This morning a got a message from a JET friend that lives down in Southern Yamanashi. She called and wanted to know if I wanted to go to this Mexican restaurant that everyone RAVES about in Fujinomiya, which is about a 30 min drive from my school. I'm always up for Native English speaking company so of course I say yes. I actually know a girl I met at DC orientation who lives up there and I'd been meaning to get up with her since we live so close but the opportunity never presented itself...until today. So, after work I come home to get the directions to the place and start off to Fujinomiya. The JETs from Yamanashi are supposed to meet me at this restaurant at 7pm. So I told my friend Ash that live in Fujinomiya, that I'd meet her earlier to catch up and talk before the other folks arrived. I got there about 6pm. At 6pm I get a call from the Yama JETs saying they didn't leave home unti 6pm and it would be 7:15 or so before they got there. I said that's cool. Well just hang around until you get here. So my friend took my to her apt and showed me around. She has quite a nice place and very nice decorating taste. I was very impressed. She also told me that she usually has a Japanese student she teaches on Monday nights and wanted to know if she could come to dinner with us. I said that would be good. I was also thinking it would be really good practice for her student. So, I'm waiting for the Yama JETs to call me back around 7pm when they should be fairly close to our meeting spot. When they call back, they said it would be another 30 mins or so before they arrived.

Now, keep in mind my day. Got up at 7:15 to get ready for work. Left home at 8pm. Sat at my desk and at the computer from 8:30am-4:30pm because there was no English lesson today and the English teacher was on holiday. Left work after having done absolutely nothing for 8 hours and drove 20 mins in the opposite direction of Fujinomiya to get the directions for the place. Left home about 5pm and arrived at 6pm. Sat around with Ash for an hour and of course by this time I'm hungry. So when they called that last time, I just told them I was going to eat with Ash and her student and then I was going home. You also have to keep in mind there are about 6 of them riding up together and I am by myself. Also bear in mind that a party of 8 will take much longer to serve than a party of 3 and if I would have waited and ate with them, I would have been pissy so I'm glad that I just ate and when home. Their being late could not be placed on any one in particular, but me driving home on a full stomach at 10pm or later is really not what I had in mind when we were supposed to be sitting down to eat at 7pm originally.

We ended up eating at Gusto's which was very very good and our waiter was practicing the bit of English that he knew. Ash's student was able to practice and get in some practice talking to me so that was good for her too. I got home at a decent hour. I'm going to read a little bit of Harry and take my self to sleep.

Tomorrow I start bringing my own lunch to school and I forgot to make it tonight so I'll get up earlier tomorrow. *Yeah Right*

Good day today. I got up about 7:45 to a sky of pouring rain thinking that soccer practice would be cancelled, but boy was I wrong. I told the team co-ordinator Laura that I wasn't going to play but I did want to go down there to get our kit sorted out and find out what team I would be on and all that stuff. It was raining much to hard for me to risk catching a cold to suit them. But I'm excited!!! We have a good team and the shorts and socks like really good together. Now we only have to find the shirts.

I came home and started reading the first Harry Potter book. I fell asleep after page 10, I hope that's not a sign of how the rest of the reading is going to go. I saw the movie so I know the plot line already although I know the book will be much more specific...we'll see.

Tonight I went to Maman Pumpkin's which is a excellent Indian restaurant with Hazel, Terry, and Chris. It was Hazel's birthday and that's her favorite place to eat. Its very good, but very spicy so I always have to get something off the baby menu so my mouth doesn't burn up! We had a great dinner and finished it up with Indian cha, which is a spicy sort of tea. Its really good too. After dinner, we went to the Sports Cafe for drinks (I had soda) and playing pool. I suck at pool but I'm getting better each time. I guess that's the only way you really learn.

As I was going to my car after leaving the cafe' I saw a girl Nilta that I'd met when I was with Sanae last week. I was waving at her and she didn't recognize me, but the other two looked so happy to see me that I got out of the car and started talking with them and exchanging information almost immediately. The two other people ended up being Aru (Brazilian guy who speaks English just like I do) and Keysha (a Black girl from Pennsylvania). It was about midnight when I got back to my car where they were walking past, and I stayed out there and talked to them until about 1:50am! Nilta actually left about 10 minutes after I met them but Aru, Keysha, and I just stayed on the street and talked and talked. I was quite fun! We have made a date for them to come up to my place and have a sleep over, cook dinner and watch movies. I'm excited about all this, but it won't be for another week or so before they come up. We wanted to do it on a long weekend when we didn't have to go to work on Monday and I think the next one is October 14th. I really hope we keep in touch. Keysha has natural hair too and its much longer than mine so I'm sure I can help her out with braids and stuff...for a minimal cost that is. Aru has many people in his family that used relaxers and knows how to put one in so if I break down and have to get one, at least I know someone who is near me that can put it in!

This has been a pretty good day. I have my Japanese lesson tomorrow at 4:30 and still have yet to write the 1/2 page journal that Natusko asked me to write. I did work on the other homework she gave me though. I will get up semi-early tomorrow and work on it. I do want to be a dedicated student. Off to sleepy land. :)

I can begin to explain how small this world really is. My linesister's fiance's linebrother is here in Japan! He went to school with my best friend, knows her and all I know so many of his frat, but never met him! He's in the JET program too, about 2 prefectures over from me. Its still kinda far, but just a call away. Even funnier, we talked yesterday for the first time and found out that he is going to be in the JET soccer tournament in Nagano next weekend! Its so cool to meet people you can talk to about stuff you are both familiar with and a Black person at that, so I'm looking forward to meeting him.

Speaking of soccer, our practice this morning was postponed until 10AM because of the rain. I told the co-ordinator that I wasn't going to practice with them in the rain because I don't want to mess around and catch a cold. Its so easy to happen, so I'd rather be safe than sorry. I could have stayed to watch but I just left and went home. Well, I started to go home but then, I saw this huge SHOE mart. I told myself I wasn't going to, but I broke down and bought a pair of cleats. They're cute and were semi inexpensive. I feel like I need to find another use for these bad boys like join a soccer league or something. I have shorts and socks from the boys that played last year. We are using the kits they wore last year. I only have to find a shirt now. Most of us are in the same boat though because she wants us to wear blue polo style shirts, but they are no where to be found. I did find tons of blue t-shirts but not what Laura wants us to have. We still have until Saturday so I hope it will all work out.

