Just in time

Well it's been a long time between posts, not chuhais, of course. Decided better get something down for the month of June.

Japan's stinkin rainy season/summer has started and I'm already counting down to autumn. Man I hate this season here. Not a minute out of the shower and droplets of sweat are forming on my brow. Poo to you Japanese summer- and Japanese public schools for throwing their budgets away on new computers for staff when really they should be decking out their class rooms with ceiling fans, at the very least. Poor kids, don't know how they can concentrate when their hair is all plastered to their faces and their uniforms soaked in bodily fluid.

Have officially been teaching now for 3 months, although it feels like 3 years. Don't think I am every going to get used to the way things are done in the classroom over here, but as my mum and Taku have said, I don't have to get used to it, just accept it. しょがないね

Clip clopped my way to Himeji's Yukata matsuri the other night with Keiko, and was joined later by Taku and Shinya. Wasn't too thrilled with my yukata- an admittedly beautiful pale green colour with a crab motif, but just not my thing. Wanted to wear my electric blue one which I purchased from UniQlo a few years ago, but was booed by okaasan and Taku. Nonetheless had fun eating festival food and checking out all the lovely yukata's. Played a few games and snagged some tacky prizes- a care bare neck pouch amongst them.

Being quite cultural this month to be honest. Woke up early this morning and made my way down to the local community centre where my school's Japanese teacher, slash art teacher wannabe was holding a lithography class. Sketched a nice little koala sitting snug in a gum tree. Very proud of my efforts. Am headed back in a month for another go- this time with instructions to bring a summer themed sketch along. Considering I hate this bloody season will have to strain brain for some positive inspiration. Empty chuhai can perhaps?

Anyway, have fulfilled my intentions of at least getting in one post per month. Must write more- am just so floored and disillusioned with the world most days after work- so posting has taken a back seat. Will endeavour to get back on the horse, me promises.

Stay tuned...

Oh, almost forgot my thank yous for 100yen heaven. Man did you do me proud yesterday! Silver cleaning cloth, Hello Kitty filing folders, Hello Kitty wet tissues and 3 packets of peanut m&ms. All is well in the world!

May day! May Day!

No cause for alarm. I'm just back on board.

Has been a funny few months, what with starting a new job and the weather doing it's best to penetrate my immune system. But now that I am living in the northern hemisphere I'm embracing the concept of spring cleaning and getting on with it.

Life at the 1 junior high and 4 elemetary schools I have been posted to is not too bad. Let the second graders in JHS get the better of me one day, but after debreifing with a fellow sensei am all good. Elementary school is fantastic, save for the two awkward kyu shoku dates with 6th graders. Although I'm only 1 month into my posting I am certain I know now why despite the fact Japanese people have 6 years of English education, they can't speak a lick of the language. I'm going to do my best to change that, but as Taku told me "Don't do your best too much." I also joked to one of the sensei's at JHS that the only thing I may learn about this job is しょがない and if that is so, then so be it.

Tomorrow the family is off to Tottori's desert, per my request for a Golden Week mini break, and I couldn't be happier. Have re-bonded with Eri recently and am feeling changes in my self that have been far too long coming. Taku and I also celebrated our ４年きねんび　last weekend with a date at Harbour Land in Kobe. Feasted at a Brasilian restaurant overlooking the water, shopped for clothes and posed for プリクラ. All in all it was a nice day.

I will no longer be afraid to be positive and believe the best in everyone and I will say my thank you's every morning. Life is good!

Stay tuned...

p.s 100 yen heaven has totally taken on a new meaning in my life these days what with being a sensei and all, so my first thank you goes to you dear　百えん.

An yo ha se yo!

Cooked a Korean dish tonight. Japanese name is ぶたとたまごのKANKOKUふいため。Well that's how I wrote it down the other night at colleague's house. It was a great night with Wii Supermario Brothers. Keiko, Namura's wife, has a nifty little cook book by some girl called Shiori who, when not writing cute books, spends her time turning tables. Some people are just too cool. Wish I could read the bloody books though- so many yummy looking dishes to whip up.

Nonetheless, with Keiko's help I jotted down aforementioned dish and was quite pleased with the results:



Recipe is as follows...

ぶたバラにく　５００ｇ
たまご　ｘ４
ニラ
しおとこしょう
サラダあぶら　大さじｘ２
さけ　大さじｘ２
さとう　だいさじｘ３
すりおろし　ニンニク
コチュジャン　大さじｘ２
トウバンジャン　大さじｘ２

First scramble the egg and move to a bowl.
Cut up the chives (ニラ).
Dice the garlic and crush up.
Make sauce with all yummy ingredients mentioned above.
Cook pork.
Add sauce.
Add egg.
Add chives.

Voila!

Tres easy and tres yum yum. Serve with rice and a smile:)

Also managed to finish TOKYO VICE yesterday. Damn good read. Even found Jake Adelstein on twitter and popped him a few questions which he responded to. Got real goosebumps flicking through the pages. Japan is a totally different place for me now.
Kept thinking while was reading, that was actually living in Tokyo/Saitama during some events. Even had a friend working as a hostess around the time Jake would have been investigating his was around Kabukicho and Roppongi. You could become disillusioned with Japan post-read, but as I learnt when I first came here in 2003 no two people will ever have the same experiences of Japan for it is a wonderland of extremes and fluctuating degrees of warmth and coldness, both in a literal and metaphorical sense.

