Ghosting through Space

Actually kinda wish that I had my random post icon up for this... but it's late and I really don't want to bother. So we all get Capt. Vimes ^^ I know he's a Duke now, but he'll always be Capt. to me.
threw out something important in my back and now I can't work out, or lift my arm comfortably above shoulder height, or carry anything that weighs more than oh... 2.5 lbs? it's bloody annoying... and painful.
but not as bad as the shite that my close friends are going through, I mean really there's something about the past 2 weeks, it's like we all have targets on us for random, but slightly serious medical conditions. I need a chiropractor... who will not charge me :(
In other random news, once again met someone weird at work, as we all know that the Goodlife 'causes you to meet everyone from your past in some weird kinda timetravel montage. Tonight was my co-consellor from Center Camp... He is currently sluming it at home while waiting for his Grad project and his rental in Buffalo... Boston? to start. I think i'm slightly mortified by the fact that his dad introduced him as "good looking son" and following standard Goodlife proceedures of smile and let them see the slight streaming through your ears, that's what I called him... Before he realized who I was, and then I realized who he was... and he was all "well you can keep calling me that..."
Slightly mortifying? yes. Did i give him my email? Well yah, dhur :p
Hope Y'all are well and good, I've got another shift tomorrow and the possibility of one on thurs... Just can't decide if my plans of go to the science center and find a person to give my resume to should take precedence over money... Hmmm...

The Renaissance Faire Wench (QLAF)

The hardest part about being the Renn. Faire Wench is that people often mistake you for a beta female. This is not so. You might be quite flirtatious, but you are hardly relient on men. You like to do things the mainstream would consider weird, (like dress in costume, perhaps?). Eat, drink, and be merry, but make sure whoever you date respects you and does not take advantage of your laid-back attitude. (BTW, you are likely the only type who can see That Creepy Guy (NLBM) for who he is, helping him to bring out the Manga Geek (QLBM) inside. This does not mean you have to date one, however. You are quite flexible and can enjoy the company of many of the types.)

You are more QUIRKY than NORMAL.

You are more LIBERAL than TRADITIONAL.

You are more DOMINANT than PASSIVE.

When picking a date, consider: The Lord of the Misfits (QLAM), The Fratt Boy (NLAM), The Snowball's Chance in Hell (QTBM), The Manga Geek (QLBM), or That Creepy Guy (NLBM).

(Image from http://www.buycostumes.com/Lock-Lace-Bodice-Navy-Renaissance-Collection-Adult/27296/ProductDetail.aspx )

So I returned "home" from spending the weekend in Guelph with my friends

rubber_boots and

fleshlycherry, obstensibly for

rubber_boots's birthday. Happy Birthday! \o/
While in Guelph I took the time to meet up with some of my friends from Univ., and to reconnect with people whom I let fall to the side after school. What I learned from this is that everyone is suprised at the path life took them, and no one is really happy with what they are doing, but everyone is pretty good. Which is great ^^ and no suprise considering the awesome group of people that make up my friends.

What I haven't really been posting about, or in fact dealing with at all is how much, although I've become quite complacent (great description fleshly!) at home, I'm getting bloody well fed up with my family. Mainly my lovely sister who now that she's once again gainfully employed, is back up onto her high horse of directing my life. I actually decided upon conversing with fleshly that during any further outings with said sister there will be a rule about not discussing what I'm planning in my life, or there will be no more outings. Likewise, my father has started in with his own brand of concern, even going so far as to offer to fund my return to schooling (college) for and I quote "Anything that catches your interest, since you never know where life is going to take you."
Now I'm not complaining in that respect, since I know how bloody lucky I am to have parents who were willing to support my education the first time around, let alone the second free ride in the offering, but it's all coming right back to why I went to Japan in the first place.

I'm suffocating.

As simple and basic as that, I can barely fucking think for myself any more without a member of my family holding my hand and although I'd hoped that I wouldn't fall back into the trap again, and I told myself I'd watch out for it and I'd move away... Well that's obviously not happening.
Add to that the wedding that's coming up and I can't help but feel NEED TO LEAVE right the fuck now!