We have 14 women from our prefecture playing so they want us to make two teams. We have the "Yama Mama's" and the "Mama Yama's". Its quite difficult to say three times fast! But anyway, I'm on the Yama Mama team. It should be a lot of fun. I'm looking forward to the weekend away and getting to visit Nagano.

Mt. Fuji had its first snow of the year last night. Today on my way to school the mountain was visable from lake Shoji and of course I had to stop to see and take pictures. It was absolutely gorgeous. If only I had a digital camera to capture the moment immediately. This morning I braided my hair and of course another uproar in the teachers room when I arrived. I think that everyday the look to see what I'm wearing and how my hair is going to look. Today I wore a brown skirt, cream button down and had a sweater tied semi-J Crew style around my shoulders. Its so funny because its rare that I get attention at all unless it has something to do with my clothes or my hair. Its okay though and eventually they will get used to it.

I cleared my vacation days with my Prinicipal, Vice Principal, and the folks at the BOE. I'm going to Gunma to visit Erica for sure this time!!! Its still two weeks before, but I'm excited. They told me I should drive because it takes 5 hours on the train and only 3.5 at most if I drive. So what I need to do is make about 3 hours worth of good driving music and GO. So, that's the plan. Erica just got a car yesterday and that's great news because she will know some more places to go as opposed to before when she was on her bike. I'm excited about my second trip out of Yamanashi. The first is coming up fast too--the soccer tournament in Nagano.

Saturday we have practice and its actually supposed to rain, but I hope it doesn't.

Honestly, I don't care what anyone says...I can put some fire to a piece of chicken I swear! Dang, I have to complement myself. If I can't cook a thing else, Chicken...I can cook! Along with the help of some Japanese poultry seasoning of course. Tonight I made some of the best mini drumsticks I've ever tasted. Yumm!

I thought I'd supressed it, but alas, the clumsy in me has resurfaced. After last Friday's "spill" in the woods pickin' mushroom, I thought I'd be okay. WRONG! So, I'm leaving the Village Office today around 4:30, I miss the step down and bussss (not bust) my ass. I tore my GUESS Collection black slacks and tore up my left knee. The skin was broken and won't stop bleeding. I also have two really bad stratches on my right and left foot right when the shin turns into foot. I don't know how in the HELL I managed that but now my right hand, left knee, and both left and right feet are scarred up. And who doesn't have cocoa butter to hide the scars once they heal...ME. You guess it! Sometimes I worry about me. The bad part is the sores will heal eventually even if they don't go away but my slacks...they're gone forever :(.

Yesterday, my upstairs neighbor and co-worker came to me at the Jr. High School and asked me if I knew that her boyfriend stayed at her house many nights. Which was very dumb because our apartment parking lot is very small and of course I know that is his car. I've seen them in it before. He spends the night very often and has been for the last 3 weeks or so. The reason she really asked is because this morning when I was leaving from the Board of Ed (which is right next door) around 9:30 I saw him on her balcony. He must have called her and told her I saw him. She made it a point to ask me not to tell the students that he stays there. First of all, I told her that I wouldn't tell her business because if I did have some business to tell I'd hope that she wasn't at school telling all of it. I also let her know that me seeing him the other morning doesn't confirm anything that I didn't already know. She's a grown woman and what she does in her apt is her own business and I would hope that the same would apply for my business and my apartment. She pretends like she doesn't understand as much English as she really does but understood every word I said that morning.

But speaking of the boyfriend, I'm a little concerned. I've been visiting the elementary schools every day this week so that means I leave from home later, around 9:30 instead of 8am. Only this week, the boyfriend has been there when I leave for work. Which makes me wonder--Either he is on vacation (which I wouldn't want to spend my vacation locked up washing clothes and hanging out futons like he's been doing) or he ain't got no job. I hope its not the latter because on a teacher's salary she can't support the both of them. I'm being nosy, but she was the dumb one for even saying that. I guess she had to, but he's a bitch for calling her.

I think ALT's have been living in my apt for the last 5 years. Four women if my memory serves me correctly. So, there are some things that are in the apt that have just accumulated over the years. One of them is US TV programs that have been sent here. Today I found a tape that I hadn't seen before and popped it in. The first hour on here was 2 episodes of Drew Carey's "Whose line is it anyway" on which the black guy basically sang and danced. I'd be rash to call him a coon because I'm sure is just meant to be comedy. After that I watch 2 episodes of "Who wants to be a millionaire?" when it was in its first season. Quite entertaining though I must say I enjoy watching the Japanese version much better. The host is sooo funny (even though I don't know what he is saying, the facial expressions speak volumes). He also keeps the contestants waiting much longer and there is ALWAYS a commerical right before they reveal the answer. No matter how much I try to ignore getting sucked into the hype, I can't help it. But anyway, back to this old tape. So after the Millionaire episodes, there was this weird special on New Zealand that I fast forwarded thru and then came to my faovrite of all time: The Dukes of Hazzard Reunion! No, I'm not kidding. Although I wish I was. It just came on and its 10:37pm, but I have to watch this before I go to bed. I grew up on the Dukes! Daisy is looking a little withered, but Ennis stlil loves her! Its amazing what you find when you aren't looking...

I got my pictures developed from the waterfalls we went to a few weeks ago. I look like a chunk ball, but that's just pretty much how I feel on a daily basis. I also got the picture I took of Watanabe-sensei (the math teacher) sleeping at his desk. He saw it today and of course laughed. I also got a picture of all of the teachers from my school at our Welcome party on Friday. I love the photo shops here. I paid about 600yen for the developing and they were ready in 1 hour. You can't get service like that in the States! The toss up is it takes me forever to read the drop off instructions, so oh well.

My friend Erica and I have so many things in common that its really scary. We've been trying to plan out our Christmas vacation for the past few weeks. You know black folks that ain't never been no where and now have a little piece of money, we got big plans right? So we were talking about going to Paris or to Brazil, but it doesn't look like either one of us are going to be able to swing an expensive trip like that anytime soon. E is also trying to get a car and finish setting up her place so we can't go into that kind of money right now. So, we decided to stay around Japan and do some touring on the main island of Honshu. Kyoto is one of the most traditional areas in Japan, I live near Fuji and around a lot of temples and shrines, and we can also take the train down to Hiroshima to do some sight seeing. I've ordered this book called Lonely Planet Japan, that should help with reservations and trains and everything. So, I'm excited about that. Planning domestically is much easier because I can do most of it myself and doesn't involve any plane reservations.

