Two more work days until summer break! I've got the entire Kyoto leg of my trip planned. I'm trying to show my dad all of the key sights, while also trying to do new things for me as well. Last time in Kyoto was very rushed, and that isn't going to change here. But unlike last time, I've arranged an English language guided tour for one of the ( Read more... )

One of the leaving JETs gave me a couple of her books. One of them happened to be Dave Barry Does Japan. My dad is coming here in two weeks, so I've been in the mood to read about tourists in Japan. Though I've never read anything by Dave Barry before, it's a name I'm very familiar with ( Read more... )

I've become a pimp for the English Speech Recitation Contest. I've single-handedly given oral interviews to every student at both of my junior high schools. I've narrowed the list down to my favorites, and am now pimping to get them into the contest. I had them fill out a survey about their interest level before I started the interviews. That ( Read more... )

I just finished taping another eight weeks worth of videos for the Saga No Gabai Baachan site. This morning I was faxed the script for eight new skits. I had to have them memorized by four, and I had a full day of elementary school getting in the way as well ( Read more... )

This is my town...being attacked by Godzilla! You can even see my apartment.


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I took the day off today so I could go to the Saga Prefecture Driving Center to submit my documents for getting a Japanese license. There are so many horror stories about foreigners trying to get Japanese licenses, but today went incredibly smoothly. To get to the driving center, I had to take the expressway for the first time. I was a bit ( Read more... )

So my little town of Takeo has been in a boom ever since that Gabai Baachan movie filmed. I've noticed new stores opening up all around town. Just this week I saw signs looking for employees for a McDonald's which will open in Takeo in July. To me, a McDonald's is the mark of a decent Japanese town. Up until this point, the nearest McDonald's ( Read more... )

So I've been in Takeo longer than I was at Chiba. Go figure. Sure doesn't feel like it.

Yesterday I joined the ni-nensei from Kawanobori Jr. High for a hike in the mountains not far from the school. The morning started out rainy, so the whole trip was in question. It was decided that we would go ahead as planned and hope for the best ( Read more... )

So I inadvertently attended my first ever J-Pop concert today. Like something out of 1984, I found myself in the midst of an in-mall concert ( Read more... )