Rob--I thought you'd enjoy this. (-:

Nothing like The Killers to make me homesick...

I can't believe I've neglected my blog for so long. I told a few people I was going to start a photo-of-the-day, but obviously that hasn't happened.

For now, I'll just post this video that makes me homesick for Japan. *sniff*

I'm out of excuses...

When I last updated you on my spring break trip , I told you about my overnight train ride to Kuala Lumpur. I've given up on giving lots of details and writing about the trip day-by-day, but I have prepared a very nice slideshow for your enjoyment with pictures from KL. (I still need to put up pictures from the Batu Caves--sorry!) So, without further adieu...



I know I've been horrible about posting my pictures from this trip. It really was incredible--and inspirational, since it made Maureen and I decide to plan our RTW 2009 trip! Since I'll be home soon (2 DAYS!) I can show you all more pictures. Just ask!

However, if you want to skip ahead and read someone else's account of our time in Ho Chi Mihn city (Vietnam) you can go here: Kyle & Dan's blog

They even have pictures that look almost identical to some of my pictures! (-: They are much more thorough writers than I am, but interesting, so if you have some time, you should read it.

Happy Birthday Georgie!!

It’s official…

Yes, I am moving back to Texas. On July 18th, I’ll fly away from the place I’ve known as home for the past 2 years and go back to my first home. It’s still pretty surreal to think about, but I’m slowly getting used to the idea of being back in the states. Most of you that I saw in May (when I was home for the Duke wedding) know that when I was asked, “Are you excited to move back?,” I replied with a resounding, “Umm, not really.” You’ll be happy (or maybe not) to hear that I actually am looking forward to being back home. I’m not excited to live in the states, but I am excited be back with family and friends. Of course, along with that, I’ll miss so many people that I’m leaving behind in Japan. It’s still a concept I’m getting used to…leaving Japan. It just seems like moving back to the states will be the end of all the fun of living somewhere else. Recently I was reading a book and the author (J. Maarten Troost) said something that perfectly explains how I feel:

“I had grown accustomed to life being interesting and adventure ridden and, rather childishly, I refused to believe that this must necessarily come to an end and that the rest of my life should be a sort of penance for all the reckless, irresponsible, and immensely fun things I’d done before.”

Of course, he ended up moving to a small island in the middle of nowhere…and that doesn’t seem like such a bad idea either.

I’ll be taking a few trips when I get back (to Austin and Minneapolis—in that order). I also really want to take a trip on the Amtrak. I think I should test out the good ‘ole USA train system. Of course it will be very disappointing compared to the shinkansen (bullet train), but it should still be entertaining, nonetheless.

Anyhow, I will see many of you soon—so get ready. I want some Mexican food!

Conundrum...

Do I open my birthday presents now or wait until my birthday? I can't decide--you do it.

Kevin and Lindsey's wedding

Of course there are a million more pictures, but I'm not about to try and put them all up here. If you just can't get enough, go to Lindsey's facebook page and you can see them all!

The first slideshow has pictures from my camera.
The second one has pictures from the photographer.

Curiousity killed the cat...and my taste buds

No matter how curious you are, don't buy this.



I also wouldn't recommend trying chili beer.

Don't go breaking my heart

In Japan, karaoke is completely different than at home. At home, you are singing to loads of people that you don't know. In Japan, you have your own room with your friends. That means no embarrassment...unless you put video of it on your blog.

Of course Maureen and I had to do a duet. We would have preferred to sing "At the beginning" by Donna Lewis and Richard Marx, which is the song that inspired this picture:



However, we had to settle for the next best thing.
**Warning: This video could hurt your ears.



Maureen and I never pass up an opportunity to take a picture together. There is always paparazzi (a.k.a. Amanda) around to snap our picture.


One of our many duets throughout the night


We love to ham it up for the camera


I had a hard time not getting really into the songs when I was singing...I mean, I think you should give it all or nothing at all, right?


I wish I could remember what song we had just finished


Miranda fell asleep.


At the end of the evening, I made Maureen feel very special by giving her some incredibly beautiful flowers (read: weeds).


Bonus: I know you don't care, but here is (the most complete) play list of our 5 hour evening at karaoke.
-Don't go breaking my heart
-Lose Yourself
-Mr. Roboto
-If it makes you happy
-Say it ain't so (x2)
-Loser
-That's the way I like it
-My Humps
-Britney Spears Medley (Yes, you read correctly)
-U2 Medley
-You oughta know
-Last Christmas (This was an accidental input, but we still sang it!)
-I just called to say I love you
-Are you happy know
-You're so vain
-Steady as she goes
-Stupid girl
-Californication
-1979
-Somebody told me
-Incomplete
-Purple Rain
-Me & Bobby McGee
-Pieces of Me
-Don't stop believing
-Creep (This was mine and Maureen's unofficial trip song, so we had to do this one)
-Black Star
-I think we're alone now
-Another day in paradise (ahh...good 'ole Phil)
-Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous
-Don't Speak
-Cry me a river
-Bye Bye Bye
-Hero
-I would do anything for love (who can resist Meatloaf?)
-Can't get you out of my head
-It's raining men

Obviously this isn't 5 hours of songs, but we couldn't remember them all...and some of the songs were Japanese songs that I don't know the names of.

