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Friday, October 31, 2003
makes me laugh...
`Just because I like to take care of my skin doesn`t mean that I`m a shallow person. It doesn`t mean my greatest concerns in life revolve around dieting, nail polish and perpetually doomed attempts to stop smoking. I have hidden depths to my personality,` I said, frowning as I tried to think of some proof. `I write poetry. And not just free verse, but elegiac pieces which follow a strict rhyme schme. Like sonnets.`
Mammon Inc. by Hwee Hwee Tan
`Just because I like to take care of my skin doesn`t mean that I`m a shallow person. It doesn`t mean my greatest concerns in life revolve around dieting, nail polish and perpetually doomed attempts to stop smoking. I have hidden depths to my personality,` I said, frowning as I tried to think of some proof. `I write poetry. And not just free verse, but elegiac pieces which follow a strict rhyme schme. Like sonnets.`
Mammon Inc. by Hwee Hwee Tan
Monday, October 27, 2003
shizukanaa...
it`s really quiet in the shokuin right now... because everyone has LEFT ME... well except for the principal. he is probably reading the box scores from the latest PGA tournament anyways ;) oh, wait maki sensei just walked in... and has now left again. blink. everyone is practicing for the bunkasai (cultural festival) and i`m pretty excited to see it, this friday!! and a free bento lunch to boot! so today was the start of the halloween lessons. i got dressed up in the school uniform, complete with the socks that i figured out how to (sort of) rock last night. i actually kind of like nankominami`s uniform, because the girls get to wear a light blue tie, which sets of the deeper blue of their uniform; yay ties! i freaked a couple of teachers out, hearing multiple exclamations of `bikkurishimashita!!!!!!` and apparently i look like okagi in san-nen when i`m in uniform. hopefully the halloween lessons at joyo will be okay... some of those kids though, models for obnoxiousness.
this weekend was really fun... i got to visit with the matsumotos and hang out in kameoka and kyoto from friday to saturday night. the matsumotos are so great, i love them! pops is a picture maniac and moms is the most genki person i have ever met... not just the most genki woman, but person EVER... if only i had like, half of her energy! akiko is so super cute, and her sisters are really sweet too. and i finally got to go festivalling! woohoooooo! in this one, they pulled hokkos, which are basically really tall altars, and old tapestries from Persia/Iran and China are draped down the back and sides. at night they light up the streets with lanterns in front of each house, which is really pretty. and the food stalls... aahhh the food stalls. there were a couple of things i was thinking about trying, like tako senbei (????), but just loaded up on sugar instead. anyways, moms matsumoto made sure i was fed really well (my miso shiru had MATSUTAKE in it...). Before we left for kyoto, she went and raided the supermarket and gave a big ol` bag of food, which included TWO boxes of corn soup!! woohoooooooo! but one of the best parts of the matsumoto household is their delightful golden retriever Lucky. I am so in love. And he looks kind of like Remy too which kills me... Lucky, aishiteruyo! Saturday afternoon, we had a couple of extra hours since Matt and Brian weren`t going to be in Kyoto till 430, genki moms matsumoto convinced us to put on kimonos. it was pretty cool to be wrapped and bound in a kimono and to flit about on zoris. but moms and pops went a little crazy with the pictures... 46 pictures in twenty minutes, no lie. sigh =)
after akiko and i were unbound from our kimonos, we headed off to kyoto to get cultured. i`ve been to kyoto before but haven`t really gone gangbusters in the temple/festival department, the last time mostly consisting of weird baroque coffee and 28 ten-yen coins. akiko found a night sight we could go to, so up first was the mission to find rukku (sp) socks, to wear for nankominami`s halloween lesson (today). we met up with matt and brian, and when i met brian, to my complete surprise/delight, he pulls out THREE boxes of KD!!!!! and not just the normal stuff... one lucious box of white cheddar KD!!!! (scream)... matteus the magnificent placed the order with brian for me even though i had balked at the last second. socks mission was a fait accompli, and then after failing miserably when trying to locate halloween music for joyo, we met up with kris. he reccommended a 100 yen sushi place, which was super nice. it was nice to see him and kanai again, esp since he couldn`t make it last time. kris is still kris =) after dinner we headed out to a temple, which was so worth the 600 yen... the bamboo forest alone was worth price of admission... but i still don`t get the superpsychadelic multi-coloured plastic teepee display in the middle of a zen garden... whaaaaat? i know japan is all about neo-fusion and everything but.... yeah.
but was a good weekend... and nomoto`s okonmiyaki party was really fun too... i didn`t have to make lunch today! victory!!!!!!!!
