I'm posting this today, August 18th, but it was written one week ago:

Awa Odori 2005

I went to see the zenyasai performance at ASTI Tokushima yesterday. It's the big show the day before Awa Odori proper starts. I was totally blown away. I have never seen anything like it. The main reason I went was to see Dave dance, as I had not seen him with his new ren yet. I was sat too far back to see him properly, but when a 6ft something giant comes shimmying on stage after all the small Japanese people, well, it's pretty hard to miss. :) Suffice to say I was able to pick him out no worries. I'm not sure if I'm allowed to be proud of Dave, but that was the word that came to mind when I saw him on stage yesterday: I was proud that my friend had got himself into such a fantastic show, and was being taken seriously by his new group. I was happy to be able to say “That's my mate down there!”

The standard of dancing I saw yesterday was phenomenal. I was totally overwhelmed, so much so that I just cried from beginning to end. I don't know why, but when I saw the perfect harmony of the onna odori, and the absolute power and enthusiasm of the otoko odori, together with the fantastic effort of the kids, well, I couldn't help but compare all that to what I'm doing with Minoda-ren. And we don't have a patch on these people. Compared to them, we are nothing. I was in absolute awe that such a perfect spectacle could be created with so many people. Legs lifted at the same angle, to the same height. Arms swishing back and forth in total unison. “Yattusa” answered with audible and enthusiastic “Yatto yatto” s. Directions changed at the blink of an eye with no stragglers. Not that I am in any way ashamed of my ren, or regretful of how we dance, but when I look at these dancers, I can't help but think that that's how we should be. That's what I aspire to. I'm not sure I have a chance with Minoda-ren. Which is part of the reason Dave left. If only we all had the same style of arms, or all had the same beat in our heads. We try, but looking around tonight, I saw just how much the dancers in my ren, at least in onna odori, are left to their own devices. I try to eminate the dancers in the city, as I have done for some months now, but then there's how Hori-san dances, how Junko dances, and everyone else with their own interpretation. There are girls who've been dancing for a year or so, who sort of have the basic step, enough that they can keep in time with the rest of us, but their form leaves a lot to be desired. Not that I'm much better, but I think we really need to be brought into line, cause we're all different, and it doesn't look great. Mind you, it doens't look AWFUL, but... I don't know. It's hard to explain without sounding like I'm putting Minoda-ren down. I'm not. I just noticed, for the first time, the difference between the big rens and our small family.

I love my ren so much. We have fun. We dance. It's a great relationship. Joining a big professional ren would, I fear, rob me of that wonderful sense of belonging. Or maybe not. Maybe it would just be a different sense of belonging. Not such a familial feel, more of a team than a family. Maybe that way, they get more work done: they haven't as much to talk about outside Awa Odori. I don't know. But they look great, and it's something that one day I would love to be a part of. That won't happen, though. If I keep to my three year tenure, as I am intending to at the moment, then I'll end my Awa Odori days with Mindoda-ren. And that won't be a bad thing at all.

But I want so much to do what these girls do. They look great. They look professional. I think that's what made me cry, just the realization of how it should be, how I want it to be, and how it's just not. And I'm jealous of Dave, getting to dance with these people.

Our dance season starts on Sunday. And I'll have a great time. I know I will. I can't wait. One wonders what will happen next summer, though…. Will I be dancing my last Awa Odori with Minoda-ren before boarding a plane bound for Scotland? Or will I be dancing my last Awa Odori with Minoda-ren before heading to the city as a fourth year JET just so I can join Uzuki, Ebisu, Aoi, Miyabi, or Tonosama ren? Maybe not, but these are just some of the many questions that will need to be answered in the next few months….

Early parties

This coming Saturday I turn 24! Yikes! To celebrate, my eikaiwa class (my adult English conversation class) got together to throw me a small party last night. I'm always touched when they remember things like this, and when I arrived last night, I was met by a spread of sushi, fresh melon, fruit jellies, and some sort of weird but delicious youghurt-and-fruit-mousse-cake that dear Ito-san had made specially.

I hadn't seen them in some weeks due to being in Tokyo, so it was nice to sit around, chat, eat good food, and talk women's talk. Even though poor Miki-san, the sole male of the class, had turned up to wish me well! I read them their horoscopes from the Marie Claire, which they always get a kick out of, and all in all, it was a lovely way to spend a Tuesday night.

