Ants in my pants!

お久しぶり as they say here in Japan (means long time no see). So really nothing exciting going on recently. I have just be studying Japanese everyday and teaching English in between. It really makes a huge difference when you are submersed in the language and the culture you are studying. This week I went and took some pictures of my neighborhood per request from Mommy dearest.
So this is my mighty steed, Icarus. It was bestowed upon me by a fallen ally from the Nova era. It has made many trips. And despite it's ricketiness I can still match pace with cars while I roll down the mountain hills. It also gets me to school on time in the morning. I could ride the train but the schools are all pretty close by.
Alot of the houses in the area are pretty nice, for old old houses. The area used to be pretty wealthy a long time ago because it was famous for it's textiles in particular the fabrics used for Kimonos. Now a days it's just a decaying shell of what it once was. But still some of these hoses are amazing.



This one is right across from my house. It has a really cool garden(as most houses do here) just behind the walls.
This is the best pictures I could get of the gargantuan house/temple looking residence. There's , of course this huge bell , but the "house" it-self is amazing. I'm sure it's a couple hundred years old.
Then there's my sweet LeoPalace apartment. Sticks out like a sore thumb. Pretty gaudy but the inside is nice :)
Guess how much this pizza cost? $30 And it's about a small size in the US (it's actually medium size in Japan)

Yes my shoes are awesome but so was the giant turtle I found when I was wandering around.
Yep, I definitely live in the country.
If you look close there are 3 military-esque choppers in the sky. I think there is a base near somewhere nearby where they build giant robots. Actually, Japan has been doing alot of military maneuvers recently. They were just doing some training scenarios with the chinese Navy the other day (for the first time since WW1). Also, they have been sending a lot of the "self-defense" troops abroad for "humanitarian aid".
It's Japan. There's Bamboo trees.

This is a shrine nearby. Not really that interesting to be honest. The ambiance was nicer. The moutain water flowing and the sound of the birds reminds me again I live in the country.
Here's some water sounds for you.

The post office is straight ahead and across from that is the police station. I actually live about a 10min bike ride away from here but as you can see this is where all the fun stuff goes on.
Mountains and the Kinokawa (Kino river). There is a big festival soon for the river and another festival to celebrate the river monster called Kappa. I am totally going to both.

The sun is setting on this blog entry.Keep checking back and find out what this dude is staring at....
Peace out!

Double the fun!

2 post in one day. This is pure insanity. More introspections than actually about travelling or eating but these were things on my mind I thought should be put out there. Enjoy. Please comment on them. Because I don't want to communicate with you otherwise...joking!

If you are bored you can play me in this game it's free and kinda sweet if you like MMORPGs

world of kung fu

Is it hot in here or is it me?

I am finally acclimated to my new surroundings down here in Wakayama. My jobs are close by so commuting isn't a problem (yeah for Icarus, my blue bike, handed down to me by a former room mate). I'm finding good places to eat. Not great but good. I am getting to know the locals...well they are getting to know me I think. Everywhere I go I bump into a student from one of the high schools. I say "Hi!" and feebly talk to them in Japanese as best as I can. Sometimes I don't want to be bother so I came up with a solution...

Batman, Superman, Inspector gadget and the like all use secret identities. Batman's is not bad his mask covers most of his face and talking in a husky voice seems to though people off in the movies. Superman is where I took my inspiration from. I can't walk around with a cape and cowl. So Superman hides his Super-identity with glasses. Simple and genius. Clark Kent could never be mistaken as Superman not with those dorky glasses. So I bought of pair of fashionable frames that have just plain lens in them. If anything, I feel like when I put them on after I get off work I am a different person. Therefore, maybe people think I am a different person. Of course, It doesn't always work.

I went to go grab a quick bite for dinner and as soon as I sat down some lady came up to me and started talking to me. She just wanted to practice her English.........and practice......I am too nice to tell her to go away. I figure a lot people here don't get to interact with Non-Japanese very much so I entertain sometimes. My small way of helping to open the closed minds of most Japanese. Anyway, this lady went on and I should've noticed but she was a little off. And then she told me herself she was mentally disabled...and then I really just wanted to leave. On the other side I did meet another American today. In my neighborhood of all places!?! He was walking by with his son and dog. In that instance, I didn't mind being "recognized". Maybe Andrew with glasses will become more recognized than regular Andrew...maybe I am just being egotistical.

Big fish in a big pond? or Big fish in a little pond? uhh, it's the same fish isn't it?

Balance is the way of life....as I sit here and stuff my face with cookies.