Grande Iced Coffee please...

Tantan's family in Hawaii 3/09

2009-06-03T20:27:00.004-10:00

This was when Tantan and his family were visiting back in March. I got to spend the day with them before they left to go back to Japan. It was so good to see them!

Aina and Tantan

me, Leia, and Aina. the last time I saw Aina she was barley walking. Now she's 4 and can talk up a storm.

Tantan and Koa, their youngest daughter

Leia and Aina

Leia and her Banana Jamba Juice

me and the Yamaguchi family at Ward Starbucks

After Starbucks, they wanted to go shopping at Logos Bookstore...

Tantan and his TwinFin

Tantan and my TwinFin

...then it was time for a send off surf session at Kewalos! The last time me and Tantan surfed at Kewalos was the first time we had ever surfed together, so it was kind of a sentimental thing. The waves were pretty good that day, and I got to see Tantan rip it up on a few! =)

a pair of TwinFins at Kewalos

Tantan and Ai

Miss you guys!!

Cheryl and Lake's Wedding 5/23/09

2009-06-02T22:33:00.005-10:00

The Bride and Groom!! Cheryl and Lake

Wedding Ceremony at Hawaii Kai Church

WOOOHOOOO!!!!

Wes, Kevin, and me
It was an honor to be a part of Cheryl and Lake's Wedding

Kevin as the MC

the Uyeda family: I-man, Chloe, and Wes

me and Joel

Kev, me and Kyle

Cheryl and Lake, CONGRATULATIONS!

Kyle's Birthday

2009-06-02T22:21:00.005-10:00

This was at D&B for Kyle's birthday back in March

Chris, Kyle, me, and Josh

Denise, Chris, and Lexer enjoying some dessert

Josh rackin'um up!

FOCUS! Kyle san...FOCUS!

me and the birthday boy

Josh

me and Kyle

Denise and Lexer

Long time no see

2009-06-02T21:59:00.005-10:00

I know...I know...it's been FOREVER since I've updated this thing...

*sigh*

so what have I been up to?

well, studying for Nursing...and more studying for Nursing! Haha

nah, here are some pics from this past semester

I'll be back, I promise. =)

At Ward Starbucks, where else

Shayna, Charity, me, Buba, and Mariah studying at the STEM center at KCC

Charity, Buba, and Shayna

Study group at Ward Starbucks for Exam #2, ZOOL 142 lecture class
Thank you Twain for taking the shot

Buba, Mariah, me, Charity, and Isaac

One of these days, when we all become RNs, we'll be able to look back at this...Good Times!

Suckered

2009-01-17T00:15:00.002-10:00

It's begun...I can now be found on Facebook...

I signed up like yesterday and it was like an instant virtual reunion on steroids! What the heck?! People I haven't seen since Maryknoll High School or just in forever, I've been able to reconnect with. And it's been kinda cool actually. *smirk* I got to "multi-chat" for the first time! Haha, very funny.

...and here's how bad it is. Now whenever I take my study breaks, jumping on Facebook is competing with jumping on XBOX Live!

Ha! Oh boy, I need help...not to mention serious SURF withdrawals.

Always have... Always will...

2009-01-14T00:18:00.002-10:00

*groan*

yet again, I find myself in the classroom of the subject I'm most utterly weakest in...

...I hate math!

Can't Fall Asleep

2009-01-11T23:55:00.003-10:00

Christmas Break was here and gone and tomorrow is already the first day of classes for the Spring 2009 semester. Can't sleep so I'm sitting here with a bottle of bud light instead letting my mind wander for a bit. *sigh*

I got my sutures removed from my foot a few days ago. Doc said that the healing was coming along well and I have to check back again in 3 weeks. Now I got these sterile strips, kinda like band-aids, covering my wound. I've gotten about 70% of my mobility in my right foot back and now it's the home stretch and just waiting for the scar to fully heal and for my foot to get some rehab. Because of the surgery I didn't get to really do much for the break but I'm glad that I got it done when I did. Otherwise I'd be starting school again with crutches and a whole lot more pain.

I've also lost my tan because I've been inside for the most part. This is probably the longest streak of not surfing while living here in Hawaii. The last time I stood up and took a drop down a wave was early October and now it's January already! What the heck?

...it's now 12:15 AM but I don't care, it's the last night before school starts tomorrow and right now I'm gonna play some guitar.

Fresh Laundry Smell

2008-12-26T00:09:00.003-10:00

Oh yeah, my phone after miraculously surviving the wash cycle, now smells like Downey fabric softener.

Christmas 2008

2008-12-25T23:48:00.003-10:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY!

This year we didn't do the usual wait til 12 midnight on Christmas Eve to open presents. Instead we all headed over to Uncle Edgar's house around 11 am for lunch and stayed til dinner. It was a great time talking with the family and catching up with them. I think that was the record for me sitting in one place without moving, because of my foot. I got up to use the bathroom once but in total it was about 9 hours straight!

My brother Jay called and said he was snowed in for Christmas at his place in Washington. He had his roommate's XBOX 360 so maybe I'll get to play some Call of Duty with him! That would be awesome. I think the last time we played video games together was probably high school. I wish he could've been here for Christmas instead of being stuck in the snow.

One highlight that I wish I had my camera for was when Roderick's son Blaze opened up one of presents and got "Thomas the Train" bibadees (underwear) Blaze is 2 so he didn't really know what to do with those and Roderick ended up putting a pair on Blaze's head like it was a beanie. And Blaze just smiled clueless as everybody was laughing.

Another highlight was playing Nintendo Wii with the family. At one point we were actually making a character for Uncle Edgar and it was super funny how close we got to making the character look like him! That was pretty cool. Out of the games, the boxing was the most fun to watch because it was the most physical. There was one match between Jordan and Uncle Edgar (Jordan's Dad) where Jordan made a final blow that made Uncle Edgar's character do some kind of somersault before hitting the floor for the count. Jordan was pretty much the champion for that game beating Uncle Edgar, Brenden, and Brandon. Then everyone started to play golf and that was cool to watch too.

Dang, pretty soon it's gonna be New Years 2009!

Washing Machine Safe

2008-12-24T03:32:00.004-10:00

The other day when Britton was over and we were watching the movie "Wanted", my mom was also doing the laundry. She was just about to put the dark clothes into the dryer and the next thing I know, she's standing in the doorway looking at me and she's got my cell phone in her hand.

*groan* "4 Letter Word"

As if things weren't already difficult with my foot being out of commission yeah? Could've done without that...so then I'm concluding that my phone is pretty much dead but miraculously it still turned on! The key pad didn't word and the speakers were water-logged and I was already starting to think of the pain it would be to have to go down to the SPRINT store to request that a new phone be ordered for me using the phone insurance plan.

I asked if Britton would bring me to SPRINT today being that I can't drive, but I was really stoked that we didn't have to make that trip. I basically just let my phone dry out and within a day or so, it was back to normal! The speakers sounded fine, the keypad works, and it's just crazy that it is still operational even, after going through the washing machine! Thanks to SAMSUNG for making an awesome product.

A new shiny cell phone would've been nice but I guess I won't need it after all.

Surgery Follow Up

2008-12-22T21:02:00.002-10:00

I went back to check in with Dr. Owens today about my foot. I was there to change out dressing and just for a follow up after the surgery. It was the first time for me to see my right leg below my knee since this past Thursday and when we got to the bottom there it was, a 3 inch long vertical incision marked by the black sutures just behind my ankle bone. It looked like something out of a Frankenstein movie or something, pretty sick. After applying rubbing alcohol to clean the wound (which stung pretty bad) Dr. Owens told me that I indeed had a pretty nasty bone spur in addition to the cyst below my ankle bone. Hopefully in the next two weeks or so, I can at least be able to drive myself to my next doctor's appointment, and not have to hobble around on crutches. We'll see. (note to self: make sure you stretch really good before engaging in any strenuous athletic movements, and know your physical limits! You not 21 anymore dumb-dumb!)

So for that last 4 days, I've been home doing what I said I'd do previously, playing guitar, downing Mountain Dew, and playing Call of Duty. Britton was here yesterday and brought me some Subway for lunch and we watched "Wanted" for the afternoon. Wes was here the day before that and brought me some iced coffee and a macadamia nut cookie from Starbucks. It was really great to see those guys and I really appreciate them coming over to visit me and bring some food and stuff. Not being mobile has been something to get used to, but oddly enough, it's been kinda good for me in the sense that I get to spend time practicing guitar, which I haven't done for months (I didn't realize how much I missed it and I'm discovering again that I actually do enjoy playing. Some stuff that I'm currently learning are riffs from Incubus and some songs by Jack Johnson), and reading some books and just spending some time in thought about certain areas of my life. Maybe I'll post something related to that later on... but for now I'm doing OK. Vicodin is my current "best friend" ha ha ha.

More thoughts from the bedside later. Thanks again for all your prayers!

Under the Knife

2008-12-18T18:00:00.003-10:00

I had surgery today on my right ankle and right now I'm sitting in my bed, drugged up, and about to start my Pirates of the Caribbean marathon. *sigh* Now I'm really wishing I bought my own TV, back when I still could've afforded it, or I'd be playing Call of Duty right now dangit! instead of having to wait my turn.

I'm OK I guess. I'm not happy about being in pain but it needed to be done. I'm not used to walking around in crutches either but that not so much of a trouble as going upstairs to take a shower will be. I'm glad I did this before the Spring semester starts though, or else I would've been much more worse off. At least by the time the semester starts, I would've had a good three weeks, or so, to heal before I have to get back to studying.

The good thing though is that I finally got it over with. That stubborn cyst has bothered me for two years, so I'm looking forward to being able to take a step with my right foot and not having to 2nd guess that possible sting below my ankle.

