That 20-something phase of life

August 7th Wedding!

2010-08-13T04:48:00.010+09:00

Finally, our wedding! I wish that all of my Japan family and friends could have been there, but we will have to celebrate in Japan one of these days!

Miss you all!

Beach photo session pics!

2010-06-30T10:12:00.002+09:00

Hi there! I'm not sure who still reads this but I thought I'd update it anyway in case there are a few of you who still follow this blog. Our wedding photographer took our beach photos last week at Magic Island. These are only a few; we're still waiting to receive the CD with all the pictures soon. Do you like them?

To my overseas friends: I miss you all! How are you?

Happy New Year of the Tiger!

2010-01-07T03:52:00.005+09:00

Hi everyone (not sure who still reads this by the way),

Happy 2010! I'm sorry I have been missing in action these days. Life is a little crazy at the moment. Here are some pictures of my family at our annual New Year's eve celebration.

I hope you're doing well. I miss you! I hope you have a happy, healthy, invigorating New Year! Akemashite omedetou!

Hubby and wifey - first NY together!

Playing a board game!

We enjoy eating ;)

Introducing...

2009-10-03T10:29:00.002+09:00

Bartek and Kelsey Turek (well, I will change my name soon!)

Kauai honeymoon August 2009

Long time no write!

2009-08-27T06:43:00.002+09:00

I'm SO sorry for taking forever to update my blog. Things have been so busy for me the past few months. I will explain soon...

I just came back from a conference in Chicago. Work is so busy so I'll have to keep this short. I just wanted to post so you knew I was still updating my blog (semi) regularly. I miss all of you! I will post again soon.

Until then...how are all of you doing?

May picture time!

2009-05-28T10:01:00.006+09:00

Here I am posting pictures from May and in a few days it will be June, halfway through 2009. Where does all the time go? Here are a few pictures from my recent adventures and family outings. Enjoy! Miss you all!

lantern floating festival

our lantern

she's so cute! she had donut frosting on her face!

manning the bbq

mom and I

Bartek and I

Katie and I

Dad and I

Emily, Lauren, and I

2009-05-09T09:15:00.001+09:00

"I want you to get swept away out there. I want you to levitate. I want you to sing with rapture & dance like a dervish. Yeah, be deliriously happy or at least leave yourself open to be. I know it's a cornball thing, but love is passion, obsession, someone you can't live without. Fall head over heels. Find someone you can love like crazy & who'll love you the same way back. How do you find him? Well, you forget your head & you listen to your heart. Because the truth is, there's no sense living your life without this. To make the journey and not fall deeply in love...you haven't lived a life at all. But you have to try, because if you haven't tried, you haven't lived. Stay open. Who knows? Lightning could strike." - from Meet Joe Black

Kyoto Sakura ;)

2009-04-21T10:48:00.003+09:00

Fukuoka - where it all began ;)

2009-04-21T10:18:00.005+09:00

26er!

2009-04-01T06:19:00.005+09:00

Haha! My dad didn't even notice and he was the one who ordered the cake :)

Thank you everyone for making my 26th birthday so special :)

gym time

2009-03-25T04:37:00.004+09:00

Honolulu Festival Daijayama Float!

Sorry it has been forever since I've posted. Things have been crazy around here and in my personal life. But I'm getting back on my feet slowly and thought it would be a good idea to post. Condo hunt: still in progress. Waiting for the prices to go down a bit more before we place any bids.

OH I joined the gym!! The gym "culture" in Hawaii is interesting. As I was riding the bike yesterday, I was having fun people watching. There were some interesting characters there, like this guy on the stairmaster. He looked like Stuart from MadTv, walking backwards and staring in my direction. Awkward!

Slowly preparing for my Japan trip. It's been almost a year since I've been back. I wonder what it will be like this time around?

Effective April 1 I will be the JETAA Hawaii President - and I have huge shoes to fill. I'm excited though, and the other officers are great ;)

What else...what else...tennis. I played my first match (mixed league) on Saturday. Thanks to my awesome partner Len, we won 6-1, 6-0! And our team is doing really well so far - 1st place in the league! Keep it up team woohoo! My next match is in April and I hope I don't let my partner down.

Miss you!

It's almost February!

2009-01-23T10:35:00.002+09:00

Where did January go? SERIOUSLY? Work: busy. Personal life: busy. Family: busy. Keeping busy is good though. It's been so hard to get out of bed these days because it's FREEZING!! And then I always laugh and think to myself, how did I survive Oregon and Fukuoka during the winter season if I can't even survive Hawaii's "winter?" Ohh acclimation....

Still on the condo hunt. We're going to a viewing next week so hopefully that goes well but it's a studio so I'm not expecting to fall in love with it. Patience, patience. One of my NY's resolutions (it's one every year it seems).

Busy night tonight for work so I will catch ya on the flip side :)

Ne-Yo I love you!

2009-01-07T08:46:00.005+09:00

Ne-Yo full of class and style, Blaisdell Arena 1/5/09

My family

2009-01-06T08:42:00.006+09:00

Me and my dad as Santa this year at our family party

Emily as the funniest Santa ever!

Katie and the traditional regifted dinosaur!

We performed Jingle Bell Rock!

My mom's side of the family

fireworks at G&G's!

Right before Matthew stuck his sparkler in my hand!

Gorgeous Katie in her yukata

We were trying to get to his level...haha!

Pyros 4 lyfe!

*Thanks Uncle Gary for the photos!

Happy Healthy Hopeful 2009!

2008-12-30T08:05:00.004+09:00

2008 was a hard year for me. At New Hope yesterday, Pastor Elwin said, "2008 wasn't that great, but 2009 will be fine!" and since then it's been my motto. The best is yet to come if we expect it, live in anticipation, and begin preparing as it is our personal responsibility. I hope all of you have a wonderful new year full of great things. Miss you! Kampai! OH but please don't drink too much and end up like this sorry puppy! ;)

Nostalgic moment

2008-12-18T10:29:00.002+09:00

When moments of nostalgia hit you, I think it's best to acknowledge them and, in my case, blog about it. I miss Japan and so many aspects of my life there. I miss Roman and our long talks over wine or people watching in the city. I miss the friends I made in Fukuoka. I miss having my own apartment. I miss my big bed and my down comforter. I miss teaching. I miss my students. I miss the other English teachers at Asako and Mizuki-san. I miss playing taiko. I miss my daily walks in the tanbo. I miss traveling in Asia. I miss riding my mamachari bike. I miss shopping in Tenjin. I miss the "irasshaimase" greetings and the Japanese aesthetic. I miss the food! Mmm what I wouldn't give for a bowl of Hakata ramen right now! Sigh. Back to focusing on the here-and-now.

things new...

