Rosie in Japan

My Mind Lives In NZ

2007-05-13T21:12:00.000+09:00

Go the Silver Ferns!

I am getting up at 3:30am tomorrow morning to watch them have their first test against England.

I am confident they will bring it!

2007-05-13T20:57:00.000+09:00

Congratulations David Bain!

Wrongly imprisoned for 13 years.

The NZ Justice system got this one really wrong.

I remember buying both Joe Karam's book "David and Goliath" and it's counter argument in "The Mask of Sanity" by James McNeish. It was so obvious to me then, how could the Police get it so wrong?

So I'm really happy all these years later that something has been done. Joe Karam is one of NZ's greats, full credit.

Food Porn

2007-04-15T15:58:00.000+09:00

In honour of the Chris Mack Easter Extravaganza 2007, we postponed Good Friday until this Saturday. I had to get up early to make the dough, but these oishi buns were so worth it. It's my favourite family tradition.

Happy Birthday ME!!!!!!!!

2007-04-08T20:59:00.000+09:00

Thank you Matt for making this gorgeous sakura birthday cake! It was a delicious fudgy chocolate. Celebrating with friends with camping, BBQ and party was awesome! 28 is going to rock, definitely.

Camping Chaos!

2007-04-08T20:38:00.000+09:00

The thing I love about camping in Ato is the vivid blue skies contrasting with the gorgeous green of the mountains. It is so crisp and clear - a seriously beautiful nature spot. Plus we get to have fun and make as much noise as we like. It was great to see everyone despite the long drives to get there!

Hagi Hanami - Spring Fever

2007-04-04T14:59:00.000+09:00

On Monday night we went down to Hagi Joseki (castle ruins) for our annual hanami. The castle was built under Shizuki-yama, and the park around the ruins is planted with many cherry trees. The blossoms were in full bloom (man kai) and overwhelmingly beautiful. Gather some friends, a BBQ, soccer and gorgeous sakura in the moonlight - a night to remember. It was also a great way to welcome Jo's Mum to Hagi - Yokoso! Roasting the marshmallows was my favourite part. We also got to hang out with some fellow flower-gazers from the tarpaulin down, who turned out to be the pottery maker (and friends) from the Aibagawa waterway near our house.

Emotional Day

2007-03-30T13:21:00.000+09:00

It's been a sad day today. I went to school and we had the final assembly of the school year. It was to farewell the 12 teachers leaving the school.

It was a bit emotional saying final goodbyes. I made some cookies to say thanks to everyone for their work over the years.

More importantly, today is three years since we lost Daniels's Mum. So all in all feeling a bit tender.

Meanwhile, back in NZ...

2007-03-21T10:01:00.002+09:00

I wonder what they are thinking?

Demi: "I could not look cooler in these new pink crocs! My bag totally goes with this outfit, too."

Jodi: "I'm holding on as hard as I can, take the godamn photo Grandma!"

2007-03-21T10:01:00.001+09:00

Mummy and Demi.

2007-03-21T09:59:00.000+09:00

Jodi-chan.

Kencho 2007

2007-03-20T07:57:00.000+09:00

It's our last kencho ever! For us anyway. AJET was handed over, we had our usual afternoon bitch-session, and ZenZen was handed out to an excited throng of groupies. Not to mention the Bobby-initiated lesson plan sharing behind the barrier! Good times, good people.

Selene's Visit

2007-03-16T15:01:00.000+09:00

It was great to have Selene back in Hagi for a night - we had two years of Japan/NZ gossip to catch up on.

We even managed to sneak her into work at the Board of Education without being detected!

As you will see below, we didn't get too much face time with Selene as she was far too busy devouring 10 editions of ZenZen magazine and the 2006 Yearbook to bother talking to us!

2007-03-16T14:59:00.000+09:00

2007-03-16T14:58:00.000+09:00

2007-03-16T14:57:00.000+09:00

2007-03-16T14:56:00.000+09:00

We're over here Selene!

2007-03-16T14:54:00.000+09:00

Bon Voyage, hopefully we'll come and borrow your couch one of these days in London.

xoxo ki o tsukete

Thanks for coming by!

GRADUATION - Omedetou Gozaimashita!

2007-03-16T14:31:00.000+09:00

At my base school, Hagi Nishi Chugakko, we farewelled our third graders and wished them well for the future.

It was sad and I felt really proud of them. I had lots of good memories of working with a few of them for the English Speech Comp. They did really well. Congratulations and Good Luck!

