Billy On Okinawa.... Adding More Stories To Tell.........

Career Change

2008-04-08T15:37:00.000+09:00

Hello my Fun and Furry Friends!

Hope you are all doing well! As for me, I have been neglecting my myspace duties! I officially turn 30 today, and I am prepared to begin life in the "new 20’s."

I haven’t done anthing exciting since i’ve been back from Okinawa. Though, I went on a trip to Mexico back in November and I went back to Okinwa just last week with my 2 cousins Dave and Wendy. It was awesome to see everyone!

I’ve been working for Mountain View School District as a Substitute Teacher. Having worked for a couple of years now with school aged children, I have decided that teaching is NOT for me, therefore, I have decided not to pursue my career as a teacher. I am going to follow my dreams and hopefully have a career one day in Humanitarian Action, somewhere along the lines of Post-War Recovery. I would love to work for an organization somewhere in D.C. that deals with World Aide, either as a specialist in War torn countries, or as an actual Aide Specialist in these countries. whewwww. whewwww!

Wish me luck!!!

The Wedding Of My Brother

2007-10-15T05:15:00.000+09:00

Fun and Games

2007-07-19T14:28:00.000+09:00

In this picture, we have Aussie Jess and Canada Julie. This is our Southern Comfort Goodbye Party. As "Mama 5," aka Blockhead for Block 5, the South I had to make the annual "Goodbye Party." Thanks to so many block 5ers that helped me out!! We started the day at the beach for a fun filled day of frolic and fun in the sun. Atode, we headed for Gossa Gozza Izakaya in Naha,for some proper drinking, speeches, awards and games. I had drawings of people from block 5, and you had to put together the face. It was quite a funt time! For our 3 ji-Kai, we headed to Tomato Karaoke. Lots of funt Block 5!!!!! As your blockhead, it has been a pleasure!!!!!

For the next picture, we have Mr. Jon Vieser from Tonaki Jima and myself. When the group of us girls went to visit this fine gentleman in the small Island of Tonaki, I had the chance to partake in a Hari Race. It was great times! Yes, ok we lost, but It was really, really difficult!!!!

This picture holds many girlie's and Chris Madole. This was taken last week at Dave and Kazumi's Wedding. Yes, I am "Cupid-tow". I introduced them... and now they are married. Congrats again! For Japanese Weddings, one must pay 1 maun to attend a wedding. That means no gift, and you have to pay 100 Dollars. In return you get a meal, a present and one must provide the entertainment. So, the rest of us... danced around on stage and did the YMCA. It was lots of fun, and the Japanese really enjoyed watching us make fools out of ourselves.
For our last pic. Is Ms. Kitty Furber and Mama 5. We were the MC's for the night. Do you see our bows? Yes, they were a gracious gift from the Consulate General. Hehe. Ok, we swiped them... but it was lots of fun. We handed out Mock awards to deserving Block 5 members. For example, Julie got the most sober award... but my little Julie can beat us all when it comes to drinking and partying. capiche? I got "The Hardest Working Award with the less Nen-Q" Ok, I have had the most vacation... and I am the one with the fewest classes a week.

Hope you enjoyed.

Typhoon Man-YI

2007-07-18T14:12:00.000+09:00

Well, well, well. My first ever typhoon. It really kicked our asses!! I decided to step outside to take some some pictures before and after the typhoon. I drove out to the beach before Man-Yi arrived to take some pics of the water. During the typhoon, I was stuck in my apartment with no lights, tv, radio or air conditioner. Let me tell you... it was sooo hot and humid in my apartment. I couldn't do anything. I didn't have any books, since they are all packed; I couldn't sleep, since it was so noisy from the wind. You know what I did? I decided to make paper airplanes and fly them out my window to see how long they would last flying. The winner, you ask? Airplane number 4, made out of stock paper. It beat the yellow plane by an astounding 2.3 seconds.

Man-YI decided to stick around for 24 hours, but it left behind a pretty big mess. Many trees were knocked out by the wind. Many signs were also knocked out. The McDonald's sign that would call out to children, no longer stands. Roads were flooded, sugarcanes were snapped in half and did I mention I had no aircon? Luckily, the phone lines were ok to call people. So, i managed to email people and talk on the phone.

After a while from being stuck inside my apartment, some teachers came to my rescue. Before, heading to seek refuge at school, Lisa, Jessica and i decided to hit the beach to see the waves. As you can see from the picture below, it was really windy. Poor Lisa had lots of trouble. A very dumb idea... but I had to see the waves. They were amazing! BTW, just in case family reads this: we stayed across the street from the sea wall, so we weren't close to the actual waves. But.. I have never seen anything like it. One can never live in Okinawa, and not explore a typhoon.
Thank God no one got hurt.

Sports Day, Take II

2007-06-26T11:38:00.000+09:00

I didn't wear my sandals, as Kocho-Sensai requested. These kids are wonderful athletes. It was so hot and humid, but these kids performed wonderfully! THey are true athletes. Sports in Japan are taken seriously... very seriously. Sports Day, is a day when parents, family and local villagers come out to watch a mini-olympics. For the passed month, the students' 45 minute break was taken away, in order to practice for Sports Day. Can you imagine? Kids back home would have a fit! Nonetheless, Sports Day is quite fun! They had all sorts of fun activities like, sack races, 3 can races, club race... even in rain or shine. Two weeks ago, the participated in the Shimajiri Sports Festival. That day was amazing. The volleyball played so well! They looked like professional athletes! Tennis, was like watching the French Open. Soccer was like watching a World Cup Final. They are truly amazing... and they are only in Junior High School.

Tonaki Jima

2007-06-23T11:01:00.000+09:00

Tonaki Anyone? We scrambled early in the morning to catch the ferry to Tonaki. Thank God for inventing sea-sickness pills. I think I kept playing footsies with the old lady sleeping next to me. We doubled the population of Tonaki when we landed. Ok, no just kidding but the island went from 500 people to 504. We rented little cars for 800 Y. an hour. We drove around in the rain, got wet and saw lots of the beautiful small island. At night, Jon our host, hosted a games night with some of the villagers. Shin-chan and Nori-San were our guests.

The island is small, but beautiful. You can walk across Tonaki in literally 15 mins. There are no major roads, and Main St. is about 7 ft. wide. The gas station only has 1 pump that is rarely used. There are 2 stores on Tonaki, but they are run from the inside of people's homes. Most of the houses are old Okinawan style with a cement block right in the front, to block the evil spirits. Nonetheless, Lisa, Rosalinda, Aussie-Jess and myself enjoyed ourselves!!

The next morning, the girls left and I stayed behind for one more night. Minako-Sensai came over Jon's house, and we had an improve Mexican Dinner. In the evening we watched old movies while listening to the rain. On Monday morning, the Hari races began. I was invited to participate in the race. My team lost.... but it was a blast.

Thanks Again for Great Times Jon!!!

Ice Cream ..... Anyone?

2007-06-23T10:43:00.000+09:00

Hagen Daas in Taipei. The man had such a smile on him.

That's me! I had the Choco Royal. Notice the smile.

Now, my poor Mother. She's a diabetic. She could only order sherbert. Notice the crying.

Parents in Okinawa, Taiwan and Singapore

2007-06-23T10:37:00.000+09:00

Mama and Papa at the Beach in Itoman. There we befriended a man who asked us out for a beer. Only in Okinawa!

That's my dad looking up at Taipei 101. I was on the floor when I took this picture!

On our way to Singapore.

At the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Singapore. Did I mention that I just added one more year of debt?

The Hokulea

2007-04-26T10:37:00.000+09:00

On Sunday a bunch of us gathered to make flower arrangements for the crew of the Houkulea. We made head bands of flowers. It was a nice day to make these. I had to work, but I made my grand escape to the beach to help out the girls. Too bad we couldn't keep them, since they were for the crew.

This is a picture of all the people who helped join in the flower making. Don't we look nice?

This picture was taken during the Welcome Ceremony in Itoman Harbor. There was Hula Dancing, Eisa Drums and lots of speeches... it was to be expected! Afterwards we headed down to BiBi beach for a big party. There the crew ate roasted pig, drank lots of Orion berr and had lots of fun while enjoying some traditional entertainment from Okinawa and Hawaii.

This is the crew right before they were invited to come on Okinawan land.

Clowning Around the Island

2007-04-10T14:24:00.000+09:00

Julie and I decided to embark on an adventure to visit the Tomori Lion in Yaese Town. It's about a 4 minute drive from my school. We were so bored at school, that we just went in, said our "hello and goodbyes." We technically had a two week vacation with pay. Nice, huh?

I don't know why this lion is famous though. I need to research Wikipedia; but the lion sits atop of a little hill in Yaese overlooking the town. On the bottom picture, Julie is having her fun with the 10 seater swing. I was on the other side... obviously taking the picture.

I Speak GREAT Nihongo!!!!

2007-03-19T10:36:00.000+09:00

Yesturday, Julie and I did some shopping at Uniqlo, after we decided to go to McDonald's.
This is what I ordered in Japanese...
-Hitotsu Softo creamu
-Hitostsu 100 yen chicken mcnuggeto
-Hitostsu cheese burga

As soon as I ordered I was amazed she just didn't ask me to step foward to the
other window... usually they do that in order just to choose a picture
from the menu because they can't understand me.
But as soon as i ordered i told Julie "wow, my Japanese is getting really good
they didn't ask me to choose a picture."

BUT....

Then we got our order... it was nothing what we had ordered.
Instead I got

-2 cheese burgers
-1 chicken nuggets
- 1 McChicken and
NO SOFT CREAM

Julie and I couldn't stop laughing..."Oh, ya Billy... you can speak real good Japanese!"

-----------------------Dumb Founded-----------------------

2007-01-30T09:22:00.000+09:00

I know what you are thinking: What the heck are they doing? Well, let me'splain...(i tought linking in 'English' to my adult students last night!) So, for New Year's the teacher's had a keg party, but without the keg...too bad. During the meal that contained tofu, ...I forgot what else; we had some entertainment. Some teacher's were blindfolded and had to put together 'the face.' The funny part was that 'the face' belonged to one of the teahers, so we had to guess 'who' that person was, after 'the face' was completed. The funny part... I knew who they were... BUT ... i have no idea what their names are! I hardly talk to them... considering they don't speak the lang and I don't speak their's. Nonetheless, it was a good time!

On this picture below, that is Yuta-Sensai. This was a game: One had to copy the Kanji onto the paper using calligraphy, which I believe is the old style of writing, which again is very difficult. One master's calligraphy only after lots of years of practice and study. Why? There are over 500 kanji's... each with a particular pattern. hmmmm. It was fun! Ja-ne!
-Elvira

It's Time for Cherry Blossoms!!!!

