alright, alright, and one more little teaser before i legit blog

HADDO. just wanted to give a small bit of comic interjection before blogging about hokkaido (i do realize that i'm a few weeks behind, but, shoganai [can't be helped]).

today, i decided to start running again. this is mostly because i (perhaps subconsciously, in an effort to keep warm) obtained a modest layer of winter blubber. so, i donned my uniqlo workout gear and hit the streets (aka the beaten roads between rice paddies). it was about 4:30, so many shougakusei (elementary school students) were walking home. you can tell they are in elementary school because they wear cute little caps that help make them more visible to drivers. also, when they cross the street, they put an arm up high in the air, so as not to get smushed by the worst drivers on earth.

as i skirted by a rowdy group of boys throwing rocks, i said hello. they all screamed, "HADDO," and one ran after me with a huge grin, hollering, "I LIKE SUSHI!!" don't we all, kiddo. don't we all.

also today, in one of my favorite classes, the student were meant to memorize their speeches for the "show and tell" presentations this week. i wandered around, helping them practice. i spotted one of my favorite cheeksters, yuki, chatting with girls instead of working.

me: conrad (his "english" name), what are you doing?
yuki: OH. HADDO.
me, pointing at his paper: please memorize.
yuki, grinning: no...w...no way.
me, laughing: no way?
yuki: HAI. NO WAY.

i then bopped him on the head with my pen, and we all had a good hardy-har-har. i like when the kiddles get mischievous on me. makes everything much more fun!

and, of course, essay excerpts.

from a second year male who traveled to australia on the school trip:

I had a lot of good experiences and I also had many surprised experiences. I was the most surprised that I went to the rest room in Australia. Where should I saw there but aluminum wall! The rest room is an aluminum wall only! I was very surprised and ashamed but I wanted to urinate. I called up all my brave and tried to urinate. Then, I fell down uric as well as my shameful feeling. After that I did not shy. So I enjoyed Overseas English Language Programme in Australia.

note: i don't know what "fell down uric" means, but we can all use our imaginations on that one.

from one of my favorite students, yuri, after reading my sample essay:

Dear Lily

I was really impressed your essay and the way of thinking! I agree with your idea and I want to tell your idea to the current Jpanese prime minister. haha ^_^ I really want to improve speaking skills and enjoy English more! So, I love talking with you because you are lovely and kind <3>

and the next day:

Thank you for checking my essay. Love ya.

cannot handle the cuteness!

lastly for this blob, choice words from another yuki, and another of my flavorites (dame! i'm a bad sensei. but at least i don't let on who my ichiban seito are):

Japanese anime and comic have become very popular for two reasons. One is that they are easy to understand the stories. The other is that they infiltrated with the advent of nerds in all over the world. Therefore, thanks to the process of it, many foreigners could know about anime and manga. In conclusion, the reasons of their popularations are easiness to understand and the advent of nerds.

my comment: “Oh my gosh, that made me laugh so hard! I'm an English nerd :)”

and his priceless response: I'm glad to hear that you laughed so hard! Your smiles can make this world very happy ^_^ Please have confidence of not only your smiles, but also your cute face ^_^ Oh, please don’t mistake me as a playboy >_<

this from the boy who told me in november that he was thankful for my "cuteness and happy body." also, as if ANYONE could mistake a japanese high school boy as a playboy, LOL! even the "cool" ones are dweeby!

anyways, that's all for now, folks. stay warm!

munchin' crunchies in my ivory tower (thanks to a certain irish lad who doubles as my cadbury crunchy dealer),

riri