Weekend Update

highlights included...

1-i escorted 22 of my nifty students to the color run at Dodger's Stadium on saturday. post run celebration commenced with a grilled cheese sandwich stuffed with mac n' cheese, bacon and avocado from the Grilled Cheese food truck. 

judge all you want, it was eyes-roll-back-in-your-head kinda good.

3-a weekend homemade pancake breakfast. 

4-cheering on team USA with snazzy nails and pizza to boot.

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hope you all had a great weekend too!

xo

kate

Mom's St. Patrick's Day Excitement

My mom and good family friend, Carol, are flying in this weekend for their first visit to Japan. They will be missing the Tokyo parade, but they will be at the Chiba parade on the 20th decked in green and Guinness in hand. I got this email today from my mom that made me laugh right out loud. 

To: Kate  
From:Mom   
Subject: Your Majesty
My dear queenie, Carol and I are in countdown and looking forward to seeing you. I just wanted to wish you good luck in the parade. I do think your new bangs and tiara will look great together. Picked up the reeses today and Jim is taking us to the airport on Sat. 
Love u, your royal subject mother

Hope everyone is getting ready for St. Patrick's Day!

Caed Mile Failte, 

Kate

P.S. Tokyo/Chiba St. Patrick's Day festivities information here.

                                                                         [The Latest]

Must Read: North Korean propaganda video...The Sun. 

Google Search: Angela Carter.

Tune: Angeles By Elliot Smith.

Accomplishment: Having an awesome lesson about cultural differences with my 2nd years.

Obsessions: My little scone for White Day from Namiko's 8 year old son.

Barry's Back

Today, on the other side of the world, the US welcomed President Obama back for another four years. I didn't watch any of the inauguration, but I did read a few articles and peak at a few pictures. Amidst this very special American moment, I would be lying if I said that my initial reaction to the below picture was anything other than, Michelle got bangs! 
Glad to see her and I are on the same page. 

Welcome back Obama.

Top 5 Quotes from Obama's Inauguration

"My fellow Americans, we are made for this moment, and we will seize it – so long as we seize it together."

"We, the people, still believe that our obligations as Americans are not just to ourselves, but to all posterity."

"We will defend our people and uphold our values through strength of arms and rule of law.  We will show the courage to try and resolve our differences with other nations peacefully – not because we are naïve about the dangers we face, but because engagement can more durably lift suspicion and fear."

"We, the people, declare today that the most evident of truths – that all of us are created equal – is the star that guides us still; just as it guided our forebears through Seneca Falls, and Selma, and Stonewall; just as it guided all those men and women, sung and unsung, who left footprints along this great Mall, to hear a preacher say that we cannot walk alone; to hear a King proclaim that our individual freedom is inextricably bound to the freedom of every soul on Earth."

"We cannot mistake absolutism for principle, or substitute spectacle for politics, or treat name-calling as reasoned debate."

American,
Kate

P.S. Read what some people had to say on election day way back in November.

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Must Read: North Korean Labor Camps on Google Maps...RTE News.

Google Search: Judi Dench.

Tune: Someday By The Strokes

Accomplishment: Cleaning my floors.

Obsessions: New crisp white t-shirts from Santa.

Airborne

I discovered a new favorite hobby: taking pictures from airplane windows. The view outside, assuming it's light out, is always stunning even if you are just looking at clouds. Plus, there is the added fun of not getting caught by a stewardess, so far I'm 4/4. Either I'm real smooth or they just don't care as much as I think they do. 

Here are a few shots from up above, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Narita, Japan.

The Air Above...

[Los Angeles]

[San Francisco]

[Japan]

I couldn't get my phone out in time before we landed of the seemingly endless rice fields. 

So, I had to settle for a pic on the ground. Next time. 

Those two symbols together mean, Japan.

Grounded, 

Kate

[The Latest]

Out of the clouds and back to reality. 

Voting Voices

With election day in full swing over in the US, I woke up this morning to some of the most passionate facebook statuses I have ever seen. I think it is amazing to see everyone so involved. How lucky we are that we live in a place where we can share our opinions so freely. Here are a few noteworthy facebook statuses...

-What's this erection everyone keeps talking about?...from a Canadian living in Tokyo

-Voted last week so doing what should really be done on Election Day: tanning & drinking on my roof. Past presidents would be proud

-People remember that it is NOT okay to post pictures of your ballot online! Don't cancel out your vote for something as trivial as a tweet!

-On this Election Day, I am thankful for my friends and the broad situational usefulness of alcohol.

-Happy voting day! I'll just be here holding my breath for the next 12 hours, praying that my rights as a woman don't get taken away from me today by a rich white guy...
-It's funny to know that, either way, half of the country is going to wake up pissed off tomorrow.
-i made it 4 more years without any proud republicans as friends!
-remember, if you're voting for romney, you vote tomorrow.

