Things I never imagined I'd say...

I have noticed that as time goes by in Japan, there are all sorts of things that pop out of my mouth, that I never, ever would have thought I'd say...such as, "I'll have the instant coffee with the powdered cream." Until coming to this country, I thought instant coffee was something that became extinct with the dawning of Starbucks and Coffee Bean...I mean, am I just really lame? but do people in North America actually drink that stuff? Regardless, of how ill-informed I am about the drinking habits of the American/Canadian public, I have learned to appreciate the caffeine content of instant coffee granules. And because my schools don't actually own coffee makers, it's my only choice...I have found that it helps to make me hyper enough to face a slew of elementary kids.

"Oh my god, the monkey bit my thumb!" Never, would I have believed that i would get bitten by a monkey...a dog, yes...a cat, maybe...a rabbit, doubtful...but a monkey? What?? So I was in Shodoshima this weekend, and I was sitting on a log (in a wild monkey park) and one of the monkeys decided to make friends with me...so he climbed into my lap. And that was cool, we had a moment. I petted his head, and told him I thought he was sweet, he looked deep into my eyes...and i realized he was kind of stinky. So I tried to pick him up to put him on the ground nicely...you know, in a polite manner. That is when he firmly grasped my thumb and bit it really hard. I was like...man oh man, I'm going to have to get a rabies shot....how could this happen to me? What kind of wierd luck do I have. Well, luckily he didn't break the skin, so all I have to contend with is a couple of bruises, which are almost gone by now.

"Is this liver? In my school lunch?" yes, its true, I was served liver for school lunch...and you know what...I still can't stand the stuff...even years after my mom used to force it on me, and I'd drown it in ketchup...it still makes me gag. And I didn't even know what it was...no matter the spices that are used (in this case teriyaki sauce) it always tastes the same. And now, I am more leary about the meat in school lunch, than ever...rumor has it, at some point they will serve me tripe...and possibly tongue....I am so turning vegetarian, again.

"If only there were real toilets at my school." That's right, there are only those squatter, hole in the ground type of toilets at my school. Really, it isn't that big of a deal anymore...except for the fact that my friends were telling me that is where they go to nap in the afternoon, when there isn't anything to do but sit in the teachers room and stare into space. They lock themselves in a stall, put the lid down and nap their hearts out.....oh how i wish....

"What I wouldn't do for a slice of cheddar/goat/mozzarrella (fill in the blank with a random cheese)" I swear Japan is the capital of bad procesed cheese. Its actually rather disgusting. i didn't even know how much I liked cheese until I moved to this country. Now I find myself wandering into gourmet stores, excited about paying $6 for a small bit of cheddar.


"i have no clue, what's on this menu...just point and pray." Living in rural japan, this is sadly a common truth.