Thank you for all your prayers everybody!

Finishing Fall 2008

2008-12-13T23:47:00.005-10:00

This past Thursday was the final day of classes for the Fall 2008 semester. Next week Tuesday is my last academic engagement for this semester and it's the hardest class of the three that I enrolled in. So far, for final grades, I've gotten two A's, and the FINAL exam that I'm taking next week will determine if I can make my A count 3 for 3.

*sigh* I've also got surgery coming up next Thursday for my right foot. My Achilles tendonitis is all healed up but now they have to deal with the cyst that is between my peroneal tendon and the area right below the lateral malleolus bone (ankle bone). Dr. Owen said that they actually have to carve off thin slice of my bone in order to cut the cyst completely off, or something like that. I was really hoping to go surf this past week since I'll be out for the next 2 months for recovery, but because of the crazy rainfall, looks like the next time I'll see any surf at all will be around the end of February, and that's just SAD. Really, SAD. Then on top of that, I have to take another shot of platelates (growth factors/ stuff that makes your blood clot) into the peroneal tendon on my left foot because of all the over compensation. But that's gonna happen after my right side is healed up. *sigh* Oh well, at least for the next exam coming up I won't forget what "somatic pain" is. (pain dealing with injuries to skin, muscle, joints and TENDONS!) Dangit! I've heard some say that the 30's is the "new 20's" but it sure as heck doesn't feel like it, physically, anyways. Ha! Or maybe it's just me...

...then there's Christmas Break which is gonna consist of:

1. Reading books that I've been wanting to read (which have NOTHING to do with Nursing) such as: Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection and the Mission of the Church by N.T. Wright,

2. Playing lots of guitar (learning more of Jack Johnson's stuff and just keeping my chops up to par in general)

3. Call of Duty and Mountain Dew

4. lots of SLEEP and staying off my feet as much as possible

Yup...Good Stuff

...OK, I'm done for tonight. Time to jump on XBOX Live and play a little COD 5 Domination or Ground War!

Brainiac

2008-12-05T16:01:00.003-10:00

studying the brain...

deprived

2008-11-30T17:07:00.003-10:00

*SIGH* I really need to get in a SURF session sometime soon...

sometimes all you can do is watch...

2008-11-29T16:44:00.004-10:00

I just ran into a friend from NHL that I haven't seen in a long time. She was stopping by for some coffee before heading out to service and what not, so we had a chance to catch up a little. She told me how she was starting to get more involved with the recently started college ministry and one of the questions she asked me was this: "So I was thinking about Xtreme...and I was wondering, what was it that made people keep coming back? How did it grow so fast?"

Honestly...my heart sank for her and was raging at the same time because I knew she probably wouldn't understand if I told her the truth about what she's getting into. I basically told her from my own experience of hearing what other people have told me in the past during the time that I was serving. I told her that many would comment on how great the "worship" was and how it was real to a sense that it wasn't about putting on a show, but about being as you are before God. I also told her that for the time that Xtreme was around, it was the time for it to be around. It was a ministry that had the people of my generation as it's target audience and at the time, that's what we "needed" to some degree. It was our meeting place with God but what worked for that season may or may not be the best thing for the current one. I told her my honest feeling about how the church has become too production based and even blinded by it that they think that it's a genuine pursuit of God. But what kind of pursuit is it, if you are the one creating the circumstances, goals, and vision for the ministry, based on what is strategic or efficient or what's the most marketable to see how many people you can get to come to your rally? I told her that, yeah I'm knocking on some people when I say this, but really, people want more than just a 3 point message on how to live your life better as a good little Christian. But what's messed up is that even though some may have that stirring deep down, they'll still religiously cling to what they know because they're convinced that that's how it's supposed to be, and therefore veto their freedom of really seeing and enjoying Christ outside of the box that the glamour church has put Him in. And I'm not saying that I know the answers, and believe me I wish I did, but I am saying that there's something incredibly wrong with trying to mold Jesus into our westernized appetite for what we think Christianity is all about.

So...in further response to her question?...I just encouraged her that yes there's lots you can learn in serving, but cautioned her to make sure she knows what she's getting into.

Study Break

2008-11-22T19:50:00.004-10:00

So, after studying at Ward Starbucks and finally getting fed up with all the overcrowdedness, I decided it was time for a change of scenery, so I hopped in my volvo and started driving towards the leeward side of the island. Spontaneity kicked in and since I had nothing else better to do, I thought why not take a little tour down "Hanabata" lane.

I drove up the hill to my old house in Aiea on Kaulahao St. and just did a quick turn around at the dead end of the street. I figured probably wouldn't look very good for an unfamiliar car to be going cruzing up and down the street so, I went in and out, as if I had gotten lost and took a wrong turn. But the glances that I got of the street that I grew up on lasted for much more than just the few minutes that it took for me to drive in and out of the dead end street. I saw my old room window and the driveway that I used to bomb on my skateboard. Back then it seemed way more steeper than what I saw tonight. I noticed that the side entrance doors had been replaced with new doors with some kind of crystal pattern, and I thought, "must be another Filipino family, ha ha..." The yard where my grandma used to grow all her vegetables was completely gone. The four tall trees in the front lower yard were also gone...yeah, it looked completely different than how it used to be landscaped with all the rock walkways and stone fixtures. I remembered the curbs that we used to color with our crayons just so it'd be more slippery for our skateboards to slide and grind on. I remember my house was yellow that last time I lived in it. Now it's some kind of cream-ish color. I remember the neighbor next door had a pet dog named "Rocky" and liked to drink coca-cola. I remember the house across the street where Auntie Sherry had their dog "Dover" right outside by the garage. He was this big "Doberman Pincer" (not sure if that's the correct way to spell) the kind that you see as guard dogs and I remember I used to always give him some of my Hawaiian Sun Passion Orange juice. Yeah, he was a pretty huge dog, but well behaved. I remember my bother and I used to have water gun wars in our front and back yards and on other days we'd be dressed up as ninjas with our plastic swords strapped to our backs...*sigh*

After that I drove the route that my dad used to drive me to my elementary school at OLGC. I passed by some of my junior high and and high school friends' houses. Clifford, Zane, Kevin, and Grant were the guys from Pearl City and I remember always seeing them either walking or riding their bikes to school as I'd shout out to them from my Dad's grey Honda Accord. I remember thinking how cool it would be to be able to walk to school or ride a bike with your friends to school. I wonder where these guys are now?...

*sigh* well, I'd say that's a pretty good study break...but oh well, back to studying brain and nervous system anatomy for my exam on Tuesday.

Prodigal Generation in the Making

2008-11-08T13:32:00.004-10:00

At some point in each of our lives, we were deeply touched by a profound encounter with Jesus Christ. It was a mountain top experience, a moment of immense consolation. We were swept up in peace, joy, certitude, love. Quite simply, we were overcome. Our minds and hearts resonated with awe and wonder. We were deeply moved for a few hours, days, or weeks, and eventually returned to the routine occupations of our daily existence. We did not get unraveled

Slowly we got caught up in the demands of ministry or career and the distraction our busy world offers. We began to treat Jesus like the old friend from Brooklyn whom we dearly loved in years past but have gradually lost track of. Of course, it was unintentional. We simply allowed circumstances to drive us apart. On a recent visit to that city it never crossed our minds to contact Him. We had become preoccupied with something else, even though it was far less life-giving and captivating. It is possible we may never love anyone as much as we loved him, but even the memory has grown dim.

Heightened by the agnosticism of inattention-the lack of personal discipline over media bombardment, mind control, sterile conversation, private prayer, and the subjugation of the senses-the presence of Jesus grows even more and more remote. Just as the failure to be attentive dissolves confidence and communion in a human relationship, so inattention to the Holy unravels the fabric of the divine relationship. "Thorns and thistles choke the unused path" A verdant heart becomes a devastated vineyard. As we periodically close off God to our consciousness by looking the other way, our hearts are chilled. Christian agnostics don't deny a personal God; they display their unbelief by ignoring the sacred. The paltriness of our lives is mute testimony to the shabby furniture of our souls. And so our days become more and more trivial...

We settle in and settle down to lives of comfortable piety and well-fed virtue. We grow complacent and lead practical lives. Our feeble attempts at prayer are filled with stilted phrases addressed to an impassive deity. Even times of worship become trivialized...

(pg. 185-186, The Ragamuffin Gospel)

*SIGH*

At what we've made the Church/Christianity/Jesus out to be, we are GRIEVING God and giving the enemy more reason to rejoice over our stubborn pride and foolishness...Are we ever going to learn that our man-made glamour formulas to make God a tangible experience will NEVER work?

Yet, even before we get to that point of realization to turn and run back to him with our hearts saturated with our rotting stench of sin, before even all that, He still actively and passionately pursues us.

We really have NO CLUE what GRACE we've been given.

Thorn

2008-11-07T23:49:00.004-10:00

being broke sucks...

being physically broken is even worse...

but, not being able to remedy the first issue because you're physically broken is, well...not good at all.

*sigh* seriously, when is this gonna turn a corner?

Limping Around

2008-11-05T22:37:00.005-10:00

"...two more weeks" says Dr. Owen in regard to wearing the brace over my right leg. Supposedly, as tennis elbow is treated, three weeks all together is a sufficient amount of time for tendons/ ligaments to readjust and settle. After that though, we'll see if I still need to go in for surgery to remove the cyst in between the tendon and the heel bone.

*sigh* I hope those two weeks goes by quick. Kinda tired of walking around like a one legged Iron Man.

Improvise

2008-11-05T22:29:00.003-10:00

Ever had an irritating booger that was soo stubbornly stuck in your nose that, no matter how hard you blew into your tissue, or however you picked your nose it just wouldn't budge?