2007-01-29T09:34:00.000+09:00

Goodmorning my little ones. Yes, it has been a while since I have updated my blog.... but it has been busy , busy times. Especially trying to decide if I will stay a third year.
Meanwhile, let me share some stories. We had a block 5, Southern Comfort outing to the north of the island for the Annual Cherry Blossom Matsuri. These flowers have an amazing color! I have never see a pink so pretty pretty before! I even had some cherry blossom ice cream; it was really yummy!
We talked, we laughed, we talked and laughed our way through the blossoms. It was great times; but after a couple of hours viewing the blossoms, our stomachs were ready for some food. We headed up to Motoubu Pizzaria. The restaurant is located at the very top of Motoubu, with an amazing view overlooking the turquoise waters of Okinawa. We sat outside on the woodend benches and coal bowls underneath the tables to keep us warm. It was quite nice. They even provided blankets for our comfort. After eating, we started to make our way back down to our respective cities; not without a stop at the billards house in Okinawa City. We played some pool and discovered how much we really suck at this game, especially when our "white" ball kept jumping off the table. After a couple of games and some 'edemame,' aka 'soy beans,' we decided to go to Jusco to buy some baked goods for movie night at my place. We drank some "Chocolate Caliente: Abuelita," and watched a movie all comfy on my couch. It was a perfect day.

Just to let you folks know, my parents' will be venturing out to Okinawa again! Yayyy. They arrive on April 2nd and will stay about 2 and half weeks! This time we shall make a trip to Tokyo to view mainlands's Cherry Blossoms. Meanwhile, I anticipate their arrival by keeping busy. I am going to start paddling with some other Jet's and countinue my Japanese study. I have also started to teach my adults again on Monday and Wednesday evenings. I am living the happy here on the island: That is until I decide if I will stay for my 3rd year. Wish me luck! I miss you all very much!
Elvira

Southern Comfort's Christmas Party

2006-12-21T10:37:00.000+09:00

Here are a few pics of Block 5 Christmas Brunch, held at yours truly.... my aparto.
Thanks to..
Julie, Jessica, Tim, Racheal, Micheal, Julie (jooles), Rosalinda, Kumi, Vince, Baby Emi, Lisa, Gibo! IT was a blast!!!!! (not to mention that i had leftovers for a while!!! I shall never have pasta again!)

It was great fun!!! WE had a "white elephant" Kris Kringle exchange. I have to keep this game in mind, but I also need to rig it, to make sure I am the last person chosen to open a present! lol.

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!!
E.

Mi Familia

2006-11-01T15:16:00.000+09:00

Aqui estoy en la escuela pensando en los ninos. Come extrano mi familia y mi "hijo" abandonado: Guido. Pensando si me voy a quedar por un tercer ano. no se.

Here are the Gallegos children. How I miss these monkeys! Emsters, adew,becks, me, benz, nanu and punkie.

This is my Mom and Dad.... Gosh I miss them... don't they make a great couple?
This is my Cuban soon to be sister-in-law, Nysa. She will wed my dork of a brother next year in Cancun, Mexico!

Here are the original Gallegos: my dad, me, my mom, Cristy, my lovely sis, and last but not least the biggest dork of all: my big brother Carlos.

Happy Halloween!!!!!

2006-11-01T14:56:00.000+09:00

Do you like my bulletin board? The which looks cute, huh? She is supposed to be cooking the heads heads of Kocho and Kyoto Sensai, along with some of the popular students.

This is what happens when you fall asleep in my class: I will put a spider on you!!!

These last two pictures are of the students feeling my "black box body parts." I made up a story where this girl finds a black box out in the street; and when she finds this box she puts her hand in and finds all these chopped body parts! The kids really loved it! Thanks to Julie who gave me the idea!!!

I had real liver
peeled grapes as eyeballs
Oduon as intestine
peanut halves as teeth
tofu as brain
cut long peppers as fingers
cut cucumber as a spine

It was a blast!!!!

The Halloween Monster Bash

2006-10-31T16:06:00.000+09:00

On Saturday night, we gathered again at Paul and Mikes Bar in Naha for the 3rd annual Monster Bash. Ghosts, Goblins and Witches seemed to dominate. Well, not really. I was a half man, half woman. It was a hit!!!!

These are some of the girls: Myself, Rebecca, Jaimee and Jena.

This is my JTE, Hitoshi-Sensai, on the bottom. He finally decided to come out and and play with me! He really enjoyed the party and even stole someone's horse mask!

This picture is of Jaime Williams, the Paris Hilton assistant and myself... the man side. (that's why I was grabbing her boob)

This last picture is of Aarron in drag and myself bouncing off the table and about to hit the ground. My lovely friend was blastered that when he came up to hug me, we fell. It was indeed a blast!!!

Festivals Galore Oh My!!!!!!

2006-10-31T15:44:00.000+09:00

The Uchinanchu Festival

For the first time Okinawa seemed like a dream. I was walking around hundreds of Okinawans and actually understanding what most of them were saying. Yes!!!! It had to be a dream, right? Actually....NO!! Every 4 years Okinawa hosts a large festival that brings hundreds or thousands Okinawan descendants back to the small island. During the 2nd world war, many of Okinawans fled to South America and other perspective countries; creating their own half Okinawa half..... whatever country they are from. That's why I understood them, because many of them spoke Spanish. So these people come and celebrate their Okinawan side here on the island.

This picture is of the Naha Matsuri, better yet the Tug-of-War festival in Naha, where thousands of people join in on the greatest tug of war on earth!!

Right before we start to pull on the ropes, the ball opens up and spreads confetti all over the place!

Like my Kimono?

Sports Day ..... Again

2006-10-03T11:27:00.000+09:00

All the schools in the South participated in the annual Sports Day Competition....again. Kochinda, came in 5th place out of some 25 schools. These kids are amazing!!!! They are minature Olympic athletes!!! Here are some pics of the day...

BUT... you must be thinking...."poor billy" Actually, it was quite fun!!! All of the other ALT's where there, we had a nice lunch together, escaped for about 3 hours and went swimming at BB Beach, in Itoman. I do think that most of all the kids know me, since i kept going around in circles yelling "Goodmorning" to them. I behaved like crazy Gaijin.

Here is a 3rd grader, running to show off Kochinda's pride.

Here is Chinnen Junior High School, they all look as if they are doing a Hitler pose; but no, they are doing some type of routine.

It's like over 90 degrees and my fellow colleague is coverd with clothes because Japanese are afraid of the sun. I was dying just to look at her!

The stands.

CHILLAXIN

2006-09-26T09:09:00.000+09:00

This is my favorite cafe in the South. It's a tiny place where one can go and enjoy beautiful scenery without being botherd. Its very quiet and very pleasant; they play classical music in the background and serve the best coffee and teas in town! Usually, after staying in the cafe a good 45 minutes to relax, I head downstairs for a nice stroll on the beach, since it's only a good 10 meters away.
This picture was taken about a week ago around closing time... I was lucky enough to get this shot with all the customers already gone!

Speech Contest

2006-09-21T16:01:00.000+09:00

THE SPEECH CONTEST...

Southern Okinawa held it's annual Speech Contest this passed week. This is Nana, my student. She was doing so well until she forgot the lines and started to read off the paper. Nonetheless, she was awesome! 23 kids participated... they all spoke for about 5 minutes each.........

THIS IS HOW THE AUDIENCE LISTENED>>>>>>>>

THEY FELL ASLEEP.... HOW DID I KEEP ENTERTAINED? I KEPT TAKING PICS OF THE PEOPLE SLEEPING! LOL...

Tyhoons Galore

2006-09-21T15:51:00.000+09:00

During one of outings for Sunday, we headed to the pineapple park.... as you can see clearly everything was all about pineapples! my sister would of been in heaven. no worries, no worries I bought her some cookies coverd in pineapple chocolate!

That's little Ben, we were playing chicken fights during one of our breaks. The poor man, i think i gave him a hernia. i warned him, but he insisted, nonetheless, the man still managed to run around with me on his back.

CAN YOU SAY TYPHOON?
You know what we did? We, the boys and I went swimming in the ocean with a typhoon. These pictures do not do it justice. The winds were pretty harsh, the waves were huge and really strong. We still decided to go swimming, which was a stupid idea, but a fun one!!!! We didn't have any swimsuits, so I went in with my blue bra. LOL! The boys were just laughing.... you should of seen what they wore!!!! Let's just say i wore the most clothes.lol

Okinawa International University, Enlgish Camp

2006-09-21T15:39:00.000+09:00

Boy this was a fabulous weekend. Some ALT's headed up North to Higashi, where there are almost no signs of life. We had a chance to teach at the English Camp this year with the University students. Let me just say: They speak better english than the actual English teachers at my school! We had such a blast. We left early Friday morning till late Monday night. We played games, talked, played games, talked and drank each night, since they are of age! This girl on the floor is Curly Sue, I actaully changed her name because her hair is really curly! She is lying on the floor because we were drawing the "dead person" position needed for our murder mystery skit.

On Saturday, we verntured out to the woods of Higashi and ended up at the Mangroves. It was quite a blast, considering we were walking around during a pretty bad typhoon. These poor people in the water had such a terrible time trying to kayak back to shore, since the wind was pretty harsh, they couldn't.

These are some of us at the mangroves. next to me is Skittles, he loves to wear colorful clothing so I nick named him, Skittles. It was quite funny because during the whole english camp I kept whispering "taste the rainbow" to him.

On our first night we held a murder mystery game. i played the girlfriend of one of the guys. It was quite funt because I kept saying that my "boyfriend" is a chubby chaser. After the game, we had a Barbi, in which the students cooked for us. On the menu was beef, chicken, noodles, shrimp, beer and lots of beer.

The New Do

2006-09-13T11:39:00.000+09:00

Here is my new hair color... black and red. I quite like it and it looks nice... so i have been told.lol. I am also trying to look cool with my bug glasses! you like?

No! No contact lenses! lol.
I love the glasses, but at the
moment i can't find them!!

The Southern Adventure #1

2006-09-13T10:57:00.000+09:00

So you may be wondering: What is Elvira up-to these days? The answer is quite easy; I have been hanging out in the South with the newbies and with 1 or 2 old folkies like myself. So far, they have been great! Not to mention all the adventures our block has been having! Jessica and I, have managed to get stood-up by diako (when you can't drive because you're too drunk, just call 090-9781-7243, and they will drive your car for you, for only an arm and a leg!) Well, I called, and called but we got stood up. So what did we do? We slept in my jeep till 7 am. Not to mention it was Jessica's first week on the island.

This picture shows Julie, and old folkie like me and another newbie, a fellow Mexicana, Rosalinda. It was Jessies birthday, so we celebrated at Haebaru Jusco, with a one olive pizza and a birthday cake we weren't aloud to light inside anywhere.

Nonetheless, I think they enjoyed themselves, especially when we had to whisper "The Happy Birthday Song" to Jess. We took the cake inside Starcrack, and ate the cake in a corner. A birthday she will never forget!

A German Chocolate Cake for only an arm and a leg!!!!!

