NEW JOB!

I just got a new job as an administrative assistant for Volt Services. I'll be working mainly on my own, doing reports, answering questions and other little things. I'm really excited cause I'll be close to home, making more money, doing stuff I love and that will help me advance in my career. I start the 24th, the week my mom and Rian will be here. But I'll be off by 3:30pm every day to go have fun with them. Yay!

Little Things...

Life's easy when you're a princess!
Rian is 3!!!


What a lil gymnast!


I was bored...


I have an interview this week for a new job! I'd be working by myself mostly, which would be great! And, I'd be making almost double what I am now doing stuff I enjoy! Yay, wish me luck!

SOME OF THE REASONS I SMILE

This was a Christmas gift from My brothers, Rian and I. Just thought I'd share it with you!



It's a picture of a picture, so it's a little blurry, sorry.

Dog Beach

This is an overhead picture of the beach just down the street from my house. It's called Dog Beach. I often walk out on the little jetty and sit on the rocks and watch the waves and surfers. Last Sunday there were little crabs climbing up the rocks too. So peaceful. I love it!

So it's been a while...

I've been missing in action. Not just from the blogging world, but from the world in general. I am now back in the U.S. living in sunny San Deigo. I actually live in Ocean Beach, just 10 blocks from the beach.



Me and Amy

Playing in the water at night:




Other than that, nothing really is new. I've been applying to places and interviewing multiple times a week. I now have 2 job offers and will probably be working for Starbucks! Yum!

Thats all for now. Write me an email to say hi! :)

Happy Holidays

I feel like I've neglected my blog posting lately. I've been very busy and haven't been on the computer much. So, a little update. I'll be in WA at 9am on December 23rd and staying until January 4th. I can't wait to come home!!!
A few weeks ago we had a holiday. I went to a mini-Pusan festival. Pusan is a city in Korea. I went with Dave and his girlfriend Miho. We ended up running into a friend from our Japanese class so we walked around, ate good food and watched some Korean dancers and Karate. It was freezing but fun!
I saw my first movie in Japan! Elizabethtown. It was great, I love that movie. When you buy your ticket for the movie, you choose your seat. So, your ticket has a seat number on it and you sit in that assigned seat. The chairs were big and comfy, with lot's of space for leg room. It was great. Luckily I went on Women's day so it was only about $10. Otherwise, it is normally about $18. The movie was in English with Japanese subtitles.
Last weekend was pretty eventful. I went to a co-workers house for dinner and watched Queen and Bon Jovi in concert! It was fun! Then Monday night was my final Japanese class for the year. After class we all went out for some food and drinks and karaoke. All of the Japanese classes went so there was about 30 people. We ended up meeting some Dutch men who work on a ship and were out for the night. For the three days they were in Shimonoseki, this was their only night off the ship. It was fun to see some new foreigners. I learned that the Dutch are very tall!!! All of them were taller than me!!!
This weekend I went out for dinner with some friends in Kokura. Very delicious food. I ate tirimasu for desert and it was placed and presented so beautifully I didn't want to eat it. But it was good! :) I did some shopping with them the next day and went to lunch. It was lot's of fun. I also bought a bicycle this weekend. Finally!!! I joined the gym last week and have been walking for a half hour just to go to the gym. So, a bike will be much appreciated!
It is freezing outside! It seems to keep getting colder. After I bought my bike today, it started snowing as I rode home! The winds are very strong too!
Well, that's all for now. I will write more next weekend. I have a Christmas party and concert to attend!!!
Happy Holidays!!!

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!!!!