12/27/2007: "One holiday down, two to go!"

So, Christmas is said and done with, and now we're running in on my birthday and New Year's. There are about 4 days left to this year, so I'd really guess it's within my best interest to get all the unproductive stuff out of the way before I have a new year of way-too-much stuff to do.

Christmas went by all right, overall had a good holiday. Sat around with my family, opened stuff, then spent the evening watching Christmas movies and things. Not exactly terribly eventful, but I prefer things that way. Friday I'm going to a birthday party thing with the Taiwanese and Korean students again, then my birthday on Sunday. As a positive, I do get to try alot of different foreign foods at these parties with students from around the world. It's also interesting seeing the different cultures and how people from them interact. What's strangest, though, is the separation by cultural/language lines. All the Taiwanese students were on the left side of the room, the Koreans on the right, all talking to eachother in their respective language, or occasionally English. So, what happens when you throw a Turkish guy and American in the mix? Where do they go? The Turkish guy kinda sat in the middle and tried to engage people in English, and I got dragged into the Korean group. It helps that even if I don't know people, lots of people know me. And hey, I'm American. Yay?

As for my birthday.. I don't really have any plans. I guess I'll go out to a movie with someone and say goodbye before they leave for their country. That leaves New Years, which I have absolutely no idea what I'll do for it. Current plans involve staying home and doing absolutely nothing (my New Year's tradition).. but who knows, something interesting might happen. Then later this week I'll go back to work. As sad as it sounds, I really enjoy work and don't like having such long periods of time off. It also can't hurt to work more to pay off having to buy some new clothes recently, my textbooks, and.. oh.. the upcoming Korea trip! I should have dates on that in about 2 weeks or so (will be out in March). I'm pretty excited about going, even if I don't know any Korean. I should try to study up on at least a little of it before I go.

Not a whole lot to say right now, just figured I'd give an update and let people know that I'm still here and trudging along. For better or worse, I should have an update on the job in Japan within the next few weeks. Good times, good times. To say nothing or how incredibly nervous I am..

Anyway, I'll write again sometime soon!


Jason