*sigh* Well, it seems I've found a new use for the Q-tip.

Thinking...

2008-11-01T18:52:00.003-10:00

I got to play some guitar at Alan's house last night for Halloween. Prior to that I think it must've been more than 2 months since I'd taken my guitar out of the case. My fingertips were soft and my muscles fatigued quickly at forming bar chords. But it was still great to jam with Alan. More so it was great to just sit there and worship God the way I know how...

The other night something Franco told me is still sticking and has got me pondering. Well, a bunch of things really. One: I need to speak up more, Two: It seems I've been super tapped out on worship, and that's part of the reason I don't really feel like doing it right now, Three: I have to remember that it's still one of the ways I do know how to worship and one of the ways I'm wired

Definitely good things to be told and reminded of...

Me and my Achilles

2008-10-30T15:26:00.004-10:00

I'm currently sporting a big black "space boot" on my right leg to help with the healing process of my Achilles Tendon...

My current state of immobility is traced back to an old injury that I got in Japan from playing volleyball and only just a few months ago, what I thought was just overuse and inflammation actually turned out to be something way worse. The ironic thing is that I can now explain a lot of the different things is happening to my right leg. As interesting as it may be, it sucks when you're the subject.

I took some X-Rays first to see if it was a bone spur or calcification of bone on the bottom of my heel bone (Calcaneal). If there were, it would have been protruding into the large flat tendon at the bottom of the foot and would have been a cause for Plantar Fasciitis, or inflammation of the Plantar Fascia. But it's not. I looked at all the slides and could actually point out all my Tarsal and Meta Tarsal bones and stuff like that, and Dr. Owens was actually quite impressed. It was like having a quiz from my ZOOL 141 class.

The next thing was to take an MRI to see the other tissues and where the pain might be originating from. The results didn't look good. So, as it turns out, I have a small tear in my right Achilles Tendon closer to the bottom part of the tendon where it inserts onto the heel bone. So that's why, when I dorsiflex my foot and extend my toes upward, there's that sharp cutting pain that results. Oh, but it gets better! After looking at my MRI slides, Dr. Owens asked if I'd ever reviewed these types of images before and if I could see anything that looked abnormal. And after studying those images of my own foot that looked just like my textbook, there it was, a cyst on the interior part of my Achilles Tendon facing the bone. Even better, it's right at the connecting point of the tendon to the bone. At this point, a shot of Cortisone Steroids, isn't going to help very much.

They're using a new type of treatment using the patients own Platelets to form a "super scab" over the torn area of tendon or ligament. Dr. Owens told me of how it was increasing in usage in other joint treatments after its great success rate with treating shoulders, rotator cuff problems, and the like.

Yesterday, I went in for my injection. After they took a 30mg sample of my blood they would extract as many platelets as possible so they could re-inject them straight into my Achilles. Platelets are the cells present in blood clots and help to attract repair agents in the body to mend the damaged area. The problem is that platelets are in Red blood cells, and because there's not normally a large amount of red blood flowing to our ligaments and tendons, that's why it takes so "bloody" long for them to heal! So, because it's a concentrated amount of platelets that's being injected, the theory is that it'll speed up the repair process and permanently heal the inflammation, instead of just giving temporary relief as the Cortisone Steroids would've done. So basically, they're using my own biological tissue to fix my body, which is kinda cool.

Next Wednesday I'll go back to the doctor's office and see what's the verdict. But I'm already kinda fearing that I will need to go in for surgery to remove the cyst completely.

In my Anatomy class, my teacher told us if we can find something related to what we're studying we can do a write up and get some extra points. Chapter 10 & 11, Joints and Muscle Tissue...I wonder if I can "extract" a couple extra credit points from this whole ordeal?

What Connects the Dots?

2008-10-22T00:21:00.004-10:00

Britton's voice was kinda groggy as he answered his iPhone. After a long day that's understandable. We proceeded to dive into the usual conversation of how we were doing, how the day was and when we'd be either at Starbucks or out surfing again. *sigh* those are always such good topics to spend a few thoughts on...

...as the conversation continued I mentioned about how there seems to be some kind of weird correlation with the condition of my spiritual well being along with my physical well being. From what I can remember, the two have kinda seemingly been hand in hand to an extent over the past couple years and if that's the case, I wonder what my faith in Christ looks like now given the current diagnosis of the handful of bodily ailments that I'm currently enduring. The worse, by far, being the tendonitis in my Achilles tendons. Imagine not being able to run, to jump, to walk up stairs, to squat, do any "springy" like movements with your feet (like walking properly), or even just to tippy-toe for the fear of a piercing pain in your heel. Think of a REALLY SHARP muscle cramp but in your Achilles tendons instead, and that's what I got. Not just one Achilles tendon...TendonS...Both feet. (laugh) and that's just one of the great reasons I'm glad I'm 31 years young.

But how does that relate to the condition of my faith? Well, how should I put it...it's like God uses physical pain in my life to either tell me that IN Line or OUT of Line with Him. In this case, I guess maybe He's trying to get my attention, again...

Lately I haven't felt really close to the Lord. I hate that feeling but I almost don't really know what to do about it. Britt asked me something along the lines of why I felt distant from God and what might be causing that feeling, but I honestly didn't know how to answer that one...

I mentioned to Britt that Cheryl called me earlier today while I was studying at Ward and she wanted to see if I'd be willing to fill in for her and lead worship at her church for a Sunday in November. But I turned it down. I thanked Cheryl for thinking to ask me, but told her truthfully that right now, I don't feel that's what I should be doing right now.

But Why though? Why do I feel that way, that it's not the best thing for me? Isn't it one of the ways I personally draw near to HIM? I've been thinking about that for quite a while since I came back from Japan, and tonight as I talked with Britt, the best I could come up with was this: I'm not sure how to Worship God without "worship"

What I mean is that, the bulk of my faith and identity in Christ has developed from the experience with NH and leading worship at Xtreme, It's been the foundation to an extent of what my faith started to develop from. But, thank God, He didn't let me stay in that paradigm. By His GRACE, I was keen enough to ask questions and to have the fervor to delve deeper in to His mystery of what it means to "live for Christ", instead of just accepting the status quo of "being a Christian" (Which I now know is not synonymous with "being Christ-like")

So now, I find that in order to continue pursuing HIM, I'm having to unlearn most, if not all, of what previously defined who I am in Christ. So like, whenever I listen to a message at Imago Dei, for example, I have to listen with a fresh set of ears and not let what I've already learned from my "previous church experience" taint what I'm taking in.

It's like brewing a fresh pot of coffee. (correct me if I'm wrong here, John) If you're gonna brew a fresh pot of coffee and the blend is a different kind of blend from the previous, you'd put in a new filter, right? Unless you want those unwanted hints of flavor that don't mix well with your already boldly flavored Sumatra. See what I'm sayin?

more on this later, but for now the last thought I got is this: I've learned that my giftings, my talents, my passions, are only part of what defines my identity in Christ. But, if I am to continue to chase after Him and to live His Joy in new ways, I have to accept the fact that those "new" ways of experiencing Him may have nothing to do with the things that have already defined me in Christ and the ways that I already do experience HIM.

Still Yet

2008-10-19T17:07:00.003-10:00

*sigh* Still here...still growing in debt to the cross every second...still trying to perceive this thing called grace...still chasing Who can't be caught...still needing daily what I can never earn, but only accept...still and always becoming...still reminding myself that I don't deserve any of this...still futile in blinding myself that I do deserve anything...still finding grace where I fall...still not understanding why it's there to be found each time...still wondering how come so many Christians choose to be "Christian" instead of like Jesus...still a hypocrite to my own words...still meeting with Him for coffee...still lying to Him straight in the face...still striving to be real...still learning what being "real" means...still breathing in His gift of life...still exhaling words that express only my selfishness...still refusing to stay beaten down...still struggling to stand at the front line...still far from the best person for His mission...still chosen anyway...still detestable and dirty...still experiencing Him in new ways...still thirsting...still getting drunk on everything but Him...still repenting...still unyielding...still just another prodigal...still SAVED...

やっぱ。。。富士高大好きだよ

2008-09-30T22:22:00.000-10:00

One of my former students in Japan sent this to me a while ago...It's a video for a new song by a group called "Funky Monkey Babies".

-Thanks Naoya! Hope you guys are doing well in Tokyo!

*sigh* Ya'know, as I watched this video I thought to myself how there are so many things that I relate to in this video. From the "campus journal", to the afterschool jam session in the classroom, to the sound of the "semi" (cicada) in the summer, to the purikura that the girl gave to the boy through the window, to the school uniforms and short sleeved collar shirts (mine often with a neck tie), to the opening of the guitar case time capsule, all of these remind me so vividly of some of the great times my students and I got to spend together at Fuji Ko. To this day my inbox still receives emails from Japanese cell phones, and everytime I get an email from one of them...I can't help but smile and shed a tear or two, because it reminds me that those memories are lasting, and that they don't only belong to me but to my students as well.

なつかしい

2008-08-31T20:06:00.004-10:00

This and this reminded me sooo much of my students at Fuji Ko...

It's hard to believe that it's now been at least a full year since the day I left Fuji...

On my iPod Nano, under the "Fujiko" playlist, these songs are listed as Track 1 and Track 2. If someone were to ask me if I had any favorite J-Pop tunes, these would definitely fall into that category as being some of the few songs that so clearly express the memories I have with my students...

