I'm young and I'm passionate. I like to dream and I don't want age or any other influence to change that about me.

"Until one is committed there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness, concerning all acts of initiation (and creation)...The moment one defnitely commits, then Providence comes too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred....Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now."

-Goethe

I may be considered young and naive by some, and sometimes even to myself, but i want to commit to success and refuse mediocrity.

Ringing the bell that
calls me in
Life is short, but I still
wait for it to begin.

Another one bites the dust..

Ever since I came to Hitachi, I have been so happy with the group of gai-jin friends I have here. But for gai-jin, Japan is a place of coming and going. I've had to say goodbye to 3 really great friends I've made here. Although I know I'll see them again, it still isn't the same in Hitachi without them. So...to Rach, Syl and Matt -- Kanpai! and Matane because I know we'll see each other again.

On a happy note....I had Rachel and her boyfriend Rossen stay at my apartment this weekend. They came mainly because Sylvia is leaving. Rachel is back in Japan to live with her boyfriend in Osaka. It was awesome having them here and I really enjoyed having some company in my lonely little apartment. :P I am really happy because I'll see them both in 2 weeks when my brother and Gilly come to visit. Rachel has kindly offered to allow us to stay with them for 2 nights.

This weekend was a good one because it's the first in a while where i've felt somewhat normal and less mono-ey. I got to go to Karaoke on Saturday to sing my little heart out and then went to a Japanese ballet recital on Sunday with my student/friend Wakana. The recital was very interesting for me because I wanted to compare it to what is done in Canada for recitals. The main differences are as follows: 1) the recital was free to attend but the dancers had to pay about 70,000 Yen (the equivalent of about $700 CAD); 2) The costumes were so beautiful and expensive looking and were all exquisitely designed tutu's; 3) a lot of the dance numbers lasted for a minute or less (a waste of a beautiful and expensive costume if you ask me; 4) they only do 1 recital every 2 years.

Here are some pictures from the weekend's events:

Atsui desu yo!

Man, is it ever getting hot here. Normally I welcome the heat and warmth that summertime brings but I sincerely hate the humidity. I feel like I live in a Jungle when I have my balcony door open and I am exposed to the weird Jungle-like sounds made by the unknown summer creatures beyond. I've been here before in August and all I can remember is how abundant this country is in insects. I am so paranoid that they're going to creep into my apartment that I even have nightmares about them! Talk about psychotic.... I'll take a Vancouver summer over this ANY DAY!

Wow....32 years of marriage!!!!

This is a shout-out to J-dawg and C-money:

HAPPY 32nd WEDDING ANNIVERSARY!!!!!!!!!!!

Congratulations! I am so lucky to have you as my parents. I love you and miss you!!! xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

World Cup = devastation to my English mates...poor guys

Football aka soccer is a religion to those crazy Brits. I thought I'd share a few pics demonstrating their fanaticism. These are pics of my friends Richard (disguised as Rooney) and K, sporting a really cool plastic hat with the English flag and a solemn look of despair at the demise of England's team.