This last picture was taken this passed weekend up in Chinen, by the Men's Jail. Kurucuma, is an awesome Thai place! Our wait wasn't too long, but we would of waited even longer.... it's quite worth it!! We ordered some yummy curries, pineapple fried rice and some awesome pita bread. After, I hit my aparto with Jon, since we didn't feel like going for a swim, like the others. Later in the evening, Jon left to sing his little heart out at Karaoke, while Julie called me at 1 am to pick her up cuz she was too drunk. I was at home, alone and sleeping quite nicely. Oh well. BUT on the way back from picking her up I totally got lost! I couldn't stop for directions since i was in my sleeping attire: boxers and a v-neck tang-top, so no way in hell was I going to ask for directions. Julie and I ended back at my place around 3 am!!!! Next time Julie call the number up above!!! lol....
-Elvira

2006-08-22T17:15:00.000+09:00

Ah yes, the newbies are here. It has been indeed a very bery busy week. Let me introduce two very cool people I have adopted. lol. In the back we have Jessica or Jess as she likes to be called all the way from Austrailia! She is quite a talker, tall and goodlooking! lucky bitch. NO JUST PLAYING!!! She lives about a min drive, and a two hour walk(depends if i decide to ever walk to her place)

In the front we have Jon, Jonathan, Mr. Weeeeser as I like to call him. He was me house guest for about a week and this man drove me crazy! Actually, he was totemo pleasant to have in my aparto.... thank God he didn't SNORE!!!. This young/not so young lad comes all the way from Canadia, yes... as many would call them an American wanna-be. No. just playing. If you ever need to find a phone here in Japan, ask him and he can tell you all about the different phones!! lol.

Nonetheless, it has been fun and games meeting these two newbies...with lots of stories to tell! Tata for now!

The Weekend...

2006-07-31T11:34:00.000+09:00

First of all I would like to say, that I am sitting on my comfy couch with free wireless, thanks to my gracious neighbors!!!

Ok, so this weekend.
Thursday- Catch some sun and swim at Naha beach with Julie. I am pretty sure that I swam in pee where all the little kids gathered. yuk yuk yuk. Did some sightseeing in the rain, and entered into the forbidden. Well, not exactly, but it sounds more interesting....
End up at the airport to pick up Mari, as in Calamari... she calls me "Billy, Billy Goat.." it sounds soooo funny when she says it. Mari is lots of funt, she is visiting Julie from Canadia.

Friday- Hmmm. I forgot...

Saturday... Met Julie and Mari for lunch at this really cute Itallian Herb Cafe. We got free dessert compliments of the cutie chef. After, I did some shopping then headed home for some R & R since that evening I went to Roi Izakaya in Naha to say goodbye to Racheal, my favorite Brit. After 50 minutes of 100 yen beer, you can imagine how fun it was!! I ditched the crowd as they headed to some karaoke. I left to this little bar I discovered to pick up..... ha not what you are thinking!!!! lol.... But instead I found my Japanese friend as he was just closing up the bar. He re-0pened the baru for me... we had a drink and then headed over to Paul and Mikes for some more fun. We chatted away the night with me pretending to speak Japanese. After we... sorry no more details.... but again... not what you are thinking!!!!! lol. Got home at who knows what time.....

Sunday- Lounged around... met the gals for lunch again. Slept, Slept, watched a movie and slept.

Today, Monday... Last day of summer school!!!! We made icecream in class today and finished our body parts projects!! Notice how "dimple" is spelled! He spelled "dimble". Cute huh?

NO Tittle .........Just Writing

2006-07-11T09:11:00.000+09:00

So I am back from Los Angeles, sitting at my desk and back to the normal pace of life here in Okinawa. I don't really know how I feel this morning. This morning I spent my time reading the blogs of my fellow ALT's and they seem to be having such a blast. People are joining in drum festivals, marathons (not that i am going to.... I wouldn't last!) sports activities with their fellow teachers.... why is it that I am very willing to join in and do something (besides a marathon) and I can't find anything? How do they do it? They seem more culturally intact with Okinawa than I do. I have another year here.... and i wonder why because excatly what I do here is excatly what i do at home. The only difference is that I am here. How do I get involved..... dunno...

KOBE

2006-05-29T15:41:00.000+09:00

Talk about looking short! That's me and Brett waiting to come home from Kobe!

That's inside our very nice 5 star hotel goofing around in the lobby. I have no idea what Jaime is doing... This hotel was awesome and all for free! Our bathrooms were bigger than the blue banana, with glass windows and all!

This one looks like a post card... dosn't it? This is downtown Kobe. I decided to do a bit of sightseeing on my own. Downtown reminded me of half Portland and half Santa Monica. I really enjoyed walking the streets of Kobe!

This last one is of the Ropeway to the top of Mt. I forgot the name... sorry. But, I was so proud of mysleft! I did it! I actually went on it! You guys know how I get with heights! i usually get really really stiff, my knees lock and I feel that with every step I am going to fall over. My rememdy you ask??..... I had a toothless old lady cheering me up while I sat on the floor! LOL...

Tokashiki.....again

2006-05-20T15:12:00.000+09:00

Another fun trip to Tokashiki Island. A last minute trip with Kerri, Julie, Renata and myself.... with special guests of Brett and the two marines on vacation. It was great fun... we sun bathed, skinny dipped, got eaten alive by mosquitoes, cook beans in its own can, camped, lit a bomb fire, had some Thai Buckets and most importantly we laughed out asses off!!!

The cutest scarecrow ever!!!

The Afro-Nest Restaurant/Bar

2006-05-09T15:14:00.000+09:00

Hmmm. Yes, I know... the place that I ended going to last night is called the Afro-Nest. I was supposed to hit sushi with a girlfriend of mine but instead we met some other people and met at this crazy underground bar..... WHERE THEY MAKE YOU WEAR AFROS!!!!

Here is a picture of the menu...PS... they don't like Gaijins!

THIS PICTURE READS:
*Assholes are not welcomed!!
*You have to be genglemen
*We accept JapaneseYen cash only
*Here is Japan, You have to follow Japanese Customs and our rules!!
*We don't care English, You have to understand what we say
*If you break our rules, we will call the police soon

This is me and my pink afro..... don't I look cute? LOL

Here are some more pics of us with the fros.. for your viewing pleasures.

Sports Day.....Again

2006-05-09T12:37:00.000+09:00

Sports Day at Kochinda-Chugako

Hmmm. Well, technically it was a jump rope competition. Yes, I jumped as well, BUT no pics...sorry.....

All the grades competed against one another... even the teachers. It was quite fun though. Needless to say- the kids won over the teachers.

2006-05-09T12:19:00.000+09:00

THE WEDDING

On Friday, 5 de Mayo, May 5th, Akihiro-Sensai got hitched.

THE TIME: 6pm till 9 pm......literally

THE PLACE: Loisir Hotel, Okinawa-Ken, Naha-Cho

THE ENTERTAINMENT: A Talent Show made possible by family and friends

THE ATTIRE: Black (except "the American," she wore pink)

THE PRICE: Ichi-Maun (100.00 dollars)

Needless to say it was a fun night, but a short one as they literally kick you out. It was held in a fancy shh-mansy hotel, on the 12 floor, overlooking the city. The bride changed 3 times. First, was the traditional wedding Kimono, second the traditional white wedding dress and lastly, a colored wedding dress. One had to pay 100 bucks to enter. Yup, that's right! Everone looked as if they were attending a funeral but with lots of seqence on! Me? I wore a pink skirt and a white sweater set. NO ONE TOLD ME!!!!! oh well.
So, to go on: The Menu.... Lobster (cooked), fish (raw), seafood salad (both raw and cooked), steak (thank-god it was cooked!) and lots of other yummy stuff. You would think because they had that huge cake, we would of eaten cake, right? NOPE! We had flan.
No music, no dancing, but an entertainment show brought to you by friends and family. Yes, i participated to and had to do a dance with my co-workers. All my male fellow teachers got wasted and make the night very funt! The after party was to countinue, but i couldn't make it as I had previous engagement: To celebrate 5 de Mayo at Salsatina's!!

ps I got a gift in return for the 100 bucks you pay: A set of 5 cherry blossom plates

Golden Week

2006-05-09T09:37:00.000+09:00

WHY ARE ALL THESE FISHES HANGING? People started hanging all these fishes all over the place. On their balconies, over rivers, hanging from high buildings in Naha... but the question I kept asking myself was why? Finally, as Golden Week began, (a series of holidays in one week, with no work or school) my question became answered.
This passed friday was Children's Day, but it was mostly aimed for the boys because "the girls" had Hina Matusuri, where girls eat cake with dolls in front of them to help them get married. (or something like that) Anyways, so the fish represent a certain type of strong fish, that become strong as they like to swim against the flow of the rivers where they live. They also like to swim around waterfalls, making them strong fish. So it's the same message that parent's here want for their children, "swim strong."
To mark off the start of Golden Week, there were Harri races. (not harry but HA-RRi with rolled R's)
Down by the docks, every morning the sound of the pallet gun sounded off the men to start padeling. The pallet gun could be heard all the way down the carnival lane as the kids played booth games. It was quite the excitement! Food was heard sizzling up and down the street. Yaki soba, corn on the cob, chicken drumsticks and the Colonel himself dressed up in carnival gear each sold a plenty.
Live music could be heard on the opposite end of the carnival with loud taiko drums and the famous "Ye ya sa sa" hymn; and as each evening drew to an end, the sky lit up in wonderful colors as children covered their ears to the sound of the fireworks.
It was quite a fun and wonderful week.

The Sexiest Men Ever!!!

2006-05-02T10:03:00.000+09:00

Yes, these are the sexiest men ever!!!

Birthday Fun

2006-04-17T12:15:00.000+09:00

Some birthday fun at the bowling alley in Chatan.
My B-Day present: A bottle of Mexican Tequilla with limes and salt!!!
Aren't we supposed to be bowling?
Dancing after.... well taking a break from dancing. Thats Morris! the best houseguest ever!

They are so Chi-sai!!!!

2006-04-17T12:12:00.000+09:00

The new Ichi Nensais (7th gr.) are soooo totemo kawaii!(cute) They are soooo chi-sai!! (small) I really like teaching them: they like to participate, they are not shy and so far they seem like great kids! We had an opening ceremony for them, where Ni and San Nensai (8th and 9th gr.) welcomed them. The ceremony lasted for about 2 hours. In the meanwhile, I was stuck in a corner not understanding a single thing, sitting down and playing fake finger puppets. Ganbatte (good luck) speeches from Kocho and Kyoto Sensai (principle and vice), long and boring. Parents were happy and kept waving to their kids. At the end of the ceremony the 1st graders walked underneath a spiral of flowers held by the elder students while I shook all the kids hands. (thank God for anit-bacterial!)

Needless to say, I like these kids. They come up to my and try talk in Enlglish, not like the older kids who hide from me. So far this week, I have been invited to a tennis and volleyball match, which is exciting since i never get invited to play with them. I was also thinking about starting a cooking club with the 1st grade girls. Should be fun.

Whatever

2006-04-07T11:47:00.000+09:00

the caves in okinawa- 5 mins from my aparto
my lovely new pumas
the view of Okinawa from the air..(took this picture on the way back from Korea)

Just some randoms pics...

PS.... the picture of the ladies walkin.... where did they get their hair do? they all have the same!

Korea

2006-04-04T10:02:00.000+09:00

Just some pics of Korea... ENJOY!

Korea..... So Far.....

2006-03-31T19:25:00.000+09:00

BRRRRRRRR....... it's cold....so far. Ok, well besides the freezin cold temperatures...I LOVE KOREA! I like much much better than Okinawa. Not to mention that the men are much better looking and the women don't look anorexic at all, they look normal.

