Now I'm the tour guide

Today we just went to the castle Its really nice right now as all the leaves are chagning. Then we walked downtown (which I have never done since I always ride my mama-chari) and went to a pottery fair and walked to the 100yen shop to shop. We then went to MaxValu to shop for groceries. My mom said "How can we shop we don't know what anything is?" Welcome to my world. Its a guessing game. Kinda like riding the trains or asking for directions. Just do it and next tiem you know.

She also noticed people will stand before sitting next to you on the bus or something. Yet they are so kind. I asked one lady what direction to Dotmobori in the Subway and she walked em to it about 6 blocks away. Think about that? Would you do that if someone came up to you on the street in America. Prolly not. I dont even think I would. I even had a lady walk into traffic, wave a car down and ask them how to get to the A Bomb site since she didnt. Crazy....

Kobe and Osaka in one day....

Moms flight was delayed one day in San Fran so we lost a day. SO I decided she needed to see BOTH Kobe and Osaka in a day. We started in Kobe at the really nice complex of shops called Mosaic. We then went to the pier and the nto Motomachi or Chinatown in English. Madre ate some Chinese food and walked passed the tons of people there. Then subway to Osaka....

I DEF got a crash course in the complicated subway system in Osaka. They have about 8 different lines going each different direction. Moms jsut follwed me while i got directions and used the maps and stuff. I got us finally to our destination of Tempozan Village (Harborland village). Thier they have the Osaka Aquarium (Japans Seaworld), the Suntory Museum, and the Nippon Mara ("number one ship in Japan). They also have the WORLDS largest ferris wheel. Moms was oo scared to go on it so yea.... Lots of crowds since it was a national holiday (cultural day(. We dont have this hliday in the US since we have no culture. The nippon mara was also a big draw as crowds come to watch the sailors train to become certified sailors i guess. Really nice area. All of japan should make their ports this nice. Himeji is a concrete industrial crap hole.

Then off to Dotombori canal area and Shinsaibashi (My fav). It gets crazy here. Can hardly walk but AWESOME people watching. I love the styles of the guys and girls here. I picked up a few pointers. Then we walked along the "You cant afford me so why are you even looking at me" stores. Fun to window shop like Tiffany, Dior, DG, etc. We ate some Okinomiyaki (first time for me) and people watched some more. IT is PERFECT weather now so cant ask for more.....


PS walking the 1 hour walk with moms bags to my apt we saw some kids from my school riding home at 10pm for their Jucu school (cram school for high school(. They stopped and HAD to ask for my autograph. It was funny cuz they were high fiving each other for getting it and saying "Ya-ta!" over and over which means "Yes, I did it!"
Then they asked for mi madre to sign their stuff too. IT was funny.

also, Tommy lee jones is still popular here and is on many billboards. Kinda like bill murray in "Lost in Translation" Which I REALLY understand now that I'm here!!

AND they have had xmas Decorations up for several weekes now and its only the first of november....weird

Check out the pic I posted of the random ENGRISH saying. They are so random I have stopeed even wondering what the hell do they mean and just laugh....

And oh the lil kids here are the cutest of all kids I have seen anywhere. im stealing one in my suitcase

Mom's Visit Kyoto

We went to Kyoto on mi madre's first day here. It was nice cause I had already been there and knew exactly which trains to ride and how to get around the HUGE Kyoto Station. We walked literally 12 miles and didnt take the bus or subway once. Kyoto is huge so thats rare. mom felt it the next day. We specifically went to the largest pagoda in Japan (Todaiji Temple), Miyudozera Temple (known as taking the plnge since its so high up the hill, and then to Gion to look for GEishas! Overall it was fun and mom passed out on the train home.

Halloween Party at Tiger Bar

Bow down before me please....

View from the hill

These pics are of the funny girls who I have been eating lunch with every day. They are 9th graders and are really friendly and we trade food. One of the girls is the one who says "Peanuts Please." and "Peanuts make me happy" cracks me up!

I had to post these pics of the sun seting from atop this hill. Japan is 80% mountainous terrain so there are little mountains or hills randomly in the middle of neighborhoods. This is next to where I live in the middle of the city. There are about 00 straight up steps to get here and your legs WILL burn by the time you reach the top. Any how its so relaxing once you get to the top. You can see all the city and no one wants to walk up these longs steps so its nice and quiet. I almost fell asleep watching the sun set....

Also, there are a lot of articles on suicides and teachers and such:


One last one...i promise. I found this article today. It kind of talks about the role of temples in the lives of the young people here. Once very popluar at all levels, everyone I talked to says they could care less about them, they are for the older people.

Last Day at Maenosho Elementary