Danger Zone

Let me tell you about someone new I met. She's totally innocuous looking, comes at you in small doses but ultimately her plan at the end of the day is to leave you shattered and picking up the pieces.  Heed my warning. For reference, her name is Sake. I had my unfortunate encounter with her last Saturday at a festival, held in her honor.
Even more unfortunate was that Will left for Taiwan last Saturday on a business trip, leaving me to attend this Sake festival without him. Thankfully, (but in hindsight they were probably thinking the opposite was true for them) I had a couple of friends to go with.
There was a TON of people at this Sake festival, which was held in Saijo right by where Will works. With fantastic food and more drinks available around the perimeter of the festival, what's not to love?!
Within the circle, the festival itself, booths with hundreds of Sake were waiting to be poured into the teeny, tiny, adorable sake glasses that was given to you upon entry. Also handed to you upon walking in was a large pink book with the hundreds (thousands?!) of Sake that you could check off as you went through them. I was so ticked I left my pen at home. Seriously though-who could possibly drink, or even want to drink that much. ugh. The mere thought actually sends me into dry heaves.
We went to a few of the booths, each trying a bit of one another's to see if there was a fan favorite. Some were sweet, some were dry; others tasted exactly like how rubbing alcohol smells. These are my astute observations on Sake. For the record, # 55 was my all time fav.
After we left the smaller area and returned to the perimeter, we encountered more people whom Will works with, ate (a lot of) amazing grilled/smoked gouda and oysters, and unfortunately drank more sake which interestingly enough was being poured out of a bamboo faucet. Crazy.
The train ride home sucked. The company during the day? Fantastic. All in all fun memories and the knowledge that in the future, I'll probably just stick to a cold glass of beer.

crazy crowds

So this was a sake mixed drink. Cheating a little but oh so good. 

cheeeeeeeeseeeee.

Light at the end of the tunnel...

I'm not gonna lie........volunteering with kids is not where I necessarily saw myself  4-5 years ago. Yet, here I am, working with 2-5 yr olds on a weekly basis and (wait for it.....) totally loving it. The opportunity for me to start volunteering at the YMCA came forward right before I left for the U.S. this summer. Starting about a month ago, it has proven to be a golden opportunity to get out of the house, meet new people, and get involved within the community.

By helping out on weekly field trips, I've seen everything from submarines to picking sweet potatoes. Ironically I'm also helping out with the math rotation station in the Pre-K Class. You can sleep well knowing I'm not teaching hard stuff like adding- just basic numbers, 1-5 at the moment. I've totally got this. 

Finally I'm feeling energized, refreshed, and it has given me purpose- totally what this girl needed. 

Shoes off before getting dirty!!

Dig In

The Bunny..... Friend or Foe?

Some of us go to places out of morbid curiosity, or simply "to check off" a destination on our long list. If you're one who's particularly feisty, perhaps it is your desire to do both.  I'm always up for an adventure and I've heard numerous people talking about Okunoshima, a little island with a bajillion bunnies. Sure, I thought. I'm all for that. Naturally, I had to write this post while the rabbit feces were still fresh on my shoes. Sorry that was disgusting and completely uncalled for. But really, I'm burning all my clothes as we speak. As you can tell I'm a lover of bunnies.

If you surf the web about this place, you'll find a variety of comments- strange, adorable...the list goes on. My thoughts? Okunoshima is a bizarre little island with an incredibly interesting and equally bizarre history. Here's the brief recap from what I found online and what I read while actually on the island (the most reliable source, I shall assume). From 1929-1945 there were five different types of poisonous gas secretly being made by the Japanese army on the island; apparently SO secret that the island was not even included on maps "and workers were sworn to secrecy."

The rabbits were apparently used for experimental purposes until all the storage areas and gas on the island were eventually destroyed and the bunnies were then released. We all know what bunnies do....and the rest is history. 

Weird and kind of creepy right? That's all I could think of as I watched boatloads of bunnies swarming around the visiting people on the island. The empty, burnt out ammunition storage building looked like a huge carcass. Juxtaposed with the live rabbits hopping about, it seemed a bit perverse. I just couldn't stop thinking about all of that poisonous gas......safe to say we skipped the museum. Instead, we went up to the little hotel on the island, rented bikes and took in the beautiful day. Despite the multiple speed-bumps we encountered, it was the perfect family Saturday.

http://newsfeed.time.com/2014/02/25/bunny-photos-creepy-cuddly/
http://www.odditycentral.com/pics/okunoshima-island-japans-rabbit-paradise.html

