

TEST DAY

Oh! Lucky today, I got home at 9pm. I was making the 2nd test for the 2.4 class, but then my headache forced me home. Well now getting ready to work again and finish up the test hopefully before morning!

ORAL TEST
This time the 1st graders were blessed by the sounds of Ben E King rather than my lovely voice. Usually I read something for listening, but today I choose to play Stand By Me for listening. A lot of the kids knew the song and liked it, good choice, pat on my back. Plus its used every year in random commercials. Teachers at Toyo are great, they always pull together. Today, Mr Harada, Mr Iseda and Mr Yamanaka were so helpful in checking the classes and everything, I couldnt have done it without them. Just a little hiccups in the test here and there, we caught them all and even one of the advanced kids couldnt read the words on the horoscope picture, cry baby. Anyways another good test, now the hard part, checking all 500 of them!!!

TODAY AT TOYO

11:00 PM
Thats what time I finished today. Damn getting into that Japanese salaryman mode, I gotta get out of it. But it couldn't be helped today, had to finish up the Oral test for tomorrow. So that meant printing out 500 tests! Lucky Mr. Harada was so nice to stay with me until the end, helping me print out the tests, he is such a nice guy. Then the other teachers, Iseda and Yamanaka were kinda enough to help me out, so cool. Today I was finally last at school with Mr. Harada, watch out Japanese I can outwork you!! hahaha

GRADUATE SCHOOL
Working on those apps for grad school at the UW College of Education, crossing those fingers, I should be finishing up my personal statement rather than this blog, but I know I will never do my blog if I don't do it now. Well everything else is done for the app, just one more!

TOMMORROW
Gotta make another fucking test!! Then back to lovely graduate school apps =)


NEW NAME
Was talking to one of my students in class today, and he said hey you have lived in Japan a long time, do you have a Japanese name? I told him I didn't, so he gave me one, Kenichi. Kinda cool name, I like it, Kayo even said the 4 hirigana letters fit me.

FUNNY GIRLS
Saw the funny girls, Saito, Sawada, Koda Kumi and gang. Just hanging out in front of the food window. Even got a cool kanji writing from Kumi, not sure what it says but looks cool. Girls joking around, Sawada said Kumi was not the same cute girl as the real Koda Kumi. Hahaha, girls are so mean. Then I said she is dangerous and beautiful, but then Sawada countered and said, dangerous, but not beautiful. Funny girls.

BOOK GIFT CARD
Namba sold me a book gift card, I didn't really need it, but just to play with the kids. Namba was pretty happy cuz he was looking for cash not books as he promptly turned around and bought some ice cream and chicken karage with the money. Even had a nice chat with the other kids and Mr. Brass Band aka DMX.

CHILLIN ON A SUNDAY

Today is January 4th but on TV the new year shows keep coming. Today some funny sports comedy programs. Usually back home I only remember new year shows being until the 1st, but maybe I forgot since its been so long.

Another thing, when I was driving I checked out all the drivers on the other side of the road, most cars, maybe 80% had two or more passengers. Maybe it was the weekend? But in America that is pretty rare anytime of day, usually its just one person in a car. Maybe its because they have more trains and buses here.

Lazy today so just grabbed some McDonalds with Kayo with our cool xmas gift cards. Yum ... Big Mac in any country tastes so good!

Back to writing my personal statement for grad school. damn!!

WE PASSED!

After a long two week wait, the results were in and all my students passed level 2 of the English Step Examination. I am so proud of them. They came into the teachers room to thank me and Harada sensei for helping them. Harada sensei said this was the first time that all the students who took the level 2 test at the same time passed. I am happy to keep my clean record of passing students through English interview tests. Whew!

RESULTS ARE IN

Students huddle around Iwabuchi sensei to check out their English Step Exam results.

PHOTO DAY

The student leader group lines up for their photo album pic. Anna takes a peek from the corner.

ENGLISH INTERVIEW CREW

Me and Mr. Harada trained these poor kids 6 straight days in order to pass their English interview test. I am crossing my fingers for them. It was challenging and fun to work with them, they are a funny bunch of kids, they worked really hard. picture : Aiko, Mr. Harada, Yuki, Me, Marron, Lady Killa, and Daiki.

