Stories

I really should have brought my laptop with me to work today... because my teacher that acts as my supervisor here doesn't have my schedule for the week, the classes are messed up anyhow b/c of exams and such, and he told me that I won't have classes today anyways. ]

And I don't have any classes tomorrow, either. ^^; I'm going to finish the book I'm reading before long and I can only bum around on the internet for so long--cause other people use the computers here.

*flops over and sighs* Maybe I can leave after I get my schedule for the week. I don't think there are any afternoon classes anyways. The schedule seems kinda wonky (shorter classes, which usually means nothing in the afternoon).

edit: teacher came RIGHT as I was posting this, gave me the schedule. Today in my one class, they're watching a movie. I can sit and watch the movie with them, or sit in the office. It's the Shawshank Redemption. I think I'll go to class. :D Tomorrow, no classes, of course-- Wed, two classes and Thursday and Friday each have one class, I believe. For some days (like today) I can leave after fourth period, cause there are meetings.

Again, I love this school. ^^

Plus, my teacher was giving my advice and talking with me about good classes and topics and how to format them and FEEDBACK is glorious and there is good chance he's transferring out next school year. WHHHHHHHHHHY am I losing the good teacher? He's made of all sorts of awesome and win and he's going to be leaving. ;__;

It's official now...

I am NOT recontracting for another year, I just handed in my paperwork concerning that.

Not that I don't love Japan and the area that I live in, but... I already stated my reasons why I wouldn't continue. ^^;

Okay, so here we go with the weekend report of fun traveling stuff.

I met baine at the bus station on Friday, late--SO glad the buses ran later than websites and other info said, we got back to my house pretty late. Still ended up talking a bit and tried to plan out what we were going to do the next day. Also had Taiyaki (the fish shaped bakery thing, usually filled with red bean paste, but we got a chocolate one)

Our first trip was to Mt. Aso, which was a ways away, but after several bus rides, train rides and more bus rides, we made our way up the ropeway to some beautiful scenery. There were tons of little stands up the way, and as we were browsing a sulfur stand (o.O) there was this "gajin, gajin!" We had to muffle our laughter and headed further up the slope. It was just amazing to see! Behind the cut are the pictures from Aso. Beware, there are a lot of them. ^^;

( mtaso )

We went to Kumamoto City afterward and just bummed around town and tried to figure out what we were going to do when we came back. We traveled through several Arcades and got some dinner before heading back.

The next day was a three hour bus ride to Miyazaki City and to the infamous SeaGaia, an indoor beach. It's actually really cool--there are three water slides, different swimming pools and the 'ocean' beach area, with real waves that wash over you. There is even more major waves where people can surf on. Yes, I have pictures of that as well, and even a video of the surfing. It's not the best video (taken with my camera from a distance) but it shows the waves and stuff.

( more pictures )

The third day (and final day, *sniff*) we went to Kumamoto City, to see the Kumamoto Castle, various shrines and famous homes of feudal lords, plus--shopping. =D Today involved a lot of walking, a few wrong turns and some awesome priests at one of the shrines. (They gave us a lift to the place we walked RIGHT BY earlier, go us and Laz's bad sense of direction and some confusing signs). The castle was pretty neat, I tell ya. It was mostly destroyed during Japan's last civil war, but restored beautifully. There were several buildings along the way to walk in (some of which had the original flooring, so no shoes and some creepy, creaky floors and narrow stairs...XD)

It was cool to imagine people living there and just existing. Some of the exhibits inside were cool--muskets and swords and clothing, boxes and daily living stuff--didn't take pictures of the stuff inside (I don't think it was allowed) but by the time we got to the top, we took pictures of the surrounding area. It was just gorgeous.

We walked around until we finally found the Gyotobei mansion, and it was just cool to walk around this place and I got a ton of pictures for it.

Afterward, we went to the Kamitori Arcarde, wandered a bit, hit Tsuraya (huge department store, we didnt even see it all) and had some yummy tempura lunch in one of the basement areas. We checked a few places to come back to buy more stuff, then we headed to the Shimatori Arcade where we had the Taiyaki we had the other day. (SO yummy, I want more of it. XDD)

baine had to head back at 5, so we bought some shoes for our jobs and headed back to the bus station. It was a total blast, if exhausting and I can't wait to visit her in Sasebo in a couple of weeks. It's so quiet without her here! XD But I really did have fun and I have a day to recover before I go back to the school, where it's Sports Festival week and I get to cheer on the students. Whoot.

( pictures of Kumamoto Castle area )

Alright all--

I'm in Japan and in Tokyo at the hotel. It's like... 5 something in the morning in Utah and I'm dead tired. More later.

;_;

I'm only hoping that it all works out, cause my visa application was incomplete, due to me not having the address of the place that I'll be working. I didn't even know the CITY until last night. >_>

*crosses fingers*

Annnnnd another update with JET

Dear JET applicants:

Congratulations on achieving participant or alternate status! Competition was fierce this year, so you must be very happy to have made it this far.

(and the cynical part of me wants to go "he's being nice and not trying to say "you didn't try hard enough, losers." =D)

but... I'll get the packet soon, fill it out and wait again. By the way this entire SEMESTER has flown by, a few weeks is nothing. o.O

Whoo~

I made it past the first stage for JET-- so I'm going to the interview sometime in February. ^__^