:: Womit ::

:: Monday, July 28, 2003 ::

Why for the love of all things holy on this earth did I ever think that having ANYONE visit me the last days I was in Japan would be a good idea?

And why the hell do people think this is a good time to visit? Why does it seem that every time I live in a foreign country for an extended period of time everyone decides to visit me the month I am leaving instead of, say, during the previous 23 months when I might have NOT BEEN GOING INSANE?

Skippy, keep your mouth shut.
:: 8:13 PM [+] ::
...

The principal came into the office and informed everyone (in front of me, like I can`t understand Japanese) that I`m not acting sad enough considering I am leaving my home of two years.

Wow. Excuse me, sir, but I am not a performing dog here to emote for you. If you want waterworks, watch a frickin` soap opera. I thought being all stoic and stuff was a sign of emotional maturity to the Japanese and overt displays of feelings were considered the mark of a child. So guess what? There aren`t going to be tears or a wailing and gnashing of teeth. There will be smiley smiles and happiness all around because that`s my schtick. Other than happy, I do rage. That`s it. Emotions should be conserved for important things, like the end of the world or the last stand against evil or the death of One`s True Love or all at the same time. Anything else is called whining.

On a happier note, my hands are covered in blisters because of the two days of near continuous taiko playing. Saturday was the Kinsai Matsuri and we had a taiko float so we had to play for almost one hour straight and do one of our hardest sets. It was great. We all looked like glitter queens with our outrageous make-up and colored hairspray and general stick on jewels. It was fun and I saw many of my friends in the crowds lining the streets. Then yesterday was the Sakugi Matsuri which I have always liked playing at because they give us free beer.

But I have so many blisters that I think my hands are two big water filled skin sacks. Yum.

:: 8:25 PM [+] ::
...

I get all tingly when I contemplate the future.

I`ve been tying up loose ends and getting crackin` on grad school stuff. Sure, I don`t actually have an acceptance letter, but I don`t see how they can`t accept me. I guess it`s within the realm of possiblity, but my GRE scores were painfully good and my recommendation letters were awesome (I think, I didn`t actually read them) and my research was positively delicious. How could the SSP not accept me? It`d be silly of them. So I merrily live my life making a huge assumption about my future which is not set in stone but since that`s how I`ve always lived and since I have a firm belief that is always works out for the best, I`m not worried.

So. Back to the tingling. The SSP highly recommends an internship and through the WIIS (Women in International Security) webpage, I`ve been searching their intern archive. There are so many internship opportunities in the DC area but I found one that made me drool. It`s with the National Security Archive.

Billions and billions of previously top secret and now unclassified documents from the Freedom of Information Act waiting to be catalogued and archived and organized and put into chronological order and researched. This is heaven I tell you. HEAVEN! The only other internship that gave me similar goosebumps was the Interpol one, but that is only for undergraduates.

I`ve also been working on getting a scholarship for my grad school since the federal government doesn`t think I deserve a Pell Grant. I would have died laughing if I`d actually gotten one and then probably told nik about it but anyway. Working on scholarships. I might be too late for the regular two year ROTC scholarship that is offered so that means my other option is SMP (Simultaneous Membership Program) with either the Reserve or the National Guard. This is okay since you can fulfill your service requirements by doing active duty which has been the whole point after all. With a bit of luck and lots of hard work, I can get international experience from active duty (gunning for a few SE Asia posts if possible, though Turkey would be nice.) I would prefer an ROTC scholarship since I wouldn`t have to work, but then again I would get weekends of valuable experience through SMP and could brush up on my M16 cleaning skills which are lacking for some odd reason - maybe it`s the two years in a country with no gun culture. Katana culture on the other hand...
:: 9:23 PM [+] ::
...

Mt. Fuji - a breakdown.

It all started Saturday evening when my partner in crime, Ben, picked me up. I stayed at his house overnight because we were meeting the bus at the ungawdly hour of 7:00 in the morning. Now normally this isn`t a problem for me, but it was that day because a) it was a Sunday and b) when I get up at seven I don`t have to think in the presence of twenty odd sixth graders and an equal number of adults.