mama-san vball tonight... Lord, please sustain me ;)
it`s really quiet in the shokuin right now... because everyone has LEFT ME... well except for the principal. he is probably reading the box scores from the latest PGA tournament anyways ;) oh, wait maki sensei just walked in... and has now left again. blink. everyone is practicing for the bunkasai (cultural festival) and i`m pretty excited to see it, this friday!! and a free bento lunch to boot! so today was the start of the halloween lessons. i got dressed up in the school uniform, complete with the socks that i figured out how to (sort of) rock last night. i actually kind of like nankominami`s uniform, because the girls get to wear a light blue tie, which sets of the deeper blue of their uniform; yay ties! i freaked a couple of teachers out, hearing multiple exclamations of `bikkurishimashita!!!!!!` and apparently i look like okagi in san-nen when i`m in uniform. hopefully the halloween lessons at joyo will be okay... some of those kids though, models for obnoxiousness.
this weekend was really fun... i got to visit with the matsumotos and hang out in kameoka and kyoto from friday to saturday night. the matsumotos are so great, i love them! pops is a picture maniac and moms is the most genki person i have ever met... not just the most genki woman, but person EVER... if only i had like, half of her energy! akiko is so super cute, and her sisters are really sweet too. and i finally got to go festivalling! woohoooooo! in this one, they pulled hokkos, which are basically really tall altars, and old tapestries from Persia/Iran and China are draped down the back and sides. at night they light up the streets with lanterns in front of each house, which is really pretty. and the food stalls... aahhh the food stalls. there were a couple of things i was thinking about trying, like tako senbei (????), but just loaded up on sugar instead. anyways, moms matsumoto made sure i was fed really well (my miso shiru had MATSUTAKE in it...). Before we left for kyoto, she went and raided the supermarket and gave a big ol` bag of food, which included TWO boxes of corn soup!! woohoooooooo! but one of the best parts of the matsumoto household is their delightful golden retriever Lucky. I am so in love. And he looks kind of like Remy too which kills me... Lucky, aishiteruyo! Saturday afternoon, we had a couple of extra hours since Matt and Brian weren`t going to be in Kyoto till 430, genki moms matsumoto convinced us to put on kimonos. it was pretty cool to be wrapped and bound in a kimono and to flit about on zoris. but moms and pops went a little crazy with the pictures... 46 pictures in twenty minutes, no lie. sigh =)
after akiko and i were unbound from our kimonos, we headed off to kyoto to get cultured. i`ve been to kyoto before but haven`t really gone gangbusters in the temple/festival department, the last time mostly consisting of weird baroque coffee and 28 ten-yen coins. akiko found a night sight we could go to, so up first was the mission to find rukku (sp) socks, to wear for nankominami`s halloween lesson (today). we met up with matt and brian, and when i met brian, to my complete surprise/delight, he pulls out THREE boxes of KD!!!!! and not just the normal stuff... one lucious box of white cheddar KD!!!! (scream)... matteus the magnificent placed the order with brian for me even though i had balked at the last second. socks mission was a fait accompli, and then after failing miserably when trying to locate halloween music for joyo, we met up with kris. he reccommended a 100 yen sushi place, which was super nice. it was nice to see him and kanai again, esp since he couldn`t make it last time. kris is still kris =) after dinner we headed out to a temple, which was so worth the 600 yen... the bamboo forest alone was worth price of admission... but i still don`t get the superpsychadelic multi-coloured plastic teepee display in the middle of a zen garden... whaaaaat? i know japan is all about neo-fusion and everything but.... yeah.
but was a good weekend... and nomoto`s okonmiyaki party was really fun too... i didn`t have to make lunch today! victory!!!!!!!!
mama-san vball tonight... Lord, please sustain me ;)
Thursday, October 23, 2003
specifics
i noticed that i don`t write about the specificities of Osaka life... which will probably come back to bite me in the butt after i leave. I joined a `mama-san` volleyball team, basically just for practice. they practice at Joyo JHS which is cool b/c staff is still there sometimes when I go, and I got to meet Mari as a result. I am pretty weak, but it`s so fun to be able to play vball regularly, depending of course on my `iron` will. However, yesterday, the VP came up to me and basically asked me if I would play for the mama san team in a GAME on nov 16. I slightly freaked out, as Japanesely as possible,... `uh me??? uh... I`m really bad you know...` but apparently i am good enough to be a sub! woohooooo! now let`s just get one thing out of the way... mama san vball, or mommy volleyball as someone else put it, is a misnomer. it conjures up visions of giggly housewives patting the ball to and fro.. basically the way My mom plays beach volleyball. these ladies are cute and giggly, but they hit hard and are genki to the max, which means they will do shoulder rolls after getting some tough hits.
