tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-142622322011-12-02T17:18:56.565-05:00Life through my eyes, which I hope are growing wider every day.Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.comBlogger2711100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-70502808297518377652011-10-15T13:14:00.003-05:002011-10-15T13:20:14.008-05:00

Yes, I'm doing it: I'm writing a post about ex-boyfriends.  I briefly considered how cliche and taboo this is, but let's face the facts: writing that risks nothing isn't interesting to write...much less, to read.  Writing is about sitting alone, just you and a laptop or you and a notepad, and it feels isolating, even self-indulgent, because everything else around you fades away.  But in reality, 

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-83112132508927826552011-04-29T19:57:00.002-05:002011-04-29T20:12:12.967-05:00

...but I ain't messin' with my dinner! Well, not sushi, really.  Still deep in the throes of my missing-Japan-being-a-vegetarian-a-la-Julia-Child phase, I decided that instead of missing my favorite Japanese quick meal, I was just going to make it myself.  Onigiri are what I like to think of as the Japanese version of a sandwich: quick, nutritious, easy; requires a few basic ingredients but can

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-7422700871081104482011-04-19T18:37:00.004-05:002011-04-19T19:19:42.524-05:00

Lot of changes and emotions lately - fear and sadness over the loss and devastation in Japan; admiration for my family in the very Japanese-style kindness they extended by offering safe, radiation-free housing to my friends and their families; my elation over leaving a bad relationship; my 28th birthday and either an early mid-life crisis or a delayed quarter-life crisis; my realization that I

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-57074712039826756802011-02-28T19:33:00.001-05:002011-02-28T19:35:36.967-05:00

"Warm" winter hike and mini photography experiment with Tom...it was great to get some fresh air.

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-877996251292807372010-10-23T15:32:00.001-05:002010-10-23T15:32:56.016-05:00

http://zenhabits.net/why-living-a-life-of-gratitude-can-make-you-happy/

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-89050017787482165252010-09-24T18:22:00.007-05:002010-09-24T18:28:22.348-05:00

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-54234912842690935692009-12-13T10:04:00.001-05:002009-12-13T10:05:59.818-05:00

www.monsillage.comI love the birds!!

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-34420315355842905642009-10-14T18:26:00.008-05:002011-02-17T16:08:06.471-05:00

Forget aromatherapy, because this goes way beyond that: there are some fragrance oils that unleash waves of emotions in me, and this is in large part how I identify them. Lime, grapefruit, wormwood oil...they all make me deleriously happy in slightly nuanced ways. I love that in some languages, the verb "to smell" is the same as the verb "to feel," because sometimes I can't tell the difference.

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-73636163672288535402009-10-10T18:53:00.001-05:002009-10-10T18:54:55.570-05:00

from my teacher, and from Native American philosophy ~Acceptance is the answer to all my problems today. When I am disturbed, it is because I find some person, place, thing or situation – some fact of my life – unacceptable to me, and I can find no serenity until I accept that person, place, thing, or situation as being exactly the way it is supposed to be at this moment.Nothing, absolutely

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-1612361374171919702009-09-13T22:17:00.007-05:002009-09-13T22:36:53.868-05:00

I've known about my impending job training for a while, but as the day finally draws near (just two more weeks!!), the reality of it is actually starting to hit me: I'll be commuting to mid-town Manhattan to train & test my nose with one of the best perfumers out there, in one of the most widely-known and well-respected places of instruction in the fragrance industry. Training as a 'nose' in New

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-28123690954170776082009-09-11T22:31:00.009-05:002009-09-11T23:28:00.752-05:00

I'm not quite sure why my car became such a vehicle for my identity - a marker of my roots. I bought it in North Carolina, with my parents, on a road that's remained nearly unchanged since I was 2 years old. (They did add a Lowe's). Shortly after I seized newly acquired cute little car, along with all my other important possessions, and hurled myself north into New Jersey. At one point I ended up

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-18607207599185459052009-04-13T19:50:00.006-05:002009-04-13T19:57:51.002-05:00

Recently, a wise man said, "When otherwise sedentary objects become projectiles, it's time to stop." Or as he later quipped, "When shit starts to fly, it's time to say goodbye." I'm 26. This is an important lesson I learned when I was 25. It's a lesson I never thought I'd confront. But then I gathered my things, and walked out.