2008-12-04T06:22:00.000+09:00

I feel like it's been forever but my heart is content again. So many things have happened within the past year and 3 months since I moved back home from my teaching stint in Japan and for the longest time I felt like I was just barely keeping my head above water. Now, my dad and I are chipping in to buy my very own condo. Of course this means eating out less, not going shopping unless it's to buy things for the condo, and living a frugal lifestyle overall. But this is a great investment! In the near future I hope to enroll in a master's teaching program part-time or full-time and continue that career path.

Things with Roobs are great too :) It's so refreshing to be in a relationship with him, and we are learning so much together. Anyway, gotta run - 14 hour day at the office because of our Christmas fundraiser tonight at a beautiful hotel in Waikiki. Miss you all!

Poor Turkey!

2008-11-25T04:15:00.003+09:00

Happy Turkey Day everyone! I'm going to buy my very own place by the beginning of the New Year - c'mon market, keep dropping!

Obama!

2008-11-07T07:17:00.000+09:00

Obama Obama Obama Obama Obama Obama Obama Obama Obama Obama Obama Obama Obama Obama Obama Obama Obama

An Ugly Halloween

2008-11-05T06:37:00.003+09:00

Halloween!!

Ugly Betty!

Ugly Betty and Genie

Lion King and Betty

L-R: Christmas Present, Meatwad, Betty, Genie

Us girls :)

Downtown here we come!

Quote of the month!!

2008-10-11T09:17:00.002+09:00

--In teaching 1st graders about Japan for one of our educational programs--

Kelsey: "What does a frog sound like to Japanese people?"
1st grader: (in robot voice) "Japanese Japanese."

And this is why I love children!

What shall I be

2008-10-03T11:21:00.000+09:00

for Halloween? I feel like dressing up this year. Ideas?

Tokoro de...

2008-09-17T05:08:00.003+09:00

(By the way...) My 1-year anniversary at my company was last week Wednesday woohoo!! Vacation shitai naa~

Are you voting?

2008-09-17T04:39:00.003+09:00

I am, and you should too!

I'm putting my absentee ballot for Hawaii's primary election in the mail right after I post this. Candidates running for the Board of Education were asked how a teacher drug-testing program should be administered and funded, and it sparked my curiosity as to whether other states currently administer drug-testing. I guess it's time to do more research...

Still debating what to do for the next few years. Recently I've been thinking about graduate school in Hawaii and renting my own place, before moving on to a totally different location (mainland, I'm hoping). Hawaii would be such a different experience living on my own and I think one that I would enjoy. I'm probably still going to apply for TfA and see where that takes me, but I have a lot of brainstorming and soul searching (haha) before I invest more time in applications and research. Recently my social life has been blossoming even though I feel like it took the past year just to get my feet wet, and I think it may be a good idea to continue to let it bloom rather than experience the transience of it all so soon. Ideas/advice are always appreciated and welcome :)

Thought process

2008-09-03T06:47:00.005+09:00

Me and Trac at the Okinawan Festival

Karaoke time!!

Me and my uchinaanchuu friends ;)

My one year anniversary of being home in Hawaii has arrived, and while I am thrilled at that thought something is weighing on my mind. I feel like I'm ready to live on my own now (again). Living with dad has been nice and has allowed me to save a lot of money but I do miss my freedom and I'm sure dad does as well. I just feel that I'm missing out on a lot by not living on my own, even at the cost of high rent in Hawaii. For instance, I really miss having friends over, entertaining, which I did a lot in Japan. I miss being able to watch TV or listen to music at any hour. I miss being able to decorate the house according to my tastes. I miss coming home late and not feeling bad about waking up dad. We have such a different schedule mainly on the weekends. I don't want to overstay my visit. While dad said it's fine for me to stay another year, I think it may be time to branch out on my own. Any thoughts??

To a new beginning...

2008-08-29T02:47:00.003+09:00

L-R: Shaynie, Lyla, Nick, Noah

My family and I organized a family picnic last weekend because everyone is so busy these days, the kids are growing up, and grandma is always saying how she wishes she could see her great grandkids. It was such a great day at the park and I hope to continue these mini reunions every so often. Time waits for no one.

Right now it's one day at a time and filling my time with things to look forward to; time to get all the extraneous thoughts out of my head.

Three generations

How cool is that?

2008-08-20T03:05:00.004+09:00

Things have been a bit stressful for me lately in my personal life but I'm fortunate to have supportive friends and family members. Trac if back home, and I'll soon see the Fukuoka crew. Hashimoto sensei and his wife came to visit as well, and we realized we've known each other for 3 years now and that so much has changed since then. I lived in luxury at the Ihilani Resort for my mini vacation and am settling back in at work. It's a blessing that I'm so busy because it keeps me occupied and focused on the things I need to do. The family reunion is this weekend along with a cousin's grad party so I'll be on-the-go yet again. When's my next vacation? Haha.

Hashimoto sensei and his wife came to visit Hawaii and we had a nice dinner on their last evening. I miss you! It was so great to see you again!

Hashimoto sensei's wife, Hashimoto sensei, and me

Ihilani Resort for my mini vacation!

One of the lagoons at Ihilani. I wish I could have stayed longer!

Pearl Harbor Workshops

2008-08-12T10:38:00.006+09:00

At Willows Hawaiian Buffet with Group 2

Me and Matsuo sensei

At Ala Moana, eating ice cream before dinner ;)

Bon dance time!

The past two weeks went by so quickly although I put in a lot of comp time. I met some amazing people at the Pearl Harbor Workshops and really enjoyed being a part of this wonderful educational program offered to middle and high school teachers from the U.S. and Japan. I'll miss hearing Shiga sensei mistakenly refer to me as "Cherushii" or bon dancing with the Japanese teachers at Koganji, or teaching Joel pidgin English or Hawaiian words. I hope I am able to participate in next year's workshops!

I'll be vacationing soon!! Woohoo!! So excited! And then Hashimoto sensei and his wife will be here! And friends are back from Japan! Life is good.

A quote to live by...

2008-07-19T08:11:00.001+09:00

"We live in the past where nostalgia makes us sad, or in the future where our worries cause anxiety. We fail to grasp that this moment we are in is all there ever was or ever will be. Life is, was, and ever will be, simply now."

