I've realized that I only have a little over a month until my time in Japan is over...so I've been keeping insanely busy with extra-curriculars and not enough time packing. Don't worry, Mom, I'll make it work! What have I been doing?? Here's the rundown: I performed and competed in our local "talent"/karaoke contest that's held every year called Tottori Idol (a take off on the original Pop Idol show). A couple friends and I performed the song called "Shuchishin", it was popular here in Japan last year? We memorized the lyrics in Japanese and the dance too! We even got [View Full Entry]

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Continuation of the last entry.... We end up back in Seoul on May 6 (Happy birthday Dad!). Jackie and Rach checked back into the hostel, I was staying with friends in the city for the next two nights so I didn't need a hostel. We did some shopping in Insadong. I got new earrings and postcards and some gifts for co-workers. I got a 꽃보다 남자 (Korean drama version of the Japanese comic "Hana Yori Dango") file folder and I had an argument with the saleslady about who was cuter: Gu Jun Pyo or Yoon Ji Hoo. I'm a Gu Jun [View Full Entry]

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Last week, I went to Korea, yes again....and it was probably the best trip so far! We flew out of Yonago airport to Incheon International Airport. We were actually interviewed at the airport by local news people because of the whole swine flu thing. I was wearing a mask at the airport and in the airplane. Most people in Korea didn't wear masks though. We spent the first night in Seoul, just found a place to eat near the hostel. It ended up being a fried chicken place, with really spicy fried chicken. Just did the whole point and order trick. [View Full Entry]

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Went to Sapporo, Hokkaido from Saturday until today. It was really fun, and not as cold as people say, but I am from Minnesota and I KNOW what cold is. The coldest was -3 degrees Celsius? I forgot, it wasn't that bad cause it wasn't so windy! Anyhow....run down of events. Saturday: arrive, find our hotel after Rach leads us to the wrong place because she read the map wrong and thought the hotel was in another place, meet with my friend Ranee (who is now teaching in Sapporo) and her husband Jay (we didn't get a picture together...zannen!), we walked [View Full Entry]

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My parents have been asking to see photos so I will just write briefly about my trip. Spent a week in Pagbilao/Lucena to see family. I ate way too much as usual, but managed to eat everything I wanted thanks to Tita Menchie. I spent a lot of time with my lola and got her a lot of presents. I think her favorite was the hot water bottle. I'll have to get her different covers for it while I can get them here in Japan. I had my students write her and Tita Menchie Christmas cards and Lola loved them. She [View Full Entry]

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It was the last time I would be part of the English Speech competition...I was partly happy, nervous, and excited! All the practicing paid off though! One of my students from one school got a runner-up prize for his recitation and another student from my other school got the FIRST PRIZE for his recitation. Of course the students did a lot of work, but I have to say, I did a pretty good job choosing the first prize winner to do the contest. I usually make my suggestion to my co-workers a few months before the contest. Personality comes first and [View Full Entry]

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Over the summer, I went to Kyoto for the third time with my friend, Ellen, who was visiting me from Korea! We did the maiko makeover, yes my second time....but I found a better place that my friends recommended and I'm glad I went again because the pictures turned out great! Here's just a peek of the prof. photos and the not so professional ones we took outside.... We had a pretty relaxed time, met up with Ellen's cousin that lives near Osaka and he took us around. I'd already seen a lot of Kyoto so I didn't mind, anything was [View Full Entry]

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It was a whirlwind tour....of Tottori! My parents arrived on a Thursday night and I went to Osaka to meet them. We spent a night in Osaka because I didn't want to take the bus back right away. We had a busy schedule the next day so I wanted to get some sleep! They liked the yukatas from the hotel too :) Friday morning on the bus back to Tottori, lots of mountains on the way. Once we got to Tottori, we changed quickly and had lunch at the train station because we had to be at school to teach two [View Full Entry]

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Finally have a free weekend to myself so I am doing a lot of updates! From May 10-18, I went to the Philippines to visit my lola and also to meet up with my parents who were coming in from America. I went to the Philippines a few days before my parents got there. Flew Korean Air which was great, loved having bibimbap on the plane. There was also free wine, but didn't feel like having any. I definitely want to fly Korean Air to America (when I go back) if I can because they have great food and service. Over [View Full Entry]

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I know it's been ages since I've written! Months as a matter of fact, there are a lot of updates! I will have to do separate posts for some of these events but nonetheless, here is the rundown: December 2007 - winter holiday I went to INDIA!!! 3 friends, 2 weeks, 4 cities, loads of photos, some of the spiciest food I've ever had, wild animals in the jungle, crazy people, the Taj, Sham, Bunty, roundabouts, autorickshaws, singing Bollywood hits in the car, and sooo much more! January 2008 We put on a production of Little Shop of Horrors! I revived [View Full Entry]

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