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-86249679707411481912009-01-04T14:12:00.004-05:002009-01-04T14:22:32.733-05:00

As Christmas Eve was the only time I attended a church service in perhaps all of 2008, I decided to listen intently to the sermon. (No, the idea of a religion binge doesn't seem appropriate, but I thought I'd make the most of my time while I was there). This isn't an exact quote, but the minister shared some words from Rainer Maria Rilke that felt like they were meant for me:~ Be patient with all

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-35132165174525438542008-12-20T18:49:00.006-05:002008-12-20T19:15:04.281-05:00

When he asked me if I could smell colors, I answered with a bored, eyelids-half-closed, "Yeah." Smelling colors can seem somewhat obvious -- rose can smell anywhere from blushing pink to blood red. Grassy notes smell bright green. Cinnamon, a reddish-brown. But I'd been putting these observations on the back burner ever since a perfumer got upset with my efforts to communicate in color. The

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-59067617082567762292008-12-13T11:40:00.010-05:002008-12-13T12:34:56.078-05:00

While the economy is a different story and no one really knows what will happen tomorrow, in the meantime I am really enjoying my job. I love using my nose, I love my company, and I am impressed by the people around me (their diversity, intelligence, experience, and warmth). The daily grind can be very stressful and fast-paced (sometimes I take a few moments to deliberately calm a racing heart),

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-41294810129405466252008-08-14T16:30:00.002-05:002008-08-14T16:53:05.710-05:00

I'm happy to report that I will be joining the ranks of mid-Atlantic commuters... by starting a new job! I'll be working in fragrance development / evaluation with a great company, and I'm really, REALLY excited about this opportunity. Planning to stock up on audiobooks to make the commute more entertaining. Recently I learned some interesting facts about smell and taste from Audiodigest's

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-19201625343681924642008-05-17T11:11:00.029-05:002008-05-17T12:13:54.686-05:00

First, it was Bonne Bell lip gloss. In high school my best friend and I would amass our collections and revel in the flavor choices, like old misers running our knubby fingers through golden coins. Dr. Pepper, Strawberry Banana, Cotton Candy, Vanilla, Raspberry...we were shamelessly addicted to these candy-colored plastic tubes of lip flavors. We counted them, traded them, shared them, and

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-56270020367318607532008-05-17T11:02:00.004-05:002008-05-17T11:10:34.991-05:00

For everyone interested in studying perfumery, I'm happy to share with you what I know. The program I completed at ISIPCA (www.isipca.fr), called The Fragrance Academy, very sadly no longer exists. (It was a one-year program for non-French students in perfumery and evaluation). If you are not French but would still like to study fragrance, there is a 2-year program available to those with a

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-60629317439558556012008-02-10T15:52:00.000-05:002008-02-10T16:14:51.555-05:00

The US really is a jigsaw of various cultures. The landscape, the people, the food, the language, everything can change from place to place within the good ol' US of A. For me this is always easier to discuss than to experience. If you move to Japan, you expect major cultural differences. If you move to France, you expect more cigarette smoke (until very recently), slower movies, richer food. But

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-71635258478104309752007-10-04T23:34:00.000-05:002007-10-04T23:57:39.906-05:00

I have never seen more strip-malls, or more diners, in my life. Luckily I love me some coffee, pancakes, and eggs over easy. There is something charming, something strangely comforting, about all that stainless steel. Or maybe it's just the smell of bacon grease that brings me comfort. In my spare time before work I crafted some mini-adventures -- I checked out the Laurelwood Arboretum, which has

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-30195985487544936322007-09-30T11:09:00.000-05:002007-09-30T11:12:45.243-05:00

When driving in New Jersey, where everyone has forgotten that you pass on the left and use a blinker to signal a lane change, there are only 3 rules:1. take lots of cash2. take lots of gas3. GO!!

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-11076251871744473022007-09-23T12:27:00.000-05:002007-09-23T12:35:36.057-05:00

Yesterday my best friend from college got married. The wedding was absolutely beautiful, extremely well-planned, genuinely touching, and even better for a bridesmaid - fun. I had a blast with friends and family of the bride and groom, and the food was delicious. Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Lee. Also, I have accepted a marketing position with a great fragrance company in New Jersey. It's one

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-74194990416514843912007-08-17T12:38:00.000-05:002007-08-17T12:39:19.398-05:00

If you have questions about perfume, perfumed products, the fragrance industry, brands, anything -- please ask me in the comments. I'd love to test my knowledge and hopefully impart some as well!

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-91851064062850063522007-08-17T12:19:00.000-05:002007-08-17T12:37:37.121-05:00

I read a quote that went something like, "Announcing your plans is the best way to see God laugh." With that in mind, here I go anyway:I've more or less adjusted to being back in the States after my two years abroad. It feels great to be back, and ideally I plan to stay in the US. I hope to always look back on my decisions to move to Japan, and then France, as some of the best ones I've ever made

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-36367549305461037642007-07-30T00:43:00.001-05:002007-07-30T01:42:40.602-05:00

I fall in love with places the way others can fall in love with people. Once I realize I'm sunk, I worry that I'll get lost in them, or lose them. I used to have nightmares that Paris was bombed World War II - style, monuments and cobblestones blown to dry dust and bits. I wonder if someday in my lifetime Lake James will be all dried up, a yellow bowl with orange fingers beneath blue and gray

