Dreaming in Eden

Kong-san, The Only Primate with Duel Citizenship

Recent Mosque Reveries

A Letter to Mom

Mom, went to Oyama-cho to look for your old house. Arrived Sunday night filled with excitement about seeing the much talked about digs. Now the neighborhood is upper-class--I have a feeling it was back then, too--and ridden with modern apts and businesses. Something tells me that many diplomats live there, as we saw more than a few foreign children being dropped off by bus from school. As we made our way to the house we saw the famous mosque, which you see pictured. The mosque was built in 1938 and then rebuilt in the 1980's. You probably dont recognize it now. It's an amazing , yet beautifully imposing work of art. As we proceeded to find the house we met a woman who lived in one of the apts very near to the address on the invitation. She said that in 1968 the Japanese govt. gave the people of Oyama-cho new addresses. Furthermore, we learned that the city demolished many of the houses on that street so as to make the roads wider. Argh! This was not good for the "Find Oyamo-cho House Campaign," not at all. Friend R. suggested that we ask people on the street for info, "Nick, they look old, let's ask them." Did speak to an "old" woman who lived there who owned an American style steak restaurant her whole life and could tell us more if she saw the picture of the house. We then decided to wait until Monday to take better pics of the area in the light. Monday we went to the Shibuya Govt bldg. and spoke to one of the clerks in Records. He told us that it would help if we knew the name of the owner of the house. We didnt, but he showed us a city map and outlined an area of where the house would have been. Went back to Oyamo-cho and pinpointed the the place where we think the house would have been. Sadly it is a grey, grungy apt. building now. Got your pictures of the house today, mom, and I can say that your house is an othewise nameless victim of modern conveinence.

xol.m.

Tina, Your Life Sucks

The following is from a listening portion of a Japanese-written jr. high textbook of which I have to teach from. God help me.

"Tina isn't happy. She doesn't have enough money and she doesn't have enough free time. She has too much homework and too many English classes. She doesn't have enough clothes but she has too much pressure. She doesn't have enough magazines but she ha too many textbooks. She doesn't have enough friends but she has too many teachers."

or,

"I have to study hard tonight because I have to take an English test at school tomorrow. I'm going to study from 6:00 to midnight. Then I'm going to get up at 5:30 in the morning because I have to study before going to school."

All laughs and giggles in my classroom.

Gone in 12 Minutes 40 Seconds

Amid a soothing pilgramage to a local shrine, Sick was fortunate to see these goregeous porsches strut into formation. After a short stay the hip Takasaki trend-setters peeled out in true McQueen-like bravado.

It's a Love Story

There was a dog in Noriko's house and one day it ate all her lovely grass. She was so angry! Later that night, at seven, shetook her dog, Goechan for a walk. TAt the park young Noriko met nine other dogs . . . and an elephant! My, how Noriko was surprised. When Noriko went home that night, Tatsuya, her boyfriend was there waiting. Tatsuya greeted Noriko with a kiss and gave her an apple. Noriko ate that apple. Now, Noriko had so much energy that she threw both Goechan and Tatsuya towards the mountains.

Quite a Mouthful

Sick went to the "Crop Hair Ideally Conductor" today.

Pokemon Street Gangs On the Rise in Yokohama

"Stay calm, Sick . Breathe, nice and easy. Don't back down. Yeah. Dont give these thugs the satisfaction . . .

No Appointments Necessary--But Strongly Recomended

On Mondays, Sick, as well as three other perfect Japanese strangers, have an appointment at Yamada Electronic Store for our state-of-the-art, life-affirming, free massage.

Tokyo: The Empire State Bldg.'s Long-Lost Japanese Half-Sister

"Run Shino, Run!"

Young and brazen Kazumasa from my Lets Go 3 class, dare I say it, is hunting at a very early age.

Check It Out, Solar

Takasaki, 2-5-07, dusk, 5:08

The Smartest T-Shirt in Japan, Stupid

A dummy genius.

The Imperial Palace: Let's Try The Back Door

The ever sociable Emperor, doesn't realize that it takes more than a flimsy sign to dissuade Sick in Eden from poppin' in.

Trans-fats, MSG, calories. All welcomed preservitives in Nihon.

Without the fear of self-imposing lobbyists, McDonald-san can slowly kill as many people as he wants with his limited-edition, 4 pattied, Mega Mac.

Oishi!

Someone tell me if the Mega Mac has made its way to America. Thanks.

Sexual Innuendos Abound

Look out, Viagra 'cause things are looking up at the"energetic medicine specialty store."