Tomorrow, I'm heading to Tokushima in the afternoon to watch Dave dance in a show. I think, in Japanese, it's called 'The Night Before Festival', because Awa Odori proper starts on Friday. I may stay in the city on Thursday, and watch some dancing on Friday, before heading home for MY final dance practice that night. Saturday is a rest day for us, before we get stuck into dancing proper from Sunday to Tuesday. On Saturday, I'll once again be in the city. I have a ticket for seats to watch official Awa Odori parades, so I'm pretty excited. But I know that once I see them all come dancing down the street in front of me, I'll want to be doing it not watching it!

The summer is dragging by, and I really should get into studying. I just have no willpower. I'm so bad.

Flashing Balls of Love

Ah yes, it's that time of year again, where ALTs all over Japan are to be found in disused classrooms with one or two of their kids unfortunate enough to have been chosen to represent their school in the annual English speech contest. My school is, as ever, putting forward one student, a third year girl named Yuki (the name is as common in Japan as something like Claire or Laura in the UK. Maybe moreso). Yuki's a great student, she likes English, and wants to be an interpreter, so I hope doing this speech contest (practice for which can be mind-numbingly dull) will encourage her.

It's also my last speech contest, since my JET contract runs out next August. So I wanna win! Joe, the ALT in nearby Nishiiya, and I have a sort of friendly rivalry going on over it this year.

My weekend just past was pretty good. Nice and relaxing. Joe dropped by with a carful of new JETs, on their way to a welcome party in the city. Instead of that, I went to my local summer festival, danced a lot, watched lots of fireworks, spoke to lots of people, and drank some beer. Always a good thing. During the fireworks, I had an encounter with a small girl called Yuriko. I had never seen her beofore, but this wee thing decided she was brave enough to speak to a sweating, red-faced foreigner dressed in Japanese clothes (as I was; I had just danced). She tugged at me, introduced herself, and asked me all sorts of questions. Most of which I was able to answer, thankfully. Finally, she showed me a toy ball that had all sorts of lights flashing all over it. It had an English word printed on it, and she asked me what it said. In Japanese 'daisuki', in English 'love'. I thought it sort of nice that the first English word I was able to teach Yuriko was 'love'.

On Sunday I woke up to a blisteringly hot day, and cycled off to Mikamo sans sunscream (silly me). I came back with a brand-spanking new phone. It's cool. I love my phone.

Back at school today enjoying the free AC and coffee. And internet. And reading the new Harry Potter book. It's pretty good, actually. Though I should really be studying Japanese for the test I intend to take this December.

Finally, whilst in Tokyo, Tim gave me a CD with 170 tracks on it. Mostly Latino. If you are in the throws of a hot sticky summer, there is nothing better than jamming on some Buena Vista Social Club, grabbing a really cold G&T (it should really be rum or tequila, both of which I sort of hate), and listening to the hot, sultry sounds of South America. Even better if there is a summer thunderstorm raging outside. Oh, and throw open the balcony doors, let the sounds of the cicadas in. It's magic.

And so it goes....

Well, at last I am back in my wee town. I arrived late last night, far too late to go to dance practice. I finally crashed out on my futon about 1am, after a beautiful long shower, and a good hunt around the apartment for any unwanted guests that may have moved in during my absence.

Walking home from the station in the dark (yes, WALKING, with my 15 kg pack, and 8kg hand luggage! No taxis.) , I was able to savour the smells and sounds of the countryside which my senses had been denied whilst in Tokyo. The rice is really coming away now, and there is a wonderfully heavy, moist quality to the air near the fields. It struck me as I walked, that two years ago, practically to the hour, I was howling for home in my new house. I had been left alone for my first night, my house was less than impressive, and I didn't have a clue where to start. Everything was scary. Now? How different! I recall stepping off the plane in Tokushima, and asking one of the sempais with us, who was going into his third year out here, if returning to Tokkers from Tokyo felt like coming home. He said that yeah, it sort of did. That's how I felt last night. I heard the frogs and semis, I smelt the rice, and it felt like home. It's a nice feeling.

At the same time, I realised that I now have less than one year left on the JET Programme, unless I decide to apply for any fourth year posts. Not sure about that yet. I think I'd like to be in Edinburgh for a while. But the thought of leaving here fills me with such apprehension. It's impossible for me to say at this stage where I'll be this time next year.

