Lots to see! Some new pictures are up. Click here for my newest set of pics from this autumn. For the new pic themselves, start in the middle and work your way up. Included in this set:

1. Kat's visit (Arashiyama, Kyoto, Tojinbo)
2. Spring & Nancy's visit (Ryoanji, Uji, Byodoin, Fushimi Inari) NEW! start here
3. Kaoru & Toshiyuki kino (Shirakawa, a village with old-fashioned thatched roof houses.) NEW! start here

Byodoin was one of my top "must see" places. I finally made it there. ^^

I just found this.

For anyone really curious about what my work and life has been like in Japan, check out this website designed and maintained by my co-workers:

http://jtjapan.com/

It's very detailed, but very easy to follow. I'm sorry I wasn't able to make something like this myself. XD

Hey, I'm back. :)

Mmmmm... I should admit something. You know those kids who run around the house, wreck it, then deny it and point their fingers at each other? Well, I was never one of those kids.

Thus, I freely admit, I broke my host's internet. >_> My bad.

Well, I think I did anyway, but my host blames our mistakes on the old box. ^^

That old box was replaced today, so I'm back online. What's happened in the last five days? Let me see...

Wednesday, I moved. Took less than a day. Let me introduce you to my host sister and brother. ;D



Kaoru, on the right, was my student, now, she is my roommate. :D She and her husband work at a cram school, leaving in the middle of the afternoon and working late into the evening. But we find lots of time to relax and just chit chat.

Thursday and Friday were days for adjustment. Friday evening, I had dinner with some good friends of mine.

Saturday, Kaoru and I ran errands around town. Then, she took me to a local culture festival.

Saturday evening, my hosts and I watched "SP". Seems they were already anticipating the new drama as they usually watch the late night drama at that time. It was delayed a good half hour, having to make room for the volleyball championship.

Sunday, we woke up early and headed towards Shirakawa-go, a real-life town showing off old style thatched-roof houses. On the way there, we stopped at a Family Mart. Lookie what I saw: :D



I'll be uploading quite a few pictures soon, so look forward to it!

So, now I'm finishing up my packing even though I'm not 100% sure if I'm moving tomorrow or not. =/ Things are very uncertain right now. Nobody knows what's going on or what any of us jobless people should do. A friend of mine went to a General Union meeting yesterday; they say don't worry about moving, it may not be necessary. I'm thinking, I don't want to pay another month's rent which might be doubled since I don't have a roommate. =/ I've already made plans with my Japanese friend and her husband to move in with them tomorrow. She will come early in the morning. She's been really nice about this catastrophe even though she lost a lot of money herself. =/

I don't want to burden someone unnecessarily, but I have to admit, I LIKE the idea of moving into their house. They live way out of the town limits where I can calmly enjoy my life even more than I already have been living in a rural town outside of Kyoto. It'll be MORE calm. I won't be bored. I won't be lonely (they work evenings). I know how to take care of myself in that sort of situation. I LIKE that kind of situation.

So even come tomorrow, I don't even know where I'm going to be on November 1st! XO

On the happy geeky side of things, I have a V6 concert report in the works. ^^ It's been really fun to write, but it's not even half done! XD = Details I don't want to forget because it was the best night of my life!! XD

Oke, scratch that last entry, as the day has passed, my mood has gotten a whole lot better. :D

I dunno. Bumming around for the past five days, half-heartedly packing and waiting to get the news about the company left me listless.

Today, I'm like... Do I feel peace at last?

Non-stop V6 music, flipping through stuff, watching videos in the background, burning old CDs to brand, spankin' new DVDs is making me feel WORLDS better. ^.^

I'm not even letting the fact that the post office had ONE measley shipping slip get to me. I could only mail ONE measley package home when I really wanted to mail out about a dozen more. Ah well, here's hoping I can kick my own bum and get more of them out tomorrow. The post office promised they'd restock slips. :P

And the music and videos are making me excited for my concert. *claps excitedly* I love V6.

Yes it is.

I've decided I'm done with the company. Today was the latest date of payment promised, and we didn't get paid. Now our pay date is "indefinite", and I don't like that. Too many people in this company have been mistreated and misled, and I like that even less.

XP

Now if the guilt of abandoning my students would just go away, I can wake up and live in peace.

