Beauty and the Beast

Hello Familia and Friends,

I know, I know, I know that I have not updated my blog in over a month and you are probably wondering what has been going on in the life of Dillon Adams. This post is actually not much of an update about my life here in Japan, but rather a music video I made recently with some friends. It took me a while to get the editing done when going on random trips and studying for Japanese class all the time. Anyway, I hope the video holds you over until the next full update.

The video was shot over the course of two days. 5 hours one day and about 1.5 hours the next day. It was pretty quick and simple, but a lot of fun. The ballet dancers were troopers. Hope you enjoy.

You can find it youtube.com/dillbond

Also if you have facebook, could you post it so others who I know can see it even if they are not following my blog.

DILLON STEELE ADAMS

Parkour

This is my newest video about doing my laundry. Since I showed this video to my Senseis, the washers have been repaired. This video was for fun, but when put to good use it has made doing laundry easier for everyone. Not saying that parkour laundry is not fun, but doing my laundry that way everyday would be a little bit difficult. Check out the video.

youtube.com/dillbondinjapan

DTRAIN

Daily Life Inspired by Ryan Knight

I was reading my friend Ryan Knight’s blog recently and saw that he posted his daily schedule. I figured I would do the same so you know really how my days go here in Okayama University.

7:25 computer itunes alarm goes off

7:35 cell phone alarm goes off, i hit snooze, computer alarm continues

7:38 cell phone alarm goes off

7:40 small plastic alarm goes off, computer alarm continues

7:42 I turn off all alarms and get out of bed

7:43 brush teeth and use mouth wash

7:48 eat cereal and toast for breakfast, watch an episode of gummy bears or duck tales

while eating

8:05 take a shower

8:15 get dressed and pack my bag

8:30 leave my room to meet with Shae to go to class

8:33 ride my bicycle with no hands to class

8:39 arrive at class

8:40 class starts

10:10 go to the bathroom

10:11 SUPERMAN!

10:13 stand in the hall and talk to Ali, Abdul, and George

10:17 go into class and talk to my Chinese friends

10:25 class continues

11:10 check my watch to see if class is almost finished

11:55 go to lunch with Ali and Abdul in the Peach Union.

12:30 leave for 3rd period kanji class

12:45 class starts

2:15 go to my religion and history class

2:30 class starts

2:45 try not to fall asleep

4:00 leave and go to use internet in the English Cafe

4:05 check e-mail

4:45 go to Japanese Cafe and practice speaking Japanese

5:15 step outside of Japanese cafe and talk with friends

5:30 go to the store

5:45 buy bread, snacks, cookies, tea, milk, cereal, and udon

6:45 go home

7:15 cook miso udon, or miso ramen with two fried eggs

7:35 eat dinner and watch an episode of The Office

8:00 study 24 new vocabulary words

9:00 forget 24 new vocabulary words

9:05 walk around the dormitory

9:15 study vocabulary

10:15 brush my teeth

10:20 go to the bathroom

10:25 get ready for bed

10:40 go to bed

Most of my days are actually very different, especially because most classes only meet once a week, except for my Japanese classes. I hope this gives you some idea of what goes on during my daily life.

Dill

Udon tsukurimashita

This last saturday I went to Kotohira to udon school. I learned how to make udon with 100 hundred other people. Here are some pictures of my friends and I. I will now be updating Picasa with my pictures more frequently, depending on when I take pictures. I have only taken pictures this on time, so don't count on it happening too often.

Here is the link:

http://picasaweb.google.com/dillbondinjapan/

Steele

Ryugakusei Kaikan Tour

Hello Steele's Followers!

I just posted a video touring my mansion in Japan.

Please check it out at www.youtube.com/dillbondinjapan

Steele

Address & Phone #

I warmly welcome you to send me almost anything. If you want to send me something but do not know what to send, please send me peanut butter and any of your favorite snacks. If you do not want to send me anything, send me something anyway. Please send me a picture of you so I can put it on my wall. Feel free to give me a call, or schedule a Skype chat with me.