*sigh*

なみだ　が　でちゃったよ。。。

Starting Fall Semester '08

2008-08-25T22:08:00.006-10:00

Let the Fall Semester begin!! Man, today was quite a busy day... I started off with my first day of training on the sales floor at the Apple Store Kahala. There's so much to learn it's almost as if learning all about Apple stuff is like another class! But I also got blue staff shirt today and also my name tag. It's pretty cool. I don't who else in the store has this on their name tag, but since I can speak Japanese, I have the word ようこそう! (Welcome!) under my name. How's that uh? (I'd post a picture of it here, but I think I could get fired for that)

Afterwards I went down to Gina's BBQ for the usual mini BBQ Chicken plate and found out some good news...Taegu is on it's way back!! Apparently, the reason why they took it off the vegetable choice menu was because it had become too expensive on the market so they were waiting for it to drop back in price before they stocked up again. CheeHuuuuu!

Ward Starbucks was the next location before I had to go to my first ever Lab for Anatomy class. Pato was outside in his usual seat right by the entrance, and most of the other regulars were inside drinking their coffee. I hung out there for about two hours before stopping by Runner's Route to see if there were any good deals on Asics running shoes. Right now I've got the new Asics Gel 1130 in black but am currently in the market for the GT-2130, in black, because it's a really comfortable shoe and it comes in a wider width for me and my wide feet.

Then the sun was starting to set and I knew it was time I started to head down for my class at KCC. I met a couple cool people in class, one of whom actually is a regular at Kewalos! I don't remember seeing him the line up, but I'm sure I'll keep my eye out now.

Today we started off with going over a Histology model and naming all the different parts that make up our skin. You know, honestly, I don't ever remember being that excited about learning about sciences or anatomy for that matter, but it was actually really fun. Fo'real kine! Tomorrow I have the lecture portion of my Anatomy class and am really looking forward to that.

Man, it's like learning 2 new languages...one for the Apple store and one for my Nursing courses!

For Example:

Nursing: arrector pili is "a special smooth muscle that can actually pull on the hair moving them into a more vertical position" So in case you're wondering how you get "gooseflesh", these are the little muscles in your skin responsible for that. Isn't that cool?!

Apple: Aperture...I still don't completely know all that this does, but I know it's a tool that professional photographers can use to work on their photography projects.

*sigh* So yeah...lots of pretty cool stuff. I'll have more to write later. One thing's for sure though, ...vacation is OVER!

...but it's a GOOD thing. =)

Taegu and Bean Sprouts

2008-08-16T02:31:00.004-10:00

The other day I went down to Gina's BBQ after surfing at Kewalos for my usual mini BBQ chicken plate, but something was very very wrong with the ordering process...

Gina: Hey, long time no see!
me: Hey Gina, how's business going?
Gina: Eh, same-same busy...

Then I see the lady who always calls me by name...

Lady: Hello Brian!...Mini Chicken, eating here?
me: Yup...same-same

OK. Right about here, she usually follows up with
"...Taegu and Bean Sprouts?"
But it was different this time. Very different.

Lady: Today, Bean Sprouts and...
me: (huh?) Taegu
Lady: Oh, we don't have taegu anymore
me: WHAT?!
Lady: We only sell in take-out package now...
me: (confused) uh...so...
Lady: You can choose another veggie
me: (thinking: "uh...NO...I can't") uh...OK...I guess...kim chee? (thinking: When the heck did I ever choose kim chee at Gina's?!)
Lady: OK

*GROOOAANN*

Seriously, how is it possible that Gina's doesn't have taegu as one of the vegetable options anymore?! I couldn't believe it. This means the taegu and beansprout streak was finally OVER! Dangit! Those who know me (John, Andrew, Aya, Kevin, Josh, etc.) and who have shared many meals at Gina's know that my order is always, ALWAYS, "Mini Chicken, Taegu and Bean Sprouts" I don't remember the first time I ate at Gina's but it was the first thing I ordered and have been ordering it since. VERY, VERY rarely (I can count the number of times on one hand), did I order some other items on their menu, or sampled from whatever my friends ordered. But for the most, this has been the ongoing thing for the past, I dunno...10 years now?!

*SIGH* So now I won't be able to have this conversation with the lady at the register as I'm waiting in line:

Lady: Hello Brian!...Today Same?
me: (smile) Yup...Same.

Nope...now, I actually have to choose another vegetable.

Man, that goes right in there with Surfcrew landmarks being taken away like the left turn into Kewalo Basin from Ala Moana Blvd, the old 7-11 at the corner of Auahi St., and last but certainly not least, the original Ward Starbucks...

*sigh* Sadness, I tell you...

Apple

2008-08-10T19:01:00.002-10:00

Wow...August is already nearing the midway mark, school is about to start on the 25th, I'll be entering into the 2nd year of my "2nd Twenties" (aka 31 years of age), and it's finally confirmed that I have a new job working at the Apple Store in Kahala Mall!

Hmmm....is that a new Mac Book I smell? or... could it even be a Mac Book Pro?

*Sigh* Decisions...Decisions...Decisions!

Wrong board for the right day

2008-07-28T22:15:00.002-10:00

This afternoon, after grinding my limu poke and rice, I was to head down to meet Britton in the water at Kewalos. On the way there I get a call from Britt and he goes "dude! I hope you brought your short board!...a guy just came out of the water with a dislocated shoulder!..." I told Britt not to wait up for me and that I'd meet him out in the water somewhere inbetween "Straight Outs" and "Renex". I pull into the parking lot and find the parking space next to the dumpster. I was still digesting my food so I thought I'd just watch it for a few minutes. But it turns out, as I'm standing on the wall, that the waves were breaking at head high about 3 to even 4 feet! Then to top that off, it was kinda choppy and windy, so...not the best day for an 8'0".

"shucks...so what I'gon do den?" I thought to myself. John had called me earlier so I decided to call him back and let him have a sample of the waves crashing up onto the wall that he knows all too well. The conversation lasted about an hour before Britt paddled in, but in that hour it was a thing of nostalgia to hear John's voice at Kewalos.

I told John that my days at Leeward were finally DONE, school was starting in about a month, and that I'd soon find out if I get the job to work at Apple. But really I called to tell him what I always tell him...what's going on with my heart and God. Honestly, these last 10 months have been pretty grueling spiritually and what grieves me the most is what's happening in church today. (But that's another topic)

What we did go on to dialogue was just about being able to let God deal what He's got to deal with. Even in our righteous anger and hating how sin has it's way of burrowing under and twisting the things that He meant for His glory, as much as we may have the right to be righteously angry at sin, it is still not ours to carry. That too has to be brought before the cross and surrendered to Him. In the quiet time I spent at Starbucks, I heard Him whisper to me "...yeah, I know you were betrayed, I know you were beaten, and you are right to hate sin...but will you truly give me what is mine, focus back on me, and surrender your bitterness, Brian?...

...*sigh*...I miss John and it was really good to talk story with him this afternoon. Things are really starting to look up and for the first time in a long time, I actually enjoyed God in and outside of church. And now that so much has been "lifted", I can get back to what really matters, and that's being joyful in Jesus.

Final Moments at Fuji Ko

2008-07-13T12:46:00.010-10:00

Picture Perfect

me and Yoshi

Yuki, me, and Makiko

Oen Practice outside

on the Ni Nensei floor

Time was short and 6th period was about to start so I quickly made my way up one more floor to see some of my San Nensei

Rena and Aki

Shinpei and O-Chan

Ippei, me and Taiki cruzing outside afterschool

me and Mori Sensei

me, Noda Sensei and Katayama Sensei in the background

Izuka Sensei, me and Katayama Sensei

The Baseball guys

me and Yuta

Some of the Volleyball guys

English Club
Yumi, Moeko, and Miho

Rie, me and Mifu

Funny Shot

me and some of my English Club Ni Nensei

Top Row: Mitsue, Ayano, Eri, Kozue, Nami, and Yuuka
Bottom Row: Hidemi, Mifu, me, Maika, Rie and Haruna

one more picture before the train...

*sigh* Hontou wa, Fuji Ko wa Boku no niban me no ie dakara...itsumo boku no kokoro ga iru...

...Omohide wa aoi de kaite...

...Kirei na Naka Ni Wa mou ikkai o mite...Hawaii ni kaeri takunai...

Naka Ni Wa

letting the page turn... Demo zetai ni Fuji Ko jinsei wasuremasen...

...Bokutachi no shiyorai tameni, ishouken me shitai koto o yarenakia ikenai kara, minna ganbari masshou! Demo "saiyonara" dewa nai kara, ano hi ga kuru toki ni aimashou ne!

San Nensei Eigo Bu

2008-07-12T14:20:00.001-10:00

Dinner at Saizeriya with English Club Sansei
Nami, Ayaka, Akari, Madoka, Miki

Karaoke with the San Nensei guys
Okapi

Tecchan

Eisuke and Okapi

Fuji Ko Graduates in Tokyo

2008-07-11T17:21:00.005-10:00

When I left Fuji Ko, I remember thinking how awesome it would be to one day meet up with my students after they became college students...and here it is coming around full circle! I got to meet up with two separate groups of graduates, some whom I'd already seen at Fugakusai and some I hadn't seen yet. It was awesome to hang out in Tokyo with them!

Junpei, Takanori, Naoya, Kazuki and Takamasa

me, Takamasa, and Naoya

Kazuki, Takanori, and Junpei

time for some KARAOKE!!!

me and the boys:
Takanori, Kazuki, Junpei, Naoya, me and Takamasa.

Then the next day I went down to Shibuya to meet up with another group of graduates

Apple Store Shibuya

Masato, Ayako, me and Tokiwa at the famous Shibuya intersection

To my graduates: It was awesome to see all of you again! I hope you are all doing well in Tokyo!

Visiting Tokai Sagami

2008-07-11T17:01:00.006-10:00

I got to visit Tokai Sagami towards the end of my vacation in Japan and see some of the students I met in Hawaii just months ago. I was there only for a day but I managed to see some of the teachers and students who came to Hawaii this year.