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-60281233044835475712007-06-26T05:23:00.001-05:002007-06-26T05:35:58.764-05:00

Contrary to popular belief, I am still alive and kicking! (Though mixing and smelling is more like it). Wednesday and Thursday we have an end-of-year evaluation, which consists of professional perfumers and evaluators coming in to check out our work. I will present four perfumes and their briefs:my very first one (based on a photograph of a girl in a yellow bikini)a "middle" project (based on

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-89779877296620722562007-04-18T05:51:00.000-05:002007-04-18T06:06:05.176-05:00

In our latest chapter of functional perfumery, we're designing a "lavender" scent for fabric softener. I put that in quotations because this is an interesting part of the fragrance industry: the perfume should not actually smell like real lavender, but instead like something that the general public deems acceptable for a clothing residue. What is appropriate for the market changes depending on

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-37594220735507814342007-04-09T09:55:00.000-05:002007-04-09T09:59:15.488-05:00

...and at the coast.

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-15914194070484878752007-04-09T09:51:00.000-05:002007-04-09T09:55:07.983-05:00

Barcelona, off the beaten path...

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-48469701781226116532007-04-09T09:45:00.000-05:002007-04-09T09:51:29.592-05:00

...to Barcelona! Gaudi doesn't get nearly enough credit.

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-64915545037764616302007-04-09T09:41:00.000-05:002007-04-09T09:45:24.526-05:00

from Madrid...

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-70386298210232003422007-03-15T06:53:00.000-05:002007-03-15T07:00:37.171-05:00

Sure it's a play on words, but I'm starting to understand how people can become totally consumed by the work they love. Especially when it's challenging. I thought perfumery was a 9 to 5 job, but it's not. If I really want to be good, I have to do a LOT of work (smelling, studying, re-thinking, formulating, calculating) outside of my classroom "office hours." The most striking thing about

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-20348109017969911582007-03-13T11:32:00.000-05:002007-03-13T12:00:06.765-05:00

Stock, as in, raw materials. Raw materials that we usually use in easy-drip recipes diluted in 10 % ethyl alcohol. Today was a different story. We're in the middle of functional perfumery, which is extremely involved, but in short it goes like this:1. smell the fine fragrance you want to put into a cream, shower gel, etc.2. try to recreate the formula in your lab3. figure out how much each raw

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-53880616677748295982007-02-10T07:29:00.000-05:002007-02-10T07:46:26.381-05:00

"Perfumers are chemists no more than is the painter who manipulates chemical colors." --E. Roudnitska"Une femme sans parfum est une femme sans avenir." (A woman without perfume is a woman without a future.) --Coco Chanel* * *Perhaps a bit extreme, but amusing nonetheless. Perfumery is truly a methodical art. It is really not chemistry. And actually, a woman OR man without any perfume would be

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-80363809727507276402007-02-05T07:05:00.000-05:002007-02-05T07:22:35.961-05:00

Today we're studying various "tasty" accords that are used in fragrances (not only in flavors)! This morning we did caramel and chocolate, which have high proportions of a synthetic buttery note called diacetyl. Later we'll do marshmallow, almond, and coconut. Needless to say, everybody was hungry at 10 am. I made a dilution of one of my favorite products, ethyl maltol, which smells like caramel

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-23960603530268819212007-01-25T11:42:00.000-05:002007-01-25T12:06:58.379-05:00

Today we had our first project evaluation (of fragrances created from a chosen visual image). I chose a magazine ad of a beautiful woman walking along a rocky beach in a yellow bikini. My final product was subtler (more subtle?) than I intended, but overall I was happy. I used ginger, nutmeg, and bergamote, along with many synthetic materials, to convey the warmth of sunshine, the fruitiness of

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-28283041799791213252007-01-03T15:20:00.000-05:002007-01-03T15:22:45.409-05:00

...spent in Durham with some of my closest friends from college. It was SO nice to be home for the holidays!!Here we are after a great round of karaoke. Thanks to Joey for the photo.

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-18141741092918060762006-12-28T14:40:00.000-05:002006-12-28T14:46:14.272-05:00

I spent 5 hours (FIVE HOURS!) on the telephone with a very nice DELL representative to install a new hard drive for my laptop. After 5 hours and a flashing screen that left the technician--and I quote--"dumbfounded," everything seems to be up and running. However, due to an intense desire to keep my life simple, I will not be taking the computer back to France. I'll continue to use the school

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-86231648294312417642006-12-26T20:34:00.000-05:002006-12-26T20:41:27.390-05:00

So in honor of being in France, I decided to post some funny stories from my study abroad experience in Paris 3 years ago. When I lived with a host family, I wrote down things that made me laugh, and I just re-discovered the file on my parents' computer. They still crack me up today...so I hope you enjoy.* * *-I love looking at the little dogs in this city:Katie to me: Lauren, I thought you

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-4912128620318194672006-12-26T12:40:00.000-05:002006-12-26T13:11:35.424-05:00

Now that I'm in North Carolina for a lovely 3-week vacation, I have some time AND an internet connection. I hope everyone had a great Christmas - mine was fantastic, even more enjoyable since I was in Japan last year! It feels really good to be home.The first 'semester' of school ended quickly. Things in France were hectic and we had a big exam on the last day, which was interrupted by an

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-34993849689863460872006-12-19T17:31:00.000-05:002006-12-19T17:43:18.252-05:00

...compliments of Christian! The sophisticated lady without a labcoat is our instructor.

