となりにオヤジと若い女が座っている。朝っぱらから何やっているんだろうと思いながらコーヒーを啜った。

オヤジは女に黒と白の水玉模様の袋にピンクのリボンを掛かったプレゼントを渡している。

女はありがとうなんて言いながら次のプレゼントをねだっている。

嫌悪感が湧いてくる。

それはオヤジに対したモノなのか、それともプレゼントをもらっている女への嫉妬心を抱えている私へのモノなのかは私にはわからない。

オヤジが去り、週刊誌を広げている女の将来が気になっている私はもうすでにそういった年頃ではなくなったんだな、と心淋しく思った。

日本に帰ってくるたびに私は浦島太郎状態である。

何年かに一度の帰国。

私は全く変わらないのに周りが変わっていく。

私は誰、ここはどこ状態である。

慣れし故郷を求め、日本を堪能しに帰って来ているわけではない。

やはり私の居場所はないんだな、という確認の為の訪問である。

未だに認める事のできない、自己確認であるに過ぎない。

Boise State Broncos win again!

I think it was one of the first games I watched from beginning to end. I was glued to the screen the whole time.

The first quarter resulted in two touchdowns and lots of cheering.

You could see the V-tech fans holding their own face with anxiety written all over it.

We had already had three beers each at that point out of pure joy and happiness.

Then the second quarter and the third quarter happened...

Next thing you know, V-tech was ahead of us and we had 5 more minutes left till the game was over.

Our living room had about 15 people in it and nobody said a word.

I kept praying under my breath.

"Touch down... Touch down... All we need is a touch down!"

My wish was granted and Boise State had a touch down one minute before the game was over.

We were now 3 points ahead...

All I was worried about was that we scored too soon that V-tech might have a chance to launch out another touch down.

They threw a long throw and missed the catch.

That was their only chance to recover from our previous touch down.

The game was over and we had won the opening game of the season to Virginia Tech.

What a great night. I hope we make it to the National Championship!

Post Dream Bike Purchase:

I AM IN LOVE!!!

My new black Beauty is a hand crafted Nishiki bike by Kuwamura and has the most amazing handle bar grip.

The pink clear grip hasn't been produced in the United States since the 70's and Jimmy from the Boise Bicycle Project used the last one he had on a special bike.

My bike left the BBP with lots of ahhs and wows.

If you see a girl riding around Boise screaming "I love my bike!!", it is probably me.

I stopped by Boise Bicycle Project today. It was my first experience there.

I walked in expecting to run into my dream bike and walk out.

Unfortunately, there was only four bikes there and they were by far not even close to what I pictured in my mind before I left my house.

I was disapointed. I did a test ride with one of the options and it was a smooth ride, but still not "The one".

As I was about to lose all hope, the manager told me that I can take a look at some bikes that are about go on sale.

It was then and there, I met "The One". It was a Nishiki bike.

It had a slim body with beautiful tires. And the handle bars was just a give away.

It had a slick black color to it and it the handle bars had grip tape on it that looked like fruit roll ups.

I can't wait to go pick it up!

Three more days in Tokyo/Japan.

It has been five weeks since I haven't been home.

I am looking forward to eating some greasy pizza and burgers. Food is great here, but I could use some cheese.

See you in the States!

I made a trip to Kyoto yesterday.

We went to Ginkakuji and Kiyomizudera.

My two favorite temples in Kyoto.

I know I should have visited a temple I had never been to, but I really wanted to visit my two favorite temples when I had a chance.

We first went to Ginkakuji. Ginkakuji means "The silver temple" but it isn't made out of Silver.

There is a temple called Kinkakuji which is made out of gold and I heard it is a very beautiful temple but I was always more attracted to Ginkakuji.

I can't tell you why, but I always felt a connection with this temple.

I think there is a similarity to that feeling when you are dating.

Sometimes you are attracted to people that are not physically beautiful and you love someone because they connect with you.

(Don't get me wrong, Ginkakuji is really beautiful)

We walked through the tasteful landscape and enjoyed the luscious trees and moss that surrounded the temple.

I can confidently say that there was only 5% Japanese tourists in the area.

The rest were all foreigners.

Chinese, Korean, British and American were the majority.

My friend I was with said she had never been there even through she had lived in the area for 6 years.

Japanese people don't seem to appreciate what they have.

They don't realize what beauty they have.

I am Japanese as well, but maybe I wouldn't have realized how beautiful Japan was if I had never moved away.

I thanked the temple and Masayoshi Ashikaga for building such a beautiful temple and shared it with us for centuries.

I left the temple feeling cleansed and hot from the Bonchi madness.

Just got into Osaka.

I think the humidity is about 99% and the temperature is about 95 degrees.

I would hate to live in this everyday, but it feels really good. I missed the humidity.

You know it is humid outside when you can wave your arm and feel the air.


I haven't been here in seven years.

There is noise everywhere.

I didn't hear it when I lived here.

The train running by and people talking.

The electronics, cars and sirens.

The electronic voices talking to you on the street, bathroom, stores and train station.

This wasn't all noise to me when I lived in Tokyo.

I didn't hear it.

People adapt well.

When I first moved to Idaho I had a hard time falling asleep in the quite.

I was scared of the wide spaces.

I felt claustrophobic in the open field with no noise.

Now I feel claustrophobic in small places like I should be.

Two completely different cultures embedded in my mind.

Which am I? After years of contemplation, I still haven't figured it out.

I dream of being in Japan when I am in the States and I dream of being in America when

I am in Japan.