I went to the Ueno Zoo when I was in Tokyo on Valentine's Day. I took some pictures, so here they are! (look at me catching up!!)

( lions and tigers and bears and .... gorillas?! Plus two shots of Ueno )

A bunch of random notes:

1. I saw a crap ton of monkies crossing the road yesterday on my way home from work. They were at almost the same place as the deer that I saw. I don't think I have seen monkeys out and about in Japan either until yesterday. And if I have, then I have never seen that many - there were like 10-15 of them.

2. I started giving oral tests yesterday. That is pretty much all I will be doing for the next two weeks or so.

3. Today I have my last team teaching class with the student teacher. She is adorable, and was really nevous for the first two classes. The next two were OK. But I know she will be nervous today. A bunch of teachers may come to observe the lesson. But the English teacher in charge of both her and me agree that team teaching is best for her - she has less to be nervous about because I am there to help. Plus, she gets to write all of her teaching plans in English so the other teachers probably won't even read them. haha I helped her with the plans and all of the sheets she has to make. The other student teacher is interesting - I don't know if he knows that I can speak Japanese. But he hadn't done his teaching plan and his lesson is today so he probably had to stay up late to finish it.

4. I'm really sleepy.

5. I need to make a new icon and a post about some of the books I have read recently.

6. Dexter is really good. I should write about the TV shows I have been watching too.

7. Ah!! What should I wear to work?!

I watched Tsuyoshi's Shojiki Shindoi last night for the first time since January. God I missed that show. The great part was, the guest was the same woman on SukaJ on May 16 - and she was hilarious on both shows. I had just finished the SukaJ like an hour before Shojiki Shindoi came on.

In other news - I have changed my mind about some of my kids. They are cute. I have done lots of stuff thus far in Japan. Lots of firsts (as would be obvious). My boss is awesome. Hopefully I can get caught up on my journal soon and then I will give the link to it.

I just wanted to say that yes - I am alive. Yes - I am in Japan. Yes - I like it so far. I've been very busy with settling in and starting work. My predessor left today (Thursday) so this has really been my first chance to stop and update LJ. I have lots to say, but I will wait and make a long post later or something. I want to start a separate blog for my life in Japan, but I will do that later.

I am going to have 31 days of fun-filled insanity.
May 2-3: give a final and grade them. Fuck. That's not fun, so it doesn't count.

May 6: Graduate, give mom big furnitre
May 8: go back to Atlanta
May 9-17: visit people, drive around and waste gas
May 18: leave for Japan
May 19: arrive in Japan, ride a bus, try and sleep
May 21: Welcome dinner for me.
May 22: start work
May 25: (I think the 25th) take over completly as my predecessor leaves
May 27: Mindy and masako/ichigohime/Pam come to visit me
June 2: Turn 24
June 3/4: Kanjani8 concert

WTF I am going to die. I still have so much to do.

I got offered a job today. It looks like everything will be going OK with it. I'm trying not to get too overly excited at the moment just in case. Hence why this post is friends-only. OK - it looks official now!

Basically, the job is 250,000yen/month (2,128.65 USD currency converter). Standard pay. The bonus: "1 bedroom house, plus dining, kitchen, classroom. Rent free, pay utilities." It is a house. A house for free. By myself.

I don't have a visa, so more than likely I will get sent to Korea for 2 days to get my work visa once the paperwork is ready. Free trip to Korea!

Another benefit - the job is in Maebashi City, Gunma. I will be somewhat near Pam and Mindy (Pam says it is about a 2 hour train ride to them). Not incredibly far from Tokyo (3 hour regular train ride). My house is a 15-minute bike ride from the station.

Gunma Prefecture Website
Maebashi city website
More information about the city

The thing is - the job starts May 20. I would be leaving in less than a month. Needless to say I am totally freaking out. I feel like my heart is going to burst.


EDIT:
My house comes with a bed here, a couch, tv, vcr, dishes, toaster oven, and a microwave. I will have internet already set up. And maybe a bike.