I came to a lot of decisions on monday... and i feel good about them. one of the most significant ones is that I`m not going to India, choosing to stay domestic instead. Hopefully I can do like a home-exchange programme with Shiu, and use his place when he uses mine. that would be awesome... snow here i come! But I figure, that way I can spend Christmas and New year`s with family thus alleviating the guilt I had AND I get to make my mom happy by staying in Japan. Christmas is unfortunately/fortunately? going to be one big ol exercise in mass consumerism. sigh, Japan. But two trips in March/April to Hawaii and Mt Fuji and Golden Week in Thailand should be awesome.
I saw Matchstick Men last night with Natalie and some other Fu JETs. It was really good... nic cage and alison loehmann (sp) were really good. yay! i so can`t critique film... or much art for that matter. all critical faculties are essentially based on the aesthetic and visceral. but i was surprised how critically involved i was at the Frida exhibit. Frida and Lola Alvarez Bravo... two awesome artists. like dude, they were way cool. =)
shiawase/ureshii things:
-text essays to my phone
-musings on hermithood... 2 members and counting
-mommy volleyball
-long-d to nishiumi
-saturday am calls from my dad
-pictures
-saying hi to Joyo students
-talking with david&jolean
-church
-good Osaka food
-plain yogurt, fruit granola and cut up banana in a bowl
-finding a seat on the JR
i noticed that i don`t write about the specificities of Osaka life... which will probably come back to bite me in the butt after i leave. I joined a `mama-san` volleyball team, basically just for practice. they practice at Joyo JHS which is cool b/c staff is still there sometimes when I go, and I got to meet Mari as a result. I am pretty weak, but it`s so fun to be able to play vball regularly, depending of course on my `iron` will. However, yesterday, the VP came up to me and basically asked me if I would play for the mama san team in a GAME on nov 16. I slightly freaked out, as Japanesely as possible,... `uh me??? uh... I`m really bad you know...` but apparently i am good enough to be a sub! woohooooo! now let`s just get one thing out of the way... mama san vball, or mommy volleyball as someone else put it, is a misnomer. it conjures up visions of giggly housewives patting the ball to and fro.. basically the way My mom plays beach volleyball. these ladies are cute and giggly, but they hit hard and are genki to the max, which means they will do shoulder rolls after getting some tough hits.
I came to a lot of decisions on monday... and i feel good about them. one of the most significant ones is that I`m not going to India, choosing to stay domestic instead. Hopefully I can do like a home-exchange programme with Shiu, and use his place when he uses mine. that would be awesome... snow here i come! But I figure, that way I can spend Christmas and New year`s with family thus alleviating the guilt I had AND I get to make my mom happy by staying in Japan. Christmas is unfortunately/fortunately? going to be one big ol exercise in mass consumerism. sigh, Japan. But two trips in March/April to Hawaii and Mt Fuji and Golden Week in Thailand should be awesome.
I saw Matchstick Men last night with Natalie and some other Fu JETs. It was really good... nic cage and alison loehmann (sp) were really good. yay! i so can`t critique film... or much art for that matter. all critical faculties are essentially based on the aesthetic and visceral. but i was surprised how critically involved i was at the Frida exhibit. Frida and Lola Alvarez Bravo... two awesome artists. like dude, they were way cool. =)
shiawase/ureshii things:
-text essays to my phone
-musings on hermithood... 2 members and counting
-mommy volleyball
-long-d to nishiumi
-saturday am calls from my dad
-pictures
-saying hi to Joyo students
-talking with david&jolean
-church
-good Osaka food
-plain yogurt, fruit granola and cut up banana in a bowl
-finding a seat on the JR
Saturday, October 18, 2003
march in hawaii!!!!!!!!!
MY GIRL TOMO IS GETTING MAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRIIIIII
IIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEED ON MARCH 13/2004!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I CAN`T STAND IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MY GIRL TOMO IS GETTING MAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRIIIIII
IIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEED ON MARCH 13/2004!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I CAN`T STAND IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wednesday, October 08, 2003
whaaaat???????????
