Hotel Zekkeinoyakata Matsushima

... of the layout of Tome, as explained to me by my Sempai (seniors), and viewing it with my own eyes. Although its a "City" officially, its actually about 7 or 8 towns spread out a ways, each being about 10/15 minutes apart from the bordering one. Two of those towns are actually pretty decent in size, containing a big super market, movie theater, mall-like-thing, and a sort of urban feel (not too unlike New Braunfels). The rest of the towns are "sleepy ...

... so much better live. Shou told us that we called him by the wrong name during “High Collar Naru Rondo”, and then we remembered that he wanted to be “Masamune”. ^^ The encore was the best. They played older songs like “Cradle to [Alpha]” and “Tsubasa”, and there was a lot of fun headbanging and furi. I was a bit overenthusiastic during “G3” because I ran into the chairs in front of me. It was ...

... One was a frog charm—frog being "kaeru" in Japanese, which also means “to leave”. The other was a pair of chopsticks, or hashi. She told me to use it in Southlake to build a bridge, also called “hashi”, between my two homes.

Super Hotel Sendai City has changed a few things, and I’m not quite sure I like it. I don’t get free goodies for being female ...

... pack rat.

For my last real meal (breakfast and lunch tomorrow are going to be scavanged), I debated between Café Gati and my student’s family’s gyutan place. The latter won since I’m not going to have the opportunity to eat gyutan back home. Or hayashi rice, which is what I ordered (it had gyutan pieces). My student’s mother gave me watermelon as a sort of bonus when she found out that I was leaving. It made me ...

... I headed for the nearest combini, bought something cold, and sat on the ground. The humidity was making me dizzy. A large group of us ALTs met up for the fireworks, which were threatening to be cancelled due to the on-and-off rain. Walking down the street where they had the different stands was like a celebrity experience. We couldn’t take a few steps without one of us being stopped by students. I actually didn’t ...

... bit rude when I asked what I should be doing. Also, almost everyone smoked so my lungs were not happy. Nevertheless, I enjoyed playing taiko for a good portion of the city. Seeing people happy made me happy. I can see why people aspire to be entertainers. It was a challenge playing on the back of a moving truck, but I got the hang of it. I ran into the mayor and superintendent at ...

... what little bit of cleavage I have and he said it was too dangerous and that I should cover up!

Here is one way Japan is super ass backwards, they find it ok for girls to wear skirts and shorts that are sooo short you can see their butts and occasionally genitalia ( if you are stuck below them on an escalator, this has happened to me!) hanging out but if you can see the tiniest bit of a woman's chest they freak ...

... that your movie ticket comes with a seat. Also, some American films don't get released until much later. For example, both Wanted and Iron Man aren't out yet, but The Dark Knight and Sex in the City are. Afterwards, we had lunch in the food court and met up with some fellow JETs. Chiho discovered that you got free tokens at the arcade if you showed your ticket stub. I lost mine so Rachelle ...

... Some of Japan, like the buildings and trains, resembles Taiwan, and some of it doesn't, like the cleanliness and the lack of mopeds. I'm staying at a traditional Japanese house (i.e. one with tatami floors and sliding doors) in the country. The toilet is Western-style (i.e. you don't have to squat), but you have to use a hose to flush. Emi is the resident English speaker. There are 9 people in the ...

... great, but we agreed it ended up being too warm. We missed the Russian style where you have a contrast of hot and cold. This is just a hot soak. Nonetheless, we felt refreshed before dinner. Unclear whether dinner will be in our room or the dining room, we wait. At 6:05, we dress and go down to the dining room. We are greeted and led to a private tatami room where there is already a huge spread waiting for us. Sashimi, grilled fish, ragu pork dish, sushi, steamed ...