I rode elephants at the elephant camp in Karen Village in Kanchanaburi, Thailand. Karen Village's inhabitants are Burmese refugees. 

Graduation Day

March 16, 2005 or the 17th Year of the Heisei Period, 16th of March as it might be translated into Japanese, was the day of the graduation at Heguri Junior High School. School in Japan is only compulstory up until JHS their graduation in JHS is more like our graduation from high school. Over 90+% of Japanese students go on to high school (where they must apply to get into). This year's students were by far my favorite class! I'm going to miss them soo much. We've been through so much together and I think that I changed them in some ways and they've changed me. Ureshii, I'm happy.

Yokota-sensei in her "hakama" and Kaneko-sensei. They dressed up really nice for graduation. 

That's my sweetie, Misa, on the right and Riana in the middle. Everyone's heard about Misa and Ta-ke's drama. She was like my lil daughter. I'm gonna miss her!!! 

Me and Anna. She's sooo sweet. I'm gonna miss her! 

Some of my English club students with their sempai, Megumi.  

Me and Yumi. Isn't she so cute? She's in the kendo club! Strong girl too! 

Me and Saki. One of my English club students that graduated. 

Mai (far left) and friends after graduation. 

Nana (middle) and friends. 

More of the bads boys. Can you see the twins? 

I was invited to the brunch after the 6th graders' music concert. 

Suguru and friends 

Music Concert Lunch @ Kita Elem school 

This is the cover art for story #4, The Blackmail continues, in The Adventures of Bianca Sukiyama series I am writing. In this scene, Bianca is backup for Michael during his meeting with Dark Path. She doesn't know that she is about to be stunned. For a copy of stories 3 and 4, please email me. 

Japanese Wedding

February 5, 2005--This is my friend, Nana Takatsuka's, wedding that I attended in Nagoya, Japan. Most people, not even friends, are allowed to view the actual wedding ceremony, only the reception. I was invited to both. Her wedding was such an experience. I was told by her friends that her wedding was not traditional. The reception was so entertaining from the beginning to the end. Enjoy!

Nana and her father.  

Shigero's nieces. They're half Brazilian and Japanese. This is a very non-traditional Japanese wedding btw. 

From here, me and 3 of her other friends were chosen to throw feathers over their heads on their exit from the wedding hall. 

They're debut at the wedding reception.  

They broke open the box of sake and served some for everyone together. 

This was the friends' table. We sat very close to the bride and groom. 

Nana and I-- one of the few times she had time to talk to her friends. 

They're pounding o-mochi (pounded rice that comes out to this deliscious gooey rice ball - we ending up eating it as a snack). 

Doesn't she look like a model? I love those red tulips. 

Cutting the cake. That cake was sooo good with all those fresh strawberries on it. 

Some of Nana's friends at the after-party.