"This is my life. You are my life. I want to thank you, I thank you father, for blessing me"

I am finally finished with all the school festivals that I had to go to. One Saturday and one today. The weather was so nice yesterday and the festival was by far my favorite. I really like Shoji Elementary School. The principal wants to learn English. The students are very friendly and want to learn. The teachers want to talk to me in English as well although they know very little. They have a lot of activities at the festival that involve the PTA and of course the momma's keep coming over to me every time there was a PTA activity asking me to join. By Saturday at had already been to 2 festivals so I'm getting used to them. Today's was okay too. The weather wasn't quite as nice. It was a little cold this morning but then around 11:30 it started raining. At first only drizzling but as time when on it got worse. They modified the schedule so that it wouldn't last quite as long but just as the closing stretches started we had to move into the gym because it started pouring! There is a traditional warm up and cool down stretch that everyone does together. Its really neat because EVERYONE knows it from the baby kindergarders to the ojisan and obachan's. There is one little pissy ass 6th grader that really gets on my nerves. He thinks he is so funny but I think its rather disrepectful. I really want to tell the little prick about himself. I think it stands out so much because everyone else is pretty nice except for him. Like today they played this game where you had to race for these goodie bags. Well this ass comes over to me and hands the bag to me. As I start to take it from him, he snatches it and runs away. Now that's not something that is uncharacteristic of an awkward ass 6th grader but all of the kids in Kamikuishiki show me much respect and not one of them acts that way with me. He's just a prick and the other students have just spoiled me that's all.

I started recieving an English newspaper this week. Its called the Daily Yomiuri. It has a lot of good coverage and since its one of the main newspaper's in Japan for English speaking people it had world news. I feel more in touch with the world here than when I was in the US. It has a tv schedule of English speaking program and things that are in the original language but subtitled in Japanese are in bold. Tonight's program is Jurassic Park. Its been YEARS since I've seen this movie. Its so weird because I probably would never want to sit down and watch it at home and I'm not really interested in watching here, but just to have something in English talking in the background as I use the internet, write letters, even do my Japanese studying is comforting. I swear when I'm in the four walls of my home I don't really feel like I'm in Japan at all. Wait! I didn't know Samuel L Jackson was in this movie! The things you lean when you least expect it.

I toiled over my head this morning and finally worked it into 2 mother nature french braids. It came out very good and is much less time consuming than braiding my hair up in cornrows at night and trying not to sleep wild. (I know, fat chance) Having natural hair gives me the options that I so desparately need in my life but if I want to do anything other than wear it "curly" it takes a really long time to pick out, grease, comb and brush. But I do like having different hair styles. I was telling my mom about how much time it takes to do my hair and how sometimes I would just kill for a perm. Do you know this woman had the nerve to ask me if I wanted her to send me a "S-curl" Sometimes I think the woman has really lost it. I mean get rid of a perm and get an S-Curl?!? Yeah right!

Tomorrow we have a holiday so I don't have to go to school, but I do have my Japanese lesson in the evening. I don't know if its being lazy or that I really like my apt, but I am so content sitting in here and sleeping my morning away, waking up to do a little laundry and housekeeping, going to the movie store and spending my day in my apt! Sounds like a plan of action right?

The welcome party was so much fun. Its definitely true what they say about Japanese folks easing up with they start drinking. My prinicipal was just as talkative as I've ever seen him. I said my speech in Japanese and this time I had it memorized. They were so I'm pressed and so surprised that I had remember it. I was very happy about the way things worked out. We had dinner at this Chinese restaurant that served about 6 or 7 courses including dessert. One course I had to pass up because it was pork but the rest were quite delicious. They told me that they are glad I'm getting used to living and working in Japan. They told me that I understand more than any of the other ALT's they've had. I asked the Vice Principal if I can work out with the students as they prepare for the 11K run around Lake Mototsu in November. He was really excited about that and I'll be going to PE with them when the work out. Hopefully this will help get me in shape for this soccer game in a few weeks. The principal keep making me eat and drink, eat and drink. I had to slow down during the last hour and only drink tea! I know that because everyone was drinking folks were a lot more energetic than they usually are at school but I enjoyed the loose side of my co-workers. After work we carpooled to the restaurant from school and then everyone goes back to their cars and drives home. The principal was so drunk he brought his blanket and spent the night at the Junior High! Off to bed because I have to be up bright and early for Shoji Elementary school festival.

My Speech: Kyo watashino tameni konoyouna subarashikaiwo arigatougozaimasu. (Today, thank you for my wonderful party) Watashiwa, kamiku chugako no minasanto deaite totemo ureshidesu desu. (I really enjoy working with everyone at Kamiku Junior High, you are all very friendly) Watashiwa mada nihonni wakaranaikoto ga takusan arimasu. (There are still many things about Japan I do not know) Minasanto nakayouku nareruyouni iishokenme ganbarimasunode douzoyoroshiku oneigaishimasu. (If there are somethings I do wrong will you please help me. I would really appreciate it.) Arigato gozaimashita (Thanks a lot)

Why am I stupid? And why is the Math teacher two desks away from me in the teacher's room SLEEP. I'm stupid because I just took a picture of him and made all the teachers included the VP look over here at him. The thing is we all did the quiet laugh and as I type, he is still sitting with his face in his hands elbows on the desk looking like he is reading something on the computer screen in front of him, but we ALL know that this man is sleep. I can't contain myself so I need to leave the teachers room if he begins to snore!

This morning the 9th grade homeroom teacher asked me if I wanted to go out in the woods and look for mushrooms with the class. So of course me and my happy go lucky try anything once behind said yes and now have scar wounds to prove my adventure was a success. There are woods that totally surround my school and they even had a professional mushroom picker (don't laugh, he gets much respect around this place) to come out here and hunt mushroom with the students. My group wanted to go off in the woods and walk around on some slippery rocks. Most of what we were walking on was covered by moss and while I'm looking after the students saying "Kyosukette" (be careful) I slip on one. Now, trying to avoid completely busting my behind I stick out my hand to break the fall and my hand lands on a sharp porous lava rock. My school is located close enough to Fuji that debris and rock from old lava flows are all around the wooded areas there and this rock cut the shit out of my hand! I have a huge gash just below my thumb joint, another deep wound about an 8 cm below it and the opposite side of my hand blow my pinky is scarred as well. At first I was like "Daijobu" (I'm alright) but the more I tried to keep going the more it began to bleed and the students insisted that I go back and see the school nurse. I felt so bad because they had to trek back out of the woods to take me and then go back out to finish their science experiment.

