… and of course I didn’t forget that you were just as excited as we were to see how the garden was doing.
Bask in the glory of our fruit and vegetables!!!
Tag: david
Summer in Canada 2005
We are back in Chunan!!! … and have begun the process to get rid of as much jetlag as possible. We both had a fantastic time back in Canada.
I had a scholarship interview that went fantastic 
(I’m gonna need something to do when my contract here ends in 2006/08 or 2007/08.) and we got to see a number of really good friends. That being said, we were completely strapped for time, and for everyone that we were able to see, there were 2 more people we would have loved to but couldn’t. Between my scholarship interview in the first week, my Dad’s operation in the second (he’s ok!) and the fact that we only had 10 days in Canada, we did our best.
For those that we did see: Thank you!!! We had an amazing time. 
For those we didn’t: Next year, February. 
We miss you all, and unfortunately because of the baby, this will be our only trip to Canada back this year. Next year we will be back with Baby Awesome (or whatever he/she is named at the time.)
In the meantime, here are a few sample pictures of what we did while back in Canada, and the full gallery can be seen by clicking here.
Vegetable Update
I bet you were hoping for something exciting… right? Too bad. I’ve been getting a lot of flak about being domesticated. What the hell does that mean? Well if it means "trapped in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by only farmland and rice paddies, having nothing else to do but make sweet sweet vegetables that you are all secertly jealous of" then yes… yes I am domesticated. As soon as I get the update to the website finished, you should see a lot of changes and (in theory) the website should be a lot more fun, and easier for me to update. Cuz’ I’m lazy. The keeners out there would note that the photo albums are being updated fairly regularily (go check them out!) and I have added a stats page and a poll booth. All in preperation for the new design! We also have a ton of news coming (from both Kiko and I) as well as a trip back to Canada this month. So stay tuned… in the meantime, bow down to my potatoes (and my new farming boots!), my tomatoes and my watermelon (which has now sprung to 7 watermelons!!!) (note the HUGE pictures)
Live from Tokyo…!
Live from Tokyo at 12 midnight in a McDonalds in Shinjuku, Tokyo …with Brian.
My conference is boring. You’re not missing much, don’t worry.
Cherry Blossom … a sneak peak
Now that my work is blocking access to this website, and taking in to account my retardedly slow Internet access as home, the promised Cherry blossom pictures will have to wait.
That being said, they were spectacular. The peak landed right on the weekend, and we managed to catch them on Saturday, before typhoon-like windows blew them away on Sunday. Japanese people wait all year for a few days of blossoms, but its ridiculous how many of these trees are in our town.
Here’s a look!
Below is a picture of a very cute baby who loves me. His name is Kousuke, and he is the baby of a good friend at work. NOT the son of my calligraphy teacher (whom I originally thought! … oops!). Below that is our very good friends Mike and Nikki. Nikki lives in Kotonami, the town beside mine.
White Day … and Shogi!
What the hell is White Day you ask? It is March 14th, one month after Valentines Day! You see, in Japan, on Valentines Day, Japanese girls give chocolate to the boys. Boyfriends, Husbands, Fathers, Male Employees…. everyone! (size depends on who is getting it. Not to mention a term they have for “pity chocolate” which is what they give to people they don’t want to give chocolate to… because they have to… because its Japan.)
Look what Kiko got me for Valentines Day!!!
At any rate, on White Day the boys are expected to return the favour with candy. Chocolate isn’t the right thing to give on White Day. No… on white day everyone that you got chocolate from has to get a special treat which is usually decided by the Japanese Confectionary Companies. This year it was marshmellow.
Also remember how I was telling you about Shogi???!! In case you don’t, its the Japanese equivalent of Chess only a thousand times better. Anyways I am also going to start playing Chu-shogi (middle shogi). Imagine Shogi, but with a thousand billion more pieces. Here is a game I setup but we didn’t play… because it took to long to setup… because there were too many pieces.
Now go look at the Shogi link, learn how to play, and I will buy you a set!!! (Mike, we are playing next time I see you!!!)
Lots of Good News!
It looks like we will be getting back (semi)hi-speed Internet in April. It is not nearly as fast as what we were using, but is much faster than the ISDN line we have now. The website will be updated, and our VOIP (416) phone will be back in operation… so now you have no excuse for not calling
Kiko’s older brother, Takao, father of the super cute Hina and Kana:
(Takao) just had another baby. His name is Shuichiro! We haven’t got pictures yet,but when we do we will post them!
In other, less exciting news, Graduation photos came in from one of my other schools, along with another small write up in the Shikoku Newspaper. Have a look.
School Photos
We are in the process of redesigning and updating the main page, so updates have been few and far between. (Well, big updates anyways!) But we visit everyday, and Kiko is always excited when someone leaves a message or a note in the guestbook. Comments on the pictures are always nice too!
Here are some pictures from one of the schools that I teach at, and where Kiko has her part time job. This job ends in April and we are on the hunt for her next job!
Next is a picture of the children that are in the tea ceremony club. Look at them in their gear!
Below is a picture from our towns sejinshiki (Coming of Age Ceremony). This is when all the children turning 20 dress up in kimonos and become adults. I thought someone somewhere might find it interesting.
(Chris: Convenience store pictures are coming!!)
Kiko’s Random “keitai” images
This link is cool so I am posting it again:
keitai denwa is the Japanese word for “mobile phone.” Keitai meaning “to be able to carry” (or something like that.)
These are a bunch of pictures that Kiko has taken with her cell phone. Maybe she will write something interesting beside them soon… I’m just the uploading boy.
Random “keitai” Images
keitai denwa is the Japanese word for “mobile phone.” Keitai meaning “to be able to carry” (or something like that.)
This is an assortment of random pictures I have taken over the last few weeks with my cell phone. Of particular note are my two Japanese nieces, the really cute little girl who lives next door, and… the child shopping cart.
And as promised to Chris, pictures from Japanese convenience stores are coming soon…
