Yazdan kalma birgünden
Yada çölde Çay filminden
Benimde sahneler aklımda
Seninkilerden farklı ama
Artık kendini kandırma
Yoktur üstüne senin güzeli çirkin yapmakta
Suçuysa dünyaya atmakta
Neyin bildinki değerini
Benimkini bileceksin
Bunuda tabi mahvedeceksin
İki yabancı iki yabancı
Birlikte ama yalnız
İki yabancı

After a talk, Spad took his super duper helm and wore it on, we were talking what to do, and he stared to work in the texture, with a picture that i took (rl) from an old place .. hihihi ... he is really good ^^

Last Monday we decided to buy the land in the corner, is pretty good because has 2 sea sight, not like the other one that has just one, so, we keep 2 lands with sea sight and the one in the back, was sold. (well not really, I just payed 1L for that, so i just gave it back)

So, we have a complete side and front view to the sea, isn't great?

***

Our outfit

Ake:

Skin from Celestial Studios - Vogue Skin - Mid Peach (Pure) freckled

Eyelashes are from :)(: PIXELFASHION

Eyes from LUNACY - Glossy Reflective - ROYALTY -

Hair from Here comes troubles, Vesper((big)) - Pitchblack-Platinum

Tattoos from ** [ Riddle ] ** Paw Print Tattoos

Socks from *LeeZu Baxter* Anna Stockings 13

Shorts from iki's Dutch Touch Shop - Short blue jeans

Top from [MG fashion] Gigi Tank Top (saddle brown)

Spad:

Photo 1:

Hoodie:  Elephant Outfitters - Nautical Striped Hoodie

Pants:  Elephant Outfitters - Clasic cargo

Photo 2 and 3

Pants:  Elephant Outfitters - Clasic cargo

Coat: The Bobbysock Shoppe - Cowboy Trenchcoat (Duster)

Hair and Skin, no idea, sorry.

Ake.S.

01) Sagopa - Kajmer - Intro
02) Sagopa - Kajmer - Ben Hüsrana Komşuyum
03) Sagopa - Kajmer - Bir Kulaç Daha Atsam Karadayım
04) Sagopa - Kajmer - Düşersem Yanarım
05) Sagopa - Kajmer - İki Tanık
06) Sagopa - Kajmer - Gölge Haramileri
07) Sagopa - Kajmer - Bir Çıkar Yolum Yok
08) Sagopa - Kajmer - Sahibinin Sesi
09) Sagopa - Kajmer - Beyâban
10) Sagopa - Kajmer - Sonumuz Yakın Mesafe
11) Sagopa - Kajmer - Gördüklerime İnanmam Gerek
12) Sagopa - Kajmer - Vesselam
13) Sagopa - Kajmer - Tek Başınalığın Yolcusu
14) Sagopa - Kajmer - Yakın ve Uzak
15) Sagopa - Kajmer - Düşenin Dostu Olmaz
16) Sagopa - Kajmer - Dessas
17) Sagopa - Kajmer - Kötü İnsanları Tanıma Senesi

TIKLA İNDİR

Pit10 - Azrailin Ensesinde (feat. Info)
Pit10 - Besinci Boyut (feat. Salt Empoze)
Pit10 - Beyin Firtinasi
Pit10 - iki Zar (feat. Ako)
Pit10 - Kaynayan Hirs
Pit10 - Postmodern
Pit10 - Yagmurlu Gunlerde
Pit10 - Yarin Belki Cok Gec

TIKLA İNDİR

01.Mt intihar(intro) intihar Part 4
02.Mt Sen Krizlerinde intihar Part 4
03.Mt Savas Cicekleri intihar Part 4
04.Mt Yas(interlude) intihar Part 4
05.Mt Kefenin Cebi Yok intihar Part 4
06.Mt Yagmurlari Ben Agladim(interlude) Ozlem intihar Part 4
07.Mt Yurek Parem intihar Part 4
08.Mt Iki Bal Yuz intihar Part 4
09.Mt Daha Ne Diyim(outro) intihar part 4

TIKLA İNDİR

Hayki & Yas - Nolur Evet De
hayki&yas-anla artık
hayki&yas-baymadan
hayki&yas-birleşen iki kalp
hayki&yas-ezil büzül
hayki&yas-it
hayki&yas-şşŞŞ!!
hayki-sen
yas&hayki-duygularım çok hasta

TIKLA İNDİR

Better titled "What ALTs do when they're really, really bored.  And silly."

Pretty usual karaoke until about a minute in.  I encourage you to make it that far.

Your heart

Flip-flops and changes

Like a marionette.

There's someone in the shadows

Pulling your strings.

...

Karakuri no

Patto - kawarishi

Omae no kokoro

Kage de ito hiku

Hito ga aru

...Sto leggendo questo delizioso saggio di Liza Dalby e mi ha talmente affascinato da spingermi a proprorle di curarne la traduzione italiana, per una nuova edizione riveduta e ampliata.