WHY IS AMERICAN EAGLE SO AMAZING NOW??????????? WHEN I LEAVE AND CAN`T HAVE DIRECT ACCESS AND DELIVERY TO IT??????????????????????? NOT FAIR!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I BET THE VISA PEOPLE ARE MAD AT AE TOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CHO MUKATSU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i played vball with the girls and boys` team...heehee... fun
BUT I AM STILL SUPER MAD ABOUT AE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WHY IS AMERICAN EAGLE SO AMAZING NOW??????????? WHEN I LEAVE AND CAN`T HAVE DIRECT ACCESS AND DELIVERY TO IT??????????????????????? NOT FAIR!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I BET THE VISA PEOPLE ARE MAD AT AE TOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CHO MUKATSU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i played vball with the girls and boys` team...heehee... fun
BUT I AM STILL SUPER MAD ABOUT AE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tuesday, October 07, 2003
surprising
kyou wa bikkurishimashita!!! asa ni, shikitsu shogakko e hayai kimashita, hommani! 8 ji! uso jyanai! zenbu no jigyou wa omoshiroi... demo ichinen-sei no sensei wa chotto kowai... hiru gohan wa oishiiso, kabocha ga tabeta hommani! kaerutoki ni, taiiku no sensei ga mite, soshite kare wa `ostukaresama` to itte! heeheeeeeeeeee... cho kakkoiii... ALT no meeting no atode, MUJI ni itte, soshite aki no jyaketto ga katta. cho shiawase... demo chotto shindoi.
ashita wa Mari to bareboru ga renshushimasu!!!!!!!
wooohooooooooooooo!
kyou wa bikkurishimashita!!! asa ni, shikitsu shogakko e hayai kimashita, hommani! 8 ji! uso jyanai! zenbu no jigyou wa omoshiroi... demo ichinen-sei no sensei wa chotto kowai... hiru gohan wa oishiiso, kabocha ga tabeta hommani! kaerutoki ni, taiiku no sensei ga mite, soshite kare wa `ostukaresama` to itte! heeheeeeeeeeee... cho kakkoiii... ALT no meeting no atode, MUJI ni itte, soshite aki no jyaketto ga katta. cho shiawase... demo chotto shindoi.
ashita wa Mari to bareboru ga renshushimasu!!!!!!!
wooohooooooooooooo!
Saturday, October 04, 2003
fresh air?!
is it too early, too soon after the fact to sing praises about rokko island...?
i think not.
it was a beeeeautiful day today, perfect for the run. i stupidly didn`t eat any breakfast... not smart, but i managed. the air was so fresh and so clean, and the buildings there were really interesting. the apartments were painted in faded pastel colours incl. pink! homes a la portuguese if you will... a couple of late 19th C Canadian style houses too. when we got to the site, it was sort of overwhelming... there were people of all backgrounds, all speaking English... and some Japanese of course. i was standing in the middle of the field, slightly freaking out because the gathering of people reminded me of Toronto-of HOME- soo much. i was so proud to be Canadian at that point, having a situation that seems pretty remarkable (so many people of different nationalities gathered together in one place) in Japan, be so common in Canada.
i love Canada.
and i was happy to do my part to help out Terry`s cause, approx 37 minutes for the 5k... not great, but faster than last year, and (insert excuse) i didn`t really run that much leading up to it. but the plus side was that i didn`t stop running, overtook jolene and V after being so far behind them i couldn`t see jolene, and resisted buying a Habitat for Humanity polo shirt just because it was blue... bought a really horrid veggieburger to help out HfH instead... it was great... the girl manhandled my slice of cheese... u just can`t teach service like that, it`s a giFt... =)
so if i ever get too homesick, i shall visit the Island, and be happy, mellowing out in the fresh air and mixed bag of people.
is it too early, too soon after the fact to sing praises about rokko island...?
i think not.
it was a beeeeautiful day today, perfect for the run. i stupidly didn`t eat any breakfast... not smart, but i managed. the air was so fresh and so clean, and the buildings there were really interesting. the apartments were painted in faded pastel colours incl. pink! homes a la portuguese if you will... a couple of late 19th C Canadian style houses too. when we got to the site, it was sort of overwhelming... there were people of all backgrounds, all speaking English... and some Japanese of course. i was standing in the middle of the field, slightly freaking out because the gathering of people reminded me of Toronto-of HOME- soo much. i was so proud to be Canadian at that point, having a situation that seems pretty remarkable (so many people of different nationalities gathered together in one place) in Japan, be so common in Canada.
i love Canada.
and i was happy to do my part to help out Terry`s cause, approx 37 minutes for the 5k... not great, but faster than last year, and (insert excuse) i didn`t really run that much leading up to it. but the plus side was that i didn`t stop running, overtook jolene and V after being so far behind them i couldn`t see jolene, and resisted buying a Habitat for Humanity polo shirt just because it was blue... bought a really horrid veggieburger to help out HfH instead... it was great... the girl manhandled my slice of cheese... u just can`t teach service like that, it`s a giFt... =)
so if i ever get too homesick, i shall visit the Island, and be happy, mellowing out in the fresh air and mixed bag of people.
