word of the day: subarashii (grand)

ahoy y'all!

Happy Valentines Day. (NOTE: I wrote this a week ago, and added the photos today. a testament to my business). Do you know, in Japan, Valentine's day is a special day for men. Women are supposed to make romantic gestures. Apparently there is a vice versa non-statutory hallmark holiday for women known as "white day".


Seriously. The Japanese love western holidays. Christmas was huge, expect no one got it off but lazy good for nothing english teachers (you know I love you, teachers, even if you do start work at 3 pm). The office girls all pitched in to buy all the office boys Valentines day Chocolate. I have to pitch in sometime soon (probably more) for this "White day". I'm looking forward to the Japanese take on St. Patricks day. Sure it will be grand.


Holy damn I apologize for the dearth of correspondence with my dearest kindred, namely, you. I miss you.


It has been a long haul since the New Year. I've been very busy. I have (unfortunately still) unoffically wrapped up my thesis. Life has been going swimmingly, in that when you find yourself in the midst of an avalanche, you tread water. More importantly, speaking of avalnches, I have been skiing every week for the past three weekends. Life has been grand. I took two day trips to Fukui, four hours north of Osaka, and then I spent a weekend at Shiga Kogen, in Nagano. Yup, did the olympic slaalom. A regular Ross Rebliati, cept I would pass a piss test. sigh.


There was this little girl chillin' in this igloo at the bottom of the hill. I laughed at this photograph for an hour straight. Who's house? Her house.


NOTE: OVERNIGHT BUSRIDES TO AND FROM NAGANO SHOULD BE AVOIDED. SPRING FOR THE BULLET TRAIN. NUFF SAID.


I moved.



I live in a new apartment in a more downtown location. I know live in Tsuruhashi, known for its preponderance of Koreans. The air is thick with the smell of Yakiniku (korean barbecue) at dinner time.
As I live next to a Coffee Roastery (sweet!), the mornings smell like coffee. And occasionally I smell cakes. I don't know why. I like my coffee guy neighbour. He gave me a chrome coffee scoop. pimp.

My apartment is small, but I love it. I am currently sitting at my KITCHEN TABLE. I HAVE A KITCHEN TABLE. <3<3<3. onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlxeF3aRwmJRFRk2lIbSgExCZroayqNxSM8OfMUMBtOzp94PLOIu5kcoORLv_u-9RcISOeilOwGadcvpbIFTq-c5coQPvyNL1HybkffJ21lpkAQfEsV7tfiFeCA-Oky0YSxtVQmHmFfY3D/s1600-h/P2150423.JPG">
There are two train stations within sight of my apartment. close enough to hear, but not too clear that the make things rattle or wake you up. I like it, reminds you that the city is still awake outside.

So yeah. I work a lot. I mean a lot. hence the decrease in frequency of my postings. Things are going well though. I am learning Japanese in a plodding manner, and piddling away on my Kaossy/pad.

yours,

oishiface

p.s. I want this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJwxbTKwONc

p.p.s.
I almost forgot. I set y'all up a flickr account cos I love you.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/oishiface/show