One of the students got bitten by a snake yesterday and the nurse bandaged his hand up just like my is now bandaged. I told all the teachers to tell people I got bitten by a snake too. I didn't want them to know I fell. So when the students came in and saw my hand and asked what happened I said I got bitten by a snake. Now, the students who were with me were like "Really? You did?". They were feeling bad because they thought I feel and got bitten. So then I said "American Joke, American Joke" like they say to me whenever they make jokes. I guess you had to be there for this one.

Tomorrow I have to go to a school festival at Shoji Elementary school. Now I have this bandage on and the last thing I want is every person coming up to me asking me what happened and of course I can't explain it in Japanese. Maybe it will be cold and I can keep my hand in my hoody pocket. Speaking of hoody--I'll be so glad when my mom can send the rest of my clothes because all I have in the way of long sleeve clothing is one t-shirt, a hoody, and this ARMY zip-up. I mean, I have dress clothes, but those are my school clothes not everyday hang around long sleeve stuff. It gets pretty cold i my apt too so when Tray sends me that chenille blanket I've been dying to have for the last 2.5 years I'll be even happier.

Last night I braided my hair. I got tired of it being out of control so I took action against the madness. It actually came out without many crooked parts but I want you to know that when I walked in this office this morning you could have heard a pen drop. Then came the touching. They wanted to see, they wanted to look, they wanted to know who did it and how long it took. It was so funny. I tried to make as little eye contact as possible because they were starring me down and it was making me just a little bit uncomfortalbe. Then of course I had 2 classes today and they only commented on it for a little while. One of my 3rd grade (9th in the US) students said "Your head is GREAT!" If only he knew what he was saying! Anyway, they are going to have to get used to it being different and I'm going to have to get used to it being commented on because they are going to keep doing it. Its okay though, they have to learn somewhere and with someone right?

"If not me, then who? If not now then when?"

Debt is not a good thing, but day after day I am slowing coming out of it. I stayed up until 12:42am to call one of the credit card companies I owe to find out the best news I've heard in a while. The are going to reduce the over $1000 I owe them to $421.06!!! You can't beat that! I'm so siked. And the best thing is that I can finally answer their offer with a YES! Oh wow, I can't say how many times how blessed I really am.

In the last week 3 people have told me they are coming out here to visit but I still am waiting to see them make reservations. I really do want to see folks and I hope they can come but for now its only wishful thinking. My friend E (I know, people call me it and its wierd to call someone else that--i digress) is having "Japanese Indirectness Issues". This is what I am going to call it from now on...JI squared. She teaches an adult conversation class which she wasn't told about before she started but never complained about teaching. Well after 4 weeks of the class one of the students brings a textbook and after class a group of people swarm around him and start talking about how the last years ALT used a book. So she's like, what's the big deal. And they are all talking in Japanese to each and all huddled up. One comes out of the group and says "Johanna used a book. Maybe E can use a book" She looked at them at this point like they'd lost their minds. Before she even started the class she asked them WHAT they wanted her to do. They said only talk to them about American and about current events. ONLY talking. No workbook or anything else. Then, and here is the kicker for E, she said they asked her to buy the book. Oh, do you know the look on her face at that point. She was heated. She said that she might end up quitting the class because she can't understand why such a big deal has to be made about nothing. And it took a group meeting for them to say, Johanna used the book could you teach us some vocabulary. Needless to say she is pissed. This is not uncommon among JETs so now I have coined a new term JI squared. Use it wisely.

GREAT news! I'm on the Yamanashi JET women's football (soccer) team!!! Yeah. We have our next (first for me) practice September 28th. I'm excited. I get to go to Nagano and I'll be playing soccer for the World Cup. Its the JET Association World Cup, but its the world cup all the same right? I'm so out of shape, I need to get my behind to a gym quick or I might kill myself out there. I know if my students can wear me down in one lap a bunch of grown (somewhat beastly) women can whip my butt.

(singing) I found a deeeesk! I found a deeeesk! I am currently writing while sitting at the desk in my living room. Yes ma'am that is correct. I am the proud owner of a brand new 4,100yen desk that is small enough to fit in my livingroom w/o any problems and I am not sitting on the floor!!! It seems like I've been looking for weeks and weeks and all the desks I've seen have been floor desks. I'm very excited because I finally found a decently priced one that I like. The desk I really wanted was only 5,000 but to deliver it they wanted 10,000. So all together the damn desk would have been 15,000 and it was used! I could have bought a new one and got it delivered for free for that price. The one I have now I had to put together myself. I messed up one side so I had to "n-word" rig it up, but its cool now. It only wobbles a little! Tired of converting, do it yourself.

Okay so why was I just watching a commerical and they have freakin memory sticks for the cell phones that have cameras on them. Some things are truly more than a luxury. Some things are just plain EXTRA. Its so funny how high tec this country is in some aspects and in others like having ATM machines that will give money to people who aren't their customers, they can't get that together. Go figure! oi imake pasta everynight like I've been doing for the past week. I should really go to the grocery store because I have plenty of cereal just no milk.

I wish I knew what was going on with Japanese TV because their TV dramas are off the hook! These folks are great actors. There

I'll cook, but I really don't like cooking. I like coming home to a prepared meal, but who doesn't. I really need to get this together. Or are about three I watch each night. I'm not sure what channels they come on or the name of them but they are really really good and I can't understand half of what they are saying so I know Japanese people must really get into them. The first is one about some Jr. High Students, another is some young in love people and the other is a Police Drama, but they are all great.

I'm tripping right now. I just check the exchange rates between the US and Japan is killing me! Its good for the US but bad for me! I have to send money to the girl who lived here before me for the stuff she sold me like the TV, furniture, dishes etc. and she is only asking $450 for the stuff which is very generous considering all she left her but it is costing me like 55,000yen. That's a pretty penny here. Japan needs to get this economy thing together. I end up losing money when I send home money because the exchange rates are so bad...