I found these red and white celebration buns on my desk after the ceremony.

Spotted at my local supermarket...

2007-03-09T17:32:00.000+09:00

Enjoy the perfect match of potato and chocolate!

2007-03-09T17:30:00.000+09:00

Honestly, they weren't good. As you sink into the nice milk chocolate, you taste the salt - with a smooth potato finish! I was confused. Ah well, at least the box was in perfect English.

The Chris Mack Quarter Century

2007-03-06T21:40:00.000+09:00

2007-03-06T21:38:00.000+09:00

2007-03-06T21:36:00.000+09:00

O Hina Matsuri - Girl's Festival

2007-03-03T10:15:00.000+09:00

It is hina matsuri on March 3rd - the day we celebrate girls in Japan. Daughters are given o hina sama dolls when they are born and this is the time of year to display them in the house. This is the large o hina sama collection of the Ogawa family, who have four daughters.

The seasons are changing...

2007-03-03T09:51:00.000+09:00

2007-03-03T09:47:00.000+09:00

Moji & more

2007-03-03T09:15:00.000+09:00

We loaded up Simon's van for a weekend checking out the Retro area at Moji. Of course, banana man was the obvious No. 1 attraction.

Flick and I did some much-needed foreign food shopping, stocked up on Care Bears and Sponge Bob junk, and then we all headed off for a night in a Lurve Hotel in Fukuoka.

(Starsky came home at about 5am, reeking of tobacco smoke, his fake tan and mascara smudged, his glow sticks fading, his hand stamped with the familiar logo of The Happy Cook establishment. I shall say no more.)

Bad Bunny

2007-03-02T19:39:00.000+09:00

Central Fukuoka. Shopping. Lunch. Relaxed Sunday.
Starsky and Dan getting jiggy with a bunny whore against a pole.
You know, just a regular weekend.

It's nothing short of a MILKLE

2007-02-13T20:55:00.000+09:00

Warning: this is a katakana/romaji worst case scenario.

Today at school I happened to browse a Ministry of Education propaganda (I mean information) pamphlet which tells the kids all about why it's great to drink milk during school lunch.

It was titled "Milkle". Hmm. I look closer.
The katakana for milk is mi ru ku.
The katakana for miracle is mi ra ku ru.

You put them together and what do they spell?

That's right mi ru ku + mi ra ku ru = MI RU KU RU! Or Milkle in English, in case you didn't know.

You're so stewpid!

Update: The Babies

2007-02-12T21:47:00.000+09:00

My two little nieces have grown up so much since I last saw them. They are both so beautiful and so different!

Jodi is turning 5 in June and the preparations for school have already started. Demi will be starting afternoon kindy later in the year when she turns 3.

Big hugs and kisses from Aunty.

2007-02-12T21:44:00.000+09:00

Grandma and Grandad's backyard

2007-02-12T21:43:00.000+09:00

2007-02-12T21:41:00.000+09:00

Pretty Jodi

2007-02-12T21:40:00.000+09:00

I visited Puzzleworld with my Mum.

2007-02-12T21:39:00.000+09:00

Grandma spoiled me rotten on my birthday in November with this ginormous chocolate cake! I am 2!

2007-02-12T21:30:00.000+09:00

My tummy hurts...

WASHINGTON D.C

2007-02-12T21:28:00.000+09:00

Star-spangled

2007-02-12T21:26:00.000+09:00

Scandal!

2007-02-12T21:22:00.000+09:00

The Washington Monument. Peace, love, the Gap!

2007-02-12T20:56:00.000+09:00

The White House decorated with it's Christmas wreaths and flag at half mast for President Ford.

2007-01-16T19:25:00.000+09:00

US Capitol by night

2007-01-16T19:22:00.000+09:00

The changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers.

2007-01-16T19:10:00.001+09:00

The final resting place of JFK and his wife.

First Day Back at Work

2007-01-10T15:38:00.000+09:00

Today, our lovely lunch lady said to me that we were having Japanese style "risotto" for school lunch.

In a complete insult to the concept of risotto, I was served tasteless (like, not even salted) rice porridge that had seven different kinds of leaves (daikon leaf etc) chopped into the mix. The only plus was that it was served hot, unlike the cold rice we normally get. Not that I ate it.

The salt was rubbed into the wound when I got a side serve of crispy deep-fried-whole midget fish (gaping mouth and all) tossed in some lovely sesame seeds.

Why, God, Why!?!