The "Dating" Game

 Photos © Hilton Pond Center

Let the wooing begin.You've read it in other blogs I'm sure. When expats congregate in one place overseas, they have a major commonality which is: they're in a foreign location, completely out of their comfort zone, flailing around trying to make it all work and essentially trying to figure crap out. You cut out all the corners and suddenly find yourself with instant diarreah of the mouth seeking out friendships and pouring out your heart and life story to a woman that you've barely met, but one that you think you can have a deep committed two year relationship with. Having done that in expat location #1, I've opted to take my relationships a bit slower here. My heart still is smarting from all those I've left behind. It takes a toll...and I find myself meeting these new people, and holding them up against my "former flames." So this time, I'm, you know, just playing the cards a bit closer to my chest. In reality it's all such a bizarre surreal circumstance you find yourself in. I mean did you actually just read what I wrote? Former flames?? Lord...BUT... this is a very small town, so I'm a bit hesitant to lay it all out there you know? (Not, that I've got a lot to lay out there....lest anyone think that my life is full of big juicy nuggets that you don't know about). (See???? diarrhea of the mouth!! )

The end result of me making this decision this time around? Well, it's a bit lonely...but it's all good. Yes. Sure. All good.
So I've started going out with people. By people, I obviously mean women. Just the other day, I went out with someone for a cup of coffee. She's great- very down to earth, and just nice. Will, who obviously knows about such "dates," asked me right away when he got home..SOOOOO how'd it go?!? Too weird.
However, as I typically do, I tend to perseverate. She didn't call back. I mentally roll through the tape...what did I say? Did I come on too strong? Oh, God, it was my sarcasm wasn't it.
Then I begin the self-talk. Really Aly? How old are you? And at that end of the day, do you really care?
Um...yes. Yes. of course I care!- but you know what? It's Ok. There are lots of fish in the sea. And all this makes for fun blog fodder for you all to read. Let the dating game continue!!!

Chuck is great. I had hair extensions in at the time of this appearance..just in case you're questioning credibility.

                                           

                                         Fan Favorite at 78%




                                           Kate. A paltry 2%




   J Law- It could have been great. I know a sweet gelato place. 20%

Breath of fresh Tokyo air

Ok...so I feel like I've been overly womp womp lately.... To the extent that I'm making parental units and friends a little nervous. Let me assure you, all is well- I'm ok!!! Promise. Apparently I don't handle change as well as I thought. Ha!! Who would've thunk it.

So here I sit, drinking a pumpkin latte from Tully's, while I sit outside of Seattle's Best. I know totally rebellious right?! But they have outdoor seating at SB...and I bought a scone I'm not going to eat in order to appease my guilt and minimize my chance of getting thrown out. So yes, quite rebellious.

Today is Wyatt's late day- he comes home at 6 from Kendo, so I thought blogging sounded like an optimal choice as opposed to doing the millions of dishes and piles of laundry in my little apartment. I could also go for a run, but well.....maybe later after I build up my pumpkin spice latte love handles a bit more.
I've got a bunch to write about, I'm just not sure how or where to start ....SO in the spirit of remaining positive to convince you all I'm not flying over the cuckoos nest, let's talk Tokyo.
One of my best girlfriend's is Japanese and her home town IS the aforementioned Tokyo. She was one of the first friendly faces I met 4 years ago in Taipei, and we forged a strong connection. I love her.

She moved back to Japan at the same time we did and as friends always do, we promised to stay in touch, making the solemn vow that September would be the month I would come and see her.
Please. How many of us say such things, but in the back of their head's feel it is but a pipe dream.
No, I'm sure none of you. It's just me.
This time was different. Not only did I say I was going, I needed to go. By the bullet train, the Shinkansen, she's only 4 1/2 hours away....I started mentally packing.
Mid-September, Wyatt had a Monday holiday from school and businesses' had off....Will had off. YES!!! I was getting out of dodge.
Despite a small ticket snafu in which I failed to bring all my pre-purchased tickets with me from home, and the fact that I was stuck in the Tokyo station with no way out but for my sweet girlfriend to tell the ticketmaster I could not handle getting a refund back in Hiroshima and that I had no friends to help me, they released me..
No friends I asked her? Really? It worked! Was her reply. Indeed...and not so far fetched; I mean let's get real.
Tokyo. I am so freaking excited to explore Japan. What an amazing, beautiful country. I pictured Tokyo, colder, less inviting, a city ready to suck you in and spit you out. With its tree lined streets, bustling energy and colorful people, shops, and amazing food, I didn't want to leave. Well....with the exception of Will and Wyatt of course......
The weather was unbelievable- the sky was clear, blue , sunny, and we just walked until our feet were throbbing. She brought me to a handful of differing districts where we walked, shopped, ate, got our hair done, ate, saw the obligatory temples, alleyways, climbed the overlook to look at the city skyline at night an then walked some more. We caught up, sang karaoke, ate some more and just thoroughly enjoyed being together.
For the first time since I had been here, Japan felt like home.

Side Note- Her daughter can now sing Billy Joel's piano man like it's her JOB while I, on the other hand can sing SK8TR BOI like it's mine. WIN.