Address:

Dillon Adams

International House, Okayama University

6-1 Kuwanoki-cho, Tsushima,

Okayama, 700-0084 JAPAN

S101

Phone Number:

08063405741

much love,

Dillbond

Dodgeball, Rice Harvesting, and A Nightmare Come True

Hello Friends and Family,

This is Dillon Adams bringing you Japan’s top stories. It has almost been a entire month since I arrived at Okayama and a lot has happened since then.

There is a club on my campus called WAWA. This club’s purpose is to serve international students and throw parties for them. All of the international students in my program are provided with Japanese tutors/helpers through this club. I decided it would be a good idea to start a club to help WAWA. So I have unofficially started the WAWAWA club. WAWAWA’s slogan is, “help me, help you, help me, WAWA.” I figured that WAWA has no idea how to help international students and what better people to teach them how than international students themselves. Our group is open to both international and Japanese students unlike WAWA witch is only open to Japanese students. I knew WAWAWA was becoming big when students and faculty at my school started recognizing me as the WAWAWA leader.

I am now officially a rice farmer. My school advertised a rice harvesting day as a fun way to experience what it is like to work in a rice field. Really, it is a trick to get students to work for free. It turned out to be pretty fun, as are all experiences that remind of you working in Mexico mixing cement. One scary part about harvesting rice was that there were literally hundreds of spiders. Here are a few shots of me and some friends hard at work.

More recently I have had a few fun experiences. Last Wednesday I went to one of the 10 futsal clubs students from my campus run. I met up with my friend’s friend, who took me to play futsal with him. Luckily he only spoke Japanese and did not try to speak English, this helped me get lots of good speaking practice in. I did not know where the futsal club met, so I just followed Dake across Okayama on my bicycle. After riding for about 20 minutes he told me that it takes about 40 minutes to get there. I was not expecting to get that kind of a warmup before playing my first futsal game in Japan, but it turned out to be fine and quite the adventure. My longest bicycle ride before attending the futsal club was about 20 minutes. When I arrived I was quickly introduced to a few people in the club. Soon after that the futsal club formed a large circle on the field and my new friend Dake introduced me to the soccer club. Everyone cheered for me when I was introduced. Soon after that we started counting off numbers to form teams. The club members started counting in Japanese and then switched to English with a few Japanese numbers thrown in here and there. I’m pretty sure they thought I could not count to five in Japanese. When it got to me I said “yon” and everyone cheered for me because they were exited that I could say the word four in Japanese. Everyone at the futsal meeting was extremely nice and helpful. Most of them were more skilled than me, which was good because it gave me a good chance to become a better player. A lot of people tried to talk to me in English as usual, but I always responded to them in Japanese. I think the clubs different clubs at the University are always excited when a foreigner comes to play. After my 40 minute bicycle ride to the field and 2 hours playing time, I set off on my 40 minute bicycle ride back home. It was on a Wednesday night, so I was considering wether or not I should stay at home and work on homework or go to futsal. I am sure I made the right choice by choosing to go to futsal and practice speaking Japanese, rather than sitting at my desk memorizing vocabulary. I plan to go back to the futsal club again in the near future.

This last friday I attended a welcome party held by WAWA for international students living in my dormitory. All of the international students were given free food and I was able to talk meet some new people. There are 12 people in my intensive Japanese class and I was able to talk to most of them at the party. This really helped me build stronger friendships with many of them. Some of my Chinese friends from my class invited me to go and explore some parks around Okayama in the future. After the welcome party I went out for one of my first late night adventures. For those of you who who have not shared a house with me in the last two years, you might not know that I get tired around 10PM and try to be in bed by 11. Of course I am writing this blog right now at 11:36PM, but that is because I love all of you who read it and want to keep you updated. After the welcome party about 16 of my friends and I went to karaoke. This was my first time singing at a karaoke bar in Okayama and second time in Japan. It was definitely a lot of fun, but I couldn’t make it past 1AM. The others stayed until about 3AM.