TEACHERS ROOM

It was alot of 12 hour days last week, having regular classes and trying to prepare kids for their English Step Examination interview. Well I think I was almost last one out.

OLD STUDENTS

Some of my old students sYui and Suga baby stopped by and chilled at my desk.

BOOKS BOOKS!

alot of books were out for the parents to check out universities and colleges

BEFORE

before the food test

NEW FOOD

how about some mayonaise on top of ramen?

THE DARE

try eating mayonaise and ramen

HELLO

from 3rd floor the balcony

GOING HOME

the 3-4 class girls

GOING HOME

everyone looks happy

MEETING

students line up on the field

CLASS 3-4 KIDS

Yuma, Yamashita, Inada, Mr. President

THRILLER

It wouldn't be Halloween without a Thriller. Couldnt use the old Snoopy Halloween for the high school kids, they a bit too old. So bought the Michael DVD/CD for $35 just to get the video, hot damn! The bootleg wasn't gonna work so had to go legit. Whipped up a listening and question class using Thriller. The English classes loved it, they were cracking up laughing, it was cool to see Michael in real life on the big screen. Two thumbs up to Mr. Jackson's Thriller for Halloween.

McDONALD'S FRENCH FRIES

Yup they taste the same even in Japan.

MAKUDO

McDonalds in Japan is called, Makudo, and it looks like a special on ChibiMaruKo.

NIKON D90 test photo

stalker?

A NIGHT BY THE COMPUTER

ACCIDENTS HAPPEN

flying pigs

BANFF MT FILM FESTIVAL

BANFF MT FILM FESTIVAL

初めて行ったパタゴニアのMovieイベント。めっちゃ感動的やった！スクリーンを通して迫力満点の自然を感じる事ができた。雨の中大阪まで足運んでよかったよぉ～'D機会があったらまた行きたいな♪♪

Checked out the Banff Mt Film Festival with Kayo. It was pretty cool as all of the films were outdoor films from little known people. Mr. Teranishi at school said it was a must see. The best film I thought was "King Lines" a movie about the best rock climber in the world, Chris Sharma. http://www.kinglinesmovie.com/ If you like rock climbing or even human challenges you must check it out.

The event was in Osaka, and there was alot of outdoor people, meaning it looked like a outdoor brand event party. Kinda like everyone was from REI of sorts, but everyone sported their Patagonia, NorthFace, MontBell, etc. Kinda cool, of course I even had to bring my Mt. Hardware jacket to blend in. Cool to see more laid back outdoor people, rather than the everyday stylish Gucci, Prada, etc stuff on the streets.

TEACHER MEETING IN OSAKA

Went to Osaka today for the ELT meeting. Learned how to have your class make surveys and interview foreigners, quite interesting, and the other seminar taught how teach the MAT system to elementary kids, pretty informative and cool. Talked to some of the presenters and they asked what school I worked at. Told them I work at Toyo High School and to my suprise most people knew my school. It's all about the baseball, that's what my school is famous for. Met up with Kim, good to was doing well in Osaka. Polished off the evening by travelling almost an hour to eat one of the finest hamburgers in Japan at Kuaaina. A hamburger joint from Hawaii. Ordered up the 1/2 lb burger, not sure if that was a good idea, but hey if I gonna go, I gotta eat. The burger was a little too well done, it was better last time, oh well. 

KAYO HANGIN OUT WITH RONALD

☆Im loooving it☆ここは、マネキンの変わりに大きなマクドのおっちゃんの壁写真'！松下MIPホール、やるやん;P

I'm LOVIN IT

Me and my friend Ronald Mcdonald. If I need a good greasy burger I know where to go.

ENGLISH INTERVIEWS

This week I have been working hard with Harada sensei to get the kids ready for their English interview test. 5 students in total, 4 from 2-1 class and 1 from 3-1 class. They all passed the level 2 writing part of the test which is pretty good. But they have alot of work to do in passing their interview. They don't practice speaking enough, so well, its not so good. But I am crossing my fingers and working hard, I hope they all can pass but I am not sure. I was like the second to last teacher tonite, been leaving school around 8pm. Sure is tiring, but I enjoy the challenge.

