Rain + Bike = epic fail

Hello everybody! Sorry it's been about a week since my last post. A lot of things have happened this past week!

First off, today is raining like crazy. I normally love rain, but when I have to ride my bike in the rain it really sucks. I get to work all in shambles. My jeans are soaked with water and my bag is a bit damp. Ah well! Last weekend I had a small gathering for my co-workers at my apartment. I made it a Tex-Mex party. So I cooked up authentic Chicken Fajitas (if you don't know what these are click here for English or here for 日本語。） I also made some Guacamole, Nachos, and warmed many flour tortillas. My co-workers really loved the food! One of them told me that it was the best "Mexican food she had ever tasted!" Of course fajitas aren't exactly Mexican food, but I love them. I had quite a bit of chicken left over, so I ended up eating fajita chicken for 2 days.

Last Friday was my last class for this school year. The school year ends in March here in Japan and the new school year starts in the beginning of April. In my class we conducted an interview test. It was fairly simple, because I just asked for the students opinions about various subjects. My goal this term was to get the students to be able to tell me their opinions, even if they were in the simplest form. I would ask them "What do you think about _____?", and they had to respond to that by saying "I think that ______ because ______." Then they would have to ask me a question the same way. I was quite pleased with the results. Almost every student was able to have a small conversation with me. I was happy to talk to them about things. Honestly, I wasn't even marking them while we were talking. If they tried I gave them the points they deserved. Everybody is different, therefore I have to mark them differently. After they finished the small test they had to write a a message or comment on the class. I received a lot of funny, cute and sweet messages about the class. Most of my students have excellent English writing ability. So the messages were great. They were happy to talk, and they looked forward to the next year, so do I! ;)

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday I didn't have to go to my school. They were only testing and interviewing the new junior high students that were entering my school in April. I mainly just hung out at home and relaxed. Tonight (Friday) I have to attend a dinner for my PTA English class. The students in the class (mainly parents and the lot) want to go eat sushi with me, so I have to go. I plan on eating absurd amounts of sushi. That's another good thing about Japan, sushi is quite cheap! Especially at the supermarket, where you can usually grab a decent sized sushi for about $3!

I will try to take a photo or two tonight! I'll be back real soon with an update! Cheers!

peace

vince

Walking around

I was walking around today, and I thought you might like this picture. You can't see this in El Paso! :)

peace

vince

Dotombori area or Osaka

Happy Sunday

Well, this weekend was quite interesting to say the least. This morning was bloody amazing. The sun was just shining so nice. I washed my clothes and hung them outside. I then began to take a walk down to the electric town to buy a game. There were loads of people out and about this afternoon. I guess that sun just brings everyone out. I went out and took a few more pictures today. I'm going to try and do this more often, so look forward to that.

For Valentine's Day, I made Tex-Mex chicken fajitas, guacamole and soup, with tortillas. It was really good. Everyone seemed to like it. I think there is nothing that compares to the fresh taste of fajitas with guacamole, oh delicious. I hope you all enjoyed your Valentine's Day. I got 2 candies for Valentine's day!!! From my students! woohoo!!!... Be back soon, until then, enjoy some photos.

peace

vince

my fajitas, guacamole, soup and tortillas in a towel :)

a typical street in my neighborhood

7-11

actually, i don't know what this is.

a giant fish (fish market)

old men playing mahjong, they are there every sunday.

it's the big sale.

aftermath of delicious ramen, at a place called "al pachino ramen".

Hey everybody! I just wanted to share some of the pictures I shot with my cell phone the past few days. I hope you enjoy. Comment if you wish!

peace

vince

A Valentine's Chocolate my student made me

Dotombori Area in Osaka, about 10 mins from my apartment.

View from my apartment balcony

View from the balcony of my room

View from the balcony of my room

View from the balcony of my room

Elevator at my apartment, 8th floor :)

My door :)

Leave your shoes here!

My room

My favorite Tako-Yaki shop by my apartment, one guy cooking, another buying. Tako-yaki is fried squid in batter. An Osaka traditional food!

Intersection next to my apartment building.

In front of my apartment.

Bike parking at my apartment.

Mail boxes

Would you like to buy a subway ticket? :) Subway ticket machine

Subway station gates, close to my apartment.

Waiting for the train. This train station is close to the school I work.

The lonely train station

The train has arrived

Valentine's Day

Well it's the time of the year for love and all that. Valentine's day is coming and all of the marketing magic that comes along with it. I have to admit, I have enjoyed Valentine's Day in the past. I know it's a special day for people all over the world, and I suppose a miserable day for others. Anyway, I thought you might be interested in how Valentine's day is viewed over here in Japan. In Japan, Valentine's day is reverse, that is, girls are supposed to give boys something. I believe that most girls will make chocolate at home for their boyfriends or their good friends. I remember last year, some students brought me some home made chocolate. Lately I have seen advertisements for watches and cologne, etc, so I think that more luxurious items are now being marketed over here as Valentine's day gifts. Now apparently the quality of gift is supposed to show if a girl is interested in you or not. (this is what a co-worker told me, so it may not be true) That does make sense though. I wouldn't give an extravagant give to just anyone either.

So you are probably wondering what the guys have to do on Valentine's day. Well that is what "White Day" is for. What is "White Day"? It is March 14th, and it is a day that the guy is supposed to return the favor he received from his female friends. All the men's gifts adverts come down and all the women adverts go up. hmmm... So white day is a day for giving back for the guys. So this all leaves me in a predicament... I'm American, so should I celebrate Valentine's Day like I would in America? What about this "White Day"? 2 gifts? Too many questions over here. haha

Well I'm still going to celebrate Valentine's day the American way and Japanese. I'm going to make a hybrid holiday! Do you have a good name for my new hybrid American and Japanese Valentine's day? Let me know! I'm going to take a few photos of the Valentine's day displays this week, I'll post them up later on.

I'm interested to see how this week turns out. Be back soon!

peace

vince

p.s. become a follower!! look to the right side and click on "follower"

Let's Wipe!

Here is another lovely gem I found in our bathroom today. This is my tissue box. Make sure you wipe that! Let's all wipe together everybody!! You wipe me and I will wipe you!!! We can throw it away too!!! :)

Comments

I fixed the bug with my comment box. It was supposed to be showing underneath each post. Now it will open in a new window. Anyway, comment away people! haha

peace

vince

Life Saving Sandwich

I went to the local Circle K this morning. I picked up this interesting sandwich. It's always good to know a sandwich could save your life. Oh Japan...