Scrapbooking on the Wall

In my apartment, in front of my wall of stuff. Sumo wrestler autograph, Statue of Liberty costume, Hello Kitty, Burger King crown, Sumo fan, McDonald's coupon, Mickey & Minnie birthday card, postcard, banana toy from Pucho, Minnie Mouse ears, advertisement for apartments, okonomiyaki fan, Dexter calendar, and a Kobe Vissel schedule/poster.

New Year's Shrine Visit

Saturday, Ayako and I went to Minatogawa Shrine for New Years. It was SO CROWDED! There were food tents and people selling toys too. I bought a few good luck charms.

2010 is the Year of the Tiger.

People tying their bad omikuji (fortunes) to a tree.

Ayako got a bad fortune, so she tied it to the tree.

I got a small blessing fortune, so I kept it.

This guy was selling something boiling in conch shells. I have no idea if it was actually conch or something else.

Peruvian musicians near Kobe Station.

KIX to NRT to DFW to RDU to JRK to NRT to KIX

I arrived in Raleigh around 3:00 pm, and my parents met me at the airport. I was pretty lucky, because I had missed a major snow storm by a few days.

Snow at my parent's house.

Snowed in Jetta.

Arriving at RDU.

Me, Nanny, and Mom. I think we like red.

Christmas Eve at Uncle Manley's.

ASU friends!

High school friends!

BFF since 2nd grade.

In Charlotte, at the Panther's Stadium with Curt.

Meineke Car Care Bowl - UNC Tarheels vs. University of Pittsburg.

Old college roommates.

Married friends.

My favorite.

Mock family photo.

BFF from college.

Mary and Spencer's house in Asheville.

TIM!

Family

The lights at my parent's house at night.

Amber, Louis, and Josh.

Snowed in with a two hour delay at JRK. I barely made my connection in Tokyo. I did have a airline employee running with me, and using his power to let me cut into security lines. Awesome.

I'll be home for Christmas

I got home late last night and panicked about packing, and only slept for two hours. Then I hauled my two suitcases down the hill to the station to catch a cab to Sannomiya station. I flew from Kansai International Airport to Narita in Tokyo, and passed Mt. Fuji on the way. Beautiful!

Curry Festival!

Sunday night, we had a staff Christmas party at Saori's mom's Indian restaurant in Osaka. I'm allergic to curry, but she made me extra food without curry spices, and it was AMAZING. I love Indian food!!!

L to R: Yoshimi (Manager), Chika (Head Teacher), Yuchika (Kid's Head Teacher), Me, Vince (Canadian co-worker), Risako (Assistant Manager), Saori (Teacher) and Mika (Teacher).

Chika sensei likes Indian food too.

Kanpai!

Kanako joined us. Yoshimi is taking a photo of the pumpkin filled with curry, and Saori's mom is behind her.

Playing an old Japanese game, "Can you hold a toothpick on your eyelashes?". I learned in a magazine that Westerner's eyelashes are almost double the length of Japanese. Crazy.

Apparently, I win at this game.