More to come: watch for photos of Washington D.C up next!

Saturday Night NYC

2006-12-24T22:40:00.000+09:00

New York City on a Saturday Night - sooo many people, lights, good spirits - a blur of colour.

Metropolitan Museum of Art

2006-12-24T22:27:00.000+09:00

Taking the subway to the Upper East Side, past Central Park, we went to the Met. There are so many exhibitions to see at the Met but I headed straight for the bliss of a) probably the biggest collection of Ancient Egyptian artefacts outside of Egypt, and b) a huge gift shop! My inner 10 year-old was in heaven. See Mum, all those Standard 3 projects were worth it!

Out and About

2006-12-24T22:24:00.000+09:00

Dan was "fired" at Trump Towers - the lobby is open to the public and there is even a Starbucks inside! I had to leave the giftshop smothering my guffaws of laughter - Trump-themed everything! It is so hilarious. Meanwhile, just out of pure chance, we happened to run into Jo (previous Shimonoseki JET) outside Tiffanys. It's a small world even in NYC!!! Then we experienced the massive grandeur of St Patrick's Cathedral in the city. So old and beautiful, and they had big wreaths decorating the massive pillars inside.

Rockefeller Center

2006-12-24T22:17:00.000+09:00

Going to see the Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center is a tradition at this time of year. The area around the skating rink is decorated with red, green and gold flags and sculpted angels herald everyone a Merry Christmas. I bet the massive snowflakes looked great at night, too.

Shopping!

2006-12-24T22:10:00.000+09:00

Think the Apple Megastore, MnM's World, Times Square Toys R Us, Barbie World and FAO Schwartz. I was overwhelmed with all there was to buy! Guess which two lucky babies are getting lollipops from Santa this year! The parcel must have come via New York from the North Pole...

First visit to NYC - yeah baby!

2006-12-24T21:37:00.000+09:00

Yellow cabs, Broadway theatres, Hard Rock Cafe, Times Square - I had one of those (very rare) moments where I just couldn't speak! This is such a dream come true.

The people are so diverse - there are conversations in many different languages all around. I never thought advertising could be so beautiful.

The Final Countdown....

2006-12-15T13:08:00.000+09:00

Off to New York and Washington D.C next Thursday! I am so excited. I have been reading about all the amazing things to see and do in D.C and wishing we could stay there a week rather than just two or three days. Oh well...

Drooling over the advertisements in every D.C tourist brochure for steaks and pub food. Looks like there are some amazing restaurants - but we just want western food! Surround me in English!

I feel exhausted, life has been so busy this December. Not only is my house a huge mess but my washing machine has broken and there is water and soggy clothes everywhere. My fingertips are raw from wringing out clothes that didn't make it through the rinse cycle. But I don't care! I'm going off on an adventure.

I have so many happy memories from our past two Christmases in Japan which were surrounded by lovely people - and also the fantastic knowledge that my next Christmas will be in NZ.

Blessings to all my friends and family who I miss so much. I hope to be blogging regularly from the White House soon!

Watch this space. Rosie xoxo

Something to go with the Mulled Wine...

2006-11-23T19:13:00.000+09:00

Well, today was a day off. Good timing really because although yesterday was a good, productive day I was really shattered when work finally finished.

After a 9:00am sleep in...

*Intentions - clean out the cupboards in the back room. God knows what is in there.

*Reality - I spent the afternoon in the kitchen.

*Result - A fridge bursting with christmas fruit mince ready to be made into little sweet pies in a couple of weeks.

*Into the pot went
- a 2kg bag of mixed dried fruit that I snuck through customs Jack Bauer style
- two apples chopped finely
- four pineapple rings chopped finely
- big shakes of cinnamon, allspice and nutmeg
- two big tablespoons of chunky Hagi mikan marmalade
- juice of one lemon
- even bigger shakes of my precious dark brown muscovado sugar (Jack Bauer)
- splashes of contraband vanilla essence
- fresh ginger root, finely chopped
- cubes of butter
- and then I basically looked out the window for 10 seconds as I upturned a bottle of brandy into the mix

I simmered it all up until a very gooey syrup had formed and the fruit was drunk.

Will I ever buy supermarket fruit mince ever again? Hell no!

Potato and Conger Eel Mille-Feuille (thousand layers pastry)

2006-11-17T21:41:00.000+09:00

What do you reckon? We've just had a meeting with the restaurant doing the AJET Christmas Party. I'm glad to (cautiously - no jinxes!) report that it seems to be going really well so far. But I think I'll be removing this French-Japanese "fusion cooking" item from the menu. JETs want carbs to soak up their bevvies! More pizza I hear you cry.

