ネイティブが教える英会話のジェムスクール☆Teachers☆

Awhile ago I wrote about my actual dad, but I also have an adopted "academic" dad. He's not technically old enough to be my father, but I met him when I was just starting college, and he became like a father to me all throughout my years at undergrad and graduate school. He really encouraged writing over the years, and continues to now. His name is Christopher Barzak, and this is a picture of him signing books for his latest released novel. He has several books out now, one of which he wrote while he was in Japan, about his time in Japan. He was the one who advised I come to Japan when I told him I wanted to travel. He's one of the people I miss most from back home, and I look forward to swapping stories about living here with him when I go back.   

Every now and then ost people get a craving for something. Some people crave rare, exotic, or expensive foods, others crave really cheap , strange, or mundane foods. For the past couple of months I have been craving a childhood snack. A nice good peanut nugget. Its very similar to a "turron" but of lesser quality. When I found out that my parents were sending me another care package I specifically asked for a handful of peanut nuggets. These nuggets are not sold in any store in Miami but they are sold at most gas stations. My father went to the local gas station across from the local grocery store and bought some for me and for himself. Once he got home my sister saw them and decided she wanted some. As far as I can remember she has never had one of these. My father had to return to the gas station and buy some more. This is very strange, someone going to a gas station twice in the same day to buy over a dozen peanut nuggets, that type of thing just doesn't happen in Miami. The cashier was shocked and according to my dad a little nervous. He probably thought he was about to be robbed or someone was scoping out the joint. It's a very common thin in Miami.

What foods do you crave? Do you have any strange or funny stories?  

It's my birthday today! I am now at the ripe old age of 29 years old!

...sigh. One more year. Just one more year and I hit the big 3-0. Well, i guess it doesn't matter, since many people already think I'm 40 now, haha.

What are my plans for my birthday? Absolutely nothing. Not to say I would mind doing something if it came up, just that I didn't plan anything for myself. Actually, that's not entirely true. I was planning on having a party again at a river in Saijo, like I did last year, but I decided to cancel that. I don't know why, but I have been feeling very tired lately, and the thought of planning a party seemed too troublesome. I know I disappointed a few friends, who I had told the plans to and now know that they are canceled.

I don't know, maybe I will try for a small get together at an izakaya or something. Just to say I did something for my birthday. But then, I never really was concerned with celebrating it to begin with.  

Recently my favorite teacher recommended a book to me by A.S. King called Please Ignore Vera Dietz. He told me the main character reminded him of me. It was a really engaging read, and I really liked the main character--although I don't know if he were as much a like as the teacher thinks. The best part of reading this book, however, was the fact that it inspired me to start a new YA (young adult) novel of my own. Right now, I've already made it to 28,000 words in one week.