As much as I hate to mark something so mundane as the cause of this sudden realization, I came home from Guelph today on 5-ish hours sleep, which isn't too bad, but really I just wanted to come home, chill and get ready for work tomorrow. My mom was home, and upon arriving I was whisked away to look at her dress for the wedding (which is very nice), spent 30 minutes listening to her tell me about the trip to buffalo her and my dad just came back from, that there's vegetarian curry in the fridge for dinner, not that they are here tonight, but it's there if I want it. I was then chattered at for another 30 minutes about the hotel they stayed at, while all the while really just wanting to return to my room and trying to figure out why this feels like work now. and why I'm still here.

The obvious answer to this is that I'm fed up with falling back into my old fucking routines and that I want OUT! Any fucking out will do currently, just so long as it's not here, 'cause I just can't bloody well be this any longer.

So i'm putting this out there, what are people's recs for getting the hell out of here? I've done the teachery thing and it's not much to my style, so what else is out there?

So life as we know has a way of giving you a bit too much of what you want, while still some how leaving you feeling lacking what you need.

What I wanted was a challenging fun job, that would let me get out and meet people. What I got is 2 customer service jobs, both of which want me to work full-time. This would be great... If the scheduling would work, so even if I did them both part-time I'd still have lots to do. But, really, after spending a week trying to work through them both, I came to the tough and awkard decision to drop my application with lululemon... Since they scared me more.
That said now that they have waved the fairly substantial employee discount in front of me... Well I feel like I want that bag, BUT that's what chanumas is for, isn't it?

That being said, this week my new boss set down my shadowing schedule for my training at Goodlife Fitness, and as a little back story -- here's an excerpt from the interview.

Boss: So would you be cool working nights? You'd be closing by yourself at 11pm.
me: Well, I'm totally not prepared to do that now.
Boss: Oh g-d no!! We'd train you first girl, where the hell were you working?!
Me: Well, in that case, yah I think I'd be ok

Now... I don't consider myself brave, as my sister can attest, since the last time she was over and forgot to prime the alarm before we left, I called her so she would stay on the phone with me as I checked out the house when I got home (it's really big...). So the idea of closing on my own... I will admit is freaking me out a bit more than I'd hoped.

I am also less than soothed by the fact that 3/4 of my shadowing shifts are the 7-11pm, and only one is opening, and I've checked out enough to know that the opening shifts are ALL taken care of.

And I am now questioning my choice... Although not really. Lululemon seriously freaked me out, once i'd gotten past the first interview. But well, I'd get full and immediate health coverage from them, they pay better, lots more work socializing, and a discount that I would probably use.
That said, I like the staff I've met at Goodlife so far, and the atmosphere. I think there's more positions that i would consider growing into, I get free membership and discounted PT. That said the PT that was rec'd would still cost ~$3000 O_o But i'd want a gym membership, and probably PT anyways.

I am also reconsidering my thoughts towards the RCMP, since if I'm so concerned about closing the store on my own... POLICING?!
shakes head I just really don't know any more.

Anyhoo, love and kisses, those of you who I would normally talk to know why I haven't done so recently
Thanks and cheers,

So as

fleshlycherry already knows, well I've a serious need for getting drunk tonight, and as that isn't going to happen, well I'm just gonna lj instead.

I'm getting really fucking tired of being stuck here in TO, and mostly with my family.
Today was a wonderful case in point, in which a fun "kids" night out with the sibs, and the new sister-in-law turned into 4 hours of me feeling like I was 13 again and desperatly trying to pretend to be an adult so my sibs would take me seriously. As it was I felt like I was woefully out of place, and quite frankly seriously wishing I would just miraculously appear back in Japan, where I didn't have to deal with the fact that they love me and proceed to smother me to show it.
I spent 2 hours watching my sister tear apart my cover letters/resume for work, and repeatedly asking me "Why can't I [you] just pay more attention to what I'm [you're] writing and read over it like she's [I've] told you before", which considering some of her points is a valid argument, but a) didn't have to be in her tone, and b) if I had noticed the problems before, I WOULD HAVE CHANGED THEM ALREADY!
I then preceeded to try to be adult about it and tell her that she was making me feel humilated, only to have her tell me that she feels I don't appreciate her, or take her advice seriously. Which wouldn't be a problem if she could give me critism without making it sound like I couldn't think without using her brain.
Then listening to my brother be "supportive" by asking me if a) I've given my resume to anyone ('cause no i'm just going through this for fun or some shit), b) if I want him to take me to a shooting range, since that might make me feel more confortable about entering into the RCMP (I don't need his help or hers for everything I do, thanks!), or c) saying that it's ok that I want to get away from the family, since that's the reason I went to Japan
*explodes* Honestly, I think it's sad when the only person I really want to deal with is his fiance, who I swear is the only one who treats me like I can wipe my own ass.

