hear the army

is finally over. i made it through the Japanese Language Proficiency Test Level 2 (9:30-2:30) and YWCA finals (9:30-3:30 day 1, and 9:30-1pm day 2). i don’t know if i’m any better for it but it certainly took a lot outta me with everything else going on. what do they say about this season in japan – busier than a buddhist monk running? exactly – and i haven’t even started on the holiday stuff yet – that comes after the last day of school on friday! (all friends and family abroad should note this accordingly)

it would seem that every person from abroad is going home for the holidays this week but me – and some aren’t coming back!! (you will be very missed Gilly!) i have decided to decorate my home a bit this year for the first time in 3 years! will get to that later in the week too – and will post pictures accordingly (however pitiful it is). how are everyone’s holiday preparations going?

recent highlights – i saw PIXIES in concert for the first time! quite strange since i had become quite accustomed to the fact that they were broken up basically since high school – but they still sounded fabulous and it was a total nostalgic indulgence for isseki and i – front and slightly left of center. they played “i bleed”. i was happy.

upcoming highlights – this weekend when school is over isseki and i are treating ourselves to a night at onsen in Gifu! it’s supposed to be gorgeous and there should be nothing better than soaking in a boiling hot tub when it’s bitter cold outside. which it is. about 28 outside now. burrr. usually this would be the normal at the coldest time of year in Kobe – Jan/Feb but this year we got it early. burrr. send warm thoughts.

for the holidays we don’t have any plans – maybe go to see the famous Kobe light display – luminarie – since we missed it last year. remember the one we saw in tokyo, heidi? it was a copy of Kobe’s original! a beautiful light display started christmas 1995 after the great hanshin earthquake that killed thousands in Kobe as a sign of hope and quick recovery from an Italian artist – they’ve done it every year since! then we’ll be at the parents for new years day – as you do in Japan!

i’m really looking forward to the break in studying and to having some time to myself again! also to the annual big cleaning that is the tradition here before the new year – things have gotten a little out of hand! fresh house for a fresh year.

my site seems to be acting up a bit lately – if you use Mozilla Firefox it looks beautiful (of course), but if you use Internet Explorer, all my links etc are gone. sorry about this – hopefully my wiz pal who keeps this thing up for me will know what to do!

hope you all are having good holidays!! merry merry!