We headed off the northest point in S. Korea today to take a look at N. Korea. It was really awkward. Barb wires everywhere, checkpoints, lookouts etc. There were propaganda buildings everywhen on the N. Korea side. Propaganda buildings to make it look like N. Korea is as normal as any other country; shopping mall, apartments all appear on the opposite site but in reality no one is there. Anyhow.. we met some fellows from the Domincan Republic and we are meeting them for dinner tonight at Panchos Mexican Food. I know... i know.... eat Korean food right? WRONG! tomorrow will be the day.

Sightseeing and some shopping galore. Tomorrow night is the Dj Tiesto concert. 55 buckaroos but it will be worth it!
Ciao for now.
V.

WOW....... How they all changed

2006-03-24T12:32:00.000+09:00

So today was the last day of school and for the teachers who are leaving Kochinda Junior High School. Every 5 years, the teacher's must change schools; the Japanese do this in order for them not to get too comfortable, whereas if you would stay for 20 years at the same school one becomes lazy.
Anyways, after the closing ceremoney the teachers walked out single file walking underneath flower arrangements the students' made. Some were crying.. I was hugging my favorites' goodbye. The English teacher's who are leaving gave me gifts, I feel bad because I didn't get them anything. Well, I am off early today and I can run to the mall and pick up somethings for them for tonight's farewell buffet/drinking party tonight.(last time my Kocho Sensai was on all 4's he couldn't hang)
So, as the teachers were walking out, the 3rd grade student's that just graduated came to see them off. Naturally, some have become attached to their teachers' as they spend more time at school then at home. It is the duty of the teacher, here in Japan to look after the student's. They partol the streets after school and on weekends making sure the kids aren't doing anything they are supposed to do. If a student gets hurt, it is the teacher who accompanies them to the hospital. If the student gets caught doing something bad, it is the teacher who gets a talkin to, not the parent. It is the teacher who takes them to sports events, cometitions, high school interviews, not the partent's. The teacher's here are their counselor's, their coach, their teacher's and to most of them their friend. So one can see why most of these kids have an emotional attachement to the teacher's here. As for the parent's? They don't do SHIT!
Ok, back to my point. Anyways, the student's that just graduated came to say their final goodbyes BUT boy have they changed! Lot's of the boys shaved their eyebrows, or re-shaped them, some shaved off their hair, and some dyed their hair. The girl's have pierced ears, dyed hair and re-shaped eyebrows. Some of the boys "looks gay," as Harumi-Sensai said. Hehe. sorry, I couldn't stop laughing! I quite agreed. When you are in Junior High, you are not allowed to do any of the above.....as it taked away from the unity: they are all one. NO one stands out. But today...... OMG how they've all changed!

Missing the friends

2006-03-24T11:18:00.000+09:00

That's Audrey..... aka ....the odd. met her back during my sophomore year in H.S. I wrote her essays for Mr. O'Neils class. Our favorite hang out? The tree.
Noelle!! What a cutie. Married now... and that's Ming....her lovely kitty! Missing your laugh!
Denise.....you Betty Page look-a-like! Mona Mecke..... drove me up the wall talking about you in during Germany and France tour! Mac and Cheeze Baby!
Xavior and Liz...... Also met them in H.S. Xavi..you handsome devil....Liz with the bitch attitude.....i love it!

As for the rest ..... missing you too!

THE GUMBALL RALLY Continued......

2006-03-17T12:00:00.000+09:00

Saturday, March 11th
Yes, that's Keri and Julie ....sorry the pic has been taken out...... We had the Gumball Rally. Basically, it's a scavenger hunt throughout the island. We had 3 hours to run around and try to get as many items on the list. Some included taking pictures of certain things. Like this one. 10 points.
Ok, so i took this cart from Jusco. Well, for game purposes only! but the cart is still in my jeep....hehe.... i can use it for classes! Hey, this cart was worth 50 points!
Well, what can I say.... 10 points of someone kisssing Goya inside the supermarket.
We had to form a pyramid with Japanese people.... So, I busted a U- turn when I saw the baseball team walking. They were willing to help! 50 points!
You can take this picture as you like. Julie freaking my jeep: Priceless. 10 points. There were many other things on the list such as..... running naked out on a busy intersection. Well, needless to say we didn't do that. BUT the crazy Scottish lad, Craig, DID! And there is video to prove it! Uh, huh...... he was naked all right! Other things we did were: take pics with military on Camp Foster, kiss a Shisa, kiss random strangers on the street.....etc

With my crazy driving, Keri's organizational skills, and 'willing to do anything', Julie we came in 3rd.

THE GUMBALL RALLY

2006-03-15T15:14:00.000+09:00

Friday, March 10th
3rd grade graduation. It was actually nice but, VERY VERY boring. Everyone was dressed in black except for the students'. I asked why and Harumi-Sensai said, "think of it as if we are the backstage during a play... you don't want to call attention away from the actors." Elequently said, i reckon. Makes sense, i guess. After sitting for 2 hours, I begged one of the teacher's to let me do something....so she sent me on bento run. After bringing back 40 bento lunches, I came just in time for the ending. The other grades made beautiful banners to wish the students' luck. The 3rd graders sang their school song one last time as a class before they walked out single filed to shake our hands. Many teacher's cried, but I didn't, I was laughing... telling the girls NOT to wear their skirts short in high school. (the japanese school girls wear their skirts as short as Daisy Dukes... scouts honor) I ended up taking many, many pictures with the kids and their families'.

Friday Night

Julie and I drove to a beautiful cafe were the view was just awesome. This picture was taken just after sunset. We contimplated on what to do the rest of the night while sipping my tea and her coffee.

Countinued..... Friday Night....
After our fabulous chillaxin time at the cafe we head to the "otch kara sama des party," in Habaru. Japanese teachers' love to drink.... so we met them for free drinks at Tomatoe Kareoke. We got drunk with my principle and abouy 13 other teachers. They actually got dissapointed when we couldn't hang anymore.

That is Kanta-Sensai, Julie sinking to Outkast and myself. Hmmmm, I think this picture was taken after who knows how many beers. As you can see my JTE is pretty wasted. You can also see Julie do some Karaoke just click here!

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoID=569704112&n=2&Mytoken=13A71BE7-509A-EC56-497C823F8EA5A3B546599754

My Space

2006-03-12T20:25:00.000+09:00

So i did it.... here is my link to my space

www.myspace.com/elviraloca

Class of 1996 Reunion

2006-03-09T12:46:00.000+09:00

So my question is this: Should I go to my High School Reunion?

I have finally discovered MY SPACE and found many of the ol gang that hanged out at "the tree." As the planning for the reunion goes, my stomach seems to be turning, (and no it's not the nasty school lunch) I find myself very very nervous just thinking about it.

People have grown and some even have kids. More came out of the closet and some went back in. Some are successful lawyers and some are managers at Starbucks. As for me.... what can I say.... ? Why do I feel I haven't done enough... or accomplished enough?

Old nicknames like "cream cheeze"and " porn star" will be creeping up on me. Old pictures of the homecoming court will haunt me. My hair is no longer black with some funky added color and my nylons are normal as opposed to the fish nets. (acutally i do still have a pair) My face and body piercings are closed except for the ones on my ears'. The old "Cure" and "Perry Ferrel" posters have been taken down and are folded neatly collecting dust for some years now. My closet consists now of colors as opposed to the all black collection. (For Professional reasons) And the music that I listened to?...... that's the one thing that hasn't changed! The music still survives with me today! It was always only about the music!

It would be great to see everyone again!

Let the countdown begin.......

Just Pics

2006-03-05T11:24:00.000+09:00

Here are some pics of Salsatina's!

Gasolina, Starbucks, Garbage and Eating Out

2006-02-28T23:22:00.000+09:00

Lets begin my week so far with....

Gasolina

Friday night- After a night of ups and downs, Lorena, Kerri, Julie, Jaime and myself decide to hit Salsatinatina's in downtown Naha. 300 yen to get in and 1,500 yen for a pitcher of Gasolina; A mixed drink of who knows what, that will basically make you strap on your dancing shoes after 1 shot. Boy, let me tell you after 4 pitchers ... my shoes were glued, super glued and stapled on since I couldn't stop dancing the night away! That stuff was awesome! Back to dancing... ah yes, 'with you who might ask?' Hmmm, with handsome marines and airmen! Let's just say 2 of the ones I danced with........ can really..... Kii.... Dance! :)

whewwww whooooo!

Anywasys, Jaime got wasted and had to go so Julie took her home early. Kerri, Lorena and I stayed dancing and drinking more gasolina. On the way home... God.. we had such a blast....but I just can't remember why we were laughing!

Thanks for a fun night out girls!

Starbucks

Monday night- It's 8:00 pm, bored in my apartment.
"Julie, lets go to starbucks in Naha City," I said. Sure enough my travel companion said "yes." We called Kerri and asked to pick her up since she already had 3 glasses of wine. Picked her up and drove off to Main Place. Sitting outside sipping my "drink of the week," white chocolate mocha. Kerri and Julie: " We'll be back... gonna get our drinks." Needless to say: They come back laughing and giggling holding a white bag from San A. Inside? Booze! They sneaked off to buy some wine! There we were.... at starbucks, me drinking coffee and these girls ever so secretly drinking wine!

Garbage

After dropping Kerri off in Urasoe, I hit my shortcut with "Bug," my nickname for Julie. Anyways, so we come to a dark, highly sloped street.... there was a man hiding in a corner and trash all over the floor next to him. I keep on driving down the hill, but slow my speed to a mere 3 mph.The next thing you know we hear a "thump" on the back window. I stop the car look back and notice there is a trash bag on my loaner car! I pull up the handbrake ubruptly and get out yelling at the man in the corner: "You son of a bitch! Don't throw trash at my car!" Ok, so not really yelling....just enough to make sure Julie heard me and not the man! Last thing I needed was some deranged Japanese man kicking my ass. hehe. I threw away the bag, and noticed that my window was all slimey. A good laugh.

Eating Out

So I told myslef, "no more eating out, need to save money." Well, Julie calls me yesturday and asks to have Indian food in Naha. So, of coarse I went.... i love Nanecks Place. I tell Julie about my "procedure" that I am having done in Thailand over garlic nann and masala. (this is a whole other entry) Later we meet up Kerri at our local hangout, Paul and Mikes and yes.... they drank....again... no worries :) I ended up leaving at 10pm, and they got home about 3 am.
Now today, Wednesday, I just came back from Chattan City. Our trio and Jaime ate at Obrigado... a Mexican place. Ummm, heard this place was tasty, but I didn't care for it. No ones Mexican food is better than your own, and especially your own mothers'. We shared our food but rapidly noticed there was not so much taste, it was a bit bland. Beans had no salt, rice was too squishy, the tacos had a hard shell, and the salsa was more like a spicy paste, than anything else. The mole, had too many spices, but yet it needed something else. The tortilla soup was tasty, I give them that. A bit overpriced for the guacamole. I rate it 2 "chile peppers" out of 5, go there only if you are desperate for Mexican food, right then and there. Other than that, head over to my place and I will cook for you, with fair warning.... of coarse. So, after saying that I would not eat out anymore.... I have only 2,000 yen ... until payday.