-Gerry Lopez, legendary Hawaii surfer

It's time to blog

2008-07-18T03:25:00.003+09:00

I've been putting it off for a while now but alas, it's time to blog. I don't even know how many people still check this site and I apologize for not posting regularly but things have just been...intense for me lately so it has been trying to sit and write about this vague intensity I speak of.

Let's start with work, I guess. I've been at the company for 10 months now and am looking forward to my one year anniversary. I'm excited because along with celebrating (and more benefits = paid vacation and sick leave!!) comes a sense of accomplishment. A sense of gaman (perseverance) (yes, I have my issues with the Japanese philosophy but it does run through my veins); a sense of pride that I survived this far despite minor setbacks and the inescapable drama of any working environment. I've learned how I operate under pressure, how to accept commands from superiors, how to stand up for myself professionally, and how to roll with the punches. In about a week or so, I'll be working overtime (weekends plus weeknights too) at the Pearl Harbor Workshops. It will be great to see the fruits of our labor (finally) since I have been working on this program for months (and is the reason for one of my business trips earlier in April) and getting more anxious by the day. What's also great is the amount of comp time I will accumulate from working overtime, which hopefully means taking a mini-vacation afterward.

On to personal health (mental, physical, emotional) and well-being. Pardon my vagueness but in a nutshell, things have been crazy. With a capital C. And Crazy is now becoming bittersweet. I plan on getting into an exercise routine again next week and will work on eating healthier. I am on a temporary hiatus from yoga but I plan on returning in August or September, once things are less hectic for me and my schedule frees up a bit. I'm losing my flexibility (I was never that flexible to begin with) and would like to work on improving that, along with my posture. I believe these were New Year Resolutions, come to think of it... I need to be getting more sleep too. Six or seven hours just doesn't do the job for me; I need eight! I'm getting a hair cut next week and am aiming for a new look. Suggestions? I brought my hair magazine with me today.

My social life has been good. I am not much into the clubbing scene and have been good about alcohol recently but I do enjoy a chill evening with friends over dinner and drinks. I miss having my own place where I can entertain guests and have get-togethers. Grad school or TfA is not far away though, so I'll have my own place then (possibly with housemates) and will bring back Lebowski nights, board game night, and just dinner with friends. I don't hang out at home much these days because I've been spending a lot of my time with someone else.

I'm looking forward to seeing two teachers whom I used to work with at Asakura H.S. visit Hawaii this summer! And to JET friends returning home. I don't want to say good bye to friends leaving but that is part of the beauty of life: seeing people come and go, and having faith that your paths will cross again.

Lonely by Mishka

2008-07-10T11:02:00.002+09:00

I love this song by Mishka. Just imagine a white curtain on a clothesline, blowing in the wind while you lie in a hammock between two palm trees...ahhh

Tired and confused
are you running from the west
heart and and soul abused
does your mind need a rest

I wouldn't cry, it might make a flood
and I don't know if I can swim that good
I wouldn't cry, it might make a flood
and I don't know if I can swim that good

I've been lonely, only,
when I stop to think about you
So I don't stop
I just keep on,
trying to keep my head above these blues

Down there in Rome,
we're longing to go home
the last train has gone
the last bird has flown away

I wouldn't cry, it might make a flood
and I don't know if I can swim that good
I wouldn't cry, it might make a flood
and I don't know if I can swim that good

I've been lonely, only,
when I stop to think about you
So I don't stop
I just keep on,
trying to keep my head above these blues

I've been a fool and I've been a loser,
I play it cool and I won't blow a fuse,
I've been a fool and I've been a loser
Oh not this time

pinky swear

2008-06-18T06:56:00.002+09:00

I promise to put pictures up of my business trip to Tokyo this past week - it's just been so hectic for me, playing catch up at the office!

This crazy guy I know saw my blog address and read it as kelster-uko-soma. So lolo!! Haha.

Miss you guys! How are you doing?

June bug!

2008-06-03T04:11:00.002+09:00

It's June already - only half a year until Christmas. This summer will bring many changes, major ones including friends moving back home to/leaving/visiting Hawaii; enrolling in a GRE prep course, taiko lessons, hula lessons; and researching graduate programs and TFA opportunities for 2009.

Currently reading: The Salaryman's Wife by Sujata Massey

Basically, this explains how I feel about certain friends leaving Hawaii this summer:

"The Japanese word for nostalgia, natsukashii, is touched with more sadness than joy. This kind of melancholy swept over me now...I understood now why I should have run...because the problem with caring about someone was the pain it brought, the possibility of loss" (348).

May's theme song (well, verse)

2008-05-20T11:01:00.002+09:00

"Wrap your arms around my love handles."

I don't know about you, but this girl's working hard for her money.

Miss you!

hawaii dai suki!

2008-05-07T17:20:00.005+09:00

It's been a while...gomennasai to my readership! The weather has been so nice lately (besides the vog that has made my allergies act up) and I thought I'd show you a glimpse of just how nice this paradise is. Come visit! Miss you all. How is everyone doing?

I just had to.

2008-04-25T19:02:00.004+09:00

I just had to take a picture with the sakura. Like any noble foreigner in Japan ;) Gosh, I miss that place. I miss that life. I miss the people so much. But moments of clarity illustrate why I am back home, and I am confident in that decision. I need to clean my room. Clear my head.

I'm off

2008-04-11T06:15:00.003+09:00

to neverneverland.

I'm leaving tomorrow for Japan (again, I know, I was just there) on business. I hate packing with a passion. One could say I'm passionate. Trying to stay positive here ;) Hopefully the roller coaster ride is all uphill, although the down part can be frighteningly exhilarating. See you when I get back! Jya ne!

The milestone 2-5 day of birth

2008-04-02T03:32:00.007+09:00

Thank you, everyone, for celebrating this milestone (and golden) birthday with me. I ate so much over the past week!!! You are all amazing ;0)

For the hopeless romantics

2008-03-29T03:47:00.001+09:00

I carry your heart with me

I carry your heart with me (I carry it in my heart)

I am never without it (anywhere I go you go, my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing, my darling)
I fear no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet)

I want no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

Here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

I carry your heart (I carry it in my heart)

-EE Cummings

Minasan, arigato!

