Oh Dear ...

When did June 19th turn into July 12th?

The Japanese heat and humidity has been taking it's toll on me. I've been tired and kind of busy at school. Been having a lot of fun though too!

I still can't get over how tough Japanese kids are. There's no air conditioning, no fans and they have to ride their bikes to and from school every day in some pretty gross humidity. Go, kids, go!

Anyways, I'm heading to Mt. Fuji with a group of new friends this weekend! I am very stoked. My next blog will likely be about the trip! After that I think I will begin my Arashi series!

I have come to love Arashi too much for one post (it would be too long and unbearable) so I'll divide it up! But be prepared for Japanese pop idol manly cuteness!

That's all for now really. It's late and I'm pretty tired.

'Nuff Said,
Crysania

Tadaima (I'm back)!

So it has been nearly a year since my last post. I have an almost good reason for it!

First, last year, a couple of days after my last post, my laptop crashed! It was ... unexpected. I spent over a month without a computer, luckily I had picked up an iPhone the day before and was able to communicate with the world. By the time I got the new computer - a small, used notebook at the second hand store - and got an English OS installed (all thanks to my awesome homie Jason) I was in to 2nd semester at Minami Inukai Jr. High and Mutsumi elementary school so I was busy ... and forgot this existed.

I remembered about it during Winter Break but with Jason leaving and Nicki arriving I was busy. Then Nicki helped me to have more fun than I was already, so I forgot again.

Me and Nicki

I know, it's lame. But on the bright side, I decided to remain in Japan one more year! So I figured I would pick up the blog again!

I have a lot more I can say now. I've become much more accustomed to the overall culture and the pop culture in Japan along with picking up more and more Japanese. I am currently at Mibu Jr. High School and Mibuhigashi Elementary school, which have convinced me that all the kids in this tiny town are awesome. I really love my kids and my job.

Mibu Junior High School

The next few posts will cover some of my favorite things in Japan. Things that I've come to love over the past year that I didn't know existed before, things I've come to love more than I did to begin with or things that I'm learning more about! I'm looking forward to keeping this up again!

'Nuff Said,
Crysania

Oh dear ...

It seems in my move to Japan I have neglected my blog! ... My bad.

Moving to a new country is a little exhausting, but I'm enjoying it.

I'm waiting on something to come through before I post much more but this month has been ... an adventure. I've already had many ups and downs ... and I really need to study more Japanese!

It's fun though. I'm enjoying what I do and liking where I am. I miss having friends with me though. I should've packed a few of them in my suitcase.

I know it's short but that's all for now. It's almost 1 pm and I've yet to do much other than send a few e-mails and watch the Dodger game. Go Andre Ethier! He's got a sexy 26-game hitting streak going on! And Matt Kemp has been red hot too. Love it.

'Nuff Said,
Crysania

"Reach"-ing for Something to Write

Snoop Dogg vs LL Cool J: The Ultimate Halo Smack Down from LL Cool J


I love that video. I have feeling a few of my gamer friends would do the same thing if they had the money.


Since last Tuesday I've been making an effort to get in some time on Halo: Reach. I didn't play Halo: ODST much when it came out and by the time I did get on people were pretty much over it. But I like Reach as much as I can like a  game from the Halo franchise.

Screenshot courtesy http://www.bungie.net

You see, I suck at Halo. The first Halo for the X-Box was one of the first shooters I played so I was absolutely terrible at it. I thought with having a little more shooter experience, I would be better at Halo 2 ... but there wasn't much improvement. When Halo 3 came out I'd had shooter experience with Star Wars Battlefront, Gears of War and Call of Duty so I thought I would for sure do well. Alas, I still was pretty bad. Better than the first two but still bad.


I don't know what it is about the franchise, I just royally suck at Halo. You can see how much right here. (Note: There are some good stats from when Ben played on my account)


I still have a good time though. I enjoy the game and the story line so I like Reach - I'm just not very good. I'm lucky my gamer friends online are, or I'd probably never play. Online, I tend to be our handicap and/or bait ... funny, but sadly true.


I haven't bought my copy and have been using my brother's so I haven't beaten the game yet but it is pretty good so far. I'm especially impressed with the backgrounds. The maps are HUGE and distractingly pretty to look at. Bungie did a fantastic job with the Reach planet. I get lost in the big maps but haven't minded too much as I usually enjoy the surroundings (and lack of people killing me) enough that I can't complain.


Tonight I'm headed to Andre Ethier Fleece Blanket night at Dodgers Stadium! I'm excited to get my blanket! The season may not have been what we'd hoped for but I still love going to Dodger games. I'll be sad when baseball season is over.


That's all for today I believe.


'Nuff said,
Crysania