Il suo sì mi ha stupito e reso felice, allo stesso tempo. Dunque mi metto subito al lavoro!

Grazie, cara Liza, sarà un onore collaborare con te.

...

Il tuo cuore

Ondeggia e muta

come una marionetta.

Qualcuno, nell'ombra,

tira i tuoi fili.

Little Songs of the Geisha, Liza Dalby.

01.AKO feat. Astronom - iki Dil Bil
02.AKO feat. KMK - Tekbir Hücum
03.AKO feat. Pit10 - 2zar
04.AKO feat. Nashit - Çikmazlar
05.AKO - 5. Mevsim
06.AKO feat. Canka & Info - Marifet Gerek
07.AKO feat. Medusa - Uzak Diyarlarda
08.AKO feat. Hüküm aka FlexTower - Orta Parmak
09.AKO feat. Nashit - Yüregime Dokun

TIKLA İNDİR

Second, I have three Junior High Schools and four Elementary schools.  However, I only go to Elementary school on Friday, which means I visit each school once a month.  That means not a lot of interaction with them (sadly), and probably not planning much in the way of lessons-I hope to create a stronger relationship with the teachers at my schools so I can see what they expect me to prepare.

Okay?  Okay!

So, I officially taught my first class on Wednesday-though all my classes were more along the lines of "Let's meet Kat!" versus "Let's learn English!"  I prepared some pretty thorough visual aids to go along with it (Basic Facts, My Family, Washington, Arizona, China, and Japan story boards) which I think helped with comprehension since-at the teacher's urging-I spoke in solely English at the Junior High Schools.  In Elementary, I nixed the China/Japan boards and spoke in an English-Japanese mix.

I also prepared a true/false quiz to go with the introduction.  Even though I thought it would be pretty easy, the things were (in my opinion, though my JTEs-Japanese Teachers of English-disagree) an unmitigated disaster.  Why?

One word: BORING.

Me talking at students is not that fun for them no matter how interesting I try to make myself sound.  Me talking at students followed by a quiz?  DEFINITELY not fun.  I don't really think it helped them retain any of "Let's meet Kat" more than anything else would so, after teaching at Naka chuu, and playing a few games with the kids courtesy of Adorable-sensei, I've modified my plans.

Choice of:

Let's meet Kat! Bingo - in which the Bingo squares are phrases about me, and the first few people to get Bingo get a cool sticker of me saying "YES!" or "YOU ROCK!"

Let's meet Kat! Pictionary - in which several terms are chosen from my introduction, the class is split into teams, and students draw.  First team to shout out the correct answer (in English) gets a point.  The team with the most points at the end wins.

Then at least they won't think I'm a bore.

I'll be able to use this modified plan with my second years at Muchuu and with all three years at (the very small) Hatsuyama. 

I'm very busy at Muchuu.  Muchuu is the biggest Junior High School on Iki, with about 250 students.  There are eight total classes, and I teach five every time I go (Mondays and Wednesdays) out of six class periods total.  It's pretty grueling, but I'm actually happy about it because then I don't sit at my desk doing absolutely nothing like I did over the summer.  During the free period, my plans are to do one of two things: plan lessons, or go to home economics classes and bake with the students because schools have ovens.

I KNOW!  OVENS!

Not sure what we'll be making though.

Have thought up several genius ideas for games for next week (my first years-seventh graders-are learning numbers above 10, and my second years-eighth graders-get to learn measure words/counters).  I have to ask Nice-sensei whether they're ok, but I'm pretty proud of myself.  Hopefully they'll work as well as I hope.

Elementary school is a different bag of worms.  I taught sixth- and fourth-years today, and it was a lot of fun.  Compared to Junior High Schoolers, they're a lot more involved-but maybe that's because I spoke in Japanese.  The fourth-years were especially genki and, when question time came, we spent the whole class asking and answering questions.  One after another!  It was amazing, nothing like the other classes I've taught so far.  I was also very impressed in the sixth year class, when one student asked which Presidential candidate I prefer, McCain or Obama.  This kid is either eleven or twelve years old!  When I was eleven or twelve, if you would've asked me who the Prime Minister of Japan was (at the time, Koizumi Junichiro), I would've raised an eyebrow and said, "Seriously?  You expect me to know that?"

I'm really looking forward to teaching an actual class, and running around with them.

A few further observations:

Japanese people get a kick from me saying "Mondai nai" (no problem).  Not sure why, as no one has been able to explain in Japanese that I understand.  Maybe I will ask Nice-sensei next time I go to Muchuu.  I'm guessing it just sounds weird, like if I were to say in English, "The problem does not exist."