2008-03-28T04:43:00.003+09:00

Thank you for the birthday wishes and celebrations (some yet to come), everyone! I am now officially a member of the Quarter Century Club - amazing how fast time flies. Milestone birthdays always make me stop and think about where I am in life and in what direction I am heading. I have no regrets coming home to spend more time with my family and gain some life experience working in Hawaii for a few years. Planning my next adventure, though in the preliminary stages, keeps me looking toward the future. I am not ready to plant my feet yet; there are so many places I want to see and cultures I want to experience. The best time to do that is NOW when nothing is really tying me down. It's funny what direction(s) life takes you. Although I never imagined my life to be the way it is now, I am loving it and so thankful to be where I am at. Arigato, minna!

Happy Belated Easter!

2008-03-25T04:09:00.004+09:00

Katie (my little opihi) showing me her little chick from an Easter egg

Bubbles! She blew them all on me!

They were helping Matthew and Katie hunt for eggs.

Emily is growing up so fast!

me and grandma at lunch after Easter Service

cousins ;)

Elle and mom

For my students who said I look like BoA (I really don't)

UPDATE: I will be in Japan for business mid-April (Tokyo/Fukuoka/Kyoto as of now) and anticipate having lots of free time. I'm still trying to plan my schedule but meanwhile, if you think you'll be free, let me know!

Aete yokatta!

2008-03-20T13:14:00.003+09:00

hengao at Coco Ichi

Ryohei and Takahiro, it was so nice seeing you in Hawaii at the Honolulu Festival. You did a great job! Aete yokatta!!

Happy Aloha Friday!

2008-03-08T11:11:00.002+09:00

No stress - it's the weekend!

A quick trip

2008-03-04T17:36:00.006+09:00

Shashin time

2008-02-23T03:05:00.003+09:00

Countdown, Beckham, laziness

2008-02-20T17:37:00.002+09:00

Countdown to Fukuoka: 7 days!!

Going to watch Beckham take on Gamba Osaka tomorrow, and the championship on Saturday too. Who to cheer for? G-A-M-B-A!

Laziness is a strange thing. I'll explain later. If I ever get around to it. Haha.

2008-02-15T08:27:00.003+09:00

Happy Valentine's Day! Believe in those you love.

February already?

2008-02-04T16:27:00.000+09:00

Here are some pictures from the past few weeks or so. It's crazy to think how fast time is going by. The other night I celebrated my grandpa's 81st birthday and it got me thinking how nice it is to celebrate these occasions with my family again after a long absence. I don't know exactly how long I plan on staying in Hawaii before my next adventure (at least a year longer?) but for now I'm working on soaking up a lot of sun when I can. I need to get my tan back!!

I miss my tanbo

2008-01-30T17:30:00.000+09:00

It feels like I've been home for a while now; Japan feels far removed and more like a distant memory. But every now and then, as I'm walking down the street or eating at a restaurant or driving in my Toyo, something will remind me of Japan and suddenly I'm back in Amagi on my mama chari bike, at the conbini running into my students after their sports practice is over. Surprisingly I've run into so many people in Hawaii who look exactly like people back in Amagi and I have to take a second or third glance to make sure it's not really them. We have an intern at work and the other day I said to her "natsukashii yarou?" and she giggled, saying "Wow, I haven't heard kyuushuu ben before except on TV! Sugoi!" and it hit me: I still miss it. I always will. It's not a distant memory. But now I can experience Japan and particularly Fukuoka from a different light and I seriously cannot wait. Seeing friends, students, familiar places, and hearing familiar sounds (especially being called "Kerushii" again) are incentive enough to get through this exceptionally busy time right now at work. Let's reunioning!!

'Brutal and horrifying'

2008-01-19T05:34:00.000+09:00

Those words were used to describe one of the most tragic fatalities on Oahu to date. Yesterday, a 23-year-old man threw a 1-year-old boy off a freeway overpass near my office. The toddler fell 25-30 feet and was hit by oncoming traffic. Police pronounced him dead at the scene. As I was listening to the radio, the newscaster made two good points: 1) Why are people like this 23-year-old man, who had recently and on numerous accounts been admitted to psychiatric wards and holds prior convictions for other misdemeanor charges, set free in society; and 2) Why was this toddler left unsupervised and unattended throughout the day (police had found him wandering on the street earlier in the day and returned him to his apartment complex)?

As outraged as people in Hawaii are at the suspect in question for second degree murder, I can't help but place partial blame on the mother of the victim. Responsibility to care for a child lies with the parent(s) or legal guardian(s). I'm sure this was not the first time that the victim was left unattended and wandered onto the street alone. Could the baby even walk at a year and eleven months old? Although the victim was pronounced dead at around 12pm, the mother was the last to hear of her son's death at 7pm although many attempts were made to contact her throughout the day. She claims her cell phone wasn't working properly and that her car was overheating, which delayed her from returning home even after neighbors told her of the news regarding her son. While she ran errands, her son was left in her father's and boyfriend's care. She also has a 16-year-old son who lives with his father and a 5-year-old son who lives with her mother. The father of the victim is in jail. I don't think her children are her priority, but I fear I am being too judgmental. Or am I?

Who is to blame in a situation as unbelievable and heartbreaking as this? And ultimately, why do children have to suffer the consequences? Is their justice?

In other news, a man beat his ex-girlfriend and mother of 5 to death on the road after ramming into her car. A witness was also injured as he tried to fend off the murderer. What kind of place is Hawaii becoming? 'Paradise' is becoming an illusion.

Another new year

2008-01-16T02:59:00.000+09:00

Haiku

Two thousand and eight
A year for new adventures
and rediscovery

Me with my cousin Katie on New Year's, playing fireworks

My students

2008-01-11T06:28:00.000+09:00

are graduating! And the best part is that I will be able to see them graduate! I can hardly wait for the day to come when I hear the familiar voices of my students singing their school song and national high school song, see them receive their awards, and unite one last time as a class. I am also excited to hear about the next chapter in their lives and where that will take them. How great it will be to go back to Fukuoka...

**Edit**

New Year's Resolutions
1. Meet new people wherever I go; venture out
2. Unpack my boxes from Japan
3. No beer in '08
4. Start saving more money for my next adventure
5. Start paddle boarding
6. Continue with yoga for better posture and more flexibility

We Mele Kalikimaka'ed it up!

2007-12-28T11:18:00.000+09:00

I love my family!!!!

Survey says...

2007-12-18T11:23:00.000+09:00

I'm not sure if you readers out there enjoy the picture vs. text posts...I'll take a survey. Let me know your thoughts. Meanwhile, here are some pictures of my family.

