Noodle House.

My first meal out in Japan. I wasn't sure exactly what I was ordering, but I pointed to a picture and I must say things turned out pretty well. Even that weird leaf tempura was amazing.

Cuuuute.

My students are still cuter.

Why Romaji is Worthless in Japan.

Found this sign on a street corner. It appears to be some sort of instruction as to what to do with cigarette butts, but for those of you who forgot your glasses (ahem, Dad) the sign reads "I threw my cigarette butt into the drain. That is to say, I hid it in the drain."

So, wait are we, or are we not supposed to put cigarette butts down the drain?! The picture is not helping at all because it says 'drop,' but then the rat on the other side is looking all startled to have found a cigarette butt in his precious sewer and I have a soft spot for rats so I don't like that. Not one bit.

Wink Karaoke.

Wow, Matt...total girl dance move.

Power duet!

Passthatdutchpassthatdutchpassthatdutch.

Air drums. Classic karaoke move.

Huge phonebook-sized book with every song in existence.


Sorry guys.

Get down girl, go 'head.

I think this was that godawful Sonata Arctica crap he decided to sing.

Why this was on the map of things to do our trainers gave us we may never know. In the middle of the residental Okayama, we walked for about 30 minutes to find it. Totally bottom rung as far as karaoke bars go, but at the time we had no idea. Although the giant "window" with the Swiss Alps in the background should've probably given something away.

Still though, going to karaoke for the first time has been a highlight of my stay in Japan thus far. You pay by the hour or for the evening for your room and then you can order your drinks individually, or get nomihodai (all you can drink) which you pay for at the beginning of the night. This place was kind of a mom and pop karaoke bar. A little old lady came into our room with a tray of beers, glasses, and chilled, damp washcloths and of course she would come back periodically and clean up any empty cans.

So, yeah, ridiculous evening. Mostly due to Adam's questionable, but hilarious, song choices and lots of Asahi (I should get them to sponsor this blog.....). After about the first hour we were all singing at the top of our lungs and we finished the evening with a very moving rendition of Celine Dion's 'My Heart Will Go On.'

Don't We All.

We should've stopped and gone inside, but I believe we were determined to get to karaoke.

Okayama Gardens. Random.

Okayama Gardens. Lawn.

Okayama Gardens. Lily pond.

These were about a foot and a half in diameter. So cool.

Okayama Gardens, Waterfall.