Missions Accomplished!
It’s hot! I am trying to think of my next sentence, but all I can think of is ‘It’s hot.’ It’s hot. It’s hot. OK, now I’m done. Some things have managed come to my mind besides how hot, humid, sticky, rainy and sweaty it is. So, I guess I will begin.
Mission 1: Create an amazing homecoming for Laura.
Last Friday, Laura got back from her 3 week vacation in the States. We were really excited to see her again. So excited were we, that we slaved over a stove all evening preparing her the perfect dinner. Well, I guess in retrospect it wasn’t me doing the cooking, though I did manage to trim some of her grass with some clippers. I figured it’s the least I can do for her. I wouldn’t want any snakes to hide in the grass and leap out and bite her at the ankles. She seemed to be glad to be back, though if she had to choose between staying here and having a blast with us or going back and living a mundane life in the States where her entire family, haridresser and everything she will ever need is, I think she would choose to go back. In any case, we are glad to hear she had a great time and even happier that she brought me Reese’s Pieces (and socks and band-aids, you’d understand if you knew me, like Laura).
Mission 2: See Star Wars: Episode III.
Saturday, Jill, Cristina and I were on a mission. We were not to return to Osumi Peninsula until we had seen Star Wars: Episode III. Being opening day in Japan and adhering to some warnings of crowds by people in my office, we woke up at 6:00 AM and headed to the City. We assumed that even though Amu Plaza did not open till 10:00, we could cue outside the mall doors until the theater opened. As it turned out, we got there at 9:07 AM and discovered that the theater opened independently of the mall at 9:00 AM. Panic ensued. I began to run ahead of Cristina and Jill to get to the elevator. The elevator was not crowded. We assumed they had already let in the hoards. We got to the 6th floor and circled the hall to the cinema. It was empty. We walked directly to the first cashier and bought tickets for ourselves and Kaz and Alex in the center of the large theater for a 12:35 showing. We found it so funny that we had been so worried that the seats were going to sell out, that we forgot to realize that Star Wars may actually not be that popular in Japan. Regardless, I enjoyed myself and the movie. I cannot say that Jill and Cristina were too impressed with it.
Mission 3: Buy a ukulele.
Once in Amu, we did our mandatory Starbucks and such. In addition, I finally bought my ukulele. Many people (including my mother) cannot stop laughing at the prospect of me playing a ukulele. I really think that it’s a great idea and am seriously committed to learning how to play it. At the moment, I am having a bit of a tough time with tuning, but I will shortly get the hang of it. Cristina also decided to get some new strings for her guitar.
Mission 4: Survive Freshman year in College (all over again).
Mission 5: Survive being held captive in a room with 1,738,934 mosquitos.
After returning back to our side of Kagoshima, we got a second wind and decided to join Laura for Nick’s Dance Revolution Party. Besides being hot and full of mosquitos, it was fun.
Mission 6: Experience an Uchinoura Rocket Launch.
Yesterday was the infamous Uchinoura Rocket Launch – the one that the have been talking about for months. Laura, Jill, Heather, Cristina and I crowded into a car and began to head to the launch site at around noon. Unfortunately, they had closed down the roads because there were too many cars out at the launch site already. So, in a scurry we proceeded to go to Mt. Kano to see if we could find a place there. As we got there, we asked a car (actually, the people in the car) coming down if it was already full. It was. In a last minute chance to see the rocket, we parked the car at my house and ran to the beach to see it from there. The beach looked so calm and beautiful that we all stood in the water while waiting for the rocket to launch. It was then that I saw a starfish in the water. I pointed it out and everyone looked. It was at that moment that I looked up and saw the rocket shot up in the air. We didn’t hear the thunderous roar till about 20 seconds later. It was crazy. You could feel it on the ground (and in your soul). It was a great moment of pride for me and all Uchinourans. Although I think that some of us were a bit bummed we didn’t get to film it or photograph it, it was still well worth it. As for the starfish, we got a great photograph of that and then released it back into the ocean.
Upcoming Missions.
At the moment, I am excited about all the upcoming events. I am heading to Nagoya to meet up with my mother on Wednesday. Harry Potter gets delivered to our door on Saturday. My mom and I are going to Gion Matsuri, the biggest festival in Japan, on Sunday. And, Cristina, Shana, Laura, Jill and Osa are climbing Mt. Fuji Sunday night to watch the sun rise over Japan from the pinnacle. Can’t wait to fill you in on all the happenings, but it’s going to have to wait till next week.