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-1165835839609797172006-12-11T06:08:00.000-05:002006-12-11T06:17:19.610-05:00

The cheapest raw material in the world is benzyl acetate, at about 3.50 euros per kilo. It's in quite a few floral notes, including jasmine, and smells like fake bananas. I recognize it as the product most likely to give me an instant headache. (Anything that ends in -ate can cause no small amout of pain if you inhale with too much enthusiasm).The most expensive material is iris root absolute

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-1163678941043824692006-11-16T06:55:00.000-05:002006-11-16T07:09:01.063-05:00

Here are our mixing tables and a sample of the raw materials in the fridge. Most of the chemicals are liquids, but the powders, crystals and gums must be microwaved to make dilutions. Alcohol boils very easily, so we're talking 10 seconds max! The room with the fridges is SO smelly. It's not unpleasant but it's a real fruit-salad-soup, despite the fact that some materials are nestled

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-1163525794317367192006-11-14T12:24:00.000-05:002006-11-14T12:42:56.143-05:00

Thanks to all the faithful readers out there. :) My intention was to update my blog more frequently, but that is complicated by a number of factors - progress on my computer is slow to nonexistent, and I just plain don't have much time to hang around the school computer lab. But there are healthy consequences to this as well. The time I spend in front of a computer screen each day has decreased

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-1162228324990808772006-10-30T11:42:00.000-05:002006-10-30T12:15:57.160-05:00

If you weren't lucky enough to receive a huge email from me (I say lucky with sarcasm, since it was too long for anyone to actually read), here's a more recent update... First, I apologize for the lack of photos, but laptop problems persist and the school computers have no USB ports. Rest assured that when I have good pictures and am able to post them, I will. Second, I love school. I spend about

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-1159893179184576802006-10-03T11:31:00.000-05:002006-10-03T11:32:59.186-05:00

the flower market

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-1159893078749734012006-10-03T11:29:00.000-05:002006-10-03T11:31:18.750-05:00

The Fragrance Academy

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-1159892966391009392006-10-03T11:17:00.000-05:002006-10-03T11:34:28.113-05:00

Thanks to Mom I now have some great photos...but for the moment this is all the school computer can handle. There's one of me being silly in my apartment, one of The Fragrance Academy, and one of the flower market in downtown Versailles.

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-1159891693198180212006-10-03T10:49:00.000-05:002006-10-03T11:10:17.230-05:00

I guess it's no surprise that moving from Japan to France can give quite a culture shock!You know the state of mind just minutes before falling asleep, where you think you are dreaming and don't realize that you are actually awake? A few nights ago in that stage of pre-sleep, I realized that I was "dreaming" about Japanese food: cold soba, instant sticky rice and salmon and seaweed, big hot oily

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-1159620271466325622006-09-30T07:24:00.000-05:002006-09-30T07:55:55.026-05:00

Hi everyone, sorry for the lack of recent posts but I've had some trouble with communication. There is no phone line for the internet in my apartment, but in any case, my computer crashed recently. (Great timing; I guess all the traveling wore it out!) For now I'm relying on internet cafes and the computer lab at ISIPCA. Getting established again has been quite a whirlwind, to say the least! This

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-1158038528013855232006-09-12T00:11:00.000-05:002006-09-12T00:22:08.036-05:00

Meegan took these photos on my last night in Japan. We had dinner at a crepe shop (of all places, but it was one of our favorite spots--yay France!!) and then did a couple hours of karaoke (yay Japan!!) I was so into the music that I didn't know she took karaoke shots...but some of them turned out pretty well. Look how serious I am, hah! Chocolate crepes and karaoke are no laughing matters. I

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-1158035161852500182006-09-11T23:08:00.000-05:002006-09-11T23:42:11.140-05:00

I can't believe that the day after tomorrow, I'm moving to France. Tonight I am exhausted from a day of hauling and folding and rolling. You'd think international packing would be old hat by now (hah!)...and to a certain extent it is. I've gotten lazier and sloppier because I can remember what I unpacked from Japan a month ago. But it seems that my belongings have expanded.When I moved to Japan I

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-1157651316432876792006-09-07T12:44:00.000-05:002006-09-07T13:07:22.426-05:00