Saaya, me and Mizuki

me and Azusa

Richard, Yukako, and Nagisa

Saaya, Mizuki, and Nana

Saki, Richard, Kaede, Yukako, Nagisa and me

me and Tojima Sensei

After the day was done, Richard, Yamamoto Sensei and I went out for some dinner at a nearby Izakaya

I enjoyed seeing the teachers and students again. I had only one day unfortunately but it was still great to see everyone.

Richard and Family

2008-07-11T16:45:00.003-10:00

Richard, his wife Teruko and their dog Satori, or "Sacchan". Satori is a Shilo Shepherd and is one of the few of her kind in Japan!

Sacchan

Richard and Teruko took me to a park near by their house in Tachikawa, which is on the outskirts of Tokyo. There was also a dog park for the dogs to run around and play.

Leila

If you look closely, there's a little snack on Sacchan's nose and Richard was telling her to wait and be patient before she could eat it. Richard would say in Japanese "...matte...matte...matte...YOSH!!" and Sacchan would flick her jaw and in an instant devour the little morsel. Awesome!

Richard's discovery

Thank you Richard and Teruko for letting me stay with you! I enjoyed spending time with you and your dogs going around Tokyo!

Purikura

2008-07-11T16:31:00.002-10:00

Before I left to go back to Hawaii, my English Club students wanted to take Purikura. So continuing our little tradition we went up to Jusco in Fujinomiya to take some pictures.

top the day off with some Ice Cream!

To my English Club: I miss you all very much!

Sushi with Shannon and Dave

2008-07-10T21:17:00.002-10:00

Hunger struck yet again and it was time for some sushi!

Shannon, me, and Dave

look at the size of these Hamachi!

what kind of fish is "founder"

of all places, we headed over to the camera shop for desert

take your pick!

Kiyomizu Dera in Kyoto

2008-07-10T20:21:00.004-10:00

the streets of Gion

Himeji Castle

2008-07-10T15:48:00.008-10:00

Next stop Himeji Castle

in the distance...

at the top of the castle...

After all that walking around Dave and I decided to head down for some Kobe Beef

Steak Land! The steak here is so awesome, it just melts in your mouth!

Osaka Castle

2008-07-10T15:37:00.002-10:00

When I asked the guy to take this picture, I thought, eh he'd be good because it seemed like he knew what he was doing with his Canon DSLR. But if you look at the picture the top of the castle is cut off! Me and Dave looked at each other afterwards and said "brah, getting the castle in the picture was the whole point!"

Brass Band

2008-07-06T15:08:00.003-10:00

Talking Story with Jess

2008-07-04T18:21:00.002-10:00

This is my friend Jess Stanley. Fellow JET ALT and Marui Starbucks regular, it would've been a normal thing to find us roaming around Shizuoka City on the weekend visiting music stores, different places to eat and of course ending up at Starbucks. I got to stay at his apartment for about a week while I was visiting and it was great to hang out and cruz again.

Thanks again Jess, for letting me crash at your place, play some Halo 3, ride "mama chari" around town, and enjoying all the Japanese food and beer that we could! Hope we can hang out in Shizuoka again before your time there is done.

Fugakusai Day 3

2008-07-04T16:28:00.029-10:00

Sports Tournament

Ni Nensei doing Fuji Ko Taisou

Afterwards, the San Nensei were preparing for their "Mio" dance

Britton and Michelle's Wedding

2008-07-01T12:46:00.002-10:00

On June 29, 2008, Britton and Michelle exchanged their wedding vows and became Mr. and Mrs. Britton Brooks! CONGRATULATIONS!!!! I was so honored to be a part of their wedding as Britton's best man, and it was amazing to see them reach such a huge milestone in their lives now as a Married Couple!

Britton and his beautiful wife Michelle

on the way to the reception

the rings...

some of the Bridal Party in the Limo
me, Chris, Cody, Albert, and Connie

the Brooks Family
Cody, Dad, Britton and Michelle, Mom and Koa

time to cut the cake!

me, Michelle, and Sarah

the first dance as Mr. and Mrs. Brooks

me, Britton and Michelle

And so begins a new journey of life together...I pray for a lifetime of love and joy as you pursue the Lord hand in hand. You guys are awesome! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

Fugakusai Day 2

2008-06-28T20:03:00.013-10:00

The 2nd day of Fugakusai 2008

me and some of the Volleyball guys in front of the Fugakusai board

There were a lot of graduate students who stopped by the school this day and it was great to see all of them! Tomomi and Mina were some of the first students I ran into at the start of the day.

Mina and Tomomi

me and Mochida Sensei

Mina and Tomomi as bananas

some of my Ni Nensei guys

Naho and Ikuko from English club

Fumiyoshi and Hayato

me, Ozaki Sensei and his son

some of my English club cruzing in the courtyard

Sakiko and Tomoko selling food at the Festival

Sunny weather is a good thing

More Graduates at the Festival
Standing: Narumi, Saho, Yuka, Mihoko and Mikako
Below: Mika, Yuki, and me

have some "Shaved Ice"

Maika, Miho and Okapi from English Club

some of the Soccer guys at the Food Court

Live Jazz outside

Tokiwa, me, and Kohei

Yuki, Mika, and Kohei

some of the guys who played Jazz outide

Chika, me and "Zack"

Akari and Ayaka

Time for another performance of Snow White
Mifu, Miki, Rie, and Eri at the Food Court inviting others to come and watch

me and Tokiwa at Student Hall

Yuto, me, and Takamasa

Graduates in the Student Hall
Ikuko, Kayo, Yuto, Takamasa, Mikako and Mihoko

Ippei, what is that you got in your hand?

San Nensei
Mai, Ryota, Kana, me, Yuta, and Taiki

from the 2nd floor baclony

Ayako and Akane

Yuya and me

Soft Tennis San Nensei
Shiori, Saori, Megumi, me, and Yuri

Hidenori and me

some of the girls Volley Ball team
Rena, Momoko, Sayaka, Aki, Yuika, Mikako and Mihoko

Kei and me

some of the Volley Ball guys

selling more drinks at the drink stand

English Club outisde of the assembly hall after their performance

Brass Band at Fugakusai 2008

English Club at Fugakusai 2008

breaking down the "wall
Akaike, Tensei and Eisuke from English Club

Yumi me and Yukiko

waiting to go home at Tatebori Station
Haruna, Maika, Ayano, Yumi and Eri

And so ended the 2nd day of Fugakusai 2008. At that point I hadn't even been in Japan a week yet, but already the time was flying way too fast. But, getting to see my students again after a long time was well worth the journey. More pics to come from day 3 and the rest of the trip!

Fugakusai Day 1

2008-06-26T21:12:00.017-10:00

Fugakusai 2008! Let the show begin!

Hidenori from basball club

my English club girls preparing for their Hula performance on stage.
Miho, Mitsue, Mifu, Maika, and Yuka

Live band music

After the program was done in the gym, the bands had their turn up next to play in the Assembly Hall (Kodou)

Yuriko, Mayu, and Aisa before their turn on stage

Daiki was one of the students who graduated this past March and came by to visit

Yoshiharu, me and Daiki

Some students from English Club also put their own act together for the show. They were Rockin!

Shoma and Kana on electric guitar with Ayaka at the front

Miki on keyboard and Okapi on the drums

Tetsuya and Ryohei in the crowd

Yuta on Bass

Aisa and Yoshi

Shoma

Yuriko on Bass, Mayu on Keyboard, and Shoma on Drums

After the bands were done, English Club was up next with their performance of "Snow White"

me and English Club prior to their performance

Yakisoba anyone?

...or howz about a "Choco Banana"?

the weather wasn't the best for the 1st day, but that would soon change

Arisa, Ami, Yuko, and Riho from Brass Band

Yuki and Nozomi

"Link" logo

Yoshino and Mizuka helping to prepare more food for the food court outside

Thirsty anyone? How 'bout a nice cold Pocari Sweat? (For those who don't know, it's pretty much the Japanese equivalent to Gatorade)

Eisuke as "tree" in Snow White

Ni Nensei English Club getting ready to set up their stage

Makoto and his group were the last band to play and they were awesome!

Jammin!

San Nensei Volleyball team after the bands finished playing

Maika as the witch and Mitsue as the mirror

Miho as the messenger

Hidemi as Snow White

The 7 Dwarves

Yaaaaay!

time for Dinner!

Enter the Prince (Nami)

the end

Akari and Mizuka

me, Akari and Tsubasa, Mizuka and Yoshino

English Club posing after their amazing performance
Ayano, Miki, Eri, Hidemi, Moeko, Rie, Haruna, and Mifu

The school was holding a collection for China relief funds, which was very cool.

Cruzing in the courtyard...

Nozomi, me and Yuki

Misato and Mieko, who also graduated last year, came out to the school festival

some of the Soccer guys selling snacks
Ryota, Yuta and Tomoya

some of my San Nensei at English Club
Aina, Ayaka, me, Miki, Madoka, and Nami

Ryo, Tensei, and Akaike in the LL
Taiki

Taiki and Ippei, silly as usual!

Cruzing at Seito Hall (Student Hall)
Taiki, Kousuke, me Ippei and Tomoya

Kana, me, and Makiko

Hmmm...

Me and Yuya

Incoming train on the Minobu Line bound for Fuji Station

The 1st few moments of "Familiar"

2008-06-24T20:00:00.007-10:00

Tomorrow will make one full week since coming back home from Japan...It's like a dream that I was there for those 3 weeks...
On any given day this would have been a normal sight that my eyes would see. Somehow it's all the same but really different...