School lunch: Students serve school lunch to one another and eat in the classrooms.  At Hatsuyama and Naka, I eat lunch with the students (not so, sadly at Muchuu, but I do get to know the other teachers).  The lunches aren't too bad-most of the time-but what gets my goat is how the lunch is served.  For hygienic purposes, I assume, students wear aprons/special jackets, hair covers, and face masks.

Except the girls can still have bangs poking out. 

And they DON'T WEAR GLOVES.

Especially in elementary school, the hands are the dirtiest part of the body!  And they handle the food ladles, the chopsticks, the bowls and plates, but don't wear gloves.  No wonder so many other ALTs spoke about getting sick from the kids at school.  It's because during school lunch they're collecting all the germs from everybody.

But that's ok.  I'll still eat school lunch.

Also, milk here is very fattening.  They don't have non-fat, 1%, or even 2%.  Everything is 3.6%--or even more if you're looking for whole milk.  So I don't drink the milk.  I can't.  It's too thick, it makes me gag.  But when the teachers ask, "Oh, do you not drink milk?" I feel weird lying because I drink nonfat.  So I say, "Yes, but not this kind-the nonfat kind."  And then they look at me like I'm crazy.  I bet they think it's a diet thing.  ...but really, I'm just used to nonfat.

School Uniforms: I was a public school kid my whole life, and you can't exactly enforce uniforms on most college students, so I've never experienced the life of strict clothing rules.  But let me tell you, I've been to three school assemblies, and it's an experience.  Uniforms are not just clothing, they're a way of life.  Coming from a culture that revels in its individualism, this I think is the most interesting and different aspect of Japan.  (I'm not knocking it, I'm just saying it was a shock and interesting to see.)

As a note, the word for "individualism" didn't exist in Japanese until the Meiji Restoration when it was created so that Japanese people could understand western thought.

But seriously, I stood in the back of an assembly once while Jovial-yet-Scary-sensei put the fear of God into the kids (he teaches Art... and is also the school's disciplinarian).  I saw a sea of white shirts, black bottoms, and black heads.  You could have taken one girl and stuck her in another girl's place and never noticed a difference.  Really distinctive cultural aspect.

Ninensei-sensei: (ninensei means second year) I now have a new Japanese teacher.  She mentioned that we could help each other study the other's language, and my response was "Oh, you are now my new sensei!" and I bowed.  She got really embarrassed, but giggled.  I think it's hilarious, so when outside of class I will continue to call her sensei unless it seems like she doesn't find it as funny as I do.

Any questions?  I'll try to answer as best I can.

And as a parting shot, some pictures from a high school's sports day

I have my Sport's Days on September 14 and 21.  Wish my students luck!

Junior High School students are so shy you have to pry any type of question from them, but mention Sailor Moon and they all get interested.  (Or Naruto.  Or Dragon Ball Z.  Or a popular J-pop group, like Greeeen.)

Every single person on Iki wants to know if I have a boyfriend.  (And by every person, I mean every student.  My favorite answer right now is, "Yes.  I have five boyfriends."  Then there's an ensuing, "Eeeeeeh?!" at which point I say, "No, I don't have a boyfriend." and they all get a little sad.)

Have officially been asked about my piercing.  Though one teacher said it was "kawaii," which means cute.  I believe this is progress.

At enkais-parties-I can tease my Kyoto-sensei-Vice principle #3-who I will call Trouble Maker from now on.  Trouble Maker and I had a drinking contest, essentially, which he won.  While I drank more of the sake, he can handle his shochu (Japanese whiskey) much better than I can.  But I totally Ganbatta'd.  (That's such amazing Jengrish.)

That thirteen- and fourteen-year old students would get such a kick out of pictionairy, bingo, and stickers.  I'm glad though.  I certainly get a kick out of stickers.  It's nice to know that I'm not the only one.

So many Japanese people don't realize the Grand Canyon is in Arizona.

And they can't figure out what the hell Washington State has to do with anything until I say the name "Ichiro."  (Though ask an American student where Kumamoto prefecture is in Japan and see whether they can answer correctly.  Yeah.  That's what I thought.)

That the X-box would go down in price, so now I think I'll actually buy one.  :)

Who woulda thunk I'm a teacher?  Totally weird.  ;)

The traffic lights in Iki turn to yield/stop signs at nine pm.  Rather frightening as Iki drivers are pretty terrible.

There's a baby mukade (poisonous centipede) living somewhere in my house, about two inches long.  I saw it on my pot rack and couldn't attack it with the Mukade Freeze! Killer because, well, I would have sprayed my pots, too, and then I'd be sick for the next month every time I used them to cook with. 

I guess I could have bought all new pots.

That's pretty expensive.

Nagasaki city was more humid than Iki.  A little odd, as Iki's an island, so you'd think it'd be more.  I guess the mountains surrounding Nagasaki keeps the air from moving, though.

