february

I realize I might be the only person reading this post, but here's an update. I wrote last in October, so here's what's happene.d I'm still in the same apartment with Marguerite and Chris - vicente has moved out and in with his girlfriend.
He is threatening to get a new apartment, but we'll see if that happens. I passed the 3-kyu national japanese test which means I am well on my way to a mild leven of proficiency(read: not particularly useful, but exciting considering I've only been here for a little while). I'm learning to write more kanji(chinese characters, of which there are thousands), which has really been interesting. I'm also still taking classes from the little old ladies in Yutenji - that has also been great. I've picked up a few private students - one is a mother from Yoyogi-Uehara and the other is a woman/girl about my age from Fujimigaoka. Both are super nice and talkative, which makes the lesson pretty easy. I usually talk with Sayuri(the older of the two) about her kids, and I just started meeting with Naoko(the other) so we haven't really fallen into a routine regarding conversation. I'm also still teaching at the tokyo univ. lab, which has been a lot of fun - the people there are great.
After much waiting - due to them being sold out everywhere - , I purchased a NIntendo DS, which, if you are thinking of buying one, i highly recommend. It's actually a fairly practical video game machine, and, in addition to all the old nintendo classics etc, you can purchase a bunch of other stuff including cookbooks, kanji practice, and (which has been really helpful to me) and japanese-english dictionary. All I have to do is write the japanese in on the touch screen and I get a definition.

I've started practicing with a drummer( and still with kevin) and we do that for two hours, once a week(only 3 times so far). i'm pretty into some of the stuff we've been coming up with. i hope we keep getting better. hopefully finding a vocalist this time around won't be too difficult(at least not as difficult as it was for the country bears - i think it took close to a year after we started looking).

I've been frequenting a bar in shibuya(by frequenting I mean about twice a month) where I met a Japanese guy who is down with good old japanese movies and 90s era touch and go stuff, so that's cool. ONe of the dudes who books a bunch of the shows runs two "nights"(one 80s and the other metal) there, and he's a pretty funny dude. I'm hoping he'll start getting me into some of the ridiculously priced shows coming up - not keeping my fingers crossed.

Speaking of shows, I recently paid 60 bucks to see Isis. As ridiculous as it may sound, it was worth it. Being that I go see shows about once every two months here, I'm willing to fork over some cash if one of my favorites comes through. I've been thinking about it, and in economic terms, my demand for good live music is somewhat inelastic.
These arms are snakes opened up - what a fucking joke. The singer affectedly pranced around the stage while all of the other guys "freaked out". It seemed totally contrived. so much for them. I'm off to grab a drink down the street with Chris - will write more.