Now, here in my apartment, broke and getting ready to watch

"Yankees and Terra"..... that's right folks!

Gone With the Wind!

(sister in your honor!)

2006-02-23T16:35:00.000+09:00

A Productive Day..........or

2006-02-16T14:25:00.000+09:00

Work was so hard today..... let me count down my day to you.

8 am - Wake up

8:30- show up to work

8:30-12:40- NOTHING hmmmm well, I did download Nip Tuck and America's Next Top Model, pay my bills and email people.

12:40-1:00 Sat down with teachers and had lunch. (well they ate and I heard them slurp the noodle soup. I didn't eat the rice because it had some purple stuff in it)

1- 2:30- I sneaked out the school and went home walking to hang my laundary up, wash my dishes, and did some grocery shopping for tonights bagel party.

Now? hmmm.. I am updating my blog of random pictures of people, parents, nephews(who don't know where there mouth is :) ) , and friends. I find myself bored at my desk....again.

Yup........ this was my day. Productive, wasn't it?

Cupid Needs To Be Shot Down!!

2006-02-14T10:43:00.000+09:00

Well as John-Taj would put it "it's just another regular day for me." Well my Okinawan brother.... I feel you. Cupid needs to be shot down, or at least he needs to shoot off lovey dovey people. I rather like this cupid... he has the right idea!
Here in Japan, on Valentine's Day, women must give men... (brothers, fathers, co-workers, anyone who carries the Y chromosone) chocolates. When you enter the Jusco... the sweet smell of chocolates enters your nostrils.... it's SICKENING! The stores are painted with pink all over the place. Looks like the Pepto Bismo, or the Pink Fariy Godmother threw up all over the place! Me? No candy buying for me.... for anyone, not even the co-workers that I am supposed to give to. My excuse? Temptation.... I'll just say "I am on a diet.... temptation... sorry." hehe. Gomen Nasai! But... dai jo bu... i shall prevail, once this godforsaken day ends.

Waiting .... Part II

2006-02-13T21:59:00.000+09:00

So as I sit here waiting...waiting again. This time it's not to early to leave since I don't have anywhere to go. No lines to wait in, since I am in the comfort of my own home. I don't have to change any lanes since I am not driving; and I don't have to wait for the music to finish since I am not listening to any. I don't have to wait for the laundary to dry.... since it's already dry; and most importantly I don't have to wait for the mystery of the Awamori bottle to be solved since I don't really care. So the bonus question is this: Why am I waiting? Everymorning I wake up asking myself the same question and wait for the same answer when it's time to go to bed again. I sit here waiting for something or nothing, I am here, just waiting for something to happen...

I Couldn't Of Said It Better....

2006-02-13T12:27:00.000+09:00

I recieved this email earlier today from Julie...

"My level of sensitivity has been increasing rapidly this past week.....I have become more aware and more irritated by the SOUNDS people around me have been making.....strange (I know), over sensitive (of course), solvable (no way)........
Is it a pre requisite for Japanese Culture that horrible noise be made at all times from the nose, throat, mouth?????
The teacher sitting right beside me sucks her teeeth at least 3 times every 10minutes.....and loudly....
The teacher that sits across from me inhales his own mucous from his nasal passages at least once every 12 minutes....loudly ..
The teacher that sits beside nasal mucous teacher makes these weird grunting noises at least 3 times every 30seconds (while talking).
Last night at a Japanese gathering the man sitting beside me was sucking and slurping and oohing and ahhing continuously during dinner.....loudly.....oh and then belching....loudly
The lady that sits next to the computer chews on invisible gum all day....therefore cracking her jaw once every 7 minutes.

I have been informed that this hightened sensitivity is because of Culture Shock.....I am sure that it is partial culture shock and partially just the way I am....and always have been...over sensitive towards noisy and avoidable body functions.....but there is NO NEED for everyone around me to make such terrible noises with their noses, mouths and throats.....get a kleenex......brush your teeth.....keep your noises to your self......

But thats where this thing of culture comes in....it is ok and accepted and even encouraged for people to make disgusting loud noises from their nose, mouth and throat here in Japan...especially when eating some delectable SOBA......

Maybe the solution is this......I will just join in with the fun and find some horrible noise to make from my mouth, nose, or throat that is suited for my manner....then I will make the noise all day long REALLY LOUD so that I drown out any other annoying noises... "

Julie... I couldn't have put this any more elequently as you did. While in India, it was the same but 200 times worse!!

Waiting.....

2006-02-11T14:49:00.000+09:00

I sit here waiting for many things. For time... as it's to early to leave. For the mystery of the Awamori bottle to be solved. For this Nine Inch Nails song to finish to change to another cd. Life consists of always waiting. Waiting for the girl in front of you to hurry up and go to the bathroom when your drunk; you just can't wait for that moment to sit down and let it all go. Waiting for the car in front of you to make that right turn on a green light because there is no other lane to change to. Waiting for you underwear to dry outside on a humid day before your students start to wonder around your town and notice your undergarments. (as they will!) Waiting for Thursday to come around and take away your plastic bottles since they only come once a week and your kitchen is full of them. Waiting for ...... and the list countinues forever. So I am just here waiting..... meanwhile here are some more pictures of my parents' trip here.

WHO DID IT?

2006-02-09T09:51:00.000+09:00

Who did it?

Hmmm, a mystery for sure!

The Scene: Apartment 201, looks like something wild was going on. Dishes everywhere, glasses had lipstick markings. Furniture in its wrong place. Hmm. looks like they were engaing in wierd rituals, a blue broken chair in the shower, a stinky bottle of dye.

When: A dark, late, cold Friday evening, early Saturday morning. 2:30 ish.

The Missing Object: A green bottle of Awamori

*note... not mad.....when it came time to pack for my dad.... the bottle was gone. HA! A gift to my dad!

The Dinner Party

2006-02-09T09:03:00.000+09:00

El Menu:
Chille con Carne Tostadas- con friholes, salsa y vegetales
Tacos de Carne Molida y Papa
Camarones a la diabla
Ensalada de Pasta
Guacamole hecho en casa

So a Mexican dinner party.... Oh ya baby! It was great fun! My parents' and I started off the day with a walk at the Peace Memorial Park, located a close 2 miles away. Ending at a fabulous Japanese restaurant with my co-workers and supervisor from the board of education. Kimonos galore and seeing my dad dunk his cookies in his coffee in front of everyone was impressive. My supervisor couldn't keep his eyes off him. "You look like a movie star," she kept saying. Mind you, he had crumbs on his beard! All I could do was keep watching my mother hit my dad under the table to stop dunking his cookies. Of course.... my father never even noticed what she was trying to do..... "why are you hitting me," he kept saying. Me? I was just laughing away! Anyways... so we left the restaurant and did some more walking around the Zen garden with cherry blossoms and Coy fish all around. We then headed out to Jusco to do the shopping for the dinner. My dad couldn't stop poking at the raw fish in the seafood section. He kept wanting to hold my moms' hand, but she wouldn't budge since he was touching the fish. Later of coarse she gave in only after handing him a moist wipe. Boy, did we call attention! Over a 13,000 yen, 120 dollars, and 1,200 pesos later, we were off to start cooking. Thanks to Ben who came over early to help restalk the bathroom with toilet paper. Only after boasting that he was a master at cutting onions, I let him help out. Well, needless to say.... the man is not a natural and needed some help cutting. I said finely, he gave me golf balls. Everyone came soon after that. Okinawan tequilla.... awamori. One of my teachers gave my dad a bottle... and by the night the bottle was taken by a mysterious someone. (Another post on that) They came, they ate, they drank. Ben decided to be the super gaijin and dye his hair blonde. hmmmm. Don't know what he thinks now, that he is sober! Let me know Ben! It was a blast! Gracias Amigos!

2006-02-06T10:10:00.001+09:00

LOVE BUGS

2006-02-06T10:10:00.000+09:00

Here we are waiting for the show to begin.

2006-02-06T10:09:00.000+09:00

The beautiful cherry trees!

2006-02-06T10:08:00.000+09:00

Who is closing their eye?

No Me Des.... Babies

2006-02-02T22:17:00.000+09:00

Here they are at school. Coffee and reading letters from the students.

My mom went with me to special class, and we had our lesson.

The students from 2nd grade, took picutes with us. They really enjoyed the class!

My dad fiesting away in the goregeous view restaurant.

2006-02-02T21:35:00.000+09:00

Don't they look cute? We went off into a nice walk and found a Papaya tree.

India.... Land of the Forbidden Fruit.

2006-01-31T10:03:00.000+09:00

Me scared.... no not really, BUT a bit nervous. I slept the whole way on the plane; I knew we had arrived safe and sound when the stewardess started to spray something in the cabin. What was that? I dunno.

Delhi by day had many intricate colors, browns, reds and oranges. People approaching us from the whole 360 degrees, begging for money; "they saw us as walking walets," as Elina quite eloquently stated. The aromas came in from all over too, good and bad. They lingered to our noses down to our stomachs that made one become nauseated; deep golden brown Marsala's, fresh garlic nann.... and cow shit mixed with the staggering air pollution made Yasemin and others wear face masks, including myself on a rickshaw drive. Footsteps and knocks from the service boys bringing Masala Tea to rooms, the daily loud honking of cars and spitting sounds of men trying to clear their throats made their way through the closed windows and thin walls of the hotel. Kelly was the smart one to bring ear plugs, while I slept with the light on because Yasemin was afraid of the dark. Early mornings to the train station to make sure our dirty, wrinkled tickets were correct. Alas! They are but pure good! The kids pack their bags and leave Chirs and I behind. Tonsilitis, you see. Poor man. Watching everyone jump on the 50 ruppee ride to the station made me feel sad to leave the group. Chris was babysitted and even got a footie massage, he learned some new tricks... and Chiye watch out! I came to realize that Cory forgot to leave me the 2nd groups' wrinkled dirty train tickets. Back to the station, we went again. An upgrade Chris and I got while the others barely made it on the train. Friends we made that I have forgotten. Men with machine guns and dirty uniforms patroling the walkways. Yellow coffee stains on white socks ruled the walkways. Stories you hear of drugs given to female passengers in their tea, to only later rape them. I don't drink the tea, or eat the food. 17 hours of fake sleep and tying to squat in a moving train with diarreah. Andy tries not to get dirty, so he takes off his pants and hopes his buttocks won't touch anything. A quick swerve, and he slams into the wall. Poor man. The pains of eating that delicious looking Marsala.
We say goodbye to the people we meet, with promises of writing or calling. I don't even remember their names. The one I managed to remember was Mike from South Africa that I met on the train to Xi'an, China. He's another story. We arrived when children were already on us to ask for money. We noticed the petite, dirty blond hair lady wearing a traditional Indian light blue outfit, holding on to her bags as tight as she could. Malati... finally, a familiar looking face in the mist of the beggin and onlooking crowd. My feelings' were inefable when I saw her. We jumped on another train... to Panskura. 90 minutes north of Kolcatta. The colors grew brighter but the poverty grew even stronger. The sun bounced off the colorful saris hanging outside the mud houses. I begin to wonder about my fathers' childhood, as he grew up in the typical mudhouse. The seats are hard, the roaches climb over Andy's shoes and Elina sits between two older Indian men, that keep staring at her. I have the perfect view, since I am at the end of the walkway. Dirty, rusted fans that most likely don't work sit up on top. The train stops at each stop for a mere 2 minutes. Women and men, throw their sacks of vegetables first, and they jump on next. Lucky enough to make it, there are no more seats, as 8 foreigners with their bags take up a lot of seats. A blind man plays the harmonica, as his conductor, or should I say wife leads him through the walkway asking for spare change. Kids Danyelle, Rebecca and Matthew's age, race up and down the walkway trying to sell oranges.