Add to that the fact that I am stuck living with my very suppourtive and frankly suffocating parents, and basically I feel like I'm on the verge of adolescent rebellion all over again, but... well, I just totally feel like my wings are currently clipped, as in there's no point in the rebellion, since nothing is going to be changed. And if anyone (*cough* sister *cough*) reminds how "things really aren't that bad," I might just scream, because that doesn't make them good, and I know she's only saying it because she feels her situation is worse!

I miss Japan like anything, for my friends a lot, but also just for something that is mine and doesn't have the family's seal of approval, so I know that it is my fucking choice. Since as much as I like the idea of the mounties, there's a lot about the job that i'm not sure i'm into, and to be honest i'm quite terrified that I'm only doing it as an OUT to my family.

I wish that there was a way that you could rent an appartment for a week or something, just so that I could go and THINK! without having to deal with them, and just deal with myself for a bit.

Ghost

So I got bored of waiting to work out my game issue with Playasia (wow. I should really look into that again), and I decided to bite the bullet and purchase the games that I had purchased in Japan (but that never arrived)

So first, I purchased Brain Age, 'cause my aptitude tests for math were pretty sad considering i've only been out of school for a year. So I've been doing that. It's pretty good, but it keeps reminded me that I should equally be working on my Japanese, since it uses a lot of the same systems as my Kanji Katatori-kun

Secondly, I bought Professor Layton and the Curious Village, which has been at turns very enjoyable and frustrating. If you don't know it, it's basically a village full of people who randomly ask you to do various puzzels and brain teasers. It's fun, but I hate math based problems, so I've been skipping a lot of lower level puzzels just 'cause they bore me.

Third, and this is the one that I'm really exicted about Rune Factory 2 has been released in America!! I'm so excited for this title to be released here in CAN. I love the first one which had a great balance of planting crops, and killing monsters. :D What more could you ask for. Apparently in this version you can marry the girl from the previous version Cecilia, who really was the only female character worth associating with, which sucked since she was 8... And therefore WRONG. She'll be 16 I think in this one, and for a Japanese import that's old enough :D

Also coming out shortly will be the next episode of A Rain Slicked Precipice, or the game from Penny Arcade. I absolutly loved the first episode, I mean Hobocide, and demonworshiping mimes? I'm also very excited for the ability to continue my current character and continue building her stats, since we all know i'm a 100% completion type of person.

Well that's just a random post, but I wanted to make mention of what's going on in my world.
Yep, that's right, a whole lot of nothing ^^

Ghosty

So after several (well two) weeks of soul searching through the JVS offices of Toronto, I've decided that I'm going to pursue a career in the RCMP...
Yeah, I know. :(
Anyways, I'm only slight freaking out about the requirements, and well, mostly there is freaking about the fact that if I get accepted it will still take 6 mo. for my application to be processed, and then it's another 6 mo. of bootcamp in Regina.
Then afterwards I will be posted partially based on my request, but mostly based on where they have empty positions. So i'm probably gonna be wandering around the country again. ^^
Whee!

The first test is coming up next week, but I'll admit to not being too worried about it. It's most just a normal aptitude test, and according to the Govenment i can do anything I want.

I'll be keeping ppl informed,
Ghosty

Ohh also tons of time today, so here's another batch of icons!
Gotta love icons.

Since this seems to be going around like a disease... Or a very enjoyable chain-letter ^^
Noticed on

fleshlycherry.

When you see this, post in your own journal with your favorite quote from The Princess Bride. Preferably not "As you wish" or the Inigo Montoya speech.

Ahh, Miracle Max ^^ My fav. quote is from when they've set the boys off to storm the castle.

Max: "Have fun storming the castle, boys!"
(everyone waves)
~~Witch~~Wife: "Think they can do it?"
Max: "It would take a miracle."

I love that line,
^^

I was away for a bit this week visiting a family friend in Detroit. Which including the back streets of Agra is the scariest bloody place on the planet. That whole country just freaks me out, and to be serious I can see why they say Jesus is everywhere, since they put him everywhere!!

