muikabochi

One of the guys doing the shouting today apparently will do the saigo no saigo made thing but also be very genki about it. He was also dropping lots of gambarimasses and yoroshikus. He was also leaning out of the window of his van waving at us. He sounds like a vote winner to me.

No! The "cuties" doing that job here all seem to be 50+, battleaxe kind.

They don't seem to do the mike thing here in inaka. What impresses me is how many times they can say the yoroshikus once after another with a few gambarimases in there as well. That is the key, I think.

Do you feel like a different, er, man?

We have some election things going on around here at the moment, and the last few days on the way to work driving along Route 17, at some of the big junctions there have been some of the yoroshiku onegai shimasu guys standing there with their flags and waving to everyone driving by. There were 3 I saw this morning. All of them waving ever so friendly. I thought that was so nice. It's good to see them doing something so useful. If I had a vote I'd be torn. While one of them said "issho kenmei gambarimasu", another was promising to do the same but "saigo no saigo made", which

Here in Niigata, the only "English" that gets "taught" at elem. school is the ALT visit once every few weeks (how often depending on town and school). There are no real English lessons. I believe that to be the case in most places. I certainly haven't heard of proper English lessons at elementary school around here. What they are talking about is proper regular lessons, taught by the elementary school teachers (ie not just the ALT visits). This is totally new and there's a lot of unease amongst the teachers who will have to do this in a few years. (I have quite a few teacher friends

Yuzawa Park and Nakazato are fairly small places but I've had a few decent days there. Check the reviews section for more. I don't think Gala is that small, esp when you link it up with Ishiuchi - big area that is.

No offense taken! Just I know how I thought about earthquakes "before" compared to how I think now. "Before", I hardly gave them a thought and even if there was a small one I soon forgot about it. Now it's unfortunately quite different. You are lucky.

If I had the choice, I would probably always go for a good meat pie. Don't have the choice unfortunately, so I'll enjoy the mans from time to time.

It certainly does.... forever burned into memory I think. Probably the same for anyone who has experienced something like that I'm sure.

There are many places getting more ripped off than the States.

Apart from some nerves, probably not with a max of shindo 4. It seems things start getting damaged when you get into 5+ and above...

Experience anything a few more shindos bigger than that dudes and your language will be consideralby different from a lighthearted "Nice shaker", "Nice one" and "wobbly wobbly", believe me....

Depends on what you want. I like Naeba but only when it's not busy. Same with Gala, if it is not busy the runs are quite interesting. What kind of thing are you looking for?

How can you be so insensitive.. I hope he's ok.

I think the most stressful thing in my life has been last years earthquake/aftershocks.

Sanno you seem to know a lot about Europe - you from that region or just spend a lot of time there?

No. Leave off. I'm closer

I don't change the way I speak. But my mouth is fairly clean anyway

Just hearing news of earthquakes wherever they are instantly makes my heart go 4 times normal speed. Scary seeing all those pics

I was preparing mine last night. Yesterday really was quite cold, put a jacket on for the first time!

Well I know this area quite well and can recommend the nighta at Ishiuchi Maruyama (just outside of Yuzawa in Niigata). They usually open up a big area, but actually in recent times on weekdays seem to be getting a big stingy with that. If the snow is good and its not icy, great nighta.

Muika from Muikamaci where I live, bochi? can't remeber!

It's almost "cold" here today.

Noticed a new one this morning. A gas station that had a big building next to it and a huge sign that just said: LUBE NOW! Made me chuckle.