We met the bus and had our opening ceremony, conducted by the superintendent. Then we loaded up our gear and began the looooooooong bus ride to Fuji from Hiroshima. It took about ten hours. Ben and I amused ourselves by sleeping and sleeping more. I translated the dubbed Harry Potter movie for him and amazed him with my mad skillz until he realized that I had read the book AND already seen the movie.

We finally made it to the youth camp, where we had dinner and were situated in our sleeping quarters. That night I had a nightmare about my time in ROTC - I believe this was brought about by the severely military like atmosphere of the camp, the layout of the buildings, the rigid scheduling, and the camping gear surrounding me, not to mention the 5:30 bugle call that woke me up. Yes, so we started our activities at 5:30 Monday morning by waking up, cleaning the barracks, er the cabin, having morning drills, I mean doing radio taisou to warm up, eating chow - breakfast! securing our gear, and getting on the bus which took us to station five.

Ben and I were surprised to meet fellow Hiroshima JETs who had just come off the mountain. They immediately said it was the most hellacious experience in their lives and proceeded to tell us about the cold, the wind, the rain, the lines, the dark, the ash, and basically everything they could think of. Ben and I were surprised at their vehement condemnation of the experience. After they left, I called them all wusses because they ARE. And I have always thought so. I also think that if an experience is hellacious you should darn well keep it to yourself for the sake of saving face and to never admit your weakness in the face of Mother Nature. That`s me though and I tend to judge everyone I meet by how tough they are. And they usually fall very short of the mark.

So we waited a bit and then began our trek up the mountain. The pace was slow. Like REALLY slow. This is because the Kimita shogakko has done this trip a billion times and has lost sixth graders to altitude sickness and they make darn sure that the pace is slow enough for their little bodies to adjust to the lack of oxygen. We also brought a billion and one bottles of 02 which Ben and I almost jerry-rigged into jet packs to take us to the top. But we didn`t because we are responsible adults. So we would hike about thirty minutes, then rest and start again. Definitely not a difficult pace. Ben and I were mildly disappointed at the lack of workout we were getting but we are capable of amusing ourselves, so we did - mostly by starting a bet on how many times the group would say sugee, kirei, and kawaii within the next twenty four hour period. We estimated way too low because we forgot to take into account the amount of sixth grade girls in the group. These girls called their curry kawaii. Oh yeah. It made me ill.

So up we went, stopping at various stations along the way, resting and generally preparing ourselves for the cold snap that would hit us like a sledgehammer around station 7. I would describe the views but they are indeed indescribable. Some of the most beautiful scenes in the world and it most certainly felt like I was walking and living in the clouds.

We reached station 8 at around 4 and stopped for the night. We wanted to make it to the top for sunrise, which meant a one o clock rising time. We played UNO with the boys (and I lost all credibility as an educator when I hissed at Ben for beating me) and then it was early to bed for us! Early to coffin that is. We were smooshed into these tiny rooms and slept on the floor. I had one mother snoring loudly on my right and one sixth grader desperately trying to suck out my body heat and murmuring, samee, samee, samee right in my ear.

We got up and I was ready to move out! It was cold but not so bad when you were climbing. We trekked and trekked and reached the 8.5 station where we lost five girls and one boy either to altitude sickness or being weenies. I`m not sure of which and neither was the school nurse. But the rest of us intrepid explorers went on! We reached the top at about 4, just before sunrise. Ben and I dashed into the jinga where we got our calligraphy for our calligraphy books (go us!) and then we lined up outside to enjoy the view, which was once again indescribable. But I think I know what Sky Island feels like. ^_^ The top of Fuji has vending machines which sell you coffee for four bucks and is covered in ramen shops. I shelled out the yen so I wouldn`t freeze to death and when the banzai-ing of the sunrise was over (it felt like a cool pagan cult for a moment), we took the group banner shot and began our descent down. The top of Fuji wasn`t amazing in and of itself because I`ve seen volcanic craters before and when you see one, you`ve seen them all. It was very moon-scapey and I felt like quite the astronaut in my track suit.

The descent was actually the most difficult for me because I had to keep emptying my boots of volcanic ash and also had to make sure I didn`t tumble face over heels on the way down. But the sliding through the ash was kinda fun and Ben and I were down in the first group, giving us plenty of time to drink beer while waiting for the others. Which we did, in copious amounts, because gosh darn it! We had scaled Fuji! What`s not to celebrate there?

