This time around it wasn't exactly like picking up where I left out. My friends from Jogakuin have all graduated now, many of them have moved back to their home prefectures, to Tokyo, etc. Many people have fallen off the face of the earth, but many just have jobs with varying shift times. It makes it hard to see people that way, especially if they live out of town. Erina comes all the way from Kure, an hour train and about 25 minutes by bus before that. Just to see me (yes really). Mami has herself a job that works her everyday, all day. I've only been able to meet her once, and though it was a great reunion, she's worn out and seriously considering a career change. Kanae is in the U.S. with her boyfriend, whom she met at B.G. ... She may not come back, I think. Kana has gone back to her home prefecture of Fukuoka. I haven't found Mayu, and Aya works in the office of a transit corp. Though I haven't seen her yet. Eriko is getting married in December, and yes, I am attending the wedding despite having nothing to wear. Apparently it's not strict as far as clothes, but there are things that are taboo to mention. References to cutting (IE the cake) are bad luck, as in severing the relationship. Who knew. I'll let you know how it goes of course. The Nagaokas do what they do, and I see them from time to time, the Furukumas are still here mostly, though Tomoko works in Tokyo now and Hideaki goes to school and plays ball for Osaka U.

That wraps up the re-cap for now, let's jump forward to what you may not know!

Haven't updated this page in ages. Will do so soon.

	The first folks I met this time around were Assistant Language Teachers (ALTS), Ana from New York state, and Carissa from Britain. Carissa's boyfriend came a it later, Nelson, and he's fun too. It's great since we all live in the same basic area. Carissa & Nelson live right across the street. I laughed when Carissa told me all of her roach woes, but I'm not laughing quite so loud now that they've come for me. Anyway, since we're all in the neighborhood, we have potlucks every so often, which is great because everybody's really great at cooking. Hell, Ana makes her own bread, Carissa & Nelson make these phat omelettes, and I bring whatever I can (coconut rice pudding, stir-fry, etc). They're a great bunch, I'm really lucky I live next to the ghetto like I do. Ana has a rich heritage behind her, her mother is Japanese, her father is Spanish, and she is American. Her sister is an ALT in a different prefecture, and her maternal grandmother lives here still. She was in social work before she came. Carissa holds a Master's Degree, despite the fact that she is younger than I am. It took awhile for me to figure that out, it simply did not connect in my brain that the English school system is different. Nelson worked in stocks, very hard, and this is his working holiday before he returns to the new job that will be waiting for him next year. He, too, is younger than me. Supposedly, he makes great curry. The two of them like R&B, and they threw a pretty darn good housewarming party last month. They don't like the decor of their "hideous" apartment, but I think it's homey, like somebody's granny's kitchen.
	I was at Kemby's one night, drinking nama (tap) during happy-hour, and I saw a girl by herself. Now, obviously I am a girl and I was by myself. And yet it seemed strange to me, because though I go out alone often with no plans to meet friends, I rarely see Japanese girls eating or drinking alone. Well, we got to talking over my quesadillas and, (It's a Small World After All) she works in the same building I do, different department. Misa and I have a lot to talk about, she's 26 I think, and she also is part of a local Noh troup. I do have pictures of her too. We're all just waiting on NTT. Anyway, we went to the park by the castle with Erina for a picnic one day, and she was nice enough to drive us all the way to Bihoku Park (over an hour one way) so we could see the Cosmos in bloom (was so awesome, I sent my mummy pictures). Misa is so far gone in this picture, I don't know why I didn't notice it at the time
	Misa introduced me to her friend Aki awhile back, at Kembys actually. The Countdown Party was the second time I'd met her. She was dancing up a storm most of the night!

More to come, of course, as time goes on and I have pictures.

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