Yeah ... alot of stuff going on and just not enough time, how am I gonna pass my Japanese test, I dont study, hahaha. Then I got grad school apps due in Jan. Oh my,too many things to do!

YES WE CAN!

Obama is the man, oh I hope he wins!!! Go BAMA!

BANANA DIET

Its all the rage in Japan, the banana diet. Damn TV show tells everyone and before you know it all the supermarkets are out of bananas, I ain't on no banana diet, I just like eating bananas, where are my bananas!!

NEW FRIEND

Mr. Rilakuma found a new home. Took a bit of work to get the big fellow, the UFO Catcher game isn't exactly the easiest thing, mmm .. think I spent like $30 bucks, damn those games, sucker me in!

WHITE PEPSI?

Was cruising through 7-11 the other day and low and behold a new drink! I can't resist the new drinks, gotta try em all, even if they are a bit wierd like this oh so yummy yogurt flavor Pepsi drink. Well it wasn't too bad, but don't I will buy it again.

TODAY AT SCHOOL

Work been busy, making lessons everyday, seems like it never ends, its always in the back of my mind. So ya don't got much to talk about except school. But school is fun so its all good. Was tired last night so made lessons in the morning for 3rd period, lucky I got the textbook from last year. Too bad they didnt use last years ORAL communication book would have been a hell lot easier, because I gotta make everything from scratch this year. Anyways got through class today. Lunch time ran into Aki and some of the other 2nd grade girls. They said I looked slimmer than last year. Mmmm .. I don't think I got thinner, I think I am the same weight. The 3-4 kids were watching the Cultural Festival in the computer room, so I stopped by. I was playing on the chair when Yamashita threw me into a tornado, I fell of and landed on my hip, damn that hurt, I don't think I am as young as I used to be, gotta workout more. Speaking of working out, haven't been to the school gym or any gym for a long time, gotta hit the weights, I am losing my muscle! Taught the 3-4 class some slang, it was hard because it was like another foreign, foreign language, but I think it will be good as soon as they learn it, its very useful for their university test and whatever. Lastly Mr Munakata is a great guy, nice guy, always helping me, had to check out if the Michael Jackson Thriller bootleg was gonna work in class, so he helped me with the audio visual stuff. It was kinda dark, but it worked, mmm ... its great to have a guy like Mr. Munakata.

ANOTHER DAY

Classes are getting a bit better, getting back into the swing of things. Been pumping some iron and playing with the bball kids, nice to get a little sweat going. When you are working not much time to be young and play anymore. Nice to escape the teachers room and hang out with the kids. Even taught the kids, "hang out" hope they use it. Anyways nothing beats a 5 minute commute on your bike to school. Take that carbon footprint. Living near work is one of the best things. Heck I live so close and I am still late to school, hahaha.

LONG TIME NO SEE

Its been a long time since I blogged. Blogging is hard, cuz you gotta do it everyday, anyways. Today is a GREAT day!! Because its not HUMID and HOT. Yes, it was finally cool for once without sweating like a dog, mark this day in history, September 4th, I just hope it continues.

School was good had a fun time with the sports class as Mr. Harada stopped into to cover for Masuda sensei. Kids were attentive to Mr. Harada's baseball stories, but best of all they asked some funny questions in English. One of the students asked "Do you love your wife?", that alone was probably the best question yet, because it was more than one word.

Chatted with Tanaka, I thought her teacher gave her the paper for the makeup final, but um he didn't so luckily I talked to her myself. Either she memorizes the paragraph to pass class or she doesn't, I hope she can do it.

Kids are moody, I hate that, one of the nicest girls last girl sunddenly became a big bitch this year and won't even talk to me, dunno whats up with her, did I give her a bad grade or something? Maybe its a vengence against all teachers, anyways, whatever. Kids are wierd.

Then there is Youtube, currently watching "I Survived A Japanese Game Show". I am not sure what to say, maybe its um really really dumb, maybe this reality TV thing has gone a bit too far. Its just idiots moving to another country and filming it there. Oh my, maybe its because I live in Japan and I know the audience is not really like that, its like the audience is on crack or something, kinda leaves like a misleading cultural impression of what Japan is really like. And I watch Japanese TV everyday, I have never seen shows like this, if I do its rarely, its not a common thing. Oh well you know its where they can make money, dumb or not.