Right when I got to Fuji Ko I stopped in front of the main gate and took a deep breath. The one thought racing through my mind was "tadai ma..." (I'm home!) The first person I met was Oki Sensei. She was the first of a long list of surprised faces that I'd see during my time back at Fuji Ko. Then I made it out to the field and the entire 2nd year grade was outside practicing Fuji Ko Taisou. Katayama Sensei handed me the mega phone and with a hint of not knowing what to say, I said "Hi..." to the first group of students I got to see. Afterwards a bunch of my English Club students and some from Brass Band came up to see me. They almost ran me over as they all greeted me at the same time and were pretty much in shock that I was right there. Heck, I couldn't believe that I was face to face with them either!

Some of my students from English Club...now Ni Nensei! I missed them so much and it was really surreal and renewing to be with all of them again.
Maika, Eri, Hidemi, Mitsue, Nami, Ayano, Eri, Yumi, Moeko and Miho

This year they were performing Snow White for their drama special at the Fugakusai Festival.

Pink-Mifu (Doc)
Purple-Rie (Grumpy)
Yellow-Eri (Dopey)
Green-Moeko (Bashful)
Red-Ayano (Sneezy)
Orange-Miki (Sleepy)
Blue-Haruna (Happy)

Tatebori Eki after the sun went down

When I wasn't at Fuji Ko, I was out in Shizuoka City going to all the places I used to go to hang out. Marui Starbucks, Jack Ocean Sport, and of course Sumiya Music Store.

Sugiyama San was always there to talk story about guitars, amps, and pretty much whatevers. It was great to see him again.

I don't think the store workers at Murasaki surf store ever noticed but I actually used to go to the "wax wall" and take a sniff or two just to smell the "surf" every once in a while. How's that for withdrawls uh?

I stayed at Micah's place for a few days near Shimizu and this was a popular place for the local surf community to go for some good grinds. "Gobangai"

Me and Micah

*Sigh* Those were some good times in Japan...So many memories...I haven't really blogged in long time and it's nice to actually have something to post again. Stay tuned cuz there's lot's more!

Fugakusai Mae

2008-06-24T19:47:00.001-10:00

I had a bunch of pictures that I printed out to give to the students so the Soccer Boys were among some of the groups of students I gave pictures to

Ippei, Kousuke, Ryota, me and Taiki

Tomoya, Ryota, Akihiro, and Yuta

For Fugakusai 2008 "Link" was theme. It was pretty awesome! The students incorporated the main character from the video game "the Legend of Zelda", but I think at the heart of it was the idea that we are all "links" in the chain of life.

Preparing the main sign that would be see as you enter the front gate of the school

I went down to the school cafeteria and ordered my usual meal, Kakeage Soba and side of Koroke, but the cool thing was that the workers had already called it before I bought the meal ticket.

some of my Sen Nensei guys
Tetsuya, Okapi, Keisuke, Kyousuke, and Tecchan

Noda Sensei working on the sign board

me and Yagi Sensei

The Volleyball guys at the vending machine
Takada, Akihiro, Hiroshi, O-Chan, and Kenta

San Nensei Volleyball girls
Mai, Yukari, Aki, Rina, and Yuika

some of the Ni Nensei from Kendo

Pulling the sign into place

Okapi, Yukihiro, Oji, Tecchan, and Taisei from English Club

Home Again...

2008-06-22T19:10:00.002-10:00

The 3 weeks in Japan was totally what I needed, especially seeing my students again... *sigh* Why am I back in Hawaii?.....

the island weeps...yet again

2008-04-13T20:22:00.003-10:00

*sigh* I can't believe the day is here and John is right now waiting at the gate for his flight. I just got off the phone with him and he's got about another hour before his plane leaves the ground. Yeah, it was way too fast...it seems like he only had just arrived and now he's back at HNL on his way back to the mainland. Every time John or Andrew is back home it's kinda like we enter into this alternate Hawaii because it always seems as if we'd never left. That's how it would feel when I'd come back from Japan to visit and then painfully have to get on a jet plane to leave the island again. That's how it would feel when Kevin was still living in Washington and would come back for a visit...

*sigh* I so long for those days when we could just call each other up and meet up at 3pm for a session at Kewalos. I miss the comfy seats at the original Ward Starrbucks and the many conversations that took place within them. I miss the late night jam sessions at the FCF office. I miss all of us being in the same place, period. I wonder when that'll be...I wonder when we'll all be home again. Selfishly, I think we'd all be back tomorrow, but we know that's not reality right now. It's not what God has for us right now, and speaking of all of us being at home in Hawaii, there's a painful realization that it actually doesn't have to happen. There's no guarantee. It's not up to us. Can we be OK with that? Can I be OK with that? Obviously, easier said than done...but still, I hope and long for that day to come.

"John, it was truly awesome to hang with you back home. Get back safe bro! Hope you enjoyed all the Young's BBQ on the plane, and wear them T&C shirts with pride! Talk to you soon..."

Back in the Element

2008-04-11T23:14:00.004-10:00

John and I got to surf our home break at Kewalos today...yup, it's been way too long. It was awesome to see him in the water again and brought so many memories to mind of what it was like back in the day... back when all of us were still here...*sigh* One Day boys!

John and "Tanaka"

on the wall at Kewalos...

about to jump in, with Diamond Head in the background...

Just before he had to go to take some family photos, John requested this picture be captioned with:

"Ho!...check out Uch ripping ova dea!"

Dang...I wish there could be more days like this before he has to go back to the mainland. We didn't talk too much in the water but I already knew what he was thinking in regards to being home. I could see it in the Letoto smirk and squint of his brow as he looked out into the ocean at the sets coming in. I know because I was there 8 months ago. I remember what it felt like to finally be back in the lineup again after not being for so long and I'm sure John felt that same surreal feeling today. Part of what he prayed as we paddled out today "...thank you God for this day, which was years in the making..." kinda set the tone of how unique today was and for how grateful the both of us were to once again be surfing together at the break we both know all too well...But it's not pau yet! Still get chance until Sunday! CheHuu!!!

Final Presentation Preparation

2008-04-06T20:03:00.004-10:00

Aoi, Keisuke (oni) and Tadashi

Mai and her origami giraffe

Azusa, Kohei and Saki preparing for "Momotaro"

The smallest crane I've ever seen...

Nagisa and Yukako

me, Yoshinori, Suzue, and Yohei

Nana, Yuta, Kai, Kaede, Riko

Kazu, Kanji, Hiromi and Rena preparing their presentation about "Ninja"

tiny origami heart...

Saaya, Mizuki, Yuki, and Rikako

Saaya and Rikako

Dole Cannery Theaters

2008-04-06T19:43:00.003-10:00

The movies of the day was "The Spiderwick Chronicles" and "Horton Hears a Who". We had our choice to watch which ever movie we wanted but I think most of the students went to "The Spiderwick Chronicles". Not bad...

me, Hiromi, Akane, and Rena

Time for some pop corn and soda!
Shota, Kazushige, Kai, Yoshimasa, Noriki, and Kanji

Nagisa, Yukako, and Kozue

Yuki and Mai

me and the boys

clockwise from me:
Tadashi, Aoi, Yuki Yoshinori, Kohei, Yuta, Keisuke, Daiki, Shoichi and Yohei

clockwise from me:
Kaede, Chinatsu, Rikako, Riko, Saki, Saaya, Mizuki, Nana, and Suzue

In the classroom at Tokai

2008-04-06T19:00:00.004-10:00

morning dance routine practice...

Hibiki and Yoshinori

creating their own stores...
Saki, Hitomi, Mei, Rikako and Aya

Mizuko, Yuki, Yuriko, Akane and Mika

Chanya Panya!!!
Yuki, Tadashi, Aoi, and Keisuke

Kohei, Daiki, Saki,and Azusa

Mizuki, Yohei, Dakiki, Kohei, Saaya, Saki and Azusa in the back, and Suzue

Ayaka, Mai, Saeko, Yoshimasa and Takahiro

Kozue, Kanji, Kiichi, Satoko, and Natsumi

Their assignment was to create their own stores in groups for a shopping exercise in class. After they were done with their signs we did like a flee market setting where they had to ask questions to bargain for a price and to ask what was on sale. It was awesome! They also had so many creative ideas of what their store names would be and what each store was selling. Great job!

Aloha Tower Market Place

2008-04-06T18:16:00.005-10:00

The Boys

Yuta, Kai and Hibiki at the top of Aloha Tower

Seiya and his new Sector 9 Skateboard!

Heading back to the bus, Mizuho and Yuki give a shaka to the camera

Keisuke, Akane, Rikako and Aoi

Mika, Hitomi, Mei, Rikako, and Akane

Seiya, Noriki, Keisuke and Aoi

Nana, Suzue, Riko and Chinatsu

Tadashi, Yoshinori, Yuta, Yuki, Shoichi, and Keisuke

On the bus back to Tokai with Faith, one of the other escorts/ chaperones

Aloha!...

me and Keisuke

Yup, it was another awesome day with the students...

Right now they've just started their first classes as High School Ichi Nensei and have brand new uniforms! Some say they'd rather use their Jr. High uniforms though.

To my Sagami Students: See you in June!

Sagami Group at Hawaii's Plantation Village

2008-04-05T00:30:00.007-10:00

Our field trip to Hawaii's Plantation Village

Tojima Sensei giving instructions

passing out the bentos...