The following morning I headed off to a dodgeball tournament wearing a bandana that has the word Tooko (fighting spirit) written on it, long soccer socks, and war paint on my face. Throughout the day I received some very strange looks and laughs. The other players just didn’t take dodgeball as serious as I did.

The nightmare of all nightmares happened this past friday morning. I woke up a little earlier than usual and decided to shave my face. I grabbed my shaver to do my weekly shave and once I finished shaving about half of my face, my shaver stopped working. Apparently it was broken and was not really charging overnight like I thought it was. After I realized I was not dreaming, I quickly ran to my neighbors room and nocked on his door. I realized he was not awake and didn’t want to wake him up. I went back to my room and found out that my shaver gains more battery life if I let it sit for a few minutes without turning it on. I did my best five second shave on the other half of my face. I still had a mustache and goatee on my face and I was fine with that. That was definitely one of the scarier things that has happened to me in Japan so far. I plugged in my shaver again thinking that it would charge and the next morning I turned it on thinking it was working properly. Then I started shaving my goatee and my shaver started failing again right away. I can’t believe I was tricked by my shaver again. I let it sit for a few more minutes and then got everything except for about half an inch of hair on my chin. I let the shaver sit and with my shavers last breathe I shaved off the last patch of hair. What I learned is, do not trust your shaver and always make sure it is working. If you suspect a problem do not take a risk without a backup shaver handy. I ordered a new shaver on amazon.co.jp yesterday.

Last week it started getting really cold and the temperature change happened over night.

Here is the link to my youtube channel for those of you who missed it.

youtube.com/dillbondinjapan

I just posted a video of a trip to Kourakuen garden. This is garden is rated as one of the top three gardens in Japan. The video mainly shows some of the other people I have been hanging out with. It doesn’t show me because I am the one filming it. I will upload a video with me giving a tour of my room by next week.

Information for future visitors:

The Family house is about 3,000 yen per night.

If you want to stay for super cheap, you can stay at an internet cafe for about 1,500 yen per night. Thats right, people stay overnight at internet cafes here and showers are included.

I am also down for people to stay in my room. Just let me know what you are thinking and planning in advance.

I hope to hear from you all soon.

your son, brother, nephew, cousin, uncle, friend, and sister,

Dillon STEELE Adams

Youtube

Konichiwa Friends and Family,

I just posted my first youtube video in Japan. I know that I am a little behind schedule, but it is up and there will be many more to come. The video is actually a tour of a very real Japanese home. This is the family that I have stayed with 3 times now. They are definitely some of the kindest and most amazing people I know. Please check out the video. Will be putting up another post soon.

Here is the link: youtube.com/dillbondinjapan

Peace,

Dillbond

I Love Love

I found this picture for Dad when I was in Tokyo.

Engaged

Many of you thought this would happen. Some of you predicted it. Some probably even made a prophecy about it. Thats right, as the title says I am engaged. Let me tell you how it happened before you all start saying this is a lie or that you knew it would happen.

It all happened this last Sunday during Okayama Universities sports day for all of the clubs on campus. We played one official sport, a 1600 meter relay race. I ran that one to help my team start off in last place. As I said this was the only official sport and I am much better at the crazy we played than running. At first I was a bit nervous to compete with the speedy Japanese people, but I soon realized that being a crazy American gives me a much bigger advantage. I competed in the 1600 meter relay race, basketball with Mcdonalds play place balls, and a crazy relay race.

This is the part you have all been waiting for, the CRAZY relay race. I had to run with my partner Hiro to a table with clothespins. We both had to put on 5 clothespins each and then do a wheelbarrow race to the ladies. Thank you Muir Adams for the crazy games at youth group with clothespins. We were able to arrive first to the ladies. When I say ladies, I mean two ladies and one man dressed like a lady. This was a bit scary, especially when some of the men were proposing to this ladyboy. I had the option to propose to a real women or the ladyboy and I chose the real women. Sorry to all of those who hoped to read I am engaged to a ladyboy. I ran up and said to the women, “Hey Baby... aishiteru (I love you), kekonshitekudasai (please marry me).”