Now all the new JETs are safely ensconsed in their towns. I hope they are having fun. i look forward to getting to know them, but at the same time, it'll only be for a year. It's an odd feeling...

I've posted a couple of pictures. There's the Tokyo skyline, an image of Shibuya, an incredubly busy and youth-oriented part of Tokyo, and then three friends from the National Counci who went to climb Fuji in the few days between the Orientation conferences. These lads are really great. They all live on Kyuushuu, and I'm looking forward to visiting them sometime in the near future. However, Nate, in the middle, says "seriously" a lot. Now I do, too. Damn you, Nate!!

Tokyo'd out

Here I am in Tokyo meeting all the new JETs that arrived in Japan this week. I was also here last week for the first lot of new arrivals. It is a lot of fun, and I have met so many really interesting people. I love meeting new people! It's just a pity that most of them are heading off to all four corners of Japan, and we are unlikely to meet again. However, 30-odd of them are heading to my wee corner of Japan, Tokushima-ken. It's always good to have the opportunity to make new friends, and I hope that these guys have as great a time on the JET Programme as I'm having.

I find myself thinking of when I myself was a new JET, and how overwhelming it all seemed. The fast-forward to two years later, and here I am, on the welcoming commitee, navigating the Tokyo subway system like I've lived here my whole life. Truly, coming full circle like this is a "You've come a long way, baby" moment! :)

But two weeks in Tokyo is plenty for me, thanks very much! I like Tokyo, and it's good fun to come and experience big-city living for a while, since I'm so far out in the country all the time. But I find myself missing my rice paddies, cicada noises and limited choice of food! It takes a lot energy to live here, and I think it's something you need to get used to gradually. But we are busy all the time here, and I feel myself approaching something like exhaustion now. Looking forward to going home!

But of course, home doesn't equal rest and relaxation, especially during August. August in Japan is O-bon time, and in Tokushima, O-bon is Awa Odori time! Yeah! The festivites start on August 11th, with a "night before" performance danced in ASTI Tokushima, by some of the most well-known rens in Awa Odori. Dave will be dancing with his new group, and I'm hoping to secure some tickets to the show. August 12th is the last rehearsal for my group, Minoda-ren, and on the 13th, I get to go to the city to check out Awa Odori proper! It's my birthday that day, and hopefully some friends will be around to have some drinks and watch the dancing with. Minoda-ren dances from 14th-16th August in Miyoshi anjd Ikeda. Can't wait! Then maybe, just maybe, I might get a long-lie sometime after the 16th! ;)

But it's all good fun, and I wouldn't want to spend my summer any other way!

Back in Action 2

Haha! It worked! The picture is me and my mate El (funnily enough) at the annual Sayonara Party, about 2 weeks ago. It was the first nice picture I came across on my hard drive, so it got posted.

That Sayonara party was ok. But we got mauled my mozzies. TOTALLY. Little buggers. I got to school the next day, the staff took one look at me, and I was sent straight to the clinic for some stroid cream. That did nothing to relieve the itch, the only thing that prevented me from scratching my skin right off was a tube of Aloe Vera gel that Janice left me with. Stick that greenm gunge in the fridge and et voila! You have a nice cooling gel which lets you get to sleep.

Hmm, can I do a picture of the mozzie bites? Reckon I can... You really can't see the extent of the damage, but I looked really bad, and probably scared small children as I walked past them in the street. Ok, I'm off to tinker with the layout of this site a bit more, and then maybe I can tell people about it, so it's not such a ruddy embarrasment. :(

Back in Action

I'm reeeaaallly bad at this. But I just heard that Blogger lets you load pictures from your hard drive directly to the blog. So I want to try it out.

First, a quick update:

-Heading off to Shimane this coming Saturday to dance with the ren in a contest. Even Dave has come back from the big bad city to help us out with this one!

-On Sunday, I'll be flying to Tokyo to welcome all the new JETs as they arrive. Scary stuff, I still feel like a newbie myself sometimes!

-After that, I'm back down here to sweat and dance my way through the rest of the summer.

Now, I shall try this photo thing. If it works.... well, maybe I can have myself a nicer website that I update more than once a year!! :)

Ho Hum

I'm really pretty crap at keeping this thing up to date, aren't I? There's just so much to do. This is a quick update, since I have to scoot off to elementary school in a wee while...