I've got the day off and I'm going to run errands and see if I can find a desk and get some film developed. I found this hair braiding place but the girl wanted 8,000 yen (about 70 bucks) for some cornrows. And she never braided black hair before. And she wasn't even adding any hair. I was like NAH, I was just being lazy. I'll do that shit myself, but if you do need someone to braid in your shop I'm free on the weekends! That's a lot of money I could be making just braiding hair. I'm off to the post office to cry because of the money I'm losing.

Cry, for me...

Ouch! My back hurts...when am I going to stop trying to keep up with these damn kids! The school festival was postponed until today because it rained all morning yesterday. I overslept (that's what I get for going out with Sanae' last night to the Blue Maru) I woke up in a frenzy because I had turned off my alarm and went to sleep!! Anyway, I got to school 10mins before the Opening Ceremony began. I had to find the Kocho Sensei (principal) and display my sorrowful face and many many "Gomenasai's" (sorry's). They said everything was okay "Dai jyobu" but of course you never know what they say behind your back here. Neither here nor there at this point, nothing I can do about being late but try my best not to let it happen again.

The Opening Ceremony was really nice, the students did a small skit. Then each grade did a 30min play. The each grade sang a song they'd been working on forever. Then the brass band played. By this time we had lunch. After lunch we went outside for the sports part of the day. In comes the aching back. . .there are 4 teams in this tug 'o war competition and two of them needed help because they didn't have enough people on their team. So I was volunteered to be the "sub". I didn't realize it at the time but the students were so much shorter than me and it would kill my back so much but it did. After that I was again volunteered to sub on the PTA team. (quick side note: why is PTA the same as it is in the US? Its the parent teachers association, WIERD! If the word for parents is different and teachers is sensei why do you call it PTA?) Our "PTA" team ended up winning so I was happy about that. All in all it was a long long day. The students seemed to have had a good time and I think they are very happy that they don't have to worry about anything related to a school festival or practice for it for along time. I'm not sure if they are going to like that or not, but that's not my concern really. I'm also hoping to get on some kind of regular schedule with them. Now that they don't have an interrupted or abbreviated school schedule maybe we can all find a routine.

Since it rained yesterday I went to get a video rental card but I couldn't because I have to take a Japanese person with me in order to get the freakin' card. Two different video stores said the same thing and gave me a form that I need to bring back with a Japanese person's signature and address so that I don't steal the movies or anything. Sometimes I think Japanese folks are pressed about the wrong things, like me having to have a cosinger for a stupid video rental card! Well since they wouldn't let me rent I went to this place called "Book Off" where they selled a million used books and a bunch of old American/English speaking movies and CDs. Why did I go in there and buy 10 Cds?! Well, because they were only 350yen (about $2.95) each! I got 2 SWV CDs, an early Mariah Carey CD, Janet Jackson's Velvet Rope, 3 Prince CDs including Diamonds and Pearls, 2 Whitney Houston's Preacher's Wife Soundtrak and a greatest hits album , Jamiroquai's Travel Without Moving, and an old Vanessa Williams compilation called Love Songs. I know that all of these are extremely ancient history albums but I like them. I'm making them into tapes tomorrow so I can listen to them while I'm driving. I also bought 3 movies all for 500 yen a piece. I got: Jerry McGuire, Something to talk about, and The Hurricane. Good movies!!! Yeah!!

I enjoyed myself today and I also enjoyed seeing my Elementary school kids at the JH festival as well. Although they will be taking up a good portion of my life next weekend, I'm looking forward to seeing them. They always seem so happy to see and hear from me. I'm about to be dead to the world. I plan to sleep most of the day tomorrow. Wash some clothes in the mix, and do a little planning for my Elementary school lessons up to December. I just need to have a game plan and some worksheets as a back up at all times!!!

"Oyasumi!"

Today I had 4 English classes to teach. My most thus far. I had two this morning at the JH and two at Kamiku Elementary school. I'm ready for our school festival to get here. I just found out today from Watanabe-san (supervisor) that I have two more school festivals to go to next weekend. One at Kamiku Elementary the other at Shoji (my favorite school). After this I'm done with my festival going for a while. The days I have to work on the weekend I get off at some other point during the month so that's good news. I want to go to Okinawa to visit Vanessa and Karo at the military base so I plan to use those days to take off early on a Thursday afternoon and have a long weekend down in the Tropics with them.

The Vice Principal informed me today that the weather is supposed to be bad on Saturday and if it is the school festival will be postponed until Sunday and if it rains then until Monday...so I am praying the weather will hold up. I'm going to fry some chicken and watch a movie tonight -The Mexican-since I have to be up at the buttttt-crack of dawn for this school festival I'm not going to go out.

"I'm calling a TIMEOUT!"

Wow! Never would have expected it but I had such a great time at my birthday dinner/drinks last night. Sanae told me that someone else's birthday was around the same time but I didn't realize it was the SAME day! And she turned 23 too! And she's from the US! But the similarities end there. She is from Iowa, here on a study abroad type program. Just got engaged Saturday to her long time (white) boyfriend. She speaks Japanese damn near fluently and I think one of her parents is Japanese. Looking at her you'd never know, but she is. She just looks like a chinky eyed black person to me--what do they call that Blackanese? Anyway, I digress...so it was big fun. Sanae's boyfriend KC came there. They bought Aki and I tequila shots and started humming the song "Ba, bada bada ba ba, ba bada bada ba.... TEQUILA" It was funny. I had a great huge hamburger and fries and this delicious drink called Churopikaru Dorimu (Tropical Dream). The owner/bartender is a foreigner and boy could he make drinks!!! I had THREE!!! While I was there I talked with Kimiko and Mike, two of the folks that went to Ojiro-waterfall with us. They both do Capeora (i can't spell sorry) on Monday and Thursday at the Kose Sports park. I think next Thursday I'm going to go and check them out. He said its very martial artsy, but kinda rhythmic and fun. The teacher is Hawaiian so some instructions are in basic Japanese and in English! Anything in English, you can sign my name on the dotted line!!! Anyway, this sports park also has a full gym that you don't need a membership to come to just pay 300 yen each time you want to come, which is quite a good deal!! I figure that after what happened at school yesterday I need some type of physical exercise in my life...(pause from Bday party story to tell about the ass-whoopin' I recieved)