I'm not resigning however. I'm going to request indefinite leave of absense in hopes I can collect unemployment insurance. I've also decided that October 31st--*:GRUMBLE* my favorite holiday of the year--is the last day I'll be in my apartment. I just need to gather up the guts to go into my workplace and fill out the necessary forms. I wonder if anyone will actually see the form... @_o

I'm not sure where I'll be living on November 1st, but rest assured, I will have a place to go. ^^

I can't even get excited for the V6 concert... Well, I am, but-- mmmmh... I AM, but :ARGH!!! Okada, shoot someone for me. >.<

Oke, I called the Accommodations department in Osaka to get some info. They tell me my apartment is paid for, no problem.

No eviction?

Guess not.

Now there are three possibilities:

1) My neighbors are being evicted, and for some reason I'm not.

2) My neighbors are lying.

3) The company is lying.

... All of them are possibilities. I don't have the greatest trust in anybody involved here except for myself.

Whatever's going on, I still don't think I'm going to work past the end of the month. I've already got it in my head that I'm not going in to work tomorrow. Saturdays are too stressful. I took a look at the schedule, and my bet is that NONE of the other teachers will be coming in. They've all been calling in sick--off and on--the last few days. The result: my schedule will be all kids classes. I like kids, but they really don't know how to appreciate things... I'm to nerve-wracked to deal with them.

Hi all,

I've been in Kyoto the last two days, meeting a few friends of mine from American and Singapore. It was a good time--

Until I got a call from a friend saying she's heard my neighbor and I were being evicted from out apartment at the end of the month. :(

Yeah, looks like my days in Japan quickly being whittled away.

Don't worry about me. Already, the friend who called to tell and comfort me offered her place as a solace. I plan to call the head office myself and see what's up. Then I'll talk to her to see what works for us. I'd hate to impose on someone for too long, as much as I'd like to stay in Japan longer. In my current state-of-mind, I don't plan on being with the company into November. Take advantage of me much more, and I'll be leaving before the end of thisnext week.

In other news, Kyoto was great! I'll post pictures hopefully soon... I visited one of my "most want to visit" sites, Byodoin Hall, south of the main city hub.

--And I have GOT to stop eating this Thai chocolate... XD

Hi all,

Here's a link for pictures from Bangkok, Thailand. The album is shown in backwards chronological order, so start at the bottom and work your way up/forward. ^^ Keep an eye out for amiarebel, my generous tour guide for a day.

For V6 fans, this could be a chance to play a little scavenger hunt. I saw a few places where they filmed some of the "Voyager" PV scenes and the accompanying photo shoot. :D



It's late and this took me several hours to upload, so I'm a bit too tired to comment on anything. I've barely started labeling them even... If you have any questions about the sites, let me know!

I have a feeling I'll be posting a lot less on LJ than I normally do. Things aren't looking good for my job. I'm still working, but I'm almost working alone. Hope the students realize my efforts... =/

Anyways, I was tagged by sidh to do this, and this it's a "happy" questionnaire, I'm more than willing to perk myself up. ^^

List ten things that have recently made you happy.

Chronological order:

Having dinner with K's family, my first and only Japanese family dinner.

Meeting insomnikat in Kyoto.

V6 shop photos.

V6 calendars.

Meeting amiarebel in Thailand.

Receiving my V6 tickets in the mail yesterday.

H's b-day party last night, despite being so dead tired to be very good company. :.

My Sunday morning Chibiko class of 2-4 year-olds running around rampant and slapping or hugging my legs. ^_^

Talking to my parents on the phone half an hour ago.

Being tagged by sidh. XD

Notice any trends? -_- I'm so easy to read...

Dernit... :P

Dear All,

Tomorrow I depart for Thailand. Have to be at the airport around 9:45 a.m. =/ We'll see.

I have a load of laundry drying behind me. A list of things I meant to get done before I left, but didn't. I tried to keep up with everyone's posts, and I read more than I commented on. For the future, I don't even want to think about all the posts I'll have to catch up on over the weekend. So forgive me if I'm absent for awhile. I leave my precious v6_unlimited nephew(s) in all your capable hands. I leave my Neopets in the care of sidh. ;D

I won't be around for the next 4 or 5 days. For those who've bought from the Store!, sorry I've been so slow in getting back to you on your purchases--this is the reason I don't sell via eBay. When I get back, we'll smooth things out about payments, and I'll ship to you ASAP.

Gotta go now. I may post again about miscellaneous stuff, but I can't promise. Have something to say before I leave? Drop me a note here. ^^

Now, off to the ATM.

L

Dear All,

Tomorrow I depart for Thailand. Have to be at the airport around 9:45 a.m. =/ We'll see.

I have a load of laundry drying behind me. A list of things I meant to get done before I left, but didn't.