Grandma's birthday dinner

before the hair-in-Kelsey's-sushi incident

dazed

2007-12-14T05:08:00.000+09:00

Such a busy day, and running on not much sleep.

Holiday wish list:

Ipod - need one with more gigs; probably a present to myself
GC's! rather than clothing or knick-knacks
phone calls to-and-from far-away friends
great vacation for Mizuki okaasan, Ryosuke, and Anna
nice beach weather
20-ft. waves on the north side
good health for family and friends
some personal R&R time

TO THE STUDENTS AT ASAKO: I MISS YOU!!

Hi ho, hi ho...

2007-12-04T05:23:00.000+09:00

it's off to work functions we go!

Kori, Ryoko and me, KAMPAI!

I miss kampaiing in Japan...but if all goes well, I'll be there in FEBRUARY '08!! Mark your calendars!! Let's kampai it up!

Sugar, ah honey honey!

2007-12-04T02:46:00.000+09:00

Sugar Bowl Baby! Congrats Warriors!! If I can't make it out to New Orleans, I'll be in front of the TV on Tuesday. You're looking at a possible season tickets purchaser now.

Let's go Bows!

2007-11-28T08:11:00.000+09:00

See that picture? Know what it is? It's tons of UH fans rushing the field after UH's victory over Boise State. The game was awesome - thanks Bill!! My cousins were there too, sporting blue and orange, but sadly (happily) green was a better color to be wearing that night, or any night for that matter. This weekend, as UH takes on Washington, I, along with 50,000 others at the stadium, will be rooting for the Warriors til I go hoarse. "BCS! BCS!"

happy

2007-11-23T11:06:00.000+09:00

Thanksgiving! Hope you are all enjoying your time, whether it's in Japan, Hawaii, Oregon, or wherever you may be. I miss you all!

It's good to be home...

2007-11-16T07:51:00.001+09:00

to celebrate the "little things" that I have missed out on for the past 6 years - birthdays, get-togethers with family and friends, holidays, Sunday dinners, baking cookies with grandma, playing tennis with dad, going shopping with mom, going to the beach alone - and spend more time with the people and place I love.

Happy 1st Birthday, Matthew! My family celebrated Matthew's 1st birthday, and here are a few pictures to capture the event. Aren't the pictures amazing? Uncle Gary took them - Gary M's Creations ;) Thanks Uncle!

Father-daughter moment...we blink a lot

Take 1: "Katie, look at Uncle Gary!! Katie, smile!! Katie!!"

Take 2: "Katie, please look at Uncle Gary! Katie, over there - no, up, no, to the right!"

Take 3: "Katie! Over there!" Look at Uncle Gary! Tickle time!"

I don't know why, but I love this picture of Ryan in mid-jump.

Reunited with the 海 (sea)

2007-11-14T03:53:00.000+09:00

I finally made it out to the beach after being home for over two months. That's how busy - and ashamed of my Laos kayaking tan - I was. I wonder if Roman still has his tan from the Nam Khan. Geez, I keep forgetting to post my India pictures. Forgive me. Anyway, here's a very Hawaii pic for you. Do you know what kind of fish that is behind me? Brownie points to anyone who does! Take a guess '_'

Me and Ryoko at Hanauma Bay

TO MY STUDENTS AT 朝高、I MISS YOU!! 　日本の友達や家族、会いたいです！！

time to switch

2007-10-31T03:54:00.000+09:00

it up a bit. After working at my new job for only 6 weeks or so, I will be changing position titles (and positions)! New title: Educational Program Coordinator (教育プログラムコーデイネーター). One of the perks of this new position is traveling to Japan once or twice a year on business. Basically, my role is to recruit Japanese teachers to come to Hawaii and attend a workshop on the surprise attack at Pearl Harbor. Will they want to attend? I think it depends on what generation they are from. Regardless, I am excited to visit Japan - and hopefully 福岡! Then I won't be lying when I say じゃね！

カラオケ in Hawaii！！

2007-10-23T03:20:00.001+09:00

We sang so many Japanese songs - とっても懐かしかった!　日本大好き！！！

日米協会 Annual Dinner 2007

2007-10-23T02:55:00.000+09:00

Our Society had its Annual Dinner a week or so ago, which is why I was so busy (忙しすぎ) for the past couple of weeks. I'm sorry for not posting sooner, but here are a few pictures from the event. It's nice to have our biggest fundraiser under my belt, so to speak, but the workload hasn't stopped! The bottom of my in-tray: haven't seen it since I moved into my new office. But I am enjoying this job and the experience it is giving me. Miss you all! 　

皆さん、いなくて寂しい！連絡して下さいね？

Me and my co-workers posing for a quick picture before the guests arrived.

Centerpieces, favors, and color theme =　きれいでしょう？

Sheraton Waikiki Hotel

Alive and well

2007-10-03T17:26:00.000+09:00

well....relatively. With the new job, I've been extremely busy! But I just had to post this kodak moment from the weekend. These are some of my cousins - I felt so old! Playing dodgeball, volleyball, soccer, and Cranium with these little rascals really wore me out. Let's face it; I am not 18 anymore....

Miss you all!! How are you? GENKI?????

mada naretenai yo!

2007-09-18T07:14:00.000+09:00

I MISS JAPAN AND MY STUDENTS AT ASAKO!! I'm still adjusting to my life back home. I have a new job now and it's great but keeping me extremely busy. Life never slows down for me it seems. I know that's a blessing in disguise but still... Anyway, my India pictures are not up yet - I apologize. So many things are going on at once, and I don't have much time to just breathe. It gets better, right? Please say yes....

China

2007-09-04T18:04:00.000+09:00

Memorable moments
climbing the Great Wall
karaoke: Bruce's "My Heart Will Go On" and me and Mandy's "Don'tcha"
experiencing rat poo in/on/after our family style dinner and still having to pay!
bargaining for Beijing 2008 Olympics keychains w/the girls
seeing the different faces of the Terra Cotta Warriors
being mesmerized by the Chinese acrobats in Shanghai
playing "Who is the captain?" on the train with the cute Chinese kids

Laos stands for

2007-09-04T17:14:00.000+09:00

L aughing with Roman and the monks dressed in orange
A dmiring the French architecture in contrast with Buddhist temples
O ff on my adventures after leaving Japan and my students
S wimming in ponds and waterfalls with water the color of mermaid's tails

jya ne

2007-08-31T19:11:00.000+09:00

Saying "jya ne" (see you later) to the people who have become my second family in Fukuoka was one of the hardest things I've had to do in a while. But at the same time, I feel so lucky to have had the chance to meet these wonderful, caring people and create memories that will stay with me. I still don't really know what to feel yet; all the emotions are stirring inside me and I am trying to digest them slowly. Here's hoping for a safe flight back home; I can't wait to see my dad's smiling face in the crowd of people waiting in baggage claim. Miss y ou all!

