Ep 30. The Grand Return

Following a strange and distant journey to places near and far, our hero returns. What to? Fanfare? Adoring crowds? Crickets? Our dashing and daring hero has as of yet to know. Though this strange trip through space and time moved from past to present, the future remained strangely and sagely beyond the sensuous limits.


I'd like to begin by saying no, I don't know what my future will hold yet. I know that I said I would write a post only when I had decided, but that became untenable. Too much is happening right now, and there are too many fun stories to tell. So, stories before pictures (which will also have stories...and be chronologically out of order, because uploads can be weird some times). First, I have a new love of my life. We met eyes in a grocery store, and then we went back to my apartment, where we had a fantastic experience. So fantastic, in fact, that I went back to the store and got more. And then MORE. I'm talking about Green Tea Kit Kats. I don't know what they put in them, or why they are so tasty, but the entire experience has given me a new favorite treat. I am addicted, and that's that.

Now, onto other fun things. First, the cultural. February 14th, as back in the states, is Valentines day. Also as with back in the states, people give chocolates and candy. However, unlike in the states, over here it is the women who give chocolate to the men. What happens next? Well, a month later is a holiday called White Day (no, I don't know why) where men give gifts to the women. Rather than chocolates, however, cookies are more appropriate. There is a picture of the result later on.

Secondly, we have a new friend at work. That's right, wild new teacher appeared! It's like having a new puppy. I just want to friend him, and take care of him, and make him feel happy and at home. As before, story will follow where appropriate.

Lastly, funny stories. OK, so, one of my grade school kids has developed a new habit. For the longest time ze spent class drawing on the walls. Ze has finally stopped doing so. Now, normally I would celebrate. Holler. Hoot. Woot, yay, oob. Except that ze now has a new habit. Ze spends the entire class--minus when I mime zer to take it out--with zer thumb in his mouth. So long as ze speaks loud, I'm fine with that. It's the fact that ze also spends the entire class with the other hand down zer pants. I am sorry, small child, but no number of sad and confused looks will ever make me give you a high five again.

Another funny story: An adult student mentioned that he had a product from TV that makes coffee really fast and easy. He also mentioned that the commercial had Brad Pitt in it. I asked him if that made him Brad Pitt. He said he hoped so. Now, pictures!

The river side path I've been hearing so much about.

The fields.

The view on a good day. Note Mt. Fuji.

A good view of Konosu.

Just because of weird English.

Cherry blossoms.

 Cherry Blossoms are big over here. They are called sakura, and in this season there is sakura flavored everything. Starbucks has a drink (see below), glorious caramel corn things, mochi, everything. Surrounding this love is the sakura matsuda, or flower viewing festivals. People basically go, have picnics under the trees, and drink/ climb in trees/ have a generally good time. This is all in the future, though, so pictures in the future.

Somos todavia abajo la misma luna.

Yay for white cherry trees.

 This starts my foray into the fields with my new friend. It was amazing, and we went off the beaten path, and I found a stick, but we were on the wrong side of the bridge to play Pooh Sticks.

The fields are green now.

A lone tree.

A lone tree.

Closer, with a bird.

Bird is gone...

Someone working the fields.

A pretty hill between fields.

The Arakawa river.

A pretty glade and a picture of the river.

A grove.

Another pretty grove, and a shortcut to...

mushrooms.

I don't know what this is.

Another cherry tree.

A nice shrine.

The shrine again.

The cell towers are on cement blocks.

A pretty pillar...I don't know why.

A nice view of the fields.

A nice panoramic shot.

A nice panoramic shot.

The lone cherry, from a bridge.

A house with an interesting garden.

A greenhouse in the middle of the city.

Pretty.

A High School.

A nice view.

A nice silhouetted view.

More cherry trees.

I just thought this would look nice. Yes, the sidewalk tilts.

My dog.

I miss my dog.

Wow, Japan. Just wow.

Sakura flavored Starbucks.

A pretty view of Tokyo at Twilight.

Ginza crossing. Not as cool as I thought.

A nice store front.

These both are finally coming over here.

I saw the Hobbit.

Because yes.

Me and my friend.

The giant grasshopper that almost made me late to work.

 I saw this little guy on the way to work. He's about the size of my index finger, and only had one leg. I really wanted to get him off to the side, but I was kinda squeamish about having him crawling all over me. That, and he was kind of squeamish about getting near me. I felt bad for him, though, and I really hope that he's doing OK...

I don't know why my onion created new life...

For Pi day.

 Pi day, for the uninitiated, is March 14th. Why March 14th? Because it simplifies to 3/14, while pi simplifies to 3.14. So, to honor both Pi Day and White Day, I bought some rather nice cookies and wrote pi on them. This was also due to the fact that pie as an entity does not really exist over here. I put this, as well as hummus, under the category, "things I don't miss until I realize they don't exist over here." I was fine without hummus until one of my co-workers mentioned how much she enjoyed it when not in Japan. I was fine without pie until Pi Day...and now I really want it.

Where the sidewalk ends.

A nice store sign.

A nice picture of some houses.

Triangle always makes me think of Sophomore year of High School.

Zoning and things like that don't really exist out here.

Another temple.

A nice grove.

The entrance to the shrine.

A field.

A rather nice picture.

The path up to the first picture.

And that's an update on my life. This has been another adventure in the Austentatious. If you liked me, tell your friends; if you hated me, tell your enemies; and if you didn't care either way then tell everyone. Good night.