Me at Feel with Dragon

Me at Feel with Dragon
Originally uploaded by atomicsour.

This is me and a Dragon. It kind of tastes like peaches... I don't know what's in it. I don't think I've mentioned Feel before... it's a local bar stumbling distance from our house. While it is pretty pricey, they have good cocktails and they also serve Tempura Ice cream, which happens to be my favorite dessert.

Rachel at Feel with Jungle Fun Tummy

Rachel at Feel with Jungle Fun Tummy
Originally uploaded by atomicsour.

JUNGLE FUN TUMMY, a feel specialty drink! (Sorry about the Red-eye, sad as it is I don't have a program to remove it. Damn you and your large pupils Rachel!)

Some kind of Rangers in Omihachiman mall

Some kind of Rangers in Omihachiman mall
Originally uploaded by atomicsour.

While on our quest to find the Hyaku-en store in Omihachiman (which is massive, by the way), we happened to see a photo-op with some sort of Ranger group (Apa maybe? I don't know... I'm not hip like my students). I kind of wanted to have my picture taken with them too, but then I figured that would be weird and decided against it... To my regret. :(

Our pet bottle furniture

Our pet bottle furniture
Originally uploaded by atomicsour.

This is what happens when you miss Pet Bottle day 2 times in a row... An entire corner of our kitchen was dedicated to plastic bottle storage. One night, while bored (and possibly running out of oxygen), we made a table.

April is almost over?!

Time is passing quite fast now - I've been busy. I probably sleep too much, and I should work on getting up earlier. Work has been only okay... I lost 2 students to another school, because one of their aunts started an English school and it needs students so they switched to that school. I was sad, they were really good kids. Also, 2 other students went over to Rachel's classes because of bullies in my classes. I am pretty good at keeping that kind of behavior under control, but I guess it had been going on for a while, and there's not too much I can do aside from telling them to stop/taking away their sticker (which I've done 4 times total). I am a pretty strict teacher in general.

The weather hasn't been that great, and I depend on the weather being okay for me to go anywhere on my bike. On Saturday, Rachel and I went to Kyoto for the day, and had a blast. We went to Kinkakuji and Ryoanji, and then some shopping. Then, we met up with my friend Mike and had dinner and hung out for a bit before catching the 2nd to last train home. It was a pretty good time! I took some decent pictures - I will post them when I have more time. I need to go to bed in a timely manner, as I'm having lunch with Angie and a student tomorrow.

Today the Yasuda family had their yearly Golden Week barbecue - I ate SO MUCH FOOD. It's not even funny. My digestive system is completely full. I don't know if I'll even be able to eat tomorrow, I feel like I'm set for a week.

I have all next week off! I will spend time cleaning my house and finally doing something about my unruly plants in the yard. Angie said if I don't attend to them, they WILL overtake the house and consume it slowly like a venus flytrap. Okay, she didn't go that far, but she said I should attend to it or they get out of control. It's bordering on that already. I need to get some gardening gloves I think. I am not going to plant flowers in the ground though - it's too rocky, besides, sometimes people park and turn around in my yard. That won't go over too well I think.

I'll take pictures when I'm done cleaning/gardening so that people can finally see the inside of the house. It's not pretty, but it's habitable. I wish I could paint the walls. I'll ask Angie if I can or not, I don't know what the lease says about that. That will be quite an undertaking.

Hanami at the Park near Yokaichi station

Hanami at the Park near Yokaichi station
Originally uploaded by atomicsour.

Other people enjoying the cherry blossoms.

Rachel enjoying the flowers

Rachel enjoying the flowers
Originally uploaded by atomicsour.

Hooray for Hanami!

My Peep Army

My Peep Army
Originally uploaded by atomicsour.

Go forth, my marshmallow minions!

I think I will have nightmares about peeps. So many... peeps... This is only one day's worth, think this times 5.

Easter Fun... ALL WEEK LONG

My kids and I have been dying eggs in all my classes, all week long. It's fun for about the first day, for me anyway... But the kids enjoy it, so I pretend to enjoy it with them. My mom sent an entire box of peeps, so all the kids get one.

My new classes are going well. I got paid again, so I have money to go out (I was down to my last 2000 yen - I need to learn how to budget!). Last Friday, Taka, Julian, Rachel and I went to Satsuma which is owned by one of my student's parents. It was a fun time, and the food was really, REALLY yummy. So far we've also been to Umiza (sushi place) and the Ramen place by the station. The ramen lived up to my hype, according to them. Best ramen I've ever had anyway.

We also had a special Easter Hanami Party with the Yasuda family. I've included the good pictures I've taken.

Here's some more pics from recent days. I can post more often, but I find day-to-day stuff a little monotonous. I'll try to find fresh stuff to write about.

Tree from Hanami in Kyoto

Tree from Hanami in Kyoto
Originally uploaded by atomicsour.

I didn't actually take this picture. My camera died on me... way to charge it, geez!

More hanami pics later.

Hanami in Kyoto, Rachel and I in front of Gion Tree

Hanami in Kyoto, Rachel and I in front of Gion Tree
Originally uploaded by atomicsour.

In other news... Yoshikane and Sadako took us to Kyoto to look at Cherry Blossoms. It was an eventful day!

Osaka Castle

Osaka Castle
Originally uploaded by atomicsour.

This is nice, but the elevator shaft is in it. Oh well. Julian and I hung around here for a bit, had some takoyaki that was way way too hot. And I bought some postcards that I haven't had a chance to sit down and write out yet. I'll do it! Someday!

Osaka Castle

Osaka Castle
Originally uploaded by atomicsour.

Osaka Castle from a better angle.

Osaka Castle from below

Osaka Castle from below
Originally uploaded by atomicsour.

More Osaka Castle pictures