Mission 1: Create an amazing homecoming for Laura.
Last Friday, Laura got back from her 3 week vacation in the States. We were really excited to see her again. So excited were we, that we slaved over a stove all evening preparing her the perfect dinner. Well, I guess in retrospect it wasn’t me doing the cooking, though I did manage to trim some of her grass with some clippers. I figured it’s the least I can do for her. I wouldn’t want any snakes to hide in the grass and leap out and bite her at the ankles. She seemed to be glad to be back, though if she had to choose between staying here and having a blast with us or going back and living a mundane life in the States where her entire family, haridresser and everything she will ever need is, I think she would choose to go back. In any case, we are glad to hear she had a great time and even happier that she brought me Reese’s Pieces (and socks and band-aids, you’d understand if you knew me, like Laura).
Mission 2: See Star Wars: Episode III.
Saturday, Jill, Cristina and I were on a mission. We were not to return to Osumi Peninsula until we had seen Star Wars: Episode III. Being opening day in Japan and adhering to some warnings of crowds by people in my office, we woke up at 6:00 AM and headed to the City. We assumed that even though Amu Plaza did not open till 10:00, we could cue outside the mall doors until the theater opened. As it turned out, we got there at 9:07 AM and discovered that the theater opened independently of the mall at 9:00 AM. Panic ensued. I began to run ahead of Cristina and Jill to get to the elevator. The elevator was not crowded. We assumed they had already let in the hoards. We got to the 6th floor and circled the hall to the cinema. It was empty. We walked directly to the first cashier and bought tickets for ourselves and Kaz and Alex in the center of the large theater for a 12:35 showing. We found it so funny that we had been so worried that the seats were going to sell out, that we forgot to realize that Star Wars may actually not be that popular in Japan. Regardless, I enjoyed myself and the movie. I cannot say that Jill and Cristina were too impressed with it.
Mission 3: Buy a ukulele.
Once in Amu, we did our mandatory Starbucks and such. In addition, I finally bought my ukulele. Many people (including my mother) cannot stop laughing at the prospect of me playing a ukulele. I really think that it’s a great idea and am seriously committed to learning how to play it. At the moment, I am having a bit of a tough time with tuning, but I will shortly get the hang of it. Cristina also decided to get some new strings for her guitar.
Mission 4: Survive Freshman year in College (all over again).
Mission 5: Survive being held captive in a room with 1,738,934 mosquitos.
After returning back to our side of Kagoshima, we got a second wind and decided to join Laura for Nick’s Dance Revolution Party. Besides being hot and full of mosquitos, it was fun.
Mission 6: Experience an Uchinoura Rocket Launch.
Yesterday was the infamous Uchinoura Rocket Launch – the one that the have been talking about for months. Laura, Jill, Heather, Cristina and I crowded into a car and began to head to the launch site at around noon. Unfortunately, they had closed down the roads because there were too many cars out at the launch site already. So, in a scurry we proceeded to go to Mt. Kano to see if we could find a place there. As we got there, we asked a car (actually, the people in the car) coming down if it was already full. It was. In a last minute chance to see the rocket, we parked the car at my house and ran to the beach to see it from there. The beach looked so calm and beautiful that we all stood in the water while waiting for the rocket to launch. It was then that I saw a starfish in the water. I pointed it out and everyone looked. It was at that moment that I looked up and saw the rocket shot up in the air. We didn’t hear the thunderous roar till about 20 seconds later. It was crazy. You could feel it on the ground (and in your soul). It was a great moment of pride for me and all Uchinourans. Although I think that some of us were a bit bummed we didn’t get to film it or photograph it, it was still well worth it. As for the starfish, we got a great photograph of that and then released it back into the ocean.
Upcoming Missions.
At the moment, I am excited about all the upcoming events. I am heading to Nagoya to meet up with my mother on Wednesday. Harry Potter gets delivered to our door on Saturday. My mom and I are going to Gion Matsuri, the biggest festival in Japan, on Sunday. And, Cristina, Shana, Laura, Jill and Osa are climbing Mt. Fuji Sunday night to watch the sun rise over Japan from the pinnacle. Can’t wait to fill you in on all the happenings, but it’s going to have to wait till next week.
posted by Jesse Montano at
2:19 PM
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