Red, White, and...well that's it

Another kind of odd thing I've noticed while being over here is that there are no Japanese flags displayed anywhere. Especially considering just how nationalistic and isolationist they are over here one would think that they would prominently display their national colors as often as they could, but so far I have seen all of two flags, both of them in Kyoto. I don't know if this is an after-effect of WWII or if they Japanese are simply more subdued in displaying their national pride or what exactly is the reason behind the lack of flags, but I have to admit it intrigues me. Especially since in America one sees them everywhere; porches, car dealerships, post offices, classrooms, on pick up trucks, hats, t-shirts, really just about any open space. However as I mentioned earlier I personally believe that the Japanese don't like to openly flaunt their view of themselves as the most superior Asian country, instead they prefer to crush the opposition with superior goods and businesses, but always in the most polite way. That sounds terrible, but from my experience the Japanese are for the most part an extremely driven people, both in their personal and business lives. Almost all of them are busy 24/7 and when I sometimes ask my housewife, childless, rich students why they are so exhausted from their non-working lives they tell me that if they take the time to just relax or be bums they feel guilty. Craziness. But sadly I'm starting to feel the same way, like lazing around all day isn't as fun as it used to be. I think I'm turning Japanese, I think I'm turning Japanese, I really think so...da da da da

Pics

Here are some of the pictures from when my family visited. We visited some different temples than I had previously been to when I went to Kyoto and Nara so I was still able to get some great pictures. Something I just realized too is that living over here is so much more incredible than I thought before. I mean I just casually mentioned going to Kyoto, the cultural capital of Japan, like it was like going to the grocery store or something. Have to say I am finally settling into my life over here and I guess I never really realized that until writing this post. Yikes. Don't worry though Mom even though I may stay in Japan or abroad for some time I'm still coming back to America someday, maybe with some nice foreign wife for you to meet! Good lord I am terrible for my poor mother's blood pressure...

Cooking and such

So obviously since coming over here I have been cooking for myself and I'm sure not many will be surprised that I am a less than stellar chef. As I had either been eating at ND's dining hall or having the majority of my meals prepared by my talented mother I have not exactly had a good deal of experience with cooking. Now don't get my wrong my mom tried her best to ingrain some sort of cooking knowledge into me, but after attempting and failing to properly bake a simple loaf of friendship bread some years ago I lost faith in myself. And when I say attempting I mean messing it up like 5 times in a row. Anywho I set some chicken on fire yesterday for the second time since coming over here and now my apartment once again smells like death. However don't worry about me, since its kinda learn to cook or starve I am fairly motivated to master this art or at least get good enough that I stop setting things on fire. Maybe I can hire some illegal immigrant as a cook...hmmmmmm