Don't worry..im still alive and kicking

So it seems that I suck at keeping up with my blog. But im here in full force ready to catch up!!

So here's a brief list of things that have happened in the last three weeks that are worth writing about!

1. Kristin, Liz and I had a wicked fun party night in Tokyo. The three of us crashed in a single hotel room in Shinjuku and we partied in Roppongi. We started our night with a fantastic Mexican dinner and tasty margaritas. After our din din we got all primped and primed and headed out on the town at about 11. The night ended at 6:30am when we got kicked out of the last bar/club we visited. We hit various clubs/bars such as Paddy Foleys (the Irish bar that made Liz's night), Gas Panic, and 911. It was my first time really partying in Tokyo and I would def. do it again. We spent Sunday walking around Shibuya and shopping. Thanks for a great weekend ladies!

2.I took a the Japanese Language Proficiency Test in Sendai. I went for level 4 (the lowest level) but I wont know how I did till February. The process was a whopping 4 hours long and I was tested on kanji (Japanese characters), vocabulary, listening, grammar and reading comprehension. Listening was supposed to be the easiest section, or so I thought, but I think that was my weakest area on the test. The biggest positive about studying for the JLPT was that is got me to study and improve my Japanese even just a little.

3. I had three weeks of elementary and kindie visits. Japanese kids are by far the cutest kids I've ever been around. I hokey pokied it up and brushed up on animal sounds and actions like never before! It was great! I definitely prefer elementary schools over JHS but it takes way more energy. The kids are soo excited to see you and they try soo hard. They fight over walking you to the principals office and holding your bags (that are way to heavy but they struggle with it anyways), they want to give you high fives and they ask for your signature as if you were famous. What an experience!

4. Last Thursday marked my last school visit of 2005! Woohoo!!!

No more school until Jan. 16 2006

5. This past Thursday my eikaiwa (adult English class) had a Christmas Party. We went to this great restaurant that I have never been to before. We had two hours of all you and drink and all you can eat (nomihodai, tabehodai). I am lucky to have such a great conversation circle. They tried their hardest to speak English all night and they were soo keen on introducing me to different foods and drink that I had never had before. We had a secret Santa Christmas card exchange and Ryoko (this young women in my group) planned an alphabet BINGO game and brought BINGO cards and prizes. Great night!! Thanks Capetown!

6. On Friday the BOE had their bonenkai (end of year party). It was held at the Tokyuu Inn in Taira near Iwaki Station. The restaurant was really nice and the food was better then all the past enkais I've been too. Everyone had to bring a hyaku en gift (about 1 dollar). We had a janken competition (rock, paper, scissors) to decided who got to be Santa Claus and pass out out the gifts. Following the enkai a group of the ALTs headed to Yamazaki Mansion for a party in Henrys apt. Overall it was a very interesting night.

7. Dec 2 was Daves Birthday! Happy Birthday Dave!

8. Dec 12 was Evas birthday! Happy Birthday Eva!

That about sums up the past few weeks!! Wow...it would be way easier to keep up with it on a regular basis. Maybe that will be part of my new years resolution..hmmm.