HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Happy Halloween to everyone! My halloween is over, but yours is just starting! Unfortunately, I didn't do anything too exciting for Halloween. There don't celebrate it here, so I got my kicks all last week wearing my costume to work. Apparently, we are famous now! Dave went to pick up his dry cleaning and the lady said, you didn't need your suit this week. Dave replied, no I didn't. She said you guys were cute. Who was the Panda??? Now, the woman's shop isn't near where we walked each day, so how she found out about us, i dunno. But we're famous! whoo hoo!

Here are a few more pics from last week:
Sachiko, Rikako and Hinako. Some of my favorite girls!


From a scary movie:
The twins, Shinjiro & Koichiro, Akhito in the mask and Yuhei hiding in the back. Miki sensei and Myself behind everyone


Koichiro


Ooh and an old one, but one of the cutest lil girls:


So I had a good weekend, not celebrating Halloween like all my friends back home!!!
On Saturday I spent the day with my friend Takako and her mom. We went to a museum to view amateur artists' work. Drank some green tea :-P Then went to lunch at a wonderful restaurant in Chofu. They serve Fugu, which is blowfish, shimonoseki's famous for it, for $350 a plate! ya, one plate, sashimi style, which is raw fish for $350! Ouch!!! Needless to say, we didnt have fugu! Ha ha. After, we went to a garden where a fall festival is held next month. All the trees are turning red and orange and its so pretty!

I miss everyone, but I'll be home for Christmas!!! <52 days and counting!!!!

Halloween week...

So this week is my Halloween week. Halloween is on Monday, but that is my day off. Plus, to make it fun for the kids, we celebrate all week. Most kids only come to AEON once a week and they don't celebrate Halloween in Japan, nor do they teach it in their English class at their regular school. So, my job this week is to tell about Halloween, play games and eat candy! Rough, i know! I only have to prep and teach an actual lesson for my adult classes. The adults get a kick out of the costume too!!!!

So, starting on Tuesday, Dave was Elmo and I am a Panda. We dressed in our costumes and rode the bus to work...in costume!


It was hilarious the first day! People didn't know what to do. Some pointed, some laughed, some said 'Kawaii' (it means cute!) and some just stared. I thought they stared before! Ha ha. Some highschool girls who were on a walking bridge above us yelled out 'Panda! Elmo!.' We waved, said hi and enjoy it for the most part. However, having to walk down the street to the store by yourself is a little more scary! Regardless, it's fun and I love how it brings laughter to the community. Everyone is always so serious so it's fun to see them smile but try to hide it! ha ha.
Me and my assistant manager, Miyo

Some of my students who have dressed up...
Princess Sayuki...

Hiroshi and Miyu

Manami and Satsuki in Kimonos


You have to keep in mind that it is very difficult to find costumes in Japan. So most kids parents have to make something, or buy something simple like Minnie Mouse ears. But, regardless they're cute and it's fun!
Me and Crazy Elmo Eyes


These are two of my favorite students. They're 6 & 7 Minami and Daisuke:

A couple of my other favorite students are 2 and a half. I'll post pictures of them in their black cat and spiderman costumes when I can. They're adorable!
I'm only half way through my week and we take at least a dozen pictures every day. So, don't worry, there will be more! ha ha!!!

Like the OG but not even close...

So tonight after work and a stop at the grocery store...
I made chicken alfredo pasta thanks to my wonderful Mom who sent me sauce packets!!!
And it reminded me of how good the Olive Garden is....oooh and breadsticks.
Thank you MOM, I LOVE YOU!!!

Ok, just thought I'd share that all with you...
Next week is HALLOWEEN!!!
Here's my costume I get to wear all week...

Basketball season...

It's October 15th and all around the nation (in AMERICA) thousands of athletes will begin their basketball season today. I can't believe I'm not playing. Basketball has been such a huge part of my life for the past 13 years and now I'm not sure I'll know what to do! Ha ha. Yes, yes i do. I can start focusing on the rest of my life and planning for my future. Which has been on my mind a lot lately since I have been contemplating leaving Japan. But... i think things will work out. Actually, I know things will work out. I'm gonna try and stick it out here and the only thing thats helping me do so is knowing I get to go home at Christmas!!! I'm pretty sure I know what I want to do after Japan. But... I still have quite some time for things to all work out. And, I have faith that God will provide for me what I need and help me get to where I am supposed to be.

Yes Mom, I did take your advice and I did Bible study today...my Sunday. And, I was so thankful that I did because it was very appropriate to my life and reassured me that God has a plan. But...we never know what may happen tomorrow, so to live our lives to the fullest!

See...here's me thinking about stuff on the pier...



I'm wishing I was home...

My Weekend...

Sunday night, Dave and I went to Moji and took pictures with Banana Man:


Monday was a national holiday. So Dave, Miho, Takako and I went to a cosmos festival about a half hour from town. We first ate at a very traditional Japanese restaurant where we ate a famous soba noodle. It was green and served on a hot tile. Very delicious! At the front of the restaurant was a pond full of Koi:


We then walked to the Cosmos festival:




Takako and I:



Beautiful flowers, horse rides and petting zoo for kids and lot’s of food, as well as a flea market!

On the way back to town we stopped in Chofu, which is about 10 minutes from where I live. There are many shrines, including a National Treasure:


More Shrine:


We then went to Chofu Mori Residence, which was the residence of the fourteenth head of the Chofu Mori clan. Today was our lucky day because we got to try on Samurai outfits for free! It normally costs about $10. Here are pictures of us, inside and outside the Residence.








A tiny street, very traditional in Chofu


Another Shrine in Chofu. You must wash your hands before entering the Shrine.






Ok, thats all for now. Like 2.5 months until I can come home for New Years! Yay!

Moji

I dont know why, but there was many things about bananas in Moji. Maybe they grow them there.

Me with Banana Man in Moji:

Moji

Went to Moji today! Which is the town on the other side of the water. So, I walked through the underwater tunnel to the island of Kyushu. This is Shimonoseki at night:

After almost an hour, got to Moji. We ate on this Boat that is in water, but just stays docked.
They often serve beans with their beer. So, I put on my bib and got all ready for Yaki Niku.


Yaki niku is where they bring out a mini-fire pit and you cook your beef and vegetables yourself. Very tasty!!

Tomorrow is a national holiday. It is National Health and Sports Day, to celebrate the first Tokyo Olympics. Kids often have field day at school around this time of year.

More funny signs...

So this is like a hotel or business or something that we saw in Fukuoka.
Seriously, I bet there is some rich American over here making funny signs!!!



Everyone is obsessed with Marijuana plants, but NO ONE uses it! It is a HUGE offense in Japan. But, they even have stores devoted to it:

Just apparel, air freshners, pictures, jewelry and what not. Wierd!

My new ipod!!! In color!!!

Another expensive weekend!

I went shopping and got some new toys! Shopping always makes a girl feel better! I got a new camera and an ipod! Yay! I decided to not get the camera I really wanted so I could get an ipod too. This one is still way nice. Plus the one I wanted was heavier, less practical. I got the Olympus Mini Digital S in pink! It’s so cute and weather resistant! Perfect for those Typhoons! Now that I have some music to listen to, I’m starting running tomorrow!

Those punks that broke into my car and stole my cd’s can keep em, I’m going digital! Ha ha. Just kidding I’d love to have them back if I could. I guess one good thing from my car getting broken into is I got to talk to my mom, steve, rian and my dad! I guess that’s worth it. It makes for one expensive phone call but life goes on.

My new camera!