December 5, 2007-Thursday

Well, I did say I would write on my blog more often, but time has gotten away from me....I'm home in Jersey, excited about this new season of my life. I'm grateful for the many experiences I had in Japan. It was an experience that I don't take lightly because I know that there are many in life who won't have the opportunity I had.

I met so many interesting people, some of which will hopefully be lifelong friends. Now, I'm concentrating on my book....so, maybe next year, you'll see something from me....look me up on Amazon.com maybe in June....

I want to say thanks to Kathy for always being a trooper....you always responded to my blogs, on my blog....thanks to the rest of you guys with your loving emails. I appreciated them all. Well, if any of you in Japan plan to be in the NY tri-state area.....(NY, NJ, Connecticut) definitely shoot me an email and we'll hang out.

By the way, Sensei Chieko, I'm looking for a teacher to continue my studies....I will start after the holiday season, and maybe next time we talk, I'll be a level 5......


Well, this will be my last blog....I think I'm going to join face book though...I've had 3 invitations so far, but I want to wait until I get another camera. So, to all I know who's read the blog, hopefully we'll meet again, but if not, God bless you. And I'll leave you with two of some of my favorite passages from the Bible (John 3:16) (Romans 10:9-10)

kduvalblue@yahoo.com


K

October 29,2007- Monday

I said that I would continue to write on this blog even when I left the school, which I will not mention....and even though it's been a while since I've posted, I've settled into my new surroundings so now I'll have more time to write.

So much has happened since I left the school of which I will not mention. My cousin called me the other day to say that the situation with this school has finally hit the New York Daily News in the World Section. I have no comment on it and will have no comment on it until I get my money, and I'll leave it at that.

Moving on...I never wrote in detail about my trip to Thailand and I just wanted to share some of the things that went on there.....

1st....My friend and I were picked up from the airport in a Mercedes as a part of the hotel shuttle/limo we reserved. We pretended to be famous as we got in the car because everybody near us was starring. Anyway, we get to the hotel and we paid the driver, but when we checked in at the hotel, they said that we should have paid the front desk. We were wondering why the driver was soooooo happy when we gave him the money. So, we told the front desk and got our money back.

Later on that day, we went to a restaurant and it was my first time having TomYunKin....I probably spelled it wrong, but it's a spicy soup with prawns and lemon grass, etc...I couldn't tell if our waiter was a woman or a man, but he/she gawked at us the entire time.....after dinner we wanted to get a massage, so we walked into what we thought was a massage parlor.....low and behold, it was a brothel....I walked in and told Salina, "Wow, every one's getting a massage tonight"....I didn't realize that these women were sitting down to be picked out...so, needless to say, we exited rather quickly.

We stayed in Bangkok and also went to Pataya Beach for 2 days....Pataya was awesome....they had this hotel called Cabbages and Condoms. I thought to myself, "Things are just too overt down here," but the story behind the name was understandable. Apparently, way back in the day there was a population issue and extreme hunger was a result from the over growth....the story of the hotel was a part of an initiative to curb the over growth and end the hunger issue.

The food was amazing everywhere.....but there were also shady characters everywhere....that was not cool. Almost every cab driver tried to rip us off, so towards the middle of the trip we just insisted on meters....so that was my trip to Thailand in a nutshell.....on my next blog I'd like to place the pictures of my trip to Mt. Fugi....actually, it wasn't what I planned to do, but it was still beautiful....the pictures are of the outskirts of Fugi.

until next blog,

K

P.S.-anyone can comment now on the blog....

October 9, 2007-Tuesday

October 9, 2007-Tuesday

Well, yesterday my friend from the states went home.....Thailand was great for the experience, but if I go again, it will have to be to Phucket or Kosamui....anyway, here are some random pics from Thailand and my friends visit and when I tried to get in to see Sumo....

September 23, 2007-Sunday

It's 12pm....I was supposed to wake up early to see Sumo today, however I got back home at around 5:45am this morning. I had my going away party last night, and I thank those that came. I had a great time....the night was bitter sweet. After karaoke, I went to meet some ex-staff members at club Ageha in Shinkiba....I thought I wouldn't make it because it was getting late at Karaoke, but I caught the last train. It was a disaster to say the least though for one big reason I won't divulge, but the music was techno/trance/ and some house music. I couldn't get into it.

I remember when I was in college, almost every school party I went to played house music, but it was good house music. For those of you from up north in the states, remember that song, "Follow Me"?....I'm talking club music like that or even base from down south like , "Doo Doo Brown" That was hot music, or that country fused house song.....I forget the name, but the beats were tight (good). So needless to say, I didn't dance all night, but that wasn't the worst of it....I'm just glad I'm home now and I have one more day at work tomorrow.

I'll be in Thailand sometime next week, so Au revoir (not sure if I speelled that right) and I'll write in a week or so.....
Oh....I have a cute little anecdote about my home stay, or host mother.....the other day she said that sometimes I look like I'm rapping (like doing hip/hop songs) when I'm talking. Especially when I'm upset. Well, for one, I'm very animated at times, but I didn't quite understand what she meant. She said that sometimes when I'm upset I might roll my head around and gesticulate (she didn't use that word) with my hands....and so sometimes she says when I talk really fast she thinks I'm rapping. I cracked up because of the whole head rolling thing that many, but not all black women do when we're upset....anyway....I'm not a rapper.....so....I'm off to see some Sumo now.....Thanks for the shift swap Jamie.....

.....until next blog,

K

September 6, 2007-Thursday

Well, I went to have surgery today....you may be wondering what kind of surgery. I went to have a keyloid removed from my neck/jaw...anyway, it's called a hypertropic scar and the interesting thing about these scars is usually when you try and remove them through cutting or laser surgery, they come back even worse with a vengeance. I remembered when I inquired about having it done...the doctor originally told me the charge would be roughly $200. That's nothing compared to the thousands it would cost in America to get it done. So, I set up my appointment, but when I was able to clarify my history of how I scar easily, the doctor, didn't want to do it. Instead he gave me my first steroid injection....4 needles in different areas of the scar that hurt like hell. I'll have to do this for several months, once a month in order for it to flatten. That sucks, but hey, sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.

Speaking of surgery and hospitals, I saw that new movie by Michael Moore, "Sicko," and it was awesome. There's been some discrepancy over all of the facts in the movie, but if you're American and you see it, you can't deny the issue. You know it, have been affected by it, or know people close to you that have been affected by the harshness and sometimes inhumane system of managed healthcare.....

The hypocrisy of my country disgusts me sometimes.....it's like a family member that you love but can't stand.

I'll just leave it at that for now.....


.....until next blog,

K