And then as we were leaving we noticed that there were a group of people planting crosses on the lawn of the church near the friend's appt. CREEPY!

Anyways, the reason I was acutally writing wasn't to mention that (but I totally had to, we have pictures!), but rather to slightly complain that I missed the new ep of Supernatural. Now this isn't a serious problem, since you know, bittorrent and all, but there's already about 7 posts of icons from the ep!! It's crazy! And i bloody well can't look at any of them, since there's a Spoiler!

It's evil torture... I swear. I also hope that the spoiler isn't Sam's "cannon" *cough*well current is more acurate, since Dean is totally gettin' some from Castiel*cough* bed/shower/smexing partner, which is only surprising to people who don't a) read the fanfic or b) breathe

So yah, that's the current rant... And the fact that I've already read all the available Eureka Carter/Stark fanfic. 'Cause Wow, it's like watching Rodney and Sheppard go at it, but without all the annoying drama. :p

He lay his head against her shoulder and brought his hand around to play with her hair, shorter now than it had been, but still as soft as he’d remembered. He remembered how they'd talked and laughed, and how when her spork had fallen, her hair had swept across his knuckles as she'd bent to the floor. It's softness against his skin and the light gathering against it, making it shimmer like leaves dancing in the wind. He would have loved to have seen her dance then, twirling along the beach; smiling, laughing 'til she was out of breath, her hair whipping past her in the breeze.

So this is my second post this week, which I think is a bloody record.
Well the other was a meme, but i'm counting it. :p

Had lots of fun with

michanna today. We hit the Science Center and spent some good hours working through it. The best part was undoubtbly when we went to get pizza at the subway station (the ttc workers sell pizza on Wednesdays with the money going to the United Way), and we decided to get something sturdish to hold it. So I though, "hey! Let's get a box from the Timmie's next door." So we wait in line and get to the front and I ask the sweet looking lady if we could have a box, figuring that it would only be like 15 cents, if she even asked us to pay. So she grabs it and says "Ok that's 1.15" - HUN?!! So I must'a looked like she'd asked me for the moon, and asked her "What?" And she said "1.15" and then started pissing herself laughing. It was totally frickin' hilarious. Once I'd recovered ^^

The OSC has changed somewhat since I was last there, with the biggest and coolest thing being this new room with, umm... It's like a keyboard all over the walls and when you run your hand over the panels it starts playing these snippets of music (like drum patters/vocals) and you can mix it as you want by touching stuff on/off. It was wicked. Totally wicked.

There was also this very cool magnetic pool, which responds to sound waves, and they have it hooked up to an ipod jack, which wasn't working all that well (as the guy working there said to the technician - someone else reported it - "It has to be 'plug and play'. Not 'plug, jiggle, and play'). Well in any case I tried to get it to play off some of the Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog soundtrack, since I'm a Neil Patrick Harris junkie. There was a poster at the Subway Station. I touched ~~him~~ it!! ^^

This of course lead me to doing two things tonight.

1) Attempting to find Dr. Horrible Fanfic
It's my belief that since everyone hates Captain Hammer the slashers aren't getting into it. Since that's the only reason I can think of that would explain the dearth of fanfic out there... :( Although at the moment I'd read just about anything that didn't involve Ghand- I mean Bad Horse :p
That said there's a site all done up and ready for it, just check out The Evil League of Evil

2) Taking a Dr. Horrible personality test
So I'm bored... But apparently a main character :D

You are Doctor Horrible!

Your arch nemesis is Captain Hammer. You are trying to get into the Evil League of Evil, while at the same time trying to impress Penny, the girl you met at the laundromat... which is hard, considering that she's devoted her life to helping others, AND she's going out with Captain Hammer!

So my friend

fleshlycherry posted one of those music guessing game things... And although i can't get any of hers, I did kinda like this one.

So here we go ^^

Step 1: Put your iPod MP3 player on random.
Step 2: Post the first line from the first 35 songs that play, no matter how embarrassing the song.
Step 3: Let everyone guess what song and artist the lines come from.
Step 4: Bold the songs when someone guesses correctly. (Looking them up on Google or any other search engine is CHEATING!)

Considering my collection (mostly J-hop), I'll use her side-rule and only post English songs that come up (It took me 55 songs to get 32 English). I will also use my side note that I'm only posting it if it's a song I acutally know... Since I've got a lot of stuff from friends. Ohh and I'm also not counting lead-ins for songs, like you know grunts and trills, and stuff.

