Letters · to · Nowhere

Hurley died of unknown causes on Sunday night.  He stopped eating two days before and drinking long befor that.  I'd been hand feeding him fruits and veggies to keep him hydrated... but he gave up the ghost.  That sucked...

This month I'm at all the "far out" schools so I've not had access to internet, but I've read a lot of comics...
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Global Garden
finished it...  it was uh... incredibly schizophrenic, pretty nonsensical, and kind of annoying.  Still, I can't help but think that I kinda liked it anyway.  Ruika wasn't an annoying little shoujo snot, Hikaru and Ruika didn't spend the entire series being seperated and pulled apart by various other love interests/plot-developments, and Robin was really really cute (his notebook was a really nice mechanism to advance the plot too)...  I like how thinks worked out for Haruhi and Sissy... though I can't help but think Haruhi was demonized beyond the point of redemption before his chance to "come through" finally rolled around.  Most of the supporting cast was wasted and a lot of the sub-plots made no sense at all (the whole boy->girl thing could have been totally avoided, and with it a bunch of lame gender-stereotypes that for the most part were contradicated later anyway).  And how come Ruika got TWO wishes at the end just because she put them in the same sentence?!  That was way too easy!!!

Yakitate Japan
up to volume 17 now... I hated how long the Pierrot arc was and the whole Monaco Cup subplot was mindbendingly retarded.  There were a few shining moments of inspired racism, but I'm really, really glad it's over now.  The CMAP arc sounded just as lame, but with Kai and Monica returning: it's actually been a lot of fun.  I can read a volume a day without forcing myself through plodding past-revelation scenes about a character I hate...  Yakitate is back on track for the time being.

Inugami
I'm one volume from the end and things are starting to suffer from compression.  While the world really does seem to be ending (and in a pretty inspired and creepy way), the survival of every single main character dulls the sense of urgency and danger.  I doubt any of the main characters are really in trouble at all... a happy ending is more or less written in stone at this point.  ZERO needs to put in a strong showing in the last volume for me to be satisfied with the dangling plot-lines.

GARDEN
Furuya Usamaru is a sick puppy... but he makes my head hurt in a very good way.  All I'll say about GARDEN is that if you survive the first read, you'll never want to read it again.   Then again, you won't need to, once is enough to burn a lot of the images into your brain permanantly.  It's really an awful experience.  It's also brilliant.

Chronicles of the Clueless Age
Much lighter Furuya (in the vein of "The Cleanest Water").  I haven't read any Otsu Ichi, so I have no idea what to expect on that front... but I've really enjoyed this.  It reminds me of a lot of my own students...and on a more distant level, of myself when I was that age.  Strongly recommended :)  It's probably the only Furuya book in-print that you won't need to hide under the bed when "normal" people come to visit.

Meripuri
I hate the art style (all flourish no details), I hate the main character (Airi is everything I hate about Japanese girls...she is the antithesis of ambition), I hate the premise (mirrors connecting magical worlds, 7 year olds under aging spells), I hate the male harem (too many "wacky" pretty boys and not a single one realistic) and I hate the setting (the "magical kingdom" looks like a one-room Malice Mizer video).  I do, however love Aram.  I'm a sucker for kids... and it's a kid that keeps me reading.  His obsession with sentai shows, omurice, and balloons are precious.  I keep telling myself that it's only four volumes... in that light, I suppose it's painless enough.  Doesn't anyone else find it kind of a twisted double-standard that there's a comic book about a 15 year old girl falling in love with a 7 year old and that that's "okay" as long as he looks like a 15 year-old?  It's like "Please Save My Earth" without any poigniancy or burden of reality ~_~;

Stand By Me
a rec from Akane and a comic about elementary kids being elementary kids.  How can you go wrong?  Stand By Me is made up entirely of slice-of-life adventures about a reckless, hard-headed little boy and his friends going up against a new girl at school.  She's a textbook Ms. Perfect who makes their lives miserable but is predictably redeemed by means of hardcore intimacy and abandonment issues.  Nothing really happens in the first volume.  It's just the usual string of seasonal/holiday-related events that act as catalysts for "honobono" moments (there's a "winter" episode, a "hanami" episode, a "valentine" episode... etc)  But the kids are cute and the art is nice.  It might go somewhere... it might not.  I enjoyed it enough to buy the next volume when it comes out.
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A lot of other things happened that are connected to "real life"... but there are too many and most aren't half as interesting as comic books and video games ~_~;

Oh... and I turned 26.

ugh

I need to learn how to say no to Japanese people.

I've been recruited to run the 100 meter-dash at the school sports day... and for some inexplicable reason, the teacher's team is turning out to be pretty hardcore/selective.  They've even asked me to stay after school tomorrow to train with the Track and Field club... as overseen by a teacher I think is creepy.