We are having it in Hagi this year at San Marco. What can I say - great food, homemade ice-cream and lots of people to share around the overflow of guests. I am really looking forward to it.

November/December is so busy. There are Thanksgiving dinners, Xmas parties and Dan and I are off for our dream trip to New York. I am feeling like a very lucky girl these days. I am trying to live in the moment and enjoy everything to it's fullest. Seems so simple but it's a challenge.

I genuinely love autumn - there is something so cosy about the red and orange leaves and sunny afternoons. I hope I get time to ride my bike around Hagi while it's still looking so nice.

I miss everyone. I hope you are having a good day wherever you are.

A special mention to Miss Demi who turned terrible two last Sunday. I sang Happy Birthday four times to her on the phone. She is talking a lot and I can't wait to catch up with her soon for a bit of a yarn.

Rosie xox

I'm Alive!

2006-11-06T13:44:00.000+09:00

mumbled apologies about abandoning my blogging duties of late...

I think my lack of blogging is sub-conscious upset about everyone leaving over summer. It's just not the same anymore(!), I thought.

But enough of the histrionics. I have taken on lots more work recently and I'm busy every night after work except Mondays. I really like it and I'm learning heaps. A new perspective can do you a world of good. It was with that thought in mind I went off to Hiroshima on my own yesterday. I got all the housework done on Saturday and thought I would have a "me" day on Sunday. My first year in Japan I didn't like travelling alone - much easier to translate in a team! So it was a treat to be anonymous and sip my Starbucks in quiet contemplation. I shopped til I dropped, including...

this sexy black 30GB iPod. My old one that I'd only had a year or so stopped working. I moaned and groaned about how stupid I would be to go and drop another load of money on yet another iPod. But I did it anyway. The prospect of flying to New York and back without music/podcasts/video did it to me finally. I love it but I'm still bitter!

Last night the spell of warm, sunny weather broke and it rained. I've been in a really weird mood today and I think that was it. It's only November and already I've got Seasonal Affective Disorder!

But anyway, what I really wanted to say was this: There is a fork in the road. And I've chosen which fork I'm going to take.

Me vs The Secretary

2006-09-27T22:12:00.000+09:00

Two recent scenarios featuring two elementary schools, two secretaries and two photocopiers.

SCENE 1:
Me - (In general direction of teachers in staff room, including Vice-Principal) How many students are there in the second grade? I need to make some copies. Is that okay?
Random Teacher - There are 28. Here, use this photocopier. Do you need any help?
Me - Thanks, no I'm fine.
Smiles all round.

I stand there and hum while the copier does what it does best. The school secretary approaches.
Secretary - Rosie-sensei, you can't use this machine for large amounts of copies. It is not allowed. Not allowed. Use the other machine in the future.
Me - O-kay...

SCENE 2:
I arrive at school and my class starts in 20 minutes. I approach the Secretary in the office.
Me - Excuse me, I need some copies. Is that okay?
Secretary - Sure.
Me - Could I please have 35 copies of this page.
Secretary - 35 copies?
Me - Yes. That's right. This page.
Secretary - Of this page?
Me - Yes please.
Secretary - So that's 35 copies of this page.
Me - Yes please. Thank you very much.
Secretary - 35 copies of this page on B5 paper. Or would you like A4?
Me - No, B5 is fine. Thank you very much.
Secretary - 35 copies of this page on B5 paper.
Me - Yes, that would be great.
Secretary - Would you like this page as well?
Me - No, thanks. Just this page.
Secretary - You don't need this page too?
Me - No, thank you. Just that is fine.
Secretary - Okay, please wait a moment.
I go back to the room and wait, bowing and onegaishimasu-ing.

10 or so minutes later and no sign of the Secretary. I check back at the office.
Secretary - (running furiously between rooms, book and copies flailing) Please wait a moment Rosie-sensei!

5 minutes later - no sign of Secretary. At all. Children have come down to find out where I am and have been sent back up to the classroom as I aimlessly wander the halls looking for the Secretary.

5 minutes later, I come across the Secretary with my copies. She has laid them out in several piles.
Me - (Gesturing to take the copies and go) Thank you very much!
Secretary - Here is 35 copies. Here are the extras. And here are the copies that didn't come out. And we don't need these ones. (All look identical).
Me - Thank you!