Keisuke and Aoi doing their soda can balancing trick

behind: Yukako, Suzue, Saaya, Mizuki
front: Azusa, Nagisa, and Saki

top: Nana, Riko, Kaede, and Chinatsu
bottom: Satoko, Rena, Hiromi, and Karen

top: Takahiro, Tatsuya, Yoshimasa, and Yohei
bottom: Kohei, Daiki, and Yoshinori

Suzue and Saki

Yuta, Kanji, Kiichi, and Shoichi

Nagisa, Azusa, Yukako, Mizuki, and Saaya

Natsumi, Kozue, Kaede, and Chinatsu

Ayaka and Mai

Shoichi and Shota

B Class with Yamamoto Sensei

A Class

feeding the fish some bread crumbs...

on the bus to the next location...
Keisuke, Yuki, Tadashi, and Yuta

Rikako and Mizuki

Getting each of 54 students in a picture can be a pretty hard task especially when they disperse so quickly...still, gotta try!
After this we all headed down for some shopping at Aloha Tower!

Did I mention...?

2008-04-02T22:34:00.002-10:00

Oh, by the way, did I mention I'm going back to Japan to visit in June? Yup, Das right! Flying back to the land of the rising sun to visit my students, friends, and just to pay some respects down memory lane...

This time I get to us a JR Rail Pass!

Honolulu Zoo

2008-04-02T21:37:00.007-10:00

Here's pics from the trip to the Zoo with my Sagami students. I miss all of you! "Chanya Panya" for life!

After the Zoo, we headed down to the Aquarium...

Afterwards we all headed back to school but stopped by the "con bini" on the way for some snacks!

Tokai Sagami in Hawaii, 4 years in the making...

2008-04-02T19:14:00.002-10:00

It's been way too long since I've blogged. Sorry guys!

Well, as for the most recent of my adventures I just got done teaching a group of students from Tokai Sagami. Quick tangent, I met some of the teachers from this school 4 years ago in Hawaii. Among them were Ezaki Sensei and Yamamoto Sensei, who was also here with the group that just left this past Saturday. But the first time I met them was maybe 6 months or so before I left Hawaii for JET...*sigh*

The group is now back in Japan, and the one thing that I realized while they were here in Hawaii?...I still do indeed have a huge Heart and Passion for Japanese youth, that it hasn't dimmed or faded in anyway, except by being out of proximity of them. While I was teaching their classes something started to click again as familiar feelings and heart promptings started to surface. Some of the newer teachers that I met for the first time all commented on the connection that I was able to make with the students and I was reminded of what Ezaki Sensei told me 4 years ago. He told me "I have never seen the students respond to a teacher the way they respond to me... there's something awesome that happens in you and in them when you're around each other...I think you'd become a great teacher if you come to Japan...I think this is something you should pay attention to because you do have a special gift to reach these students..."

4 years ago Ezaki Sensei told me this. Then just a week ago I heard the same things being told to me from the other teachers and Yamamoto Sensei...and it's got me thinking and pondering again...I don't think Japan is over for me yet. Otherwise why would God allow this to keep burning in me? How do I steward what He's made me passionate for? It's kinda hard to minister to Japanese youth when I'm thousands of miles away across the Pacific ya'know? But that's what's scary to think about. What if...there's more? What if these connections I have with Tokai Sagami is more than just a job offer made over a year ago, while I was still in Japan, for me to teach at their school as a follow-up to the 2 years on JET, before I would go home to Hawaii?

Now, 8 months after coming home, why do I feel this way? God will allow the passion to reach these students for as long as He wants it to remain. When I think about it, right now, I can relate to them the best I've ever been able to, I speak their language, I know what it's like to live in their society, but the most important thing...I still have a heart for them and it hasn't tarnished. So what am I supposed to do? A part of me thinks that if I went away again, yeah, I'd be able to make and save a huge chunk of finances for school, but I'd be faced with the same challenges as I met with the last two years I was there, and I'd come home only to find myself in the same place I'm at right now. But another side of me thinks, there's no guarantee that my ability to speak Japanese, the ability relate to Japanese youth, and most of all the heart that I have for them, will withstand the wear and tear of time. If it were possible for a school like Tokai Sagami to be here in Hawaii, strictly for Japanese kids, or like if Fuji Ko was here in Hawaii, I'd be set. I would just do that already and drop everything else.

I guess one of the most mind boggling things that I've realized while working with this group from Sagami is that, as much as Nursing interests me, I'm not sure if I will ever feel as stoked for Nursing as I do for working with Japanese Youth...

*sigh* So...God...What are you trying to tell me now?

Live at "the Ark"

2008-03-01T21:59:00.002-10:00

Me and some of my friends, Warren, Shaun, and Mike, recently formed an acoustic group and last night we got to play our first gig at a church called "the Ark". I had so much fun! We did some covers from everything from Ten Shekel Shirt to 80's pop to Bob Marley to Jack Johnson. It was awesome to be jamming some music again and not having to worry about what everyone else is playing. The guys I'm playing with each have lots of experience being in bands, so it was really humbling to be able to jam some music with them. Bands like Jah Ska, Apartment 3, or Ready Go ring a bell?

The atmosphere was really mellow coffee shop ish and it was for their Youth Group that we were playing for, so it was a nice change to play for the younger folks for once.

Unless we can think of a better name, for now, we're calling our group "Acoustication" in relation to the genre/sound we're focusing on.

me: vocals and acoustic guitar
Mike: vocals and bass guitar
Warren: vocals and acoustic guitar
Shaun: percussion

I hope we get to play at another coffee shop gig soon!

Happy Birthday Britton!

2008-02-27T15:22:00.003-10:00

Britton's birthday was this past week. Ho bruddah, you's getting up dea!

me and Britton

Britton's fiance Michelle bringing the birthday cake

me, Tony and his wife Shayna

Wes, Iman and their daughter Cloe

talking story...

Alan Wolf

Alan and his wife Audrey

Michelle, Iman, Britton, Wes, and Chloe

Save the best for last. Michelle and Britton. Soon these guys will be Mr. and Mrs. Brooks! Woohoo!

Hanyang in Hawaii

2008-02-16T22:50:00.010-10:00

Recently, I've started to work part time at Tokai University again teaching ESL for the Special Programs classes. These classes usually last anywhere from 1-3 weeks. This time it was a group of Korean students from Hanyang University. Here's some pictures from our field trips to the Hawaii Plantation Village and Pearl Harbor.

from Left to Right: Ji Yeon (aka Tonia), Yoon Kyung, Yong Geun, Jeong Yoon, and Tae Hyun (aka Kevin) at the bottom

from Left to Right: Euna, Myoung Kyun (aka Thomas), Myeong In, Yeon Hee, Hye Keong, Min Ji, Su Bin, and Yoon Kyung

Min Ji and Jeong Yoon

Seon Hee (aka Sunny), Hye In (aka Vicky), Soo Young, Ji Yeon, Soeun, and Hye Keong

Kalo

Hwa Sun, Jeong Yoon, Min Ji, Tae Hyun, and Thomas

Yoon Kyung and Joon out the window

Joon's roller coaster impression

John and the students

me and the students

From Left to Right: Kwak, Yong Geun, Yoon Kyung, Jeong Yoon, Su Bin, Myoung Kyun (aka Thomas), Hwa Sun, Tae Hyun (aka Kevin), and Joon.

Min Ji, Yoon Kyung, and Soo Young

"Thomas", me, and Yong Geun

Oh say can you see...

the wall...

Tae Hyun, Hwa Sun, Hanui (aka Honey), Hye Keong, and Hye In

Hwa Sun, Myoung Kyun, me, Tae Hyun, and Euna

Tae Hyun and Hwa Sun at the entrance of the Arizona Memorial

riding the ferry

Korean version of Jan Ken Po. I'm not sure how to spell it but based on pronunciation it sounds like "Gaui, Baui, Bo"

at the anchor

Thomas, Hwa Sun, Joon, and Yoon Kyung

Su Bin, Min Ji, Yong Geun catching air, Tae Hyun, and Kwak

Air Yong Geun

Yong Geun and Tae Hyun

There was also another time where they all went to Waikele to go shopping. We had lunch in the school cafeteria and they mentioned to me that they were gonna go shopping and since I was heading home I took 4 of them ahead of everybody else. Heck, I would've taken all of them if I had a big van! So, Yong Geun, Tae Hyun, Yoon Kyung, and Hwa Sun came with me to Waikele. That was fun because they had a head start over everybody else. It was awesome just hanging out with them and talking story. They actually can speak English pretty well! On one stop we went to Boarder's and Starbucks, of course. One of my students, Tae Hyun, was actually a fan of Incubus so we went to look at the CDs to see which albums were available. I also bought my first Moleskin Journal from Boarder's, as suggested by Britton. After a while the other students arrived at the bus stop just up the hill from Boarder's and we walked up to meet them. Then they all got to spend the day relaxing and shopping at Waikele. The neat thing was that their age range was anywhere from late teens to late twenties so it was a lot of fun hanging out with them since they were closer to my age than any other group of students I'd ever taught. Yong Geun was the oldest of the group and the one closest to me at 27. So, in class it was a bit awkward because I saw them more as my peers than my students. But in any case, it was awesome hanging out with them and getting to be a part of their three week experience in Hawaii!

Rekindle

2008-02-07T22:53:00.001-10:00

DIG
by Incubus

we all have a weakness
but some of ours are easier to identify. look me in the eye
and ask for forgiveness;
we'll make a pact to never speak that word again.
Yes, you are my friend.
We all have something that digs at us,
At least we dig each other.
So when weakness turns my ego up
I know you'll count on the me from yesterday

If I turn into another
dig me up from under what is covering
the better part of me
Sing this song
remind me that we'll always have each other
when everything else is gone

We all have a sickness
that cleverly attaches and multiplies
no matter how we try
we all have someone that digs at us
at least we dig each other
so when sickness turns my ego up
I know you'll act as a clever medicine

If I turn into another
dig me up from under what is covering
the better part of me
sing this song
remind me that we'll always have each other
when everything else is gone

When I listen to this song I hear so much that describes the season that I'm going through. It's now been 6 months since I arrived home from Japan and yet there is still so much that still needs to be made sense of. For the sake of updates, I've started the journey to becoming an RN, taking a Pre-Nursing course at KCC. Today I got my first exam back with the letter "A". It's been really good and I find that I'm actually becoming more and more interested in it. I'm still playing worship at New Hope Leeward, though I still wonder about the role that I'm to play there. I'm also currently working part time at Tokai International College teaching the temporary program groups that come in. Right now, I'm teaching a class of Korean Students from Hanyang University and they've been really awesome...