Tried gardening more today.  The bugs and the heat were really bad, though, so I only got through about a third of what I have remaining.  Hope the temperature decreases again, and the mosquitoes stop biting.  And I stop killing the potato (roly-poly) bugs every time I go after a root.

Wearing my hair "down" for the first time in weeks and weeks.  That is, instead of throwing it into a messy bun, I pig-tail-braided it this morning.  Yuka commented that she hadn't realized how long my hair is.

I'd forgotten, too.

Bought three new books in Nagasaki (I can't help it; there's no way I'm getting my foreign digs in Iki.)  Persuasion by Jane Austen, Atonement by Ian McEwan (Amanda said it's really good), and Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman by Haruki Murakami (collection of short stories).  Excited to read them.  Currently critiquing another person's book, though, so cannot.  Also dangerously close to falling asleep.  Would be bad as it's nearly 5:30pm and I have to sleep well enough to be comprehensible at my first day of actual work tomorrow.

Really want to bake some cookies.  Mom, when Christmas rolls around, can you do the mass-cookie-send thing again?  Don't spend too much money, but holy bejebus, do I want some baked sugar.

Saw Obama's acceptance speech.  Nearly cried (definitely teared up).  Hooted with joy at the end.  Saddened, though, that about half of America probably would not get as pumped up as me.  Don't see why... his overall assumption really resounds well: you cannot go to either extremes in taking care of people today, we must BOTH take individual responsibility AND use the government to make up for the differences of (in)equality of opportunity.

Still do not have internet. (09/01: As of about 5:00 today, have the internet.  HUZZAH!  DANCING! SQUEE!)

Trying to decide whether to work on my YA epic, the sequel to the book I just started querying, or this new and fun idea for a regency romance.  (Will definitely finish outlining the series for All I Need, though, so if it does get picked up, I'm ready to write the next two without freaking out.)  Nervous about doing #2 because you can't really query a sequel.  However, as my crit-partner Ashley very rightly pointed out, it would be good to shore up my fan base in one area before branching out to other subgenres.

Though YA and sci-fi romance might be considered similar... maybe. 

Watched the latter half of a "Sports Day."  The tradition of Sports Day is a long and entrenched one in Japan, used to encourage competition, group dynamics, creativity, hard work, and endurance.  Students prepare for it all summer (and, in the case of my kids, throughout the first term as I don't think our Sports Day happens until at least late September).  It is also an opportunity for the boys to crossdress (often as brides...).  No, I have no idea why.  It's considered hilarious, however.

Start classes tomorrow!  YIKES!  (08/01: Have started classes.  Will add thoughts when it's not nearly 11:00 at night and I need to wake up early enough to put out the recycling.)

Adı Cem Yılmaz'la aşk dedikodularına karışan güzel oyuncu Berrak Tüzünataç'la Cansu Dere iki iyi dost!..

SADECE DEDİKODU

atv'nin sevilen dizisi 'Elveda Rumeli'nin başarılı oyuncusu Berrak Tüzünataç'ın Cem Yılmaz'la aşk yaşadığı iddiaları ortaya atılmıştı. Ancak bu haberlerin dedikodudan ibaret olduğu ortaya çıktı.Hem ünlü komedyen hem de Cem Yılmaz'ın uzatmalı sevgilisi Cansu Dere ile iki iyi arkadaş olan Berrak, bu haberler karşısında çok üzülmüş. Berrak'ı teselli etmek ise Cansu Dere'ye düşmüş...

Adamın evine hırsız girmiş. Yükte hafif pahada ağır olanı alıp gitmiş. Adam bir kaç gün sonra eşyanın yokluğunun farkına varmış. Çalınmış olacağı aklına gelmediğinden "Kaybolmuş herhalde, Neyse, canım sağ olsun!" diye umursamamış.

Birkaç hafta sonra hırsız yine aynı eve girmiş. Ev sahibi tıkırtıları duyduğu halde kalkıp bakmaya üşenmiş. Hırsız da alacaklarını toplayıp gitmiş. Giderayak mutfakta bulunan dolmaların(siz başka bir şey düşünün!) tadına da bakmadan edememiş. Bir kaç gün sonra ev sahibi eksiklikleri pek fark edememiş. Fark ettiğine de aldırmamış.

Aradan bir kaç hafta daha geçmiş. Aynı hırsız bir daha gelmiş. Bu defa en başta mutfağa girmiş! Dolma bulamasa da kuru fasulye ile idare etmiş. Evin içerisinde oyalanırken bir ara ihtiyaç gidermek için tuvaleti kullanmış.

…

“Bu şekilde kimilerine göre uzun kimilerine göre de pek uzun olmayan bir zaman geçmiş. Hırsız aynı aralıklar ile gidip gelmeye devam etmiş. Her geldiğinde evin bir kısmına aşina olmuş, bir kısım takım edevat veya evin bazı bölümlerini kullanır olmuş.”