I gave her the ring and she said "yes." I am engaged and it is a crazy feeling, especially since I just met her for the first time that day. In fact I did not even get her name until I had my first dance with her when I participated in the sports day traditional dance. I still do not have have her phone number yet, so I really hope I see her somewhere on campus.

I know this is pretty exciting and you wouldn’t think anything else crazy could happen, but one more pretty funny thing happened. Everyone played a game where we would have to choose if some statements were true or false, people could throw and catch a water balloon at a great distance, which partners could pop the most balloons between them without their hands, and many other silly games. One of the games they asked for two handsome men, and my friend Will from the U.K. and I were chosen to go up front. We both stood on some crates and a women from another team came over to choose which one of us was her type. This was obviously pretty funny as Will and stood on the crates and watched everyone at the sports day (about 200 people) choose which person they thought this girl would choose. So Will and I closed our eyes and held out our hand and soon enough after waiting, I was chosen. So I am not only engaged, but also the chosen one. Sorry, I don’t have a picture of this one.

Here is one more picture of me working my best Japanese high school girl pose at the sports day after party.

much love,

Dillon Steele Adams

The Transition

Tokyo -> Okayama

Hello Friends and Family. The white boy has made it to Okayama Daigaku, but I did not teleport here. I took a bus ride from Tokyo at about 8:30 PM and arrived in Okamaya at 6:00 AM. I woke up about every hour and a half when we stopped for bathroom breaks and finally made it, with a super long day ahead of me. Once I arrived at Okayama station from the bus stop, I was greeted by my tutors Mirai and Kosuke. They have been super helpful since I have been here. They helped me get a bank account, cell phone, and have shown me around the campus. Japanese cell phone contracts are one of the most confusing contracts I have ever signed up for. If you think Japanese cell phones are awesome, they are not really that cool. We have done numerous store runs together with bags in our bicycles baskets and on the handlebars. I ride my bicycle everyday, everywhere I go. I have met all of the EPOK students and many of the student tutors here. Everyone has been very nice and very helpful.

I started my first classes today. My Japanese class moves four times as fast as my classes were in the US. We are literally using the same books and doing what I would do in two years at SJSU, in one semester in Japan. It is a pretty scary thought, but it will really help me learn the language quickly. Next semester I will be taking what would be called intro to advanced Japanese in the US, and intro to Intermediate Japanese here in Japan. Apart from this class, I will also be taking Japanese Religion and Literature, Beginners Kanji where I will learn about 300 kanji, and Study of Japan. Study of Japan is basically a 1 unit field trip class. I will also be an English language assistant in an English class. One of my friends hear has a job as an English tutor and makes about 2500 yen an hour, about 30 USD. He only works on call and they have his class schedule, so this is something I will definitely be looking into.

One thing I recently heard about was a very special festival that is held near Okayama each year. It is called Hadaka Mutsuri or Naked Festival. At this festival men wear fundoshi (sumo underwear) and compete to catch the shingi (wood stick from God). Thousands of men participate in this festival and some even get killed because of how packed and competitive it is. I am considering putting a team together to go and participate in the festival. If I competed alone I would probably die. I have heard some bad things about the festival that make me want to hold back from participating. First of all, I do not enjoy seeing naked men. Second, I was told that the fundoshi is super tight and I do not want to hurt my children. Third, the stick is nearly impossible to get. Fourth, it is freezing cold. Fifth, I do not enjoy seeing naked men. I pretty sure you can find videos of this competition online, but be careful what you search for.

Okayama is a very beautiful place, much more beautiful than Tokyo. Okayama city is almost completely surrounded by mountains. I am about one hour away from an adventurous island with monkeys on it, including the fairy ride. I live about 40 minutes from Hiroshima, and 1 hour from Osaka, by bullet train. It is a pretty central place and I am looking forward to my time here. Although my language course will be tough, the transition is tough, I am looking forward to my year very much. I am really excited to how God uses me.