"You look like a Tibetan!"

2007-08-21T18:02:00.000+09:00

is what I hear whenever I meet someone new in the Tibetan community I'm staying in in Delhi, India. Either that, or "you Korea? Japan? Thailand?" I just smile and shake my head. Lhakpa, my Tibetan friend living in India, tried to get me in to the Taj Mahal for the local admission rate of 25 rupees ($0.80 USD) assuming I would pass as a Tibetan visiting from the south who spoke neither English nor Hindi. No luck. I wasn't convincing enough I guess. So I had to pay the 750 rupees for foreigners (~$25 USD) which isn't so bad seeing as I will probably never come again and it was absolutely breathtaking. Pictures to come later. I'm having a great time here although it's so stressful not being able to trust anyone or know what they're saying. The poverty is overwhelming at times, so I just count my blessings. Will write more when I have the chance. Stay tuned for beautiful pictures of my travels in Laos, China, and India ;) Miss you!

Khob Chai!!

2007-08-02T12:57:00.000+09:00

Hello everyone! I am writing this post from an internet cafe in Luang Prabang, Laos. It is a beautiful place...be sure to check later for pictures from my travels. I am safe and having a great time. I miss all my students and friends back in Japan, though.

Today: going to Kuangsi waterfalls to go swimming, play with the tigers and bears, and take a lot of photos ;)

Miss you!

あっという間に (in the blink of an eye)

2007-07-23T22:11:00.000+09:00

I can't believe it - I've already said my farewell speech in front of all of my students and teachers. My last taiko performance with Mada wadaiko is finished. I feel like I've done nothing but say goodbye for the past few weeks. Of course I couldn't hold back my tears during the goodbyes, but I'm glad that everyone knows exactly how much I've enjoyed this experience and how sad I am to leave Japan. I will miss my students so much. But it's not goodbye; it's "see you later." I will see you all again someday. Thank you for the flowers, sign boards, notes, gifts, and one last "meditation please!!" from Kosuke. One of the best surprises ever ;) Thank you for the enkais, parties, performances, memories. This is a blessed life.

"Look! I'm on TV!" 1-3 class

2007-07-23T17:50:00.001+09:00

Otsukaresama 3kumi! I'll miss you all!

"Look! I'm on TV!" 1-4 class

2007-07-23T17:35:00.000+09:00

Otsukaresama 4kumi! Miss you!

"Look! I'm on TV!" 1-2 class

2007-07-22T22:29:00.000+09:00

2kumi, I will miss you!! Otsukaresama!

"Look! I'm on TV!" 1-6 class

2007-07-22T22:18:00.000+09:00

Otsukaresama 6kumi! I'll miss you!

Kodak moments

2007-07-22T21:55:00.001+09:00

Miho and I at Shikanoshima beach

me and Eri

last time seeing Vaughan for awhile....til we meet again!

my last time making ikebana at Asakura High

I'll miss these girls

My ikebana sensei

@ Tony's Cafe with Tokuda sensei

guacamole!

Mizuki san and SPAM!

"Look! I'm on TV!" 1-5 class

2007-07-22T21:42:00.001+09:00

Otsukaresama 5 kumi! I'll miss you!

"Look! I'm on TV!" 1-8 class

2007-07-22T21:24:00.000+09:00

Great job on your TV commercials, 8kumi! Otsukaresama!! I will miss you!!

During the typhoon...

2007-07-16T22:44:00.000+09:00

Talk about bad timing....having my sayonara party the same day as the typhoon that hit this past Saturday. Because the trains weren't in operation in certain areas (boo!), four friends weren't able to make it to the city but we still managed to have a great evening at Mocha Java, Volume, and karaoke. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE for celebrating with me. I will miss you all so much. Let's meet up in Hawaii/ Japan again in the near future.

English Club Farewell Party

2007-07-16T22:33:00.001+09:00

To Mippo, Mikako, Chiemi, Seina, Asuka, Megumi, Yumi, Tomomi, Ayaka: THANK YOU SO MUCH for the party and the presents! I will miss you all so much. I will never forget you.

Class Match!

2007-07-16T16:26:00.001+09:00

"Look! I'm on TV!" 1-1 class

2007-07-16T15:23:00.001+09:00

More TV commercials with 1-1 kumi. I had so much fun watching your commercials! I will miss Kosuke's "Meditation please! Stop it! Stand up! Bow! Sit down!" greeting every class. Otsukaresama 1kumi!

"Look! I'm on TV!" 1-7 class

2007-07-16T15:05:00.001+09:00

For my last classes with my ichinensei (1st year students), I divided them into groups and had them make commercials in English for certain popular products. Here are some of the commercials by 1-7 class, beginning with our class picture. Otsukaresama, 7kumi!!

more pics

2007-07-13T23:05:00.001+09:00

I LOVE my students! (Part II)

2007-07-13T22:10:00.001+09:00

My English Club students!! I LOVE YOU ALL!

I LOVE my students! (Part I)

2007-07-13T21:53:00.001+09:00

As the time nears for me to leave Japan, I realize how much I will miss my students. I only have 6 more classes left of my JET career, and then it's on to new adventures. I just want my students to know how much I will miss them and how much they have taught me over the past two years. More pictures to follow once I have more time to upload them!

"How do you say 'goodbye' in Thai?"

2007-07-02T18:25:00.000+09:00

As I sit here thinking about the remaining 28 days I have left of my JET career and wondering how I'm going to say good-bye to my students, co-workers, school, friends, family, my life, I recall Tara's conversation with one of the children on our volunteer trip to Thailand. We were getting ready to leave the orphanage so we had to say our good-byes to the children. Tara asked one of them how to say 'good-bye' in Thai, and the child replied, "Good-bye in Thai!" as if Tara's question was so silly. It was hilarious and since has become one of our many Thai trip mottos. Sigh. I suppose there is no easy way to say good-bye and hold back the tears. Here are just a few pictures from the past few days/weeks/months.

My friend Mayumi's children, Marin and Ryuusei - two of the most kawaii Japanese kids ;)

sunset at Keya beach

Inge's sayonara party. We miss you!

