Game on.Ý Yes I've lost all since of  reality.Ý I've also lost much of my english ability.Ý After being so  careful about typos in the last email I screwed up the subject  "Epsiode"...oops (that time it was on purpose).Ý The constant  talking in easy, and sometimes improper, english as really taken its toll.Ý  I can't remember big, college words.Ý At least the other JETS I've spoken  to are saying the same thing.Ý We are all getting a little stupid.Ý  Now I know why there is a 3yr limit with my program...by that time we are so bad  at english we don't do any good...but moving on. ÝÝÝ In this chapter a little  about the Wa, about Green Tea, about health, and about a bunch of other  things. ÝÝÝ ----The Wa is the term we  Westerners would call harmony.Ý In Japan to upset the Wa is a no-no.Ý  As a result I've never seen a Japanese really angry.Ý One of my elementary  principals said that "patience is very important in Japan".Ý Here  patience is more than a virtue...it is a necessity.Ý When you take into  account all the lengthy processes for everything, the narrow roads, and many  other items a Westerner can get very upset and thereby disturb the Wa.Ý To  disturb the Wa is very disgraceful.Ý I have read, and to a point have  observed, that Japanese think Westerners, when it comes to emotions, are not  very controlled.Ý I think that some even try to make a Westerner lose his  cool just for kicks...though it hasn't happened to me.Ý So I use email to  vent my frustration...haha.Ý Speaking of which I found out that my air  condition unit has multiple functions...it is also a dehumidifier.Ý This I  discovered when I asked my office about it and they told me...and that it was on  a video I watched...eventhough that part was never seen because there was a gap  between showings and I thought the first showing was the only one...so  anyway...a dehumidifier...great huh?Ý Well the drawback is it blows cold  air when it is in that mode...so I use my kerosene heater to counteract  that...the heater is very tempermental and when it doesn't have fresh air it  turns off...so I have to open my sliding glass door for that which brings in  really cold air...so I have to turn up the heater...remember nothing is simple  in Japan... ------>The most popular beverage here is  "ocha" or "green tea"....what it is made from I really don't  know.Ý I drink about 3 cups of it a day...there is even an ice cream flavor  named for it.Ý I have been told it prevents many illnesses including  cancer, which is a good thing because Japanese smoke worse than  chimneys. ------>You think smoking in America is bad.Ý When  compared to Japan it is smoke-free...and the Japanese will tell you that  too.Ý I was playing in a baseball game that my whole office created and it  was interesting to see a baserunner come in and then light up in the  dugout.Ý Then they all lit up.Ý Out of 12 guys on my team I was one of  two who didn't smoke the weed.Ý My small office isn't any  better...sometimes a few light up at the same time...did I mention my use of  smoke signals?Ý It is a good thing Japanese eat really healthy and drink  green tea, otherwise they would be dropping like flies. ÝÝÝ Most older Japanese have false, no, or gold  teeth.Ý This is because of the lack of fluoride in the water and also the  lack of dental hygiene back then.Ý Times have changed now and there is  almost an obsession with brushing.Ý One thing I like to do after lunch is  watch everyone, from teachers to students, take their toothbrushes and their  cups from their desks and brush away.Ý One teacher at one of my schools  brushes 6 or 7 times a day...I like to think of him as the Japanese Lady  MacBeth.Ý I have yet to cave into this past time...maybe I  should. ------->I've done my introduction for the last time  finally...did it over 40 times...I know myself pretty well by now.Ý In one  class they didn't ask me any questions so I thought I would tell them more about  myself..."I met Bush-san"...silence..." I met  Clinton-san"....silence...explanation to the  teacher..."oh"...translation to the class...silence...."I met  Col. Sanders"...applause...laughs...and other assortments of happy  noises...this still cracks me up.Ý If you don't get this then read chapter  9 Crash and Burn.... ÝÝÝ ----->Another popular thing to do is  take pictures.Ý Before coming here I thought that was only for a McDonald's  in America, but now I know that they are just crazy about pictures.Ý Know  that little booth in your local mall that can take a little funny picture of you  and a friend?Ý Well here that is the biggest thing since slice  bread...print club...or as they say "printo clubu" (the reason for the  way it is said I will explain next time).Ý I am always getting these from  my students and I've been caught up in the fever and have taken a few with some  of my friends.Ý When taking a regular picture it is custom to give a copy  to the person who was included in it.Ý Once I even got a copy from some guy  I didn't know because I was in the very far background with only a part of my  head showing...though I think this was an extreme case.Ý I have more photos  of myself than I would ever want or need. I don't take many photos of people...I  take video...doubt they would want a copy of that.Ý My friend Jason has a  pretty big task though...he took a group photo of 50 people...wouldn't want to  see that developing bill. ----->The roads here are nuts.Ý I think I mentioned  that before, but it deserves a little more attention.Ý Most turns, both  when intersecting a street and when a road curves, are so bad that they are  supplied with the same kind of mirror you see in convenient stores to stop  shoplifters.Ý The trick though is how to use these mirrors when you are  about to turn out into traffic.Ý Some places have 2 or 3 mirrors for  traffic coming both ways.Ý Don't get confused with which mirror is for  which way of traffic or you might end up only half a car...again video of this  will be forthcoming... ÝÝÝ Well I think that will do it on this side  of the world... Ý