Grand Golf!!

Yesterday, from 3:30 until around 4:30, I played Grand Golf with teachers from my school district. Not all of them came and participated, but a good number did sign up and played. I was honestly surprised. I was placed in a team of 4 and had a fairly good time.
Grand Golf- for those not in the know (everyone)- is a bit like putt-putt golf. We used a soccer field (with sand instead of grass on it) for the playing area. Instead of putting into a hole, you try to get your ball inside a circular metal area under that "hole's" flag. Does that make sense? Also, instead of a normal golf ball and club, you use something that more resembles a crockett (is that the right word?) ball and club, though you don't want to hit other players grand golf ball.

I got the lowest (best) score in my group at 25 points. But there were a number of people who scored under 20!! I think 7 people actually got a hole-in-ones. Apparently “hole-in-one” is the term the Japanese use as well. After the game a teacher asked me if “hole-in-one” was an English phrase. =)
So anyway, my school came in 2nd!! (even though the chorus teacher got a score of 33!!) She was embarrassed by it, but also took it in stride and thought it was funny, as did everyone else. So it was a good time, and now I know what grand golf is….Putt Putt on a random piece of ground. =)

I am a nerd

Today, during my lunch break, I went to the Asheville Chamber of Commerce website's demographics section to catch up on the current economic indicators of my old home. (I love Asheville!!)
I'm sitting in Japan, thinking about Asheville...but my way of connecting with Asheville is to check the economic indicators. "oh, hotel sales are only down 1.3%" and "I wonder how much further the Asheville Airports numbers will go, given the economic downturn?" Thus, I must be declared a nerd. =P

On a completely unrelated note, I will be playing "grand golf" this afternoon with the other teachers in my school district. What's "grand golf", and what makes it different from "golf"? I do not yet know....hmmm

If anyone has been wondering how difficult it is to live in a country and not know the language let me tell you....it's WAY too EASY to get by knowing only three Japanese words: "sumimasen- excuse me, sorry, oops" "Arigato- Thank you" and "Wakarimasen- I don't understand".
Because of this, I have really been slacking on my Japanese language study. Good thing my Japanese coressepondence course has arrived...now I might begin learning Japanese. =P I hope!!

Who wants to come visit us?!?!!

Okay. I have decided that instead of going back to the USA (where I have lived for the past 24ish years) to visit family and friends, I instead have a fantastic offer for you all.

Here it is....come visit us in Japan!!!
How often do you have the opportunity to visit a different (1st world) country on the other side of the globe with so many cultural differences like Japan when you are living in the US? I mean this is JAPAN(!!!) sooooo cool!
Even better, when else do you have an opportunity to experience this different culture with your very own (English speaking!) tour guide who actually LIVES IN JAPAN?!?

Going even further....not only do you have an amazing opportunity to come to Japan and have your own tour guide....you also have FREE room and (most) board during your stay!!! A typical hotel room in Japan would cost around $300 a night...but if you come visit us you don't have to pay a thing for a comfortable (and BIG) room (with a closet!) for as long as you stay!! you can't beat that!!!!

So now you are asking “what do I have to do to take you guys up on the amazing offer?”
Well its simple!
First: tell us you want to come visit! We would like to know ahead of time when we need to clean up for company! =P And plan fun things to do when you get here!

Second: purchase your plane tickets… granted this is the most demanding part of getting to Japan. Keep in mind, you are going to the other side of the world so it will be more expensive than any domestic flights…but again FREE room and board once here!! And this really is a once in a life time opportunity. =)

Third: let us know when you are coming…..so we can provide you with a list of a few items we would like you to pack in your bags for us…small things like Peter Pam creamy peanut butter….yummy peanut butter! (Tegan begins to drool)….You know, since we aren’t going to the US, its nice to get a little taste or smell, or sight of home. =)

So that’s it! 1-2-3 and you are here!! Enjoying seeing two people you know to be amazing, plus a free place to stay, tour guide, etc, with just the cost of the flight over.

So plan your trips now!! Let us know!!
May I suggest Vayama, Priceline, Orbitz, etc for your ticket finding needs? I got a good deal on a domestic flight on Priceline, Matt got a good ticket to Japan from Vayama, and now Orbitz has a guarantee: if someone buys the same tickets you buy…but at a cheaper price, you will be refunded the difference...soo cool!

So please come visit us!!

Tokyo!

I am going to make this post as short as I can, sorry. I will try to post pictures on here at a later time.

Matt and I went to Tokyo in September (thanks for my 7 day work week I had a 3 day weekend). We stayed in a really cheap Hotel in Ikebukuro (http://www.sakura-hotel-ikebukuro.com/) that has English speaking staff and cateres to the Cheap/poor foriegn tourists in Tokyo. The place was not fantanstic, but it was a place to sleep and it was clean so it worked for us (and will probably be working for us again on our next trip to Tokyo).
We took a bus from Kofu to Shinjuku (one of the sections of Tokyo). The trip was not bad, about 2.5 hours and we got into Tokyo pretty early. I had two goals: 1.)Watch some Sumo and
2.)Go to the Ghilbli (miyazaki) Museum.
Matt had two goals also: 1.) Watch some Sumo and 2.) go to Akihabara (the electronics district in Tokyo)

We succeeded on all fronts....though we were both the happiest with the Sumo.

Sumo does not happen all the time in Japan. They have tournaments throughout the year, but (other than in September) the next time there would be Sumo in Tokyo is in January. Needless to say we took the opprotunity to go to sumo (which can be an all day event). We bought the cheapest (and poorest) seats in the house for approx. $21 each. Luckyily, not many people watch the entire day (a weekday) so we were able to watch some sumo from *cough* a better view than our tickets would normally provide *coug*
=P

There were a lot of foreigners at the sumo event. Most bought the same seats we had bought, and were also fortunate with the improved views the empy day matches provided.
At our hotel we had a TV. We watched some sumo on there as well and pointed saying "we are going there tomorrow!" It was fun and I have officially become addicted to Sumo (I even have a 3d moving sumo players cup!)

Next, we went to Akihabara....matt might have something interesting to say...all i can say is that my feet and back hurt. =P oh! and that there are a number of boys in Japan with strange interests....

Finally we went to the Ghilbli Museum and I had fun...but wish I had allowed for more time to look around. I think we both felt rushed to get to our bus stop (our ride home). We are going to go back there again and provide for more time.

Okay! enough for now! Life is good.