Must Improve!

So, if you've ever tried to keep in touch with me, you must know that I'm REALLY REALLY bad about keeping in touch with people. I really need to be better about keeping in contact with my friends and family. Honestly, I don't have a good enough excuse. But, hey, it's a new year and a new opportunity to try harder this year.

Last night, I had my base junior high school's bonenkai (sp?). (A bonenkai is a party celebrating the end of the year.) I haven't been back to my school for the past three months, so it was really nice to see all of my teachers. The 1st grade teachers (the equivalent of 7th grade in the States, and in other countries, I'm not exactly sure. Sorry!) Maeya-sensei was a definite highlight of the evening. Or rather his alter ego, Beer Man, was amazing! But I'm gonna try to get a picture of him from the school nurse. So I'll save that story for a future post.

And, alas, there was Nakai-sensei. If you read my previous blog, you will know how I feel about that beautiful man. For new readers, please allow me to give some brief background on this Osaka-Man. Nakai-sensei teaches social studies. He's fluent in English and will randomly plop down into the seat next to my desk and start up a big political discussion. Now, I feel obligated to say that he is also married and has three beautiful children. So, I'm quite content to just have my simple little crush. Anyway, at the nijikai (the second party, or the after-party) one of the teachers made me give the toast and then I started a big conversation with a teacher who never speaks to me. (That's a usual thing between teachers and ALTs.) After a little while, Nakai-sensei comes over to us and asks if he can cut in. And get this, he said that the other teacher was hogging me and he wanted the chance to speak with me. And that just about made me year! So, we had a nice chat about Obama and global politics. Then, we exchanged numbers because he'd like me to meet his family and teach his daughter some English.

Preview of next post:
*SNOW!
*KOREA!
*Aoyama-sensei dressed up as a yakuza (AKA Nezumi-Senpai)
*Maeya-sensei in a gold jumpsuit, hehe

Oh, Christmas Parties...

So, last night my friend, Sarah, hosted a Christmas party at her place. The night's guests were a mixture of some fellow ALTs, ALT friends and some Japanese friends. Like most Christmas parties, the party kinda got off to a crazy start, but once the alcohol came out, all things became jolly! (Side note, I motion that for future gatherings we must invest in Mexican tequila. Japanese tequila just doesn't pack the same punch.)

Anyway, I really enjoyed the キス game! More on that later! ;<)

Saisho wa...

Well, hello everyone! 久しぶりだね！　This first post marks the new beginning of my blogging ventures! I neglected my previous blog SOOOOOOO much. And at the encouragement of a fellow blogger (see YOSHI!) I decided it was time to start a new blog.

The theme of my first blog was set around my initial impressions of life in Japan. Well, I'm currently in my second year, and have come a long way since I first arrived. Therefore, my blog has a all-around new theme and new look. Honestly, I'm not exactly sure how to explain the explain, but the look is pretty straight-forward. I'm a "Super Hero." Now, this doesn't mean I've come to save Japan or anything. I don't think Japan is in trouble. The Super Hero-ness just looks cute, ne?

It's Monday night. I'm sitting on the tatami in my lounge, simply trying to put off doing the dishes. I just had a couple of teachers over for dinner. Last week, I finished a two-and-a-half week stint at a junior high school. It was a lot of fun! The teachers and students were amazing! I thoroughly enjoyed it. (And it didn't hurt that one of the young male teachers was very attractive!) Anyway, I invited 3 of the young female teachers for Mexican food over at my place. It went really well. I just got kinda tired towards the end of the night, so it became a little more difficult for me to stay in Japanese. I'm gonna steal my friend Taka's line and adapt it to my situation. It got to a certain point in the evening where "Only English Time" was in my head. (In Taka's case, it was "Only Japanese Time.")

Did I mention that it's Christmas time in Japan? If you've grown up celebrating Christmas or any other traditional holiday, and then go to another country, the celebration seems to change. Whereas at home, the holiday seems to start without any extra help needed from you. In a foreign country that doesn't celebrate the same holiday, the occasion requires more effort. You almost find yourself trying to recreate the specialness that you expect to be attached to such an occasion. It's quite a difficult thing, honestly. This will be my second year that I've been away from home for Christmas. I had a very nice Christmas holiday last year. A few of us ALTs and mutual friends came together and formed our own holiday gathering. We were all away from home, so we sought each other to help create that special feeling. However, like last year, my actual Christmas evening will be spent with my fellow teachers from my base junior high school. Now, in America and many other countries, that would be unheard of. But, hey, we're in Japan, ne? Christmas isn't necessarily a religious holiday here. Japanese people have other traditions during this time of year, which can be equally fun. So, anyway, I'm going to a big work party. I'm excited about it. I think it'll be more fun this year, because I've gotten to know the teachers better (and I can speak more Japanese than I could last year).

Ok, I better wrap this up for now. This is just the first blog. So, hopefully, future blogs will more interesting! Apologies! See ya!