411 WEATHER REPORT FROM JAPAN

Um, its FUCKIN HOT!!! Nice to come home and your apartment is 37 degrees C , translation 98.6 F!!! HOT!!! Then the nice days are filled with 32 C aka 89.6 F, with a full 100 percent humidity! Try working while sweat drips down your head, its great! Anyways can't wait to go back to Seattle next week! Yipee! no more sweating!!

危ないよ！

looks like danger

火事！！

ブリタとレンジ＝火事と煙 When the Brita meets the stove.

花火

HAPPY 4th OF JULY!!!!

I miss the fireworks on Lake Union. Haven't seen fireworks in Seattle for 5 or 6 years!! Japan has fireworks but its not the same. It's not a loud boom 15-20 minute free for all like in America, but the benefits of a Japanese firework show is that it usually lasts from 40minutes to one hour. A whole day of festivities including a lot of drinking and eating. It's pretty cool and unique at the same time, plus there is a firework show every weekend throughout the summer. Not just one day, but day after day of fireworks so you have time to visit them all if you really wanted.

ファンキーモンキーベイビース

Get your towels! Definetly a CRAZY good concert!! Funky Monkey Babys was the main act followed up by Thelma Aoyama and Satomi and Meg. Satomi was alright, hip hop and dancing but regular. Meg was some crazy J-pop techno chick with two big ass mascots hanging on her left and right. Thelma Aoyama was amazing, great voice live, funny and pretty cool. Then the final was the Funky Monkey Babys who rocked the house! Most of the people in the crowd came for the FMB and now I know why after attending my first concert with them. Funny performers who know how to rock the crowd, a little hip hop, a little rock, a little everything. They were rocking out on stage throwing towels and water bottles into the crowd. We kinda got the tickets late so we were up on the second floor, but it was pretty chill as we got seats, kinda felt like VIP. But down on the first floor was standing room only and it was packed with jumping and waving fans. Interesting in Japan how everyone waves left or right, or claps their hands above their hands in unison, you would never see that in America. But then in America fans are always hooting and hollering, but at the concert it was pretty tame with a hoot and a holler here and there. Overall a great show with the FMB and Thelma, I would for sure go again!

BILL's LAST DAY AT MICROSOFT

photo from engadget.com

One of my personal heros. Bill Gates. Down to life guy, (heck the richest man in the world doing an 60 Minutes interview at Dick's Burgers) if that isn't down to life then I don't know what is. A guy that had dreams and made them happen, didn't let people put him down, followed his own course, resurrect Apple, and could be the future philanthropy. People who say he is rich and stingy are full of bullshit and trying to put people down. This guy is out there helping people and best of all he is empowering others to join his cause in helping people around the world. There is more than Windows and Microsoft when you talk about Bill. He is the man!

FIGHTING, TEASING, AND SCHOOL

Well the busy Thursday turned into the interesting Thursday. The morning smart class turned into a boxing match when one of the kids was mmm ... teasing the other kid a little too much, so a little brawl erupted. It was like having K-1 in the class. The teacher held the kids back and escorted them out, for me? It was back to the work after the kids chattered a bit. Bit different taking care of the class by myself but hey it was no problem, feel like a veteran now.

YUMMY STUFF FROM VANCOUVER

Got some dried fruit from Mr Mori. Yum! I love dried fruit and they are all the way from Vancouver. Before the English class departed for Canada I asked who was nervous, and Mr. Mori and one other student was the only one to raise their hands. So I lent Mr. Mori my About Japan book, hoping he could strike up a conversation with his host family, because its hard to just chill and not speak English for a 4 days. So Mr. Mori popped in and gave me back my book and some goodies, he smiled and said thank you, and mentioned he had a good trip. That was great news to me because I wanted the kids to have a good experience in Vancouver. Sometimes I dont know about that class, during class time they never say a word and just sit there orderly, no talking, no laughter, its like a mystery, but outside of class they are pretty cool. Just gotta keep trying and figure something out. Takeda sensei mentioned the other day, heck its a class he isn't too fond of which I was surprised to hear, but I can understand and relate to but hey yah gotta keep on trying. Its like a mystery that I need to solve, what makes students tick ... mmmm ... just one student at a time ..