Cheers,

1. Now here we go for the hundredth time, hand grenade pins in every line. - Bleed it out, Linkin Park I rock this song in Karaoke^^
2. (Song name) girl, makes the fellaz go. The way you ride it girl, makes the fellaz go.
3. She was young, she was fair and her long flowing hair with the wild tints of autumn was laden.
4. There's me. There's you. In a pedestrian paradise, where the catwalk got its claws.
5. I will dedicate, and sacrifice my every-thing for just a second's worth of how my story's ending.
6. So here I am, doing everything I can, holding on to what i am, pretending I'm a
7. I listened in, yes i'm guilty of this you should know this.
8. We can dance if we want to, we can leave your friends behind. - Safety Dance, Men Without Hats
9. Brakes on please, focus, breathe. Ain't no other b*h in this world belitle me.
10. Light touch my hand and i dream of (song name) from now on, you can't forget our future plans.
11. I've been a lot of places, seen a lot of faces, oh hell I even F*ked with different races.
12. Young teacher, the subject of school girl fantasy.
13. How many special people change? How many lives are living strange? - Wonderwall, Oasis
14. I got a feelin' she keeps me in the dark, I gotta keep my eye on her, she ain't a walk in the park.
15. It's sitting by the overcoat, the second shelf, the note she wrote, that I can't bring myself to throw away.
16. I lay me down tonight, much further down. - Girls Not Grey, AFI
17. Give it to me baby! Un-hun, Un-hun. Give it to me baby! Un-hun, Un-hun. - Pretty Fly For a White Guy, Offspring :p
18. Prevail-Reefer Madness, Kief and Black Hash, a little bit of oil on the paper I like Dat.
19. It's automatic, gotta have it to try to make your problems go away.
20. Now as the record spins around you recognise this sound, well it's the underground.
21. I'm bringing (song name), them other boys don't know how to act.
22. Somewhere they're speaking "it's already coming in", oh and it's rising at the back of your mind.
23. I watch you smile, you steal the show. You take a bow the curtain falls in front of you. - Disappear, Jars of Clay
24. So they say you're trouble boy, just because you like to destroy.
25. Gently crouched at the starting line, engines pumping and thumping in time.
26. Since the moment I spotted you, like walking around with little wings on my shoes. - Why Don't You and I, Santana ft. Chad Kroeger
27. The curtain, my peoples is workin', you peepin' toms y'all need to stop lurkin'.
28. A woman on the radio talks about revolution, when its already passed her by.
29. She makes me think of lightnin' and sky, her name. She's sexy!
30. Hey. Do you think I'm attractive? Do you think I'm lovely?
31. She comes out on Fridays every time and stands out in line, I could'a been anyone she sees.
32. Want to, but I can't help it. I love the way it feels, just kinda stuck between my fantasy and what is real.
33. I sing you this song, to let you see, what ever became of me.
34. I'm sick and tired of hearin' all the people talk about, what's the deal with this pop life and when is it gonna fade out.
35. Drove downtown in the rain, nine-thirty on a tuesday night. Just to check out the late-night record shop. - Brian Wilson, Barenaked Ladies <-- So happy this one came on!!

Good Luck!

I actually enjoy this one...

The Quartermaster

Profile: The Quartermaster (The ship’s disciplinarian).You, me hearty, are a man or woman of action! And what action it is! Gruesome, awful, delightful action. You mete out punishment to friend and foe alike – well, mostly to foe, because your burning inner rage isn’t likely to draw you a whole lot of the former. Still, though you may be what today is called “high maintenance” and in the past was called “bat-shit crazy,” the crew likes to have you around because in a pinch your maniacal combat prowess may be the only thing that saves them from Jack Ketch. When not in a pinch, the rest of the crew will goad you into berserker mode because it’s just kind of fun to watch. So you provide a double service – doling out discipline AND entertainment.

So it should be fairly obvious to my lj friends how bored I am by the fact that I've acutally decided to post... and that I have all new user icons.

