Fly Hawks Football in Sasebo

Playing some good football with the Nagasaki team at the Navy Recreation park in Sasebo, Nagasaki. Found a willing troop of firemen who took us on for a 50min game. Was great especially since we had great team work and learned alot from the win ;-) I'm still getting the hang of the endurance, skill and teamwork of this beautiful game but will be there soon.

Doll Festival お雛祭り

Pictures from a Arita-san's (my Japanese family :-) ) Japanese Doll festival elaborate and beautiful display. Ohina matsuri as it is called in Japanese celebrated the happiness and health of girls. Each set can contain up to 15 different dolls. The top and main tier is decorated with “Emperor and Empress” dolls and their retainers on five to seven tiers with tea and sewing sets, traditional games and musical instruments. Just setting up the dolls takes a lot of work - not to mention patience! Even today parents will spend thousands of dollars on these lovely dolls all in the hopes of their daughter finding happiness.

Kyushu National Museum with Saori

Went to check out a great exhibition by Ito Jakuchu an old Japanese painters collection on display with my friend Saori. Was really great but the place was so huge it took us 5hrs to do 2 floors. Worth it though.






Rushed to the sound of pan in the lobby and found this NeoJazz group. When I talked to the guy he was quite surprised to meet someone from Trinidad there and told me that he got his pan in LaHorquetta, Arima. Good music.


There was a huge Google Maps-type map of Fukuoka, the city the museum is in, on the floor and many people were stopping to look for their houses and stuff.

Nagasaki Lantern Festival 2007

Had a great time with some friends from Hirado (a far away city in Nagasaki Prefecture) and my neighbour and her firends from Saga for this year's Latern Festival, one of Nagasaki City's big celebrations (lasts about 2 and half weeks)


One of Nagasaki's famous landmarks, Spectacles Bridge.


Bounced up some students (graduating this April) from my High school at a photo booth corner.



Back L-R Yuki and Alex
Front L-R Emiko, Chris, Allan and Yoshino


In the midst of the crowd finally we met up with Annette, my friend from Jamaica and continued seeking out the thrills of Latern Festival

Aaaye!!

Everynow and then something from the Caribbean jumps outs and surprises me in Japan. The bottle of Matouk's pepper sauce in the 100yen store, the tucked and hidden away Jamaican restaurant, and below, once again pepper sauce at a Mexican restaurant in Sasebo City (after a football match with friends L-R Alex (Washington) Chris (England) and Courtney (forgot what state USA). Was actually good, the Trinidad Mustard Sauce.

Home time - Nagasaki Kakuyo High

No, not for me quite yet. Just decided to get some pics of students after another hard day at school. いってらっしゃい！

Happy Valentine's Day!

Love is just a 4-letter word,

That when given from the heart -
Purely,
Without unnecessary distractive influence,
Or mal-motive -
It can cahnge the World!
Think of what we can do
With 1 letter's worth!


In Japan Valentine's Day is for men! That is, women are supposed to give men they admire or like, some token (chocolate, cake and the like). All you Western women who are already throwing their arms in the air crying 'BLASPHEMY!', there is a day next month (March) where the token is reciprocated. Anyways, last year I was at my High School and got nothing but a little candy from a group of 4 girls... damn teenagers! lol This year I was at Takashima Elementary and Junior High School and this is just part of my stash. I felt loved (that didn't sound too pathetic...) That's my stash... home baked cookies, chocolates and goodness.