Morimo got recruited too... but she plays Volleyball all the time and will probably kick my ass T_T

Is it too late to sprain my pancreas? 

外国の先生と英語交流
[土庄町‐北浦小６年　OO 　O］３月９日に北浦小学校で国際交流がありました。毎年１,２回、国際交流を行っています。　　今年来てくれたジェシカ先生は、とても明るくて楽しい先生でした。　　英語も日本語も上手でびっくりしました。
授業で英語の歌をうたったり、英語版「フルーツバスケット」をしたりしました。　口を大きくあけて話している先生をまねして発音してみましたが、うまくできませんでした。英語の難しさを改めて実感することができました。　たくさんの英語を覚えて上手に話せるようになりたいと思います。

wahahaha!!!  I don't suck at my job!!!

I'm no longer the only person on Shodoshima without a DS LITE...

Unfortunately I have permanantly signed away my life >_<

Pokemon - Diamond pokemon never really changes... but it's always addictive.  My determination to pwn my elementary students results in inhuman drive to play this game every free second I have.  Third graders island-wide beware: I'm coming for you!

Final Fantasy XII - Revenant Wings kind of lame at first, but as more features and characters are added it seems to be evolving into a sort of Tactics Lite.  I'll need to play through a few more missions to decide.  The movies, backgrounds and music are lovely ~ but all kind of stale and recycled.  Not much of a story: very Tactics-y in that respect.  Little movies between every mission, but it's a lot of pretty nothing.  Panelo has officially been nerfed from reasonable, spunky tomboy to "hot healing chick" >_<  If she sighs and wrings her hands at Van one more time I'm going to retch.  Though, I've only played for about 40 minutes and I've already got 10% complete (ouch!).

I should probably at least buy studying programs...

Current Location:	school
Current Mood:	awake

So Yasuki and I were never really dating.  He asked me out and I put it off, not wanting to commit to anything with a guy I met at a bar and saw like... 3 times.   But after about 2 months of coming over every week to work on my internet and play games, a few presents, and emailing now and again: he dissappeared entirely for 3 months.

Lately I've been kind of depressed and asked if we could hang out.  He never replied... so I got on his case about it and he came over last night.  At which point I told him "I don't even know if you like me or hate me anymore"

The answer:  "I hate you.  I just come over to fix the internet."

wtf?!  O_O

I went to the other room and he finished his Chibi Maruko-chan then left without saying anything.

Later he sent me an email saying he's really busy with his job and "wants to be alone right now"

argh~

I was dumped!  And it wasn't even by a guy I was dating!

I emailed Takashi afterward to tell him that all men suck, not just him.  He replied with "exactly!!!"  He is vindicated somewhat.

2 hours later, as I was about to go to sleep, my phone rings:  Demizu-san emailed to say it was very cold today and ask if I was alright O_o;  The man is psychic.  The last time he e-mailed me is when that last conversation meeting went sour and I was crying.  I'm magic!  My tears summon Demizu-mails!!! 

Akane says it's destiny.

I know better.

This man too will eat my soul.  But only if I let him.

 And I won't.

I "want to be alone right now".

At least if I stick with that, I won't seem so pathetic for actually being alone.  I can pretend it's by choice.

Current Location:	school
Current Mood:	complacent

I was a big Gamefaqs forum poster for awhile about two years ago when Shadow Hearts: From the New World came out.  I translated press, the website, wrote a FAQ and even translated the damn game for FtNW posters.  When I moved back from Tokyo, I kicked my Gamefaqs addiction.  But this week has been slow at work and I've found myself back at gamefaqs (argh!)... I'm even hanging out on NGG, the trolling-est board I've ever seen.  I need another place to hang out >_<;

2) Damn you Yasuki

So after 3 months of barely speaking to me, Yasuki emails me this morning to say he's coming over tonight.  argh!

3) Damn you Wii Sports

my arms hurt

4) Damn you "real people" in general

I don't want to talk to any of you right now, because you remind me there are other people in the universe than me!  And I only know how to deal with me >_<  You scare me.  You intimidate me.  And you need to go away... for like... two days or something...  long enough for me to recharge my society-batteries.

Current Location:	school
Current Mood:	anxious

I taught one of my students the "Cat!  I'm a Kitty-cat!" song... ever since, he's been bouncing around the school singing "Cat!  I'm a kitty-cat!  And I dance dance dance!  I dance dance dance!"

When I told him what it means: he translated the song into Japanese and started alternating verses.

It's hilarious...  I love him so much right now.