Then it was back to the youth camp for lunch and a happy shower to remove most of the grit. Off we went and at ten thirty that night (Tuesday), we were back in Kimita.

Fuji was fun. I highly recommend it to anyone who likes hiking and challenges and gorgeous sunrises.
:: 12:25 AM [+] ::
...

Got bored and stole quizzes from Jen again.

A - Act your age? Never. NEVER I SAY!
B - Born on what day of the week? Tuesday
C - Chore you hate? Cleaning the bathroom
D - Dad's name? Chris
E - Essential makeup item? sunscreen; it's just essential, period.
F - Favorite actor? Humphrey Bogart
G - Gold or silver? Silver
H - Hometown? Lafayette, IN
I - Instruments you play? trumpet, piano, taiko
J - Job title? Assistant English Teacher
K - Kids? Not now.
L - Living arrangements? Subsidized teacher housing
M - Mom's name? Sherry
N - Number of people you hate? 0
O - Overnight hospital stays? 0
P - Phobia? nope.
Q - Quote? Today's quote is - "As if you can kill time without injuring eternity."
R - Religious affiliation? I'm Presbyterian when I live with my parents.
S - Siblings? One
T - Time you wake up? 7 am
U - Unique habit? When I sit cross-legged I do it oddly and usually cause people to cringe. Eh, i'm flexible, can't help it.
V - Vegetable you refuse to eat? None that I think I'd actually refuse, but I don't care for daikon so much.
W - Worst habit? lickin' things I'm not supposed to.
X - X-rays you've had? leg, arm, foot, jaw
Y - Yummy food you make? pierogies that will make you cry and beg for another.
Z - Zodiac Sign? Scorpio, believe it or not.


:: 3:51 AM [+] ::
...

The Movie Meme proves my old Kevin Spacey movie fetish

1. Godfather, The (1972)
2. Shawshank Redemption, The (1994)
3. Godfather: Part II, The (1974)
4. Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)
5. Schindler's List (1993)
6. Citizen Kane (1941)
7. Casablanca (1942)
8. Seven Samurai (1954
9. Star Wars (1977)
10. Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
11. Memento (2000)
12. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
13. Rear Window (1954)
14. Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, The (2002)
15. Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
16. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
17. Usual Suspects, The (1995)
18. Amelie (2001)
19. Pulp Fiction (1994)
20. North by Northwest (1959)
21. Psycho (1960
22. Silence of the Lambs, The (1991)
23. 12 Angry Men (1957)
24. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
25. It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
26. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)
27. Goodfellas (1990)
28. American Beauty (1999)
29. Vertigo (1958)
30. Pianist, The (2002)
31. Sunset Blvd. (1950)
32. Apocalypse Now (1979)
33. Some Like It Hot (1959)
34. Matrix, The (1999)
35. To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
36. Taxi Driver (1976)
37. Third Man, The (1949)
38. Paths of Glory (1957)
39. Fight Club (1999)
40. Boot, Das (1981)
41. L.A. Confidential (1997) - Thanks to Kim, I have the movie practically memorized and tend to put it in when I need to clean. It's just that good.
42. Double Indemnity (1944)
43. Chinatown (1974)
44. Requiem for a Dream (2000)
45. Maltese Falcon, The (1941) - read the book though!
46. Singin' in the Rain (1952)
47. Bridge on the River Kwai, The (1957)
48. Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi (2001)
49. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
50. All About Eve (1950)
51. M (1931)
52. Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)
53. Raging Bull (1980)
54. Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)
55. Se7en (1995)
56. Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon (2000)
57. Wizard of Oz, The (1939)
58. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
59. Life is Beautiful (1997)
60. American History X (1998)
61. Sting, The (1973)
62. Touch of Evil (1958)
63. Manchurian Candidate, The (1962)
64. Alien (1979)
65. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
66. Rashemon (1950)
67. Leon (1994) aka the Professional
68. Annie Hall (1977)
69. Great Escape, The (1963) - I love Steve McQueen.
70. Clockwork Orange, A (1971)
71. Treasure of the Sierra Madre, The (1948)
72. Reservoir Dogs (1992)
73. Sixth Sense, The (1999)
74. Jaws (1975)
75. Amadeus (1984)
76. On the Waterfront (1954)
77. Ran (1985)
78. Braveheart (1995)
79. High Noon (1952)
80. Fargo (1996)
81. Blade Runner (1982)
82. Apartment, The (1960)
83. Aliens (1986)
84. Toy Story 2 (1999) - Why is this on this list? Maybe I'm jaded from the babysitting gig.
85. Strangers on a Train (1951)
86. Modern Times (1936)
87. Shining, The (1980)
88. Donnie Darko (2001)
89. Duck Soup (1933)
90. Princess Bride, The (1987)
91. Run Lola Run (1998) - I adore this movie.
92. City Lights (1931)
93 General, The (1927)
94. Metropolis (1927)
95. Searchers, The (1956) - Courtesy of my father who is a JW fanatic.
96. Full Metal Jacket
97. Notorious (1946)
98. Manhattan (1979)
99. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
100. Graduate, The (1967)


