Slumdog Millionaire

Last night I went to see Slumdog Millionaire at the theater at Main Place in Shinotshin with a couple of friends. I loved it. I had no idea what it was about when I walked in but I had my own idea based off the title. (I was wrong.) It was really good. It was really expensive, but it was so good I didn't mind the 1600 yen price tag. Although, the fact that the triple set (hot dog, popcorn, and a drink) was only 500 yen did make me feel better. I also found out that Wednesday night is lady's night, which means the price of the ticket will be 500 yen cheaper. Yea! (For you guys reading this, Monday night is men's night.)

Shoe Shopping

I need new shoes. Now. See the picture? Yeah, now you see why, so yesterday my friend and I set out on the mission to go buy me a pair of shoes. I just looked back at the title and realized I could have called this one "Mission Impossible" for real. Everyone said that stores do not carry the larger sizes of shoes here. I understood what they were saying, but I thought I would go buy a pair of Chucks since they come in men's sizes, too.

Once we started shopping, I saw several shoes that I wanted instead of the Chucks, though. They were cute and a little more appropriate for summer. I asked the woman if they had a 25.5 or a 26. (I wear a 9 back home but can sometimes wear an 8.5  in some shoes.) She looked at the little label and said that it only went up to a 25. I asked if I could try on the slide anyway. She brought it and I tried it and it was alright, a little tight. Then, I started looking at the other shoes and noticed the little tags under the shoes denoting the sizes available. For all the shoes there were only five sizes available: 23, 23.5, 24, 24.5, 25. That's it. I was and still am so amazed that the size of Japanese women is so homogeneous as to vary by only a few centimeters. Monday I will return and purchase the Chuck's...probably.

On another shoe note, the first store we stopped by had some interesting shoes. I'm pretty sure these in particular were for men, not women.

Yes, that is a spider bejeweled on the toe strap.

On a writing note, as of today I am nine pages behind schedule. 1500 words per pages times nine is a whole lot of writing to do. I better quit blogging and start writing, ne? Oh, and yesterday I did get a chance to read the first few pages to a couple of friends and the response was good, which is nice at this stage. Thanks, friends!

95 Days

Some people ask, "oh, are you already counting down?" to which I reply, "dude, I've been counting since January." I filled out the draft of my EIS (Essential Information for Successor) and I realized I really should have taken better notes in the beginning, but I do plan to pack in as much useful info as I can. And! I hope to make a video just for my successor. I hope s/he enjoys it. Well, I hope I make it. I've been busy, busy, busy writing. Well, that and being sick--again. I hope this is my last Japanese illness.  Note to my successor: bring a good immune system. ;)

Gordie's Burgers

I was having a wicked craving for a good burger. Mos Burger is fine, but let's be honest. It's not very close to the American burgers I'm used to. I tried to tell myself that satisfying this craving was not going to happen--at least not until I returned to Texas. Then, a friend told me about this magical place near Chatan (I think) called Gordie's. I'll admit, it wasn't exactly what I was craving but it was pretty darn close. It was almost reminiscent of Fuddrucker's. Almost. It was good enough, though. I can't wait to go back. For you vegetarians out there, no luck for you on them having a veggie version. I checked. They only serve burgers and hot dogs and yummy onion rings and fries, of course. After that we went to a man made beach in Okinawa City and did some shopping. All in all it was a good day.

I Have Been Adopted by a Cat

I have to say my new owner is very gentle and sweet. I do worry about her, though, as I have to run away--despite how loving she is--to return to my former owner who tries to fill my vacancy by biting dear friends of mine. Alas, the flavor is not the same but he bites on...

This Is Not about Opening Ceremony

I did not show up to work dressed in a nice black skirt and sweater and blazer to watch a morning ceremony celebrating the beginning of a new school year, which looked very much like the graduation ceremony just a few weeks ago. If I had I would have had to stay for the afternoon ceremony that was just for the first year students where speeches were given by various people and students sounding pretty much the same in efforts to inculcate the idea that the students needed to take school seriously and get down on their hands and needs and show profuse gratitude for what their parents have done to get them there--not that I would know since it was all in Japanese, and besides, I wasn't there. I also would not have seen one speech giver get up and give a speech with music playing sounding very much like a soap opera. I did not find out that she is very precise and likes the people and things around her to be precise in placement and arrangement. I would not have seen her home with the dustless frilly china on display behind the white settee with the beautiful white Persian cat with sparkling eyes perched on the sofa never to move again since it had been stuffed and put to rest on display in the perfect front room. 

Alone Again

My family left on Thursday. I didn't cry...until I was going to sleep. Before they visited I was okay. I missed home but kind of vaguely. I'd gotten past the missing food, so that was okay even though my sister looked with disgust at my Japanese breakfasts. I thoroughly enjoyed their being here but they seemed to carve a little niche into my life here and now that they're gone that niche is empty and I feel the draft against my heart. It feels and smells of home and now...well, now I really am homesick--not just for home but for my family and food and friends and everything that goes along with being where I'm from.

Don't worry. I'm not really all that sad. I know I will be going home in a little less than four months. Houston will still be there when I return provided a freak hurricane doesn't come and wipe everything out. (Please, care about global warming.) I have important things to happily anticipate. I hope to return to my old school to work with my friends and students. I have stuff and things (and a prodigal friend's return) to look forward to.