Happy New Year

here we go again

Christmas!

Well. I think I celebrated christmas less this year than ever before, but that's okay. Faith and my travels have been fun. We've been all around Tokyo, down to Kobe, Kyoto, Nara, and will still go see Osaka, Nikko, Kamakura. We've met some nice new people and seen some cool things. Hard to see it all though, so I know what I want to go see next time with my other friends. I haven't been eating too healthily this trip, and am starting to see the closeness of the connection between food and how I feel/energy level. I'd love to write more about the specific places we've gone, and I may in a week or so. Also, I've taken some fun pictures, and I'll upload them once I'm back in Tokyo. I sort of can't wait to go back to California and see my family, friends, and Faith again. Life in Tokyo is great, tiring, and trying. I'll be happy to go back and see everyone. Still, I'm glad to be rooming with Soky. I think we make daily life a bit more enjoyable for each other. He's a cool guy and we get along.
So back to Tokyo on the night of the 30th. A quiet new years, and then some day trips off to nature, and temples. Tomorrow will be a good day too, art museum, temple with all the gates and dinner with all the relatives.
ok. time for a japanese bath. its very japanese! teeeehee

Playing tour guide

First of all, I was a tiny bit late getting to the airport to meet Faith, but then her flight came really late so it was ok, but unfortunately I was waiting at the wrong place, so I missed her coming out, she tried to call me but it didn't work out. When I realized where I was supposed to have been, I headed over and spotted her trying to rent a cell phone. At least we found each other.
We then got on a rapid train to Tokyo station, unknowingly, paid a little more than we needed to, and eventually got to my house. We dropped off our stuff, then went straight out for monja-yaki with some friends from judo, we were pretty late. It was fun, but Faith wasn't too hungry, since they had fed her so much on the plane.

Today we left home sometime before noon, went to the shop in asakusa-bashi that maria liked, then went to asakusa and ueno park, and then to north of ueno where we bought a couple cool things at the paper store. For dinner we made tacos with some of the dank tortillas that she brought. Then we exchanged gifts. Overall a very good day.

I'm still receiving cards from various people, I just got one from Nancy and Ken a day or two ago. It's always nice to get letters from friends and family back home, so thanks to all of the senders. Even the package that my parents sent was full of usefull and nice things like gloves and warm cloths, instead of instant rice and pasta (like last time). Well done.

What it is everyone?

Today we did a lot of cleaning, I wrapped up some gifts, did some reading, and bought a couple ingredients for making macrobiotic style rice and miso soup. The house is exceedingly clean, though I'm sure we'll have to clean it again before the party on Friday. I'm still not sure exactly what the party is going to be like, or how it will relate to Christmas. It should be fun, in any case. Then that night Faith and I will board a bus to Kyoto, and from there we will somehow get to Kobe.

Faith arrives tomorrow

So I'm cleaning up, and trying to finish a lot of reading. I like reading good books better than attending bad lectures. Apparently bretton can't find the cables for his DC either. Justin and B are being contacted. Still, I worry that it just wasn't meant to be.
I'll only have a house in Tokyo for so long.. so anyone who wants to take advantage of it, let me know.

maketa!

I lost my match.. but oh well. It was strange, I couldn't think at all. There was this feeling that I only get one chance and I didn't know what to do or try. I felt like I was pretending to do techniques just to look like I was trying. I think I can do better. Well, back to practicing.

In other news, Faith will be arriving next tuesday! with the dreamcast! ..but really, it's very exciting, and I know that it will be very fun.

I just opened up the soy milk that we bought

It tastes like soy beans.

Christmas is coming

Thursday I will partake in my first Judo competition. I doubt I will fare well, but if it depends a lot on the luck of the match-up. They are stressing kumiai a lot right now (grips). Basically, if you feel disadvantaged, get out of that position, and if you think you have the advantage, make attempt to throw right away. I've been told that practice and competition are two very different things. That everyone uses a lot more energy and that its harder to get off techniques in competition. I'm excited, and hope that I can at least try to do a throw or two. As one of my senpai told me, if you lose trying to throw, but get countered its not so bad, being on the defense and getting thrown is the worst. I'm excited, in any case.

Then, next week I guess I have some school work, but will mostly be planning for christmas, getting things ready for our party, and preparing for my trip with Faith
(!!). I've got most of it planned out, but am still working on where to go on New Year's Eve itself. Probably any shrine is fine, but I'll think about it.

Oh my! Birthday

I am 21 sometime today. Finally I can buy a hand gun! Tomorrow, I will do things like cleaning, laundry, homework etc. (that is when i wake up today in 9 hours or so.) but, in an attempt to celebrate, I may eat things like french toast, nabe, dessert nabe for various meals. Not macrobiotic for those keeping score.
I've received cards and or gifts from various people and they were all very nice and made me happy.

hmm. can't really think of anything else to write at the moment. but I'll keep in touch.

Lots of momiji!

Can you find Raul?



probably one of my favorite photographs of all time.^

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The first day I was here, I saw a lot of the Arashiyama momiji sites. Then yesterday, me, za parents and anjee went to toufukuji, which was natsukashi, which means nostalgic? It's the area where Raul's highschool was, and we met there daily when I came to Japan the first time. If you are extremely familiar with the video and photos that I took during past trips, you'll notice that a family mart has recently been constructed near the station.
After toufukuji, we walked to the grandparents/aunt and uncle's house. It was nice to see all of them, and I hope to see them a few more times before returning to America. Then we went to fushimi-inari, the place with all the torii (gates). That place is fun. I thought of a cool idea for a painting too. It is related to the gates and thus not off topic. After that, we got some soba then went back to the house to wait for raul. Juan, the uncle, showed us the stones that he makes paint out of.
Theeen we went to kodaiji, which is one of the temples that does 'light up', so that you can look at the pretty momiji colors at night. It was fun, and pretty. but! I prefer day. Night should be dark maybe? Also, there were many many people. It was like standing in a line at disney land. And since it is so painstakingly gardened, lit dramatically, parts are roped off, it really is closer to disney land than nature in feel. I also had the feeling of video games. Especially onimusha, just because I played that game quite a bit. I don't think I like the momiji in a way that can be enjoyed fully in the environment of light up. I would rather sit, and relax, or stroll in a less contrived environment to somehow enjoy the whole experience not just marvel at leaves being different colors. But still, its apples and pineapples in a sense, and I am still glad that I went to light up.
Today I had a leisurely morning and early afternoon. Did some studying. Then we went to a local temple. yappari arashiyama is saikou. I really like the areas near raul's house, they are pretty, more quaint and less crowded. For dinner we had nabe nabe and birthday cake. the white chocolate with writing has my name on it, for those who are rusty on their katakana. It was exciting to have my birthday celebrated (it's on the 9th).
Tomorrow is fun with anjee and haruka, then a late ride to shinjuku. then to school. I'll be extremely tired by the time I get home.
One of my goals is to learn to make tai curry. And I think I will attempt to do it in nabe form. I think that it could possible be the best culinary feat of all time. Not for difficulty or any particular deliciousness, just overall happiness bestowed upon the eater. Nabe is great because you take a delicious flavor, and just keep on adding substance to it, such that the sauce never really runs out. (Though I imagine it would tend toward zero given infinite appetite.) So, without knowing exactly how much you've eaten, you eat the serving, potentially of thai curry, of a quantity that can be determined at the end instead of the beginning of the eating period. how wonderful!