:: 3:27 AM [+] ::
...

Need job. But the job search continues to be a big BEEYATCH. Almost every job I`ve looked for in the science circles requires 1-2 years of experience. How does one get those one to two years? Hmm? That`s what I want to know! And the ones that don`t require experience refuse to hire BS degreed people. Jerks.

I`m also qualified in childcare/teaching. But the only nanny position that offers enough hours is for a six month old. Uh-uh. I don`t do babies. There are also some jobs at a YMCA but that`s quite a distance to drive to watch kids for minimum wage.

Next fun job would be insurance investigator. Spy-work is fun! And once again, 1-2 years of experience is required. HOW DO YOU GET THE EXPERIENCE? Who needs a Padawan? Ha. Too bad no one is hiring nerds.

Firefighter/Police Officer. Not possible since they probably want to hire someone who will last longer than three months.

As I scan the want ads, I see needs for RN/LPNs or truck drivers. If only I had my Class B license! Big rig, CBing everyone on the interstate. My handle would be highway hazard. Oh yeah. Vroom.

Back to reality. There are plenty of non-skilled factory temp jobs but I get flashbacks of my high school days when I worked christmas break at the Meijer Distribution Warehouse. I tend to scream loudly at the sight of fruit baskets now. What`s this? METER READERS!? Farking A! I could be a meter maid. I wonder if I could drive that nifty little K-car... dear lawd what am I thinking? I have a BS in chemistry and I aspire to be a meter maid?

grumblegrumblegrumble

:: 12:44 AM [+] ::
...

So today I walk into the BOE office and find a taiko drum on my desk.

Taiko. Drum. ONMYDESK.

And here was the message.

Please keep this model drum of poems in remembrance of us.
From the entire Board of Education

Why am I leaving these wonderful people again? For silly grad school? Dear lord I am an idiot.

Moving on. Here is my speech for my last day in Funo. If there are any fluent Japanese speakers out there - well, you`ll see!

Sessha wa, Funo ni kite, tanoshikatta de gozaru. Jyake`e uchi wa, antara no koto wasurenke`e hyoja antara mo, uchi no koto wasuresan na yo.

I find Funo-speak and samurai movies too much fun. I tried that out on the third years yesterday and got them roaring with laughter. Go me.
:: 8:34 PM [+] ::
...

Things I will not miss from Japan: Going outside and being stared at. You would assume that after two years I could go to the mall and not have to worry about getting stared at. But no. Staring, staring, staring. It's not like people have never seen a foreigner before. They have TV. If they don't have TV, they have seen movies. And if they say that they haven't seen TV or movies then they are big fat liars. In the meantime, I am getting stared at. Blah, blah, blah, other culture, blah blah blah. Sorry. Not gonna buy it. Maybe if the people staring at me were tiny old geezers who spent their youth during the Edo period, I would be a bit more sympathetic. No. These are people my age, people my parents age. You would think Commodore Perry just frickin' landed from the looks I'm getting. And the mall is in a decent sized town with a decent foreign population. But still - with the staring.

Things I will: The way the mountains look right after the rain stops. The air begs to be run in. I am going to miss my cross country runs believe it or not. I used to hate running. Now it is a bad habit and I tend to get pissy if I don't get a few miles in everyday. I think I will be real pissy back stateside when I have to compare the my neighborhood to what I could have been running through if I had decided to recontract one more year.
:: 6:34 AM [+] ::
...

