Bookends

It took a while but here it is. I made a video to commemorate the ending of my time in Japan. Makes me want to cry.

Steph Part 二

Since I'm not in Japan anymore and I won't be returning any known time I thought Steph in Japan wasn't an appropriate title for my blog; therefore, I have made a new blog, Steph Part 二. So ya, this one will be an archive of my time in Japan. I'll only be making new posts on the new blog so no need to keep checking this one. Ya, I have no idea how to end this post... I guess, thanks for reading and keep on reading!

さくら Sakura

A few pictures I took of the sakura (cherry blossoms) this season. They were so beautiful! Hope you enjoy it. (^^)

Being Home

So far being home has been great. Yesterday I went to service and we had a great time playing a game that was a weird, but fun, mix of dodge ball and sherades... We had balls of socks to throw at each other and when we were hit with a sock we took it and sat down. Then when it was our turn we acted out the scene that was stuffed inside our particular ball of socks. It was quite a lot of fun. My favorite scene was "You are trapped in an elevator with a hungry pit bull, and he is starting to look at you funny!".

Today I went with Sasha to her Japanese class where I was able to visit with my Japanese teacher who actually took me to Japan for the first time last June as well as some friends from class and that trip. It was good times. I felt a little retarded when I couldn't answer some of the questions but that's okay...

After that we took a little trip to Grand Ave. downtown and went to His Place coffee shop that my church runs. Took a little walk around Grand after getting out drinks and ended up at a magic shop where we were filmed as an audience of two for this guy doing magic tricks. He calls himself Smoothini, the Ghetto Houdini. It was interesting and fun. Apparently this guy lived in Okinawa doing his magic for three years. No matter where I go Japan will always follow me! I'm okay with that.

Enough with the text, time for some pictures!

The other team for Dodgeball/Sherades. We won!

My Sasha being gansta

Alicia, Lauren and Chante with their Oreos.

Nick. He's a lot bigger than the last time I say him...

At Palomar with my "Choose Me!" notebook from the 100 yen shop

His Place Coffee House

Me with Smoothini and the magic shop owner

It's so nice to be home!

Bubba Pup

We have a new puppy! He is so cute! Just see for yourself...















Isn't he the cutest?! We (my family) came by him because a friend of the family, mainly my sister, found a bull terrier at a gas station and took her home. She ended up being pregnant and having seven puppies. Then this friend joined the Army and went away to boot camp last Monday so we now have baby Bubba, the runt of the litter. Yes Bubbs, my sister named him... Anyway, he is beautiful and cute and sweet. Not exactly potty trained but we're working on that. We're still not exactly sure on his future with us but one thing is for sure: he's not leaving without a fight! (^_^)

Home Again!

Yes it is true... I'm HOME!

My flight went well. I actually got some semblance of sleep and watched a few good movies, Blood Diamonds and The Holiday. First an informative, intense movie about conflict in Africa and then a happy-go-lucky chick flick. Go figure. Only in America, right? (>.>)...(<.<)...(>.>)

Being able to see my family and friends was amazing. I'm still running on an Oh My Gosh I'm Home! high. Soon to wear out I'm sure. My body is already telling me to get some sleep so I think I'll follow its advice. Usually turns out to be the best advice to follow. So now, sleep...(-_-)zzz...

One More Day

Okay, so I was just kidding about the whole picture thing... I had a full day today with my last final (yes!) and then Shinjuku where Kimi, Matt and I had a little Starbucks before we saw Kimi off on her bus to Fukuoka. It was a sad time but we will see each other again soon.

Tomorrow is my last full day in Japan and it will be a busy one. I still have to repack my suitcases while trying to see everyone to say good-bye. I think I will most likely cry in the next few days. If not tomorrow then while I'm boarding the plane I'm sure. I still haven't fully processed everything yet. Oy... We'll see how it all goes.

Last Sunday

Today was my last Sunday in Japan and it was great. I got to see most everyone and get pictures and some cool gifts and cards. Geigy got Mister Donut too! \(^_^)/ Woohoo! We (Kimi and I) also got a very generous money gift that made my day. I lead worship for both services and it went well. After service Kimi and I went to dinner with Jeremiah and Geigy and their family. It was a great day and I'm glad it went the way it did seeing as it was my last Sunday in Japan. *sigh* Only 3 more days!

I'll post some pictures tomorrow.

Good times

I've been spending a lot of time in Shinjuku the past few days. Doing a little karaoke, a little eating, had just a few Starbucks, you know, all the usual stuff. Here are some pictured to commemorate these good times.

かいてんすし　(kaiten sushi) The rotating sushi bar. おいしい！

Matt at Shakey's Pizza, the closest we get to American pizza in Japan.

Kara. かわいい！

We're so Japanese. 日本人ですね！

Street in Shinjuku outside on of the many exits at the station

Great faces guys...

Cinnamon Dolce Latte... mmmmmmm...

We love Starbucks!

Kara and my new friend Cristian. Sing it!

Two words: We Rock

And thats the end for now. More on the way as I have become trigger happy with my camera. The realization that I'm leaving has put me in a panic to take as many pictures as I can. And now you all get to enjoy/suffer along with me.

Oy...

What is wrong with these people... [link]

Boston by Augustana

This is the song I'm learning to play on the piano right now since I can play whenever I feel the need and its not a problem. I found a video on how to play it and am going from there. This video is totally awesome too! I wanna play the piano on the beach!


Man, I wish I could do that...

OMG!

I'm coming home in less than a week! I think I'm going a little crazy... and/or just simply freaking out. I don't know what to think. I love Japan and I'm going to miss it and all my friends SO much but I cannot wait to go home and see my family and my friends and my bed and Mexican food and a real beach... *sigh*... Oy! I think I need to get some sleep now...

