Head shoulders knees and toes, knees and toes.

I had my first kid’s class yesterday. It didn’t go too bad. It’s amazing how smooth things can seem when no one is watching. Teaching kids was when I realized how nice it is to be working for an English teaching company that doesn’t care about the actual learning part – just the money. Apparently sometime during the last few months I was kids trained. I don’t remember any of that. I do remember a nice girl singing and dancing, but that’s all.

So, to sum up my group of kids, I basically just sat there saying things like “is he walking” or something. And ideally they would say “yes” or “no.” Even better, they would say, “he is walking.” But that did not happen. Pointing to a picture I asked “is he walking?” I am sure they would have replied if they were not so busy entertaining themselves. One girl did sit there and appear to be listening. But even if she was it would have been difficult due to the screaming from the one dude as he did laps around the room while twirling his shirt over his head. The other kid was having fun squeezing his own butt cheeks and making farting noises with his mouth. I actually kind of liked “teaching” these kids. It was entertaining. The only thing I am dreading is that someday I am going to have to do it while someone observes me. I imagine I will be about ready to quit by then anyway.

Also, a poem from my friend Margaret (i think the "mark" she refers to may be me):
mark my friend is bored in japan, needs to get out and see more of the land, beautiful and abundant as it may be, mark doesnt realise there is much more to see, his eyes already fixed on the road ahead, without stopping to indulge on the path that led, time will fly and he eventually will see, what a wonderful experience japan can be.

Bin Laden location: CIA confident

According to CNN. And if you ask them (or read the article) it probably says "according to the CIA." Either way, how come every 2-3 months the CIA says they know exactly where he is. Why don't they go arrest him or something? Is that in the plan? Are we waiting for him to invite us over?

Of course I did not actually read the article. But I can only guess as to why they know where he is but don't do anything about it. Isn't the US fighting a war because of him or something? I don't really know - I'm in Japan. Well, anyway, I am trying to guess what the reasons are that CNN lists in its article. Here is my list, feel free to add yours to the comment section. Don't forget the napoleonisms afterwards. And no reading the article, that's cheating!

1. The NBA playoffs - aghh
2. He is on the other side of the world. geez.
3. The war on terror used up all our arresting funds. gosh!
4. We got Saddam, what do we want Osama for! uhhhh
5. If the CIA arrested everyone they had info on they would arrest everyone.
6. Osama and the CIA are tight. Whaddaya think!



OK, I realize this article didn't really have anything to do with Japan, but there is nothing on my mind and I didn't want to go an entire month without updating this worthless piece of internet space. Visiondirect sucks.

Mark

my knees suck

Jiu jitsu. My knee said "pop!" I said "what?" And it didn't reply. I guess that's a good thing. I had my other knee pop about two weeks ago. Two weeks of inconvenience but it feels fine now. I am thinking worse case scenario it's just another ligament tear. Maybe not even that. I'll see how it feels tomorrow. Maybe I will luck out and the pop was just cartiledge and the pain is just my imagination (it's not that bad).

DsyndClub

DsyndClub
Originally uploaded by terw0015.

I was walking to the store, just as I do everyday during my lunch break. Walking over the bridge, my worst dreams were realized. The Down Syndrome Club was back. I see them about twice a week, always on my way to the store. They block the entrance. They shout at me. They stare at me. They crowd around me. They intimidate me. Sometimes numbering in the upper teens. A small gang, avoiding detection by operating during daylight hours and loitering near the station exit - in case they need to make a quick getaway. They pretend to sell baked goods, probably as a fund raiser for a new van or something, but only God knows what they are really up to. Money laundering, drug smuggling? I have no idea. But aware that getting into legal troubles could mean my exodus, I usually bury my chin into my chest, walk past them without making any eye contact, and buy my snacks at the small corporation about 10 feet behind them. But today was different. I am not exactly sure why. Maybe there were more. Maybe they were shouting louder. Maybe I made accidental eye contact. I don't remember. But I do know that I somehow managed to end up standing in front of their table pointing at different goods. I had crossed the line. There was no turning back. It didn't matter if the cookies were way overpriced or that they appeared to be have been taken from a larger bag of cookies and repackaged. It didn't matter that the comfort and safety of the store was just a few steps away. Was I funding some Middle Eastern terrorist group? It didn't matter. I pointed to a bag, gave them some money, and then left. They had my money, I walked away with some cookies and a new outlook on life. Everything was going to be OK. As I walked away the entire group erupted into what appeared to be a non-planned, unrehearsed, yet synchronized dance and cheer. What were they saying? I don't know. Did they finally get enough money to buy some remote activated mines? Were they laughing at the fact that in about 15 minutes the cookies would be causing my vital organs to shutdown? Or did they just make their first sale in two weeks? I don't know. Either way, they seemed to be happy (and my organs seem to be alright - at least normal).

Well, if you're wondering, the cookies tasted like sugarless chocolate cookies. They were either left out in the open air for too long or they were 3 weeks old. Either way, I ate them all and was pleased to find a piece of paper inside the bag with a drawing of what appears to be a fly sitting on a small banana next to some flowers - or a sailboat sailing by some large flowers. You be the judge. So in conclusion, maybe people with Down Syndrome are not always scheming afterall.