Nakamuraya Toba

We did the usual disembarkation and re-boarding to go through security in Nagoya. I threw the Japanese quarantine inspectors into a tizzy. I saw there was no line for the security checkpoint and didn't see them at the far end of where the line normally is, so I jumped the barrier and almost violated their quarantine. The decided I didn't have swine flu and let me through. I had only a few minutes between when I got to the gate and we started to board.

... attraction there is Ise-Jingu, the most venerated Shinto shrine in Japan. It's where the imperial family conducts their spiritual business and is separated into 2 parts: the outer shrine Geku and the inner shrine Naiku. Geku is is the more accessible, but also the less impressive. Both are located in the woods and has a nice relaxed feel despite the tons of tourists there today (even on Wednesdays, I guess). Both have ...

... to the Japanese ryokan where we would be staying for the evening. I had already received the names of my roommates on a piece of paper but since after 5 weeks of 'studying' Japanified Chinese characters (kanji) I still can't read names (unless they happen to be mountain fire ricefield) I just had to assume that I should be looking for Japanese girls. In the end it turned out to be a very nice experience as this was the first time ...

... shrines. We went to Nagoya and I bought snacks for the month and had a teriyaki burger from McD's for dinner. I got home at around 10ish and the whole family was there. Kozue helped me figure out some of my cel phone problems and there was even some dinner left over for me and fruit! Yay. haha. I'm still not 100% healthy yet though.

... throgh the Torii gate, which is very interesting. I had never been forced to get through a Torii gate so as to enter a shrine! Anyway, Yaotomi shrine was commonplace, but there were a trail around the island and a few picturesque views. The view of the bridge was also good and so I had lunch on the beach nearby. Across the strait, there were Japanese Writers Archive, which was small and boring, but admission free. The view of the Japanese-style room in there was quite beautiful.

... of life has yet to rise for much of the populace. There are still loads of wonderfully hospitable, generous people across the country (case in point: the father and daughter I met while hitchhiking back from Poienari), but it often seems like on a societal level, many Romanians believe capitalism is all about doing whatever you can to make a quick buck. That, and the bulk of the service sector seems to only target the nouveau riche and expats, with the average worker left in ...

... to that, I had to frantically try and get as much done this morning and afternoon before I had to catch a train to Nagoya and do a soundcheck. Then, as soon as it was over, it was back to Kariya to pack my backpack full of gear. So, I've cancelled my cell phone, updated my address book with as many e-mail addresses and phone numbers as I could think of, purchased a couple more memory cards to get me through the ...

... her parents a couple weeks before. That left us with just a few hours of organizing and boxing up things on Thursday and Friday. The one thing we didn't plan ahead so well on was getting rid of the things we didn't want to keep; we had talked about putting up an ad, but never got around to it until it was too late to bother. Then - mostly out of concern that we wouldn't be able to store anything - we hastily composed a last-minute notice on Wednesday to see if ...

... belief in. That is merchandise. They had an infinite array of goods all sporting the small group of dodgy and hardly Spanish characters. They even had baby versions of these characters, and old fashioned black and white versions. I smell a Disney copyright lawsuit in the air. But my little fishing village was lovely, and being next to the ocean again was fantastic. I didnt realise how much I missed it.

... after lunch...why? oh, to strengthen their jaws. -teachers usually seperate the class into boys v. girls whenever I ask them to get into 2 groups...how is that fair? I always seem to end up helping the girls win somehow. -I'm working with all my classes on the phrases Please, Thank you, and You're welcome...they have a VERY hard time saying "You're welcome," those particular sounds are very difficult for them. One boy actually said "Beckham?" because that's what he thought ...