Stepping out, getting busy

The theory for success in Japan appears to be basically the same.


Working out a language exchange with a local Philippine woman, who speaks really rather good English, free of any qualifiers even. She could go live in America, and have very few problems. But she wants to practice, and I think wants to set a good example for her kids, which I'm totally cool with. So I'm going to learn some Tagalog. I'm actually quite excited.

In other news, the guy from the gas company who came by today, told me to stop being such a damn shut in. It was awesome. I also become increasingly aware of exactly how well tracked almost all of my movements are.

I'm also highly tempted to go see if I can talk my way into helping harvest some sugar. There are these two just oh-my-gosh-dorable Japanese old ladies who have been slowly harvesting a patch of sugar occupying an area about the size of, maybe the inside of a NYC intersection? I could not say why but the thought of hacking away at sugar for a few hours after work seems not only fun, but somehow therapeutic.

We're fools whether we dance or not. So we might as well dance. As they say in the islands.

I am learning 20-40 new words a day, which is just a riot. I can now accuse you of being vague, and also insinuate that you are being "unfortunately, vague as ever" ainiku, aikawarazu aimai. JLPT 2 is in December. I intend to pass with flying colors.

I think I just made about 50 some odd balls, patties, and stuffed things of meat. Turns out the great secret to preparing a bento lunch every morning is to not prepare a bento lunch every morning. Rather, the secret is to cook and preportion everything, then freeze it. You can even prepackage homemade soup. I have no desire to do so, but by golly you can! P.S. for other JETs out there, get all up on that blog. It's perhaps the greatest Japanese cooking resource I have ever found which is full of both English and pictures. Often even pictures of instructions, which are just f-brilliant.

OK! Bedward. I have photos to assemble in the morning. My work computer and my home computer do not get along, so I have gone to great lengths to counterfeit a fake ID to allow my home computer to usurp control of my work printers, so I can finally get these self-introduction pictures printed out. How will Kikai's finest computer technicians fare against my gaijin computer acumen? Tune in tomorrow.