Yay filler!

As I sit here waiting for the rest of my pictures to finish uploading (there is some weird problem, out of the 171 pics I took at Biwako only 75 get imported.....) I thought I would share some side things I keep forgetting. Assuming I remember them now...

I think the most interesting Japanese test I have had so far is 'Shogakuseichan' at Biwa. ( I honestly have forgotten her real name, I need to re-get it.... ) But she decided to tell me at about 1am that she was a shogakusei. (Jr high student) This put me in the interesting predicament of trying to prove her wrong in Japanese. Of course it was pretty much impossible, but very fun. I asked her what school she went to, who her principal was.. but how would I check the answers? I asked when her birthday was and whether she had brothers and sisters and what their ages were. Ultimately I was unsuccessful, but it was quite an interesting experience.

Hmm, what else. It rains a lot, but last weekend was actually really sunny. That ended this afternoon.

OH! Ways to tell you are fluent in Japanese:
1. You can read upside down (the conversation partners often sit across from us and read what we are writing. I can do it but at about 1/4th speed)
2. You understand what people say on loudspeakers here. Thing is I think this disqualifies most Japanese from fluency...
(I want to add more to this list)

Hmm, what else. The Tsuru no Ongaeshi Blooper Special has made a resurgence and seems to be a hit with the conversation partners and I even got 2/3 teachers to watch it...

Tomorrow we go to a kinder garden to entertain 80-100 EACH of 3,4 and 5 year olds. I will be Simon in Simon says for the 5 year olds..... Kyle told me about a joke him and his friends have about if you were given 1 weapon how many 5 year olds could you take out before being overwhelmed... The only weapon I want is a cup....

Gaijin power is quite interesting. It allows one to reserve an entire table at an otherwise extremely busy eating place on campus just by sitting down. It also always guarantees an extra seat or two next to you on the train no matter how busy it is. We are aliens here, and from what I have heard from long term dwellers that never changes. However, Japan is a society of in-group-out-group. That is how the strangers act towards you. But once they are friends they are the most thoughtful, caring people in the world.

I know there is a lot more I want to say, and my uploads are still going, but I am out of ammo atm. Enjoy the update. No one comments anymore cept for H-mac, I wonder if anyone reads. Comment on the pics ppl, that's my favorite part...

Frank- I want to call you and congratulate you personally, but times didn't line up well, I either have to be up way past bedtime to call you at 7am or skip school and call you in the evening... Anyway, congrats.

Links of the day!

what do you think?