2006-01-28T13:53:00.000+09:00

I did a project with the kids, they had to find the way to LAX from my house. I had the kids use the airplane and explain to me how to get from the house to the airport using, "On the corner of Rosemead and Garvey turn left." It was quite fun and they really enjoyed it. Especially because i got colored pictures from the internet of Target, McD's, K-Mart, Mobil Gas and put them on the poster board. They enjoyed looking at the kinds of stores we have back home.

2006-01-28T13:49:00.000+09:00

I was too lazy to put away my christmas tree, so with Kerri's idea.... I made a Valentine Day Tree.

Who wants to see Bush make an ass of himself....AGAIN!

2006-01-27T15:44:00.000+09:00

Trying to escape from reporter's questions in China, Bush tries to escape.....BUT... you have to click in the link to see what happens.

Do Your Parents Want to Eat the School Lunch?

2006-01-27T11:13:00.000+09:00

Are you kidding me? My parents' eat the school lunch? Is this a trick question? Hmm, how should I answer? Yes, please. Can they have the crunchy fish eggs?
If I don't eat the school lunch, what makes you think they will too? Pig ears and crunchy fish eggs won't do the trick.

Ok, so the school lunches are not THAT bad. Ok, well they are on some days. Takaza-San always tells me what days I won't like the food, which is most days. Thanks for the offer, really...but I will bring my parents their lunch. My mom and dad will be joining me at school for 2 days doing interview games with the kids. God help them!

2006-01-27T11:03:00.000+09:00

COWS!!!!!!!!!!!! This was the road leading up to Panskura School a little more up ahead. This picture was taken by Chris, but I've croped it a little. On the other side to the right was a dirty, dirty pond; I mean scum growning on scum but still you saw people washing their dishes and clothes.

2006-01-27T11:01:00.000+09:00

The market taken by Becky. Look at all the wonderful colors!

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

2006-01-25T12:15:00.000+09:00

Check out these stories......

1) BOGOTA, Colombia - A Colombian man accidentally shot his nephew to death while trying to cure his hiccups by pointing a revolver at him to scare him, police in the Caribbean port city of Barranquilla said on Tuesday.
After shooting 21-year-old university student David Galvan in the neck, his uncle, Rafael Vargas, 35, was so distraught he turned the gun on himself and committed suicide, police said.
The incident took place on Sunday night while the two were having drinks with neighbours.
Galvan started to hiccup and Vargas, who works as a security guard, said he would use the home remedy for hiccups of scaring him.

2) SEOUL - A rural province in South Korea plans to give financial aid to help lonely male farmers pay for mail-order brides from overseas.
South Kyongsang province plans to start a trial programme in which it will give 6 million won (3,500 pounds) to male farmers who marry foreign women, an official said on Tuesday.
South Korean farmers have been turning to brides from other parts of Asia in recent years after struggling to woo local women, who are often less than enthralled with the prospect of rural life.
"Young men in the countryside have a hard time finding brides and they started to look elsewhere,"
The local government estimates it costs about 12 million won (12,000 pounds) for a farmer to pay all the fees and travel required to find a bride overseas.

3) LA PAZ, Bolivia - Incense wafted through the streets of La Paz on Tuesday as witch doctors blessed the tiny trinkets ranging from toy cars to job contracts that Bolivians buy each year to make their dreams come true.
January 24 marks the festival of Alasita, meaning "buy me" in the local Aymara language, and a time when artisans sell miniature objects representing every possible wish.
If you want a man, you buy a rooster made of clay; for a new home, you get a model house. If money is desired, a stack of dollars or euros should be blessed by Ekeko, the dwarfish god of abundance.

4)PORTLAND, Oregon - An Oregon man hurled both of his prosthetic legs at a state trooper, striking him with one, after his son was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving, police said on Monday. The trooper at first detained only the driver, Adam Kackstetter, 26, after he became aggressive. But then his father, Joel Kackstetter, 53, a passenger in the vehicle, grew hostile, a police spokesman said.
The senior Kackstetter charged at the arresting officer several times before the trooper knocked him to the ground, according to the police report.
"Passenger removed a prosthetic leg and threw it at trooper, hitting trooper in chest. Passenger removed second leg, threw it at trooper but missed," the report said.
The father and son face multiple charges including assault on a public safety officer.

Some More Pictures For You

2006-01-23T14:12:00.000+09:00

In front of the little Christmas Tree.
Is that the same man?
Wouldn't I make a cute housewife someday?.....NOT!
Taj Mahal anyone?
Little Devil Babu

I've Really Done IT!

2006-01-19T22:32:00.000+09:00

Stuck in the hospital before leaving for India

The Okinawan Indian Thespians!

Taipei 101, the tallest building in the world!

I love that Caramel Machiatto.. Decaf..Soy milk..whip no foam!

These are our squat toliets sitting positions!

So some pictures to entertain you. I hit a wrong button and changed my blog look. While doing this I lost my personal links and so forth. So give my time to fix it. Meanwhile here are some pics for your viewing pleasure.

Today is Tuesday

2006-01-17T12:12:00.000+09:00

Today is Tuesday and it’s 11 42 am. No classes today, so I sit here at the computer desk to write. I get tired of studying Japanese so I decide to finish up the book I started to read earlier last week.

The irony of today is: Today is Tuesday and I finished the book called Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom. The best book I have ever read. Tuesday. Today I feel like taking in all my thoughts and contemplate on them over coffee; what I want to do with my life, what things have I overlooked in life will the the topics in my head.....Today is Tuesday. Just like the book, Tuesdays reflected on life between Morrie, an older dying professor with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) and Mitch, his student of many years ago. Life’s last lesson taught not in a classroom, but in the living　room filled with books and breathing machines。A true story that reflected on life, love, marriage, death, forgiveness and life in general that people often take for granted.

Maybe if everyone takes the time to read this book, we can stop living with selfishly and start living a better life.

Objective: To have fun with your body without the casual potential body cast. Fun with Bodies!!

2006-01-15T21:38:00.000+09:00

So you may ask, "What is fun with bodies?" Ah yes, well. The tale goes back on a drunkin evening, created by Julie, aka Kitty and Kelly. The intention? To entertain the other drunkin people at Paul and Mikes. From there, Fun with Bodies has grown; to talent show madness and almost breaking your neck, this big phenomenon has grown all across Japan and rapidly spreading throughout the world, including India. As you can see... there we were.... we just happen to be walking through the Taj Mahal among other historical sites, when we decide to demonstrate Fun with Bodies for the locals. So.... needless to say it was great fun!

India's Toast

2006-01-11T09:04:00.000+09:00

Here's to the glasses and the gasses
and the smiling orphan facesto
muddy river boat rides
and Mexican family ties.

To talk of maria and talk of maria
and talk of maria and talk of maria
to copious amounts of medicine pills
the dire smells and squat toilet spills.

To monkeys, camels, and bears oh my!
but no hash this time to make us high
to banana leaves and cross legged pain
to dahl and veggies oh god, not again.

To rickshaw rides that near claimed our lives
to the men who offered their daughters and wives
not one nor three not five but seven
days of diarrhea; that was John's heaven.

To the beggars we saw from rickshaw's too small
our favorite the man with one giant ball
to the orphans we gave Christmas cheer
but lost our money on Bunti's beer.

To dirty shoes and omiyage
the India blues and new words, eh?
to thai pants and smog, and the panskura mob
to the friends we made with no parents at all.

To the mainland JETs unknown at the start
who became by our trials okinawan in part
we came to India for a selfless cause
yet gained friendship that touched us all.

But where would we be without a dedication of sorts
to our mates, tomodachi, our beloved cohorts
to Elvira and Cory and Lauren and John
whose planning and strength we came to lean on.

To Alie and Blair, Thulani and Fro
Okinawa bound, I hope time will show
to Alicia and Marshall the south'ners from 'ginia
who gave the orphans soapstone and San'na.

To Sachiko, Caleb, and Dan who we saw
only in panskura, for a time too smal
lto Reyhan and Linda and Becky who came
as guests to our group, but part just the same.

To Kelly and Craig and Yasemin ﾇakmak
and Elina who taught us how to "beat off"
to Andy and Ben (both the small and the tall)
the former of who had a massage of their balls.

Myself I would simply just like to say
what an honor it's been each step of the way
so i raise this glass without fear of boast
to the best group of people I may ever toast.

Created by Chris with the help of Kelly and Ben

My Christmas Tree and India

2005-12-14T21:51:00.000+09:00

My Little Christmas Tree

how cute you are to me!!!

I had to buy a Christmas Tree. A little one but hey, a tree is a tree, right? All this week i have been doing Christmas lessons with the kids at school. I created a cool Chirstmas Jeopardy game for them, but instead just answer the questions. How well do you know Christmas?

1 How many reindeers does Santa Clause use on his sleigh?

A 5

B 10

C 9

2 What color was Santa Clause costume before the Coca Cola company changed his Santa outfit to red and white?

A Black and White

B Green and White

C Blue and White

3 What country uses real candels on the Christmas tree and every Christmas morning people gather around the tree to sing Christmas Carols?

A Finland

B Denmark

C Sweeden

Answers These are only a few questions that I used. ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!!

1 C

2 B

3 B

I will be out of reach for about 18 days, as on the 16th of December I will venture out to India. Yes, India. So while you guys are enjoying yummy tamales I will be eating who knows what. If you are wondering why I am going to India. I will be volunteering out on an orphange in N. India for 7 days with a group of 23 ALT's. We will be in Delhi for 5 days then to the camp to teach English for 7 days and then travel through Calcutta, Varanassi, Pushkar and Angra Pradesh through the 5th of Januaray. Guess who thought of this? Yours truly. I am the leader of this adventure. Leave it up to me!

Wish me luck!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

MISSION: TO PICK UP THE MATTRESSES

2005-12-10T11:42:00.000+09:00

Keri- "Elvira can we pick up my new free hand me down mattresses from the base?"

me- "sure no problem."

So we embark on a mission to drive up to Kadena Air Force Base. I skip my Japenese class to embark on the adventure.

7pm- I take the expressway to pick up Keri. 200 yen later i honk my horn, mind you when i honk my horn dosn't stop honking until i push it again.

7:15pm Keri- "Elvira do you know where to find some rope?"

Me- "Ummm, No. No Home Depots around here. WAIT! LOOK"

7:18 I stop my car in a drak alley way, there is a construction site filled with poles tied with good looking rope. I grab my cutters from the glove compartment, I run trying to be sneaky, run over to where the rope is, start untying the knots while Keri is too busy laughing and taking pictures of me stealing the rope. Success, I free enough rope, and here we go again.