Now that I'm back from Japan, there just doesn't seem to be much to do... I mean when I had free time in Nayoro, there was a limited list of what was available and I knew what was fun to do in a given situation.
2 hours free - walk to park and read a book
3 hours? on a weekend go grocery shopping and take the long route
on a weekday watch some tv (oh the english)
A saturday off? Ride the bike to the next town and sit in the park there, ohh and eat ice cream

Now I'm at loose ends... There's a park around the corner, but there's lots of people at it, and hmm... well it's not my park. And although apparently I have a bike, the idea of cycling in TO makes me slightly shaky, let alone that the traffic is so loud I can't listen to my ipod while doing it.
So what do I do? Currently i'm sitting and writting this, 'cause it was there ^^ and ya'no available. Next I'm going to make some tea and Then I'm going for a walk.
I figure Younge st. is only about 1.5 hours away :D

Cheers!

Yo! Mixer I think the meme is broken...

I Am A: Lawful Good Human Sorcerer (4th Level)

Ability Scores:

Strength-14

Dexterity-13

Constitution-16

Intelligence-15

Wisdom-18

Charisma-15

Alignment:
Lawful Good A lawful good character acts as a good person is expected or required to act. He combines a commitment to oppose evil with the discipline to fight relentlessly. He tells the truth, keeps his word, helps those in need, and speaks out against injustice. A lawful good character hates to see the guilty go unpunished. Lawful good is the best alignment you can be because it combines honor and compassion. However, lawful good can be a dangerous alignment because it restricts freedom and criminalizes self-interest.

Race:
Humans are the most adaptable of the common races. Short generations and a penchant for migration and conquest have made them physically diverse as well. Humans are often unorthodox in their dress, sporting unusual hairstyles, fanciful clothes, tattoos, and the like.

Class:
Sorcerers are arcane spellcasters who manipulate magic energy with imagination and talent rather than studious discipline. They have no books, no mentors, no theories just raw power that they direct at will. Sorcerers know fewer spells than wizards do and acquire them more slowly, but they can cast individual spells more often and have no need to prepare their incantations ahead of time. Also unlike wizards, sorcerers cannot specialize in a school of magic. Since sorcerers gain their powers without undergoing the years of rigorous study that wizards go through, they have more time to learn fighting skills and are proficient with simple weapons. Charisma is very important for sorcerers; the higher their value in this ability, the higher the spell level they can cast.

Find out What Kind of Dungeons and Dragons Character Would You Be?, courtesy of Easydamus(e-mail)

So really the only reason i'm posing is to show off this kickass user pic ^^
Think i'm in love,
Ciao

So managed to bike home in enough time to get to my bank with my stamp (hanko/inkan) and fill out the forms confirming that gaikokujin are idiots and i'd forgotten my passcode. :D
So now i'm acutally able to withdraw money from one of my bank accounts, the other I should be able to start taking money from again sometime around my b-day, which honesly would be a nice present :D
I am supposed to be heading out camping in Tomoe this weekend for a large welcome party, all the Northern Hokkaido JETS, but due to the approaching Typhoon, my ride has powned on the event. :(
So i'm not sure what's going on, I also bought a lot of snack food again. Damn Japan an it's increadibly delicious snacks... Thinking of starting a facebook album of all the things I've tried, just so I can keep track :D

Oh and before I forget, my students got a huge kick out of my telling them that Erik was a ninja, that said I don't think they believe me. Does anyone have pictures?

Love Jill, your slightly bipolar friend in Japan

So today was my first visit to the only school I hadn't been to yet. Furen high school is about 30mins away by bike and has a grand total of 38 students. Yah, it's acutally being closed in 2 years, once this crop of first years graduates. The JTE there is very cool, if extremely old school, and personally i find it very interesting that all of the students speak much better english than he does, which for my JTEs is a rarity, but mine are all weird in that they all have very good spoken english skills. Of course I grew up in Toronto, and my idea of what is good english is vastly different from most people's, as my sister and brother will attest to.
The students at Furen run the full gambit from the very naughty 3rd years, to 2nd years who listen well, but like to comment about my breasts (the girls this time), and the 5 first years, who are adorable.
So I did my little song and dance (hi my name is, blah, blah) and the JTE had given a question sheet to the students to help guide them with questions. In case they didn't do well from having to think of one. So, I'd looked at the questions and hadn't noticed anything that bad besides such classics as

a) What do you think of Japanese highschool students these days?
and
b) Which province in USA are you from? (which was a first, normally it's which state in Canada, please note I'm the 2nd Canadian ALT in a row at this school)

what I hadn't noticed until the quietest of the first years asked it was number 107

107) Do you think that sensei is a gay?

