More Pictures from Winter

Winter Firsts

This winter marks the first time I've done a number of things many people living outside of Southern California may consider ordinary and mundane. To me they're new and mundane :)

Thus far, this winter has been the first time I

• Had to scrape frost off my windshield
• Had to push snow off my windshield so my wipers could move
• Drove with snow tires
• Saw a guy make a u-turn on a snow-covered hill without chains...it became a 15 point turn and held up traffic for about 6 minutes
• Saw my breath in my house
• Saw steam rise while peeing
• Had to rock my car back and forth to get it out of its parking spot (as in, drive, reverse, GUN IT)

It's only been REALLY cold for maybe 3 weeks, and it's been inconsistent during the day. I went snowboarding Saturday in conditions that weren't the best for someone as inexperienced and just plain unskilled as me. It snowed all day, the wind picked up in the afternoon, and fog settled in around 2. My friends found it easier to navigate the slopes WITHOUT goggles, but I wasn't about to let my eyes get that cold. The first day I drove in the snow happened to be the day I drove up to Hachi-kita snow park, so that was an interesting experience that thankfully ended with me and my car getting out in one piece.

I'm finding of all the things I truly lack in terms of winter clothes, socks might be number one. You can layer the other parts of your body, but I'm thinking I need to get some nice thick socks, especially for the house. Regular socks, slippers, and a space heater aren't keeping my tootsies warm enough.

Some Random Winter Break Shots

Asian Glow

So I originally had big dreams about introducing Japanese folks to the antacid, and the miraculous way it keeps much of the Asian glow away, but I've noticed something: most of the Japanese people I drink with don't get red! What kind of perverted reality is it where only the Asian guy from America gets red?!

Quick Update

So December was busy for me...

- Played Santa on at least 8 different days, usually breaking a decent sweat as I danced and sang in class. The things you do as a gaijin clown...at least the kids (mostly) liked the candy canes I went to the trouble of bringing back from an LA Costco.

- Had my bonenkai/year end party. The kanji used actually mean you are supposed to forget the year at this party, which means you ignore all the bad, eat, drink, and remember the good. We went to Obama City in Fukui Prefecture. Obama-shi has been backing Barack Obama basically since his official nomination by the Dems, and I figured it was some kind of sign that the day I was asked to go was the day he was officially elected.

This was a lot of fun, more than I expected. Ate blowfish (for the first time) and crab, drank way too much sake and beer, did karaoke, got in a hot bath with some teachers, ran through a freezing night, and bascially had a ball.

- Christmas, Japan-style! KFC (I had to make a reservation), white cake with out-of-season strawberries, and random other items at our foreigner potluck. Had poutine for the first time...I'm sure it's better when you don't have to use cubed cheddar that costs about $3 for 5 oz.

- Final community center English class - I was so happy that this farce of a class ended. I dreaded it, the kids dreaded it, and we were all glad to bid it farewell. The community center was really nice, though, and prepped drinks and Mr. Donut for everyone, and even had gift bags.
- Mini-bonenkai with my 4-year-old English student and his family + JJ - Was invited to another crab feast the day after my school's bonenkai, and gladly accepted. Drank, ate, talked, met the dad, and played with Riku (the 4-year-old) and Ryo (the toddler...maybe 2 years?). JJ was a big hit with them, as he seems to be with all the kids I've seen him around.

- Progress on the girl front - Got her a present that she seemed to enjoy (said she was going to cry), spent a day with her, eating, shopping, and BS'ing. Now if I can just get my ass in gear...

- Bought a snowboard - Used, K2 with K2 bindings, mainly black, about $120

- Made my first Japanese kite - pics to come, played with 1st/2nd graders the day I left for Tokyo

- Japan travels begin - the afternoon of the 26th, I left for Tokyo. Met up with Clint on day 1, Ben and Mike for Days 2-11. Separate post on this later.

Progress in taiko - Finally feeling like a real part of the group, and am talking a bit more during practice...mainly because I don't need to spend every bit of brain power trying to memorize things anymore :)