The only sure path is to live consciously, moment to moment, as you let go of the outcome. Obsessive thinking signals that we are not telling the truth, either to ourselves or another person.--Charlotte Kasl Don't grieve. Anything you lose comes round in another form.Lo, I am with you always means when you look for God, God is in the look of your eyes, in the thought of looking, nearer to you

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-1157515235980417932006-09-05T22:38:00.000-05:002006-09-07T12:51:45.736-05:00

I don't travel to run away. I don't travel to forget. I travel to learn. But I like the way Paul Theroux said it:"You have to find out for yourself. Take the leap.""Nothing induces concentration or stimulates memory like an alien landscape or a foreign culture. It is simply not possible (as romantics think) to lose yourself in an exotic place. More likely, you will experience intense nostalgia, a

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-1156907003697521212006-08-29T22:01:00.000-05:002006-08-29T22:03:23.716-05:00

If I hold you with my emotions,you'll become a wished-for companion.If I hold you with my eyes,you'll grow old and die.So I hold you wherewe both mixwith the infinite. --Rumi

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-1156790865442563982006-08-28T13:44:00.000-05:002006-08-28T13:47:45.466-05:00

http://www.mairie-versailles.fr/newspage.php?id=1&pg=21&lg=engAccording to the website, 25,000 young people are in Versailles every day, studying architecture, landscaping, perfume, and chemistry. I'm getting very excited.

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-1155758056111136512006-08-16T14:51:00.000-05:002006-08-16T14:54:16.136-05:00

Not Their Mothers’ DaughtersJapanese Women in Modern SocietyIntroduction In Japan, the weather makes the man. Everyone knows that Shizuoka’s mild climate means the people are even-tempered. Farther south, where the winds are strong, the men have short fuses and unpredictable mood swings. “Don’t go south to choose a husband,” my married coworkers advised. I wondered without asking if the same

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-1155333004610668992006-08-11T16:36:00.000-05:002006-08-11T16:55:36.506-05:00

Remember about a month ago, I posted a photo of "the strangest flower" I had ever seen? The plant is called a passion vine but I nicknamed it "the jungle gym." If I remember correctly, I also told you that it was odorless. Evidently I didn't put my nose close enough for fear of inhaling all the ants. But an interesting coincidence taught me that the passion flower does, in fact, have a scent. A

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-1154833693805064602006-08-05T22:04:00.000-05:002006-08-05T22:08:13.826-05:00

More quotes:May 16Why is it we work so hard to be interesting to one another? --p.221HAH!andAugust 22"Everything comes and goes, just like lovers and styles of clothes. Things you held high and told yourself were true, start changing when it all comes down to you." -- Joni MitchellAugust 23Jesus wept--because Jesus knew.August 24I've failed, but there's a sense of freedom, too. The two

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-1154819744680026382006-08-05T17:56:00.000-05:002006-08-05T18:19:39.996-05:00

I'm reading a book my mother lent me called "Miss American Pie." It was written by a woman who works in Duke's Center for Documentary Studies, but even better, the author grew up in my parents' hometown. The book is basically a collection of her diary entries from middle and high school (in the early '70s). Even more interesting is the fact that my dad briefly dated the author's older sister (in

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-1154818432589136412006-08-05T17:52:00.000-05:002006-08-05T17:53:52.590-05:00

Sorry guys, the France blog address was unavailable, so I'll just stick with the original http://laureninjapan.blogspot.com Keeps it simple for everyone.

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-1154576645722324562006-08-02T22:30:00.000-05:002006-08-05T17:48:08.260-05:00

This post will include a lot of obvious things that weren't so obvious to me until now.The saddest part of the "real world" adjustment has nothing to do with waking up early. (Put me on a regular schedule and I feel totally whipped into shape, ready to get up and enjoy coffee with the sunrise in the peace and quiet before it gets too hot!) No, the alarm clock does not make me sad. What is

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-1153943140122043642006-07-26T14:41:00.000-05:002006-07-26T14:46:52.486-05:00

Unpacking is strange. You put away things from the last year, recent memories that are suddenly a part of your past, tidily blending them into your present, while trying not to forget. The problem is, I don't want them to blend yet. I want Japan to be real for a long time.

