I bought a pet to keep me from being bored.

When I was little, Tamagotchi's were all the rage. Remember those things? Of course you do if you were my age, or had a child my age. Parents rushed out to buy those stupid little eggs with a little BLOB that Sally or Timmy Jr. could take care of in place of a real animal who makes fudgies.
People! Tamagotchi's are STILL around! Even in the US... but more so in Japan and seeing as I truly believe the greatest years of my life are OVER, I'mma try a bring 'em back! (Don't panic Mom, this bad boy sells for over 100 DOLLARS in the US... and it cost me under 30. And I can sell it when I get back... or give it to one of my kids. Growing into a smart shopper here!)

See, I used to have Chewie, my guinea pig, but he died back in January. And since my parents won't be shipping Lexi anytime soon (and would kill me if I bought a REAL pet) this is a great alternative -- YOU'RE WELCOME.
I leave you with an iPhone app called Kawaii (cute) Megu Pet. This thing was free and the translations are top notch. Makes me laugh every day and I need that!!!!

I MEAN, HE HAS LOUNGY TIME! HOW CAN YOU NOT LAUGH AT THAT?!?!

Even adult students can make my day!

When you think of the word 'student,' you typically think of a younger person... NOT SO! And I prefer it this way. Many of my students are older than me... some way older. Like today, I have a lesson with this older lady and she is always bringing things to school to share with me. 2 weeks ago it was this fabulous cream cake, last week was sweet bean paste (that was awful, but I'm nice and stomached 2 bites... she thought it was funny) and this week she brought a KIMONO... one of her own kimono's for me to try on.
Actually, she explained at the end of class that she does this because she has no brothers or sisters and I told her I was exactly the same. Aw, her face lit up and jeeze, she has to be the cutest 60 year old I've ever met. I love her. My mom may be crying as she's reading this... (we can talk more about her later, Mom!!)

She's actually in the background!! I had no freaking idea how to put this on, so she did everything for me and I felt like a little boy who was getting his tie straightened by his mom. She said the length was pretty good but the sleeves were WAY short. I didn't know I had such long arms :)
And I look HORRIBLE in this picture. Now we can all laugh about Melissa's non-attractiveness at work!

Kids are the best!!

Old news, but last night there was a big earthquake. And by big, I mean the biggest I've felt in my life (okay it was a 5.3 so, yeah that's a big'un to someone from Cincinnati). For a moment, the thought entered my mind to run and grab my video camera, but all you would have seen were my clothes swinging back and forth and my APARTMENT CREAKING - that was freaky. I was scared and of course I called my parents in a panic but everything was fine and my dad sent me a really nice link of current Japanese earthquakes. Thanks Dad :)

My last post was sad, and I thank my kid students I had today, who just have that way of knowing how to cheer me up. My 4 year olds are precious and one of the girls' moms told our secretary that her daughter has started speaking English at home and that she's only just started since Melissa took over. WHEEEE. That made me smile and gah! they are just adorable kids.

And afterwards, god bless my evening kids' class... the kids are like, 8 or 9 and they're phenomenal. Just, amazing. I always give them my iPod, or today, I gave them my Nintendo DS and they played Mario Kart and Pokemon while waiting for class to start. Anyway, they immediately came up to me and asked "Melissa... tamagotchi?" because I had told them I REALLY REALLY want one now that I'm in the country of tamagotchi. No, sad face, I don't have one... so one of the little girls (who brings so many toys to class... I absolutely ADORE THAT) let me look at hers for a bit.
I came to Japan to grow up and honestly, I don't think it'll EVER happen. Hey, I tried Mom!!!

Silly Bands mean something to me!!

