The Joys of Fridays

So I was talking to my friend the other day, he's from New Zealand, one of the downest dudes that I know. He was like, remember how you were all high from your trip, don't let that buzz come down, don't forget to keep it going. And I thought that that is like a lot of things... there are a lot of things that can bring me down, getting used to a certain way of living, always a sniff of stagnancy when you start that "getting used to" business. So at least as my own mindset, I'll be on my travels for a while longer, even if I go home during them or even if I get into a certain rhythm.

I've created a pretty crazy schedule for myself these days, with teaching and getting a faculty-type system together, curriculums, texts and meetings. But I find the things that are just as important- taking a swim in the ocean for 10 minutes, going for a 20 minute skate, zoning out at my desk for a couple seconds (that one I just did.. duuuuuhhhhh)- are hard to find time for but so crucial. I want to give thanks, and to be able to know that I'm so damn lucky to be doing what I'm doing. Woooord.

A location-descriptive list: CDs strewn, white walls, pen lines, humidity, Port of Pearls the book, the Calypso, my ￥100 mug, backaches, library, Aesop, Japanese words, vending machines, little cars, a fire extinguisher that says Hatsuta on it. AAnnd the Belafonte:



Yeeeah, watchoo know about daatt? Thanks, Steve. Right then, take it eeeasy, thanks for reeeading.

In the Week of Gold

Today is Children's Day in Japan, and everyone is on vacation and all the malls are busy and people gather in large swarms where there are Golden events. Why golden, you say? Well, that's what I asked, and the answer that I got from these foos, my friends, my co-workers, is that this is a period in Japan where there's a bunch of national holidays lined up, so it's like a second spring break in the middle of May, and it's called GOLDEN WEEK. siiiick.

So yeah, hope you're doing well, and my week is about chillin and getting ready for the next long semester at this school. Yeeeashh, along with making up conversation worksheets and stuff, I'm also doing a marine class and we're going to choose boats- be like Jacques Cousteau on the Calypso or Charles Darwin with the Beagle- and do madd research on an imaginary journey so we can get some knowledge and do something to help save the dying coral reefs of Okinawa. I'm also teaching English playing sports and stuff, saying like "Pass the ball!! Here!" Good times, good times... This teaching thing is pretty dope, but that's probably because the institution I work for is pretty free and still developing, rather than already set in educational values, methods, and rules. I'm real lucky to be given this opportunity to try things my way. We'll see how it turns out.

So yeah, I've also been running around on the beach three times a week, playing this sport we invented... Everyone keeps telling me I look all dark, but I can't really tell myself. Dipping in the ocean after a morning of running full speed- mmm, nice. And never forget the food, the food, so lucky to have food! Way different from my college-writing days when I lived on trail-mix and Folger's. Hahaha- Hope you're all doing well back in LA, in Australia, in Japan, everywhere.

Woo Gnarl's Barkley Odd Couple, and also Nat King Cole and Thelonious these days...