update

so my computer has been out of commission due to a bunk ac adaptor, but now i am back in business. thanks ben. so much has been going on…where to start.
this weekend was a blast. liz and i went to an earthquake charity concert at the community center, which was hosted by one of my students and his band. they sang a bunch of old tunes in impeccably well pronounced English…the beatles, country road, which is really popular here, who knows why. there was also a two-day concert/Christmas party at the university. they have a recreation building with a room lined with couches and a stage made from beer crates and plywood. liz and i showed up on saturday night and were, of course, the only foreigners. it is so interesting though…we knew quite a few people there and had to spend a lot of time when we arrived making the rounds, saying hello. a while ago, many of these people were reluctant to talk with us, save for one outgoing fella we met at the culture festival who has kinda been our source of info. now they all wave and make some effort at conversation. also interesting, the girls don’t seem quite so catty here and many are curious enough about us to introduce themselves and chat. it helps that many of them are studying English in college. they had a dj, bands, and some variety type acts. saturday night i won a door prize and was proud that i understood enough of what they were saying to realize i had garnered a 10$ gift certificate to the department store. sunday night was much more crowded. a friend told us they were having a Christmas party after the show and drew us a map. carrie, liz and i drove around trying to match the kanji writing on the paper to that on the front of restaurants. it was a hoot when we finally found the place. ended up retiring back to the dorms for an after-party. all of the students live in dorms until graduation. at home it’s deemed a bit dorky but here, i guess the other option, living with your parents, is even less attractive. nothing like hanging out in a dormitory rec room to make you feel a lil’ old.
finally discovered the secret to the local market. it only sets up on days ending in a 4 and 9. how bizarre. they block off the street behind my apartment and sell all sorts of stuff.



these are daikons, big radishes, that are in season now. you see them hanging from porches everywhere. it's the grated white stuff that's served with some sushi.


last weekend we had practice for the play here in joetsu so the whole crew descended upon the city. friday was the last open mic show of the year at one of the only live music venues in town. a huge crowd turned out and there are always lots of foreigners at these events. saturday was also carrie’s birthday so mel and i deserted the play cohorts to attend her dinner party. it was about 10 foreigners but mostly middle-aged japanese teachers and their friends. it was nice to have a chance to chat with them because i don't often get to pick the brains of people in that demographic.
carrie and i

whenever you have a group eating out, it's common to get your own room. this one seated 25 of us. we all paid 2,800 yen for all-you-can drink in 2 hours and a set course of food which they bring in over the 2 hours. there is also a karaoke machine in every room. all these lemons are from making lemon chu-hais, a mix of shochu liquor, soda water and fresh squeezed fruit. they are not too sweet, smooth and dangerous.

the talk of the town lately has been the unusually warm weather. everyone is surprised it hasn’t snowed yet. i think what good luck.
i have been teaching about Christmas traditions in America, when and how we decorate trees [including how ben always picked me up to put the angel atop the tree], what we eat, all the info about santa claus and what kind of presents we buy. we’ve been making snowflakes too which i hung on the window in the teacher’s room. they aren’t much for decorating the school so everyone got a kick outta that.


leaving tuesday night for Tokyo. we’ll fly outta there wednesday. it’s about a 4 hour flight to Bangkok. waku waku suru…means exciting. click here if you want to check out where i am heading. this site was designed by my friend who is organizing the whole escapade.

this is a shot of one of the thousands of pachinko parlors.

random karaoke shot of michelle and megan. they are going to thailand with us.

mel and i out causing trouble.


merry christmas. i'll be thinking about you all as i swing in my hammock overlooking a deserted beach and sip a cocktail in 90 degree weather. xoxo