Thanks for the pic Ai ;) (Us at the after-party at Fubar)

Moneybags Kyle after winning the Janken taikai and buying everyone a shot of vodka

me and Roman - both enjoying our tans!

Hikaru and her little sister are so adorable!

me and Yoko

on the rock, toasting our buns

Sayaka, Larissa, Roman, me, and Hikaru

me and Sara

me, Seigo, and Miho

my favorite 4th graders at Kanagawa Elementary

on the rock pt. 2

How do I say good-bye?

A lot can happen in just one week...

2007-06-26T17:23:00.000+09:00

It feels like it's been ages since I last posted, but really it was only two weeks ago. Sorry for not posting sooner! So much has happened within the last week and though I'd love to write about all of it, I honestly can't remember everything. Plus, I'm exhausted and have Japanese class in half an hour. So I will post highlights of my last week since it sure was hectic.

Last week's highlights
-Wednesday and Thursday: American high school students from Texas and Arkansas came to my school to practice judo. It was refreshing to be around American high school students because they present themselves differently than high school students in Japan. I spent my entire Thursday from 8:20am until 7pm translating, interpreting, playing tour guide, watching The Last Samurai in the LL, explaining Japanese culture, teaching two OC classes, translating the judo coach's instructions, learning about life in Texas and Arkansas, and actually learning about judo. It was a great experience as tiring as I was after leaving school at 7pm. What a great experience for both my small town and these American students to get a taste of life outside of their little bubbles.

- Friday: I visited Kanagawa Elementary school for the first time in about a year. I taught the 4th, 5th, and 6th graders (3 back-to-back classes with genki kids = TIRING!!) and realized how much I miss being around children. Don't get me wrong; I love teaching at a high school, especially at my school, but once in a while, I miss being hugged by little kids or asked for my autograph or seeing the children fight to see who will stand next to me or talk to me first, or just seeing how excited these children were to learn English and play games. The 5th graders asked me to eat kyuushoku (school lunch) with them in their classroom so they prepared my salmon, rice, and miso soup so carefully and beautifully. In the middle of lunch, one of the boy students asks me how old I am and if I'm single. I reply, "24, and yes" in Japanese and he proceeds to ask me, with a huge smile, if I would date his teacher and if I am interested in his teacher, who is sitting about 6 feet away from me. The teacher is actually cute and great at his job, and 23. We were both blushing. But no thanks, not my type ;)

- Saturday: Roman and I went to the ALT after-party at Fubar and danced the night away for one last time with the other ALTs. It was interesting seeing everyone out at the same time at a small bar and I had a lot of fun mingling, dancing, and just enjoying the night. I wish I took pictures that evening but I left my camera in the locker outside of the club. Oh well!

- Sunday: We gave Inge and Vaughan the tour of lovely Amagi, as I like to call it. Thanks for coming all the way to our inaka town!! That lady at dinner who was staring at us sure didn't know who she was messing with ;)

Busy week again, and not too many left too. Only 5 more weekends. How insane is that? I'm not ready...

Picture post

2007-06-13T17:39:00.000+09:00

Sorry for not writing in a while. I can't get the blogger page to load at school now so I must resort to updating at home, and I've been so busy in the evenings these days. Anyway, a few updates since my last post: I've seen Kodo (famous taiko group) perform in Amagi, and I am in love with them now!

Let's see, what else. Well, I was able to join the flower arranging club again to make an arrangement. The style is called "areinji" (arrange) using a sponge to hold the flowers in place. It's not my favorite style but I learned a lot from the sensei and had fun with my students. I will have one more chance to make ikebana in July, followed by a farewell party for me by the kadoubu (flower arranging club) students and sensei. Where has all the time gone?

Mizuki san invited me to a hotel in Harazuru this past weekend to celebrate her granddaughter's 10th birthday. Happy Birthday Anna chan! We had so much fun just relaxing at the hotel, eating at the famous Manju restaurant, going to the onsen, and checking out the market and newly built 3 Water Wheels (sanrensuisha) in Haki. I'm truly going to miss spending time with this family. But they are coming to visit and stay with me in Hawaii during Christmas and New Year's, so it won't be long before we see each other again! Tanoshimi!!

Anna chan posing for the camera...she's so photogenic!

cool waterway shot

sanrensuisha

I'm not a stalker. Just loving the father-and-son moment ;)

My Japan family (Mizuki okaasan, me, Anna chan, and Ryosuke)

Our hotel room at the Sky hotel...these beds were used as trampolines by Anna and Ryosuke

love this picture!

us ;)

COUNTDOWN: T minus 7 weekends. Samishii!

Aloooooooooooooooha!

2007-06-05T18:44:00.001+09:00

Here are some pictures from my last and most memorable Culture Festival at Asako. I was a little worried that my students would be too shy to come to the hula lesson but we had a good turnout and everyone did a great job, including the six teachers who came and supported us!! Thank you everyone!! To my English Club students, you all did a great job with bingo and hula! Otsukaresama!! Thank you! I will never forget this day!

*Thank you Shikada sensei for taking pictures!

teaching/learning He Aloha Mele

not sure what we're laughing at??

my bingo card...I actually got bingo twice but I didn't take the prizes :)

my hula girls

learning some basic hula motions and steps in the not-so-hula-friendly LL classroom

my Japan family when I had them over for dinner at my apartment

My ikebana (flower arrangement) for Culture Festival. This style is called jiyuka, which is basically a free-style arrangement.

All the beautiful ikebana for Culture Festival!

Eight more weekends are all I have left in Japan. I'm just trying to embrace every day and every moment I have with friends and students. Soon it will be time to say good bye. I have to say good bye.

I don't like countdowns

2007-06-03T22:05:00.000+09:00

but at some point they are inevitable. Today is June 3rd, which means I have less than two months left in Japan. I'm not looking forward to the good byes, I know it already. But change will be good; change is necessary for growth to occur. Staying positive is key right now.

I'll update soon with pictures from Asako's Culture Festival, including the hula lesson and the ikebana (flower arrangements) we made. Ah, my last culture festival, and definitely a memorable one. I am so fortunate to know the students and teachers at school.

Gotta love pidgin English

2007-05-23T17:11:00.000+09:00

I was correcting my 1chinensei (1st year students) midterm exams today, and one of the sections was a series of sentence arranging problems. The students were given sentences in Japanese as a hint in unscrambling the meaning in English. In particular, one of the questions was something like

(no) (me) (today) (I) (money) (have) (with) .

and the acceptable answer was

I have no money with me today.

