I have a visitor!!!!!!

Okay so been in Japan trying to get into the routine of things. On Friday Michael K. Houser arrived in Japan and was here till Tuesday. We took in a lot of the sights and also went to Kamakura. I really enjoy Kamakura. Mike, really enjoyed going to Asakusa, which made sense because that's were all the “old” people like to go. I will admit though his travel guide recommended a tempura restaurant there and it was REALLY good. I am still craving it.

I have been busy studying getting ready for the next semester. I am going to Nagoya next week for four days with the “walking club” I am in. It’s costing a lot of money . . . more then I would like to pay, but I have saved up enough to go and am ready.

Speaking of money I cannot believe how much the value of the dollar has gone down. When I first got it here it was about 117 yen to the dollar. Now, it’s around 95 yen to the dollar. Teaching English I make 3,000, so when I first got here that was about $25.64. Now I make $30.91 . . . crazy huh!!!

Well I will upload the pictures when I can . . . I also went with some friends to Kawaguchiko, near Mt. Fuji, and stayed at an onsen, hot spring. It was a fun experience and with it being spring break they had a really good discount. The only sad part was that you could not really see Mt. Fuji because of all the clouds and over cast. You could make it out and see it to some extent but none of the pictures I took turned out well. I did go to this awesome temple before returning home.

Mike at the Thunder Gate of Sensoji Temple in Asakusa

Me at Kitagushi Hongu Sengen Shrine . . . this was a really cool shrine!

Back in Japan

So went back to Kansas and got to spend a little over a week with Erin. It was really good to see her, we went out a lot and Juno was a really funny movie. Be Kind Rewind sucked. Some hoodlums vandalized our car while we were there and left these crazy messages for us . . . they best was the cake with the water balloon inside, however I ate a little corner then Erin notice the balloon. I wonder why that cake was so funky looking. Erin and I watched all of Season 3 and what we could watch on the NBC website of the Office. I think that show is so funny. I Barkived all of season1, 2 and 3 and made an extra copy to bring with me to Japan. The highlight was going with Erin and some friends to the Melting Pot. It’s all about the cheese . . . with the beer in it . . . Jason said the alcohol burns off and who am I to argue with a guy who designs nuclear reactors.

I then went to CSUCI (C-SUCKY) where I did two lectures: The Samurai for History and Psychology of Asian Warrior Cultures and The Introduction of Western Science for International Experience: Travel to Japan. It was really cool to be there and see how the University has grown. I still remember eating out of a catering truck. Also the students coming to Japan are going to be based in Kyoto, but are coming up to Tokyo for a few days which will be cool.

Mike Houser will be coming to Japan on Friday and will be here in Tokyo till Monday. It will be good to see him and show him around Tokyo!



Thanks!!!