Congrats!! Congratulations on being done!!! Wish I were in your shoes... I can't wait to see you. I've been thinking about you a lot. It's nice to read about myself in your journal and know that you're thinking about me too! In terms of finding excuses to speak in japanese, youth hostels will be great for that. And you just have to make an effort to talk to people. If the Japanese are like the people in south america, they'd love you to try to talk to them. Talk to your waiters and just say good morning to people and you get to practice some. But I guess that's all cultural and I'm not sure how the Japanese feel about that stuff... You'll figure it out.
Rachel
Happy Birthday!!! You have only just begun...Life is wonderful. As you grow older, each year will have its own special memories. Have a great birthday. Hugs to you.
22 is not borning... I think 22 is a cool number. Old enough to make you feel old, but young enough to still be having fun. There are still some mile markers left... never fear! The transition from 29 to 30 seems to be a hard one on people, and 40 too, but you´ve got a while before those. All of life is a journey and every year a new adventure to be had. Age is only relative afterall. In some countries like China traditional ageing starts the first day of the new year, so if you were born on new years eve you would be two before you were even a full day old. Go figure! I love you sweetie. Enjoy your birthday!!! Have some sake for me. Yours.
Your drag show One of my accounts in the Underground is Charlie Brown's Caberet. It too is a drag show. I've already invited dad to go and he's in. How 'bout you and Rachael? Hollerrrr!
Asahi Asahi was actually made with Sushi chefs influence to be such a clean and dry tasting beer, that it would not effect the taste of the sushi between eating and drinking. Asahi is Japan's second largest beer behind Sapporo. Be careful of that sake, son, it may turn ugly girls pretty! Just kidding!! Keep the blogs coming!
Nagasaki Pearl Harbor wasn't necessary either, but the Japanese did it. Had they surrendered after Hiroshima, Nagasaki would not have happened. Plus, by doing that, we saved hundreds of thousands of american lives because we would have had to invade Japan in order to complete victory for the USA. The past hurts sometimes, but it is necessary. I suggest going to the WWII museum in New Orleans. That is an eye opening experience as well. Keep the blogs coming. It's been great and I almost feel like I am there with you. See you when you come home.
Busses are great for studying, so long as you can manage to avoid getting car sick. Good luck sweetie. Remember you have the dramamine we bought you if you feel you need it. Take some great photos!
ohisashiburi da na! yo so that's where you've been. i musta returned your call like a day too late. lemme guess you left your razor back in albany? should i just swing by your mom's for a visit to pick up the anime or did u toss it already? by the way where is rachel doing study abroad?
Glad to follow your travels Hey John! I hope you have a great time in Japan. I'm sure you will be the tallest one there, eh? Anyway, have a great time, be safe, learn more than dad and we'll get together in Atlanta when you get back home. We should be settled into a house by then so we will be able to spend time together and I'll make my Crawfish Etoufee for you. How does that sound? Be safe and I'll keep reading!
Jimbo
World Cup The world cup hasn´t started yet. FYI. Players for the teams have just been announced this past week in South America.
On the 22nd of June Brazil plays Japan. I´ll be watching, because I´ll be in Brazil, and I´ll place a bet that we kick your butt. hehe.
You can get all the details of teh cup, brackets etc. at http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/
The final match is the day after I come back to the states. I´ll be watching in Minnesota, but it won´t be nearly as intriguing as watchign it down here. Oh well.
Japan Sweetie, you know you´ll do okay. No one speaks English down here, and I get by. Classes, you´ll just have to work at those. But after 6 weeks of intense classes, you should be in much better shape for the rest of your trip. I know you will do fine. I know it. I love you very much. Make sure you email when you get to Japan so I know that you are okay. Love you much.
(do you get these comments?)
Religion I can´t imagine having to talk religion with someone whose relationship I wished to maintain... Proud of you for making it through that. I don´t think they´d be letting me sleep under their roof anymore if I were there. Good luck with the mountain. We´ll just have to go back and hike it some other time if it doesn´t work out!
Just like I think we should go to Patagonia and hike sometime... hehe...
mmm... rice... Aren´t you going to get enough rice in Japan? hehe... I´ll have to see these pictures you´re talking about. I´ll exchange them for ones of B.A. when I get some pesos to go to an internet cafe (we have good internet in the house, but I can´t plug my laptop in!).
PULLING THE HANDLE HOW MUCH DID YOU WIN. YOUR MOTHER WAS THERE AND PULLED THE HANDLE SO MUCH THAT HER HAND WAS BLACK. SHE PLAYED FOR HOURS, BUT DIDN'T LOOSE MUCH. A WETHERBEE ONLY PLAYS THE PENNY MACHINE. EACH CASINO HAS (ONLY) ONE.
I LIKE THIS SO FAR.
Gambling on the Go Slot machines in the airport? Huh... I never thought about that one! Maybe you can take a nap on a Hawaiian beach this afternoon. That'd be relaxing and far more comfortable than airport chairs! Have safe travels and take plenty of pictures in Hawaii!
JohnWBrooks
John Brooks
I actually knew that it was spelled with a 't' although my lousy typing skills prevented me from exhibiting that knowledge.