How are you today? I'm sleepy

This seems to be the trend for the past several school days.  It's that time of the year again, students practicing for the school's field day.  This week there are no afternoon classes since the students spend two hours practicing.  They're practicing for their cheers, singing and dancing.  They practice in the morning and after school.  Then after that they have their normal club activities.  Crazy busy!

This picture is of the kids practicing in the hot sun.  This is the green team.

Sunday afternoon hike

We were supposed to hike this morning but my kareshi was fast asleep.  I didn't want to wake him so I made some spam musubi for lunch.  We eventually left and arrived near Chokai after noon.  The hike was cool because it was shaded and the water from the river was cool.  Chokai is still icy so the melted snow cooled the air in that area.  It was nice to be surrounded by so much green.  I enjoyed this lazy afternoon hike :)

Cute and tasty

It's hard to eat something so cute but if it's food, I'll eat it.  After a run in the afternoon, Tracey and I stopped by the local bakery.  An older grandpa and grandma couple own the bakery.  Noticing that Tracey is taller than the average Japanese person, they ask her to change some lightbulbs.  To show their gratitude, they give us two cat cookies each.  I didn't do anything but I still got cookies.  Sweet deal!

Here's a picture of the cat cookie and the  chocolate filled panda bread.

10k training

Sunday's embarrassing finish sparked an invigorating sense of motivation to train more seriously for next month's 10k run. We decided that we should train on hills too.  We're guessing that the course will include hills so we want to be prepared.  Though our legs were hurting today, we still did a 5k power walk.  We have 4 weeks to get ready for our next 'marathon'. But it's actually three for me since I'll be taking a week vacation.

This picture will be a constant reminder of the determination we will need to train for the next run.

First 'marathon' in Japan

turned out to be quite difficult.  I thought it was a family event and it looked like it because there were lots of kids.  But there were three courses: 2k, 4K and 7K.  Turns out all the serious runners were doing the 7K.  Guess which run Tracey and I signed up for?  Yep, the 7K.  

I learned a couple of things from this run:

1: Japan's more serious about their runs.  Hawaii is definitely more laxed.

2:  For only 500¥ participants received a bottle of sports drink and a towel.  

3:  Like Korea, Japan likes to dress the part.  Looked like everyone was wearing new running shoes and apparel.

4:  Senior citizens are not slow.

Here's our before and after pictures:

The Sakura were beautiful along the course too.  Of course the ofuro was a great incentive to finish :)

Beautiful day

and I took zero pictures.  Fail!  Oh, if I could share what Chokai san looked like today, there would be no words...  Today's weather was warm and sunny with clear skies.  I took an impromptu drive to the city.  As I drove the scenic route, sunglasses on, windows down, music playing, I thought, spring has finally arrived!  I wish we could have today's weather for the whole year.  But, it's Akita so we most likely won't.

Anywho, like I mentioned before, I failed to take one single photo today.  So this picture is from the tulip festival in Niigata earlier this month.  It was slightly chilly then but it was still sunny.  These are what I think to be double tulips or some kind of tulip hybrid.  I actually don't know for sure.  At first glance I wouldn't have thought it to be a tulip at all.

Tiny Pineapples

are what I found at my local supermarket tonight.  I was curious as what the sign had to say about them.  Maybe they're super sweet?  I have no idea.  But they were tiny.  One could fit in your hand kind of tiny.  They were also very expensive.  So I'll just have to wonder what they taste like because I won't pay to find out :p

English books

are growing in number at the cultural center.  Great news for me and other English book readers.  Usually I'll borrow a fiction novel but today I grabbed some Japan travel books.  Yep, I'll study up on my next destinations.  I find that a place becomes so much more interesting when you know some history behind it.  Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima, here I come!

Throwback Thursday

Man, posting a picture a day is getting more challenging.  It's not that my day wasn't interesting but I just forget to take pictures while I'm out and about.  When it comes to about this time when it's time to post a picture, I have none =p

Tonight, I was really unproductive as I just listened to music on youtube.  It was quite nostalgic listening to songs I grew up with.  I started to get a little homesick while listening to God Bless My Daddy by Hui Ohana and Nobody's Child by Kapena.

So, without a new picture today and while feeling nostalgic, I'll post a picture taken a year ago.  I believe this was taken at Castaways for Gavman's welcome karaoke shindig.  Look at all those happy faces =)

First step cleaning...

 Today I finally scrubbed down my shower, tub and sink.  I will need some kabi killer though to prepare for the humidity that comes with summer.  I finally adjusted my curtains and wiped my final set of windows.  At this rate, I'll have my apartment clean before the weekend :)

Next step is decorating.  There are little clothespins available at the 100¥ shop, twine left by my predecessor and empty wall space in my apartment.  A couple of screws and pins later and I got myself a clothesline.  So I made a clothesline of memories.  This one has been up for a while.

Last night, after drinking that energy drink, I made another clothesline of memories.  This one is specifically for my kareshi :)

Dry cleaning

has some perks here in Japan.  Well, I've never dry cleaned stuff at home because I guess I never had clothes that needed to be dry cleaned.  But I'm going to guess that the dry cleaners at home didn't give 50% off coupons out like hot cakes.  I got my winter coats and jackets dry cleaned for about thirty bucks.  Plus, I got these awesome extras...

A notebook, plug-in air freshener, and two bottles of energy drinks.  I made the mistake of drinking one with my dinner.  Now I'm too genki to be tired and it's past midnight.  Not sure when I'll be sleeping :p

Mother's Day

I decided this morning when I woke up that I would be productive.  Although my voice was exorcist-like, I ran my errands.  I bought sick remedies such as orange juice, chicken and chocolate covered peanuts.  Recycled my PET bottles.  Attempted to dry clean winter clothes before finding out my coupon starts tomorrow.  I did a load of laundry and finally cleaned my bedroom.  Found spiders when I opened my windows for the first time since winter began.  Cooked dinner and washed dishes.  Finally finished booking reservations for my upcoming June trip.