Please watch this video and ignore the fact that I haven't actually updated.

When Maureen and I were at the airport in DaNang, Vietnam, we saw this video on TV. We couldn't stop laughing. We had actually tried to video it with our cameras, but could never catch it at the beginning. Luckily youtube has everything you could ever need (and a lot that you shouldn't ever need).



Hopefully this video will distract you from the fact that I haven't actually updated lately. However, due to recent "threats" I do plan to try and update soon.
Here's what you have to look forward to:
-Pictures from Lindsey's wedding
-Karaoke night with the Green Symphony cracka' complex
-Maybe more pictures from my trip in March?

Ok, I don't want to get too ambitious. That's all I'll commit to for now.

My karate BFF

This is Masa.



He is 8 years old (although he was 7 in this picture--his birthday was today). He’s my best friend at karate, since Maureen has abandoned me. Masa has become my Japanese teacher. He’s awesome. We have some pretty deep conversations.
For example:

Me: Masa, Kyo wa nani o shimashitaka? (Masa, what did you do today?)
Masa: *insert words that I don’t understand* karuma (means car) *insert more words I don’t understand followed by car sounds* Wakatta? (Do you understand?)
Me: Oh, Hai, hai! (Oh, yes, yes!)

Another example:
Me: Samui, ne? (It’s cold, isn’t it?)
Masa: Oh, yes! (He’s so cute when he answers in English!!)

He also loves to watch me practice a kata and then say, "Very good, very good!"
I'm really going to miss him.

If I see reading glasses, I must put them on.

These remind me of the glasses I had in 5th grade...and I thought they were really cool at the time.

Survey time! Survey time!**

Write down what you see, hear, and are thinking.

1. Grab the book nearest to you, turn to page 18, and find line 4.
--"His view of Japan, like that of most Americans, had been painted entirely by television and the movies." --Ugly Americans (Don't judge the book by the title--it's about a bunch of guys who raided the Asian stock market.)

2. Stretch your left arm out as far as you can. What's there?
--My journal, dental floss, and my cell phone

3. What is the last thing you watched on TV?
--Supernatural

4. Without looking, guess what time it is:
--10:00

5. Now look at the clock. What is the actual time?
--9:50

6. With the exception of the computer, what can you hear?
--Jars of Clay and my dryer

7. When did you last step outside? What were you doing?
--Last night around midnight--I was taking the trash out.

8. Before you started this survey, what did you look at?
--My carry-on bag...I'm leaving on a jet plane in a few hours.

9. What are you wearing?
--My penguin pants and 'Somebody in Texas loves me' shirt--a.k.a. my pajamas

10. Did you dream last night?
--Yeah, and I remember it being strange...but that's about all I remember. I should start my dream journal again.

11. When did you last laugh?
--Last night listening to Maureen's stories almost drowning while canyoning

12. What is on the walls of the room you are in?
--Texas flag (yes, obnoxious--I know!) and some Anne Taintor postcards

13. Seen anything weird lately?
--Not that was memorable...

14. What do you think of this quiz?
--It's nice--b/c it's short (-:

15. What is the last film you saw?
--In the theatre-Spiderman 3; On DVD-Sometimes in April

16. If you became a multi-millionaire overnight, what would you buy?
--Pay off my debt and the debt of family and friends...and then go to Africa

17. Tell me something about you that I don't know:
--Something about me that you don't know? Depends who is reading this...Maybe you don't know that I am completely terrified to move back to the U.S. this summer.

18. If you could change one thing about the world, regardless of guilt or politics, what would you do?
--End disease

19. Do you like to dance?
--yes, when no one is looking

20. George Bush:
--no comment--I don't want to make any of my readers upset. (-:

21. Imagine your first child is a girl, what do you call her?
--Not really sure, but I'd like the middle name to be Lorraine, after my grandmother

22. Imagine your first child is a boy, what do you call him?
--Sorry, I'm not a typical girl. I have no names picked out for my non-existent children.

23. Would you ever consider living abroad?
--Umm, yes?

24. What do you want to say to God when you reach the pearly gates?
--I don't think I'll have much to say...that will be one of those speechless moments--very rare for me,but they do exist.

**Special shout out to Brandi for sending this survey to me! Arigatogozaimashita!

Spiderman 3 spoiler alert!

A good reason to see Spiderman 3:


Yep, Spiderman 3 came out May 1st here in Japan. I think it's the first time since I've lived here that a movie came out here before it debuted in the states. It was pretty good, considering I have very low standards for the Spiderman movies.
Worst part: James Franco's face gets messed up, making him pretty difficult to look at...luckily he dies at the end and you don't have to anymore.
(Of course, if you read the comic, you already know that he dies--right?)