A few days ago I told one of my friends that I am interested in finding hiking spots around Okayama University and we went and found one near another university part way up a hill. It was a good adventure, but there were too many spiders. The spiders are huge here, and when I say huge I mean it. I would say the biggest spiders I have ever seen.

One thing I have been praying for since I have been here is finding some kind of community with other Christians. Today I ate with my friend Shaye who is originally from San Diego and goes to school at East Bay State. We sat down to eat and I saw that she was praying, so I asked her if she is a Christian. It is good to hear her say “yes” and see that God is providing for me while I am here.

Please continue praying for me if you have been and start praying for me if you haven’t been. I really hope you are enjoying spending some time on this journey with me. I have a not below for all of you planning on traveling to visit me in Okayama!

Okayama Visitors

You will have two options when you come to visit me I am really looking forward to it. Here are some things you should think about before you come to visit.

1 - Stay in my dorm illegally. Meaning that staying in my dorm is against the rules and if

worst comes to worst I could get kicked out of the international house, but from what

I have heard is that it is not a big deal to have guests. Basically, I would not let the

managers at the international house know you were staying and we should be good.

2 - Family can stay in a kind of house my campus owns for cheap. What is cheap? I do

not know, but I will find out.

3 - Stay in a hotel. Most likely will be around 60-80 dollars a night for 2, if you go for the

cheaper end.

4 - My schedule is going to be very busy when I am not on break because of the

Japanese course I described above. I will post my Christmas and Spring online

soon. My spring semester will be easier than this semester as far as my Japanese

course goes.

If you have any questions please feel free to e-mail me.

dilloko@gmail.com

I will be putting up another blog post shortly about sports day this last sunday. Some very crazy things happened there. Oh yeah, I will be posting more pics soon, once I take them.

much love,

Dillon Steele Adams

Travel

Konichiwa Friends and Family,

When I woke up early on the 21st to head to Japan I found several sticky notes with many phrases like "I love Dillon" written them. I was soon surprised to find them in every part of my luggage. I found one in the airport bathroom tucked in my boxers and another in my shirt pocket in the airplane. This kept me very entertained during my travel. Thanks Corry. I was lucky enough to get business class when I got on the airplane and extremely lucky to be moved downstairs to first class when one of the first class passengers did not show up. I had some really good food, service, and a nice big chair. I figure I might as well take this opportunity to ride in first class, because I will never ride in first class if I have to pay for it.

I arrived at about 2PM at Narita Airport and took a bus at 3PM to Tama City from the airport. I was super tired when I arrived and am super tired now. I have only had a small amount of time so far with the Hirashima family and so far it has been wonderful. I arrived to a room decorated with a Zack Efron poster, and magazine, High School Musical 3 books, and a note next that had "you should read Twilight" written on it next a book from the Twilight series. With Zack Efron everywhere in my room I actually dreamt about him last night.

Today Misa's twin sister Hichan and her two daughters, Michan and Naoko, and Naoko's boyfriend from the U.K., Gary, came over for lunch. It was a really fun having everyone over. I plan to go to church with Naoko and Gary this Sunday. I don't have plans for every day, but I am sure I will find things to do.

How do I feel about moving to Japan for ONE WHOLE YEAR?

For the past two months I have felt more excited than nervous, then those feelings did a 180 degree turn in the two days prior to leaving. Then when I arrived in Japan I felt more peace about this trip than nervousness and since yesterday I have been doing well. I am sure things will change again once arrive at Okayama and get more accustomed to my everyday life in Japan. I am definitely excited to be going to Okayama and have 3 things that I want to do there. Start a bible study, play on Okayama University's soccer team, and learn Japanese well.

I will keep you all updated with some videos and pictures shortly, along with this blog being updated every now and then. If you have any questions or want to talk, please e-mail me at dilloko@gmail.com, or set up a time to talk on SKYPE. When I get a cell phone I will let you all know the # and when I move to Okayama in about a week I will give you the address.

Please enjoy following me on this adventure.

Much Love,

Dillon STEELE Adams