I wear these two silly band bracelets on my right wrist... it's Patrick and Squidward from Spongebob. Before I left, there were these three 6th graders who always made me laugh, and basically helped me survive in that nightmare of a job. I gave each of them 3 silly bands (Spongebob, Squidward and Patrick) and I didn't intend for this to happen, but I started wearing my 3 every day... starting on my last day of work. Never take them off. Well, Spongebob broke a few weeks ago, but Squidward and Patrick are still hanging tough (I brought replacements, but I'm afraid that the other Spongebob will break and then I'll have nothing to hold on to).
Yeah, okay, teachers aren't supposed to have favorites, at least that's what they tell you. They do. It's human nature. So now these silly bands have turned into the students, and I think about them anytime I look at them... which is often since it's t-shirt season, and silly bands aren't around in Japan (kids really like looking at them).
I don't regret leaving, but I regret that I couldn't take them with me... maybe it would inspire them to do something better with their lives. Sorry, this isn't a funny post... I just wish I could say 'hi' to them.

I'm hungry

We all know America has quite the obsession with food. Unfortunately, Japan doesn't share these views:

Want to know how many bowls I got out of that Frosties box? 3. THREE BOWLS.

Grassy Mountain High!

Big surprise today. First I went shopping and since I'm nice, I video taped my shopping experience... and then I got yelled at because it's illegal to video or snap photos of anything (including people) in a GROCERY STORE. So, I thank you Mom, who wanted so badly to share in that experience, but I don't want to end up in the slammer -- although Aomori's prison looks more like an apartment complex! Maybe it's worth a looksies?
So after shopping and eating McDonalds, Ayako and her husband (after her 4 year old son begged and begged for me to come home with them) took all of us to the mountains. It's so close from my apartment and it's gorgeous.
This is some tea thing that says for every drink you drink, you live 3 extra years... or maybe 3 months. I wasn't entirely sure, but either way... those cups weren't sterile 'cause there is NO dishwasher anywhere around. It tasted just like normal tea. Plus who knows what kind of germs I ingested.

Happy water falling (that's the washing pond. Oh, Mom, are you ready to puke yet?)

Our field!! We played sakka (soccer!) and it was VERY NICE.

2 months I've gone without greenery around me and I really hate it. I didn't even mind the scary, hairy spider that Ayako found in the grass in front of her... but I did get up, scream and RUN.

Everyone else had the same idea today. I want a tent. Me and Ayako talked about just MOVING up here... I wanna do it.

Haru-chan!! Little Haru here is holding the ball and saying "Kikku!" (hm, wonder what that means?!) He's 2 years old... gah, I love him.

Parking lot shot! Apparently there are bears up there! But I didn't see any in our hour long visit : /

Other mountainous views.

Everything is different here, but yet it's similar. The grass was the same, tall, itchy grass we have at home. But it's quiet. REALLY quiet... which I don't hear much of living in a crappy city! : P

Gotta save this money now!

I GOT MONEY IN DA BANK! ... to quote Little Scrappy, the rapper. Today was pay day!! My first, FULL paycheck! Unfortunately a chunk of it went to the school, because it was my down payment on my apartment, but I still have twice as much as I made last month and I am pretty happy. Tonight, as I was laying on my couch, I thought about how un-different (yep, not a real word) this place really is. I mean, the language barrier is a nightmare when I'm without my Japanese friends, but I have a routine and my apartment is - well, as Americanized as much as it can be. I just want my dog... and not her hair, which has somehow still survived the journey in epic amounts. Oh, LEXI!!
I was walking around today and these young people (haaaa we're talking like, my age) were doing a public survey about Fukushima. They asked if the Japanese government should keep Fukushima, and continue using some of it, or completely destroy it... GUESS WHAT I VOTED FOR?! GET RID OF THAT HORRIBLE THING!! And I cheered, and they cheered and it was cute. One of them even said "thank you." ENGLISH!!! WOOO!!!! I'm staying hip and cool in Japan. By the way, that column was totally winning over the other one.
But see, without my Japanese friend, Ayako, I wouldn't have been able to have that fun moment. Shows how important they are to me (especially her... good thing she doesn't read this!! hahahaaa)