the first 6 months...

SO i thought it would be fitting to commemorate surviving the 6 month mark living in Japan by reliving the most memorable moments thus far....apparently if you survive the first 6 months in a foreign country, you can stay forever!!! GREAT! i can't wait to be a 40 year old jaded single american woman teaching english....

Moments that managed to bring humor/life experience/a good story into my monotonous daily life (in no particular order):

-Learning to ignore the creepy men who stare and approach me regularly. no, i DONT want to meet you tonight at the train station. Since when is a polite "No Thank You" permission to continue following me?!

-Waging World War III against the vile cockroach kingdom.

-Shouting "FUCK!" on the street just as a pastor pedaled by on his bicycle.

-Being one of two (at the moment very self-conscious) Americans in a packed concert hall listening to Japanese musicians play "America the Beautiful"

-Getting food poisoning for the first time in my life. I am deeply indebted to Lop-Nor Chinese Restaurant for aiding in my half-hearted dieting efforts.

-Foolishly laughing at the Sex and the City episode where Charlotte has to make a life-altering decision regarding breaking up with the sweet but face-mauling licker of a dog, i mean man she was dating....ONLY to have it happen to me. I have a whole new level of respect for my favorite show. WWJD? Charlotte and I both listened to Samantha's advice on this one.

-Having a 007 moment, where I, in a dress and 4-inch heels, ran up my three flights of stairs narrowly escaping possible rape or attack as a 30-something year old Japanese creep chased me up the stairs after he asked me to come over and talk to him for a little bit.

-Going on an amazing first date with an 18-year old Japanese pop star look-alike.

-Losing a bet that I would not drink alcohol less than 24 hours after the handshake.

-Countless moments at work including:
-modeling for 20 minutes during a lesson for an amateur boxer/photographer student.
-helplessly listening during an interview as a potential student weeped at my feet, recounting the death of his father and dealing with being homeless and depressed. He then wiped his tears and asked me to join his chuch.
-helplessly listening during an interview as a potential student told me how much he needed sex.
-Reprimanding my class of 8-year old girls when they refused to do their homework until I had a baby. They then asked for confirmation that women can indeed have babies without having a boyfriend.

-Watching in absolute fascination as a Japanese woman stole laundry detergent from a store in broad daylight.

-Continuing to struggle with the Japanese language-despite the fact that I have been speaking it since birth. For example,
shouting out to a student in the hallway at work the Japanese equivalent of "HELLO JCPENNYS!!!!!" No one else seemed to agree with me that Masanori and Maruhiro (the high-class Walmart down the street) sounded quite similar.

-Trying to be a cool local by riding my bicycle everywhere-and failing miserably. I realized the relationship was over after I nearly killed an old man.

-Experiencing the ideal relationship: I converse in English once a week with my dapper 85-year old Japanese student, who takes me out for coffee and sushi regularly just because he enjoys talking to me!

-Buying my first manga! No I do not strive to be an otaku but I like finding creative ways to improve my Japanese. Really.

-Eating the best food I have ever had in my life on a daily basis and loving the fact that a temple is nestled in between apartment buildings down the street.