Later that day, realising the Secretary has not given me back the book she made the copies from, I cautiously approach the office...

Me - Excuse me, I'm sorry, do you have the yellow book?
Secretary - Oh, the yellow book. (She starts frantically unearthing the office).
Me - It's okay, Later is fine.
Secretary - No, it's in the copy room. (Runs frantically down the hallway in direction of copy room. I run after her.)

She then proceeds to enlist three other teachers in a frantic search for the yellow book throughout the copy room and teachers room. Yellow book is eventually found next to the microwave.

LESSON - DO NOT PHOTOCOPY!

Goodbye Summer

2006-09-20T20:28:00.000+09:00

The promise of autumn kept me going through the humid summer and now it is here. Beautiful warm days, the air con is off, the breeze is blowing. I love it.

So the big news - Dan and I are going to New York for Christmas! Our friend Chris Mack is going home to New Jersey and is very kindly taking us with him. I hear the Sopranos theme tune with Jingle Bells in the background...

Being geeky Social Studies teachers, we are gonna try to sneak in a rendezvous to Washington D.C to get our picture in front of the White House and JFKs final resting place. It is very surreal to be going to the Big Apple. I can't wait to see the Statue of Liberty, to eat pizza and bagels and to hear Chris's mother yell "the coaffee's ready" in the morning.

Bada bing...

Demi's Reign of Terror

2006-09-20T16:39:00.000+09:00

Ladies Coffee Morning!

2006-09-20T16:36:00.000+09:00

Miss Jodi

2006-09-20T16:33:00.000+09:00

Miss Demi

2006-09-09T22:15:00.000+09:00

AWOL

2006-09-07T16:28:00.000+09:00

Hi everyone. Yes, I'm back! And I have been for over 3 weeks now. My excuses are not only have I been really busy this summer but I also found switching between my two worlds extremely disorientating. Last week I saw a familiar face and stopped for a chat. It wasn't til I was driving away that I realised I had gotten him mixed up with someone else. So instead of chatting to a university student who occasionally comes over when we have a booze up, I was chatting to a teacher at my base school. I can only think about the conversation and cringe. Argh!

New Zealand - this year I crammed three weeks into two weeks. I wanted to spend as much time as humanly possible with the babies, shop for a new wardrobe (way harder and more time consuming than I could ever have guessed) and catch up with my fabulous friends and family.

Jodi-chan - 4 years old, she acted as if I had never left. She is going to morning kindy now and looks fantastic in purple. Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous! Will be enrolled in dancing school as soon as Aunty gets back.

Demi-chan - blondie will be 2 in November, couldn't remember me from a bar of soap, gave me wicked evils and had to be bribed with new pink sparkle shoes, carob buttons and piggyback rides.

More is coming soon - behind the scenes gossip, exclusive photos and Dan's shock confession "I loved every minute with Chris Kilby".

In New Zealand

2006-07-29T09:59:00.000+09:00

Yep, folks, I have arrived back in Aotearoa and this is where I'll stay until August 13th. Everything has gone really smoothly, have not been arrested for trying to smuggle in cooking sake (does that qualify as a food?) or lost my passport. I have, however, displayed an alarming inability to re-adjust into my own culture.

1) Keep saying "sumimasen" to random strangers
2) Bought a phone card to call home, had to have the lady come and show me how to use it. All the buttons were in English!
3) Stood to attention when someone yelled "minna san..."

And I'm only at the airport. Can only get worse from here.

Next stop Wellington.

Goodbye Leavers

2006-07-09T21:55:00.000+09:00

Just after we raised our glasses last night and tucked in to our last dinner together as a ken, I sniffed away a few tears and put my mind to the task of having as much fun as possible with the people around me. My wicked hangover has faded and I can safely say I achieved my goal and more. Thank you everyone who travelled from far and wide, I have some great last memories. Here is the video evidence!

The Train Ride of Shame

2006-07-09T21:48:00.000+09:00

Going between venues, the consequences of chugging a little too much beer started to show. Rendered completely unable to complete simple tasks such as inserting a ticket into the gate, I was forced to rely on the hand signals of my friendly AJET representative...

More AJET Representation...

2006-07-09T21:44:00.000+09:00

Bizarre

2006-06-25T23:01:00.000+09:00

On Friday, I jumped in my car and headed over to Yamaguchi for gym class. There is a toll booth on the outskirts of Hagi (150 yen each way, thank you) and many of the locals use the little side road that winds around the mountain instead for free.