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-1153666585840072622006-07-23T09:49:00.000-05:002006-07-23T10:04:44.086-05:00

I complain about the mold, how the towels are never completely dry, how my hair frizzes, how the buses are late from stopping at every stop, how the sheets are perpetually damp...but I never thought the rainy season could be so romantic. There is something so soothing about keeping the windows open; about going to sleep with the rain and waking up to the rain and going to sleep again the next

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-1153580006222190202006-07-22T09:35:00.000-05:002006-07-22T11:19:09.910-05:00

I have often tried to express, however uneloquently, that I have received so much in the past year it is hard to give it all back. Not just from people in Japan but from so many of the people I love at home. I want to return everything people have given me, but about whether I accomplish that or not, I can't really be the judge. As I like to say, I am trying to do my best and "play the hand I've

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-1153574745832109062006-07-22T08:20:00.000-05:002006-07-22T08:31:15.386-05:00

Good news! A teacher gave me a small book of tanka written by Japanese college students. Tanka are similar to haiku but a little longer, with a 5-7-5-7-7 syllable format. They should describe a specific moment in time, an action or something concrete, instead of just an abstract emotion. After reading the book I decided to try writing some myself and put them down in my journal. Later, I saw a

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-1153483891866503912006-07-21T07:02:00.000-05:002006-07-21T08:11:37.093-05:00

Today I got dressed up for the school's closing ceremony, where I made a teary goodbye speech in Japanese and surprised a lot of people, including myself. My last day at school was extremely emotional, memorable, touching, and humbling. I hope to write more about it later, but for now I'm still trying to process it all.What I have been thinking about all day is what I saw when I stepped off the

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-1153408063976058942006-07-20T09:55:00.000-05:002006-07-20T10:21:11.393-05:00

...my friends, is adaptability. read & learn:[Setting: 2 weeks ago, Lauren's bedroom]LAUREN: (upon seeing cockroach on her ceiling) AHHH! EEEHHH! **)!$?%&!! What are you doing here???? GET OUT!! GET OUUUTTT!!!! [Setting: 1 week ago, Lauren's kitchen]LAUREN: (jumping back from her stove as a roach runs out from under her teapot) AHH! %##!?&!! Ferdinand, go away!! [Setting: this evening, Lauren's

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-1153369869600824792006-07-19T23:23:00.000-05:002006-07-19T23:40:08.903-05:00

This class of seniors had to be my favorite. (Yes, most of them are bigger than I). No matter what, they always made me feel excited and uplifted. Every day they'd look up at me from their desks, and you could tell from their eager expressions that they expected me to be happy and full of the energy, to give them a good class every time. When good students expect the best from you, you want to

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-1153369384620194592006-07-19T23:12:00.000-05:002006-07-19T23:52:48.963-05:00

What I WILL most definitely miss is my school, Fuji Higashi High School. The students, the clubs, the teachers -- including SadouBu, or tea ceremony club. The girls in SadouBu were always so sweet and inclusive and eager to teach me the steps. Every single move during this traditional tea ceremony is choreographed, so much so that it's like a slow dance on your knees. Your steps, posture, angle

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-1153058237759334562006-07-16T08:43:00.000-05:002006-07-26T09:14:25.916-05:00

In an effort to add some sugar to a bittersweet goodbye, here's a list of things that I will not miss about living in Japan. mold growing on everything from floors to backpacks to shoes to wooden coasters to the sprouts indepedently growing from my sponge. It is THAT disgustingly humid. huge cockroaches I can do nothing aboutNO CENTRAL HEATING or AC anywhere"celebrity status," ie total lack of

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-1153042322605570992006-07-16T04:31:00.000-05:002006-07-16T04:32:02.606-05:00

Along those same lines, love is not so much about communication as it is about presence. Because only one of those can replace the other.

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-1153040005940626962006-07-16T03:49:00.000-05:002006-07-16T04:30:56.263-05:00

When you spend a year living in a country where you can only understand 10% of the dialogue, you realize how unnecessary words are. Even for a woman who likes to write. People talk too much. I talk too much. Since I'm about to make such a big change in lifestyle, I'd like to think of this as a new resolution. I want my life to involve way less talk and much more action. They say you should marry

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-1152443634011791192006-07-09T06:07:00.000-05:002006-07-09T06:13:54.040-05:00

...to the home you had before you took up residence in mine.I am sad to leave Japan, but I am not sad to leave (the mold and) the 3-inch cockroaches who, instead of scattering when you turn on the lights, like to hang out confused on the ceiling above your bed, waving their attenaes as if you smell funny to them. As if you are in their spaces; as if you are disturbing their peace. The biggest

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-1152421677685358492006-07-09T00:00:00.000-05:002006-07-09T00:12:28.156-05:00

If I don't have a book at the bus stop, I often get bored when public transportation arrives anywhere from 2 - 20 minutes later than scheduled. But at one bus stop in front of someone's house, I am always fascinated by this flower. I stare and stare and can't get enough and before I know it the bus arrives. The ants also can't get enough. They go crazy and, although you can't see them in this

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-1152254070329157722006-07-07T01:21:00.000-05:002006-07-07T01:45:48.246-05:00

The coolest thing about teaching is that the kids make me laugh a lot, for a whole slew of reasons. Even when I am doing something as routine and endless and boring as grading 400 tests, there is always something worthy of stomach-grabbing laughter. Like today, in the middle of these 400 tests. I am responsible for the "oral communication" classes at my school, so each semester I make a listening