TRAITORS

Yeah thats the name of me and Dillon's Japanese basketball team, the "Traitors", funny name, maybe because its obvious the captain broke off and made his own team. Fun morning game to get in some exercise. We played a bunch of high school kids and whopped them in the end luckily. I danced around and got a point or two. Gotta work harder, been playing too much of that WOW.

IKEA IN JAPAN

I waited forever for IKEA to come to Japan. The Kobe store opened up in April, so me and Kayo and Daniel decided to check it out. Brought the wheels so we could stock up with some goods, because damn its hard to carry Ikea stuff on the train. So we followed the signs and ran into some traffic. Then more and more traffic. All the cars were going to IKEA, crazy! With two lanes of traffic we waited an hour just to get into the fuckin IKEA parking!!! Crazy Japan!! Then after parking just to get in, what do ya know, there was another line to just get in the store. The country of long lines I tell ya. All the floors were packed with people just trying to get in. We decided to go to the 5th floor to try the shorter line, and after another 30 minutes just standing outside we finally reached our destination inside IKEA! Of course it was just as crazy inside, looked like something like opening day, but it wasn't, opening day was 3 months ago, this was just a normal day. Looked like the IKEA back home, but everyone was Japanese, and there was an added bling bling cafeteria, guess to cater to the posh people and downstairs was the cheap eats including yummy hot dogs and ice cream. After wandering through the crowds finally settled on some new lamps, cookies, candles, and some other random goodies. At the end it was about 9:30pm, a long time after our 3:00 start time. Well you gotta do what you gotta do to get your IKEA goods.

IT WAS SO HUMID TODAY

that I was walking outside of class holding my notes, and they became damp instantly after I got out of the teachers room ... oh damn I can feel the humidity coming ... right on schedule, June 20th, and what you know, its raining cats and dogs this week, so the h u m i d i t y is building up, oh no!!

BUSY AS A BEE

The other week I finished up the mini books I made for the 2-4 English class. They were off to Vancouver for a one week trip and um, they really can't speak much English. I know how tough it is to speak a foreign language, heck I do it everyday in Japan. So I slaved hours and got the book done just in the nick of time, one day before their departure, working from 830 to 10pm is not fun, but it was nice to hang out with the guard man. Hope they are using the book in Vancouver.

TODAY IN SPORTS

NBA Champs! The Boston Celthics big 3, Pierce, Allen, and Garnett beat up Kobe and the Laker gang to win the Finals.
Mariners - GM Bavasi is fired! Finally, he sucks, ever since he got on board 4 years he got a bunch of crap players, and look at the mess now, worst in the league its good he goes.
Tiger Woods - US Open champ again, even on a busted knee, how do you stop this guy?
Supersonics - now at court, damn those Okl city bastards! to be continued ...
Hanshin TIgers - baseball in Japan, the team is hot what can I say, they can't lose

HANGING OUT AT THE SCHOOL VENDING MACHINE

Today at school it was busy non-stop. I was busy preparing the 2-4 class for their homestay trip to Vancouver this Friday. Have to put together a class, some homework assignment consisting of a diary and an interview. Hey you have to give the kids something to do. Then lastly trying to put together a little homestay guidebook together for the students. They don't have anything to take with them, so they are pretty much shit out of luck chillin with the host family for a couple of days without nothing to say or do, so I hope the book helps them out.

Taking a break from the crazy work I decided to grab some ice cream and a drink from the vending machine. Thats what I love about high school, you can get goodies such as ice cream or onigiri or fried chicken at anytime, yum! Deciding what to drink was tough work, so many drinks to choose from and today was a bit toasty as I could feel the humidity coming. Was saying hi to a bunch of kids, amazing how many names and faces you can meet in a year. Then came the 1st grade girls, it was .. mmm .. I forgot her name. Heck I always forget kids names, there are so many of them. So I asked her name, but she kinda got angry that I forgot, then I asked her friend what her name was, but then her friend was a bit resistant, then as time passed by more and more kids flocked toward the vending machine like a moth to a flame. I said "HI" to a bunch of 2nd and 3rd grade kids, Sugiyama, Aeri, Misia, Kiyama, and many more. Then the girl with the name I forgot asked why I knew all the other kids names but not hers. Then I laughed, um they are 2nd and 3rd grade kids, you are new. After awhile her friend finally gave in and told me her friends name was Morisawa and her name was Moriga. Of course I wouldn't let her friend get off so easy, so I butchered it of course, thats my favorite. So I asked is your name Mori? Morimoto? Morikawa? Morimori? ... after a brutal name beating I finally said her real name in relief. I just love teasing kids, of course I told them I would probably forget their name tomorrow! They ran away and laughed, but a couple hours later in the hallway I heard them complaining to Iseda sensei about how I didn't remember their names. I didn't want to miss an opportunity so I ran out and called her, "Morimori", genki morimori!!

