Karaoke

A blog devoted to Japanese living would never be complete without karaoke photos! Karaoke is especially fun in Japan because you rent a "karaoke box", a private room in which your own group can sing and perform without interruption. Photos include my friends (and secretaries at UEC) Saori (green shirt), Yoshiko (white shirt), and Yamaguchi Sensei (my Japanese teacher ;) Notice that in one photo I'm actually attempting a Japanese song-- I just can't quite read that blasted hiragana fast enough!!! Practice, practice, practice. . . that's how I justify frequent karaoke-- it's really just language study, isn't it?

乗馬クラブ

Uh. . . Fish?

As you'll notice, I was in another ridiculously beautiful place last weekend, camping and fishing. I can't seem to stay away from the mountains. . . As you'll also notice, the largest fish I reeled in was my own minnow lure. Sigh. Hey, at least it's shiny. Anyway, in a place so beautiful, what do fish (or the absence of fish) really matter? I finally got to see the monkeys, and they appeared quite harmless really. . . when viewed from the safety of my car. I have to say, after all the stories I've heard, I found it a little disappointing that they didn't attempt some sort of highly-organized highway ambush or something. . .

Fondue Fondness

Hey, just thought everyone would be envious if I posted photos of my latest hobby: fondue parties. I picked up a $10 fondue pot and have been making the most of it! Here are photos of chocolate "fonduing" with Miho and RuthAnn. Oishiso!!! Also, if you're a fan of fishing-- or at least, if you're interested in this dumb gaijin's humorous account of fishing in Japan-- please stay tuned. Tonight I'm going back to the mountains on another solitary camping trip, and this time I'm armed with a warmer sleeping bag, a cheap fishing rod and dogged determination. I'm driving "farther up and farther in" to the mountains, so I'm anticipating returning with amusing photos of huge rainbow/brown trout and the occasional attacking monkey. . .