Sleeping Jellyfish

School is sluggishly meandering on. Having the same schedule every day really enforces its own routine. Class 9am – 12 pm; read, study, check email noon – 2; 2 – 3:30 class; go to the LDIC, read, study, watch a movie, play scrabble 3:30 – 6pm; dinner, soccer, internet, read, study, socialize 6pm – 12am; finish homework, internets, go to sleep 12am – 2am.

Some animals' deaths are more equal than others'.

As many of you may know, the King of Pop, Michael Jackson died recently. As an artist and donor, he won the hearts of millions, and as victim of cosmetics and celebrity insanity he received the scorn of others. Regardless he was an important celebrity icon during our lifetimes. The morning we found out, me and Taro were sleeping in at his apartment while Kaethe, Satomi, and Michal were getting up early for class. Tomi-chan had checked the morning news on her cellphone and then found a news station giving a report. My stomach was so content from the delicious soumen meal the night before, it couldn’t be troubled to move into an upright position.

I helped put the kids to bed.

We had a beach party the other day on the coast just south of Akita city. It was the combination of an already planned beach party and two birthday parties. We grilled delicious foods, had a great bonfire, and did some midnight underwear-swimming. The tide was in a northward direction, so that after 15 minutes of splashing around you ended up with a bit of a walk back to our campsite. I had slept in the day before, and was really excited just to have a great night with friends, and so for whatever reason stayed up all night, and thus became the Papa, and cleaned up trash and blanketed a few people found comfort in the sand. The sunrise over the hills was just as beautiful as the sunset. And in the morning a huge group of Akitans came and did a sweep of the beach making for some interesting conversation with a group of haggard and sandy college students.

4 months along.

I’m kind of a novelty I guess. I’m a fairly muscular vegetarian who eats well, but at irregular intervals. Thus people are intrigued by me, and especially enjoy some of my odd habits or party tricks. Two of note are that I love eating the skins of kiwis and that I become pregnant shortly after dinner.

"Yes, I promise to write something nice."

Though it is still considered the rainy season, the whether is inconsistentally heavenly gorgeous and biblically wet. There are plenty of places, both shaded and open, to sit and work, relax, read, have some coffee, or whatever. I was reading a bit before class (Edgar Allan Poe short story, “The Golden Bug”, it was great) when Olga asked me to write a nice birthday message to another one of the Taiwanese girls. Thanks to Mr. Poe, I was more in the witty, and venomously bitting frame of thought, but I did my best. I’m constantly surprised at how big of a deal birthdays are in this corner of the world, and the lengths friends go to to make sure that the one to be celebrated has a great day (and fairly sloppy night).

This is the pinnacle of Japanese cuisine.

Anyone who has ever been to Japan in recent years can tell you of all the weird breads, snacks, and beverages you can find at almost any vending machine or convenience store. This is a recent gem. This “Delicious Ball Sand” is filled with azuki (bean) paste, and is kind of like a big soft donut. The Japanese call a sandwich “sando” or “sandowichi” but this particular item dropped the “o” as well. I would encourage everyone to try a Delicious Ball Sand maybe with a bottle of Pocari Sweat to wash it down with. YUM!

In Korea the more bodily contact with your guy friends, the closer you are. We're pretty much family.

The Korean Club meets every week but me and Michal usually have futsal at the same time so we end up not being able to go. The parties, however, can not be missed, as they offer the best food, and the most drinks, at the best price. People often go to a nomi/tabehoudai – all you can drink/eat – and drop 20-40$ but for just 5$ you can have the best Korean food this side of the East Sea (made by real Koreans!), plenty of drinks, most shenanigans than you can shake a stick at. For Korean men, if they are good friends, it is common for them to put a hand on the other’s thigh, arm, or shoulder when sitting around. At first it kind of creeped me out and took a bit to get used to but now if I’m not being constantly nudged and rocked against while we’re eating, I feel kind of unloved. Consider this a fair warning to all my friends at home – you may find my hand on your thigh at dinner. But its cool, dude, we’re just good friends.

Just after futsal, checking the internets. I think people flooded our room immediately after (see next picture).

I still have not gotten some good proper pictures of our room. I think right now because there is so much crap in it, it is difficult to find a shot or two that offer a good representation of what our room is like. I think this one is alright though, at least to show my little area. Underneath my bed is my cave, where I check the internets and try to contain my over flowing mess of stuff. Papers and books are everywhere, the guitar constantly moves around the room, but I really like to put up mail I receive on the wall in front of my computer so I can draw on it for inspiration. Everyone comments on Kailee’s cute letter to me from way back in Autumn.

This is what I was talking about.

Though my bed is still up above, Sandy dropped his down awhile ago and I approve. Everything else goes above and it provides a nice sitting space when we have people over, as opposed to my one desk chair. 8 people including whoever took the picture, and I know there were others lurking around. The terms “cramped” and “efficient” both come to mind, and which one I choose to describe the rooms here really just depends on the day.

I’ll be leaving within a month. I’ve been ready to leave for awhile I think, and though now I don’t have a great urge to stay, I’m beginning to get more and more excited for the last few weeks of awesomeness here with friends, the end of the semester, and of course, going away parties. But I’m ready to come home. My current situation here is one I’m not really used to and have discovered that I don’t particularly enjoy, and by that I mean not having any income or control over my finances, and going to school from September to August with a month inbetween each semester. I miss my real summer vacation.