Matsumoto koi

Matsumoto koi, originally uploaded by gritsblogger.

Frog Samurai?

Frog Samurai?, originally uploaded by gritsblogger.

In front of a temple in Matsumoto.

Matsumoto Castle

Matsumoto Castle, originally uploaded by gritsblogger.

Look a castle....ah feet hurt to much to go in by that point...but I hope to go back to explore it as a reward if I get the job there...

Ohgata SC

Ohgata SC, originally uploaded by gritsblogger.

Look Ohgata South Carolina! Actually I think it stands for Ohgata Shopping Center...but I like to think differently.

Traveling around the island

So this past weekend I spent mostly on trains or working on creating large blisters on my feet. I went to Matsumoto,Nagano on Saturday which is way cool, for an interview at an eikaiwa.....really would like to live in Matsumoto if I can`t live in Joetsu! They even sell Birkenstocks there! Bad news is I won`t here back from them until the middle of July about the job. Sigh....impatience! Bought ridiculous cute stuff at the station and had to hop a train before I broke the bank.
So then I went to Tokyo on Saturday night sorta without plan , but ended up staying with Midori`s daughter Maru-chan who is super cool and going to college in Tokyo now not far from Shinjuku. I had my other interview with Interac on Sunday morning-afternoon...video interview and all. It went okay but I don`t know if they are offering any areas I really want to move to. Really, its all about location for me....I live outside my house more than in it , and of course traveling cost plays into it all. I also would like to continue snowboarding and seeing awesome people who live up this way.
Anyhow, I`m going to get evaluated today by Abe sensei....hope it goes well, but if it doesn`t, well she doesn`t seem like she feels she can rehire me anyhow, so whatever.

RAINY SEASON? Usoouu!

I'm probably asking for it putting a title like that on here, but really rainy season....eh not so much lately. It's a frickin hot sweaty humid sticky day (mooshy atsooie in Japanese). Today I taught american style cooking to 6th graders at Shimohokura. So we made macaroni cheese with hot dogs and Corn Dogs which they know better as "AMERICAN DOG" as sold at 7-11.

Saturday and Sunday was spent camping in the mountains. We found a really beautiful spot (kinda scary car ride to get to), and we had a campfire and cheese dogs, yakitori, and ghetto japanese style smores (we can't get graham crackers easily so we used those chocolate covered digestive biscuits..more of a British thing I think). The only downfall was the lack of running water. Then we played a short bit of frisbee on the beach and in the ocean and I got a slight sunburn (jealous how people get so tan easily here).

Well, I've got 2 interviews this coming weekend and lots of traveling to do, still I wish I could get a job in Joetsu city. I wouldn't mind staying here another year....and it takes so much to get set up in a new place! Also, I've made a pact with Akemi to study for and and probably fail the Level 2 Japanese Proficiency Exam this December. Benkyo o gambaremasho!

near Naoetsu station

near Naoetsu station, originally uploaded by gritsblogger.

Brookie

Tea, fans, teachers, rainy days

Yesterday I had a really incredible day culturally at Oshima Sho. I just had out my fan from the hyaku en shop and it seemed to get alot of attention. So I was taught how to do sports day cheers with it, play games with it, and do dances (sort of) with it. Teachers reminisced with it, kids played with it, I cooled myself off with it...the best buck I ever spent really. Then I somehow got on the subject of tea ceremonies and all the teachers told me the principal was really good at them, so I just stopped by her office to suggest we have one sometime. Before I knew it she had invited me in, and the school nurse who was going by, and started mising up the macha. She taught us how to turn the bowls, drink the tea the the last big sip before setting down the bowl, and how to appreciate the tea bowl called o-chawan. She showed us which ones could be used for fall, New Year's and all year round.

Then I went home and took a nice 40 min. run, shower, ate some dinner and came to Joetsu. I watched a really wierd comedy with zombies called Shaun of the Dead. I came to school this morning (early for once), and found out during morning meeting that our main english teacher is out for the rest of the month? Well, determined not to let my class lessons diminish I worked with other teachers to teach with me and make lessons for all but one of the normal class times, though today I still only had 1 class (they learned how to play battleships). Then to my great pleasure, they brought in a new teacher from Johoku to teach English...she's my age and seems good at English and not a bit timid. So she came and left, I redid the English board and prepared lesson plans for Mondays classes, printed The English Paper Issue #2, and found myself asleep in a rather stiff chair by 2:30. (Why can't we have a tatami room here?) I guess that's because the weather is starting to look all rainy...and I had big plans for riding my bike home too!

be a man notebook

be a man notebook, originally uploaded by gritsblogger.

Brookie

Spontaneity

It took about 2 hours of sweaty determination.....but somehow I found myself biking from my apartment in Oshima after school yesterday...and ended up in Naoetsu. Really, I just meant to go to my next closest Elemetary school to see how long it takes so I could bike next time I go...but once that challenge had been met, I just couldn't stop. So I went out for experimental karaoke night (my first Tuesday night this year maybe?) and there were 4 of us. I'm glad I got a shower yesterday cause it took me quite awhile to rouse myself from comfy slumber this morning. But now my bike is in Naoetsu because I got a ride back last night. But that's okay cause I have school within walking distance tomorow and I have to drive on Friday.

Now I'm just a little worried because I have 2 classes this afternoon with a plan I don't understand and one of the teachers doesn't understand either. It's supposed to be about places, but I really hope I don't have to teach the words "National Diet Ministry of Finance," and "airframe maintenance center" to 5th and 6th graders! Who made this plan anyhow??

so bored im takin my own photo

so bored im takin my own photo, originally uploaded by gritsblogger.

Brookie

drawing

drawing, originally uploaded by gritsblogger.

