I'm back in Japan and Summer will soon be coming to an end. I put on the music and listened to some Counting Crows, which I haven't done in a long time. They're music is fitting for this end of summer... It seems pretty depressing. Everything starts to fade away and just like the fun and memories of summer. It is a sad time, but in Japan it is a particularly beautiful time as the colors change to beautiful golds and reds. Although I am sad summer is over, I am looking forward to that cool autumn. I hope Autumn comes soon.

I had a great time in America for my summer vacation. Unfortunately I am writing this almost 3 weeks after it finished so I have to try and remember.

The first night I went to BJs with Bill and Jake and Kristie. Awesome. The next night I went to Blitz Lad with Caroline and Bill and Derrick. Matt and even Chaney showed up. That was a great night. Playin' shuffle board, drinkin' AMRRRICAN beer. I kicked Caroline's butt in ping-pong. Or was it the other way around? I can't remember. Chaney's sister and her husband came too. He seems pretty cool. Something about Chaney's sister tho, she was looking good... Maybe it was the lighting. :)

The next day was Alan's wedding. That was pretty rad, and pretty much all my V-crew friends were there. That night we had a party to celebrate with Alan. Alan was a party maniac that night too. I've never seen him dance to rave music in a car like that. There were so many people at that party I can't name then either... but I remember Sumo was there and Chaney showed up with his sister too. We watch Hackers on Bean's huge TV and played MGS4 and other HD games.

The next night was McMenamins on the Columbia and Dairy Queen. Sumo wore is transformers shirt and Taylor wrote his phone number on the receipt for the waitress. We went to a park and kicked it on a merry go round too.

I visited my family in Vancouver and ... more later i need a break

Well, I'm back in the USA! I want to give a big shout out to everyone who came and hung out with me this weekend, especially Bill who was hung out every night since I got here. Also to Chaney, Matt, Jake, and Sumo who drove long distances to hang out with me. We had a rad weekend. Friday night played shuffle board at the Blitz with Caroline and Derrick, Saturday night we partied at Bean's and watched Hackers on his huge TV, and Sunday night we chilled at McMenamins on the Columbia. Good times.

Saturday was also Alan's wedding. It was a nice little wedding and I'm super happy for them. Near the end of the event, Bill asked me to write some Japanese on the car, but when I stepped outside I realized it was my old Matsu-chan. They wanted me to defile my own car! :( It was painful, but I knew I had to do it for Alan. I just hope Alan washed it off right away...

I'm having trouble adjusting to the timezone... I can't sleep at night and then sleep all day... Maybe it isn't such a big deal since my friends all work during the day, but what a waste to have come all the way to America and then sleep all day long.

On the way over I had a 5 hour layover in Hawaii. Too short to do anything really... So I just explored the airport. They had a nice garden, and the weather was nice... but not all too exciting. Also, everyone kept calling me Mahalo, what's with that?

It's hot. Frickin' hot. But the good side is that I am officially on summer vacation. That means pretty much no more work 'til September. That's another perk about being an ALT.

Last month I had some fun adventures. I went hiking in Yamanashi-ken with Kacho and some other Yakuba friends, while we were there we also soaked in a hot spring and went cherry picking. Then later in the month I went to Tokyo Dome with Suzuki to see a my first baseball game in Japan.

Actually, baseball in Japan is quite fascinating. It's the same game, but with a Japanese twist. For example, instead of serving nachos and Cracker Jack you get to eat soba and bento boxes. The vendors walking up and down the isles selling food and beer are all young, pretty girls. (You can see some of them in the gallery, since Suzuki kindly took my picture with them :) Also the fans are very passionate and perform chants and cheers in large coordinated groups. It seems much more rehearsed than American fans.

This weekend I went on a teachers trip with Mizusawa elementry to Yokohama. They are having a 150 year "open country" anniversary fair to celebrate General Perry who forcefully landed his large black ship into the bay and demanded the small Japanese people exchange goods with the west. At the fair I was able to eat some delicious cheese and Porter beer and then we went to a Hotel buffet where I proceeded to eat as much steak as I could possible fit in my stomach. It was so delicious, and I haven't eaten steak since... well I can't remember the last time, but I think it was well before I came to Japan. On the way home I got a call from Suzuki so I finished off the day with him at the bars in Mobara. It was a great way to start summer vacation.

Since I have about a month off with no school I'm going to be bored out of my mind at home. So I don't want to waste this time. I was thinking of going somewhere... but I don't want to travel to China or Thailand or Iran alone... so lately my thoughts are towards visiting home. It seems kind of mottainai to go somewhere I always was for my vacation, but then at least I could seem my friends and eat my favorite foods... But I worry it will be boring there too since my friends will all be working during the week days. But I suppose even if I'm bored alone during the days there, that's pretty much the same as being bored alone during the days here.

Sorry I haven't updated Chibinet much these days. I have been keeping busy with various activities here. Which is good... Anyway, check out the June pictures to see Baseball and stuff, and some July pictures are up, though there isn't much exciting yet.