Current Location:	school
Current Mood:	giddy

So this past week has been less than stellar and after going to Tak last night for a meeting that was cancelled five seconds later was rather the topping on the misery cake.  I pushed myself on some friends for dinner anyway but I felt unwelcome and awkward and by the end, I just felt like a mean old bitch who no one wants around ^^;;

I'm aware a lot of this is a problem of perception, but still... it's harder and harder for me to be around more than one person at a time without self-destructing and there really isn't anyone around willing to go one-on-one in a friendship with me.  There are always other friends, crowds, new people, spectators, whatever...

I called Marshall crying after I left and he talked me down...  he's sweet like that.  But I still feel like I'm burrowing further and further into myself and retracting from groups altogether.  They make me angry and bitter and sad and all the things I don't want to be right now ^^;;

On the brighter side, I e-mailed Demizu-san... and he not only listened to my silly problems: he responded consistantly for over an hour.  I haven't had snappy e-mail conversations like that since I bantered with my ex-fiancee's cheeky little half-brother back in Tokyo.  It was nice and refreshingly free of any sort of innuendo or bullshit.  I need a friend right now ~ maybe Demizu could end up being one?

I met this guy at a local Kabuki performance while I was literally dripping with children.  I think I had one draped over my shoulders and another propped up against my side using me as a backrest while she played Wario touched! for a crowd of 3rd grade spectators.  He came over to chat with me of his own volition, commented on how awesome I was with the kids from his neighborhood and then proved he was just as awesome with the kids himself.  Whatever we talk about, it seems to come back to kids...

I invited him to dinner with Machiko and Yasuki next week.  Yasuki might not like that... but screw him.  He's been about as receptive as your average rock lately.  He doesn't reply to most of my emails, he's never got time, and when I do hear from him, he seems annoyed.

I really just need a real flesh and blood friend who is willing to hang out with me one on one... >_<

Current Location:	school
Current Mood:	cranky

So tomorrow the Great Foreigner Death Camp begins!!

I had no idea the extent of this thing until three old men plopped themselves on my apartment floor and started handing me lists.

35 foreigners!!!!   Mexicans, Indians, Egyptians, Lybians, Chinese, German, Spanish, Dutch, etc. etc.  There's even an Estonian!!  I don't even know where Estonia IS!  I was expecting more like... four Americans, total >_<; 

In any case, they've got me reserving space at Noson Kabuki for 45 people... ALONE o_O;  Then they're going to have 35 foriegners watch 5 hours of all-Japanese performances with only two confirmed translators (Marshall and myself).  This is going to be all kinds of hilariously bad O_O;  Even IF I get enough space for 45 people, I find it hard to believe 2 untrained translators working with a handful of old men to communicate the contents of 3 2 hour-long plays to a group of international college students will end in anything but tears... 

I also wonder if they've been told that AFTER the kabuki, they'll be sent to Shodoshima Death Camp ^_^;;;  We will be paving roads, scrubbing baths, building huts out of pipes, etc...

Oh the joy that awaits me!

How come everyone else gets to go on vacation~?  *whine*


In other "what the hell" news: 

Your LiveJournal Destiny LiveJournal Username What is your favorite fruit? BananasApplesPineapplesGrapesOrangesPie Can you taste the rainbow? Yes, and it's deliciousNoWhat is this rainbow of which you speak? What RPG class would you be? FighterHealerMageNinjaSummonerKnightDragon RiderDancer Mm... Donuts... Where are these donuts of which you speak?Mm... hippo...Mm... fifty-dollar pretzel...Mm... Simpson's reference... Su mama. ¡Coma los neumáticos!Um... Gracias?Pienso no.¡No, su mama! Which is the scariest? ZombiesVampiresFashion emergenciesBad fanfictionInsectsBagelsSu mama. How many hours a day do you spend online on average? 1-23-67-1010-24What is this internet of which you speak? Do you fear the random? Yes.Mm... Random...Su mama.Pie!Ninjas!No. You scare me.   Your future job: Mercenary zombie killer This person will be your assistant in your job: wintertospring You will make this much money: $77,819 Suddenly, a rip in the space-time continuum opens and out pops: zofi_hime Unless you help them, the world will explode in this much time: 3 To save the world, you need to: Light the four elemental lighthouses The evil villain who tries to stop you is: tsudagaijin The chance you succeed is: 64%   This Fun Quiz created by Lynn at BlogQuiz.Net

Free Daily Horoscopes at DailyHoroscopes.Biz

Current Location:	school
Current Mood:	anxious

Then last night, after about 6 hours of play, I started a sequence of story events that led to a sea/land battle that took about a half an hour to finish, followed by 20 minutes of events, and then plopped me into a dungeon with no save point.  Thinking "just a bit further", I fought my way through the dungeon/city and to the city center with random encouters every few steps.  After an hour of fighting, healing, getting lost and un-lost I somehow trigger 20 minutes more of events and a boss battle.  STILL NO SAVE POINT!!!  After dispatching the boss, I went further into the building only to trigger another event and a duel O_O;  2 hours later (way past my bedtime), I was back at headquarters with about 4 hp per person and a huge headache.