Last day of elementary school. I could post a mess of sadness or I could flee from my feelings and do a bunch of stupid surveys. Surveys it is!
:: 3:52 AM [+] ::
...

001) name: Stacey
002) location: Funo
003) occupation: Corruptor of Impressionable Youth

APPEARANCE
001) hair: brown
002) eyes: Blue
003) height: 5`6"

STYLE
001) clothing: business casual for work, whatever`s comfy for whatever else - lots of black and red
002) music: whatever
003) body art: one tattoo, numerous growing together piercings

RIGHT NOW
001) wearing: clothes
002) listening to: the other teachers
003) thinking of: the answer

LAST THING YOU...
001) bought: mushrooms, lettuce, cherries, a magazine
002) drank: green tea
003) read: The Maltese Falcon
004) watched on TV: some random special

EITHER / OR
001) club or house party: house
002) tea or coffee: depends
003) achiever or slacker: achiever
004) beer or cider: beer
005) drinks or shots: Shots
006) cats or dogs: fish
007) single or taken: single
008) pen or pencil: Pencil
009) gloves or mittens: mittens, kittens
010) food or candy: food
011) cassette or cd: CD
012) coke or pepsi: poison much?
013) hard or mild alcohol: Hard (hypocrite much?)
014) matches or a lighter: Lighter

WHO DO YOU WANT TO...
001) kill: whoever gets in my way
002) hear from: Kate
003) get really wasted with: Matt and Jen
004) look like: Me
005) be like: Me
006) avoid: oh the list is too long to even begin typing...

LAST PERSON YOU...
001) touched: Hiroshi-kun. He glomped me in the teacher`s lounge
002) talked to: Nishioka-sensee. She wanted to know what I wanted in my coffee
003) hugged: Hiroshi-kun.
004) instant messaged: FB - like a month ago.
005) kissed: Hiroshi-kun!
006) who broke your heart: Russell Crowe. :)

WHERE DO YOU...
001) eat: school, BOE, or house
002) dance: my house
003) cry: Inside
004) wish you were: here? But I am here so I don`t wish for that.

HAVE YOU EVER...
001) dated your bestfriend?: No
002) loved somebody so much it makes you cry?: No
003) drank alcohol?: Yes
004) done drugs: Yes
005) broken the law: Yes
006) ran away from home: Yes
007) broken a bone: Yes
008) cheated on a test: No
009) skinny dipped: Yes
010) played truth or dare: Yes
011) flashed someone: Yes
012) mooned someone: Yes
013) kissed someone you didn't know: Yes
014) been on a talk/game show: No
021) eaten a worm/mud pie?: No
023) had a nightmare/dream that made you wake up: Yes

WHAT IS...
001) The most embarrassing CD in your collection?: I forget. It seems to change.
002) Your bedroom like?: a mess
003) Your favorite thing for breakfast?: Grits, grits, grits, grits and cheese.
004) Your favorite thing for lunch?: dunno
005) Your favorite thing for dinner?: dunna!
006) Your favorite Restaurant?: Taggarts

ARE YOU...
001) A Vegetarian?: Yes
002) A Good Student?: Yes
003) Good At Sports?: Depends on the sport
004) A Good Singer?: Goodness no
005) A good Actor/Actress?: Not on stage.
006) A deep sleeper?: Sometimes
007) A Good Dancer?: Definitely not
008) Shy?: I find I rarely have anything to say to people
009) Outgoing?: No
010) A good storyteller?: No
:: 3:46 AM [+] ::
...