Simply Kimi

I made this vid as a tribute to Kimiko. The most beautiful girl in Japan! (^_-) I love you and I'm going to miss you! Now I'm going to have to cry.

The song is Dark Blue by Jack's mannequin.

Get Fuzzy

As my Daddy always told me, marketing is everything.

Get Fuzzy by Darby Conely

I don't know anyone like this...

Another good one. [link]

Heck yes

First of all I thought this was great. Totally true.

Second of all, I'm done with classes! I did my last class of the semester today and I am so glad. I need a vacation. Now all thats left are three finals that I feel pretty good about with a little bit of studying. I also turned in my withdraw form today to the school which means I really am leaving and that makes me sad. *sigh* The whole leaving part stinks but everything else makes up for having to deal with missing people and all that. Such is life.

Moved Out

Kimi and I are officially moved out of our apartment and into the nursery of the church. It's been good so far. A little cold but good times. Like being able to play the piano at 1am. Ya, thats pretty cool.

Crazy Boek Kids

Kimi and I moved into the church today because the contract on our apartment was up. It should be nice, so far its working out for the 9 hours I've been here. Anyway, while I was in the fellowship hall/kitchen area Cali, Jazz and Justus were in there waiting for their mom so we started playing with my camera and here are the results.


Cali came up with these and I recorded and then edited them later. The song in The Game is the theme song from Benny Hill.


Justus and Jazz fight over a pink bracelet to give to their "women". Cali decides they should race over it. The song is from Chariots of Fire and the song in the credits is part of the Benny Hill Theme.

These kids are awesome.

Sakura さくら

I actually got some pictures of the sakura before they're gone. Hopefully I can get more and better pictures before they're completely gone.




Aren't they beautiful? きれいね！ You think they're just a regular flower but when you see them in person they are amazing and I'm still not exactly sure why but that's just how it works. I'm going to miss these.

It's a Wonderful Life

A vid that used to be a PowerPoint I made when I graduated high school. It covers from my birth until a little after my 18th birthday. Dedicated to my awesome family and friends. I love you guys!

Part two coming soon covering from the end of this vid to now. A lot has happened since then...

A's

Heck yes. I just got an A on my research paper on Achilles in my Mythology class. Woohoo!

Happy Birthday Mommy!

Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday dear MOMMY!!!!! Happy birthday to you! (^_^)v I love you Mommy!

Oprah Parody

Kara introduced this to me. It is freakin' hilarious. We love you Oprah!

"Bow down to Oprah infidels!"

MAD TV parody

19th Birthday in Hakone

Yeah! It's finally finished! Its really long but finished. I mean, how are you suppose to put an entire weekends worth of awesome fun into less than 10 minutes, huh?

Anyway, this is in Hakone, Japan (obviously) on March 21st and 22nd. Sasha, Kimi and I went and stayed in the Fujiya Hotel to celebrate my b-day and it was amazing. Hakone is beautiful, the hotel was well worth the 9800円 we spent on the room with its onsens (hot springs) and fancy restaurant with complimentary breakfast and we simply had a great time.

Badgers

Chante and I made this last summer on the floor of my living room after spending an entire week together which accumulated a lot of inside jokes. Man this was so much fun. Totally obscure and strange but amazingly fun.

The rat in the beginning is my late rat Virginia, may she rest in peace. All sound effects compliments of Chante's cell phone. We shot this with my really cruddy camera too so sorry for the bad audio. You'll love it anyway if only for its obscurity.

Just some funny funnies I read today. Funny funnies, hahaha, I crack myself up...


The Hollywood Creative Process


"No slacking off Dad. The cost of a college education goes up every 2.3 seconds."
I thought it was fitting that this one was published on my birthday.

Tokyo DisneySea

A little vid of our trip to Tokyo DisneySea. The park was amazing! The details were unbelievable and each area was so focused and unique. The rides were a lot of fun as well. I think my favorite was Journey to the Center of the Earth and Indiana Jones. We also saw a show in Mermaid Lagoon that was fantastic. They had Ariel in a mermaid costume suspended from the ceiling. The costumes and the puppets and everything made the show. It was in Japanese but the songs were the original English so we could sing along. After that Sasha, Kimi and I were singing the song a lot... ^_^

Anyway, it was amazing and we had a great time. Hope you like the video. I know its a little long but I couldn't make it much shorter!

Moulin Rouge

Kimi and I just finished watching Moulin Rouge. I haven't cried that hard during a movie in a long time. Not only was the music, singing and acting amazing but the story and the way it was played out was absolutely amazing. I have a new respect for Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman. I never knew they could sing and act like that. I am thoroughly impressed. I'm gonna go become an actress in musicals now.

Hakone

For my birthday Sasha, Kimi and I went and spent a night in Hakone, a rural city in Japan known for its totally awesome natural hot springs. It was an amazing trip that you will soon be able to see on a video I'm doing. But until thats done here are a few pictures.


On the slow train to Hakone. It took about 2 hours all together on the train.


Japanese garden outside of out hotel.


Water mill in the garden.


Flowers in one of the many green houses in the garden.




View from the front of the hotel.


さくら(sakura) blossoms


滝（たき）Waterfall we found on a hike. きれいですね！


橋（はし）Bridge with my beautiful Sasha


滝 Waterfall again






川 (river) Next to the bus stop that we decided to do some more rock climbing in.


私のサシーさんは鼻をすすります。(My Sasha sniffing a flower.)


My Sasha





That's it for now. Keep your eyes peeled for the video!