…

Evin sahibi, hırsızın eve giriş çıkışlarını görür olmuş. Evini yerinde durur gördüğünden mi ne, ses sedasını çıkarmadan yaşamına devam etmiş! Ev sahibinin vurdumduymazlığı hırsızın cesaretine cesaret, pervasızlığına pervasızlık katmış.

Zaman birbirini kovalamış. Hırsız ile ev sahibi lokmaları bölüşürcesine diğer ev ahalisi ile yaşamaya devam eder olmuşlar. Öyle ki, sofra kalktıktan sonra hırsız mutfağa gider oracıkta onların gözlerinin önünde karnını doyuruyormuş. Hatta o sene tuvalet sırasına bile girmişler!

Zaman bu, durmak bilmez! Hırsız aynı aralıklar ile gelmeye devam etmiş. Bu defa aynı yatağa beraber uyumaya başlamışlar! Adam ilkin rahatsızlık duymuşsa da, hırsızın rahat tavırları yüzünden bir şey diyemez olmuş. Öyle ya, ne de olsa evden biriydi artık! Yalnız iki kişilik yatağa üç kişinin sığması rahatlarına dokunmuş. Yoksa sorun çıkmıyormuş!

…

Efendim, günler günleri kovalamış ama bir türlü birbirine varamamış. Ev sahibi ile hırsız görünüşte can ciğer olmuşlar. Samimiyetlerini bir hayli ilerletmişler. Öyle ki hırsız, ev sahibine bazı meselelerini açar olmuş. Beraber gülmüşler, beraber ağlamışlar. Yalnız, güldükleri de ağladıkları da, hep hırsızın anlattıkları konular üzerine olmuş. Tecrübeli hırsızın maceraları öyle çoktu ki, doymak bilmeyen sohbetlere hep konu oluyordu.

Derken günün birinde aralarında bir sorun çıkmış. Ev sahibi önünde ki lokmanın aşırılmasına öfkelenmişti. Hırsıza sorsanız asıl haksızlığı ev sahibi yapmıştı. Ev sahibi bencillik yapmış, ekmeğin fazlasını kendi yanına almıştı. Bu hırsıza göre öyle olmuştu. Ama ev sahibine sorsanız asla öyle bir şey yapmamıştı, adil davranmıştı.

Dünya hali bu, her zaman güllük gülistanlık değildir. Günün birinde dostluklarını zedeleyen bir başka mesele için tartışmışlar. Konu bu defa biraz daha ciddiydi; "Tuvalet sorunu!". Hakikaten evin hanımı bu sefer onların bu durumlarından ürkmüştü. İkisi de dövüş horozları gibi burun buruna gelmiş, derin derin solumuştu da neyse ki evin hanımı seçimi hırsızdan yana yaparak meseleye çözüm getirmişti! Hanımına darılan evin beyi soluğu komşusunun tuvaletine "Yetişmekte bulmuştu".

Bazı kırgınlıklar duygusaldır, nazlıdır nazdardır. Evin sahibinin hanımına olan kırgınlığı da öyle idi. Hanımı pişman olmuş elin hırsızına sahiplendiği için ama iş işten geçmiş bir kere. Kocasını akşam yanına alıp da gönlünü almak istemiş, bu defa hırsıza ayıp olacak diye bir türlü yapamamış. Öylece günler gelmiş, geçmiş.

Adam rahat değilmiş. Kendi evinde düştüğü yabancılık onuruna dokunmaya başlamış. Fakat elden ne gelir di ki? Bunca zaman hırsıza göz yuman kendisi değil miydi? Her şey bir yana, çocuklarının elin hırsızına "Baba" diye hitap etmeleri çok gücüne gidiyormuş. Öyle ya, çocukları daha tıfılken hırsız evin müdavimi olmuştu.

(çoçuklar)

Adam kara kara düşünmeye başlamış. Her geçen gün yaşam daha zor bir hale gelmiş. Hırsız da adamı evde görmeye tahammül edemez olmuş! Ara sıra karşı karşıya gelir gibi olmuşlarsa da, ev sahibinin eski(!), hırsızın yeni eşi mani olmuş bunlara.

Sonunda adam dayanamamış ve toplamış azığını tutmuş dağların yolunu. Bir mağara bulmuş kendisine. Evden çıkarken intihar etmeye niyetlenerek çıkmıştı. Ama insan bu, can tatlı, vazgeçilir mi hemencecik “tatlı” yaşamdan?

Uzun bir zaman tek başına yaşayan adam doğadan bir bütün olarak ders almaya başlamış. Güneşten, ay’dan, yıldızlardan hatta uçan kuşlardan bir şeyler öğrenmiş yaşam namına.

Hepsi ona şunu demişler;

YAŞAM İÇERİSİNDE EN ÖNEMLİ EN HAYATİ, BELKİ DE YAŞAMIN GAYESİ BİR TAKIM DEĞERLER VARDIR. DEĞERLERİNDEN UZAK YAŞAYANLAR KENDİ VATANLARINDA DAHİ ESİR OLMAYA MAHKÛMDURLAR.

