while learning to talk about our plans for the upcoming three day weekend, one girl wrote this.

"This weekend I am planning to eat vitamin c with my friends."

well look forward to that.

Today it is a beautiful day - I can see the mountains in distance and the sun is shining and it is warm enough to open the windows. It's about time ( Read more... )

The school year ended yesterday, and because I only teach the first year students at one of my schools, it was our last class so some students wrote me little letters. Here's a letter that one boy wrote me ( Read more... )

Last night I went to the Takeuchi Matsuri (Bamboo stick hitting festival) In this festival, the town splits into North and South, they get pretty drunk, put on some helmets and whack each other with bamboo sticks ( Read more... )

Ok everybody - sorry I missed the new years party - the pictures look great - I wish I could have been there, but just so you don't get the wrong idea - I will show ya some pictures to show you what my holiday season was like. If you didn't know, my family came to visit me and we traveled around a bit. Some pictures need a little explaining so ( Read more... )

A girl came up to me today with a birthday card she recieved from her friend who is studying abroad in America. On the front it says "You are HOW old!?" and on the inside it says, "Now that's a load of number 2 if ever I've heard one. Happy Birthday" She points at that and says, "meaning... what ( Read more... )

I was walking home yesterday at a rather swift pace seeing as it was cold outside when suddenly I hear, "Mr. John!" from behind me and this skinny dorky kid (no not my twin...) who had apparently been trying (and failing) to catch up with me hurries up to my side. "You walking is very fast." "oh... yes, it's cold" I say. "You have very long foot ( Read more... )

it's amazing the power that movies can have - i went to the theater to watch harry potter yestersday (ok harry potter, whatever, you may think, but the movie itself is not the point) and i just kinda let go of my mind/self and let myself be involved - so much so that I completely forget I was in Japan... I didn't even notice the Japanese subtitles ( Read more... )

hey don't know how to make this a hyperlink so sorry, but here's a few pictures from the last few months

http://usera.imagecave.com/eatdrinkstand/japan/

you might be interested to know about a local arcade game... you remember those games where you have a claw and you try to grab a stuffed animal? it's like that except in this game you have a hand that is palm up and with this hand you move around and try to scoop up live turtles that live their life swimming around in this game. I'll admit I ( Read more... )