So, my JH school sports festival is on Saturday and the students practice everyday. Well yesterday they needed me to stay after and help them out with a little practicing. So I do and I'm with the C team. Well they practiced all their events and then when it was time for the last event which is the relay race, the PE teacher comes up to me, note: she doesn't speak but a few words in English...."please Eboni to run together" and points to her and then to me. So I say "Sure!" I'm thinking the teachers have a team and she wants me to run on the team with the teachers. So then the students tell me to come on the other side of the field with them. So I do, and then I ask, "Is Ichinose sensei (the PE teacher) running?" They all shake their heads no. Then I ask "well is Harada sensei (my English teacher) running." Same response. So I say, "Are any other teachers running?" They all say no. So I'm like, Damn! They got me running against the students. I later find out that one of the students is absent and that I'm only subbing for her today so that is a breath of fresh air but I still have this lap in front of me. So of course by the time its my turn to run my team is in last place and I have to try to catch up. I like to killed myself! I thought my lung was going to collapse I was breathing so hard! I'm glad that was the last event because after that I went into the Ladies room and had to sit my 23 year old behind on the floor! I couldn't help but laugh as a drug myself to the car. I was glad the students were on the bus on their way home by the time I came out of the bathroom. I was thinking..."I don't want (them) to see me like dis no more" (what movie is that from?)

Back to my birthday. So dinner was great. Sanae and her friend Junko want to take me shopping in Tokyo at the end of the month so that should be great. She is learning how much I love shoes and love to shop. She had on the cutest pink and white pumas too! My kinda girl!!! So I have another really cool Japanese friend. But i think Sanae and I will hang out more than Mizuki and I have.

Birthday Cards: From Grandma. From Rhonda. From Katie. From Kiron. From Meredith. From Sheila. From MOM.

So far away and still I feel so loved. That's what I wanted my birthday to be about. Those who didn't send e-cards or letters called or emailed. Or Instant Messaged me like my neos, Reggie and Sakhu.

Who ever said you as old as you feel...LIED!!!! Those kids whooped my ass!

Well today is the day! I've recieved a few birthday emails (a bunch from my mom) from friends and family. I got one very special latenight call (gotta luv 'em) when it had just turned midnight and I was already in bed but I'd wake up a million times over to hear that voice. My friend Sanae (japanese girl) who I'm going out with tonight send me a message on my cell phone with this \(^0^)/ character in the phone. It looks a little different on a Japanese phone, like the thing is shouting so I thought that was funny and cute. I must be about to enter my special phase of the moon because I've been so freakin' mood and everything is on my nerves! (or maybe I'm like that usually and the only time I can really come to grips with it is when I can blame it on the motion of moon) Erica told me that I can't come to Gunma with this kind of attitude so I need an attitude adjustment right quick. "Attitude check...Praise the Lord!" My sunday school teacher Mrs. A used to make us do that every Sunday and even sometimes when it wasn't Sunday to make is get our attitude in order and its funny how today it still works!

At any rate...I'm 23. Nijyu-San Sai desu. All though my loving aunt just sent me an email about all the things I can't do : "How are you on the blessed occasion. 22 year ago you were brought into this world. Now look at you. . . . . your head is too big for your shoulders, you have 100's of shoes with a limited number of places to go, you can’t get a touch-up and . . . . . . . you are in Japan!" You just gotta love family huh?

Its 6:45am and I'm off to a good start. Feeling love by the people who mean the most to me and that's what this birthday things is about right. So I'm going to go to the middle school today and to the junior high. Have a good day, go out with Sanae and friends tonight (did I mention she has a Black boyfriend from Kentucky who is in grad school here?) have a few drinks and have a good time. I'm going to call Hazel and Terry and let them know where we are going to be. Okay, so head up, spirits high, I'm eating breakfast and I'm going out to face the world of little Japanese children! Ganbate!!

"I woke up this morning the sunshine was shining and put on a happy face!" by the way Jenn where is my CD?

Last night I had my first Japanese lesson. Muramatsu sensei is going to be tough but she is going to get me speaking Japanese. I told her that I was on a intermediate listening level but a very basic speaking level.During our lesson she evaluated my speaking, listening and writing skills by worksheets, reading from the textbook and talking with me. She has her own classroom with desks, a copy machine and a chalkboard. I really felt like I was in a class which is what I needed to get me focused on learning again. I've been out of school for almost a year now and this is definitely different but I will enjoy it. I just so intimidated to speak just like my students do with me, so I totally know how they are feeling. I told her that I was really glad she is going to be my teacher and that I think I'm going to learn a lot with her because of how she teaches. Two of her daughters speak English very well and they are nice too I'm glad to have another English speaking "friend" so that if I need anything I don't really have to depend on Harada sensei (the Japanese English teacher I work with). She was very impressed but told me that I had a lot in my head that she wanted to help bring out of me. We are going to meet each week for 2 hours and I only have to pay her 1000 yen, which is like 8 bucks in the US. She is a volunteer with the International Center in Kofu and that is the deal that they have worked out with all their volunteers. I'd heard some bad things about going through them because sometimes the volunteers aren't trained teachers and they are sometimes more excited about talking with foreigners than they are actually teaching, but Muramatsu sensei seems to be very trained and had a variety of textbooks that she wanted to choose from depending on my ability so, I'm excited! Yeah!!!!

Like everyday in my life in Japan and with every good thing comes a not so good thing. So, I'm trying to get out of sensei's driveway but it is a one lane road and her driveway is also very narrow. When I got here I was following her so I pulled and and she guided me in as I tried to park. On the way out, she said goodbye to me from the door and I was left to fend for myself...I was probably out there backing in and pulling out for about 5 mins (which seems like an eternity when you are performing a task that should take seconds) when she came out to guide me out. I wanted her to just get in and back me the hell out of there but that wasn't happening. I guess she didn't want to be liable if anything happened but my frustration level was steadily rising..at one point I was stuck between the concrete gate of her driveway, and the gate that blocks the other side of the street with my car blocking traffic in both directions. These streets are just so extremely narrow! Nonetheless, I have a slavedriving, but good teacher. I have homework already on the first lesson, but I'm glad to be back studying.

I'm learning and lovin' life.

Yesterday was the school festival at Toyoshige Elementary School. It began around 9am, I got there about 10. The students had a sports day where you split up the 1st -6th graders (all the students) into two teams. The red team and the white team. The compete in sports events like tug of war, and basket toss and the neat thing is that the parents participate with them. Its like a mother/father basket toss. There is another where they race to get things like a scavenger hunt with their parents. The have games that the older men and women in the village compete in as well like bowling and croquet (i think that's what its called). The students also have a marching band which was really very good. I saw a lot of my junior high school students there as well. I had a good time and ate an obento lunch with the teachers in the teachers' room. I left there around 1:30pm and came home to prepare for my camping adventure.