There is an old single lane tunnel on the free route which I have been told is haunted by the spirits of the samurai who committed suicide near that spot many years ago. Apparently if you turn your lights off as you go through you will see them. Whenever I go through it, it feels a bit scary.

Anyway, I approach the tunnel on a sharp bend and as I turn into it, I see headlights bounce off the brick walls. I stop and reverse out far back enough for the car coming through to pass me. In the mist and the rain on a single lane bumpy road, it's frustrating. This is the price I pay for not paying the 150 yen I tell myself. Cars often have to wait on either side of the tunnel for it to clear. So as the car passes, I pull out again and attempt to go through the tunnel.

As I turn in and start going through, I see another car coming toward the entrance at the other end. Well, I think to myelf, I'm going through now and they'll just have to stop and wait for me. I notice as I'm half way through that the car just keeps coming, even though they've had to have seen me coming with my headlights on. I get to about 4/5 of the way through the tunnel and I come face to face with the car coming in the opposite direction. We are very close to the mouth of the tunnel. I don't get it. Why did the car keep coming when they are just going to have to reverse the short distance out again?

So we are sitting there. I'm having a what-is-going-on moment. The car rolls its wheels forward. We wait. I'm like okay, I'll be the bigger person here, I look behind me and prepare to reverse. Then I see how far I have to go back, there is a tiny patch of daylight in the distance I would be aiming for. I'm in a pitch black tunnel with dripping brick walls, and on each side of the single lane is a ditch. The kind of ditch your wheels go over (yes I've been there before, people!) I think, this is insane, I can't go back that far, its really dangerous, and that car is so ridiculously close to the entrance. What is going on!

By this time, a truck has also come through and pulls up behind me. The guy gets out and I sit there rigidly, ready to flinch when he sees I'm a gaijin. I prepare for abuse. Luckily he is a kind old guy and he asks me if I was coming through first, to which I say I was, along with the obvious fact that we are so close to the exit. He goes and talks to the oncoming driver, who was in fact, a woman. To go along with cultural stereotypes, aren't Japanese women usually polite and non-confrontational?

So heated discussion and gesturing ensue, I'm confused, nothing seems to be happening. Then the oncoming driver appears to be moving her car. Hurray, I think, after 20 minutes of being stuck in a tiny claustrophobic tunnel for what bizarre reason I don't know. She does not back out. She instead pulls her car over. The driver behind me gets back in to his truck and gestures that I should overtake her. He puts his lights on and presses forward.

The tiny gap in front of me is too small for my car. The facts are screaming out to me and I refuse to move. THEY WANT ME TO OVERTAKE IN A MIDGET ONE LANE TUNNEL. The oncoming vehicle moves her car again and another 5 centimetres open up. There is enough space for me to go through, if I put my wheels half on the edge of the ditch. Looking ahead at the daylight and shaking my head, I inch ahead to manoeuvre my car through without scratching the oncoming vehicle or putting my wheels too many milimetres over the edge of the ditch. I can feel the wheels balancing on the edge and I try to keep them as straight as I can. My side mirror scrapes against the other car. As I go through I realise how upset the whole thing has made me.

I want to be angry at this situation, but I'm amazed. This woman wouldn't reverse.

I have seen angry road rage and I've seen violence between drivers. But I have never been confronted with a less practical driver in my life. Why did something so easy have to turn into what it did. I don't get it?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2006-06-18T22:47:00.000+09:00

Yes, it's that time of year folks, the big June 18th!

A very Happy Birthday to the one and only Dan-sama.

(Dan tries to re-create Pete's "Blue Steel", the signature look made famous in his catalogue modelling days during the mid-to-late nineties.)

Cracker Shimane Soccer Weekend

2006-06-18T22:18:00.000+09:00

It was a weekend to rival all weekends - so we didn't win but we had an amazing time. The boys put up a spirited defence and us girls bonded over strategy and the gokiburi goal. Steph showed up hours after flying back into the country and saved our asses. Dabs crossed over to become an honorary 'guchie. It all came together.

Shimane put us up in cabins in a gorgeous forest park - usually cabin implies a wooden shelter to keep you from the elements - we had wallpaper, beds, hot showers and air-con. The Japanese like to camp in comfort.

We played on a grass pitch at Hamayama Stadium, a rare treat. Bloody knees kept to a minimum. We gambatted til we had no more gambatte to give.