Burns' Night: I think it was a success. Everyone seemed to have a good time, we had some cracking poems, NO HAGGIS (for shame), and lots of good conversations. Truly international it was aswell: Russian, Hindi, Irish Gaelic, Spanish, Japanese and of course English were all read out. I really enjoyed it, and we raised a fair bit of cash for the tsunami appeal as well.

TTP: Ah, 'tis getting there. I have about 2 months left to go, and really, it's just putting it all together now. I hope I can give AJET what they want.

AJET: oh yeah... I ran unopposed for the Block 8 job (representing Shikoku), so it looks like it's mine. Sweet. But TTP comes first before I start on that new project.

Friends: Having lots of fun at the moment with all of them. Playing touch rugby every Sunday, which I love, back to Awa Odori practice as of two weeks ago, seeing a lot of Kenji, which I'm enjoying, wish I was seeing more of Jenna, Dave, Jeff, Neil, Sarah, Heather and Dubs etc... but I see them pretty often, so it's ok. My mates in Mima-gun all seem to be doing well, though I see hardly anything of them - they are all involved in this year's musical, which I have kept away from. part of me wishes I was involved in all that madness again, but I think I'm enjoying not having it structuring my time like it did last year. I have the book for that.

Gosh, the only time I seem to be able to pull my finger out and write in this thing is when I'm just about to dash of somewhere. I want to write more, and say more of how I'm feeling (so many adjectives!), but I just don't have time. Maybe tomorrow???

One last thing... missing the ex. Not good. I'm just glad he changed his email addresses!

Love,
Elliexx

January Blues

A whole month since my last post, not that anyone is reading any of these, but it's been a long time.

Home was.... not really home. My house was home, my family was home, Christmas was home, Edinburgh was NOT home. Shops I don't know, fashions I've never seen, music I've never heard. I've got a lot to do when I go back.

Which isn't for ages yet, as I'm about to sign on the dotted line for a third year out here. Ye gods.

But for now, I am bogged down in Team Taught Pizza despair. A good helping of I Simply Can't Be Arsed with a side of Have I Bitten Off More Than I Can Chew?, with I Wish It Was Finished for dessert. I look at it like this: any improvement to the last edition os a VAST improvement. Because it was not so good. and i know the team and I have made a lot of improvements. But I still have so much to do, and time is running out. I get flustered with myself when I'm asked to prepare lessons, or when I go to teach lessons, because it's taking me away from the book. But when I'm at my computer, I just think I'll do it later. I feel like I'm studying again. I won't be like this all the time. Things will improve again. This will be a great book.

It's also pretty damn cold here at the moment. It's not nice being so cold all the time, nor is it healthy. Still, I haven't been ill this season yet (wood), so maybe I'm more used to it now. I don't know, this whole term just has a feeling of routine to it, which is nice, because it means I can just get on and enjoy it, but it's also the first time I've felt this way in over a year, and I need to make sure it doesn't turn to boredom. You'd think TTP would guard against that... I'm sure it will, come the eleventh hour.

When the book is finally packed off to the printers, I will hopefully have a new project to get stuck into, in the shape of the AJET National Council. Yes, ladies and gents, I am throwing my hat in the ring for a second time, and putting my hand up for Block 8 rep. I was beaten to it last year by Greg, and was bitterly disappointed, so I hope it doesn't turn out that way agin this year. However, as my Dad says "You won't win it if you're not in it.". So I'll go for it and do my best. And if I lose...? I have a couple of other projects in mind to keep me going.

That all said, this weekend coming up is a biggie. Sarah's birthday night out in the Big Bad City on Friday. Very much looking forward to this, I'll see most of my closest friends, and I haven't actually seen anyone since I got back from Scotland yet. And on Saturday it's my Burns' Supper. That looks set to be a really good one.

I must dash, I have to write a book. Please send me some perky thoughts.

Love to you all!

Off I Go

Wednesday morning, 9.30am (gosh, that could be a S&G song!). All I'm waiting for now is the closing ceremony to happen, and then, come 4pm, I'm OUTTA here. Meantime, I'm whiling away the last few hours by chatting to Jo on MSN, reading a book, and writing this. I just challenged Jo to write a haiku about the OED and TTP, comparing the two editors of each publication (James Murray and me). Should keep him occupied pretty much all day! How do you fit 'Oxford Engligh Dictionary' into haiku structure?! :)

Looking forward to going home, but also feeling strangely sad at leaving Japan, even if it's only for two weeks. I miss people terribly. I miss my family loads too. It'll be hard to leave them when I'm coing back. I'm in a odd mood.