*sigh*But in the midst of all this, from the time I came home, there's been this unsettled feeling of not completely being at peace with being home. And to keep things short, what it comes down to is this question to myself:
"Where is my joy in the Lord?"

Where has it gone? Where is the me from yesterday? How does the me from yesterday exist today?

"God, I can't get stoked on anything until I get stoked on You first...change me in whatever way I need to be changed. Reforge Your spirit in me. Rekindle that which has been dormant for way too long..."

Andrew Sighting

2008-01-01T21:59:00.000-10:00

So today was the first day of 2008... and Britton and I decided to go surf in town to start off the New Year. At first it looked like we were just gonna end up at our usual spot Kewalos, but after seeing that it was a lake, we decided to go to Diamond Head. I hadn't surfed there in forever. After about the first 20 minutes or so, I saw Sarah paddling in the water coming back out after catching a wave. Britton and I met up with her and exchanged some Happy New Year wishes, then she goes "...can you guess who else is in the water today?" And before I knew it, there was Andrew paddling out into the line up! How's that for a New Year's Day surprise uh?! It's been a long time since I talked to or seen Andrew. Sandy was also there but she was cruzing on the shore. He had apparently arrived in Honolulu a few days ago and has another week or so before they have to go back to the East Coast. Dude, it was really awesome to see Andrew in the water again, and on a fish! We dialogued about the current events going on in our lives between the sets. Then after a while I wondered to myself "...does John know that Andrew's here?"

Afterwards we all headed off the Kapahulu Jamba Juice for some proper after-surfing-refreshment. Sarah got a "White Gummy Bear" to which I don't remember the recipe anymore. (do you remember it Aya?) Then after a while we were all off to go watch the UH Warriors take on Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. (I still can't believe how the game went...) Then tomorrow is yet another day for SURF! Can't wait to bring my Twinfin out to Diamond Head!

TwinFin makes it to Kewalos

2007-12-26T22:58:00.000-10:00

Today was the first time for my "fish" to swim in Hawaiian waters. I drove down to meet Britton at Kewalos and we jumped in the water around 3:30pm. The weather was kinda fickle today with some brief showers and the sun going in and out of the clouds. Not to mention the wind chill! Today was actually cold! I should brought my long sleeve neoprene...but it was still a great day because we were SURFING!!!

"Pang"...I've tried boards shaped by other shapers but this guy's shapes are just top notch. I'll definitely be riding his boards for a long time.

shiny!...kinda reminds me of that movie..."Flight of the Navigator"

Here we are at Kewalo Basin. Thank you Britton for taking a couple snapshots for me! I had to wait for about 5 days before I could take the fish surfing because when I picked it up from the T&C Factory it was still "fresh" and the resin still needed some time to cure really good.

But as of today, wait time is over!

Overall, the session today was pretty good even though the waves were pretty inconsistent with 20 minute intervals. Lots of waiting, lots of freezing, but when they came through, it was actually kinda decent. I thought, eh, I probably won't get very many waves let alone a really nice wave today since it was a little choppy. But I was wrong...all I needed was one good wave to get an idea of what my fish can really do! Sometime during the middle of our session there was this one set that came through and I caught one going left. It started off a bit crumbly but as I took the drop, it started to hold and actually open up pretty nice! It was maybe a soft 2 ft but it still had enough wall for my board to get some drive out of. I paddled in, stood up, and before I knew it, I had just completed the first backside cutback on my Twinfin! It wasn't the super sharp biting maneuver that you can pull off on a normal "potato chip" board, but it wasn't like turning a longboard either. It was just smooth, controlled and drawn out yet full of drive, and was just enough to throw some spray. It was amazing! There was so much speed coming off the turn that I almost had enough juice to make a full "S Turn". But the wave ended before then...but I was still Stoked!

Long story short...my TwinFin is currently my only "short" board with the skegs still locked in...Yeah...this board ROCKS! See you guys in the line up!

Simba

2007-12-26T22:52:00.001-10:00

Say hello to my Uncle Tommy's dog Simba! At every family gathering he's usually one of the first out of the car with my Uncle Tommy, Auntie Maryann, and cousins Kristian, Sara, and Brenden. He even poses for the camera. All you have to say is "Simba!" and, more often than not, once he sees the camera he'll tilt his head like he's doing in this picture. He's awesome!

Old Skool Fun

2007-12-26T22:46:00.000-10:00

Remeber this thing?

My cousin Brenden can solve the Rubix Cube like it was a piece of cake!

before...

maybe 20 to 30 minutes later...

Yup, pretty crazy. Next he's tackling a bigger cube with one added layer. So instead of 4 rows he's got 5!

Fish Chips

2007-12-25T16:58:00.000-10:00

TwinFin...

Retro Old Skool T&C Logo

Custom made "for Brian"

Mele Kalikimaka

2007-12-25T01:28:00.000-10:00

To my Students at Fuji Ko: Mele Kalikimaka! Merry Christmas!

We don't have Christmas Cake in Hawaii, so please eat some for me! Miss you guys! Have a safe and fun Christmas season!

Catch of the Day!

2007-12-19T19:43:00.000-10:00

It's finally here!!! My TwinFin is finally here!!! Today I went down to the T&C Factory to pick up my first ever custom board and I was so excited! I couldn't take it surfing today because I didn't have the time but that's OK. The resin still has to cure real good first anyways. Hopefully this coming Friday, it'll go and get baptized at Marineland! Cheehuu!

STOKED!!! Now my quiver is complete! (for now...)

Friends on XBOX LIVE

2007-12-19T19:28:00.000-10:00

Last night I got to play Halo 3 on Xbox Live with my friend Jess! He's one of my friends I met on the Jet Program and he is still there in Shizuoka. Ah...the wonders of modern technology. Sitting in the matchmaking lobby we talked about good times cruzing in Shizuoka City, going driving around to different places like Uni Qlo, a sports store called Spopia, Watami Izakaya, and of Sumiya's Music Shop, and of course Starbucks at Marui. Talking with him brought back so many memories to mind and it was one of those moments where I sat there thinking I'd be able to hop on the train from Tatebori and travel over to Shizuoka Eki to meet up with him tomorrow for a bowl of ramen or some Starbucks. I wish I could be there even just for a couple days!

Hey Jess, looking forward to playing some Team Slayer again with ya bro! See you on XBOX LIVE!

(One thing that's cool too is that you can view game stats on line! Pretty cool stuff...)

Saturday Team

2007-12-07T22:20:00.000-10:00

It's soo good to be playing music again...Our band gets together and plays every Saturday for service at New Hope Leeward and this is what my Saturday nights have looked like for the past 2 months. It's been good so far and I can't believe, just like that, 2 months have gone by and Christmas is already around the corner!

Manny on Electric Guitar and Keys

Hoku on Bass

Aaron on Electric Guitar

Cheyn on Drums

me

Uncle Bill was there to take most of these shots on this blog post and they came out so awesome! Thanks Uncle Bill!

a lighter shade of hair color

me and Kyle

JUMP!

I am ANPAN MAN! CheeHuu!

...and that's basically what my Saturday nights have been like for the past few months. Good Stuff!

What's on your iPod?

2007-11-30T22:36:00.000-10:00

Still and ever since I left Japan this song by HY called "11 AM" is the first song on my "Fuji Ko" playlist. Every time I hear it, I can always imagine my students and hear their laughter...so many vivid memories with them come to mind...

Me o samashite yo kimi no koe ga
Boku wo tsutsumi Yeah
Mado wo akete soyokaze ga kimi no kami wo nabiku
Heya kara deru boku no ude wo
Tsukaminagara kimi wa
Mou sukoshi dake, mou sukoshi dake to
Boku ni kimi wa tsubuyaku

Kono sekai ga yami ni somaru mae ni kono omoi wo

(Chorus)
Dakara onegai boku no soba ni ite kurenai ka
Kimi ga suki dakara
Kono omoi ga kimi ni todoku you ni
Negai ga kanaimasu you ni

Mado kara miorosu machinami wa
Sawagashikute Yeah
Dokoka tooku dare mo inai basho e to
Anata to futari
Kono mama toki wo tomete dokoka tooku
Dare mo inai basho e
Kono mama toki ga futari wo tsuresatte kuretemo ii kara

Sou da! Konna hareta hi ni wa dokoka e ikou ka
Kuruma tobashi kimi no doko e
ENJIN TENSHON kuruma no SUTEREO
Subete no KONDISHON
Monku nashi karada yurashinagara
Hanauta utainagara
Let's go to hunney's house
Touchaku RARA ato wa soba ni kimi ga suwaru dake
Kimochi dake sude ni saizensen da ze

Kimi to miru umi, yama, kawa, michi wa
Itsumo to chigatte maji shinsen da
Takaburu kanjou sae
KU-RU ni kimi no me o hiku tame ni
Maji shinshiteki ni Yo
Dokomademo tsuzuku michi
Kimi to boku mo kono michi to onaji kanji
Itsumademo futari de aruite ikou
Nante ieru hazu nai

Demo kimi ga suki

Kono sekai ga yami ni somaru mae ni kono omoi wo

(Chorus)

Dakara...

Kimi ga soba ni iru dake de
Boku wa mata susumu koto ga dekite
Mata arata na chikara wo te ni irerun da