Stories

Random things--

Spent the weekend + a few days in Osaka/Kyoto/Himeji area. Was pretty neat--hung out with a few friends and while we didn't do everything together, it was still a blast.

Bonnie and I got into Kyoto way early and we poked around, saw Toji (five storied pagoda) and a cool Book-Off. I got a few things there and so did Bonnie. XD Those stores are rather addicting. We bummed around Osaka part of the day the next day--Lindsey and I headed to Osaka Castle and on one of the floors, you could put on these helmets that they wore during the time the castle was being ruled. XDDD We got pictures of it on Lindsey's camera. When the other people saw what we were doing, they started taking pictures of us as well. XD

Went to Den-Den Town (Akihabara of Osaka) and shopped a bit there. Found a few cool stores and I'd love to go back to K-Books and drool a bit.

USJ was really fun-- XD Especially waiting in line for a roller coaster in front of these Japanese school girls that kept on giggling at us. ^__^ And the Peter Pan show was awesome. And as Bonnie and I were leaving, we saw a street performer (from San Fran!) entertaining the crowd with tricks and teasing. It was pretty awesome.

On the last day, we were going to see Takarazuka Revue, but the tickets were sold out (:__;) so we'll try and hit the group when they come down to Fukuoka in July. So instead, we saw the infamous Osaka aquarium and it was kinda nifty, but I thought a bit overpriced for what we saw, but Bonnie and I agreed that it had to take a lot of money to maintain everything. We also went to Himeji Castle and poked around there (really large and the best maintained/preserved oldest castle in Japan). The stairs are like the ones in Kumamoto--narrow and steep. Walking down those in your socks is NOT fun. =P

But all in all it was a lot of fun--if tiring (almost ten hour bus ride from Fukuoka to Osaka, on top of the three hours from Kikuchi to Kumamoto to Fukuoka) and it was great to meet up with everyone.


Oh yeah... while we were in Den-Den Town (and had real Osaka Okonamiyaki) we stopped at this arcade type place and saw Toushi (sp?) from X Japan. Randomly he was there giving a free concert.
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Non trip stuff-- but class stuff. =D

In class today, while we were doing a reading practice thing, I got the boys side. (for some reason, the girls were looking really relieved they didn't have to read for me) I'm not that scary, I'm easier on them than the JTE!. At one point, one of the boys was winking at me as he gave his info. WTF, lol. So adorable.

But it's Golden Week this weekend--so one more day of classes, then a four-day weekend. And the kidlets are getting ready for midterms, so classes are either going to be touch-and-go or really dead boring. Although I think I found of a way to use Mad Libs as part of a lesson. :)

But it's so weird to think that I only have three months left. It feels like I just started in some ways. But I'm totally more adjusted now and I'm going to miss my students like crazy.

Okay, so--

This is to my flist of those that are in high school/have recently graduated high school.

Can you give me a general overview of what high school is like? Things that are popular (clothes, actors/actresses, singers, etc)

Also about graduation and prom?

I'm trying to put together lesson plans about some of the differences between American high schools and Japanese ones and I'd just like a current view if you all can help. ^__~ Thanks!