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-1151980390875644192006-07-03T20:49:00.000-05:002006-07-03T22:00:43.446-05:00

Today I was attacked by a small bird who stabbed me with its needle beak. Then I realized it was a mosquito.The other mysterious objects flying around Fuji's air are much smaller -- scents. What you can smell varies with the season as well as the time of day. But as an experiment, I'll try to paint you a rambling picture of Fuji odors. Pretend you can't see anything, and in one summer day, this

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-1151971003230339992006-07-03T18:43:00.000-05:002006-07-03T19:44:02.236-05:00

You know the saying, "When the cat's away, the mice will play?" For a high school in Japan, it should go more like this: "When the cat's away and the mice are sweating like pigs, they all get to stick their heads in the freezer." It's extremely humid, the way that makes you feel dirty after stepping out of the shower and that leaves your clothes constantly damp and stuck to your skin. Contrary to

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-1151845952647332732006-07-02T08:00:00.000-05:002006-07-03T03:49:10.666-05:00

Since I don't know how to insert links to old posts, I've reposted one below from many months ago (in quotations so you know it's not current). I'm doing this because I find it amusing. A year in Japan has taught me many things, and the old fantasy has since gone through some restructuring.Before that -- In another post I made some hideous generalization to the effect of, "love doesn't exist in

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-1151494638431234602006-06-28T06:29:00.000-05:002006-06-28T08:31:52.570-05:00

Suddenly, I have a lot to say. Everything I've been observing in Japan and everything going on in my own life is suddenly coming together. I feel like I'm seeing things I didn't see before. It's enough to keep a girl in a coffee shop for at least a few days straight. Of all the things I struggled with in Japan, by far the most confusing, sensitive, and shrouded topic is love. I'm still trying to

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-1151475269861970312006-06-28T01:00:00.000-05:002006-06-28T05:42:11.390-05:00

You know, the one between fate and chance. I shuffle between the two, usually clinging to the fence and declaring the events in my life "a lax version of destiny" or "a major version of coincidence." By now my arms are getting tired because I find myself once again holding fast to that line. My mother told me about a dream my grandmother had right after I was born. I was only a few days old, but

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-1151452368091029112006-06-27T18:48:00.000-05:002006-06-27T19:10:44.016-05:00

In 10th grade I was thrilled to land a role in a musical production of Sleeping Beauty. I was the queen, which meant I had a lot of speaking parts, but mainly, I had to sing. Where this came from, I have no idea. After the show my brother told me his friend leaned over to him and said, "I didn't know your sister could sing," to which my brother replied, "I didn't either."That's because really, I

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-1151282068850428202006-06-25T19:12:00.000-05:002006-06-26T18:35:03.206-05:00

To all the people who have asked, and to all those who have wondered but have not asked for fear of stressing a girl out, thank you for caring. Now I can finally share my plans for after Japan. (I want to maintain the blog, though I might change the title...details to come later.) I leave Japan at the end of July and will return home. (Yay home!) From there I plan to see lots of people I have

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-1151060788377021262006-06-23T05:34:00.000-05:002006-06-28T06:11:38.696-05:00

Even if things are going so badly, by keeping your eyes and heart open, you will be reminded of the ways things can go so well. If you stay receptive, you will receive. And eventually you can find the courage to give back. I had to teach my students that "taco" in English and Spanish is different from taco in Japanese (here it means "octopus.") One taco I like, the other taco not so much. After

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-1150679245229249702006-06-18T19:59:00.000-05:002006-06-18T20:07:25.253-05:00

Sorry for the delay, but here are pictures of Nikko, a beautiful little mountain town stuffed with temples that I visited with my parents. It's famous for the 3 "evil" monkeys, that is, "Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil, See No Evil." The bridge was pretty nice, too.

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-1150613525847092162006-06-18T01:42:00.000-05:002006-06-18T01:53:57.613-05:00

I'm visiting Mayumi's family next weekend to say goodbye, and I wanted to leave them something a *little* better than a bottle of sake. I don't know how much better this is, but at least it was something that required a few hours of effort. Those folds have to be exact! When it's not up against a white door (for a solid photo background) it will hang freely like a mobile.

