80s Movies

I am in the midst of an 80s movie obsession. I cannot seem to stop watching movies from the 80s, 1985 in particular.  It started earlier this week when I just very randomly came across a movie called Flying on youtube. Being naturally curious, I looked it up on imdb and discovered that it was a dance movie with Keanu Reeves as one of the main characters.  With a combination like dance and Keanu Reeves, how could I have resisted? Well, the movie ended up being so completely cheesy that I had to stop the movie several times and give myself a break from the complete cheesiness of the story. If you doubt me, just ask my roommate Jenny. I would give her synopses of what was happening and even had to call her into my room at one point because it was just too awkward.

But something about that awkwardness made me remember just how much I love 80s movies for that very reason. Since then, I have revisited a few old favorites, like Girls Just Want to Have Fun and Just One of the Guys. But now, with my latest selection, Secret Admirer, I am moving into uncharted territory. The story seems great and it stars Lori Laughlin. If you have any good 80s recommendations, feel free to leave them in the comments. Or you could just share your favorite 80s movie and what makes it so great to you.

 

Strange Neighbors

As you all know, I live in an apartment complex. And there is a striking difference between most apartment buildings in Japan and the U.S. that I just recently realized thanks to one of my neighbors. In the U.S., once you enter an apartment building, you are completely enclosed. Individual apartments are accessed through hallways on each floor and you probably interact quite often with your neighbor across the hall. But in Japan, things are a little different. The majority of apartment buildings in Japan, mine included, have front doors that are open to the outside. Individual apartments are accessed through walkways around the outside of the building.

Now, the reason that I realized this difference comes from my neighbor who lives on the same floor,

Unwashed Pot

but at the opposite end of the building. This neighbor is infamous for leaving gross-looking, and oftentimes gross-smelling things outside their door.In the states, that would never fly because your whole hallway would smell and the neighbors would complain real quickly about it. But in Japan, it’s easy to put your burnt pan or smelly trash outside until you have time to deal with it. And this particular neighbor takes full advantage of it, especially in the spring and summer. The picture on the right is the most recent activity outside their door, which is relatively unremarkable.

Last year they had crayfish that they kept in a nasty, dirty tank outside their door and even halfway down the flight of stairs that’s right outside their door. These crayfish were left outside for at least a week. I don’t know if they were left to die, or if it was some kind of a punishment to the kid who forgot to clean the tank. But, anytime I walked by, the crayfish would go crazy and start flipping around in their tank. Talk about strange neighbors.

 

Strange Flavors

Japan is known for making some strange twists on classic flavors. But today Jenny brought home what has to be one of the strangest combos I have ever seen. She bought an azuki pepsi. For those of you who are uninformed, azuki is a kind of sweet red bean that is very popular in desserts in Japan. Now, I really like azuki bread and other baked goods, but as a pepsi flavor? It smelled weird and tasted really weird. Jenny and I each had a couple of tastes and it was not great. But it did have a strange pull. The first swallow didn’t taste good at all, but it made me want to try it again, so that I could figure out why exactly I didn’t like it. So, a word of caution. Don’t invest your money in trying this strange drink. It is definitely not worth it.

 

Message from a Ticket Machine

Ticket Machine

I saw this ticket machine at the zoo. Such a heartfelt message just to get tickets for rides. Does anyone other than foreigners bother to read this kind of randomly placed English?

 

 

Quote from an English Professor

I read this great quote today that made me laugh a lot. If I ever became a teacher for real, I definitely think I would be this kind of teacher…

 

I am returning this otherwise good typing paper to you because someone has printed gibberish all over it and put your name at the top.
- An English Professor

 

Returnees Halloween

We had a big party for all of our Returnees kids. It was definitely a blast! We played lots of fun games and made each other into mummies.

Rina and Yukiyo

Yuri and Yuna

Shin and Hinako

Shin and Hinako

What a great face!

Who is that girl?

Don’t forget the face!

Marlow the Mummy

Suzuka and Miya

Yuriko and Shunsuke

Showdown

Lewis

Victory!

Unwinding

The Returnees Gang

 

KYKids Halloween

My junior high class

Way too Serious

Akihisa the Horse Boy

Erina and Natsuho

Kami and Miku

Trick or Treat Bags

 

Halloween at Tajimi

Happy Halloween?

Halloween Lanterns

Happy Halloween!

Sister Chris

 

The World Series

It’s World Series time. Now I’m fairly certain that everyone in America is well-aware of that fact, be they baseball fans of not. I am a baseball fan, but actually, I was completely unaware that the World Series was happening until I came across an internet article the other day. Living in another country does that to you. So, in that article, I not only learned who was facing off, but also when the Series was set for. Today at work I was reading an article about the World Series. I found out that the Yankees and Phillies are tied at one as they move to Philadelphia for game three. Then I came across a sentence so horrific that I had to stop reading and write this blog instead.

“The clubs work out Friday afternoon on the Phillies’ field, and then the World Series will resume Saturday with a Game 3 matchup of left-handers, featuring Cole Hamels on the mound for the defending champs against Andy Pettitte, the winningest pitcher in postseason history.”

Set aside that fact that this is a horrific run-on sentence. That’s a matter for another day. Let’s face the major problem. What the crap is ‘winningest’?? Couldn’t the writer find any better way to describe the pitcher? I can think of three or four off-hand that wouldn’t take up that much type space and wouldn’t make me sound like such a complete moron. I understand that news articles follow different rules than regular writing, but ‘winningest’ seriously? I will not even mention the over and misuse of hyphens, or misused prepositions. This guy actually gets paid to write for mlb.com? Maybe I should apply. To read the entire article for yourself, check it out here.

 

Sassy Girl

I have this friend named Saki who is in junior high. Now, when I first met Saki about two years ago, she was extremely shy and quiet. I don’t know whether it was because she became a teenager, finally felt confident in her English skills, or maybe some combination of the two, but she has turned into a sassy girl. And I must admit that I love it.

Earlier this week, her parents were giving me and a friend a ride to the station after our Bible study. I was talking to Saki about having crushes and how it is a wonderful, magical thing for a teenage girl. Saki herself is not so boy crazy yet, and maybe never will be, but she does have a friend who already is at the age of twelve. According to Saki, her friend has a crush on a new boy pretty much every week, which I think is perfectly healthy.

Unfortunately for the girls, their school is really small, so pickings are slim. Just recently, this friend was telling Saki about her latest crush and how cute he was. Being a good friend, Saki didn’t put voice to her thoughts, but did think, Are your eyes okay? Needless to say, all conversation stopped for a full minute while I laughed at that comment.

Now, the Saki I first met would never have even thought something like that, much less retold it in a story. I can only hope that I can help to promote this sassiness in the time that I spend with her.