I still love you Tokes.

In other news, grabbed some lovely earthy coloured bath towels form MUUJI the other day. Love that I'll be towelling myself down in plushness tonight.

Stay tuned...

まんぞく！！

It's been a while but but we all marched down to the local yakinikuya tonight and man am I a satisfied little meat fiend. Even popped a few horumon in to round off the treat. Personally me fancies a nice lemon sorbet post meat attack but had to do with the complimentary stick on gum and now some パイの実. Swishing it all down with a TOP VALUE chu hai- on sale at the mo so SLUT has taken a day off.

Blogging with my man in the room, a nice treat. After this am going to curl up with one of two books I ordered off AMAZON. Truly chuffed with AMAZON. Joined up to the Japanese AMAZON website which has an English option, and two days later with the choice of cash on delivery have myself L.A Candy and Tokyo Vice. Like a pig in mud I am.

Also popped into JUNKUDO in Himeji the other day and grabbed a book called The Japanese Mind. Tis a collection of essays which looks at different aspects of the Japanese mind. Very good reading, in the comfort of a Mister Donut. Finished the first essay on あいまい or ambiguity. Has answered a lot of my questions, that chapter alone. Can't believe bloody Japanese consider it a virtue. Fancy the writer though, who said Japanese people should look to forgoing this supposed virtue in this increasingly international world if they want to avoid being considered, in short, pains in the asses(?).

Baking me a cheesecake tomorrow. Off to a colleagues new pad tomorrow night. Very excited. Hope half Philly cream cheese and half TOP VALUE's version will play nicely in the mix. Was too lazy to go hunting for another Philly after forgot to buy two. Also, if all goes planned, will be popping into マリンピア tomorrow and hopefully making use of a discount card I was given.

Gonna buy a spray bottle from 100yen heaven tomorrow. Decided to be all posh with my flora and swan about room spraying delicately from cute little bottle, perhaps all the while doing curtseys in new apron I picked up the other day too! Ha!

Stay tuned...

雨 in the inaka...

Well it's a slow day here in the countryside.

Have resorted to John Grisham novels for my reading kicks. It ain't that bad. Had a passion to become a lawyer when I was young and watched A TIME TO KILL. Think it had more to do with the sexy lead than anything else.

Got some 漢字 practice in this afternoon too. Have decided to learn all the kanji for the prefectures. Why? Why not?

Picked myself up some Corona's at the local KALDI and am feeling spritely with my choice. Also grabbed some Hokkaido camembert from JUSCO. Just waiting for it to warm up and get all gooey on me.

What to do, what to do...

100 yen heaven might be on the cards later, and UNIQLO because, why not?

Need to review how to be calm and cool again. Maybe should get into some meditation...

What a useless post:)

Stay tuned...

Tell me what's your flavour?

Well I had my second Kansai Scene article published today. They changed my heading to Type B or not Type B? I get it, bahaha, but me favoured this post's title more. It must be said with an R-n-B inflection though to take full effect. Not totally happy with the accompanying graphic either but happy to be published again and paid!

This spring weather is also putting a spring in my step. Love finishing work before the sun has clocked out and love wearing a lighter load. Have a little feeling we haven't seen the last of winter though. Chances are a cold rush will sweep through before we can really start to swan about in floral prints and throw down some tarp underneath the shade of a cherry blossom tree.

Visited Sanda Premium Outlet mall on Saturday. Twas the second time. First time barely saw a third of the sprawl but this time did the big loop. Big fan of the Bathing Ape Pirate store. Monkey's dressed as pirates- brillant. Picked up a hoodie and some cotton pyjama bottoms from GAP as well as some Hershey chocolate at the PLAZA store. My gosh I've really taken to white chocolate these days. Can't get enough of the stuff. MEIJI's white stuff and the Hershey's cookies and cream miniatures are making imprints all over my bloody thighs. Well thank Kami sama for this spring weather because going for a walk is the new black I say.

May just walk on down to the 100yen heaven soon for a little sumfin.

Stay tuned...

ハイハイ！It's a チュハイ！

Well I've found me some peace in the madness of it all, and it's thanks to my new favourite chuhai, Slat, or as I have taken the liberty to mispronounce, SLUT. SLUT goes for a mere 125yen at ye olde MAX VALUE and these days I've been having my way with the 500ml grapefruit flavour. Cherry on top is the little pulpy bits that other chuhai aren't packing. Don't know why it took me 4 months to get back into this little treat. If it all gets too much some days, crack yourself one and within a few minutes the lovely fuzziness that only a SLUT can give will have you singing along to the BIC CAMERA jingle, pardoning the obachan who bowl you over as you make your way onto the train, smiling at the lovely old men who look you up and down like a plague on the country, laughing off the fact clothes sizes don't stretch past size waif, and agreeing that yes it is totally fine with you that corn be served on your pizza.

Well what a woffle it's been tonight. Gonna make my way over to 100yen heaven tomorrow and find me something I'm not in need of!

Stay tuned...