After a well-earned onsen, we got back to the cabins for a tabe houdai/nomi houdai extravaganza including endless steak, mac n cheese, thai green curry and banana bread. It was absolutely first rate. The rum was strong and the beer did flow. (A little too much for some, Dan!) Shimane really knows how to throw a party - the variety of bands was excellent and kept the room jumping long into the night.

Sunday saw a long and slow convoy home - plenty of stops for the essential day-after-the-night-before MosB, a visit to Izumotaisho shrine and some swimming and sumo action on Hamada beach.

A huge thank you to Crystal and Neal for organising us. Go the 'guch!!!

The Guch Brings The Defence

2006-06-18T22:15:00.000+09:00

Girls United

2006-06-18T22:05:00.000+09:00

Party Time...

2006-06-18T22:01:00.000+09:00

2006-06-18T21:49:00.000+09:00

Meanwhile on the Beach...

2006-06-18T21:38:00.000+09:00

Kilby scares the locals on Hamada Beach on the way home.
(Sorry it's chotto upside down, I suck at technology)

"We're going to have a barbeque..."

2006-06-10T15:17:00.001+09:00

This never means we are going to grill some meat. This means we are going to line-dance and macarena, limbo with our supervisor, let off fireworks (not the pretty kind, the sonic boom kind, thanks Paul) and Pauline and Takagi-sama are going to lock themselves in a toilet for an unspecified period of time. You be the judge.

2006-06-10T15:15:00.000+09:00

2006-06-10T15:13:00.000+09:00

Yoshiki the most yopparai I have ever seen him.

2006-06-10T15:09:00.000+09:00

Thank You Jen!

2006-06-10T15:02:00.000+09:00

After lending us the use of her credit card, Dan was finally able to get some shoes, size 15, all the way from America.
It was definately a yosh moment.
Thank you Jen.

2006-06-10T14:58:00.000+09:00

Dan, overwhelmed with shoe love.

I'm Baaaack...

2006-05-27T15:09:00.000+09:00

Sigh, back at the Portopia. The garden in question was the scene of last years crime. Those poor bellboys.

2006-05-27T15:07:00.000+09:00

The upside of the Kobe earthquake in 1995 was that much of the city was rebuilt - very clean views without the usual Japanese tangle of overhead cables.

2006-05-27T15:05:00.000+09:00

Mark, Ross, Keith and Han-mouse champing at the bit for another seminar!

2006-05-27T15:03:00.000+09:00

Even the Nagasaki JETs couldn't keep themselves away from the Yamaguchi party. Gorgeous Indian food aplenty with samosas to die for.

2006-05-27T14:59:00.000+09:00

Chris "Daddy" Mack and Jen up to no good.

2006-05-27T14:50:00.000+09:00

No group of people have ever been more excited to get on a bus. Time to party baby!

(Yet again) Yamaguchi Brings The Party!!!

2006-05-27T11:20:00.000+09:00

Fuelled by innumerable Indian beers, pumped after a days hard work, Yamaguchi embarks on a mission to bring Kobe to its knees. Over 900 JETs from across Japan hit the city lights after the 2006 Re-Contracting Conference in Kobe. Big thanks to all my Yamaguchi supporters, apart from sounding like a two-pack-a-day croaker, my presentations went off without a hitch. Go the 'guch! Oh, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY Steph!

Petronas Towers, 2nd Tallest In The World

2006-05-07T19:53:00.000+09:00

Islamic Art Museum, KL

2006-05-07T19:51:00.000+09:00

Little India

2006-05-07T19:49:00.000+09:00

Home Sweet Home

2006-05-07T18:28:00.000+09:00

Dan and I arrived back yesterday. Japan was a real shock and I found myself hating being back. I just about exploded with anger when I was twice directed into the "Foreigner" lane at Customs by well-meaning people. They didn't read the kanji that said Foreign Residents are processed in the same lane as Japanese. Dan told me they were just trying to be helpful, and as I was running on no sleep I took his word for it. But it really grated.

So after 18 hours of sleep and an afternoon watching the pirated DVDs we bought in Kuala Lumpur I'm feeling much better. I rang my Mum and Dad. I went to Mosburger. Life returns to normal.

It is really fun going through the bags of stuff and remembering everything I bought - the normal clothes and souvenirs and the weird I-live-in-Japan stuff like custard powder and Marmite.

I hope everyone had a great Golden Week and returns safely home. I can't wait for Photo Night!

