HISASHIBURI!

Wow, folks...it's been too long. TOO LONG.

I know I've been a deadbeat blogger lately. I haven't even posted anything about vacation. But I have an excuse...no, not an excuse...I have a REASON for not posting about vacation: Tori just did too good of a job. There's no way I can follow what she did! For those of you who want to know my take on the whole trip, though, here it is:

Vacation was AWESOME! I never want to not be on vacation ever again (as long as I can bring Tori...and my guitar).

So, there it is...and there it was. And now on to something new.

I've realized a few things since coming back to work.
1. I'm semi-addicted to caffeine. It was (I thought) out of necessity that I drank so much caffeine. How else was I supposed to stay awake during those long hours of boredom at my desk? It's only recently that I realized the caffeine was causing the crashes that made me so sleepy...and, thus, made me crave even more caffeine. So...I'm trying to cut it out. A few headaches for the first few days, but I think I'm pretty much out of the woods now. Should be clear sailing from here on out.
2. Tsurusaki is much nicer than I ever gave it credit for. If you look for the pretty stuff, it's there...right next to the ugly stuff. For example: on the way to work, there is a long drainage ditch that looks and smells absolutely putrid...but every once in a while, if I walk close enough to the ditch, I get to see a little crane that apparently lives there. If I get REALLY close, he'll even get up and fly around for me. (The name Tsurusaki means Crane Cape, by the way)
3. Videochat is a nice thing to have. It's great to be able to talk to our parents every once in a while...and see their smiling faces. Bless you, Mr. Gore...if it weren't for you and your fancy shmancy Internet, we'd be much lonlier here.
4. Power napping at the desk is not only refreshing, but surprisingly easy to pull off.
5. Sometimes, making an ass out of myself is the only way to get my students to listen.
6. NOTHING is safe to eat.
7. I can't do this kind of work for much longer. I feel useless...and, unlike the other teachers in the office, I can't stand around and chat about golf and tv with my coworkers all day. The language barrier is a terrible thing...especially when there are only 3 other people who speak any English (one of whom is never in the office).
8. I...am a drummer at heart. I've had an irresistible urge to hit stuff with sticks lately. And pillows won't do for much longer...I need to MAKE SOME NOISE!

As a final note...it's coming up on my 24th birthday. 24! I know that doesn't sound like a lot to most of you, but...that's almost a quarter of a century. I don't remember growing up. I think I'm going to have a panic attack.