Things I Like in Japan

1. Work- I can't always say I love my job, but who can? Granted I actually work fewer hours than is really decent, but still, when I work I mostly enjoy it. I like my coworkers and my kids. Everyone here has a great attitude and is pretty laid back. We don't always understand each other, and we certainly don't always do our homework, but I feel like I have formed a good relationship with the people here. Next: to start applying myself more and to be more friendly. One year left! Gotta make the best of it ...

2. My Gym- I belong to a great gym, it's part of a chain of COSPA (comfortable sports space) stores in the Kansai area. I pay about $90 American for this place, but it does allow me to go anytime I want. The fee includes all the facilities, all the classes, the pool, and the shower/public bath area. I can take a sauna session and rinse off in freezing water, or hang out naked in the hot-tub type area. I really do love my gym. It also functions as my social club during the week. If I hit the timing correctly I see 5-7 of the forign people who live in my area. Along with some extremely attractive Japanese guys-yes they are short but damn are they fine. Also there's the older guy who wears a neon orange T-shirt that is printed with *Run Around Naked*. I love it, love it!

3. Osaka- Do you ever wonder why Tokyo is always the city that gets destroyed in the Godzilla/Gundam/Disaster movies? Some people will pontificate that it is due to Tokyo being the capitol. Some will also add that during WWII Tokyo was completely destroyed and that has imprinted itself on the Japanese psyche. They tie these two things together and try to come up with something ultimate and deep. But the truth is that Tokyo kind of has a rep for being a cold, fast place to live. It gets destroyed because no one would miss it. Osaka, on the other paw, is a fabulous town full of jovial people and excellent local and international tastes. It may be a concrete hunk of junk in some places, but there is no city in the world I would rather call home.

4. Mt. Kongo- this is thus far my favorite place to hike. Some of the favoritism is pretty arbitrary: Kongo is pretty close and fairly easy to reach from my apartment. I loved Kamikochi because it was some of the only unspoiled scenery I've seen in Japan, but the sheer unreachability of it really puts it low on the list. Kongo isn't always pretty, it is another victem of the excess public funds stemming from the bubble economy. There is way too much concrete on the paths and the top seems a little too furnished and settled. But the comfortable hominess lends it a certain civilized charm, and the visitor's center on top reminds me of my youth spend in the National Parks. Thus Kongo will always hold a special place in my heart.

5. My School's Cafeteria- although this has ceased to be the pleasure it once was, you can still get a good sized meal for relatively cheap. The Japanese-style curry is sweet, which I like. The set lunches for the teachers are also really tasty.

6. Judo- I started this recently at my school. They needed another girl, so I've become the mascot. Recently the girl student who recruited me has stopped comming, so I pity the boys that are teaching me to throw (and fall). Matoba Sensei is good to me though, so I'm not going to dissappoint him in our quest for my black belt.

7. Shamisen- I hate practicing instruments, at least I do sometimes. I am terribly ADD about somethings, and finding time to practice is one of them. But I always enjoy the actual lessons that I take. Playing Shamisen puts me in touch with a part of Japan that seems secret and special. Most of the young people these days can't do what I do there.

8. J-Boys-not all the time, and not all the boys, but a good number of them manage to be really hot. And the ones that work out at my gym are finefinefiiiiiine.

9. Japanese- it's a great language and I am going to kick it's ass in December, as soon as I can overcome my inertia.

10. I am sure there are a lot of things to write about, but I can't think of anything specific right now. Stay tuned for further updates. Oh, and sorry about Saturday ... :)