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-1150460767845618872006-06-16T07:15:00.000-05:002006-06-16T07:26:07.866-05:00

Besides balmy sunsets and soothing percussion to help you sleep--the sound of rain to me is like massaging warm oil into a brittle soul--the rainy season in Japan brings two more good things: 1) tons of pink flowers, in multiple shades and varieties, and 2) the frogs. I was so happy to have finally heard frogs, I actually clapped with excitement. I couldn't walk with Meegan without stopping to

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-1150459060708780072006-06-16T06:39:00.000-05:002006-06-16T07:05:15.403-05:00

When you're raised in America, spend time in France, and live in Japan for a year, one thing is certain: nobody knows romance like America. Surprised? French romance might look good in black and white, but film noir will never speak to me like The Notebook. Romance in Japan, from my perspective, has yet to debut. This is a whole other ballgame I have yet to write about seriously or respectfully,

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-1150451183457474312006-06-16T04:41:00.000-05:002006-06-16T04:46:23.503-05:00

I just want to apologize to people I have hurt or confused with my posts. A few of you have said something to me, but I assume that means at least 10 more people have misunderstood. Please know that I say everything with the best intentions, or if I'm being sarcastic, I assume it's obvious.

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-1150258282163641782006-06-13T22:45:00.000-05:002006-06-13T23:11:22.230-05:00

Today I'm here to tell you about 2 of Japan's less-discussed conveniences: the 7-11, and the juice box. 7-11 and other convenience stores cover every block of Japan. You know you're in the middle of nowhere when you walk for 60 seconds yet see no Family Mart in your field of vision. Unlike American quick-stops, Japanese ones offer a range of healthy and unhealthy foods, spare toiletries, cheap

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-1149856826188315752006-06-09T07:34:00.000-05:002006-06-09T07:40:26.210-05:00

Outside what I affectionately call "The Kill Bill restaurant," known in Tokyo as "Gonpachi." (It inspired Tarantino during the set-building of some of my favorite movies.) Never mind that the photo is horribly back-lit and blurry -- what a fabulous lunch.

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-1149854637625694042006-06-09T06:51:00.000-05:002006-06-09T07:04:48.113-05:00

I'm sure you are wondering: what does a young woman, after almost one year of living alone in Japan with the freedoms and joys and responsibilities of paying her own bills, wanting to celebrate a Friday night alone in her own single apartment, working on a self-imposed budget, feeling too tired to cook, eat for dinner? What would make her feel relaxed and shrewd and lazy and satisfied and healthy

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-1149158157578160772006-06-01T05:05:00.000-05:002006-06-01T06:10:22.790-05:00

Lunch break. I grabbed my wallet and skipped out of the locker room, on my way to the 7-11 for a rice ball, iced coffee, and origami paper. (Yes, you can find all this and more at your nearest Japanese convenient store). As I flipped down the stairs, I looked out the huge picture windows, hoping to discern Fujisan through the haze. No such luck. But what I did see made me gasp. One of those

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-1148947111044260462006-05-29T18:52:00.000-05:002006-06-01T04:28:42.700-05:00

"the look...of love...is in...your eyes..."Not quite.I first heard that song on "Austin Powers," and I love it, but beyond those lyrics I know nothing about it.After nearly one year of living as a minority in Japan, you start to take inventory of "the looks." By that I mean, the various expressions with which strangers check you out and make sweeping decisions about your character and your place

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-1148863665733057682006-05-28T19:38:00.000-05:002006-06-01T04:30:06.793-05:00

Sorry I haven't updated lately but 2-months-in-advance departure preparations have made life hectic. I've been busy mailing boxes home, requesting return dates from the board of education, worrying about pension returns, compiling helpful information for my successor, etc. Nothing too exciting as of late. However, it looks like somebody threw a party in my calendar -- almost every weekend is

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-1147401778808549452006-05-11T21:34:00.000-05:002006-06-01T04:30:46.433-05:00

On Sunday we'll meet in Tokyo and travel around a bit before coming back to Fuji. This time we hope to work in some karaoke, a fish market or two, and sushi -- there's a great conveyor-belt restaurant I want to take him to. I took the whole week off because the kids have exams and I wouldn't be teaching anyway. So this week I've been working overtime to complete everything ahead of schedule.

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-1147270769096896112006-05-10T09:15:00.000-05:002006-06-01T04:31:46.690-05:00

No matter what is going on in your life, no matter how many mistakes you've made or how screwed up you think things are, no matter how much baggage you carry, no matter how much is weighing on your shoulders, no matter how convinced you are that you're not good enough...please remember that people love you, and would rather have you and each and every little thing that is "wrong" about you than

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-1147137369479123832006-05-08T19:48:00.000-05:002006-06-01T04:32:26.206-05:00

could never keep the doctor away. At least, not if you're an employee of the Japanese public school system. Teachers have to get check-ups once a year. But once a year is not "365 days," it's once every calendar year. So even though I've been here for only 10 months, yesterday I had my 2nd medical check-up, because the law requires "one check-up a year." If you are easily grossed out, don't read

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-1147085387928988982006-05-08T05:43:00.000-05:002006-05-08T05:49:47.976-05:00

the pictures I didn't know he took

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14262232.post-1146981409688593802006-05-07T00:54:00.000-05:002006-05-07T00:56:49.690-05:00

my dad

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17523323697897184814noreply@blogger.com0