Today is Mother's Day in Japan.  I felt kinda motherish today.  I mean most of those things I did reminded me of what my mom would do on her day off.  It was a productive day but I certainly don't want to do that everyday =p

This picture is of a bonsai tree I saw at Yahiko shrine in Niigata.  My mom loves bonsai trees.  I wish she could come to Japan to see them till her hearts content.

Lazy day

It has been one of those days that was mildly productive but not productive enough.  It left me thinking that I might have just wasted a day in my life.  But, I cleaned a bit and went through my winter clothes.  I'd like to think that I intentionally did nothing to rest because I think I'm getting sick.  

The picture for today is of the sakura in Ofunato when I volunteered there two weeks back.  I entertained the idea of going to Kakunodate this weekend to see the sakura.  I talked myself out of it.  Instead I'll enjoy pictures of sakura from my road trip to Iwate and Miyagi.

Bonus picture: sakura in Matsushima.

Macaroni soup

That's what was written on the lunch menu today.  Well not exactly, it was in katakana.  Anywho, I'm expecting to eat a soup with elbow macaroni.  To my surprise I get alphabet soup.  It was cute though so I took a picture.  Friday lunches are always western style.

It was so-so.  I like the Japanese style lunches better than the western ones.  Miso saba is yummy!

Clean your apartment!

That's what I've been telling myself everyday for the past month or so.  My apartment is a battlefield.  I have to weave my way through the ruble.  It progressively gets worse as each day goes by.  I'm not sure when I'll reach my breaking point before I put everything down and clean for a good couple of hours straight.  I found some great incentives for cleaning though.  One of them is to hold a movie night sometime.  Another is to have my place clean in less than two weeks.

I would post a picture of the current state of my apartment but it might be embarrassing (in the event that people actually check out my blog).  So my picture is one of the few that was taken in my apartment.  Actually it was taken one year ago to this month.  It was an impromptu movie night at my place.

Weddings to purikura

Anyone who knows me, knows that I constantly go on tangents.  I'm easily distracted and it's evident when I tell stories or try to hold a conversation.  When I have conversations, I could start off talking about school lunch and 15 minutes later I'll be talking about Bhutan.  Thus, my conversation with Tracey while running after school.  The subject of weddings came about and about 15 minutes later we were talking about purikura.  How did that happen?  Well we both thought that a cool favor for wedding guests would be a picture booth.  I thought it would be even more awesome to have a purikura machine(s).  Purikura is a picture booth taken to the next level =)

This purikura was taken in March so it's a tad dated.  Look at my Japanese eyes -_-

Atarashii keitai charm

When I came back to my apartment after my one week road trip, this was waiting in my mailbox.  Yes, my kareshi sent me a new omamori ^_^  Remember my leaf charm fell off (few posts back)?  Well, he sent me more leaves on this charm!  I really like it because of its design, colors and the huge bell in the middle.  Today was the first day of school after Golden Week and I noticed that the P.E. teacher across of my desk has a similar sounding bell on his keitai =p

While on the subject of kareshi, I found out tonight that his application was processed and approved.  I'm really happy and proud of him!

2 hr. walk

Over the newly (well not that new) built bridge, across the river, over the 105 bridge, to Nakamura bakery, back to my neighborhood then back to my favorite spot atop the mountain.

Things I learned from this walk:
-I get emotional and tear when I think about leaving in August.
-Kids say 'ohayou gozaimasu', 'Konnichiwa' or 'doumo' while adults just look. If I'm lucky they'll look at me.
-Nakamura bakery's cream puffs are more expensive than 150¥. 168¥ to be exact.
-Music really does set the mood.

Picture is of the new bridge. Can't wait for the sidewalk area to be finished so I don't feel guilty about walking under ropes in between construction barriers because I don't want to walk an extra couple of blocks :p

Hidden treasures

That weren't really hidden at all. I just didn't go out to find them. Just about a 5 minute walk from my apartment lies many walking trails and viewing points of the beautiful 'city' I live in.

Actually it made me feel quite melancholy thinking that I have just a couple of months here to enjoy this beautifulness. I wish that I found these places sooner so I could see them in all four seasons.

This picture is of my favorite place that I found in the area. It's atop a hill. It reminds me of the tree in 'My Sassy Girl'.

Niigata to Akita

Finally back home in Akita. It's been an eventful road trip week starting in Akita, driving to Iwate then Miyagi then Yamagata then Fukushima then Niigata. Today was the last leg of the trip from Niigata through Yamagata to get back to Akita. I surprised myself by driving the entire trip too.

I wrote a post while I was half asleep in Healthland last night. I guess I fell asleep before I pressed post.

This picture is of pear flavored KitKat. It's only found in Niigata :)

Arrived in Niigata...

And spent my evening at Health Land. Not the ideal way to spend my evening but I must say that I love relaxing. This place is all about relaxation. Six different ofuro, restaraunt, gym, arcade, massage rooms, food and drink vending machines etc. Everyone wears these uniform terry cloth tops and shorts. It reminds me of jimjilbbang in Korea.

The picture is of my dinner here in Health Land.

Bye bye Miyagi

And hello Fukushima. Right now I'm camping out in my car with Tracey in this car park in Fukushima. After a long day of driving to different sites, it was nice to enjoy onsen and then some conbini food.

This picture is of Akiu waterfall. Supposedly it's one of Japan's top 3 waterfalls. Personally I like Nikaho's better ;p