ON A SUNDAY IN JAPAN

Woke up the nice morning sunshine rays and headed out to take some pics of the baseball team. They were playing a game at the school field, I prefer to take pics there because I can take closer pics, at the stadium that is usually never the case. They won as usual, got some nice pics, and it was good to just chat with the team, met some 3rd grade students. Mr. Shun and Daisuke, I think, I am bad with names. Anyways it was good to get out and just get some pics, its been awhile. Then got back around noonish and Kayo was heating up the food or at least she thought she was until the smell of smoke poured out of the kitchen. Yikes, she wasn't warming up the pan but the Brita water filter!! As melting plastic turned into a toxic cloud all of the one window and one door was opened to clear the air. Later on in the afternoon, went out to the gym but then Dillion said um it closes at 6 not 7, shit! Then it was onto the usual dangerous place, Uniqlo. The GAP of Japan but much cheaper and just as good!! Everytime I venture in there, always something pops into my basket. My excuse today was some business short sleeves to prepare for the upcoming heat, then some inside t-shirts and a cool NY Yankee mesh shirt, usually I dont like the Yankees, but it looked to cool to pass up. Then it was off to the AEON mall to check out some things, at Joshin ran into the mother of sales for GUNDAM model, it was about 35 percent off, and it was huge, I knew my cuz Eric wanted one, so I grabbed one super size model, hope he likes it cuz its huge!! Lastly met up with Daniel for some good ole katsu at DomaDoma. Got back and chilled with some MTV Japan award show on TV, Fergie rocks!

GOT MY DRIVERS LICENSE

In Japan after your drivers license expires, you gotta renew it right away or even before the day of otherwise its a real bitch. Of course no one told me that, nor could I have read it, hahaha. But after it expired in lovely September I finally got it in May. Just a couple months later, and a lot of hassling around. Seems like after it expires, for a foreigner you can reapply if you have been out of the country for a total of 3 months since the start of your license. Luckily I qualified for that, was sweating balls at the office when the license guy was flipping through my passport and writing down all the places I went to and the dates, it was like I did something wrong. Luckily I had my Japanese model sticker from a lighter I got in Vietnam, the photo brought up a good laugh from the guy as he asked me if I liked her. In the end the guy was pretty nice and he finished up the paperwork, then a quick eye test, and a photo shoot, and the reminder to put my yellow and green rookie sticker on the back of my car at all times for a year, I finally got my license. I am good to go again!

RAIN RAIN RAIN

Its raining again today, its near the start of June and its Japan's rainy season. Or what you see in Seattle everyday in the winter. The other day I swore it rained non-stop for 24hours and then some. Maybe I am not used to all that rain anymore. Well the rice paddies are filling up with water, and the frogs are out in force croaking and croaking and croaking all night long.

ON A SUNDAY MORNING

this morning i played a game with my homie. thats was so much fun!
Awsome! maybe i think i will quit playing WOW, coz i dont think i have
much time to play it, i will be busy from playing that game every
day. he he



i have to go to school to get to work today, even its sunday today. What the hell! fucking suck!

ANIMALS WARN OF NATURAL DISASTERS

The huge earthquake in China could have been detected before it happened. As many the cases humans and their technology are not the best predictor of earthquakes, you can spend millions of dollars in research and still not predict anything. Technology didn't tell us about the earthquake in China, but the animals did. Few days before the earthquake frogs were acting erratic flooding onto the streets, hours before animals at the zoo were acting abnormal. Animals have an extra sense that us humans do not have, a sense that can used to predict natural disasters. Why not have the zoo call the national disaster office?