I won't be around for the next 4 or 5 days. For those who've bought from the Store!, sorry I've been so slow in getting back to you on your purchases--this is the reason I don't sell via eBay. When I get back, we'll smooth things out about payments, and I'll ship to you ASAP.

Gotta go now. I may post again about miscellaneous stuff, but I can't promise. Have something to say before I leave? Drop me a note here. ^^

L

Lots to talk about today, but I may or may not get around to it today! I saw insomnikat off to Kyoto this morning. I had to get to work pretty quickly though. =/

The last three days were BUSY! I'm mucho fatigue. VERY TIRED!! Feel pretty good though. I think my body thanks me for finally giving it exercise. And my brain thanks me for the fresh air. And my wallet curses me for my crazy spending! XD XD But for that, my hearts thanks me. ^_^

Day 1, Tuesday, October 2
Before meeting insomnikat in Kyoto, I made a stop in Otsu to buy a re-entry permit for my return from Thailand. If I don't have that, I can't work when I come back into Japan. =/ And that would suck (or ironically, not matter should I lose my job in the next few weeks ... :ARGH)

Met up with insomnikat at about 1:30-45 p.m. outside Kyoto Station. I thought she might've run off to Fushimi Inari with some friends, but I took a chance and called. We ended up aimlessly walking the street of Kyoto looking for some shopping (i.e. My bad...). We did get her a hotel for Friday night--tonight. Then met up with her friend and retrieved her luggage and headed back to Omihachiman.

I got to talk to asiyakei for the first time using insomnikat's rented phone. ^^

Day 2, Wednesday, October 3
Score day! We went first to the Johnny's Store in Arashiyama (West Kyoto). Bought lots. Let's just say my order form caused a big problem for the staff in the store. *^_^* Then we had a big lunch.

Then we ran off to Gion for some maiko sitings and met up with her friends for dinner; we just ate Nepalese ice cream. Yum!

Day 3, Thursday, October 4
An entire day planned in Fukui (not Nagoya) where we checked out the jagged cliffs in the ocean. We also checked out some exotic food (pics to come).

Day 4, Friday, October 5
Early morning wake up--saw Kat off to Kyoto. Work for 4 hours. Then, heyakatto, onegai shimasu!! I.E. I got a hair cut; I won't have time to get one for a long while. ~_~

I think it was Mom who started using the word, but using "pistol" to describe my niece certainly seems to suit her well.

From my brother's email:

"Daphne's learned to say No. Hasn't quite got the context down yet, but she has the idea. We're thinking she's going to be a little willful pistol. Not belligerent or mean, just challenging and teasing. I unbuckeled her from her carseat and said 'come here', she ususally leans forward to get out easier. This time she sat there and said 'no'. Real simple but totally unexpected. I said what? not believing it and she repeated no. So I looked at her and grinned and said come here more playfully and she came right to me. This is what I expect from her. Challenging authority but in a teasing fashion - hmm, sounds familiar."

>_> *looks around innocently* WHAT?! Don't look at me like that. She gets if from OUR side of the family, but it's certainly not me... *eyes dodge*

XD Oops.

Saturday, I had dinner with a few friends, and one of them showed her support and concern by hugging me from the backseat of the car. :_(

Yesterday I gave a gift to the Japanese staff manager at my branch, something I'd been meaning to give to her since we went to Universal Studios Japan together. I had bought an Elmo phone strap at the park, but kept failing to give it to her. She and I have worked longer together than any other pair of staff (over a year and a half), so I thought it was important to let her know how much I appreciated her. Yesterday, we were alone in the staff room, so I finally gave it to her. Almost immediately the tears sprung up.

This morning, another staff member I've worked with for a long time (over a year) found out she's being transferred to another school. Tears welled up in both of us...

And the saddest moment, this morning I had a man-to-man lesson with one of my favorite students and special friends. She knows the company is not in good condition and had read into one of my emails to her about my difficulties. In our lesson today, she said, "Don't leave without saying good-bye," over welling tears.

Sh!t.

My roommate was moving today. I think she made two or three trips to move her stuff to this apartment she sorta acquired in Kyoto. I came home from work around 3:00 p.m. and most of her stuff was gone. I set about vacuuming and cleaning the bathroom for my guest coming tomorrow--all of which should be my roommate's job since the inspection will be on HER bill, but since I was having company, I did more than my share. This evening around 6:00, roomie returned for the last load of her luggage, and left again after 30 minutes saying, "I'll be back!"

I am SO gullible.