SIRTINI ÇEVİRECEĞİN KİŞİYİ VEYA KİŞİLERİ TANI. AMA MUTLAKA TANI! EŞİNİ DOSTUNU VE İŞİNİ SEÇMESİNİ BİL. YAPTIĞIN İŞLERİN NE SONUÇ GETİRECEKLERİNİ BİR DEĞERLER CETVELİ VASITASIYLA ÖLÇ! AMA MUTLAKA ÖLÇ!

SENDEN OLMAYANLAR SENDEN OLMUŞ GİBİ GÖRÜNSELERDE EHEMMİYET VERME. ONLARIN SANA YAKINLIKLARI, DENİZ ÜZERİNDE Kİ KÖPÜKLERİN DENİZE YAKINLIKLARI GİBİDİR!

BİL Kİ, HERKES SANA SIRDAŞ VE YOLDAŞ OLAMAZ. HAYAT YOLCULUĞUNDA ÖYLE BİRİLERİ İLE DOSTLUK KUR Kİ, GEREKTİĞİNDE CANLARI PAHASINA SANA TOZ BİLE KONDURMASINLAR.

DÜNYANIN KENDİSİ SÜSLÜDÜR. İNSAN, GÖZE HOŞ GÖRÜNENE YAKINLIK HİSSETSE DE BU, YAŞAM OYUNUNUN BİR PARÇASIDIR.

VATAN, İNSAN YAŞAMINA YÖN VEREN DEĞERLERİN ARDINDAN GELEN BİR ÖNEME SAHİPTİR. NESİLLER GİDER BAŞKA NESİLLER YERLERİNE GELİR. İNSAN VATANSIZ, VATAN İNSANSIZ OLMAZ.

SON OLARAK, BİL Kİ, İNSANIN İKİ GÖZÜ VARDIR. BİRİ MADDE DİĞERİ DE MANA ÂLEMİNE BAKAR. BİRİ DİĞERİNDEN UZAK YAŞAYAMAZ. AKSİ HALDE İNSAN NOKSAN KALIR.

Sonra tüm doğa haykırmaya başlamış;

UĞRUNA ÖLÜNÜBİLECEK DEĞERLER, SEN SAHİPLENSEN DE OLACAK, SAHİPLENMESEN DE!

Took this on my giant exploring trip this last Sunday.  Drive past it every time I go to Ashibe (it's right before the turn).  Not sure what the name of the shrine is, as I can't read it, but it was pretty cool.  Good spiders.  (Including the colorful one from the earlier.) 

Actually decreased the exposure to go for a more moody atmosphere.  Also added vignetting because I thought it would be cool, as well as cropped the thing to take out a power line.  Oh, and adjusted the top curve so the cloud wasn't highlighted out.

Not the best picture I've ever taken, but pretty indicitive of shrines.

The result?  An intense sense of accomplishment along with a right arm that couldn't move (even flex) without spasms of pain.  It took me hours to get to sleep that night, let me tell you.  Luckily, the arm is back to normal, so I think once I get back from Nagasaki I'll get to the other half (this coming Sunday).

Ah, yes, I'm going to Nagasaki for a conference.  It's only a day, but it'll be nice to get off Iki again.  Just for a change of pace.  Those are good.  Occasionally.

To get everyone up-to-date, as well, here's a bit I forgot to post before.

 Shannon, my predecessor, left on August 13, the first day of "O-bon" festival.  I don't know what O-bon festival is, but I'm pretty sure you can wikipedia it if you're really curious.  She was an ALT for two years and knew the island really well-helpful for me who was boggled by the winding roads with no seeming explanation as to why they were so windy.  And no road names.  Look for a road name on Iki, and besides the major ones, you're plum out of luck. 

            So Shannon took the ferry to Fukuoka, and this huge assemblage came to see her off.  Everyone holds these streamers (which I hope were biodegradable) and Shannon gets to hold the big clump at the other end as the ferry pulls out of port and she fades away into the distance.  I'm not sure what it signifies, but it looked pretty cool. 

            That's that.

            Then, as well, here's a picture of two of the other ALTs on the island (the other girls) so you can have a face to a name. 

            I don't yet have pictures of the boys, Nathan and Guy.  At some point in the future they will get noted.  Hopefully when they're making fools of themselves, as that always makes the best picture.

            Still do not have internet, though at this point that's more due to overall laziness instead of it not working.  Hopefully this will be remedied in the future but then who really knows?  It's Iki.  Time (and therefore people) moves slowly.