I went to Lake Shiriberiko (something like that) in this town called Ichikawadaimon. It was rainy all day yesterday and I once again really didn't want to go. I did however because I'd already reserved my spot and thought that it would be fun to meet some of the older JETs and members of YETI (yamanashi english teachers inc) that I had not yet met. The drive up the mountain was steep, rainy and very winding so I was very pleased when I finally reached the top. Then once I got there the cabin we were staying in was on the opposite side of the lake entrance so I had to carry my things a pretty far way. Since it was raining, I left my futon and swim gear in the car. But low and behold when I got to the other side there were people in the water while its raining swimming. All I can say is to each his own. Then there were people who just drink all damn day. It gets quite old and people didn't really seem to get sick. I just don't feel comfortable with any of them enough to be pissy drunk. I've only been drinking beer since I've been here which is also rough on my stomach. At home, a few coronas every now and then is cool, but this Asahi beer is not as light. Nor does it get you tipsy as fast so I just don't like drinking here that much. Not to mention the British girls I've met can drink just about every American girl I know under the table so I don't bother to get into the contests. I like being around other English speakers and there are always some young Japanese people that hang out with YETI too which is also very cool, I'm just not into the drink until you pass the hell out thing.

I finally met Peter or "Junior" as they all call him. He went to UNC came in the year before me. Of course we never knew each other but it is good to connect on some of the UNC stuff and people we both know about. He was in Chi Psi his freshman and sophomore years so he knew a lot of the UNC Student Body Presidents and friends so that was very cool. There was a UNC sweatshirt hanging up in the cabin and it was so funny because we both thought it was each other's but it ended up being some girl from New Zealand's who I later found out only bought the sweater because it was blue and had no idea what or where UNC was!! Too wierd.

There was a lovely bon fire and some Brazilian guys who were camping across the lake from us came over and brought a stereo and some music to party too so that was kinda wild. Two guys went swimming naked and then maybe 6 other people went swimming with them but they all had on suits. This all was going on around 11pm so of course the lake was pitch black. There was a toilet out there but I refused to go because it was literally an outhouse type thing with a hole in the ground. It had the appearance of a porcelin hole and the smell was atrocious! I had to go in the woods and would much rather than to vomit from the sheer smell alone.

I wore my grey ARMY t-shirt and ARMY hoodie that G gave me so everyone kept asking me if I was in the freakin' ARMY. One guy even told him that I was intimidating him because the letters were so big and bold...my response...get some balls man, its just a f'...in jacket. The wildest things tend to bother folks. Oh, and I met the editor of the YETI newsletter called the NASH. She told me that the needed writers and asked if I'd write an opinion column. I have PLENTY of opinions so why not put them to some good use? I'm not sure what my column will be about this time though, but I'm sure it will come to me. I told her the only way I'd write is if she could promise me fortune and fame and she did so I said I'd do it. I think it will be fun.

This morning at 5am, my cell phone alarm begins going off in a cabin of about 40 people all laid out across this huge tatami matted floor and I had to tip toe across them to find the damn phone in the bottom of my purse. I was sorry to wake folks up but most of them had been drinking heavily so it didn't phase them much. I couldn't go back to sleep after that so I laid there for a while and all the random snoring started to get to me so I got up and went outside where some other early birds had already gone. They cooked some bacon that they'd found left from the day before and had eaten it by the time I got out there. I couldn't believe they cooked any meat that had sat out all night and pork of all meats...but that's their guts not mine! I helped them clean up the yard and we of course in japanese style had to separate the garbage by burnables, cans, bottles, and plastic. We started crushing the beer cans to make room for more in the bag and once we started doing that we basically woke up the rest of the camp site. I think some people got pissed, but I didn't think you were supposed to sleep until noon when you were camping anyway right?

Overall review: It didn't really feel like camping, met some cool people including a fellow tarheel, have a new hobby and direction for my writing, don't plan to attend anymore YETI events if I don't really want to go, confirmation received that I'm not in Kansas anymore. . .Off to shower, then to lake Shoji. My JH students are canoeing today, then I have my Japanese lesson in Kofu.

Never subject yourself to listening to Bob Marley's "Redemption song" sung by a half drunk acoustic guitar player from the US-Midwest. Its not worth your time and will probably piss you off for disrespecting Bob like that.

My mom is so funny. She sent me 4 email b-day cards yesterday..all of which are very very sweet. First, Second, Third, Fourth. She usually doesn't forget my birthday. This year I think she is starting out early. I was telling a friend of mine tonight that since my 17th bday I can't remember one that wasn't really fun or spent with folks I really care about or had tons of fun with. I'm not talking about it in a bad way, just an introspective way. Today she sent me this one. Its really thoughtful of her and very sweet so I'm glad she remembers.

One thing I'm realizing more and more is the simplicity of little things. I've realized the value of them for quite some time now but as time goes on I value them more. Like a strong thick absorbant towel or the sun setting around 7:30 or 8pm in the summer time or seeing things written in AM/PM time instead of 24 hour or military time. Little things like washing dishes in a sink that is a least waist high so your back doesn't hurt when you are done washing, things like living room chairs with legs, not just seats and backs, things like having your toilet sink and shower all in the same room, things like turning on the tv and understanding what folks are saying even if its nothing you want to watch, things like driving on the left hand side of the road, and directional/highway signs that are green not blue. Small things like stop signs that are shaped like octagons not triangles, things like shopping for shoes and actually being able to buy some in a store, things like looking around and seeing people who look like you even if there is only one or two others in a sea of thousands. . .the smiles you exchange are worth a million bucks. Now these are not complaints, just little things, observations if you will. Adaptions that I'm making mentally and adding more and more to the list daily, which is okay because for one thing I add there is usually something else I know I can do without. Things I thought I could not live w/o that have virtually no use to me here, like a million pairs of jeans when I go to work and home every day and on the weekends, I wear that one comfortable pair that I usually wore on weekends at home...

Value the little things.

