Simpsons and dead bojangles

Just a quick post.

We started the second term today... or today was the first day of classes.. yesterday was the ceremony. I was checking one of my students' journals for summer vacation and came across one that said "I used a computer with my brother. It was delicious." and another one talking about her vacation to Nagasaki with a vividly drawn picture of the whole Simpson family (Homer's not OJ's) at the bottom. Hmm... did the Simpsons originate in Nagasaki? ... I was lost somewhere between delicious computers and Nagasaki Simpsons.

Last weekend I was feeling a bit lonely so I bought a fish and named him Mr. Bojangles. Not after the famous tapper but after the greasy fried chicken wonder paradise of a fast food chain... slash I really hate that place. "Bojangles" is how Kyle, the new ALT in Shibushi, and I refer to the south. Whenever we want to use a trashy southern accent we insert the word "bojangles" into the conversation to show we mean real southern business. Hence, the name Bojangles fit my life perfectly. Southern trash.

Today I remembered I had a fish and realized he was dead.

Tally of animals I have personally accidentally murdered+

-decapitated hamster

-the hamster on top of the refrigerator.. why was he there?

-the punted hamster

-Mr. Bubbles aka 'Bubba' - left on top of my car in a cup

-maybe another fish

-Nuggs the green baby chick that was adorable..... suffocation

-The kitten from my parking lot I tried to revitalize... not revitalized.

-Mr. Bojangles aka "Bo-jo"...

I really want a kitten.

This summer 'vacation' sitting in the office has been much more delightful than anticipated. Normally I sit at my desk drooling over some Japanese study for 2 hours realizing I have been looking at the same page, the same sentence, the same word, and the same kanji for the entire time. However, my drooling was pleasantly interrupted by Kyle and the 2 Japanese girls in my office Juri and Nami this time.　I draw random pictures of people in our office .. pictured to the right are me, Juri, Nami, Kyle, Ryan, and the Osaki ALT, Nick.

At the beginning of the 'vacation' I helped with a summer camp that Shibushi High School puts on for their 1st grade (equal to 10th grade) special English homeroom. My group was the best (which each ALT will say about their group). Marie, Ai, Misa, Satoshi and I rocked the final skit making it a fight between 3 girls wanting one boy. I was the narrator. Pretty much amazing.　　

The next week Kyle and Ryan came to Shibushi. Crazy kids... We pretty much spent the following 2 weeks running errands, trying to make Tsukamoto Sensei (my new boss as of April) do lots of fun things like automatic bank withdraws, septic tank emptying, and dance parties in karaoke boxes.

During such errand running escapades we developed the story of Goya kun. Goya is a special Japanese vegetable... which looks like a cucumber with syphilis. It's bitter and scary. So of course we made a character of him.

We also helped with an English Speech camp on Aug 18th. My school visits this summer consisted solely of helping all my students prepare for the speech contest on the 24th.

Kyle and Ryan went to KAPIC (where you learn Japanese for a week) as well as orientation, leaving me in a small puddle of water on my desk apart from slight distractions by Juri and Nami.

The Shibushi port fireworks festival also took place in the past weekend. Kyle, Nick (the new Osaki ALT) and I were joined by Juri, Nami, and Jianni (Keiths girlfriend)... I had a vat of stomach something which is always enjoyable but the fireworks were SCHWEET and HUGE! I didnt know Shibushi could do that. Pardon me for underestimating my own city... damn.

One of my schools, Toriyama Elementary school also finds baby turtle eggs on the beach every year and nests them at the school until they hatch. Then they set the turtles free. This year I became better friends with the vice principal and she called me when she was setting the turtles free! There were about 60 of those little suckers! So freakin cute. Nick and Kyle came too.

I also joined the Shibushi Taiko group! Taiko is Japanese drumming. Aside from the fact that all my rhythm lies in my feet and not my hands... its incredibly fun. I think one day.. after 50 jabillion hours of practice.. they will let me wear the tshirt.

This summer I also passed my Japanese driver test.. 4th times a charm..

＜☆☆＞V