Brookie

Here's Lookin' at You!

So I've been enjoying that little stat counter I added to the bottom of the page. I can see all kinds of info about people who visit my page....what country they are from, how long they stay...etc; Pretty cool eh?

Good things happening..Tori's B-day at karaoke + printclub. That was a fun little group of 5 there before Akemi left for Tokyo...she made a huge chocolate chip oatmeal cookie cake for Tori. I got her a cd soundtrack of Sailor Moon. Hey, what are friends for?

Saturday night was open mic night but I didn't play anything this time, that's not to say the banjo didn't come out that night though. Actually, I had my first banjo complaint ever (all those banjo player jokes had just rolled off all these years). I had gone to the car to get out my banjo after much poking and prodding and slight harassing from friends to , so I decided to warm up outside since it was so loud inside and I couldn't tune my banjo and I hadn't played much recently being sick and all. So then this older guy comes stalking up to me out of nowhere and I'm not sure what to expect but most people come up to me to find out what my instrument is or want to touch it or ask what kind of music I play or whatever. So I was blown away by my first "Uruseii yo!" Which means "You're noisy, be quiet/shutup!" After he stalked away I slipped inside rather abashed and preceeded to try not to be upset by it which means I spent most of my time thinking about it getting rather upset and finally decided to put my banjo in the car because there was no way I was going to play it. I got a bit cheered up after Dave's song about Niigata he made up "..and our rice...is quite nice" Then I listened to some guys play guitar and sing some songs in English and then I got out master's banjo and played a bit and some of us went down to this cool jazz bar called Swing where the master there put on some jazz that had ragtime sort of banjo in it for me. There was a guy there who makes djembe (percussion) and he was wearing a tye dyed grateful dead shirt and had a whole cd folder full of cds to prove that he loved Jerry Garcia.

Sunday was fun with a frisbee as we said goodbye to recent grad school graduate Yoshio who is heading to Canada for awhile. The weather just couldn't be beat and there were so many people there at one point we had 2 teams of 8 people and onlookers to boot. Our team was kickin butt and takin names too!

Today I got more job info...lined up an interview for Interac in Tokyo in 2 and a half weeks. Bad news, they don't have a position available in Niigata or Nagano. So I may have to move off a bit but I'm gonna search all I can in the next 2 1/2 weeks til then.

Pie Chart Countries

Pie Chart Countries, originally uploaded by gritsblogger.

Yoshio see you!

Yoshio see you!, originally uploaded by gritsblogger.

Yoshio sent this pic after I'd posted the other one....maybe this one is cuter?

ultimate frisbee gathering

ultimate frisbee gathering, originally uploaded by gritsblogger.

The awesome vocal stylings of Johnson

The awesome vocal stylings of Johnson, originally uploaded by gritsblogger.

Joe takes the stage

Joe takes the stage, originally uploaded by gritsblogger.

Chuck on base

Chuck on base, originally uploaded by gritsblogger.

Alexi sings it

Alexi sings it, originally uploaded by gritsblogger.

Beth amazes

Beth amazes, originally uploaded by gritsblogger.

Master rocks

Master rocks, originally uploaded by gritsblogger.

house band2

house band2, originally uploaded by gritsblogger.

Tori's bday

Tori's bday, originally uploaded by gritsblogger.

Tori's bday at karoake

What My Birthdate means....

Your Birthdate: September 19

Your birth on the 19th day of the month adds a tone of independence and extra energy to your life path. But at the same time, it poses a number of obstacles to overcome before you are able to be as independent as you would like. The number 1 energy suggests more executive ability and leadership qualities than your path may have indicated. A birthday on the 19th of any month gives greater will power and self-confidence, and very often a rather original approach. However, a somewhat self-centered approach to life that may be in conflict with some of the other influences in your life. This 1 energy may diminish your ability and desire to handle details, preferring instead to paint with a broad brush. You are sensitive, but your feeling stay somewhat repressed. You have a compelling manner that can be dominating in many situations. You do not tend to follow convention or take advice very well. Consequently, you tend to learn through experience; sometimes hard experiences. The 19/1 is a loner number and you may experience feelings of being alone even if you are married. You may take on a tendency to be nervous and angry.

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TORI!!!!!

TANJOBI OMEDETOU TORI-CHAN! Hugs, kisses and general prostration in your great and awesome presence today! Ahem...so enjoy your youngness while it lasts. Love, your ESP-etic older friend. See ya'll at karoake. TGIF!!

Sweet Suehiro

I'm finally getting over my cold that had me out of school for the last two days...hooray!!! Just in time too. I'm so glad I didn't miss going to this school today. It's my first time here at Suehiro Elementary school and the kids are just great. It's located in Uragawara about a 20 minute or so drive from home and it's nestled amongst mountains and rice paddies in the back. There's even a green little storage shed outside with cutouts of rabbits and chickens..and they actually have a chicken or two out there. There's also this big round water container...well not so big, but definately noticable with the big orange sunshine on it that's smiling. The kids call it sunshine mountain. They led me up there in a break after my first class, oh about 10 or 12 3rd graders did and there is this little hidden place in the woods up there with swings and climbing trees and these colored plastics wrapped around trees to make sort of big fairy houses the kids can climb through. It's really super cool. I was given all of 3 nice smelling leaves, 2 flowers, 1 rock and a seed pod with a bug in it. I let 3 classes of kids play my banjo, played dodgeball, badmitton and tabletennis, and created an English board with pictures of the powerpuff girls, superman, and pokemon......I've been busy today!Honto ni tanoshikatta desu!! Why can't everyday be shogakko?

from the mtn swing

Brookie

playground

Brookie

path to sunshine

Brookie

sunshine mtn

Brookie