Yes, that is what my student asked me, and he was very confused when I first) asked him to repeat it (he was nice enough to explain that sensei means teacher, but that wasn't the issue i was having) and b) started giggling my arse off in front of the class and tried to explain why that isn't considered an appropreiate question in Canada.

I mean really "Is our sensei a gay?!! " A gay?!

Lols, it's still funny.

So today was probably the day from heck, and hopefully things will go up from here, since if they go down, I am probably going to break my contract.
So today was the first day that I've visited Nakagawa. Now here's the deal with Nakagawa, it is no where near my town, in fact it takes me 2 hours by train to get there! So I was told to take the 10:46 train, but no one thought to warn me that it was going to cost me $30, especially since the normal fare is 17.00. So of course I figure, since there are 2 charges on the ticket and all, that it must include the return fare. This will come back later... Anyways, so Nakagawa, the other thing about Nagakawa is that it has it's own ALT! So there is absolutely no reason for me to go there. Especially since she comes once a week, and i come once a month! I can't believe it! I mean i'm only there for 2 periods before I have to catch the train back, since if i miss that train i'm stuck in Nagakawa until 7:50pm, so i don't get back home until 10ish.
So anyways go there, get bustled out and head home.
Get on the train and of course, halfway through the conductor comes around to collect tickets, and mine, yes mine is not a return fare included. Apparently since the times I was taking the train are the express train, they acutally cost twice as much. That said I could buy a ticket on the train, but don't have the money!! So i get walked out of the car by the conductor so he can call a woman at the head station who speaks very good english to explain to me that I can buy a ticket and it will cost $30, finally i manage to get across the fact that I don't have the money and they tell me I can pay at the station.
So one quick terrified email later, Chris another local ALT meets me at the station so he can bail me out, Thanks Chris!
Of course though when I go to get chris some money from the bank, neither of my bank cards works, since i`ve either forgotten the pin number, or it was imputted wrong due to the fact that according to Japanese standards I write my numbers wrong, things like crossing your sevens acutally get your contracts voided...
Anyways, then I had to spend ~20mins trying not to cry in frustration on the phone to my cell phone's tech support, since apparently if you can say "does any one there speak Japanese?" and "sorry, i don't understand" in Japanese, means you acutally speak Japanese and are just being lazy. Since that's the only reason I can think of that she wouldn't put me on hold (like the other 3 times i'd called) and get me an english speaker :p

That said got taken out for swimming and dinner by Shelly (local cram school ALT) who is great for talking to, and for helping keep your perspective straight. She is getting banana bread for keeping me sane, and in the country :D

So I totally played domestic this weekend.
Yesterday I spent cooking and rediscovering that I think my PD never actually cooked, atleast not what I would consider cooking.
I made one batch of Saag (indian spiced lentils).
                Challenge 1: Canned tomatoes in Japan are much more acidic than in Canada
                Result          : I added some honey, which seems to have mellowed the flavours
                Challenge 2: No spoons for stirring pot.
                                         I'm serious, there was nothing that I could use to stir the pot, well besides a tiny little hello kitty laddle, which
                                         apparently has a low melting point...
                Result            : 'Nother $25 trip to the Hyaku-yen shop (Bought 2 mixing bowls, measuring cups [only available for dry in ml],
                                            mixing spoons, sieve, larger container for compost, and some wierd drinks)
One batch of Winter Vegetable Curry (Eggplant, Squash, Sweet Potatoe and Carrots)
                Challenge 1: Needed carrots
                 Result         : Spent another $18 at Max Value (Carrots, curry powder (2tblsp = $3), snacks, and tetrapacked alcohol)
                Challenge 2: No pot is bloody big enough!
                Result          : 2 pots, just fit all the veggies, but next time, purchasing a larger pot from Hyaku-yen shop

Today I cleaned my appt and made Banana Bread in my rice cooker
Used the same reciepe (actually followed it this time, since the original doesn't call for a food processor) and just poured it into my rice cooker. Took around 3 hours, and 1 unsuccessful flip, but yes, there is banana bread in Hokkaido now.
You can check it out by going to my facebook Here
Also spent the day getting my pictures in order, will hopefully move onto my journal entries next week.

The Renaissance Faire Wench (QLAF)

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