The first picture I ever post on my blog, and this is it. Jon, you should feel special. Oh, you too, Boone. The sad part about the night of "Drunken Twister" is that...well, we weren't actually drunk. I'm sure someone is going to be upset by my posting this picture (probably Jon), but at least I didn't blog about things that were supposed to be like Vegas - whatever happened at Zet's was supposed to stay at Zet's (*ahem* Tiffany).

I have started to link other Okayama JETs on the sidebar. When I'm too lazy to post pictures or stories, I'm sure you'll find an abundance there. I should go back and add pictures to previous posts...

I had a productive day off yesterday! In the morning, I tried a zillion different bike shops to try to inflate my saggy tires, but they were all closed. Stores sure open late over here! In total, I went to 3 bike shops and 2 gas stations to get two bikes' worth of air. The two guys at the Jomo gas station rate high up on the "very helpful" list as they figured out what I wanted by my bad Japanese, and filled up my tires for free. Also the man at the bike shop who took me outside to their trial pump and said I could use it (again for free).

Then I went off to Okayama to have lunch with Joe. We hung around and shopped around for a bit, then he had to go. So I kept on shopping by myself! I finally bought a pair of bright orange converse shoes that I'd been eyeing for months since I got here! They're so pretty, and they were on sale! Hooray! I also hit up Gap and bought 2 sweaters and a pair of pants, all also on sale!! Then I went to Kinokuniya (one of the two bookstores with English books) and bought Sherlock Holmes. Wow, I bought lots of great stuff! It was one of those fantastic shopping days!

Phill gets here on Friday - I can't wait!

Today's blog will be about helpful vs. useless. I think I've mentioned before that people here can either be extremely helpful, or...not. In the case of useless people, I cite the lady I talked to the first time I took the bus. I asked if the bus went to the station, and her answer (instead of a yes, no, or I don't know) was "maybe." Then there was the cell phone salesman. Don't even get me started on that useless lump.

I will focus on the super helpful today. My desk is right at the door of the teachers' office. The door opens into the hallway, which has giant windows looking out into the courtyard. Basically, the school is a giant U (with the courtyard being in the big area between the sides), and the teachers' office is at the bottom of the U. Anyway, the door to the office has frosted glass, so sunlight isn't an issue...unless the door is open. The sun has been in the right position the past few weeks so that at the end of the day, it comes streaming straight into my eyes. At first it only affected me...but it slowly moved to blind every other teacher sitting down my row. Normally, when the door is closed, it's fine, but after school all the kids come in and leave the door open so that we are basking in the sunlight (and losing our eyesight). I figured it wasn't a big deal and that the sun would move in a few weeks. The other teachers minded more, it seems, and last week the school custodian guy put up curtains on the hall windows.

Apparently the school has been around for 33 years, and for 33 years, teachers have been putting up with the glaring sunlight. My supervisor told me the curtain was put there just for me, but I have a suspicion that it was them who really wanted it there! In any case, it's nice not to go blind every day, so I will just be thankful that the school was so pro-active in making "me" comfortable. The school now rates an enthusiastic "not useless."

In other news, Bernie came over for a delightful day. She came over around 10:30ish, we watched the latest Grey's Anatomy together, then left the last 2 of last season to download since she hadn't seen them yet, and we hit up the Indian place for lunch buffet. It was yum, perhaps not as yum as the first night we ate there, but certainly some tasty stuff! The drink selection was great, since chai (both hot and cold) was up for grabs. When we came back, we chatted for a bit, then watched more GA. After she left, David called because he was in the 'hood, so I went to meet him and his friends and I watched them eat. I biked to Jusco myself after that, to pick up some more yarn and groceries. I think I will knit people scarves for Christmas. I'm gonna get working on it! :)

Oh, and one more thing, I have started some links on the side to some of the other JETs in Okayama Prefecture. So far, they are only of those in "Super Secret Group A" so call me a snob if you will. ;)