7:50 Arrive at Kadena A.F.B. Must show I.D. Passport and International D.L to enter with my car. PROBLEM, my passport is in Tokyo getting a visa for India. We beg the officer to let us in. Trying to explain we just want to pick up some old mattresses. Thank God Keri came to the rescue and she had all her documents.

Kadena is really big, big lanes, big apartments, big everything.

No wonder the Japense want their land back!

8:20 We try to put the mattresses on my Pajero Jeep.

Keri- "Elvira raise the mattresse higher! Pick your arms up!"

me- "I am picking up my arms, its as far as I go!" (stuggling keeping the mattesse in the air)

Finally, we put both up, tie the rope and head off.

8:40 Keri " Hey, lets go to the Bx and go shopping!"

me "sure"

8:41 I flip-a-bitch.

8:45 Lost inside trying to find the BX.

8:50 still lost

8:56 YIPPEEEEE!

9:00 Lady waiting at the door "Military IDs please."

We showed her out base pass, but she didnt let us in. We walked outside and came back in through the other side of the store. That didnt work, got rejected again. Walked outside again and asked a man to sign us in. Gladly, he did but we still couldnt buy anything since he had to buy the stuff for us. He wasn't too keen on that. We walk outside again. 3rd time, so we gave up. I try to turn on my car.

Me- "Oh SHIT! the car dosn't start"

(we only have 20 minutes before our pass expires)

I kick and shout at my engine. Nothing yet. I start to look up straight at the sky to see if maybe the high above can help. Nothing. Finally, a tall skinny man passes by. I asked him to help us. He did. From Puerto Rico, mid 40's, just married and has been here for 10 years. He helps with the car. He offers to sign us in. He waits for us to do our shopping.

I felt we were on some game shopping show. Keri and I have about 15 minutes b4 the store closses. I grab a car, run through the isles and throw things in. Blankets, slimfast, pretzeles, iron, vacuum, cookies, diet pepsi, sheets, pumkin seeds, hmmmm, what else? Sounds about it. 200 bucks later, we walked out. Nikko gave me his number to go out to see his salsa band.

10 pm Jam out of the base.

We arrive at Kerries aparto. Finally. BUT my car dosnt start again. a few kicks and I was on my way home.

11pm arrive home. I put on my new flannel sheets on my bed,A cozy night ahead.

8:20 am. My car dosn't start .....again. Late for school. ......

The bodyshop came to pick up my car and now I am stuck driving a tiny K-car.

Oh Well.

Ode To Those We Love And Have Lost

2005-12-08T21:03:00.000+09:00

This post is dedicated to the loveones who are sick and for those that I have known that are no longer with us.

To Giovani

You're only 7 seven years old but have

the strength I could only wish for.

Your little body fights everyday for one more day

while others pray to go up up and away to take the pain away.

Know that someone from far away thinks of you everyday.

To Henning

A wonderful husband, father and friend

I had a wonderful time with you and your family

Britta invited me into your home and country

and I shall always remember Denmark for your hospitality

Cancer took you away but know that you never really are away

You were a very kind, smart and funny funny man and I am deeply sorry to hear

that you are no longer here

Missing Home

2005-12-03T12:34:00.000+09:00

It's never bad to say that you miss home. I do.

Little Ben, Or Should I Say, Big Ben

2005-11-10T21:54:00.000+09:00

Isn't this the most cuttest kid? I need a sticker here in Japan that states, "my chubby nephew can beat yours up!"
Now tell me, what Gallegos kid did not like water when they were babies?
I only hope Ben won't be scared of me when he sees me again. It's hard enough when I call home and I hear him in the background talking the baby talk.
I remember Mathew was just born when I left to France to study; I missed a lot, but when I returned he and I were glue. I miss so much all the Gallegos children. As for little Ben, just remind him that someone far away loves him too. Tia Bibi

Halloween

2005-11-03T21:39:00.000+09:00

"Tigers and bears, OH MY!" Well, not this year! Before you ask, "why is Elvira holding cans?" Yes, well she had the brilliant idea of being a Can Can Dancer. Get it? CAN CAN. Ha Brilliant! I made the costume and added some beads to my skirt a nd blouse. Pretty cool, huh. Lots of different costumes including the Ninjia Turltle outfit John stole from a 3 year old kid. It was a blast! Here in Okinawa there is no time that a bar has to close, so we stayed, actually I stayed until 4:45 am.

It was a blast! By the end of the night, some of the JETS were on the bar dancing to their hearts content. Groovy prizes and an open upper deck played out quite nicely.

Some of the best costumes I believe included: Osama Bin Laden,
Pippi Longstalking and the Pirate,
Cowboy Kid - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,
among others.

At school I couldn't wear my dancer outfit because it's too low cut, so instead I borrowed my friend Kerrys' idean of Medussa. The kids loved it, everytime I walked into class they stared clapping. I handed out candies bought from Kadena Base. If you want to see some more costumes click over to my pictures and find the "halloween" folder.

When you read this, you will be dissapointed!

2005-11-02T22:10:00.000+09:00

I SHALL NOT FEEL GUILTY
I actually did it, many people will be disappointed in me. I am sorry but I had to do it? Why did I steep so down to such levels? Well, little homesickness, mixed with a cold, add a little of a sore throat that won’t go away, and what do you get? The need to actually spend 9.00 dollars on a melon. I had a big craving for some fruit, So yes, 9 US dollars on a melon! The nerve! Stop what you’re doing! BOYCOTT do what you have to do, but yes, I spent 9 US dollars on a MELON!
Why so much? There is a thing called rent. Yes rent. The melons here are specially grown and housed. So some of the 9 dollars goes to rent and for keeping of the melon. Do I sound crazy? It’s the only way that I can justify 980 Yen on a melon. If I think this melon is truly special, then I can enjoy it freely without feeling guilty that I spent 980 Yen on a melon.
Now the question you all been waiting to ask? Was it at least good? IT TURNED OUT TO BE ROTTEN!! I will return it tomorrow morning! YUK YUK YUK!!

UPDATE- Today I went and got a refund!!!

To and From .......Taipei, Taiwan

2005-10-23T19:37:00.000+09:00

I sit here now comfy in my chair..... waiting for my bannana nut bread to be done. I think back at Taiwan, and WOW what an adventure.

First I embarked on a mission. A lonely mission, that I only Elvira Gallegos accepted. Reason being, I had time off and everyone else didn't.

Everyone knows, i am totally afraid of water, BUT in order to save myself 100 US dollars, I bought a ticket from Naha to Taiwan on a ferry boat. Yes, a ferry boat. It looked like a mini cruise ship, though. Well, I was overwhelmed by it's beauty (even though it had dirty carpets!) and especially because I had my own room. Usually, one has to share with strangers, just like taking a night train. Well, the thing was there was a typhoon heading in between Japan and Taiwan. So, the waters were HELL!!!!!!!!! Can you say vomiting party? I was so sick i almost started crying for my mommy! How do you say " STOP THE BOAT" in Japanese? If i knew, I would of said it. So, thanks to some anti seasickness pills that only knocked you out, and didnt anti anything i slept for 20 hours. Yes, 20 hours. Just to save 100 bucks. All I knew was, I wasn't ever going back on that thing again!

LET THE ADVENTURE BEGIN!

Arrive Keelung, Taiwan 9:30pm. Sick, pale and no Taiwanese money. No worries, I got my handy dandy stamp on my passport and head out to find someone to exchange money for me. I found a nice lady to do so. After she cheated me, NO JUST PLAYING. After she exchanged the money I headed to the train station to head out to Taipei.
After a fun time trying to buy tickets and getting to the correct platform number 2 I finally made my way to the city.

Arrival at Taipei City. Lost at the main station. Look at my map, look at my directions to the hotel and realize i must take yet another train to find my hostel.

Arrive at the East end of Taipei, 11 pm, sick, pale but this time with money. Another 20 minutes to walk and find the hostel. Ring, Ring hmmm no answer. Ring Ring the doorbell went, no answer. There you have it. They took my deposit and never let me in! Yes, they knew a late arraival was comming. So midnight, no hotel, sick, pale, with Taiwanese money to spend.

Hotel 1 - booked- after skimming the streets of E. Taipei, no hotels.

12 pm Midnight. Sick, pale, no hotel, tired, thinking tonight will be my first night to sleep in a metro station, when suddenly I saw the light. Ok, 4 lights, 4 bright stars of a really nice hotel. There is a GOD! 4 lucky stars later, kissing my Taiwanese money to spend goodbye as I pay the hotel! Did I mention my hostel WOULD OF BEEN only 12 bucks a night?

As I wrote in my journal.........

ok, let me begin with the morning.

wake up at 8 am. go down stairs for weenies and egg breakfast but only eat the toast with coffee. go walking around bought a cute blouse for one of the girls, havnt decided which one yet and two cute wallets. bought some kickbut pens for 30 cents each. bought 2 pairs of shoes for 12 bucks, and really cute. came back to the hotel and booked a tour of 5 hours for only 30 bucks including lunch.

All you see in Taiwan are mopeds, or as as the tawainese call them "murdercycles." They are everywhere! Ok, to have a better idea the moped here is basically what the yellow taxi is to New York City. k.
So off we head to see some dead guys tomb. it was ok, Napoleon's tomb in Paris is better. I guess this bloke, the loved/ best dictator ever in Taipei. He helped with peoples rights.

Went to the natioal musuem, that was the best bathroom i have ever been in. ok....... so not really but it was quite interesting. There, i saw the famous "LECHUGA" or "cabagge." Its made of pure jade with only one piece, but passed from generation to generation to complete. They had to wait for discoloration and so forth.

I went to the WORLDS tallest building winning at 101 stories called 'Taipei 101. " The mall inside included LouisVuitton, Gucchi , Dior , Prada, everything rich people can only buy. At least I came out on a full stomach of ribs, potatoes and a new state of the art mp3 player. the death of my dell mp3 player gets a whole dedication later. That set me back 250 bucks. yes i know i know BUT>>>>>>>> lifetime warrenty, uh hummmmm.... and it just happens to be that Taipei is hosting one of the worlds biggest and best electronic conference thingy here. Its supposed to be the creme de la top when it comes to gadgets and gizmos. in the states this mp3 player wont come out until another 6 months. its the size of a thumb and only weighs about 75 cents on one hand. its cool!!!!!!