1. Your name spelled backwards: Yecats Snerk (oh yeah!)
2. Where were your parents born? Appalachia and Grosse Pointe
3. What is the last thing you downloaded onto your computer? NIN - Deeper
4. What's your favorite restaurant? Taggarts
5. Last time you swam in a pool? January
6. Have you ever been in a school play? been in, backstaged, costumed...drama girl twas I
7. How many kids do you want? 5. So I can have a small gang or my own professional basketball team
8. Type of music you dislike most? whatever my father is listening to
9. Are you registered to vote? certainly
10. Do you have cable? nope
11. Have you ever ridden on a moped? yes. and crashed it. into a rice paddy.
12. Ever prank call anybody? when i was eight
13. Ever get a parking ticket? No.
14. Would you go bungee jumping or sky diving? If you dared me to.
15. Furthest place you ever traveled? Vietnam
16. Do you have a garden? my landlord has a garden
17. What's your favorite comic strip? Calvin and Hobbes
18. Do you really know all the words to your national anthem? To the first verse
19. Bath or Shower, morning or night? shower, night
20. Best movie you've seen in the past month? Yamakasi!
21. Favorite pizza topping? mushroom
22. Chips or popcorn? popcorn
23. What color lipstick do you usually wear? coral
24. Have you ever smoked peanut shells? what the hell.
25. Have you ever been in a beauty pageant? No. But my dad and brother have.
26. Orange Juice or apple? apple
27. Who was the last person you went out to dinner with and where did you dine? In a group, last Saturday to "Kate`s Favorite Restaurant". Singly, with Kate, a week ago to a ramen-ya
28. Favorite type chocolate bar? butterfinger
29. When was the last time you voted at the polls? I have never voted at the polls. I`ve never been in my county to vote at the polls. I have always voted via mail.
30. Last time you ate a homegrown tomato? yesterday
31. Have you ever won a trophy? all for nerdy academic teams.
32. Are you a good cook? Yes
33. Do you know how to pump your own gas? There are people who don`t know how to pump gas? Oh I guess if you don`t have a car. But it seems like an easy skill to learn. I think this is a stupid question because if people who have never pumped glass had to pump gas, then it wouldn`t take more then thirty seconds to figure it out. In my opinion everyone in the universe is a gas pumper in potentia.
34. Ever order an article from an infomercial? no.
35. Sprite or 7-up? i don`t drink poison sugar water
36. Have you ever had to wear a uniform to work? It was blazer.
37. Last thing you bought at a pharmacy? drugs
38. Ever throw up in public? no. Hospitals are kind of public. I threw up lots there.
39. Would you prefer being a millionaire or find true love? True love
40. Do you believe in love at first sight? Yes
41. Ever call a 1-900 number?
42. Can ex's be friends? Not with me. But that is definitely my fault.
43. Who was the last person you visited in a Hospital? my brother
44. Did you have a lot of hair when you were a baby? gobs
45. What message is on your answering machine? I have no idea. It`s in Japanese.
46. What was the name of your first pet? Guido
47. What is in your purse? Junk
48. Favorite thing to do before bedtime? read
49. What is one thing you are grateful for today? my health
50. What is the first concert you ever went to? Sheryl Crow
:: 3:32 AM [+] ::
...

Went on an online job search today. All the chem jobs require at least a minimum year of experience. Where are the jobs that you get this so-called experience at? Hmm? All I want is something with a lab coat far far away from the front office so I can dye my hair unnatural colors and not be taken to task for it. Something with organo-metallics would be nice. Or wet chem techniques. I could handle all-day titrations. Just no roto-vap. Roto-vap = my own personal hell.

The paternal `rent is lending his assistance but his expertise lies in manufacturing - an area of business which makes me want to drive hot pokers under my fingernails. Of course, having someone to bounce the resume revisions off of is very nice. Nepotism has it`s good points.

I could substitute teach, I suppose. Or go back to working at a coffee shop. Or ... sell my body. Or somebody else`s body. Body parts.... Hmm.

Thank goodness it`s Wednesday. I love kendo. There`s something about a sport where you get to scream "MEN!" at the top of your lungs and beat the snot out of someone. There really is.

*holds onto Kurae-kun for dear life* No taiko, no kendo ... I`m going to have to find something that involves sticks and beating when I get home or beg Master Chung for a job - or I am going to be very cranky. Running only goes so far, eventually I have to hit something other than pavement.

Why do the Kimita kids refer to me as "Ben no..." Ben`s what? Ben`s girlfriend? Ben`s kinky American sex bunny? Ben`s friend who kicks his ass at kendo every week in front of his students - destroying any credibility he has an educator and authority figure? I should at least know "what" of Ben`s I happen to be so I can play the part right. It`s even more important now that I am climbing Fuji-san with the Kimita kids. I need to know what assumptions they`re laboring under so I can screw with their heads in the appropriate gaijin fashion.

