Sorry for the 2 week layoff from posting. But here's the latest since returnin' from California...
Sunday 11.30
Arrived @ Narita @ around 1700ish. Felt koo to not have to wait in the foreigner immigration line. No problems goin' through customs either. Sent my box from kuro neko ("black cat"; the UPS/FedEX of Japan) which only cost about $15 to send, next day, to my apartment. When I came home, I just put all my stuff on the floor and called it a night @ around 2200ish.
Monday 12.01
Couldn't believe I felt fine this morning. No jet lag at all. I was anxious to see everybody at school. During the 7th grade classes, I told all my students about my trip and then they would have to try to figure out what I did. We also handed back the final tests that they took the week before. At the end of the day, I went to play bball and was surprised that I didn't really lose a step. Wanted to go to Ikko to see everybody but I had to wait for my package that's supposed to arrive between 1900-2100. I was waiting and waiting, and finally @ around 2145, my doorbell rings and it's this man who has my box on his shoulder. By this time, it was way too late to go to Ikko. Oh wellz... I ended eating some natto for dinner and then crashed out.
Tuesday 12.02
A busy day at school, had 5 classes with the 7th graders. I continued with tellin' my story to the classes that haven't heard it yet and we returned the test to one more class. After school, came home and did some laundry and went out to eat with Mikie @ Yumean. She liked the omiyage (souvenir) I got for her and we just chilled for a couple hours.
Wednesday 12.03
Started the interview tests of the 8th graders. It seems as though I can only test about 5-6 students each period, so I see this project going on for another 2 weeks! Got a text and call from Kohiyama san askin' if I returned yet and why haven't you contacted Mama because she was worried. Since I had to go to the concert tonite, I didn't have a chance to stop by Ikko. I'll probably go tomorrow.
Went to go see the Roots perform in Omotesando with Yu, Setocchi, A-chan, Keita (Setocchi's DJ) and Mike (Yu's friend from CSUH, goes to Waseda on exchange program, from Oakland, hip hop head) I and hit it off pretty easy cuz we're both from the same hood. The venue for the show was @ this nice blues club/bar. What was kinda weird was that everyone was seated. The show was pretty koo even though they Scratch didn't make it which meant when they did the Next Movement, it was a little wack. They did bring out 2 new guitarists, one from SF named Martin Luther. Jaguar Wright also performed with the Roots. This was probably the closest I've ever been to them. Ordered a Glenfiddich, on da rocks w/a lemon twist but was very disappointed because they didn't understand what a lemon twist was. What they gave me was a lemon WEDGE which made the scotch taste like a scotch sour. As for the performance, Hub's solo was the best I've ever seen. I was hoping for a solo from ?uest Love or Kamal, but it didn't happen. The 2 guitarists' solos were off da hook too. Jaguar Wright came out around the halfway point and got everyone up out of their seats. I wish we could've gotten up earlier. After the concert, Mike and I talked with Martin Luther for a bit and took a pic with him. On the way out of the club, I saw Kentaro, Brian and Rick's friend who I met on Halloween. Chatted with him a bit and found out that he only got to see like 15 min of the show PLUS he had to go back to work afterwards...OUCH! We all decided to get something to eat, but really, A-chan and I wanted to drink. We headed to torikaku, the same place we had A-chan's birthday dinner at. I kinda lost track of how many tantakatan hais A-chan and I had. She just kept ordering them cuz we were the only ones drinking. Yu and I headed out @ around 2300ish to catch the last train back to Funabashi. On the way back home, decided to stop off @ Serenade to say hi. Saw Mori san there and we sang karaoke and had some more to drink. It was a long day yo!
Thursday 12.04
Another day of 8th grade interview tests. The 8th graders seem to be more willin' these days to talk to me. It's mostly the girls, cuz the guys are still a little shy. I made a pic CD for one of my students who used my camera to take a picture of this other student @ gassho sai.
After school, headed over to Ikko finally. Mama, as usual, hooked it up. I really missed her miso soup and so did the other guys. They said that since I was gone, Mama never made miso soup. So they're glad that I'm back now. It was good to see some of the crew there: Endo, Sensei & Kita. Had some grubbin�� kotechan, atsu age, wieners and miso shiru. Came home around 2100 and watched 2 Fast 2 Furious. I've seen bits and pieces from when I was back home, but this time I got to see it from the beginning. I didn't realize it til near the end that the girl was Rocky Aoki's daughter. I thought she looked familiar.
