Summer Break 2

Songkran is the three day water fight festival throughout Thailand. This was the scene in front of my host family's house.

It was also during this holiday that I moved out on my own earlier than anticipated. It's a complicated story that those in my journal email ring are privy to. Sorry general public :)

First things first: set up the wifi

Brian, a nearby PCV, came into town and we hit the awesome weekend market downtown. Too many food options to choose from.

Rainy season came early. Thank goodness, because it's been a million degrees lately, and the rain cools things down a bit, despite the humidity. 

Weekend trip to Rayong for a Peace Corps Consolidation test. It's what we do if there's a natural disaster or anarchy breaks out. We consolidate to a meeting point. In my case, it's at this sweet hotel with a pool. We made good use of it.

Shortly after that about 20 PCVs took a little vacation to Koh Mak, and island off the coast near where I live. It was a relaxing four days with this view.

School is starting this week and life will dramatically change. I'll try to get some pictures up of my rental house too.

SPIDERMAN

Our school participated in the Halloween Festival in Fuchu over the weekend. I was assigned to be Spiderman.

Battling an evil villain 

Hanging with my Spiderman posse 

Staff photo: I have a crush on the girl in the light blue dress.

Hachioji Summer Festival Part 2

Ladypower

What's the word for a portion bigger than a dollop? That's how much butter Kuniko likes on her potatoes.

Holding something in your outstretched hand for long periods of time is an ancient Japanese torture technique.

I love this couple.

I'd never seen a two seated Jazzy until now. 

As far as street food goes, this Okonomiyaki was tops. 

Illuminated parade wagons at dusk. 

Kuniko and I at the end of the night. 

Hachioji Summer Festival Part 1

Kuniko and I went to the Hachioji Summer Festival last weekend. Fantastic people watching opportunity. I took a lot of photos of other festival goers. These are my favorites.

They had a never-ending parade of shrines, dancers, musicians, etc. I really liked how enthusiastic this fellow was.

Japanese kids are adorable. 

An excellent Japanese beard.

Old Japanese men are my favorite subjects to photograph.

It's mandatory to raise the peace sign in Japan when posing for a picture. 

This picture makes me laugh.

This is the one time of year when pants are optional. 

Summer Party

I attended a summer party at the Yu's last weekend. There was a lot of Chinese dishes to sample. I even made a version of my salsa--no jalapenos in Japan that I can find.

Gyoza making

The finished product

They told me that fermented eggs are sliced up with dental floss to avoid it sticking to a knife.

A fermented egg, tofu, and green onion salad. I was seriously skeeved out by the eggs, but they weren't bad.

Pig ear and cucumber salad. I've had pig's ear a number of ways, and none of them have been good. 

Grilles cow tongue and other meats

This was my first encounter with bitter melon. I find it hard to believe that ANYONE can enjoy the taste of that vegetable. Vile stuff. The slices of clam were good though.

Broiled fish

Watching a firework show that went on for over an hour!

Packed Nishi-Hachioji train station after.

More from the 4th

A few more photos I came across from other sources.

Wearing stylish safety goggles at the paint gun shooting range.

New friends Cody & Jessica in the cardboard boat race

That's me in the back about to have a water balloon explode on my chest.