So tonight I go to Michelle's for girl's night and movie watching. Everything was cool we had tons of snacks like last week and MIchelle fixed these delicious tacos! After dinner we sat talked and digested each other's last week of activities. I was telling them how I've canceled my school lunch because just about everyday there is something I can't eat because it has pork in it. I was also saying how I don't really like the fact that I'll be bringing my own lunch because that is more work on me in the mornings to make sure I don't forget it and that I have a healthy lunch planned, etc. I go on to say how even more frustrating it is because I can't just bring a sandwich unless its peanut butter and jelly because the only sandwich meat that have here is ham. So then I hear about three people say at once, "Or a cheese sandwich". I thought I was going to lose my dinner for laughing so hard. Keep in mind that the only other person of color is Michelle who is Mexican. The other 4 girls are white. I didn't really realize that white folks actually ate cheese sandwiches. I thought that was just a joke Bernie Mack tells and other comedians. These girls could not figure out why I couldn't stop laughing. So I had to give them the Bernie Mack joke about how Black folks, when we go on break, that's just what we do, WE BREAK. We go shopping, get our hair done, check out a movie sometimes...and white folks take about at 15min break to eat their cheese sandwiches and go back to work. They started laughing a little bit too. I also had to tell them, that unless a Black person tells you that they are a vegetarian...don't give them no sandwich with meat! I am laughing just thinking about that mess! Those girls are funny. I seem to learn something new about them each time we hang out. I think we are forming a Friday dinner and a movie crew. Which works for me, I just like being able to come back to my own bed and sleep. Cheese sandwiches. I never would have thought...

What a week this has been. I'm so glad its Friday! I feel like I've been running on E for about two days now and it doesn't look like I"ll get much rest this weekend either. Last weekend was cool. I ended up having a better time than I thought at the little girls sleepover thing. We watched Bridget Jones Diary which by the way is a great movie. We talked a lot and I got to know some of the new and old ALTs better so I'm glad I went. The next morning two of the girls went out to McDonald's (my FAV!) and got breakfast. After half the girls left a few of us lazied around the apt and finally started moving around 12. We took showers and decided to go to a BBQ that another JET in the prefecture was having. I guess we ended up getting there around 3ish. It was cool too. The only thing that I think is kinda weird is how clique-ish the British folks can be sometimes. Its almost like Japanese folks, where they are cool, but it takes them a while to get comfortable around you...that is how they are too. They stick in groups of other British people, but when they like you than all is well. Its weird because I have to work hard enough to get Japanese folks to loosen up around me that I don't like to feel like that around other foreigners/English speakers.

So after the BBQ I went to a fireworks display and festival in a nearby town called Ichikawadaimon. The fireworks were sporadic. Like one display every five minutes. This went on for about 2 hours. Which started of course to piss me off because the lady on the loud speaker would say in this high as nasally voice "Arigatogozaimasu, Orimasu" --which means like "Thanks, We're Done" Then five minutes later, another short display...WEIRD!

Some folks from the BBQ Saturday talked me into going to this waterfall on Sunday. We left Kofu at 9:30 which means I had to get up at like 8:00am on Sunday. NOT HAPPY. But the waterfall was worth it. We had to hike up to the waterfall, which I didn't know in advance. I thought we were just going to the waterfall and it wasn't far or a long way away. WRONG! I was soooo tired on the way up and the guy who was leading the group of about 12 or 13...maybe 13...yeah 13...well he was a BEAST!!! He was takin' us way too fast. I had to sit down on the way up for real. The group was dying too but no one really wanted to be the ONE that makes the group stop. I felt bad about it and prayed for strength and endurance the entire way up, but I just couldn't keep going. Once we got to the top there were 3 beautiful cascading waterfalls. It was gorgeous. The middle fall was the one we played on the most. It had a natural slide on it. The water is coming so fast and hard that you just sit and it pushes you down. The first time I did it, I was very very scared but after the initial fear it was just like going down a waterslide only you are sliding on rocks! The water is very cold and very unkind. Its not the kind of place you go if you can't swim and even if you can...you have to be alert because its is really moving fast. I almost lost my shoe. I got one of the girls who was with me to take pictures of me going down the second time and some at the actual top. I can't wait until we get those back.

So going to work this work to say the least was tiring because I had not gotten any rest at all this weekend. I don't think one thing in particular wore me out specifically other than that fact that I'm having some attitude/communication issues with the English teacher I work with. I think most of it is cultural but there are something that are certainly not just different cultures. By the end of the week it had gotten much better which makes me lean more towards adjusting. I hope things continue to improve...she has a boyfriend or some overnight caller so maybe that'll loosen her up!

Tonight I've been invited to another live it up girl's night but I can't do that two weeks in a row, plus I'm tired. This girl from Mexico I met is really cool and she is having it at her house which we call the Temple. # 1 because its big as hell! # 2 because it is actually the annex to a temple. Her place is HUGE!!! She has a whole two tatami rooms that she doesn't really use! Its good to have extra space, but they could have better allocated that space. Maybe by placing a couple there, or someone with kids? I don't know. She seems to really like it though. So anyway, I'm going to go to the Temple tonight for dinner but I'm not going to stay. I told Michelle that yesterday.

There is also a camping trip with the Teachers Org -YETI - on Saturday that I plan to go to. I have to go to a sports festival at one of my Elementary schools, Toyoshige, 9am in the morning on Saturday so after I leave there I will go to the lake where the camping will be. Then Sunday at 5:30pm I will begin my first Japanese lesson. The lady from the volunteer center finally called me back and I am matched up with a woman named Natsuko. She has two daughters who are both in college I think. They go somewhere close to home though because they come home on the weekends and will be there Sunday evening when I go to her house. I hope that this works out well. Both of her daughters have been to the States. Each stayed for a year and learned English. Natsuko told me that she wants to help foreigners learn Japanese because people were so nice to her daughters and she will return the favor. I have to pay her like 500yen an hour and our lessons are 2 hours long. That is very cheap for language lessons but sometimes the volunteers want to talk to you more in English than they do in Japanese which isn't good. They told us this at the International Center, but they also said that its worth a try.

What a weekend I have planned for myself and still I feel like I'm kinda going through the motions. I don't really feel like these are things I'm excited about doing but that may be because I'm just tired right now and also because I'm going to be with a bunch of strangers on my b-day....i think my feelings have to do with pre-Birthday anxiety or maybe not anxiety maybe just "Pre-Birthday, first time spending it away from folks I love, you're really in Japan E Blues" (Smile) I can't help but laugh at some of the stupid things that pass through this brain of mine.

23 huh...and they say the best is yet to come....well i'm eagerly awaiting it!