Singapore

2006-05-02T22:04:00.000+09:00

It's lush and green, all cables are underground - yes here we are in beautiful Singapore. So far I am very impressed with this city. So we have decided to stay here until Friday when we fly out. This will mean we don't get to go to Palau Tioman, the island off the east coast of Malaysia. But we are feeling a bit rushed and worn out and want to stay and enjoy the city. Plus we found ourselves a fab guesthouse.

Had dream reflexology foot massage tonight, this guy was making love to my feet. Eyes-rolling-into-back-of-head territory. This brings my total foot massages up to three. Not bad.

So tomorrow we are going to do the Asian Civilisations Museum and some other cultural things, plus Mission: Impossible III is opening at the cinema tomorrow night. May even do a Singapore Sling at the Raffles bar. Excellent!

Melaka

2006-04-30T18:47:00.000+09:00

I now know what it is like to arrive in a place with nowhere to stay and panic and think "shit!"
But it all ended up okay in the end...how were we to know tomorrow was a national holiday and Melaka would be booked to the gills.
More depressingly, we have ended up with a lovely room (with balcony, costing only 700 yen a night!) in a guest house run by the guys 14 year old daughter. I mean she runs the place from the giving out of the keys to the laundry service. And she speaks perfect English. Different accent? No problem. She has bought into sharp contrast just how much my students can't speak English. I shouldn't moan because the poor use of English in Japan means I get a job there. With a salary and nenkyu to go to Malaysia...
So tonight - night market in Chinatown, get a bite to eat, some beers and bargain down the prices. I am trying to convince Dan to stop for another reflexology foot massage. My goal is to have one daily. So far, so good.

Kuala Lumpur

2006-04-29T12:05:00.000+09:00

We are here and settled into the Lonely Planet (thanks Megan) guide's top pick for budget accomodation. The people are friendly and speak English. I regard this suspiciously as I'm just not used to it. But it is a refreshing change to see women in saris, women in headscarfs, broken down cars, people randomly smiling at strangers, garlic naan....

Miscellaneous facts so far:

*We have spent less so far in a day and a night in KL than we spent on our hotel room in Fukuoka.

*You can get real beer, pies and fish n chips at Finnegans.

*The pharmacy sells real brands that we have at home.

*The Petronas Towers may not be THE tallest in the world but are beautiful and really amazing up close. Plus you can go on a shopping mish in the depeartment stores inside.

*You can get a foot massage anywhere.

We are booked into our hostel for one more night and then hopefully tomorrow we'll be on a bus down to Melaka. Watch this space...

Get Some Hot Cross Baby This Evening...

2006-04-18T17:38:00.000+09:00

Guess who...

2006-04-14T13:23:00.000+09:00

Got accepted to be an RCA in Kobe!!!!!!!!!!! Double yosh!!!!!!!!!

YOSH!!!!

2006-04-14T13:17:00.000+09:00

Easter Eve

2006-04-13T23:41:00.000+09:00

Well, tomorrow is Good Friday. For me this stirs up memories of every year making hot cross buns from scratch (Alison Holst recipe), Mum dividing the dough into 3 equal portions so my brother and sister and I could pound the yeast into submission. Jesus of Nazareth would always screen around noon on TV1, and just as I would be really freaking out watching what Jesus had to go through, Mum would announce the buns were out of the oven. So I have come to associate the suffering of Jesus with the goodness of something hot and buttered. Probably not what was intended.

I have to work in the morning so there won't be time to double rise the dough for hot cross buns. Instead I am going to make date scones - thanks to Matt's family bringing me gorgeous Tesco's omiyage and my Mum sending me a huge box of yummies including muscovado sugar! It is all prepped and on the bench (along with the coffee mugs) so I can whack a batch in the oven while still half-asleep tomorrow morning.

I'm planning to make a couple of batches of hot cross buns over the weekend. I wonder if my local video shop has a copy of Jesus of Nazareth...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ME!!!!!!!!!!!!

2006-04-08T10:54:00.000+09:00

Thanks Christine for the yummy Black Forest birthday cake. We barbequed and had several bevvies under the blossoms - thanks everyone for coming!

2006-04-08T10:50:00.000+09:00

On My Desk At Work Today....

2006-04-03T14:54:00.000+09:00

Sakura cha - cherry blossom tea.
Looks beautiful right? Took a sip and tried to concentrate on being Zen.

Tasted like really strong seawater. I made a "pleugh*&^$(#" sound.

Ah well. Looks nice.