In less than a month, I leave Ben, my sparring partner. In less than a month, I leave Kate, fellow JET-in-crime. In less than a month, I leave Jicho-san, Japanese father and general "get me anything I want" man. In less than a month, I leave Fujikawa-sensee, fellow teacher/skinhead/corruptor of Japan`s youth. In less than a month, I leave A-ko and Nami - my two officially "we be crazy" girls. In less than a month, I leave Kenta-kun, adorable fun monkey with ADD. In less than a month, I leave the Tajimas, who gave me rice for strength. In less than a month I leave my house with all its centipedes and tatami mats. In less than a month, I leave Funo, my home, my life for the past two years.

Hmm. If I weren`t so tired I would be hyper-ventilating. As it is I`ll just hunt for a place for me and my mother to crash in Kyoto.
:: 8:25 AM [+] ::
...

More random moments. Mr. Walrus, stuffed prop extraordinaire, was molested by the eighth grade boys. His fluffy whiskers were deformed so that they flew straight up. After much debate, Mr. Walrus (a name pronounced much too difficult by the assembled gang) was rechristened Trunks. Because his whisker hair was going Super Saiyan but it was much too short for him to be Goku or Vejita. I LOVE MY STUDENTS SO MUCH!

They are a thing I will miss about Japan.

I will not miss ... squid. Nope. You will not catch me missing squid.
:: 8:47 PM [+] ::
...

My life is full of random moments. Today I was told I would be receiving a kimono as a going away omiyage gift and my boss also informed me that it would be a shame if I left Funo without a taiko drum. Everyone is TOO kind.
:: 8:17 AM [+] ::
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YOUR:
name: Stacey
age: 23
birthdate: so not your business
birthplace: Indiana (Ever see the film Hoosiers? I grew up ten minutes from there.)
sex: am I paying? Or are you?
location: right here
blood type: O positive
zodiac: Scorpio, Ram/Sheep/GMG mascot
height: 5'6"
weight: hahaha
hair color: brown
hair style: long with fringe - like Elvira
eye color: blue
nationality: Amerikan
languages: english, spanish, japanese, secret sibling language only me and my brother understand
email: *points up*
website: where are you reading this?
school: graduated. soon to re-enter
disposition: happily, deliriously psychotic. think harley quinn but without the loser boyfriend fetish.
hobbies: taiko, writing, breaking stuff (laws, boundaries, expectations etc.)
phobias: nothing that extreme
fetishes: leather substitutes, weapons,
bad habits: chew fingernails, too deferential
sleep patterns: 12am - 6am
work habits: 8-5 M-F
pet peeves: wishy washy-ness, the tendency for others to blame personality flaws on anything but themselves
prize possession: my hardcover collection of Terry Pratchett novels including a signed UK edition of the Fifth Elephant
personal quote: "Frat boys fuckin'." I didn't say it first, but I bet I say it most.

FAVORITES:
food: okonomiyaki
drink: kohi
ice cream: cappucino
candy: ramune
color: black
sport: tae kwon do or kendo but I love watching baseball. I love Omar Vizquel.
music: most everything
tv show: One Piece - but it will be Aqua Teen Hunger Force when I go home. Fry Guy is gawd.
movie: Gladiator. Men in leather skirts need I ask for more.
game: I will purposely misread this question and say Sweet Valley High.
pastime: writing
hangout: the levee
place in the house: in front of the computer, in reach of the stereo
place in someone else's house: Kate's couch
season: fall
fish: Bun Bun and Kiki
brand names: unbrand america!
people names: Dante, Elise, Josh, Anne

FAMILY LIFE:
who do you live with?: me, myself and I. Ask me again in a month and I'll say the Osbournes.
how old?: 23
what do you like about them?: I like me. I always laugh at my jokes.
what pisses you off about them?: I always leave the dishes in the sink as if *I'm* going to do them!
do you get along?: most of the time unless I'm being a big old bitch
pets?: Kiki and Bun Bun the wonder goldfish
what do you feed it?: babies
any family trips?: All the time. I LIKE travelling with the 'rents. They pay for shit.
dinner at the table or separate?: I'm always with me.
share your room?: with mountain monkeys and poisonous centipedes.
share the bathroom?: with spiders and more centipedes. And mold.
which sink?: i don't get it.
who spends the most time in the bathroom?: the mold.
who cooks?: me
who eats it?: me

