Curly Dub - Lee "Scratch" Perry & The Upsetters

Just about have the trip to China completely planned. The only thing I have left to do now is pick up my visa from the Embassy. Got the tickets, got the time off, etc. Can't wait to go. It's been too long since I've seen Seth! And a trip to China to boot!

Today I did this thing called "English Cafe" where I get paid ¥5000 to talk to people for two hours in a restaurant. My friend Takako's father owns the place so I got a call last night asking if I could fill in for someone today. Of course I jumped on the chance to make ¥5000 and get free coffee. And....

Oh Man. It was so worth it. And all because of one man. His real name? I have no idea. His moniker: Elton. Elton has a bit of an attitude. Kind of like he's better than you. Or really famous. Elton is probably in his late twenties. He wears big thick glasses. Kind of like these.** He wears turtlenecks. He claims to have played the keyboard for 20 years. He has been to London several times. He wants to live there. He likes rock music, specifically late 70's piano rock. He was surprised that I'd "never heard of him." I only hope that Elton is there the next time I go to English cafe. I think I'm going to try humming "Rocket Man" under my breath next time and see what happens.
**Doing a search for these glasses somehow turned up a find for 'home ec. teacher' porn. Oh Japan.


So the 1st graders have just finished up their final exams for the year. I'm grading the 'letter to Sean Sensei' section. I don't know what this says about my ability to teach English but there are some gems in here that I had to share:

"Dear Sean sensei. I'ts a cool Sean. usually Thenk you. I LovE sean."

"Hi Sean. I am stubey Happi Engrish. Don't be sed. Miss you. Yuur student (student's name) Good bay."

"Dear Sean sensei. Hi Sean. Ha wo you? I'm fualn. I miss you."

"Hello sean sensei. I like sean sensei. This is my first E-mail. I miss you. See you next werak."

"Hi Seansensei. You are so kins. You are so cool. I miss you. Take cans. Your studey, (student's name)"

Yeah. Good stuff.

I still haven't cleaned or done any of the things I said I was going to do. I'm hoping to get some kind of inspiration to start cleaning but something tells me it will be the only thing that ever inspires me: last minute panic.