Niigata .. Visiting Mickey

And Jimmy. I went to University with Mickey; we took Japanese together and went to Tokyo together two years ago. Its good to have someone in reach who can save me. Hes 4 hours and $75 (round trip) away by bus. He's in Niigata city on the west coast, almost directly west of me. I'll make a map to put here one day.

First, we visited the mountain by Mickey's apartment.







Mick and I.




And then we went rock climbing.




Mickey killin it.


And then we went back to the mountain and hung out with some racers. WHAT. UP. 60mph+ in the rain on a mountain path.


Amazing trip. What up Japan.

Quick thought

I remember coming here, and the first month HATING the fact that everyone I worked with knew everything that I said or did. Word gets around so fast here. There really is no privacy in relation to certain things.

Then, last week I got a flat tire on my bike. I remember coming in the next day and everyone asking if I got it fixed, or mentioning that I had to walk, asking what would I do, etc etc.

And it was strangely comforting. If not only for the fact that I didn't have to explain to everyone why I didn't ride my bike.. I don't know, it was nice. There was a sort of family element to everyone knowing...

Miyagi United

We had a soccer tournament in Nagano about a month back. Beautiful scenery, but it was constantly foggy, so we didn't get to see much of it. I got sunburned as hell. And yes, mom, my hand is fine. Don't worry about the bandage in the picture.