That was insane.

No more Suikoden before bed.

Current Location:	school
Current Mood:	accomplished

Sorry I dissappeared.  Someone else had my computer all week... ^^;;;

And now it's Golden Week... so it's just my crappy home connection.

Today I cleaned and made bread!!!

Yakitate Japan inspired me to make bread in my microwave... and by george, it worked!  It's only slightly this side of edible, but it worked!!!  I also went to the local bakery and bought a bag of bread that someone ELSE made and doesn't suck...

So today I cleaned my bathroom, ate bread, finished vol 8 of Yakitate Japan, ate bread, played Suikoden, got killed by a guy who looks just like me only with a much worse attitude (yeah, I'm a crap duel-er!), finished vol 9 of Yakitate Japan, did laundry, started vol 10 of Yakitate Japan, and did more laundry...

Now I'm going to finish a few pages of the "Undercurrent" translation for Kotonoha and then have another stab at beating my own ass (ie. Suikoden)...

that and I have more bread to eat... and read ...

Oh!!!  Chii's Sweet Home vol 4 came out ^_^/  I got the special edition with a tote bag... it's tiny and not really worth the extra money, but hey, it's Chii... I had to.

Current Location:	home
Current Mood:	full

So I've decided to marathon all of Yakitate Japan ~  I'm up to volume 8 and so far so good...  I've actually lent the volumes out to two of my students who are reading along with me (one is one volume behind and the other is just starting on vol 1 today).   Everyone's pretty much enjoying the hell out of it.
 
But while checking the number of volumes I noticed something terrifying!!

Vol 1-10 of Yakitate have 5 star scores...  after that, they lose stars gradually until around vol 26 when they bottom out at... one and a half?!  WTF!!!   Yakitate jumps the shark?!  Say it ain't so!!!!!

Current Location:	school
Current Mood:	anxious

...are now friends-only.

I've been careful not to include real names: only nicknames and initials.  But I figure talking about school in public is probably a bad idea either way.

 Obara Aquitted - WTF

No one seems to understand why this upsets me as much as it does... but that's because 95% of foreigners living in Japan either a) don't care enough about current events to know what I'm talking about at all   or b) are men (and therefore having the time of their lives being omnipotent large-dicked sex-Gods).

To make a very long story very short: Obara is a serial rapist and murderer who targetted 8 foreign women and 2 Japanese, resulting in two deaths (both foreigners).  He was just aquitted of both murders for "lack of evidence."

The Evidence:

- he kept detailed logs of every rape he committed, including full names... made a note about "too much choloform" next
  to one of the victims who was then dropped off by a man fitting his description at a local hospital and died of symptoms
 consistant with chloroform poisoning.
- a phone call to another victim's roommates the day after her murder and dismemberment was traced to a pre-paid cellphone purchased by Obara.
- Obara owns the property on which the body was found, dismembered and encased in cement
- Investigating another rape claim, police walked in on Obara sweating and covered in *gasp* cement.  After asking for access to his bathroom, he denied them entrance.  They walked away.
- One foreign rape victim tried filing rape charges against Obara before all of this happened and wasn't allowed to by the police because she was a hostess (I suspect it was also because she was a foreigner)
- a letter sent to the police written in the murdered victim's persona suggesting that her appearance was voluntary has also been traced to Obara.
- the most recent victim's hair has been found in Obara's apartment
- Obara paid off the victim's father to be less vocal about the case 
- Obara purportedly had a collection of violent sex-tapes, including some of the rapes in question

I find it extremely hard to believe this man can form ANY sort of concrete alibi in the face of this... and yet, he is a moderately wealthy Japanese man being held for murdering foreign entertainment workers in a case that shines an unpleasant light on the investigative techniques and handling of rape by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department.   This guy got off because his victims were foreign hostesses and the police force didn't think that a serial rapist paving his bathroom was strange enough to warrant a search ~_~;

Why does no one question how this man could have 6 or 7 rape counts filed against him and still be free to patronize hostess bars at all?!

Hostesses are legal because they're NOT sex workers... and yet they're not allowed to file rape claims???  Hmm...

Odd how the most recent murderer of foreign women managed to "get away" from a full squadron of police and is still on the lam.
In that case too, a previous woman in the same position had been forced to leave Japan because police were unreceptive to her reports of the SAME MAN stalking her.

I'm sorry... but this isn't just about race.  This is about sex.  This is about police corruption and downright idiocy.  This exposes the xenophobia, machisimo and total pathological disreguard for womens' right not to be raped on-sight and then blamed for it if she dares come forward at all.  Fuck you, Japan.  I hate you for this.

Current Mood:

angry