My goals going out (none of which I accomplished, by the way):

• 1. Find the Vagina Shrine (there's a Shinto Shrine for women which celebrates fertility and has a statue of a giant vagina. Near my house there's also a Penis shrine with a huge Penis. Have not been there yet. But hey, I'm all for increasing my fertility, as long as I can choose when said fertility strikes.)
• 2. Find the Monkey Shrine (there's a shrine filled with dozens of statues of monkeys all cool-looking with moss growing all over it and such. Found a number of signs talking about the Monkey Statues, but was alas a failure.)
• 3. Find the faster way to Ashibe Port from my home (right now it's a fifteen minute drive, but I spied a road that would cut that time about in half. Next time I have to go to Daiei, the supermarket where I get my cereal, I'll try to find my way there again.)

Nonetheless, I present the fruits of my labor-or at least a smattering of said fruits, as I think there are way too many pictures to show every one. 

            First, the insects!

This was actually taken in the stairs to Yuka's apartment.  The Kit Kat is there for perspective.  This is a baby huntsman.  They get to be about the size of dinner plates.  I have not yet seen any even remotely this large near my house, but maybe they're just hiding.  It is one of my greatest fears that one will somehow creep its way inside.  I don't care that they're not poisonous.  It's scary.

This fine specimen was hanging out by a tiny Buddhist statue.  If you look closely, you can see those claw-y fang things.  I love the colors, especially when I use my zoom lens so I have to stand at least three feet away in order to be able to focus.  (I look.  I don't touch.  No way in hell I would ever get within a foot of this crazy monster.) 

            Including legs, it was about the length of my index finger.  Its body was probably about the size of my thumbnail.

Found this SWEET praying mantis (I think it's a praying mantis) hanging out at a "Peace Shrine."   There were horse statues there as well, but not nearly as interesting as this bright green insect as long as my palm.  So cool. 

            Speaking of bright green insects, when I was gardening these bugs that looked exactly like leaves kept jumping around.  It was really odd.  Their camouflage = phenomenal. 

            Took some videos, but I can't figure out how to upload it since the computer I'm using won't go to the US youtube site--just Japan.  If I ever figure it out, I'll put 'em up.

            Next, Shrines and the Like.

            Discovered this quaint place up in Hatsumoto.  I don't even remember the name of the shrine (though if I took some effort I could read it, as it's written in the center of the gate).  Offered a spectacular view of Hatsumoto port and the ocean beyond.

            Something about this shrine had to do with the good-luck cats, as there were (more refined) statues of it inside.  In addition to statues, someone had also thoughtfully offered a 3 oz. Asahi can of beer to the Gods.  Hey, even divine beings need a drink every-once-in-awhile.  I know I sure do.

Graves (all cremation, I believe) are scattered throughout Iki, ranging from the very old to the very new and shiny.  They are well taken care of by their family members and offer an interesting perspective on the continuing importance of family worship, I believe.  Though we'll see what happens when my generation comes into their own. 

            I didn't get a picture of it, not sure how I could, but there's an elementary school up in Hatsumoto that is absolutely surrounded by these sort of graveyards.  On almost all sides.  Leading up.  Going down.  Heading to the left or right.  It was cool, in a morbid sort of way, and very picturesque, surprisingly enough.

            This is the last one, guys.  (I can hear your "huzzah!"s from here.)  I loved the trees on the right-the way they're either bending with the wind or cut that way or even just grow that way. 

            I discovered this bright red path-no, I have no idea why it's red-whilst attempting to find the Vagina Shrine.  I kept seeing the kanji for "Woman" and "Shinto Shrine," so I figured it couldn't hurt.  And it didn't.  As the scenery was amazing.  This is actually part of a "Lover's park" or maybe a "Children's Park"?  I know, seems like two completely different words, but all I could read were the kanji for "male" and "female." 

            This, by the way, was the result from traveling through the "tree tunnel."

---

Overall, a fun adventure.  There's still plenty of places for me to go-see goals above-so I've got a lot to do before the weather turns on me.  Ah well, what's life if not polluting the environment as I travel around the virtual rainforest that is Iki? 

            I really want that 180 Macro now (? Ok, not quite sure on the mm length).  Although I bet by the time I get it I'll be all, "Psh, insects, who wants to take pictures of them?  Been there, done that."

            Bad self.  Need self control.  First on the agenda is to send money to mom and dad to start paying off loans/credit card.  That comes before shiny new lens.

            Sadly.

5.  Take pictures on the beach(es) (preferably without ruining my camera), and at midnight on the beach

Ok, so it wasn't exactly midnight but close enough.  And I didn't ruin the camera.

Did a lot of post editing.  Increased the exposure by about two stops, lowered sharpness, adjusted color, even played with the curves a little to make sure that the moon wasn't too bright.  Love the raw.  I'm not as pro at editing it yet, but it's actually way easier to do than just straight jpeg.

Not sure where the lights are in the distance.  It's not Fukuoka.  It's not Tsushima.  It's not other parts of Iki.  It's like a big mystery.