Sitting here in my room, I've realized she has nothing to come back for. All she's left behind is a disgustingly messy kitchen, an uncleaned bathroom and common area ('cept for the parts I cleaned), heaps of empty beer cans and PET bottles, and empty words.

Yeah, my bet's on her skipping out on me permanently.

And she said she was a humanitarian... Cha, right...

On a lighter note, I have the next three days off to spend with a friend. ^^ Kyoto and Nagoya, here we come!

And Inocchi's still married. XD XD ('cause all of my entries have to include V6 just to make me happy about something. XP

Dear World,

I don't know how bad off I am. I don't have a good grasp of my situation--I don't have a business- or a law-savvy mind--but I may be without a home and/or job within the next month or two. My company isn't exuding in me any confidence at the moment.

That might make some of you sit up, but don't worry about me. I'll make do somehow. Thanks to anyone who's already sent me a email with your worries. ^^

I may have been planning to go back to the U.S. in January, not so long from now, but that doesn't make this easy. I have been having to prepare myself mentally for the move back. I love my job. I love the cause. I love it here. I love the friends I've made, so the preparation has been coming slowly. To have this dropped on me... Not fair.

Me

P.S. Please forgive if I become very inactive here. I will continue to read and say "Hi" in comments, but to avoid recording any unpleasantness, I may not post here much.

Oh my goodness, why am I so hyper tonight?

XD

Oke, was woken up at the crack of dawn this morning (exaggeration) to some firecrackers that were being shot off across town. Why they were being shot off I don't know, but I wasn't happy about it. My own fault I suppose since I was up late last night watching Saigo no Koi. Didn't really get back to sleep after that, but still had to drag myself out of bed to get ready for work.

Went to work moody.

Had Chibi-ko (the really young youngins) who are hard to entertain anymore. Had a very strange kids class (not my usual class, was subbing), but for some reason, my mood was improving... By the end of the day, I had three really great lessons with great students, and my mood was on high! At 5:40 I didn't immediately rush out of the classroom, had to answer student questions and crack one final joke, and THEN I rushed down the hall, put all the students' folders away, and I was out the door! XD

V6. I was "made to a shining smile" the whole time.

Now, sitting at the computer, I'm flailing like a mad woman! The smallest things are cracking me up! The release of the movie (noted previously), V6's hot music, everyone's fangirl/boying. XD XD

Long time since I've been on a high. ^^ And everyone's missing out on it. XD

Yesterday, I was turned into something of a celebrity.

My friend Kosi invited me out yesterday, telling me he had a friend who wanted to meet me. "She doesn't speak English well, but she really want to meet you." I hadn't seen him in a while, and I figured it'd be fun to meet someone new. His last friend who "wanted to meet me" was nice besides...

I stepped out to meet them in the parking lot this afternoon and greeted him with a "'sashiburi" (ohisashiburi in this area's dialect). The girl about flipped. "Usotsuki!" ("Liar!") she yelled at Kosi. Seems he'd told her I don't speak Japanese--which I don't, just a few catch phrases and useful/slangish vocabulary.

Seems that Fumi's dream has been to meet and hang out with a foreigner, probably specifically an English speaker so she could practice her very rusty skills.

The three of us, in Fumi's car, drove to the north end of Lake Biwa to Maibara and passed into the next prefecture east, Gifu. We drove through the famous Sekigahara town and made our way to Yourou Park which I pointed out on the road sign since it didn't seem like we had any other destination.

The sun had already dropped behind the mountain we were on by the time we parked and found the falls. It was a pleasant, if short, jaunt through the woods.

All the while, in the car, on the walk, during sushi train dinner, it was evident Fumi viewed me as some sort of celebrity. She tried an English sentence here and there, but most of the time she giggled all embarrassed. It was cute. She was nice. It was a nice time.

At the end of the night as the dropped me off at my apartment, Fumi pulled out a piece of note paper with farewell and thank you messages scribbled all over it, and she read it to me. ^.^ That was the cutest thing ever!

Starting today, I have a slight much desired! change in my work schedule. Normally, on Mondays and Tuesdays, I work the late shift, which finishes at 9:00 pm. However, I much prefer going in early and getting out earlier like I do on Fridays and Saturdays.

So after one of my fellow teachers finished up her year term with the company, I decided to request her morning shifts. Now I only work from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Mondays and 10 a.m. - 5:40 p.m. on Tuesdays. Yay!

Now I can watch "Gakkou e Ikkou" on Tuesdays, and tomorrow will be my first time being home to watch it! YAY x 6!

Am I so sick, that I revolve my life around them?

The answer can only be, "YES!"