A new post!

This is so late people probably arent even reading this anymore, haha.
Anyway... things have been a bit more normal again lately. I got a new job as I mentioned before, and that is going well enough. I'll talk more about how different the Japanese school ssystem is at the end of this post for those that wish to read about it. New Years came and went also. We had a good time on the 30th. We (and by that i mean eric, jon, ayumi, azu, a bunch of azus friends, and I) went out for dinner at an all you can drink place, and followed that up with all you can drink karaoke. We had alot of fun, but alas, yours truely drank too much. I think the kicker was when I mistook a class of Shochu for water towards the end of the night. Of course, you have to be pretty wasted to do that anyway, because when you think about it... why would anyone order me a big tall glass of water at all you can drink karaoke? Shochu is basically... weaker vodka. I dont like it at all when im sober, and i only realized what it was after id put most of it down, so the 31st was a painful day. Me and eric were both pretty unhappy that day. Jon shrugged it off like a champ. I was happy to hear that one of Azus friends hurled too when he got home, so i wasnt the only one. The scary thing is, i even hurled the night before about 3 or 4 times, and i was STILL miserable the next day for about 10 hours. Anyway, now that i'v thoroughly worried my mother...

Azus birthday was in January too. We were teasing her, because I guess 24 is the age girls should be married by in Japan, and its all a downhill slide in market value from there, lol. My friend Maiko is also 24, and she isn't married or even dating someone, so she said everyone is worrying and pestering her as well. Recently, Azu, Eric and i went to a party at an American friends house in Zushi. He was a Nova teacher, but he's teaching somewhere else now... anyway, his brother is in the Navy here, and they get to buy all their food on the base. So, the party was pretty cool, we got to eat American food and have an American style party for a change. Eric and i played Rock Band, which it turns out is pretty awesome. The drums are fun, i was doing a few songs on hard by the end of the night, but the foot pedal on hard gets rough....

Azu also just got back from Shanghai yesterday. She and her mother took a trip there for a few days. I had to work, so i didnt go. Azu's dad was in Hokkaido as well, so it was just me and her brother at home. We did a whole lot of nothing (cleaning included). Azu's mom was worried i was going to burn the house down if i cooked, lol, so i didnt use the stove in accordance with her wishes. I guess when you can communicate at about a 5th grade level, it registers as being able to operate the stove at a 5th grade level, haha.

Well, i am going to go play some Wii shortly, after the final blurb about schools here. I have to polish off my games before Smash Brothers comes out and i spend every waking moment honing my skills to crush Eric and Jon.

Peace!

About Schools:
So, Japanese High schools couldn't possibly be more different. For starters, the High Tech image of Japan that is mostly accurate in all of the big cities, is totally thrown out the window in a public High School. Walking into a high school is like walking back in time 20 or 30 years. They are all old, drafty, unheated, bland buildings. There is no central heating of any kind. In Winter, they burn oil in stoves, and let the heat just.... radiate. The hallways and bathrooms have no heating at all, and sitting on a toilet seat in winter is like putting your bare ass on a bench outside... not fun (actually think i prefer the squatters in the HS in winter). Classrooms also have gas oil stoves.
Next, the biggest difference, and the difference that probably changes the entire dynamic of social relationships in a High School is the class structure. At the start of the year, the students are put into a class, and a classroom, in which they will be all year. Its like elementary school, only you dont have the same teacher. The teachers move around and change rooms in a Japanese High School. As such, there is a big Teachers Room office type thing in every school, and the teachers have a meeting every morning. So when the bell rings the teacher goes out, and the next one comes in. This system (which i dont like) creates this feeling that the classroom is bascially, student territory. Not that American students are respectful, but we have an understanding that we are in the teacher's room, not the teacher a guest in the student's room. This sorta turns the tables in the student's favor for screwing around in class. Also, because they all see the same single classroom full of people for an entire year, they all know eachother way too well, and talk way too much. It can take 5 minutes just to get kids to shut up and unwillingly put away their lunches as they are forced to abide another intruder coming into their domain. Also, as a result, social groups are mostly a product of each classroom. There is little, if any interaction between grades (except at clubs) and much less interaction within each grade of students than in America.
Next, as anyone know knows anything about Japan will know, the Entrance exams to High Schools determine which level of High School kids will go to. Given the rest of the system, i have come to think the entrance exam system is actually a good thing. The reason is, that this is the way Japan separates students with different outlooks on life, basically. For a studious student trying to get into a prestigious University, it would be hell to be stuck in the same classroom of screw-off retards all year. So... basically the studious kids all go to academic High Schools, and the less studious types all go to lower level High Schools. My main High School just so happens to be one of these schools. My Thursday school is more Academic, and the difference is HUGE. Classrooom management needs alot of work in Japan. Kids are often semi out of control, and teachers cant throw them out of class like in America, so to be a kid who wants to learn, in a bad class, means you are not going to learn anything, and there is almost nothing you can do about it. So, you best study your ass off in Jr. High if you dont want that.
Lastly: clubs. Clubs are huge here, almost everyone is in one, and only the renegade type kids proudly proclaim they are in "go home club" when asked what club they are in. Sports clubs operate the same as any other club, anyone can join. Which means everyone who wants to play soccer, can. This is alot more inclusive than America, which I think is a good thing. The Schools with serious sports teams still perform quite well with this in place, so there isnt alot of argument that the kids who wouldnt have been picked in America are dragging everyone down. Now, those kids may not play alot of games against other schools, but i think alot of them would be the first to bow out, given social attitudes in Japanese society. However, it does seem that they do all get some playing time. There are clubs for Tea ceremony, Kyudo (japanese archery), Karate, Judo, Kendo(wooden sword fighting), Gardening, Movie club, Pop music club, and all the sports, basically... you name it. There is an english club also, which I sorta... i guess oversee. Anyway, thats all i am gonna write for now, if anyone has any questions, email me, or comment! peace!
(i dont feel like editing any spelling or grammar mistakes.... so there!)