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!!