Friday 12.05
Saw Mama @ the intersection which usually means that I'm runnin' late to school. She always says osoi (late) when we see each other in the morning. So I jammed to school to find out that I wasn't really that late. Had this little headache during the day which was quite bothersome but after interviewing my students, it seemed to go away. This teaching thing is totally different than working @ Prima. I really never knew how this Japan thing was goin' to turn out. But after 8 1/2 months, I starting to see and feel the reward of educating youth. It's something that's hard to describe, the best way to know what it's like is to just do it. The kids are all so unique and have so much energy, it's hard for you not to absorb some of it. When I think of it now, my trip back home was more rewarding than while I was there. First, I got to see my family and hang out with my friends. Second, I got to eat all the food that I missed. Third, which now I think is important, is that it gave me some time to reflect about my job which before going to America was kinda @ a low point. I came back refreshed and with a new attitude. Do you all understand what I'm sayin'?
Went drinkin' with Takeuchi and Takahashi sensei @ Shirakiya. Not sure why I accepted the bourbon from Takeuchi sensei but since he paid for the whole meal...I can take one for the team. Came home and crashed out.
Saturday 12.06
Got to sleep in finally! Woke up @ around 1100ish and biked over to Kita Narashino to go the post office and bank. Went to go check out the ramen shop that Takahashi sensei recommended me but when I finally found it, there were like 25 people waitin' outside!!! Aaarrgghhh..oh well...I know where it's at now so I'll definitely check it out later. Biked home and decided I wanted to eat some sushi, so I headed over to the nearest kaitensushi and had a feast! On my way home, stopped over @ Ikko cuz I noticed the shutters were open. Talked to mama for a bit and had some ocha and oshinko with Kuro chan and Sensei. Came home and cleaned up my apartment a bit. Got a call from Atsuko san and she invited me over for dinner. Biked over there and it started to rain a bit. Helped make the gyoza for dinner and with the left over wraps, I made cheese gyoza. They came out pretty good, especially good with some good Chilean cabernet. Took a nap which lasted for about an hour or so and then headed home. Pretty tired now so I'm gonna call it a night.
Kaz out...
Sunday 11.30
Arrived @ Narita @ around 1700ish. Felt koo to not have to wait in the foreigner immigration line. No problems goin' through customs either. Sent my box from kuro neko ("black cat"; the UPS/FedEX of Japan) which only cost about $15 to send, next day, to my apartment. When I came home, I just put all my stuff on the floor and called it a night @ around 2200ish.
Monday 12.01
Couldn't believe I felt fine this morning. No jet lag at all. I was anxious to see everybody at school. During the 7th grade classes, I told all my students about my trip and then they would have to try to figure out what I did. We also handed back the final tests that they took the week before. At the end of the day, I went to play bball and was surprised that I didn't really lose a step. Wanted to go to Ikko to see everybody but I had to wait for my package that's supposed to arrive between 1900-2100. I was waiting and waiting, and finally @ around 2145, my doorbell rings and it's this man who has my box on his shoulder. By this time, it was way too late to go to Ikko. Oh wellz... I ended eating some natto for dinner and then crashed out.
Tuesday 12.02
A busy day at school, had 5 classes with the 7th graders. I continued with tellin' my story to the classes that haven't heard it yet and we returned the test to one more class. After school, came home and did some laundry and went out to eat with Mikie @ Yumean. She liked the omiyage (souvenir) I got for her and we just chilled for a couple hours.
Wednesday 12.03
Started the interview tests of the 8th graders. It seems as though I can only test about 5-6 students each period, so I see this project going on for another 2 weeks! Got a text and call from Kohiyama san askin' if I returned yet and why haven't you contacted Mama because she was worried. Since I had to go to the concert tonite, I didn't have a chance to stop by Ikko. I'll probably go tomorrow.