-It's so funny experiencing an election in California versus Texas. Talk about two extremes.

-i don't believe in the democratic party or the republican party, i just believe in parties

-I know I am supposed to do something today.....

-oooOoOo gooooddd. I never thought I would ever WANT to see or hear about your kids, dogs, or that sandwich you just ate. I can NOT wait until tomorrow when everyone stops being a political expert.
--Apple Maps projects Obama to win in Chile.

-Glad I wore my Captain America earrings to work today.

-If Obama wins, which it looks like it is going to happen... all I can say is... dude... u better put in some work n turn this country around like u said u would 4 yrs ago...

-President Obama has won Ohio. President Obama has been re-elected. Congrats, Mr. Obama. Excuse me, Mr. President.

-Thanks, America. You're still my favorite.

-Ron Swanson 2016!

-I am not an American citizen yet, but I'm as excited as If I were one right now :)!!!

-Above all God is in control.......

-Goodbye America ...it's been nice knowing you

-Well, I guess I will continue to struggle to find a job for at least the next four years. And for all the people saying that unemployment is simply due to laziness, I have a Bachelor's degree from a Top 5 School in the nation for my major. In the past two years, I have applied and interviewed for a ridiculous number of jobs but continue to not receive them. I find out later for almost every job that I have tried to get, a friend of the hiring person has received the job. So, it has nothing to do with laziness...it is simply poor economic conditions due to bad leadership. As a Christian, I will continue to know that God has a plan and is in control.

-Now if only Jay-Z could have the same effect on the Brooklyn Nets

-still don't understand how electoral voting makes sense. for a candidate to win by ONE MILLION popular votes, yet LOSE the presidential election, it just simply boggles my mind.

      -....call al gore

‎-1/2 of the US, and the rest of the world breathes a sigh of relief.

-So, do we push for a recount, or just concede and start working on the articles of impeachment?

-NOT HAPPY :( Just hope and pray that these next four years are different and better for the country

-Time to start impeachment!

-"thanks 'merica"

-Congratulations, Republicans. You have succeeded in your goal to make President Obama a one term president. One MORE term

-It may be a secret ballot, but really you only have to read everyone's FB status to see who they voted for. 

To those disappointed in tonight's results: We lived with Bush for 8 years, you can deal with Obama for 8, too. It's only fair.
-The air tomorrow morning is gonna taste FRESH. So invigorating.
-Women empowerment. women taking over the senate. Maybe one day a female president?
-democrats are like zombies. There are too many of them and at the end of the day you are no better off

- got 99 problems but Mitt Romney ain't one
--Maybe your concession speech is stuck somewhere in the bindaaas full of women. #byemitt

-Congratulations Obama and everyone who won in this year's election. For those who did not win, thank you for your service and for making this election season something to talk about

"obama just tweeted..." -l.k.

Kate

[The Latest]

 Huffington Post Election Results.

Vote

Happy Voting Day!

(Japan Time)

Showada Sensei, the history teacher, sits across from me. He speaks little to no English, but likes to practice what he does know. A few weeks ago, we were walking down the hall and he caught up to me, "Keito! Ro-mu-ney Ooo-ba-ma?!" 

Once I figured out essentially what he was asking me, and that he had just Japanese-ified the major US political candidates, I chuckled. "Ooooo good question!" I told him who I thought I was going to vote for, and he let out a laugh and an, "Ahhhhh me too."

So when my absentee ballot came a few days later, I brought it to school to show him. He was fascinated. He knew quite a bit about the US political system, it was obvious he had studied it, but had never seen an actual ballot. I had been mailed a sample ballot and told him if he wanted I could make him a few copies. We went through page by page, and I explained as best I could, that I was voting for things for America, California, Los Angeles and my hometown. He made notes on his sample ballot as I talked. I pointed out the names he knew, Obama and Romney, and he highlighted them. He knew a bit about congress and the senate, and knew there were three branches, but was struggling to remember what they each did. He asked some good questions, which led to some googling on my part and a little diagram I gave to him.

Last week, when I was actually voting at my desk, he stood up to go to class, saw what I was doing, and applauded me. Apparently, he too thinks it is important.  

Today, in Japan, is November 6th. Voting day. This morning before class he turned to me and said in perfectly simple Japanese, "Keito, why is voting day on a Tuesday?"

I had no idea.

It really makes no logical sense in terms of convenience for voters. I assumed their was some historical reason, but didn't have enough of an answer to give him. 

I googled and then found this.

So there ya go, crisis averted.

Go Vote, 

Kate

P.S. If you really disagree with the whole voting on Tuesday thing, you're not alone. Check out WhyTuesday.org.

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Must Read: US Election Analysis...The Independent. 

Google Search: Capital of Slovenia.

Tune: 22 By Taylor Swift.

Accomplishment: Mopping my floor.

Obsessions: Tea light candles from IKEA.