SOCIAL LIFE:
how did you meet your best friend?: I don't have just one. Moving on.
what do you and your friends do as a group?: watch movies, make fun of other people, debate the merits of a democracy, break stuff.
do you get together often?: I'm usually out of the country. So no.
how did you meet your friends?: assorted ways: major work, being assigned dormmates, smart person's summer camp, a meeting of the minds involving making fun of something
how many date back to childhood?: none
do you chat online a lot?: not really
talk on the phone?: sometimes
for how long?: 1-2 hours
do you have webcam conferences, too?: no, weirdo
boy/girlfriend?: no
do your parents know?: my parents know nothing. we all like it that way.
how did you get together?: -
have you had sex?: -
are you always together?: -
is there drama?: -

DO YOU:
smoke?: quit a few years ago
drink?: yuppers
eat your vegetables?: well if I didn't I wouldn't be able to eat anything
exercise regularly?: all the time
get buried when you go to the beach?: hell yeah.
like to dance?: when I'm alone
play pool?: badly
go hiking?: love it
sing in the shower?: it's the only place out of the karaoke box that I will sing.
like being in pictures?: depends
snorkel in the pool?: what?
make whirpools in the jacuzzi?: I hate jacuzzi. Hot boiling water people sit in and then sit in more. Can we say 'disease'?
harass animals?: The gods will make you pay for that. Just look at Nanami.
like kids?: Love them when I know I can give them back.
like adults?: Depends. Are these adults "Republicans?"
actually laugh when you type "lol"?: No. But I rarely type lol either.
get hit on by people you just met 2 minutes ago?: yeah. usually on trains.
stalk people?: only if they're 2-d

THIS OR THAT:
sprite or 7up?: i don't drink caffeinated sugar poison
dark or light?: dark as sin
sleep or food?: sleep is for the week
music or tv?: tv rots your brain
rose or dandelion?: snapdragon.
stuff. one or two?: two
the glass. half empty or half full?: was I not supposed to drink that?
you. realistic or idealistic?: very idealistic but completely practical
people. big group or small group?: small
surroundings. loud or quiet?: whatever. i can tune out most annoyances.
snack. sweet or salty?: crunchy
music. classical or rock?: i hate limitations.
chocolate. with or without nuts?: with coconut
cars. rice or no rice?: cars are evil. ride a bike.
rice. white or brown?: yum. rice.

CURRENT:
3 obsessions: One Piece, leather substitutes, musicals
2 cravings: justice, peace (damn, am I deep or what?)
3 thoughts: Blergh. Dave Barry is funny. I want to sew my own clothes because nothing in the stores makes me excited enough to be their walking advertising billboard.
3 things on wish list: new computer, idea for cosplay for SugoiCon, that acceptance letter in my hot little hand
2 big events: Ex-expatriation, the day I get my rejection/acceptance letter to grad school
3 good things: the muse came back, mumsy will be here in a month, i didn't screw up my taiko solo this morning.
doing: typing
wearing: t-shirt, underwear
listening to: rain
mood: serene
any last comments?: Centipedes will attack if you don't kill them with the first spray of chemicals. Consequently, be on your toes when trying to kill them.


:: 3:18 AM [+] ::
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Stacey`s Highly Recommended Fun of the Day (copped off a website I cannot find, gomen!):
Make a cache of gif and jpegs. No need for the fancy - just make text gifs if you want. Write a message. Any message. Subversive is good.
Name files in such a way as to mislead people about their contents. For example - picture of fluffy baby chicken is renamed "hotblondechicknaked" or text gif saying, "Does your mother know you`re doing this?" is named "14yearoldwithtwocollegeguys."
Put in shareware program.
Watch as idiots download pictures.
Wait for the threatening pissed off email.
Mock flamers mercilessly (and point out that underage pr0n is called Pedophilia, ya sicko.)

Oh life is so good.
:: 8:49 PM [+] ::
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I will miss riding my bike to school and passing all the elementary school children wearing their uniforms, navy blue pants or skirts, white button downs, red book bags, and yellow sun hats. I will miss them all yelling out loud, "SUTESHI-SAN DESU! HORA! MINNA! SUTESHI! OHAYOOOO!!!"

I will not miss the stupid post office people in Hiroshima one single bit.
:: 8:26 PM [+] ::
...