Went to go see the Roots perform in Omotesando with Yu, Setocchi, A-chan, Keita (Setocchi's DJ) and Mike (Yu's friend from CSUH, goes to Waseda on exchange program, from Oakland, hip hop head) I and hit it off pretty easy cuz we're both from the same hood. The venue for the show was @ this nice blues club/bar. What was kinda weird was that everyone was seated. The show was pretty koo even though they Scratch didn't make it which meant when they did the Next Movement, it was a little wack. They did bring out 2 new guitarists, one from SF named Martin Luther. Jaguar Wright also performed with the Roots. This was probably the closest I've ever been to them. Ordered a Glenfiddich, on da rocks w/a lemon twist but was very disappointed because they didn't understand what a lemon twist was. What they gave me was a lemon WEDGE which made the scotch taste like a scotch sour. As for the performance, Hub's solo was the best I've ever seen. I was hoping for a solo from ?uest Love or Kamal, but it didn't happen. The 2 guitarists' solos were off da hook too. Jaguar Wright came out around the halfway point and got everyone up out of their seats. I wish we could've gotten up earlier. After the concert, Mike and I talked with Martin Luther for a bit and took a pic with him. On the way out of the club, I saw Kentaro, Brian and Rick's friend who I met on Halloween. Chatted with him a bit and found out that he only got to see like 15 min of the show PLUS he had to go back to work afterwards...OUCH! We all decided to get something to eat, but really, A-chan and I wanted to drink. We headed to torikaku, the same place we had A-chan's birthday dinner at. I kinda lost track of how many tantakatan hais A-chan and I had. She just kept ordering them cuz we were the only ones drinking. Yu and I headed out @ around 2300ish to catch the last train back to Funabashi. On the way back home, decided to stop off @ Serenade to say hi. Saw Mori san there and we sang karaoke and had some more to drink. It was a long day yo!
Thursday 12.04
Another day of 8th grade interview tests. The 8th graders seem to be more willin' these days to talk to me. It's mostly the girls, cuz the guys are still a little shy. I made a pic CD for one of my students who used my camera to take a picture of this other student @ gassho sai.
After school, headed over to Ikko finally. Mama, as usual, hooked it up. I really missed her miso soup and so did the other guys. They said that since I was gone, Mama never made miso soup. So they're glad that I'm back now. It was good to see some of the crew there: Endo, Sensei & Kita. Had some grubbin�� kotechan, atsu age, wieners and miso shiru. Came home around 2100 and watched 2 Fast 2 Furious. I've seen bits and pieces from when I was back home, but this time I got to see it from the beginning. I didn't realize it til near the end that the girl was Rocky Aoki's daughter. I thought she looked familiar.
Friday 12.05
Saw Mama @ the intersection which usually means that I'm runnin' late to school. She always says osoi (late) when we see each other in the morning. So I jammed to school to find out that I wasn't really that late. Had this little headache during the day which was quite bothersome but after interviewing my students, it seemed to go away. This teaching thing is totally different than working @ Prima. I really never knew how this Japan thing was goin' to turn out. But after 8 1/2 months, I starting to see and feel the reward of educating youth. It's something that's hard to describe, the best way to know what it's like is to just do it. The kids are all so unique and have so much energy, it's hard for you not to absorb some of it. When I think of it now, my trip back home was more rewarding than while I was there. First, I got to see my family and hang out with my friends. Second, I got to eat all the food that I missed. Third, which now I think is important, is that it gave me some time to reflect about my job which before going to America was kinda @ a low point. I came back refreshed and with a new attitude. Do you all understand what I'm sayin'?
Went drinkin' with Takeuchi and Takahashi sensei @ Shirakiya. Not sure why I accepted the bourbon from Takeuchi sensei but since he paid for the whole meal...I can take one for the team. Came home and crashed out.
Saturday 12.06
Got to sleep in finally! Woke up @ around 1100ish and biked over to Kita Narashino to go the post office and bank. Went to go check out the ramen shop that Takahashi sensei recommended me but when I finally found it, there were like 25 people waitin' outside!!! Aaarrgghhh..oh well...I know where it's at now so I'll definitely check it out later. Biked home and decided I wanted to eat some sushi, so I headed over to the nearest kaitensushi and had a feast! On my way home, stopped over @ Ikko cuz I noticed the shutters were open. Talked to mama for a bit and had some ocha and oshinko with Kuro chan and Sensei. Came home and cleaned up my apartment a bit. Got a call from Atsuko san and she invited me over for dinner. Biked over there and it started to rain a bit. Helped make the gyoza for dinner and with the left over wraps, I made cheese gyoza. They came out pretty good, especially good with some good Chilean cabernet. Took a nap which lasted for about an hour or so and then headed home. Pretty tired now so I'm gonna call it a night.
Kaz out...
This entry was posted by kaz, on
日曜日, 12月 07, 2003.
You can leave your response.
