Lolita Style

Lolita Style
Originally uploaded by nekocon.

I modified my goth‐loli dress for the Jet mid‐year seminar. I like this pic but the roses really didn't suit it in person.

My Brother as Kyo

My Brother as Kyo
Originally uploaded by nekocon.

He is cool and skinny. How I envy him...

The food was so good...

The food was so good...
Originally uploaded by nekocon.

This is the worst picture of me but it had to be posted!

Amber is Welcome at KiChiRi!

Amber is Welcome at KiChiRi!
Originally uploaded by nekocon.

Today I went to a fab restaurant called Kichiri. The staff was amazingly friendly! The food and company were excellent too. This picture is my dessert‐personalization at no extra charge!

My Judo Black Belt

My Judo Black Belt
Originally uploaded by nekocon.

This is my belt! I hold the rank of Shodan (1st dan). My belt has a white stripe in the middle because it's a women's belt. Women used to have separate grading criteria, so that may be why it's different. Picture with it on comming soon!

New Hat

New Hat
Originally uploaded by nekocon.

Someone knitted it for me. (^-^)v

Japanese Kids are Cute!

Japanese Kids are Cute!
Originally uploaded by nekocon.

These are my 2 favorites! (o^-')b

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!
Originally uploaded by nekocon.

From Namba Parks. In November. Hmmmm...

The Hope Goes Luminarie!

The Hope Goes Luminarie!
Originally uploaded by nekocon.

This is the Hoop's Christmas illumination. Not as cool as Kobe's version, but still nice. Especially viewed from Starbucks!

=＾¨＾=

Short is OK Too!

I am liking this short post kind of thing. My friend Party Boy JZ Moy has a link to a good article about blogging for one. I might have to post things more often!

Bleah, Class 2 and Teacher Foibles

Someone told me that I always sound very postitive when talking about my students. I just want to note for posterity that they sometimes drive me crazy, and I get frusterated in class. And then I feel guilty for being frusterated. And then I wonder if I am cut out to be a teacher. ANd then, like today, I have a good conversation (and a cry) to one of my cool co-workers and things work them selves out. Nothing gets better all at once, but a gradual progression can certainly be made. I hope that this is me growing into a more resonsible adult. :) All signs certainly point towards that.

Pics from Hong Kong

These are a few pics from Hong Kong. The night view from Victoria Peak was really amazing. The daylight view from the Harbour was pretty cool too. Hong Kong is a funny city. It spans an island and part of the mainland and in all respects is very tiny. And yet amazing amounts of people live there. To accomidate all those people the buuldings have grown to 30, even 40 stories (or higher, haven't checked). Comming in by double decker bus from the airport it was an arresting sight. I don't think description can really do it justice. I recommend you see it for your self.



My frind Ayumi is in the las picture. She knew all the best places to eat, shop, and sight see. We had some amazing Dim Sum, a lot of really good sweetened Tofu, Birds nest, Chinese tea (bleah! bitter!!), and Coffee Tea. Nothing could have been more perfect.

Loopline Amber

Loopline Amber
Originally uploaded by nekocon.

I like this picture!

Helena and Ayumi

Helena and Ayumi
Originally uploaded by nekocon.

Loop Line costumes!

Me and Ayu

Me and Ayu
Originally uploaded by nekocon.

Kazurabashi

Kazurabashi
Originally uploaded by nekocon.

The famous Kazurabashi. I want to learn the song about it.

Lately

Lately a lot of cool stuff has been going on, and much of it is pretty noteworthy. As I sit here watching DieHard on my insanely old TV I will make a short list. Later I hope that I can go back to each of them and write a little more. Especially about the travel things. In no paticular order:

1. I went to Hong Kong and Tai Pei for a week with my friend Ayumi. Both HK and Taiwan were amazingly cool. Ayu lived in HK for half a year or so and she was an amazing guide. Prices were low, food was good and the culture was high. In Tai Pei she had a few friends from her days as a student of English in California. So we had guided tours of everything there. Best of all, her mother said our hotel looked like a Love Hotel. Wonderful!

2. I made a friend who is really into a certain subset of Japanese fashion. This would be the Lolita version. Lolita is meant to look like old fashioned doll clothing or kind of victorian England style. I really like the subset called Gothic Lolita. I have two outfits, both from the cheaper store called Bodyline, and they are both in the goth loli category. Love it, love it!

3. I went to Shikoku (the smallest main island of the archipelago) last weekend to see the famous Kasura Bridge. It was made out of vines in the old days but now has a core of steel cables so that it doesn't have to be rebuilt every two or three years. We drove down there in four hours with amazingly good commentary all he way (unfortunately it was all Japanese so I only caught about half of it). I saw one of the longest bridges in the world both by day and night as well as a view of the Naruto Whirlpools. We also went to a Rotemburo (outdoor bath) and I spoke naked English-again. It was nice.

4. The last Friday in October is the world famous Osaka Loopline party. All the forigners in Osaka (and many visitors and Japanese) congregate at Osaka station on the Loop line (kanjyosen) to drink and admire each others costumes. I went this year with my Lilita friend, who made her own costume, and my friend Ayumi, who wore my maid outfit. I went as a Japanese school girl. We were hot and attracted the atention of some old Otaku at the subway exit. Good times!

5. I have amazing friends this year who go out every Saturday night for some fun.

6. My Japanese is better but I really ought to study more.

7. I. Love. Die Hard. After Aliens it is my favorite movie and trilogy. Bruce Willis reminds me of my Dad.

More later!