Dr SAKE!!!

So, I was just talking with Randy, and he reminded me of DR SAKE!!!!
Props out to Tom Newhall.

In Control?

Soooo, in tryint to get a hold over my student loans, I emailed the Oberlin Controller's office to look into the status of one of my loans. The response email I received was nothing short of hilarious.

This is the result of our dialogue:
Me to office:
I am the proud holder of a Perkins loan, which I think has
unfortunatelycome into remittance. However, I don't think I've gotten a bill for it yet and don't know if you need my address again or anything like that. If you could please update me on the status of this loan, I will forever be in your debt.

The office to me:

Allison,

Last year on May 26 you sat through an exit interview session regarding the repayment of your Perkins loan. You were encouraged to keep the white exit packet with you at all times because it provided all of the repayment information you need including ACS' website (https://www.acs-education.com ). You were also told that you are required to keep our department or ACS informed of your current address. On your Personal Information Sheet you indicated you were employed through the JET program and working in Japan. If this is true, that is why you are not receiving any mail - your mail isn't going to Japan. Therefore, if it is necessary to update your address, at this time please access ACS' website, click on "How to Register", complete the Borrower Registration page, and update your address on your Account Summary Page. While on your Account Summary Page you can find all the information you need to remind you of the repayment information. Per the information provided you in the exit interview session, your first quarterly payment of $120.00 is due on June 1, 2006. Unless you have continued your education or if you have received some type of def erment or forbearance through your Stafford lender. If so, please let me know and I will provide more specific details as to what you need to do.

First- I would like to note the condecending and aggressive tone this letter presents.
Second- I'm in Japan. Of course I'm not going to take a huuuuuge packet of papers with me in my 60 pound luggage limit.
Third- Note the "you aren't receiving any bills, 'cause you're in Japan..." followed by "your bill will start in June." These two statements seem to be in complete contradiction to each other.

Good job Wedge....

Chris burns is amazing

If for nothing else, than for linking to Dr. McNinja (http://www.drmcninja.com/). Where, I have spent the last hour- not wasted mind you! Spent! In Joyful entertained bliss! By the adventures of Dr. McNinja, who is now my new hero. I'm thinking about asking Courtney (my sister) to draw one of the cartoons on a t-shirt for me for my birthday. That would be amazing. Just like Chris Burns. But in a wash and wear sort of way.

How to get yelled at, without actually being yelled at.

Is this some confounding Zen koan? It sounds like it could be, but isn't. At all. It is entirely possible.

Apparently, I made a big social blunder at aikido last night, got yelled at, and didn't even know it. Japan is a strange land indeed. I mean, how can I possibly get lectured and yelled at by my awesome and totally cool but last night terrifying Shihan and not be aware of it? I mean, I know I can be a bit spacey... but let me explain.

In preparation for my upcoming shodan test, I got permission to train an extra night at a different dojo (under the same sensei, he's a travelling teacher) without having to pay the extra monthly fee. One of my dojo friends, Masahide, has been trying to help me out, giving me pointers on what I'm doing wrong and working with me after class. Anyway, I told him about my training Friday and he said he'd go to the dojo with me. So we sit down to bow in, and my sensei pulls him aside and just lets into him. Terrifying. Yamada Shihan is first of all, really really good at aikido, and really powerful. And terrifying when angry. I have no idea why he's yelling either. So my friend waits at the side of the mat all through warm ups, then only sort of half-way participates in class, and never with me. Usually I have to try to get away from him to train with other people. But not last night. After class he's talking with another aikido student, and I ask what they were talking about. Apparently he wasn't supposed to be training last night because he only paid the dojo dues to his home dojo (in the nearby town of Ako), and not for the Friday dojo. But this doesn't quite seem complete to me. I figured it would be impolite to push it and so I drop it.

This afternoon I was talking to a foreigner, not from my dojo, but who has a solid understanding of Japanese dojos and how the Senseis here tend to think. Apparently, my Sensei was also yelling at me, but indirectly. I had been granted a favor to train at that dojo, but my friend had not been invited. He had assumed that it would be alright to show up and practice but it wasn't. And since we had come to practice together, it was also my fault. I didn't get yelled at directly 'cause I'm not Japanese and don't know all these unspoken rules (probably also, I would have no idea why I was being yelled at.) But by publicly being angry, he was also warning me.

Now, was this a big mistake? Tomorrow when I see Yamada Sensei, will he still be angry? Did I get my friend in trouble? Am I in trouble at all? I feel bad, but who knows? It's Japan! Weeeeeeee!

Late Pictures

Soooo, looking for a new background for my desktop I realized I had some pic's from my trip to Kyoto with Josh and his sister Ellie that I forgot to post... Ooops. So these are older pictures from January right after New Year's. Josh and I embarass Japanese people everywhere with our photo taking antics...

Is it bigger than a Redwood?


The Silver Pavilion,
as seen through a pine tree.

I don't have much to add to these, I haven't taken my camera out really in a while. Also, other than school, studying, and Aikido I haven't been up to much else!

Should I stay or should I go now? (cue the Clash)

Well, I reached a decision on renewing my contract. After emailing my Oberlin Biology Advisor on Tuesday, and getting no reply, and calling and emailing the pre-med advisior at Oberlin (and getting no reply) I called the esteemable Peter Rhese who gave me som excellent advice. Peter Sensei, who not only is a fantastic Aikido teacher at my secret dojo, but also is a researcher in protein crystallography and is working here in Japan. Based on this advice and as George Ledyard (maybe it was him) put it, following my bliss, I've decided to stay here another year. The vegetarian cult thing will have to wait awhile. But half a week after making that decision I'm feel like it was the right one. Thanks to all who contributed their advice and cult leader applications.