Friday!!!

Oooh, it's coming closer! I'm sooo ready for a break now. Mum keeps emailing me, telling me how much she's looking forward to seeing me, and it's the same here.

However, it's not here yet, so it's business as usual. Had a great lesson today with one of my favourite classes in my favourite elemeentary school. We made paper snowflakes out of origami paper, and it was lovely. The kids got into it, and it kept them relatively quiet, and the teacher, the mother of one of my JHS girls, looked just as relaxed. I love these kids, they make me so happy.

I also got some work back from various people for the book. Always a relief to see things arrive in my mailbox, but it also means I have to sit down and sort it all out. However, I wouldn't be without my project this year, no way! Vivi, a good friend who lives in Tokushima city, designed a new website for the book : check it out at http://www.teamtaughtpizza.com My photo is a bit stern looking, but someone commented that I looked "svelte" in it, so the sterness can stay! Next year will be pretty rushed, trying to get it all finished off. I'm happy to say that the English editing is (mostly) finished, so in the new year, it'll mostly be making the book look ass-spankingly good.

This weekend is one for getting ready: the flat is just awful at the moment, so I'll be tidying, cleaning, packing, planning. All my hotels, buses etc are booked. Now it's just getting there. I was going to write a fair bit in this post, but now I can't be bothered. Blah. Sorry to have wasted your time. Friday afternoon lethargy...

The Final Countdown...

Yes, laydeez and gents, this time next week, I will be sitting on the express train to Tokushima city, on my way to Osaka airport to fly home. I'm really looking forward to it: I'm ready for a break. This term has been great: fast, busy, sometimes stressful, always fun. I've loved every minute of it, but it's high time I found myself surrounded by my family and all things familiar again. Mum's even managed to source some morello cherries for her excellent chocolate trifle! Can't wait, although I think I'll need to do some exercise when I come off to work of the millions of calories the trifle contains.


That shouldn't be too hard, however. When I arrive back in Japan, I have three days to recover from the 36 hour flight before being plunged headlong into the final term of the school year. The first weekend then sees me heading to a ski resort on Honshu called Mizuho, near Hiroshima, for a weekend of skiing with some friends from my tennis club. Can't wait!

For the most part, things have quietened down around Tokushima for Christmas. We had two big parties last weekend, one for my friend Stpeh's birthday, and the other a Christmas party for all the ALTs in the ken. Both were a lot of fun in their own way. I think I like living out in inaka: I couldn't handle weekends like the last every single weekend, but when I do go for a big one, I enjoy it all the more for it not being a regular occurence.

Well, look at the time. I should go. I will probably update more later this week, when ,y holiday is tantalisingly within reach, but still in the future! Til then, stay warm!

'Tis the season!

Christmas roles around again! Gosh, it's been such a quick year. Japan, unfortunately, isn't the best place to be to get into the Christmas spirit. They have it, oh yes, but it's even more commercialised over here than it is at home, if that's possible. Japan being totally secular (more or less), it's all about the big pink Christmas trees, the traditional carols translated into Japanese (scream) and shopping til you drop. I guess Christmas at home is getting like that too, but there's still a part of me that likes the idea of going to Watch Night Services on snowy Cristmas Eves, and remembering what it's really all about, even if that part of it plays such a small part in my celebration of Christmas. If I have the energy this year, after travelling around the globe, then I'll head to church on Christmas Eve.

Meanwhile, things are getting mental out here in the run up to it all: orphanage Christmas visits, AJET Christmas parties, ALT carol tours, elementary Christmas party lessons etc. It's all good, I love being so busy, but part of me looks forward to January, when I can get stuck into some serious snowboarding without worrying that it's going to coincide with some big event. And of course, I am looking forward to Christmas at home with the family. Last year in Thailand was super, but it just doesn't feel right, drinking cocktails in a bikini on a Bounty ad beach on Christmas Day!!

This was a bit of a random post. I actually have some work to do for the book, need to post files off to my Japanese proof readers. I'll post again soon.

Warmest wishes of the season to you all!

