Is it really Christmas?

Yeah, I know, I haven't posted in forever. sorry about that. :-p It's really crazy to think that tomorrow is already Christmas! The time has just been flying by, and without the traditional markers, I still can't really believe it!

I'll be making some cookies for them tomorrow though, which I think they'll love. When I asked the teacher today about it, he was like 'homemade cookies? really? that's ok?' and I was kinda chuckling and saying of course! I had volunteered after all!

Lets see: in the last week, some of the things I've done are:

1) set up christmas decorations around school. there's a christmas tree set up near the entrance with decorations and lights on it, and the presents i received in the mail are sitting underneath it. No, I don't have to worry about my students stealing them. Garland is on the main stairwell and looks awesome, and there are some christmas lights up in the hallway near the english teacher's lounge.

2) Made grandma's christmas wreaths with one of the advanced english courses. They had a blast doing it; totally awesome.

3) Met Kasuga's daughter Nanako. She just returned from her first semester at college at Central Arkansas U. I was laughing at her american accent. She's pretty cool.

4) finally got my China visa. I got stuck with a bunch of additional fees by the consulate and will end up spending nearly 250$ between the travel agent fees to get it ordered and the extra crap from the Chinese consulate. Bah.

5) contemplated purchasing a car one of my brazilian students family was selling since they are returning to Brazil in February, but found out the next day that they had already sold it. This country has hustle.

6) met my new neighbors, who finally moved into the house that was being built out in front of me.

7) did a christmas cards lesson with several classes. Students made postcards for many of you back home, so expect them in the mail in the next couple of weeks.

8) realized once again how darn excited I am for the Watchmen movie that comes out on Pete's birthday.

9) went to the dollar store and bought a bunch of socks taht are all totally worth more than a buck a pair.

10) got my haircut, finally! I had a cup that had the name of a local barber shop on it, and I figured Jon went there, so I checked it out. turns out Jon never did, but oh well! I got the whole shebang for 40$, cut, wash, conditioner, shave, hot towel, scalp moisturizer, even a massage! The barber was a young man who grew up in Iijima, cool guy!

Saturday I take off for China via Korea! How cool is that?! Whee!