It's not goodbye, it's see you later.

After work Saturday, Miho and I met in Sannomiya and took the overnight bus to Tokyo. We arrived at 5:30 am, and met up with Jen around 7. We ate breakfast, dropped our bags at the hotel, and went to the Imperial Palace. It has a really beautiful garden.

Me and part of the moat surrounding the Imperial Palace.

I know this looks strange, but let me explain: After the Palace, we went to Ginza, which is a very fancy shopping area. They just opened a 14 floor Abercrombie & Fitch, and we stopped by to check out all the handsome employees (seriously). We were totally unaware of the fact they get you to stop in the entrance, and take a Polaroid with a half-naked handsome employee. Jackpot! They all say, in English, "Hey, how's it going?". It's pretty unreal.

After that, we went back to the hotel to take a shower and a nap. We were going to meet up with Anthony for dinner, but we had a little bit of time. So we took Print Club stickers.

"Doitashimashita" means "you're welcome", and it sounds like, "Don't touch my mustache". It's our favorite joke.

Anthony Luzby, Jen's friend from Florida who happens to live in Tokyo. He's a super awesome guy, if you couldn't tell by his cute smile!

Jen, Miho and I in our matching Cheers shirts! Dinner and drinks at a ¥280 izakaiya.

After dinner, we went to the karaoke room that was in Lost in Translation. We were only going to stay for an hour, but ended up singing until 4am. I love karaoke. It doesn't love me though, because I lost my voice.

Last train beers on the NEX express from Tokyo station to Narita Airport.

Miho and I stood at the departures security line until Jen cleared it, and we watched her go down the escalator to her gate. Sad. Then we waited in the airport lobby until her flight took off. You know, in case she changed her mind about leaving after all.

Communication Breakdown

I'm not sure how to put this delicately, but sometimes my kid students mispronounce vocabulary so bad it's a whole new word. And sometimes that word already exists, and sometimes, very rarely, it's a bad word. And I giggle.

Friday, not one, but TWO classes did this. In one class, the word was "tarts", and the sentence was "Look at those tarts!". My students? They said "turds", as in "Look at those turds!". Look indeed...

The other class had "beaches" as a vocabulary. Can you guess what they said? If you guessed the sentence, "Are there any bitches there?" then you, sir or madame, are correct. And yes, there are bitches there.



February 13, Miho, Jen, the new teacher Farron and I went out to listen to Gordon's band, and we met up with another teacher from Takarazuka, Timothy. We went to take Print Club stickers, and it was so much fun, as it is every time.

L to R, top to bottom: Timothy Kingcaid, Jen, Miho, Farron, and Me.

Sayonara, Jen Chan!

On Valentine's Day, we had Jen's Going Away party at Hobgoblin. A big group of friends all ate at our favorite izakaiya, and then headed to the bar.

Tim teaches in Nishinomiya-kitaguchi, Farron teachs in Tarumi, me, and Akiko Hashimoto Assistant Manager at Tarumi.

Me, Jen, and Miho. Jen bought us these cute shirts.

JUN AND HIS WIFE!!!

Best friends.

Maiko for a Day

Thursday was a national holiday, so I didn't have work. Jen, Miho, Gordon and I went to Kyoto where Jen dressed as a maiko, and we took photos. She was beautiful! It is kinda strange to see super traditional Japanese attire on a westerner. She's such a great model too!