But I had to smile when some of the students wrote,

I no have money with me today.

And what I immediately thought after reading that:

Ho brah, you no get any money? Wat wen happen? Why you stay broke for? Like borrow?

Haha.

What a catch :)

2007-05-14T09:20:00.000+09:00

Happy Birthday to Roman, one of my closest friends in Japan...a great catch, too!

Toothpaste ad

I felt bad eating the fish because the tail was still moving!

Golden Week called for

2007-05-06T19:50:00.000+09:00

relaxation, and tons of it. Roman and I traveled to the two southernmost prefectures in Kyushu: Kagoshima and Miyazaki. We both fell in love with Kagoshima and its people and would love to visit there again someday. The slow-paced, friendly people reminded me a lot of home, not to mention the beach culture and salty smell in the air. Hibiscus plants and tropical flowers lining the sidewalks added to the experience of truly being on an island. I guess living in the middle of Fukuoka and being surrounded by rice fields and mountains makes me sometimes forget that feeling. Some unforgettable memories of the trip:

carefree little girls enjoying Aoshima beach

Thank you, Shinichi san! Mata oai shimashou!

Children's Day banners

Ibusuki sand bath

haha

sea of heads at Ibusuki sand bath

me and roman before the sand bath

breaded and fried asparagus at one of the best restaurants in kagoshima city

i'm going to miss this

beautiful nakazono ryokan

after Furusato onsen

zzZZZzz

famous Furusato Onsen

Nakazono Ryokan

on the ferry to Sakurajima

蚊、行け～！(mosquitoes, go away!!)

2007-04-27T10:21:00.000+09:00

Great invention: electric vaporizer for mosquito liquid. You plug it in and it chases mosquitoes away. I've had to plug it in this week even though it's not yet summer. The mosquitoes in Amagi are 強い！ Strong buggers.

i love reading

2007-04-23T08:47:00.000+09:00

"We see all kinds of different things as we grow up. And with each instant that passes we change into something new. We keep moving forward, and as we move we keep being confronted by this fact, over and over again, in many different ways."

"Each one of us continues to carry the heart of each self we've ever been, at every stage along the way, and a chaos of everything good and rotten. And we have to carry this weight all alone, through each day that we live. We try to be as nice as we can to the people we love, but we alone support the weight of ourselves." - Banana Yoshimoto

me and Yasuko and the lovely wanman train behind us

Katsuki sensei and our blueberry-coconut-strawberry parfait

mmm mmm coffee parfait!

my totemo furui (very old) Japan apartment kitchen

Brian reminded me on the phone last night that we only have 13 more weekends in Japan. I guess most countdowns are bittersweet, as this one surely is. One thing's for certain though: I will not miss the mosquitoes who inhabit my apartment year-round and who had a feast on my right arm last night. Here's to the best 13 weeks ever! Kampaaaaaaaaaaai!!

15 weeks and 1 day...

2007-04-16T09:21:00.000+09:00

left of my JET career
til a new adventure begins
to enjoy Japan and its people
to get to know my new ichinensei (1st year students)
to experience the things I set out to do here
to prepare for good byes
to pack up my nihon no seikatsu (life in Japan)

Hard Rock Cafe Fukuoka with Lynn and Ai-ling

Kenyetta, Katie, me, Anh, Amy, Ai-ling

Ensoku (field trip)

2007-04-13T08:54:00.000+09:00

Don't you just love how one word in the Japanese language has 5 different equivalent meanings when translated into English? Asakura high school had its annual ensoku to Akizuki (a neighboring town) yesterday. Ensoku can be translated as

1) an excursion
2) a (school) trip
3) a hike
4) an outing
5) a picnic

Yet in English, these words have very different meanings. In yesterday's case, it was either one of the first two options. All the students and faculty walked over 2 hours one way to Akizuki, had lunch and some time for recreation, and then made the trek back. Here are some Kodak moments:

Ai and Yurika: you make me smile!!

Yuki, what are you doing?

My students each take turns carrying all the boys' bags. Why they do this, I have no clue.

Nobuko, I put your picture up!!

Aww I miss you girls!

These preschool kids decided to roll down the little hill and kept yelling, "Tanoshii ne?" "Kimochi ii ne?" (This is fun, ya? It feels good!") So cute!

Relay time: pass the football

Last year's ichinensei: Miss you!

green jerseys: ichinensei, red: ninensei

Classic Junpei: bright pink shoes! Only in Japan.

Yano sensei and the sakura

A cool group of new students, 1-2 class, who told me I was "totemo furendorii" (very friendly). They thought I was from either Thailand or China because of the color of my skin. Hmm? I look forward to teaching them next week.

2007 Kansougeikai (Welcome/Farewell Party)

2007-04-11T09:36:00.000+09:00

***Pictures courtesy of my new digital camera, a Canon IXY digital 900IS, 7.1 mega pixels!! Thanks mom for the $$ to buy a new camera! R.I.P., Sony Cybershot.***

Last night, we had our farewell party for the teachers who were transferred out and a welcome party for the new teachers who were transferred in. Although it was a lot of fun talking and laughing with them, it was a sad day because I had to say a formal goodbye to those teachers who have left Asakura high. School just isn't the same without them. The teachers who I am friends with promised that they would come to my farewell party in July. Yakusoku da yo!

Muscles!! Back row: Mizuki san and me; Front row: Hirata sensei (P.E. teacher) and Ohba sensei (math teacher)

me and Shikada sensei (English teacher) with a replica of the famous Roman?Greek?...thing....anyone know?

me and my new supervisor, Kamisaka sensei (English teacher)

Kitajima sensei (English teacher)!

kocho sensei! Shaka brah!

a very red Yoshino sensei (English teacher)

Tsuru sensei (P.E. teacher)

L-R: me, Yano sensei (English teacher), Watanabe sensei (English teacher), Kocho sensei, Yoshinaga sensei (P.E. teacher), Mizuki san (office worker/Japanese mom), Takakura sensei (my previous supervisor; English teacher)

one of many beer refills for Shigyo sensei (social studies teacher)!

Kawano sensei (who blasts "Amazing grace" on his cd player in the quiet staff room every once in a while! Love it!)

Esaki sensei (math teacher) and Shinohara sensei (Japanese teacher)

Mizuki san and I were able to sit at the same table by luck of the draw!

the new kocho sensei (who used to be an English teacher)

all of the teachers who were transferred to different schools

MISS YOU ALL! PLEASE KEEP IN TOUCH! SEE YOU AGAIN!