So to the final of the tour my cab ride home, since I left the tour to do some windowshopping. Ah yes, the cab ride . Well, ............. and all i heard was........ the taxi man suck something out his teeth!!!!!!!! yuk yuk yuk. i just thought what would cristy do ??? Hmmm. what would you do, sister?

ok, tomorrow another tale of the snake alley. yes you heard corectly. a night market part Mecca, part who knows what. sounds great!!!!!!!! ah
yes i found an american food store. so i stalked up on orangina,,, yes orangina prego and cereal to take back with me 2 okinawa.

another yet satisfying day, but not without the daily adventures i go through.

ok, so i wake up eat and head down to this famous temple with over 150 dieties to go around. i only spend about 2 minutes since the smell of incense is everywhere. ok where to? hmmm. ah yes lunch and early lunch since my toast with wierd jam was not enough.
i walk into some random place filled with people. you sit, there is a hole in the middle of the table, they bring you raw veggies and meat and start cooking! I cant speak Mandarin, so i pointed to the picture and showed her beef, or so what i thought was beef. she looked at me and said sum mumbo jumbo, and said "Dai jo bu" that means its "ok" but she dosnt understand me since,..... i was speaking Japanese. anyways she comes with some red beef stock. i ignore the color coes it smells great. the so called beef,. looks so pretty, the colors compliment each other. well i cook my veggies and start to eat, OH MY GODDDDDDDDDDddd well it turns out the RED STOCK, well i didnt notice the picture well enough. the hottest thing i ever had. it was a puree watered down with chicken broth but the puree was a puree of pure red peppers, the kind that get served in the Com pao shrimp at fu shing. i started to cry almost, everone was laughing. ah yes and the meat you ask???/// Deer meat. i had 5 bites, paid my 2 dollars and left to find a more comfort food, McDonalds.
next up? my favorite part of the day. the paper museum. i made my own paper!! it was the coolest thing. and i bought some nice gifts for my sister and lizzette for scrapbooking, i went wild, its such beautiful paper so I bought about 40 bucks on huge sheets!
After, i head down to some old ugly alley, think of downtown LA by A and S where cristy worked, i head down and find an old shop. not crowded only anther person and myself. the shop is about the size of my bedroom back home. a 90 year old man sits, smoking a pipe and carving away beautiful trays. i couldn't resist so I bought a really nice one for my mom. set me back 100 bucks, but its worth it. honestly. the tray you ask? you can serve your tea and coffee to your guest. a serving tray, catch my drift.
next up... an yes the best taxi ride ever part 2. i only closed my eyes and prayed to God only once. the funny thing is.... in okinawa there are far more accidents (actually havnt seen one yet here in Taipei...........yet) more accidents, with only 2 lanes, one to go and one to come back, the okinawans drive much much slower, and still i see about 5 accidents a day in Oki. here, lizzette will freak out! i f she thinks yann and i drive bad, she would be wishing that we drive instead of here. lanes, what lanes, they drive i nbetween lanes/ its crazy!!
anyways, so the taxi driveer speaks little English, and asks me "do you like dog meat? huh? i say, NO yuk yuk yuk! then he goes on and on how americans eat dog meat. i stop him and say,.... i am american, and trust me the lawyers will be all over us if we ate dog meat. well it turns out..... Dog meat = HOT DOGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 hahahahahahahahahahhaha
next up, back home to drop off all the things i bought. get a half hour nap, head out to dinner at this mongolian b b q place. by far beats the montebello town center! then i head for some more shopping but didnt buy anything at the snake alley. you read right,,, snake alley! snake soup. blood, hearts, tails, everthing you can imagine. it ws quite grosse! i wanted to barf it smelled really ugly, since they were drying fish, squid next to the snakes. uhuhhhhhhhh.. ok so
10 30 pm here in taipei, 11 30 in okinawa and 8 30 am back home. my feet hurt, time to hit the sack and again wake up to have yet another interesting day in the land of the shoppers paradise. I can just imagine Jesse yelling "MARIA!" Yolys' heaven and Jesses' nightmare!

Ok i did it !! i really did it. i got it done a reflexology foot massage for an hour. oh my god, i dont know when was the last time a good looking man was rubbing my feat! details, as it gets its own dedication later.

ok so the short version. since its 11 48pm in taipei 12 48pm in okinawa and around 7 48 am back home.

i just walked in the hotel, carrying so many bags. its hard to shop for souvenirs here, since they dont really haven any besides the casual postcard and key chains, its a shoppers paradaise for clothes shoes, etc, but not souvenirs. anyways i did mangae to buy a couple of things for the fam.

i was at the pickpockets heaven today, no worries, i have everything, luckily i was not a victim, since i have my passport and mula in an underwear pocket. they are underwear, but there is a zipper on the belly to put stuff in.
ok, so i bought my dad some kick but shoes, set me back.. shhhhh secret. bought some and too tired to be countinued.......

Well, that was my last entry in my journal. I got too lazy to write some more. The picture on this blog is the group that I went to the National Museum with. The Korean man sent me this picture the other day. I don't have any pictures to post since I didnt take my digi cam. Why? I took my good camera to take pics with and I didnt want to carry so many cameras.I went home a couple of days later. I loved Taipei, but I was glad to return to my cozy apartment. By the way....... I didnt return by boat. I bought a new ticket on China Airlines, I was home in 75 minutes compared to the long hours on the boat!
ENJOY!!!

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly...of the Japanese

2005-10-23T19:14:00.000+09:00

While being here in Okinawa I have discoverd what the Japanese Culture is really like. It's almost like a dictatorship or even communist, why? Because, the Japanese government keeps the people under tight scrutiny, and everything and everyone at the same level. Examples:

First- To everyone everything unknown or new is "Dangerous"

Situation 1 -I am going on a ferry trip to Taiwan ANSWER- "It's dangerous"
Situation 2- I am going swimming ANSWER- "No, you can't its dangerous!"
Situation 3- I left my window open Answer- "Someone can enter, it's dangerous"
Situation 4- "Don't walk on close to the road, its dangerous."

These sound like normal dangers right?..... Well.....

Situation 1- They are not telling me "it's dangerous" because I a female traveling alone on a ship. No, they tell me for the fact that the ship itself is going to drown. Because, it is not the norm of traveling on boat since its cheaper than flying, the airlines need to stay in buisness, right? So what do they do? They scare the bejeezers out of you. You ask, how does the government play a role here you ask? Politics, everything is money. Television is a powerful tool to keep the masses informed. You know that little sailboat that went down in the south of Spain? We never heard about it back in the states, here in Japan, Titanic #2. Tactics, scare the public about traveling by sea, buy air tickets! Everyone flies.

Situation 2- Usually, swimming is dangerous right? Especially when jellyfish is involved. The thing is there are plenty of beaches here in Okinawa. So on the same exact beach, 300 feet apart are two sections, One with jellyfish, and the other without. The side with jelllyfish, there are signs of "danger, jellyfish." On the side with no jellyfish, it's ok to swim. The truth is, there are NO jellyfishes on this side of the island. There are nets to supposedly secure the area from those see through fish; but according to my close friend at the prefectural office, they only say that there are jellyfish, to keep the people all on one side of the beach, so they scare them off with signs of jellyfish posted all over the "danger side". Reason being? Not enough life guards to keep watch. Why? Not enough money to pay them. So they lie instead, instead of saying, KEEP OUT NO LIFEGUARDS. A weak Prefecture in Japan? NEVER!! One Prefecture more richer than the other.... NEVER!! SEE PICTURE OF SIGN.

Situation 3- I left my window open. Ok, enough AC, my bill is expensive. I live on the 2nd floor, with only one side of the apartment building with stairs to get you your door. On the back end of the complex there are windows, for example: my shower window with BARS. You can't get in. First, it's on the second floor, it's tiny,it has bars, and there is no access to the window. BUT it's dangerous! Someone might get in, like in America people break in all the time into houses. It's not safe. This leads to another situation. On television, everything is the way it is. So America is dangerous. When have you seen one or two Japanese travelers travel alone? Don't we always see them in flocks? uh, hum. It's dangerous to travel to America.

Situation 4- Speed limit on Okinawan roads: 45. MPH 30. You swear, these people drive so damn slow! And theys till can't drive. The sidewalks have metal little fences to outline them. Going at 35 MPH what are the chances of breaking through one of them and hitting you? But its dangerous to walk too close to the metal fence, you might get hit!

Ah! Yes, my favorite THE SUN
They are so afraid of the sun. It's hot, figure 90 somthing F. Humid, no wind. Ther are covered from head to toe. Literally. Tele-v's commercials galore on the dangers of sunbathing. Yet, they have old people that die from heatstroke. why? they wear gloves, hats, longsleeves, they wrap their heads in towels and tie them from the bottom of their chins. They are covered from head to toe. The sun is dangerous, but yet who gives a damn on heatstroke.

THE RULES OF JAPANESE CULTURE
1 Never say "Goodbye" when you leave a party.
2 Don't stick your chopsticks upright in rice, it means death.
3 Never whistle
4 Never pour yourself your own drink
5 Always take off your shoes when entering a home or school.
6 Never take "sick day" always vacation days. It looks bad....... (i do)
7 Never leave school before 6 pm for teachers, it means your not working hard enough.. ... (i do)
8 You must change schools every five years, to teach at. Never leaving one comfortable at a workplace, to keep you working hard.
9 After the age of 6 NEVER take your children to school, they have to walk. (seriously, there are first graders that always walk alone to school)
10 NEVER DISIPLINE a kid at school. Its a form of embaressment. Students don't have to do homework, if they don't want to. They can sleep in the class if they want. They yell at the teachers. You can't suspend students or take them out of class for bad behavior, why? Its the students right to be in school. So the case of the girl who stabbed a girl in the neck last year with a pen, came to school the very next day, as the victim lay in a hospital bed for 2 weeks. If you discipline, you are embarassing the student, a teacher can get fired. Me? I disiciplin all the time, i am a foreiner. Its ok. So the teachers just give me a sign to yell at the class. What do I know, I am only a foreigner?

So many more rules can't think anymore off the top of my head.

Ok, so Japan is not communist or under a dictatorship, but there are so many insane rules, and asking permission for everything, time here just gets really frustrating. I had to relieve stress somehow.......

The Famous Tug of War

2005-10-18T01:50:00.000+09:00

Isn't that the most cuttest kid!!!
We gathered down on route 58 in Naha City
for the world famous tug of war. I don't
know how many people went, but it's the
largest in the world. Me you ask? Oh, just the casual blisters since I let my side to victory. Ok, no not really, BUT it was a blast. There were taiko drummers and men again balancing sticks up the air. I still don't quite understand why they do that, but hey, its cool to watch.

You can see more pictures, just click to the right and you can view the album titled "Tug of War"

2005-10-09T22:48:00.000+09:00

The very first entry......to my family. Just wanted to let you know how I miss and love you all!
Not a day goes by when I look onto my picture frames and imagine what travesudas the kids are doing now, what finger my dad has slammed a nail into, what book is my sister reading now, which new car part has my brother bought, what new bargain has Nysa found and lastly whats cooking on the stove, mole or chiles reyenos?
I also want to sqeeze the chubby legs my handsome new nephew Benjamin Thomas has. I can already hear the screams of Danyelle, Rebecca and Emely fighting as to who's turn is it to clean the room, I can see Mathew trying to hide his toys from Andrew, while is Andrew is occupied running like a chiken without his head, trying to hide from his Tia Cristy because all she wants is a kiss! Not to mention the best dog in the world!!! Guido barking as hard as he could to the stupid old man of a neighbor, "He who shall not be named" for fear that I can get sued for putting his name on this site.
I miss you all!!!
PS
What can you see me doing?

Billy in Okinawa

2005-10-09T22:35:00.000+09:00

A few days before I left.... Now I am going at almost 3 months and think what a long way to go. I am officially all settled in, and even made my first trip to Taipei, Taiwan. An exciting trip with lots of adventures, including being stuck at 11 pm with no hotel. I was so tired and sea sick that even the metro station seems comfy for a night cap. More to come........