Finding Oregon from Uncage the Soul Productions on Vimeo.
Secondly, I finally got to go to Fukuoka to see Steven! The trip was only frustrating because it was the first time I was doing it. I went to many places I had never been to before and I just hate being tired, confused, and longing to just be laying down somewhere with my beau. I drove to Ikku, near Kochi City, took a bus from Ikku to Okayama, then a shinkansen (bullet train) from Okayama to Hakata Station in Fukuoka.
Ikku was crazy confusing when it came to finding a parking spot, but I hope next time will be much easier. An overly-helpful man showed me how to get to the shinkansen to buy tickets and where to stand for it. It was really quite an enjoyable ride, very fast and comfortable. I got the "ju-seki" seats which meant we had to find an open seat anywhere on the first three cars and sit. It costs about 円2,000 less to do it this way and it really wasn't a bother, since I got there earlier than the rest. Steven met me at Hakata Station to show me the way to his place. I had no idea just how big Okayama and Fukuoka Cities were going to be! MAN I live in a tiny place. . .
While in Fukuoka, I really didn't get to see, erm, Fukuoka. Friday night, I was beat, so we just stayed in. Saturday, all day, Steven's Wajiro Junior High School staff had a volleyball tournament which was, of course, followed by an enkai (drinking party). They were great fun and very excited to meet me. One girl reminded me of my friend Naomi quite a bit, only twice as Japanese.
The latest bus leaving Okayama on Sunday was at 2:20, which was incredibly irritating to find out. This meant I had to leave Hakata around noon. Only one and a half days in Fukuoka. . . While packing, I realized I had left my shinkansen ticket in my wallet which I had left at the Izakaya (pub) the night before! What a damn mess. Today I had to mail the ticket I bought to replace the lost one to Steven so he could try to get the money back for the first one I purchased. What can I say, I am accident inevitable. . . Though it was brief, it was a nice weekend.
Thirdly, THIS video:
Lately, I keep thinking "wow, it's so warm!" during the day and "how effing freezing!" at night. I enjoy and hate this time of year. With the warmth, I'm finding mosquitoes and mossie bites all over me as well as my nightly slugs (which have tripled in size since the summer). With the cold, getting a shower, waking up in the morning, and going to use the toilet downstairs after I've been in my cozy, warm bed are a real bitch. WOO!
It's hard to believe it's almost X-mas. . . In Japan, just like in the U.S., as soon as Halloween is over, the Christmas stuff comes out! Because I really feel like I haven't contributed much of anything to my town as far as cultural exchange, I'm throwing a Winter Dance Party for the JHS students! I have no ifdea how well this will go. . . instead of making it solely for my school, I decided to invite the entire Chugei area, which means the neighboring towns of Tano, Nahari, Umaji, Kitagawa, and mine - Yasuda. I hope a lot of kids come. I'm really excited because, in America, middle school dances are always a bit awkward, but here, it's going to be insanely awkward. . . so we'll have face-painting, games, and snacks to try to keep them calm.
I'm pretty sure Steven and I are planning a trip to Korea over winter break, since Fukuoka is so close. We'll see how that goes, though.
Can't wait!
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