One Fish Two Fish....Old Pic, New Pic

Ok, so I just got some picks from my work. So I thought I'd share them with you!!!
One of the first weeks at the office. My hair was so long!



Playing some lil game....just for the camera!



Photo for a Halloween/Fall ad...


Halloween!!!!



She was showing us a preview of her outfit, that's why we're not dressed up!


My youngest and favorite students...Maho and Mahiro! They're 2 and a half!



For a Christmas ad.....


Ok, well thats all for now.

Dream Come True...

So last night I was bored and filled out a little survey and posted a bulletin on another page of mine. I think it was the 2nd question that said...if you could drink anything right now, what would it be? Well of course I said Dr. Pepper! So..... tonight my wonderful friend and co-worker Dave said he had a present for me before Japanese class. yes yes my friends, it was an ice cold, tasty Dr. Pepper! mmm mmm good! Just what I needed before Japanese class!

Then after class i went out with Kengo for some delicious yaki niku!
Tomorrow, it's back to work! Too bad. Oh well, I work Tuesday, have Wednesday off, then only 3 days to go! haha! I can't wait to come home. I believe I'm down to 32 days now! Yesssa!

Rian...

In this picture, I'm thinking of how cute you are! I can't wait to see you for Christmas!! Give Grammy a hug and kiss for me!
I MISS YOU!!!
I LOVE YOU!!!

My first Gookon and Onsen...

Saturday night after work I hurried home to change for my first Gookon. What is gookon you ask?! Well let me tell you... it's a group date where no one knows eachother. One person knows everyone, but the rest don't! Haha. It wasn't a real gookon I guess...so my friend Takako said but I think it was. Anyway, we went out to eat a restaurant where I had nabe. So yummy! Like a soup or stew kinda. Then we went for Karaoke of course! haha. After we were don there, we finished with some tasty ramen! Oishi!
Here are the karaoke pics...






Tonight...Sunday. I went to an onsen with my friend and student Ruriko. It was different than anything I've done but very relaxing! An onsen is a hot spring/spa. Basically a bunch of naked women sit around in huge hot tubs. But there is no chlorine and it's way better than a hot tub. They have different temperatured spas, some with jets, some freezing cold! Yes, after being in almost 50 degree celsius water, i got in a 19 degree celsius tub. Fu-reezing! But apparently it's good for the skin because it causes re-growth of the skin. So it keeps you beautiful! It wasn't as awkward as I had expected and now, I am completely relaxed and warm. I want to go every day after work. Tomorrow, I'm going to Kokura to do some shopping and hopefully visit a travel agent so I can buy my plane ticket home! Whoo hoo 1 month and 1 week for anyone who's counting! :)

Follow Up Training...Okayama

So last week I went for 2 days of follow up training in Okayama. It takes almost 2 hours by shinkansen...the fast "bullet" train. Training itself was a lil boring at times, but I got to see some friends I haven't seen since I first got to Japan. After training the first day, Joy and I met up with our friend Yoshie to go to our favorite restaurant for some okonomiyaki!

Yum yum yum! This is by far my favorite restaurant for okonomiyaki.


After that we met up with the rest of the foreign teachers for some bowling and beer...

Cutest lil girl was playing with bumpers and would swing her arm around after...like "yes!!!!:

Everyone was amazed at my bowling skills...even tho i didnt think they were that great. But it was fun!


Joy and I at the bar...



So then I had another day of training and back to Shimonoseki.
On the last train home... I took a picture of where the hard working Japanese get their sleep...

The 4 women on the left are all asleep...as is half the train. This is also common on the bus!

Miyo's going away...

So my assistant manager Miyo's last day was Friday :( sad sad. So Saturday night we went out to celebrate! Lot's of good times. Started at a restaurant with food, stories and drinks!
Me, Tomoe, Miyo, Setsuko and Dave after dinner:


We then proceeded to Ice Bar Jr. One of my students' dad owns it and he just recently said we haven't been there in a while, so we had to make an appearance. Dave and I haven't been there in about a month. The bartenders Kengo and Yuki:

both said my looks have matured. Sad day :( I'm getting old.
Dave and I sang a lil Karaoke:

And Miyo, Tomoe and Setsuko:


We had a fun night!!! :)

Tuesday I am going to Okayama for 2 days of training. One full day of kids training and one for adults. I have a busy month ahead of me, but I'm excited because it will make time go by quickly. I have a trip to an onsen and possibly Korea and a night in Fukuoka!!! The faster I can get home for Christmas the better!!!

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!!!