Animal's behavior foretold disaster? by Seattle Times

RANDOM NEWS

If there was no internet I would have no news ... but since there is ESPN, Seattletimes, Yahoo, etc. all online its great!

Lets see the latest random news ...

Sonics going or leaving? Schultz is suing to get them back, I hope the Sonics stay
7.9 earthquake in China yesterday
Cyclone in Burma, but government too dumb to let in aid work
gas prices are crazy! Japan reinstated their .25 cent tax, so its like 157yen for one liter!
NBA playoffs, Boston and Cleveland tied at 2-2
Microsoft ditched out on the purchase of Yahoo, good idea i thought
Mariners suck this year, projected first, but really last
Hanshin Tigers baseball team is in 1st and killing everyone with a .710 winning record!
Mmmm... just started watching "Heros" season 1, I think I am a bit behind a couple of years, but hey its really good!!
Conan O Brien taking over for Jay Leno and Jimmy Fallon taking over Conan's spot ... wow saw Jimmy at the UW

RAIN RAIN GO AWAY ...

Today woke up and it was a nice sunny morning, hopped on my bike with my t-shirt and all. Then came the clouds, and more clouds, then came the rain, and it got cold. My t-shirt fashion didn't look so good anymore. It was pouring cats and dogs, next time I will have to remember to bring a raincoat or something. Just chilled around school a bit, saw the baseball kids studying hard for the upcoming mid-term tests. Thought I would poke my head in and bother them a bit, quizzed Mr. Ota and Mr. Shiroi, they got most of the words right, pretty good. Made my rounds and went over to the 3rd grade kids, I don't teach em but they know me and I know them a little. Funny bunch, always talking about muscles, wanna see the muscles. Talked to Mr. All-Star pitcher Sato a bit, nice kid. He is gonna be a future pro pitcher for sure. Coach Hirano was funny as he came around and told me, "He is baka" which translates to "He is stupid", haha. But I know the kids all try their best. After that I just jacked a umbrella from the custodian room, gotta get a good one of course for the ride back home in the rain.

EXPIRED LICENSE

Yesterday took the day off to go to Akashi to renew my license. Seems like the rules in Japan are much different than America. I was under the impression that you could renew your license anytime after it expired. In Japan there are different things you have to do depending on how long your license has been expired. If a person renewed the license before the ending date then it would be as easy as going to the local police station. But if it was after 6 months you would have to take the ridiculous paper test of 100 questions again. Being a foreigner I tried to weasel out of that, luckily the guy at the license office helped me out by telling me to go through the foreigner office, there I could simply resubmit my license. Lucky that, will have to head back next week, let you know how things go.

ITS GOLDEN WEEK

Its Friday! And its the start of the 4 day weekend. Its called Golden Week, but its random days off, but heck I will take any day off. Most of Japan is out and about as its a holiday for everyone, except for the poor kids at school which have tournaments and sports games during the so called holidays. Its the Japanese way, kids don't need holidays. The Tokyo peeps are coming for a visit, Taro, and the newlyweds Masa and Tomo. Then also with a special guest appearance of Hawaii Daniel, WOW! He is back in Japan! Cool, it be cool to see Daniel again. School is going good, no big issues yet, just busy as a bee, one again, a daily daily blog is in the works. Sorry for the super late update.

東洋高校 CHEERING TEAM

@ スシロー

Holy smokes! 100yen sushi!! my favorite cheap place to eat SushiRoll just got better as this week they had a special on "daitoro" or basically big fatty ass tuna. Usually this tuna is pretty bling I would say from 700yen a piece and up, but today it was only 105yen! yeah baby! chomped down on 7 plates. Just checking out the sushi parade as it rooooolllllls by. A limited 10 day special the customers were wall to wall, crazy for sushi.

@ スシロー

sushi parade!!!

@ スシロー

Kayo loves sushi too

@ スシロー

my lovely damage and of course being American I gotta have my Coke

@ スシロー

check out that fine piece of fish on the far right "大とろ" only 105yen !! For only 10 days, better get your eat on!

WHATS NORMAL?