Killed my first spider today.  A relatively normal-sized one, with a yellow stripe down its back.  It jumped, but confusion (tapping something near it so it didn't know where the attack was coming from) and perseverance succeeded.

And,

11. Drink the local shochu

Drank it (just a sip, as I'd recently spent the equivalent of twenty-four dollars on sushi! but it was delicious) at the beach.  "Iki Gold" was the name.  It tasted like weak whiskey, but had an excellent aftertaste.  Definitely more acceptable as an on-the-rocks drink than, for instance, Jack.  Glad it doesn't taste like rubbing alcohol, which I was afraid of.

The beaches, by the way, equal AMAZING.  Have only been to one, Nishiki-hama (Hama means beach, I have no idea what Nishiki means, as I haven't seen the kanji), but it was absolutely wonderful.  

The sand is what the other ALTs refer to as "sticky-sand," made from shells, and it sticks to every part of your body.  Pieces remain for days afterwards no matter how much you shower.  That does mean, additionally, that it will be excellent for making sand castles or, as Nathan put it, an entire sand city!  I must make one soon.  

The waves are strong but not overwhelming, making for fun body surfing opportunities.  There's also another beach nearby which is the designated "surfing" beach, if I ever want to learn how to actually surf.  While the water is cool, it's a welcome relief from the humidity and temperature.  I have been told, however, that this humidity is "nothing" compared to what I'll experience during rainy season.

It was refreshing and peaceful to just stand knee-deep in the water, staring off into the distance and watch the clouds change colors as the sun setting behind me.  

I'm living in paradise.  A very humid paradise, but paradise nonetheless.

Pictures of my home for anyone bored enough to be interested.  I'm impressed by it actually--it's fairly large (especially for one person), and as long as I keep it clean, bugs aren't too big of a deal.  I get the occasional spider or flea, but that's about it.  However, baby mukade (creepy centipedes) have been slithering their way up my bathtub drain.  Thank god I never use the bathtub.

Kotatsu are Japanese tables that have heaters built into them.  In the winter, since no Japanese home has insulation unless you're in the North, you put a blanket inside this special compartment and underneath it gets all toasty warm.  Genius.

So yes, that's my home.  (Note from August 16: I have finally started giving it my own personal flair.  Forgot how expensive printing pictures is, but my pocketbook can handle it.  I get paid on Thursday.  However, must start saving to pay off credit card and loans.)

I realized that I hadn't been taking that many pictures of how amazingly gorgeous Iki truly is, so when the sky went perfect and the opportunity presented itself in the form of me going to Mori for some insect repelling products, I decided to have a go at it.

Since I took this with the SD1100, could not do much in the way of editing.  The sky is definitely overexposed, but that's life.  Still doesn't begin to show how beautiful Iki really is.

In the background is a school.  (One of my elementary schools actually, though I never remember which one.)  You can always tell schools in Japan because they have blue roofs on them.  It'll at least make finding the ones in the center of the island and its windy roads easier to find...

Spent four hours at the beach yesterday-and I did not wear sunscreen.  The result?  A mild burn (which doesn't hurt at all, and I don't think it will peel).  I must buy sunscreen.  (Note from Aug 16: Did not even peel.  Am currently as dark as Japanese people.)

There were tons of tourists at the beach, even two gaijin that we didn't recognize.  The dragonflies (tonbo?) were also very active; when I was resting, one of them started buzzing around my face and eventually sat itself down on a pinecone and stared at me and I stared at it and we stared at each other.  Then it flew away.

Still can't quite get around how gorgeous the beaches are and how they're paying me to live here.  The jellyfish, however, are a little disconcerting.  I keep accidentally brushing them while swimming, though I am no longer as paranoid about getting stung.  Once they get big, however, I might have some problems (and by some I mean many, as there are thousands of jellyfish).

I've also been going to "work" this week.  Essentially, I have to show up in the staff room for the first four hours of the day and look like I'm working.  I'm taking the time to study Japanese, but it's rather strange.  The actual teachers use the summer to create the next term's curriculum and coach the clubs.

In Japan, students still attend "school" during the summer.  On Iki, they're very serious about club/sport activities, so in the morning for a half-hour or more, they run around the track.  Then they practice their sport for about three hours.  Then they can go home.  It's really majime-yo, as I might say (serious!), but I've also been known to say tsuyoi-yo (so strong!).  However, because they're so serious about it, a lot of the kids suffer from heat stroke and the teachers just ganbatte/ganbarimasu (keep trying) them through it.  It's intense to watch, but an interesting part of Japanese culture. 

Just finished editing my second novel.  155 pages/81,000 words all through their first round of editing.  I guess that means I should start putting together a synopsis and query letter, huh?  Damnit... I feel like that's the hardest part.  Certainly doesn't take as long as writing the book, but it sure does grate my patience...