Support meeting '04

Yesterday was the annual ALT support meeting for those of us living in the far west of Tokushima-ken (prefecture). I think the main purpose of these meetings is to allow the first years a more official setting to ask questions that may have arisen in their first few months in this job, but it's also a good opportunity for more recontractors to do the same. I enjoy these meetings, it lets me see how good my own position is, and what might be done to improve it. It also brings to mind things I may not normally think about.

I had a good chat with another ALT (who shall remain nameless just in case) . He and I are in the same position as regards having JTEs who couldn't give a damn about the JET Programme, and who regard us as nothing more than a bit of comic relief for the kids. It's a hugely frustrating situation to be in. It's demeaning, and doesn't allow the Programme as a whole to realise it's full potential. He and I are of the opinion that both ALTs and JTEs need to be given more formal training in the practice of team teaching, in order to utilise the opportunities it provides as much as possible. At the moment, so many ALTs are sitting idle at their desks because they believe they have nothing to do. It's a waste of their time, and their Board of Education's money. If ALTs and JTEs were more clued up about what an ALT can do to help the kids, well, things would be much different, and I'm sure ALTs would have a better reputation. I don't know, I don't think I worded that very eloquently. Every situation is different. The man who invented that phrase should be taken out and shot.

Today, tomorrow and Friday are test days. This means ALL my classes have been cancelled. In the spirit of the meeting yesterday, I offered my services to Tamezane-sensei, saying I'd be more than happy to supervise and/or mark tests. She said it was ok, I wasn't needed, but at least I offered. I would like to do something like that, but at the same time, I'd be worried I'd screw up (not having proper training in this sort of thing), and they really don't have time to show me the ropes. Sooooo, I get to work on my book all day! And tomorrow! And the next day! This is going to be the best book ever! I hope. I'm sure there'll be a post a couple of months down the line where I'm rueing the day I ever took the job on. But I won't mean it. I'm having fun with it, and it's going to benefit so many ALTs, the pros far outweigh the cons.

I should be off. Hope everyone is well.

Thanksgiving 2004

Being Scottish, Thanksgiving was a holiday I'd given very little thought to before I came to Japan. But, now I live in such an internatioanlly diverse community, some of my closest friends are American. This means Thanksgiving dinners. This year, I was lucky enough to be invited to not one, but TWO fantastic Thanksgiving meals. Not bad for someone who doesn't even celebrate it!

The first happened last weekend in a town not far from Himeji, on the main island of Honshu. It was thrown by good friend Amanda, and was the perfect way to round off the weekend of dancing I had done in Osaka, with my other good mate, Dave. After we danced, we headed to Himeji, and were shown some warm American hospitality from Amanda, and her housemate Vivian. Amanda and her helpers had cooked for 35 people! No mean feat, and I was happy to meet so many new people over some delicious food

Then I got to do it all over again, only this weekend's bash was on more familiar ground. Fellow ALT Kirsten lives in a town not far from Miyoshi, and this Saturday night just past saw her small house packed to the gunnels with 17 hungry JETs. Again, the food was excellent, and everyone had made a great effort to bring a home cooked side dish. After the food was eaten (and most of it was), we sat in the living room and played drinking games all night long. A nice relaxing night, in the company of the people I arrived in Japan with. I hadn't seen so many of these guys for a long time, so it was good to relax and unwind with friends who have been with me here from Day 1.

Top Moments of this year's Thanksgiving celebrations:
1) Watching the little cousin of a new acquaintance play for the Dallas Cowboys while slurping red wine with said new acquaintance.

2) Eating my first Western style homecooked food in months.

3) Watching a half cooked turkey being sawed in half in a desperate bid to cook it properly!

4) Watching Jo blow a raspberry into Marita's tummy for a dare.

5) Sitting round playing the Movie Quotes game while quaffing still more red wine.

6) Listening to Jo and Janice having to change their laughs for a dare. Hard to explain, you had to be there!

7) Giving a impromptu and short Awa Odori performance with Dave at Amanda's for a very appreciative group of people.

Roll on 2005!!

Forgot about this!

Hi everyone! In totally forgot I signed up for a blogspot months ago. So here I am, and here are some of my stories. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy telling them. Unfortunately, I've been in Japan for well over a year now, so there's a year's worth of stories confined to my journal, destined never to appear on this page. However, I plan to be in Japan for another year and a half to come, so that means there is another 18 months worth of stories that may make an appearance on this board. Have a read and enjoy, see you all soon, I hope.