House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski
- a 709-page (horror!!) book that Dan gave me a few years ago. I promised I'd read it for him. And to make sure I would...I brought the one-pound book with me to Japan when my weight limit at the time was only 20-pounds...=)
- wasn't really horror after all. but I put it off for 2 years cuz I thought it was.
- Anyhoo, so I finally managed to read it before he came to Tokyo. I created a regime each day, to finish enough pages so that I would be done with it before he arrived. It took me 6 weeks. I read it at my desk at school every morning. it became such a routine that when I finally finished, I felt this emptiness like...o no...what do I do now?
- I never felt the 709 pages was overwhelming. The book is so captivating, you're so eager to know what happens, all the time. Always trying to skip ahead and guess and anticipate and wonder. What an interesting way to combine genres and styles...and to create visual participation while in the act of reading. So unique and different! I mean, duh, I'm sure Danielewski isn't the first to do it...but it's the first time I've seen it. So I was quite entertained.
- it was a really great book. You're right dan. Thanks =)
The Giver by Lois Lowry
- it's such a tiny book, I decided to re-read it (read it in 7th grade. but didn't remember anything about it at all. Other than...it was supposed to be a good book. And the cover always reminded me of my dad. ha.) Summer left me the book when she moved back to the states in August...so I thought, why not read it since it's there.
- The day I brought it to school, all my classes were cancelled for the day, so I finished about 80% of it. At the end of the first day, I thought, wow, this is a really really good book. and INCREIBDLY poignant for someone living in Japan. But then by the end of the second day, when I finished it, I was like...Oh...this book is kind of crappy. How disspointing. But...I thought it'd still make for an interesting movie, and was surprised one hadn't been made before. Or at least not to my knowledge...so I imdb'd and low and behold, there isn't a movie. But apparently there WILL be...in 2010 or 2011. I forget.
The Time Traveller's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
- just finished this last Friday. I started it before seeing the movie. Only got about 80 pages into it. After seeing the movie...I thought, eh, it's pointless to finish the book since I know the ending. But I remembered really enjoying Henry's narrative so I picked it up again and I'm really glad I did.
- The book made me cry three times. Like ACTUALLY cry at my desk with tears
streaming down my face. that's never happened before. - The middle I felt was a bit boring. I didn't care for the part where Clare and Henry lived in the present. I liked the times when Henry traveled. His love for Clare when she was younger and then older. Super sweet.
- Oh, everlasting love. sigh. haha
Next book...I don't have time to order Me Say Pretty Things by David Sedaris on amazon, before I leave for Thailand this Saturday (a book recommended by Dan). So I'll have to choose another book on my shelf for now. I've got a ton that I picked up from people who moved out last summer so it shouldn't be an issue.
Oh yea...I was gonna pick up (again) The Road by Cormac McCarthy. I started it in October and got maybe 1/3 way through. Then got bored with it. But it's such a short and easy read, I could probably finish that by the end of the week. I should. Since the movie is supposed to be good. It'd be nice to finish it before seeing the movie.
Last week's shenigans turned out to be a lot of fun. But of course, in the morning, following roy's bday party...I woke up with a WICKED black and red spotted bruise the size of a plum on my arm (along with one of the worst hangovers I've had in Sapporo - thanks a lot "16 proof IPA beer"). It doesn't look like someone grabbed me. And it doesn't look like a I fell on something...cuz it's sort of on the inside of the arm, and I don't know how a bruise like that could be managed in that fashion. So...it's a mystery to all of us. I can't remember. and neither can anyone else. haha...it was that fun of a night. Thought I lost a $100 too...but after the hoop-la of me in freight about it for 30 minutes (which was funny in itself too), I found out I had "cleverly" hid it from myself. haha. Not a good idea when drunk. Or well...maybe it was. ;)
And Sagara's xmas party was a lot of fun too. Sweet. Good to see her again.
Sunday...yup...I actually really did stay in the WHOLE day. and that was SO pleasant.
And...as for recontracting a third year:
the meeting today isn't to sign the contract yet. It's just to talk to our supervisor about our thoughts...if we're yes, no, or maybe. And any requests we have for the next school year (which starts/changes in March), like, do you want more or less elementary school visits (less!!)? Do you want to change base schools (yes!!)? Issues with coworkers (no...comment...)...living situation (no complaints!)...? etc etc
So regarding a third year --
A month ago I was 70/30 for staying a third year. Now I'm 80/20 for going home. I'll reevaulate my options after winter vacation. We have to officially decide by Jan 23.
Right now...I figure I'll live and work in LA for another year, while I adjust coming back to America. Hopefully there's a job or two to be had...if worst comes to worst, I can go to community college and pick up Spanish. As that's my next goal. And then I can sort together my things and go to grad school in 2011 to become a 1st grade teacher. =) Long road ahead...but I'm excited to the prospect of having my own teenies in a classroom someday...who speak my native language. Anyway, yea...I'm quite frightened about the culture shock I'll get when I come back, but I'm glad I'll have all you guys to help keep me grounded. I'm really grateful for our friendships. =) Love you guys! I'm really looking foward to seeing everyone again. And going back to a life of...movies and road trips and live music and things. But of course, there's a lot I'll miss here too. Such a hard decision. But the transition must be made eventually and fear is no reason to put it off longer than needs be.
so we'll see...I'll get back to you about that next year! well...but maybe I'll write about how the meeting goes today. Cross fingers it pans out smoothly. As there's always the chance I won't even be offered a third year. Cuz this is also the time where our supervisor can say...actually, you're a terrible employee for the city and we don't want to offer you a recontract. It's so rare. There's only been an incidence of that happening (so the legend says...) once in the past like 10 years. We call him "Bad Andy". He yelled and threatened his kids on a daily basis. So...I'm not in the same ball park as him. But you never know with Japanese people...
whew...owarimashta!
I'm hungry.
=)
-j9
No comments:
Post a Comment