Been in Japan for awhile, even just today Dillon mentioned St. Patricks day is coming up. I don't even remember when St. Patrick's day is, I only know about the Japanese holiday of White Day which lands on the 14th. aka the 2nd Valentine's day where boys give girls chocolate and candy and stuff. Plus one time I was eating broccoli and it sounded usual to add mayonnaise to it. But then I thought is that normal back home? I know we put cheese on it, but mayonnaise? Maybe I been here too long and I don't remember. Heck everything has mayonnaise on it and I think I am getting used to it. Yum, fried chicken and mayonnaise sounds good, but still on pizza its pretty darn gross.

YEN / DOLLAR

Today noticed the yen was down to 100.55yen versus the dollar. Which is the all time low ever since I have been here! What does it mean? It means good news for me, its finally down dollar for dollar, its much better than 120 or 115. Its just like the Canadian loonie, we in business baby!

THE PAST TWO WEEKS

Some random events the past two weeks ...

- Rolled by lil Shu on my bike on my way to school in the morning. He asked if he passed my oral English class. I said probably. He was a bit worried being on the border. Then he went on saying it was kinda easy this time. I said, "yup, lucky!" then lil Shu replied, "thank you!"

- The other week stopped by the gym at school to see the bball boys, then my boy Mr. Nakata came up to me and said one on one. Mmmm .. Nakata is probably the Allen Iverson of our school team, but I said what the heck. Of course he whooped my ass, quick little bastard. Then to try to recover my pride I challenged him to a game of free throws, best to 10. But damn he matched me basket for basket, then came sudden death. Then damn I lost again, ha ha ha. It was fun.

- Its test time, and its been CRAZY! Had to give tests to all the 1st grade students, thats 12 class times 40 or so students, which equates to alot of fuckin tests to correct!!! Lucky there is Teranishi Sensei, my favorite guy at school, he is so nice to always help me out, probably my life saver. Even the other teacher Noma Sensei said oh did you finish correcting all the tests yet after one day? I laughed and so did Teranishi Sensei, who the hell can finish all those tests??? Then I asked him if he could help, of course he bailed and said he had other tests to do, whatever lazy foos.

- Damn I gotta input all those damn grades!!

- For the 2-4 class, luckily Mr. Miyahara Sensei is helping me out there. He is only a part time teacher and only about 70 years old but still genki and active! Plays golf like a young man every week. A good guy retiring this year, got him a nice black Nike Golf jacket for his retirement present. Nice guy, I like him. He even helped out to do all the grading for the 2-4 class. Nice!

- Well its a lot of fucking tests to correct, been trying to pace myself and relax, had a hard week last week preparing for the tests. Once in awhile I still think about Miyamoto Sensei. Even the teachers talk about him to me, slowly the memories come out. Sometimes I get some chest pains like I used to back in the days. I think its probably because of the death of Miyamoto Sensei and all this test stuff, so I have been trying to take it easy lately. Maybe I will check out a doctor over spring break.

- Snows been good this year. Went up 3 times this year. Brought some new rookies to the slope so they could feel the pain. Pretty good job, Dillon and Masa learned pretty fast, I think they can be pro in no time. As for Kayo we got her the finest state of the art snowboarding equipment in addition to the shortest legal board available, sometimes it looks as if she is riding a skateboard. A master of the leaf style. Next stop is the turn.

- Before the 2-4 test I asked the kids if they needed some help, but no one showed up. So I tracked them down. This isn't exactly the most diligent class but they got potential, they just need some help here and there. Tracked down Jimi and made him memorize a bunch of sentences. He did remarkably well, he went from a low score of 28 on the previous test to 49 on this past test. Pretty good I thought! Its a good start, because the average of this last test was 47, so he was a little over the hump. He is a good kid and Mr Miyamoto always looked after him. I will do my best to take care of him, I think he can do it.

- Lastly I was just chatting with the boys and girls bball team members. They are a funny bunch. Imade, Shuhei, Jun, and Saki. I was just clowning with them, teaching them about nicknames for body parts, trying to spice up school life. Then I remember the news that Jun is going to carry the sign for the baseball team at Koshien. So she is going to be on every TV and newspaper in the country. So I was just clowning with her about how the camera paparazzi will be after her and made some funny cameraman gestures, of course the boys were cracking up. Hahahaha. Can't wait til Koshien.